Erie Dentistry Today

India.com Health August 30, 2013 at 11:50 am

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While there’s no substitute for good oral hygiene, here are some food items that can boost your oral health:

Got milk?

Calcium is essential for healthy and strong teeth. And dairy products are the best sources of dietary calcium. Dairy products like cheese and yoghurt not only contain minerals like calcium and phosphorus but also protein casein that can keep your teeth free from cavity by remineralization of tooth enamel. 

Tank up on veggies

High fiber vegetables like spinach, carrots, celery, etc. have abrasive quality which helps clean stains from your teeth. They also stimulate saliva production which not only neutralizes harmful acids in the mouth but also provide calcium and phosphates for remineralization. Onions can help fight tooth decay causing bacteria. Green leafy vegetables are also rich in calcium. (Also read: 10 ways you can prevent dental cavities)

Fruit ‘em up

Fruits, like crunchy vegetables, are fibrous and help stimulate production of saliva. They are also good sources of various vitamins and minerals that are good for your teeth. Apple is a fibrous, crunchy fruit with natural cleansing and astringent properties. Pear fruit has been found to have good acid neutralizing effect on surfaces of the tooth.

Drink to your oral health

Drink plenty of water. It can help wash off sugars and acid from your teeth. Better still if the water is fluoridated! Fluoride has been proven to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities. It is especially effective when used early on in childhood.

Whole is better

Research has shown that whole grains are great for your teeth along with being better for preventing diseases like diabetes and heart ailments. A study from McMaster University, Canada found that men who ate at least three servings of whole grains were 23% less likely to suffer from periodontitis than those who ate more wholegrain breads. It also stabilized blood sugar levels in diabetics which reduces periodontitis.

Open sesame!

Sesame seeds and sesame oil are extremely good for your teeth as them remove dental plaque helping boost oral healthy. In fact, one Ayurvedic practice involves oil pulling – swishing oil around in your mouth which actually whitens your teeth. It also helps remove streptococcus bacteria from both teeth plaque and mouth saliva.  Sesame seeds, which are rich in calcium, have been found to reduce plaque and also help re-mineralize tooth enamel.

Go green

Not only is green tea great for your overall health thanks to its high antioxidant value but it’s also great for your mouth! It prevents the formation of cavity by lowering the acidity of saliva and dental plaque. It also has anti-inflammatory powers to prevent periodontal gum disease, prevents tooth loss and keeps bad breath away! In fact, it’s better for preventing bad breath than more commonly used items like mints and chewing gums!

Chocolate – friend, not foe

Yes for chocolate has long been linked to ruining teeth in children but that’s mostly due to improper cleaning practices after eating the said-chocolate. When taken in moderation, chocolate especially dark chocolate can benefit your teeth thanks to its antioxidants but the major benefit comes from the cocoa extract called theobromine. Theobromine is an alkaloid of the cocoa plant and is found in chocolate along with teas and other foods. It helps harden tooth enamel which prevents teeth from decaying. In fact, in 2-4 years we could actually have cocoa-enhanced toothpaste!

Go herbal

In many parts of rural India, it’s the norm to use neem twigs to brush one’s teeth instead of toothpaste and brushes. The plant itself has immense antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. A study tested whether neem could be used to treat gum disease and they found that it was actually better than regular mouthwash! Other than neem, ginger is known to help maintain healthy teeth and gums and prevent plaque.  The highly valued holy basil (tulsi), a natural antibiotic, is known to protect against bleeding gums and also increase the whiteness of the teeth. The antibacterial property of basil can prevent dental plaque build-up and eliminate bad odor too.

Coconut oil

Like sesame oil, coconut oil is also used for oil pulling – swishing it in the mouth like a mouthwash. Used for thousands of years as a traditional remedy, coconut oil is particularly effective in battling oral bacteria. It works similar to digestion as the enzymes break down the fat from the oil into acid, which wipes out the germs from your mouth!

While all of the aforementioned foods are no replacement for good oral hygiene practices like brushing, flossing, using mouthwash and visiting your dentist regularly they can help your overall oral health.

