Cleaner Mouth = Better Braces!

Posted by drgracesun on October 30, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Healthy Smile, Hygiene, Orthodontics | Read the First Comment

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.

“Brushing For A Healthy Heart?”

Posted by drgracesun on June 1, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information | Be the First to Comment

“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.

“How Do I Get Kissable Breath?”

Posted by drgracesun on March 1, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information | Be the First to Comment

Halitosis, or bad breath can affect a person’s self-confidence, self-esteem and can be downright embarrassing.

Because most people are accustomed to their own smell, it could be difficult to tell if you have bad breath without someone else’s help. Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are usually the cause of bad breath, which are created when you eat and chew food, when proteins are broken down into amino acids, an important step in digestion. When these compounds are not removed from the oral cavity through proper oral hygiene (brushing and flossing after every meal), bad breath results. Most offending particulates that cause bad breath live on the back of your tongue. Your dentist can use a tool called a halimeter to measure the sulfur levels in your mouth. Bad habits such as drinking or smoking can also cause bad breath, and the offending odor usually lingers long after the cigarette or drink has been consumed. Dry mouth loosening the self-cleansing saliva can also contribute to an odorous mouth.

Most factors contributing to halitosis are self-curable, with proper diet, good oral hygiene and habitually drinking plenty of water. There are, however, a few cases in which bad breath is not self-treatable. Gum disease, cavities or problematic dental restorations trapping bacteria in the crevices around your teeth and gums can cause severe halitosis. Certain medical disorders and sinus or respiratory infections can also lead to bad breath – if you suspect you suffer from any of these maladies, see your dental professional. Although some people believe bad breath can come from the stomach, most medical professionals agree that your tummy is a very unlikely source of bad breath – unless, of course, you are belching.

You do want kissable breath, don’t you? If your bad breath is self-perpetuated, the most important thing to do is keep your oral cavity healthy. In addition to brushing and flossing after meals, be sure to clean your tongue. A tongue scraper will effectively remove all food particles from the surface of your tongue (a toothbrush can be used as well). Avoid foods that are particularly strong in smell (garlic, onions, etc…). Keep yourself hydrated with water (a moist mouth will actually smell better than a dry mouth – sweet baby breath is partly due to constant drooling!), and if you are unable to drink water, chew sugarless gum (which will promote saliva generation). Finally, always have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined twice a year. Essential oil-containing mouthwashes like Tooth and Gum Tonic can also inhibit bad breath for hours and will not dry out your mouth like alcoholic mouthwash, which you should stay away from. Stopping bad habits like drinking and smoking will also benefit your mouth greatly.