Posts Tagged ‘tooth brushing’

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 at Risk for Cavities?

Posted on: October 25th, 2011 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Are you at risk for cavities? That may sound like a trick question—everyone is at risk for cavities! But some people are at a higher risk than others, and knowing the risk factors could help you improve your oral health and avoid the extensive tooth decay that eventually turns in to the dreaded cavities. So, in the spirit of helping you avoid future cavities by educating you on some of the many risk factors, here’s a list!

Already having cavities: This may sound silly, but if you’ve already had cavities, you’re more likely to have cavities in the future.

Eating lots of sugary or acidic foods: Cavities are caused when sugar meets the bacteria in your mouth and turns into acid. Acid erodes tooth enamel, so highly acidic foods also weaken teeth.

Poor oral hygiene: Just like sugar is one part of the process that leads to acid production, bacteria is the other part. Not brushing and flossing properly will let bacteria multiply, allowing cavities to form.

Lack of fluoride: Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making them more resilient and cavity-resistant.

Badly done fillings and crowns: When a filling or crown is not done properly, it can provide crevices in which cavity-causing bacteria can hide and escape toothbrushing.

Family history: Whether it’s because good oral health habits weren’t taught at home or genetics that make teeth more susceptible to decay, a family history of cavities increases your risk.

Dry mouth: Saliva actually helps flush bacteria from your mouth, so dry mouth can increase cavity risk.

Eating disorders: Poor nutrition weakens teeth, leaving them open to decay. Also, if your eating disorder involves self-induced vomiting, the increased acid wears down tooth enamel.

Not visiting the dentist regularly: Even if you practice excellent oral health care at home, you need regular dental hygiene visits and dental exams to keep cavities at bay. It is recommended that you visit the dentist every six months for optimum cavity protection.

Special needs: If you care for a family member who has a disability, make sure you’re thinking about their oral health care. This often gets overlooked and can cause them to get cavities.

It may seem like there’s no way to win against tooth decay and cavities, but many of your risks can be lowered by making certain choices. Cutting back on sugary foods, using tooth care products that contain fluoride, and regularly visiting your dentist are some simple steps that make a big difference. Don’t let yourself get caught with cavities! Assess your risk, and lower it.

Source: Dentist News

20 Things That Could Ruin Your Smile

Posted on: August 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Your smile is one of your best assets, so, of course, you want to keep it sparkling.

But even if you brush, use white strips, and visit your dentist twice a year, it may not be enough.

Here are some factors that can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums, and put a serious damper on your smile.

1. Sports Drinks

In the last decade, sports beverages have become increasingly popular, but they aren’t great for your teeth.

“Scientific research has found that the pH levels in many sports drinks could lead to tooth erosion due to their high concentration of acidic components, which could wear away at the tooth’s enamel,” says David F. Halpern, DMD, FAGD, president of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Additionally, these drinks are often high in sugars that act as “food” for acid-producing bacteria, which then sneak into the cracks and crevices in your teeth, causing cavities and tooth decay.

2. Bottled Water

Tap water often contains fluoride—about 60% of people in the U.S. have fluoride in their water supply.

However, most bottled waters contain less fluoride than recommended for good oral health (it will be listed as an ingredient on the label if it is an additive).

“Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before damage is even visible,” explains Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson, Charles H. Perle, DMD, FAGD. “Studies have confirmed [that] the most effective source of fluoride is water fluoridation.”

3. Diabetes

Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, so you’re at a risk for gum disease. Brushing, flossing, and monitoring your blood sugar can help.

“Diabetes is directly related to periodontal disease, so seeing the dentist and having your triglycerides and cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis is also crucial,” stresses Perle.

Perle also points out that research has shown that diabetics can reduce the amount of insulin they need to take by maintaining good gum health.

4. Tobacco

Smoking turns your teeth yellow, but it can be much more damaging than that.

“Using any form of tobacco can harm your teeth and gums in a number of ways,” says Halpern.

“It can cause throat, lung, and mouth cancer, and even death. Additionally, the tar from tobacco forms a sticky film on teeth, which harbors bacteria that promote acid production and create irritating toxins, both of which cause gum inflammation, tooth decay, and loss.”

5. Wine

Wine drinkers beware: Regular wine consumption can harm tooth enamel.

According to Halpern, wine’s acidity can dissolve the tooth structure, and both red and white wine can increase dental staining. Still, you don’t have to give up your regular glass of vino to save your smile.

“Enamel erosion develops when wine drinkers swish the wine, keeping it in constant contact with the enamel, so instead, take small sips and rinse with water when you’re done drinking,” advises Perle.

6. Pregnancy

It’s especially important to take care of your teeth and gums when you’re expecting, since studies show a link between untreated gum disease and pre-term and low-birth-weight babies.

“Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy, particularly surges in estrogen and progesterone, can cause inflammation of the gums, which can lead to gingivitis (red, swollen, tender gums that are more likely to bleed) and put you at risk for infection,” says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson, Gigi Meinecke, DDS, FAGD.

If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth with water or rub your teeth with a paste of baking soda and water to neutralize the acid caused by vomiting, since it can lead to tooth decay.

7. Diet Pills

Even though they may seem like a quick way to trim your waist, diet pills can also be a fast track to gum disease and tooth decay.

“Like many over-the-counter and prescription medications, diet pills decrease salivary flow, which causes dry mouth and puts you at risk for gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, and discomfort,” says Halpern.

Bottom line: A balanced diet and exercise are the safest way to lose weight and protect your smile.

8. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can affect your jaw, cause pain, and even change the appearance of your face.

“People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and so hard that over time, they wear away their tooth’s enamel, causing chipping and sensitivity,” says Halpern.

Stress and anger can increase nighttime teeth grinding. “Finding ways to alleviate these feelings can help, but it’s also important to see your dentist, who can recommend solutions like a custom night guard,” advises Perle.

9. Candy

Contrary to what mom said, sugar won’t directly rot your teeth—but the acid produced when you eat sugar and carbohydrates can.

“Naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth devour sugar, creating acids that attack tooth enamel, which can lead to decay and a host of other problems, including gingivitis and cavities,” says Halpern.

The worst thing you can do is leave sugar lingering on your teeth and gums. Eating any amount of candy and brushing and flossing immediately is actually less damaging than not brushing after eating one piece before bedtime, says Halpern.

If you can’t brush after a snack attack, eat cheese or yogurt, or chew sugarless gum to boost saliva flow and neutralize acids.

10. Puberty

The hormonal surge that occurs during puberty can cause more than acne—it can also result in swollen gums that are more sensitive to plaque. This can lead to gum infections, gingivitis, and mouth sores, say Halpern.

“But typically the gums only respond in such a manner if hygiene care is poor,” he adds. Make sure your teen brushes and flosses daily, and sees a dentist regularly.

11. Dry Mouth

A dry mouth isn’t just unpleasant, it’s bad for your teeth. Saliva washes away cavity-causing bacteria and neutralizes harmful acids.

“Without saliva, you would lose your teeth much faster—it helps prevent tooth decay and other oral health problems,” says Meinecke.

Drink lots of water, chew sugarless gum, use a fluoride toothpaste or rinse, and consider over-the-counter artificial saliva substitutes. See your doctor if it’s a frequent problem.

12. Dieting

Restrictive diets and poor eating habits can deprive you of the vitamins and nutrients necessary for a beautiful smile.

It’s especially important to get enough folate, B vitamins, protein, calcium, and vitamin C—all of which are considered essential for healthy teeth and gums.

“Poor nutrition can affect your entire immune system, increasing your susceptibility to many disorders and infections, including periodontal disease,” says Halpern.

13. Hot Drinks

Your hot-drink habit may be one reason your teeth look a little dingy.

“Black tea and coffee contain stain-promoting tannins that lodge into the pits and grooves of the tooth enamel, producing a rough, stained surface, which is sticky and can retain decay-producing bacteria,” says Halpern.

Consume such beverages in moderation, drink more water every day, and add milk to your coffee or tea to help neutralize the acids, says Perle.

14. Aging

As you age, you’re more susceptible to decay near old fillings or root surfaces unprotected by receding gums. But there’s no reason you can’t keep your teeth. Oral disease—not aging per se—is the danger.

Bumping up your fluoride protection is key. And if you have arthritis, there are dental products that can make brushing and flossing less painful.

“Seniors who brush regularly with fluoride toothpaste or use fluoride rinses or gels regularly have fewer cavities,” adds Meinecke.

15. Birth Control Pills

Because oral contraceptives mimic pregnancy, they can also lead to gum inflammation and infections, including gingivitis.

Additionally, some studies have shown that women who use birth control pills may have more trouble healing after tooth extractions and are twice as likely to develop painful dry sockets where the tooth used to be.

If you use birth control pills, it’s not a bad idea to discuss their effect with your dentist before major procedures.

16. Not Flossing

Although many of us are much more diligent about brushing than flossing, they are equally important.

“Flossing every day is one of the best things you can do to take care of your teeth. It’s the single most important factor in preventing periodontal disease, which affects more than 50% of adults,” says Meinecke.

Flossing helps remove plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums, and gives you a brighter smile by polishing the tooth’s surface; it even helps control bad breath.

17. Brushing at the Wrong Time

Although we’ve been taught to brush after every meal, depending on what you eat or drink, that’s not always the best advice.

