Posted by drgracesun on June 25, 2009 under Dental Products, General Dental Knowledge, Gum Disease and Treatment, Healthy Smile, Hygiene, Information | 
“Only floss the teeth you want to keep!” It’s a funny punch line, emphasizing the importance of flossing, but it’s true. Flossing your teeth after meals (and twice daily) is just as important as brushing to keep your mouth clean, healthy and fresh.
Remember to floss!
Flossing is very efficient in removing plaque and debris that accumulates between the teeth and underneath portions of the gum pocket. This should be an essential part of your daily oral cleaning process. When plaque (a sticky bacterial substance that accumulates on curved tooth surfaces and crevices) is removed, dental diseases can be prevented, along with gum problem and bad breath (which require both brushing and flossing to prevent). If one fails to keep up their oral hygiene, tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis 
and periodontitis, respectively) will affect your oral health.
Proper flossing technique is also critical. Begin by taking a piece of floss (around 12-18 inches) and wrapping it around your two index fingers tightly, with plenty of slack on each side. Move the piece of floss between each tooth, wrapping the floss around the curved sides of each tooth in a C-shape, sliding up and down several times beneath the surface of the gum. Between each teeth site will be two curved sides for flossing except for the far back molars. Be sure to move the floss down as far as possible, beneath the gum line, as this loosens and breaks up food buildup and initial bacteria buildup.If you have dental bridges or braces, the flossing technique will need to be slightly altered. A dental threader will be carry the floss passing under the jointed teeth contact area, and then the individual can pump up and down in typical flossing strokes. If you notice some bleeding, it is a sign of inflammation of the gum tissue – this usually signals the early stages of gingivitis. Keep up your proper home care routine and the condition will improve. If the condition of bleeding upon brushing and flossing lasts more than two weeks, get some help from your dental professional.
There are several different types of floss (including waxed, unwaxed, and tape floss) – normally, easy gliding thin floss (like Glide) will be a good choice for average dental conditions. Gapped teeth or in areas under a dental bridge should require tape floss. Remember, you can get advice from your dental professional to find out which is the best choice for you.
For people who have arthritis, advanced periodontal conditions or other issues of dexterity, additional dental cleaning home equipment will be very helpful. Electric tooth brushes (like Rotadent and Sonicare) and dental irrigators (like Hydrofloss and Waterpik) are very efficient tools to maintain proper oral hygiene. Remember to brush and floss twice daily (and after meals)! These important habits and routines will keep your teeth healthy, happy and looking fabulous!
Tags: brush, brushing, clean, cleaning, floss, flossing, hydrofloss, hygiene, rotadent, threader, waterpik
Posted by drgracesun on June 22, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Products, General Dental Knowledge, Information, Tooth Whitening |
It is wonderful to have a dazzling white smile, and there are dozens of DIY or OTC teeth whitening products available – the demand is high! They promise to whiten your teeth in as little as 4-6 weeks, at a fraction of the cost of professional whitening done by your dental professional. Sounds like a great idea, but beaware, these fly-by-night whitening systems can potentially damage your teeth by wearing away at the enamel of your smile, weakening the teeth and leaving your oral health to suffer.0.
A study recently completed by the Ohio State University College of Dentistry evaluated the hardness of human enamel with the use of five name-brand tooth whiteners, comparing their values to non-treated enamel. Decreased hardness and elastic modulus of enamel were found in the study, and the conclusion read: “Nanohardness of human enamel was significantly decreased after usage of home-bleaching systems. The elastic modulus of enamel was also affecte by some bleaching systems”
Once tooth enamel hardness and elastic modulus has been reduced, a number of problems can start occurring. Teeth with weakened enamel are primarily more brittle and porous than healthy teeth, and are more likely to chip and break with little pressure. The savings in purchasing an OTC whitening kit over visiting your dentist could be reversed, many times over, if you were to chip or otherwise damage your teeth!
