Trick or treat! The sweetest and most scary time of the year! Saturday eve, your street will likely be filled with ghouls, vampires and princesses all vying for your sugar-laden loot. Be it chocolate, sweet tarts or candy corn, be careful! It is important to remind the little ones that sweets will not be so sweet if we do not carefully clean it afterward!
We all know that we should brush and floss after every meal, especially after eating sweets, as within minutes, the sugar turns to acid and bacteria strives, the erosion and decay process initiates, and your candy isn’t so sweet any longer. Dental decay and gum disease are the consequences of poor oral hygiene conditions. For baby teeth, enamel is thin and not hard, and is very vulnerable to decay. Bad oral health is not isolated to the mouth, but can cause systemic problems including (but not limited to) heart disease, digestive problems and even dementia. It has been theorized that inflammation from periodontal disease, a hard-to-cure condition in which the bacteria get into your blood stream increases inflammation throughout your body, which challenges the body’s immune system, making it more susceptible to sickness.
A few examples of systemic health problems stemming from periodontitis include increased blood sugar levels in diabetics and a doubled likelihood of developing coronary artery disease. Expectant mothers with gum disease may also be several times more likely to give birth to a premature, underweight and sick child.
We all need to get into the habit of carrying our oral health tools – a toothbrush and floss. This is a particularly good habit to develop if you have children, encouraging them to brush after meals even in school, restaurants and when traveling. The minimum is that at least morning and night, twice a day, a mandatory oral hygiene routine is carried out. If your child has a sweet tooth or is prone to cavities, additional fluoride treatments might be necessary to strengthen the enamel, preventing a cavity. Ask your dental professional to be a part of the game plan to better equip your child in life for a healthy and happy mouth. If we can develop our child’s hygiene habits early on, that is a precious gift!
Halloween is scary season, and not just for costumes – it’s cavity season as well. Instilling good habits in your kids will ensure a healthy, bright and white future for your child’s teeth, and for their overall health as well.
In a recent study released by the Oral Health Journal, a systematic evaluation of patient oral hygiene for orthodontic patients has revealed stunning information that links poor patient oral hygiene with impacted orthodontic treatment quality and treatment times.
When a person seeks out orthodontic treatment to fix a problem (crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, etc…), he or she must realize that the bone is actually being remodeled. Orthodontic treatment rearrange teeth into a proper alignment, which pressure transfer to the roots of the teeth within the jawbone. Bone is actually lost and added during this process as the teeth are repositioned to their proper places as reaching the treatment goal.
Poor oral hygiene will influence your tooth and gum structures negatively. The progress of orthodontic treatment consist of inflammatory and regenerative responses. A mouth with plaque and tartar build-up will trigger the body’s inflammatory response, amplifying the already inflamed structures associated with orthodontic treatment and can lead to a prolonged inflammatory stage and a delayed regenerative phase within orthodontic treatment. Poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can and will have a damaging affect on your treatment goals as well. Reports have shown that “poor oral hygiene can increase treatment times from 1.2 to 2.2 months – other consequences of poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment affect the quality of the end result of treatment.” Whereas standard orthodontic treatment (in a clean mouth) leads to the balanced loss and gain of bone, poor oral hygiene restricts the ability of new bone to grow, affecting the treatment results.
Orthodontic treatment seeks to improve a patient’s oral health, but what every patient must remember is that a treatment plan can only be fully realized if both the doctor and the patient are making concerted efforts to correct a problem and stick with a course of action. A patient’s oral health cannot improve without patient compliance. If a patient sees his or her orthodontic specialist (or physician or dentist) on a regular basis but does not fulfill his or her duties to maintain a clean and healthy oral environment, no improvement will ever be seen. A doctor and a patient must work together to obtain a successful result.
Remember that your dental professional may be a miracle worker, but that does not retract your obligation to maintain proper oral hygiene (or any other instructed daily routines)! Any orthodontic treatment plan is a dual-sided plan that requires dedication from both the physician and the patient. Without proper compliance from the patient, prolonged treatment time and reduced oral improvement will result.
How much water do you use in a day? A gallon? Five gallons? Sadly, few people at all know how much they use, but the amount is estimated to be as high as 60 gallons per person per day, including showers and toilet flushes. This figure has tripled since 1900! What also may seriously surprise you to learn is that the average American (who leaves their tap water on while brushing their teeth) wastes an average of 3.75 gallons of water every time they brush his or her teeth! If you brush your teeth with the tap running, you waste an average of 4 gallons. With tap off you only use 0.25 gallons.
Turn the water off!