“After consuming high-acid food or drinks, like wine, coffee, citrus fruits, and soft drinks, rinse with water to neutralize the acids, but wait an hour before reaching for the toothpaste,” says Meinecke.

“Brushing teeth immediately after drinking carbonated drinks and acidic foods can cause erosion.”

18. Overzealous Whitening

It is not clear whether bleaching erodes tooth enamel, but it can increase sensitivity, especially when done too often.

Even at-home whitening treatments should be used with moderation, as some whitening toothpastes and gels contain abrasive ingredients that can increase tooth sensitivity, which can be painful.

Plus, as you get older, whitening products can only do so much, so after a certain point, using more won’t necessarily do anything for your smile.

19. Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are chock-full of sugar, which puts you at a risk for cavities, tooth decay, and gum infections, and dark colas can also stain your teeth, leaving you with a lackluster smile.

Meinecke recommends drinking soda through a straw and rinsing with water or chewing sugar-free gum after consumption to neutralize the acids.

She also recommends waiting at least an hour before brushing.

20. Citric and Acidic Foods

“Although lemons, grapefruits, and citrus juices don’t directly cause cavities, like soft drinks, they contain acids, which cause erosion of the tooth enamel, weakening the tooth and making it prone to decay,” says Meinecke.

Waiting to brush, rinsing your mouth with water, or chewing sugar-free gum can help. In particular, consider xylitol, a natural sweetener found in plants and fruits that was FDA approved as a food additive in 1986.

Found in sugar-free gum, mints, and toothpastes, xylitol can inhibit the cavity-causing oral bacteria. “Dentists will often recommend patients chew at least two pieces per day if they are at high risk for developing cavities,” explains Meinecke.

Source: Yahoo! Health

How to Care for Your Teeth

Posted on: July 30th, 2011 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Want to make sure that your teeth are well taken care of? If you don’t take care of your teeth, it won’t be long before cavities and unhealthy gums make your mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult. You won’t feel like smiling much either. This article will help you out!

Brushing Your Teeth

Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, for two minutes each time. Make sure you brush on all sides of your teeth and get your tongue. You can ask your dentist or hygienist for a demonstration. It is best to brush one of these times before you go to bed, as your mouth does not have the same salivary protection when you are sleeping as it does during the day. If you can, brush after lunch as well. Brushing during the day will reduce the damage caused by plaque byproducts and toxins.

  • Each tooth has five distinct sides; a toothbrush cleans only 3 of those 5 sides. The other two sides are where much of the destruction and disease (not to mention foul odors) originate: the in between areas. These remaining two sides require dental floss or tiny inter-dental brushes that can reach in-between and under the contact points of the teeth. Gum disease is linked to life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and premature low birth weight babies.
  • Use a bristled toothbrush for the first two minutes of cleaning. It’s not the toothpaste that “cleans” your teeth, it’s the mechanical action of the bristles in physical contact with the tooth surface that removes plaque (a living bio-film teeming with microorganisms that cause disease). You can do a magnificent job brushing your teeth using a toothbrush and rinsing with water (although your teeth will not have the benefit of fluoride).
  • Spend time moving the bristles at and below the gum line, where it it most important to clean. Toothpaste can give you the advantage of fluoride, whitening, stain removal or whatever works better for you because it’s applied to a nice clean surface.

Floss Your Teeth

  • Floss your teeth daily and after any food that will stick in your teeth (i.e. corn on the cob, caramel, peanut butter, etc.). This cleans the other sides of your teeth that you couldn’t reach with your toothbrush.
  • Use a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper is an important part of oral hygiene that will also work wonders with stale, smelly breath. Use it to remove the plaque on your tongue, which will freshen breath and presumably slow down the accumulation of plaque on your teeth. Alternatively, you can use your toothbrush to clean your tongue.

Use Mouth Wash

  • Find a fluoride mouthwash. Fluoride mouthwashes help to strengthen tooth enamel. Teach children between the age of six and twelve good rinsing skills to prevent swallowing. Follow the directions on the bottle. Right before you got to bed is a good time.

Choose Your Foods Wisely

  • Avoid snacking constantly. Snacking constantly can cause plaque to build up on your teeth, which can increase the risk of getting cavities.
  • Instead of reaching for the chocolate, nibble a bit of cheese as a snack. Cheese and milk are really good for keeping healthy teeth because they are alkaline. This counteracts the acids that eat away at your teeth.
  • Avoid sugary and/or sticky foods. Sugar feeds the bacteria in your mouth, which then excrete substances that break down tooth enamel.
  • Eat lots of vegetables, and drink water instead of soda or juice.
  • Remember that fruit juices are full of acids and natural sugars. Keep drinking these to a minimum or only drink them at meal-times, when the saliva is flowing most.

