Posts Tagged ‘flossing’

How to Save Your Teeth from Tooth Decay

Posted on: January 3rd, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

If you are concerned about your oral health, then you must also be concerned with what you eat says the American Dental Association(ADA). Many of us have known this all along, but what is surprising, is that sugary foods and drinks are more popular now than ever. Why this is the case is beyond the scope of this post, but what I will address is how you can minimize the impact of these “harmful” foods on your oral health.

Before we get to that, it is important to note that the most foods contain some amount of sugar – even fruits and vegetables. Nobody is suggesting that fruits and vegetable should be eliminated from your diet because they contain important vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. What we are concerned with here are foods and drinks that are chock full of sugar and have no nutritional value to us whatsoever. This would include soft drinks, sweetened fruit drinks, and non-nutritious snacks.

So what do such foods and drinks do to our teeth over time that is so bad? Well, according to the ADA, “When bacteria (plaque) come into contact with sugar in the mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more. This can eventually result in tooth decay.” Tooth decay is a very ugly condition that not only puts your oral health in jeopardy, but your overall health as well. So, it is best to avoid it at all costs.

How can you minimize your risk of tooth decay? The ADA suggests the following:

  • Maintain a healthy diet.
  • Make sure water is readily available.
  • Limit the number of between-meal snacks. When you must snack, choose nutritious foods that are low in sugar.
  • Brush thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste that has the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance.
  • Floss or use another kind of interdental cleaner daily to remove plaque (a thin film of bacteria) from under the gums and between teeth.
  • Schedule regular dental visits for checkups and cleanings.
  • Keep a food diary for a week. Record every item you eat and drink, including hard candies or chewing gum that contains sugar. Compare the diary to the Food Pyramid recommendations.

If you can not follow all of these guidelines right away, start with one and work your way up. When you are following all of these guidelines you may greatly reduce your risk of tooth decay!

Source: Dental Heroes

Dental Hygiene and Your Health

Posted on: December 27th, 2011 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Proper dental hygiene means healthier teeth and happier smile. However, it does not just mean healthier teeth, healthier teeth means better overall health. Dental hygiene affects your health in many ways. Let’s take a look at some specifics:

1. If you practice good dental hygiene you are less likely to suffer from the pain of tooth decay. While you may be thinking that pain from tooth decay only effects your mouth, you are wrong. Pain can cause stress in the body, which leads to a whole host of problems. So, avoid these stress related problems with proper brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash.

2. If you do not practice good dental hygiene there is a high likelihood that the bacteria in your mouth have gotten out of control. When your mouth is overridden with bacteria, the bacteria will get into your blood stream, and can cause plaque of a different kind. This is the plaque of your arteries that lead to heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. So, who would have thought that an unhealthy mouth could lead to something life threatening?

3. Pregnant women often neglect their teeth, and this is not a good idea. When you are pregnant, your oral health is super important. Premature birth has been shown to be related to gum disease.

So, if you are pregnant, and you do not want to have your baby early, one way to help prevent it is to visit your dentist regularly for cleanings, and be smart with your mouth. Your dental hygiene when pregnant can help you to have a healthier happier baby.

4. Think about your mouth, what do you use it for? If your mouth is unhealthy, and your teeth are poor, or are falling out, you may find it difficult to consume foods that will lead to a healthier body. So, practice good dental hygiene and you will be able to eat the foods you like longer.
As you can see good dental hygiene really does effect your overall health. Without a healthy mouth, it is hard to have a healthy body. Infections spread, your mouth is not independent of the rest of your body, so be smart, and take care of your teeth.

Dental Hygiene Tips & Tricks

The following are some tips for good dental hygiene:

1. The obvious: brush your teeth at least twice daily. This should be done with a toothbrush that is the right size for your mouth. Your dentist can help you find the proper toothbrush. You should also use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Hard bristles can cause gum damage. You should focus on the gumline when you brush. Brush in short, circular motions, and brush away from the gums.

You should also brush for a minimum of two minutes, one minute on top and one minute on bottom. Brushing for the right amount of time with the right brush, and with the right motions, can really help your mouth stay healthy and happy.

2. Floss more. We all slack at flossing sometimes, and for good dental health you should floss each day. If you are currently flossing only a day or two a week step it up. If you are not flossing at all, shame on you.

3. Use mouth wash if you want an extra boost.

4. Visit your dentist regularly, semi annually is best, get a check-up exam, and a professional cleaning.

Source: Zimbio

Are You Flossing Correctly?

Posted on: July 5th, 2011 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

What is the Right Way to Floss?

Proper flossing removes  plaque  and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach — under the gumline and between your teeth. Plaque is a sticky white film that collects on your teeth. It contains harmful bacteria that are a major cause of tooth decay and periodontal disease. plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing is highly recommended.  It is recommended that flossing be performed once each day.

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:

To begin flossing – Wind 18″ of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Gently pull and pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers leaving a 1″ – 2″ length between.

Use thumbs and index fingers to direct floss between upper teeth, and index fingers to guide floss between lower teeth.

Gently glide floss between teeth by using a see-saw motion. Hug floss around tooth in a “C” shape, then slide floss up and down against the tooth. Move the floss to the tooth on the other side of the same space. Repeat the process for each tooth using a clean section of floss.

If flossing is difficult for you, ask your dental hygienist for suggestions. There are a variety of interdental cleaning tools for you to use. Your hygienist will help you select the best method of flossing with special instructions for your specific dental needs.

Source: Colgate