With water shortages becoming more and more of a serious problem for more and more Americans in drought areas, conservation efforts must be stepped up if we expect our water supply to last. One of the easiest and simplest ways to do this is to turn off the tap while you brush your teeth! A person doesn’t actually need all of the water flowing out of a faucet head while brushing his or her teeth – a full cup of water will suffice just fine for an entire brushing session, including rinsing.
Whether you are concerned about ever-rising utility bills, the environment or even if you aren’t concerned with either, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth is a simple, easy step everyone can take to make his or her lifestyle more sustainable. Just wet your toothbrush, brush thoroughly for two minutes and then rinse your mouth with water from a cup. Clean your toothbrush in the cup with the remaining water and then rinse off again with a short spurt of running tap water. Shake off the excess water on the toothbrush, rest your toothbrush in an upright position and let it air dry until next time.
Any homeowner or apartment-dweller can take a multitude of steps to save both water and money in their homes by installing a low-flow shower head in your bathrooms, replacing leaky faucets and placing a brick or a gallon-sized milk jug in his or her toilet reservoir. Newer washing machines (both clothing and dishes) also have “high efficiency” water ratings which guarantee that a specific amount of water will be used when running the appliance. Save the planet, save your wallet and save our water by turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth!
Healthy gum appears pink and firm. Brushing and flossing in the healthy stages of gum tissue will be a pleasant experience and there will be no bleeding. This is the phase that all gum tissue should be in if it is healthy and clean. Once gingivitis sets in (the beginning stages of gum disease), gums will take on a red and puffy look, and bleed easily upon brushing and flossing. Once gum disease progresses, the chances of returning to a healthy condition deceases drastically – once gum tissue has reached the advanced level, it is likely past of the point of no return and will result in tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the #1 reason of tooth loss.
Healthy gums and teeth
Gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease, if treated professionally (with an implemented solid home care program), gum can return to be healthy again without further consequences. So how do we categorize the stages of gum disease (besides the clinical characteristics)? A bleeding index and dental radiographs help, along with periodontal probing depths, which are universally used as guide to diagnose and monitor the progress of the treatment and condition of gum disease. The periodontal probing depths are obtained with a read-out, by lightly inserting a needle (thin and finely marked instrument) sliding between the space between the gum and tooth.
The stage of gingivitis.
Gingivitis, could have a normal pocket reading of 0 to 3 mm. Gum will be red, puffy, and tender, it will bleed easily and possibly exhibit bad breath and bad taste.
Early (mild) periodontitis will show a pocket reading range from 3 t o 5 mm. At this stage, gum gets more tender, bleeds more easily, and there is always looming bad breath and bad taste. At this stage of gum disease, immediate attention and treatment is required if there is any chance of reversing the condition to an easily-manageable and healthy state.
Mild Periodontitis
Moderate Periodontitis is characterized by a periodontal pocket depth of 5-7mm. Gum tissue may become even redder and puffier, it will bleed easily, and bad breath and bad mouth taste are constant.Often times teeth may begin to look longer as gum tissue recedes, and gum boils or abscesses may develop. Front teeth may begin to drift apart showing space or becoming loose.
Moderate Periodontitis
Advanced Periodotitis gets a pocket measurement of more than 7 millimeters, and may progress to 11 or 12 mm, indicating that bone and connective tissues have been continuously destroyed. This is the terminal stage of gum disease. If a patient has just been diagnosed with advanced periodontitis and the teeth are still firm (pockets are less than 9mm, with longer roots, and more localized condition), then there is possibility that with gum surgery and graft, bone regeneration still is possible. Keep in mind however, that the prognosis is guarded. In most situations, advanced periodontitis will result in tooth loss. Replacement implant therapy or other restorative options will be advised.
Advanced Periodontitis
Remember that prevention is the best treatment, especially for gum disease. You are the person who can best take care of yourself, be disciplined with your home care program (including hygiene) and schedule regular check-ups with both your dentist and dental hygienist who can help you stay away of big problems.
It’s known that gum disease can lead to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Interesting new research results, however, have named plaque a key contributor to fever and illness in the elderly.
In an all-too-common trend in dental research, university researchers are discovering that poor oral health almost consistently leads to systemic problems throughout the body. In the latest example reported in The Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, the following was released: “Researchers studied 271 older people who were long term hospital patients. The study lasted one year. In that time, people with high oral plaque levels and at least 10 teeth were more than 5 times as likely to have fever as were people with 1 to 9 teeth.” Among the elderly with no teeth, those with more plaque on their tongues were 5 times as likely to have fever as people with cleaner tongues.