Before starting the teeth whitening process, it is best have your teeth evaluated by a dental professional – there may be a hidden cavity or weakened enamel already existing. Existing restorations, gum recession , tooth erosion and root exposure might be affected by the bleaching process. If you do decide to go through the bleaching process, keep your mouth clean, brush right after meals and beverages and brush after usage of any whitening products. This will help to maintain the health of your tooth structure. Stay away from foods or beverages that are acidic, or have a staining effect. Lastly, check into whether an added fluoride treatment could be beneficial in strengthening and/or remineralizing your enamel. It feels great to have a set of healthy whites – just be wise about your whitening decision! Speak with your dental professional for more information and go for that smile you’ve always wanted.
Posted by drgracesun on June 12, 2009 under Children, Dental Products, General Dental Knowledge, Information, Nutrition and Diet, Smart Smile |
The American Dental Association (ADA) has given its golden seal to brand name fluoridated toothpastes for their cavity fighting features. It’s no surprise really – topical use of fluoride has been proven to be effective at inhibiting tooth demineralization, promoting remineralization and inhibiting the growth of bacteria associated with tooth decay. Fluoride is marketed in the US as a bone fortifier and is administered at the dentist’s office for nearly all pre-adolescent teeth cleanings. Finally, the idea of fluoridated water may seem like a great thing to add to your new child’s water, because it fortifies teeth – but beware! What isn’t so well known is that the potential toxicity of fluoride is dangerous, and if swallowed in concentrated form or ingested over a longer period of time, it may have potentially damaging side effects.
In 1977, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) specified adequate intakes of fluoride of 0.01 mg/day for infants through 6 months, 0.05 mg/kg/day for children beyond 6 months of age, and 3 – 4 mg/day for adults, to prevent dental caries. Upper limits (UL) of 0.10 mg/kg/day in children less than 8 years old and 10 mg/day for those older than 8 are recommended for prevention of dental fluorosis. Similar levels have been endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA, 1994) and the American Dietetic Association (ADA, 2000). What does this all mean? Fluoride has an affinity for calcified tissues. The trace amount of daily intake of fluoride is beneficial, but too much of it can result in patchy or mottled looking teeth, known as dental fluorosis (or brittle bones, known as skeletal fluorosis). Studies are needed for health researchers to investigate the relationship between intake levels and human health. 75% of our daily fluoride intake is from water or beverages, like tea and juices.
The fluoride content of a water supply is often described by the term ‘parts per million’ (ppm). 1 ppm = 0.1 milligrams of fluoride per 100 milliliters of water. About 1 ppm seems to be the optimal level of fluoride for a drinkable water supply; a litre of such water would provide 1 milligrams of fluoride. At 2 ppm, mottling of tooth enamel may occur. The actual condition of ‘fluorosis’ or excessive deposition of fluoride in bones is only present after prolonged consumption of 20 to 80 milligrams of fluoride per day.
Repeated exposure to fluorine in naturally-occurring forms (such as in fruits and other produce) is one thing, but overexposing your child to fluoridated baby formula (identifiable by needing to add water to the formula) could put your child’s appearance – and bodily health – at risk. The key take-home message for parents is to avoid added fluoridated liquids or even foods of any kind. No level of fluoride is perfectly safe, and ideally, we wouldn’t need to use it at all – however, fluoride’s teeth strengthening properties, when used in proper doses, can be a beneficial additive.
If your child does develop dark-spotted or mottled teeth after getting his or her primary teeth, pay close attention to their diet! Nutrition should be strictly monitored for fluoride ingestion (including toothpaste!) – if so, he or she should have perfectly clear, spotless permanent teeth erupting around age 5. Experts also agree that it is a good idea to test the water from your home water lines, to see if it is overly fluoridated. Simple take-home tests are available from your local water or health bureau, or can often give past and current fluoride level readings. Do your research to protect your child’s and your health.
Tags: adolescent, baby, child, cleaning, damage, discoloration, fluoride, fluorosis, food, formula, milk, stain, staining, stains, teeth, tooth, toxic, water