Visit the dentist

  • Visit your dentist at least every six months and every time that you have a problem with your teeth. Schedule a professional cleaning with a registered dental hygienist. Visit the dentist twice a year to be an “informed health care consumer” and pay attention to what is going on. Ask your dental hygienist what your probings are at each visit! (They should be between 1 mm and 3 mm deep.)
  • Most important: In addition to checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist and dental hygienist can give you feedback about how effective your plaque removal at home is, and more importantly help you learn the best way to brush and floss. You need to know how to prevent problems by having your skills evaluated. If you are not effective with flossing and brushing technique, you are only wasting your time while leaving the door open for infection and disease. How many times a day you brush & floss, or how long you spend brushing are all SECONDARY to your degree of skill using them. It all boils down to whether or not you can effectively reach and remove the adherent biofilm surrounding every one of your teeth, at and below the gumline. Ask your dental hygienist to watch your technique and work with you! That’s what we’re there for!

Tips

  • Understand that when you brush, you don’t need a lot of toothpaste; just squeeze out a bit the size of a pea.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three months.
  • Spend extra time on the back teeth along the gum-line, holding the bristles at a 45 degree angle pointing toward the gums, as plaque and other bacteria can build up easily there because of your saliva stream.
  • Everyone has millions of bacteria living in their mouths that have one goal: find a hard surface to stick to and grow into a community. This happens rapidly and automatically, whether we know it or not, twenty-four hours a day, and three hundred and sixty-five days a year. It cannot be avoided because our bacteria are part of us and present whether we like it or not. Once they attach themselves to a tooth surface, they form what is called “plaque” – the invisible film that coats your teeth. You have probably felt this ‘fuzzy sweater’ feeling on your teeth when you wake up in the morning and run your tongue along the outside of the upper back teeth next to your cheek. Taking care of your teeth involves disrupting the plaque by means of physical contact with dental floss and toothbrush bristles.
  • Use a thorough, effective technique with a slow circular motion aimed AT and BELOW the gumline, inside and out, top and bottom. Brushing too hard may abrade your gums or cause them to recede and/or bleed, while brushing too soft will do nothing to get rid of plaque/biofilm.
  • Floss your teeth before brushing. This is so that plaque from the outside and inside surfaces of the teeth gets dislodged too be killed when you brush.
  • Aim the bristles toward the gumline and brush the insides and outsides of your teeth in a small circular motion.
  • Use a linear motion to brush the top sides of your teeth (chewing surfaces).
  • When brushing the back sides of your front teeth, hold the toothbrush upright (vertical) and move it up and down along each individual tooth – both lower and upper arches. Repeat several times for each tooth.
  • Use mouth wash after brushing.
  • Chewing gum between meals, especially if the gum is sweetened with xylitol, helps keep your mouth moist, and your teeth cleaner, both of which are good for your teeth.
  • Get into the habit of drinking with a straw, as this directs the (possibly sugary) drink away from your teeth.
  • If you smoke, you will be more prone to gum infection and bone loss.
  • Don’t forget to brush the back of your tongue and the upper palate of your mouth.
  • When you use mouthwash, use as directed on the bottle, read all instructions BEFORE using the product.
  • New prescription toothpastes are now available that can actually reverse early lesions (cavities) by remineralization and also bring added protection to those areas on the verge of breaking down. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about these products… they are a major breakthrough in preventing decay!
  • Bulimia can wreak havoc on your teeth, causing irreversible damage from the strong acid in your stomach that comes back up into the mouth while regurgitating. When you have a check up at the dentist, this destruction is clearly visible to them.
  • Try and drink milk, as it is high in calcium. Calcium helps bones and teeth to grow stronger.

Warnings

  • Don’t swallow toothpaste. Be sure to rinse and spit after brushing.
  • Less is more. Don’t floss, brush teeth, or scrape tongue too roughly. Over-brushing or rough flossing can cause gums to recede.
  • Some toothpastes are not recommended to be used daily if they are too strong – check the label of your toothpaste for details.
  • Never brush your teeth right after a big meal. Wait about a half an hour and then go. Otherwise, you could damage your enamel!
  • Don’t swallow mouth wash.
  • After having an especially sugary drink, washing your mouth out with water or milk will help get rid of harmful acids.
  • Don’t use a brush with firm bristles, as this will scratch away at the protective layer that coats your teeth.

Things You’ll Need

  • Toothpaste
  • A good quality toothbrush, electric or manual, (soft bristled).
  • Dental floss
  • Tongue cleaner(Can use your toothbrush).
  • Sugar free chewing gum (for use during and after meals), can even use whitening gum!
  • Mouth wash (It can help restore some enamel). If you have weak enamel use pronamal toothpaste.

Source: Wikihow