Several studies like the one described above have suggested that poor oral health and poor oral hygiene in all patients can affect overall health. The bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal (gum) disease may be risk factors for some types of pneumonia in older adults, as poor oral hygiene may be linked with pneumonia or difficulty breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This recent study only serves as further evidence of the importance of oral hygiene and upkeep: a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy nervous system and defense system. Brush and floss twice daily, as well as after meals. Using tongue scraper or brush to remove plaque build up on the tongue. Avoid alcohol and tobacco when possible, and brush / rinse after such activities. Curtail poor oral habits in order to save your mouth from excessive plaque build-up.Have regular dental check up, early detection and treatment of dental and gum problem will allow a cleaner oral environment enable decrease the plaque build up.
Getting old is part of life cycle, but not with our attitude nor our oral condition. With proper care, our teeth will outlast us, keepup our oral health can do tons of good for our quality of life.
“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!
Brushing your teeth is probably the most universally recognized and practiced personal hygiene routine. After every meal (and both before and after sleeping), you should brush your teeth to prevent food particles from breeding harmful bacteria in your oral cavity – however, what is the role of toothpaste?
The basic benefit of a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste on your toothbrush when cleaning your teeth is its ability to lubricate – when combined with a proper brushing technique, toothpaste fortifies your brushing routine to remove plaque (built-up bacteria that grows on your teeth causing cavities, and when left long enough, gum disease).
As you probably know, toothpaste contains fluoride, which when applied to the outer enamel layer of a tooth makes the entire surface structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, tooth strength and rigidity, which aides in preventing cavity formation. Fluoride can even repair early decay before damage can be seen! I have previously written about the possible dangers of fluoride, but if toothpaste is not swallowed (and application is strictly monitored by parents of children), fluoride can be a very helpful addition to toothpaste, making the use of toothpaste when brushing one’s teeth quite beneficial.
Finally, toothpaste does incorporate several special ingredients to provide different side-benefits: triclosan fights against plaque forming microbes, pyrophosphate is a tartar control agent, potassium nitrate is a desensitizer, carbamide peroxide is a bleaching agent, baking soda is a mild abrasives and PH neutralizer and sodium lauryl sulfate is detergent to carry away debris. Ask your dental professional if your dental condition requires special toothpaste in order to receive the maximum benefits of a typical tooth brushing routine. In general, the inactive ingredients in toothpaste like thickeners and water softeners provide the right consistency, moisture, flavor and sweetness for a more pleasurable experience.
If you are getting lip sores, check to see whether the toothpaste you use has lauryl sulfates, which can be irritating to certain tissues. All-natural herbal toothpastes like Tooth & Gum Paste exist which are in fact antibacterial but contain no artificial chemicals.
So remember, choose your favorite toothpastes and use them! You can even have several different toothpastes and tooth-brushes to make your tooth brushing routine more interesting! A proper brushing (and flossing) technique will keep out the stains, lower the risk of dental diseases, help freshen breath and fight mild halitosis. Be confident with your smile, brush and floss!
Have you ever thought “when I grow into my golden years, I’ll never smile – my teeth will have fallen out!” It should be common knowledge that teeth do not fall out naturally as part of the aging process, quite the contrary! Teeth are lost in seniors primarily due to poor oral hygiene, resulting in tooth and gum disease. If seniors properly take care of their teeth and maintain regular check ups with their dentist, their teeth will be healthy and strong throughout their entire lives!
It’s no surprise that senior oral health is a top priority and concern for dental professionals across the United States – senior citizens are the fastest growing demographic due to the baby boomer generation, and will soon make up the largest age group in the country! For such a big group, it would seem common sense that dentists are seeing increasing numbers of senior patients, but this is sadly not true. “Seniors often take long absences from seeing the dentist,” says AGD spokesperson Nick Russo, DDS. “Sometimes they stop caring as much because they’re not out in the public very much, and they think oral hygiene doesn’t matter.” I have even had patients in their 80s and 90s who have even received orthodontic treatment (braces)! A person is never too young.
The truth of the matter, however, is that oral health matters just as much for seniors as it does for middle aged people and even young adults! Deteriorating oral health in old age is a choice, not a factual occurrence – and can be prevented rather easily. A person’s smile is the gateway to their heart, and whether that person is 15 or 115, that smile defines who you are. Keep it beautiful! The most important step for seniors (or their children or caretakers) to remember is that oral health is not a luxury – declining oral health is not purely aesthetic, and systemic problems can arise due to declining oral health. For example, genetic links between gum disease and heart disease have been proven to exist. Be sure to schedule biannual (twice yearly) dental checkups and cleanings. Not only are these appointments important for cleaning the teeth and gums beyond what a person can do at home, these appointments are essential in identifying poor habits, developing oral health problems and even cancer screenings.
After a biannual checkup plan has been cemented, it is key to remember to brush and floss, for two minutes, after every meal. If brushing and flossing is not occurring after meals, food particles turn into bacteria which destroy enamel and gum tissue. Also, stay away from sodas (diet or otherwise!), candy and other sugar-laden foods and drinks. Water or tea would be a much healthier substitute. Extend your beauty and your life by taking your oral health seriously. Your teeth and gums will take care of you, if you take care of them!
Has the global credit crunch put its vice grip on your life? Whether you are hurting in these tough financial times or not, stress is a factor many people have a hard time escaping, and with stress comes habits which can be potentially damaging to your oral health. Cleaning your teeth twice daily with floss and your tooth brush is no doubt important, especially after meals, but what else can you do to keep your mouth clean and healthy in a stressful climate?
Lower stress levels will benefit your oral health!
The global economic crisis has no doubt taken its toll on Americans and global citizens alike, whether that toll is financial stress, family burdens or career changes. Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are among the most common de-stressers in popular American culture, and although these practices may temporarily relieve some of your mental tension, they can create serious problems in your mouth. I have previously discussed the dangers of alcohol in the mouth (and its tendency to increase one’s likelihood of developing oral cancer) as well as the respiratory , cardiovascular and general connective tissue problems associated with smoking cigarettes, but stress often leads to a combination of bad habits and bad oral hygiene.
The best way to avoid declining oral health, of course, is to limit or substitute activities which can damage your health, like smoking and drinking. However, if you find this to be too difficult to overcome (especially in a recession when no job is 100% secure), at least stay vigilant with your daily oral hygiene routine. Brush and floss after every meal, and after drinking or smoking. The idea of brushing your teeth after having a drink may not be appetizing at first, but the acidity from the alcohol will erode your precious teeth away! Keeping up on your oral hygiene routine could also help de-stress your financial life as well: taking care of your mouth can lead to reduced cavity occurrences, less sensitivity, and fewer overall dental problems which will save you money in the long run.
Finally, besides having a healthier diet and an optimistic outlook, regular exercise will help keep yourself in good shape! Keep up your teeth cleanings and check-ups – these are crucial. If you are overdue on a dental cleaning, schedule a visit now! Visiting your dental professional is key in identifying problem areas in your hygiene routine, possible cavities or severe night grinding (which causes excessive wear of your teeth (or other issues)) are usually undetectable without professional consultation. Early detection and preventive measures will prevent costly repair work down the line!
“Brushing for a healthy heart ” is a true statement – the link between gum disease (or the bacteria associate with the gum disease) and the body’s cardiovascular system is tight. Prophylactic measurements (like antibiotics before dental visits, for people who have a valve replacement) have been a practice in our society for quite some time, but German scientists presented a study last Monday (May 25, 2009) at the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna, Austria confirming a link between gum disease and heart disease – simultaneously confirming the importance of maintaining your oral health, not just for your mouth’s well being but for your vital organs as well!
The association between periodontitis and coronary heart disease is not a new concept, but a genetic link between the two is a new concept which provides startling information for dental professionals and patients regarding the gravity of gum disease, as well as its potentially devastating systemic effects throughout the body. Specifically, the researchers were noted as finding “that the two diseases share a genetic variant on chromosome 9. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical.” The link between the two diseases postulated the following conclusion: “we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible,” Dr. Schaefer said, noting that periodontitis and heart disease share risk factors such as smoking and obesity.
Although this information doesn’t change how we should treat oral hygiene or periodontitis, it does serve as a wake-up call for everyone regarding how important our oral hygiene routines should be. It is vital to brush your teeth after every meal (and after that midnight snack)! Late-night and mid-day nibbling can cause the most harm to one’s oral environment, from a lack of desire or motivation to clean both the surface and crevices of the teeth. Bacteria thrive in dirty surroundings! Drinking sugary liquids like soda not only provides zero nutritional value, it also creates unhealthy habits which wreak havoc on the oral environment – stick to water or tea if you can. Remember, once the deterioration of dental structures starts, damage may be very difficult or impossible to reverse or restore completely! Prevention is the best measurement, and it is within your reach. Ask your dental professional about prevention – it is easy to work on, both for a cleaner oral environment and for a stronger bacterial host resistance. A healthy mouth may lead to a healthy heart, and such health is priceless.
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is thin and not hard, and is very vulnerable to decay. Bad oral health is not isolated to the mouth, but can cause systemic problems including (but not limited to) heart disease, digestive problems and even dementia. It has been theorized that inflammation from periodontal disease, a hard-to-cure condition in which the bacteria get into your blood stream increases inflammation throughout your body, which challenges the body’s immune system, making it more susceptible to sickness.