     Oral health evaluation appointments, or dental "cleanings" as some prefer, are an important part of everyone's routine health regimen. Often these appointments are misinterpreted as simply "just a cleaning," but many more measures are taken during this time to improve your overall health. Oral health evaluation appointments entail preventative measures to decrease your risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and future painful dental emergencies which could result in tooth loss.      Hygienists first use these appointments to update health histories which is part of evaluating your oral health and its systemic link. Oral health plays a vital part in patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and women who are pregnant just to list a few. Medications can cause some oral side effects, such as dry mouth, which patients can then be made aware. X-rays are also updated as diagnostic tools for early stages of decay before larger problems and emergencies evolve. Thorough extra-oral and intra-oral examinations allow hygienists to look for any abnormalities or changes in tissue.      At Kneib Dentistry, your hygienist will offer and highly recommend yearly Velscope exams. The Velscope is the most powerful tool available in discovering soft tissue abnormalities leading to diagnoses of oral cancer, fungal infections as well as bacterial infections by using a distinctive blue spectrum fluorescent light. Hygienists also record periodontal probings on adults to gain information on the health of the oral tissue, examining for gum disease. Early detection of gum disease, or gingivitis, can help prevent the progression to periodontal disease and tooth loss. By gathering information on the health of the tissue as well as observing the accumulation of plaque and tarter, your hygienist will provide you with dental hygiene education to improve your overall oral health.      We will make recommendations to increase the effectiveness of your oral home care techniques or recommend fluoride to prevent cavities for those patients at high risk for decay. Children can benefit from oral health evaluation appointments by gaining the education and instruction needed to start hygiene habits correctly at a young age as well as monitor tooth eruption and need for orthodontics. Healthy habits started at a young age are much more likely to continue into adult years than attempting changes later in life. Keeping your regular appointments allows adequate updating of current records and documentation of your oral health status.      Your hygienist will perform a thorough cleaning to remove the plaque and tarter deposits to give you a fresh start on your path to a healthy smile! Finally, the doctors will complete an in-depth oral examination as well as review x-rays. The doctors and hygienist will work as a team to guide you in your treatment decisions and provide oral health recommendations to increase your overall health. As you can see, oral health maintenance appointments provide you with a comprehensive evaluation, detailed hygiene education, primary prevention against future health issues, and yes.... a meticulous cleaning!

  Written by Brianne Constable

Written by Julie Revelant

Community water fluoridation has been around for more than 65 years, and although proponents cite many benefits, the practice has come under fire recently as critics are questioning the amount our children are consuming – and if it’s even necessary.

Touted as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community water fluoridation has been shown to significantly decrease tooth decay. Systematic reviews conducted by the Community Preventive Services Task Force found that tooth decay in children ages 4 to 17 years old declined by 29 percent as a result of fluoride in the water.

“Children who are in communities with fluoridated water have fewer and less severe cavities,” said Dr. Bill Bailey, acting director of the division of oral health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Good oral health not only affects your physical health, but also your psychological, emotional, and social health – and your economic health as a family.”

Community fluoridation also saves money on costly dental treatments, according to a report in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.

“It’s still the single most effective public health measurement to prevent dental decay,” said Dr. Adriana Segura, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics section on oral health.

In 2010, approximately 73 percent of the population had access to fluoridated water, according to the CDC. The decision to add fluoride to the water supply is decided at the community or state level. Thirteen states plus the District of Columbia currently have legislation that mandates it.

Despite the benefits, tooth decay remains a problem for children of all ages. In fact, 25 percent of children 6 to 11 years old and 59 percent of adolescents 12 to 19 years old have tooth decay, according to the CDC. But experts say the problem goes beyond fluoride.

“Tooth decay, like all other diseases, is multi-factorial” said Bailey, who added that brushing, diet, and access to care – in addition to fluoride – provides the best protection.

Diet, certain foods or prescription medications are the main causes of tooth staining. In many cases discoloration of the teeth can have genetic causes too. The American Dental Association lists plenty of general causes for tooth staining, so keep reading to find out about these.

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Tooth Staining: Medications

Teeth can become quite dull after extensive use of some over the counter or prescription medications. Antibiotics especially such as Minocycline can easily transform a beautiful set of white teeth into yellow/brownish teeth.

In children, this antibiotic makes the teeth yellowish, while in adults the teeth can become with a blue or gray tint. Tooth discoloration can also be caused by antihistamines (allergy medications).

An expert dentist is the best professional to let you know whether a certain type of medication you are taking affects your teeth and stains them. Also, before having dental work done such as white fillings or getting porcelain veneers or crowns make sure to inform your dentist about any medication that you are currently taking.

Tooth Staining: Certain drinks

Red wine, green/black tea, or coffee are all drinks that can easily cause tooth staining. Then, even some other drinks about which you would never think they could cause problems can actually stain the teeth.

These include sodas, fruit juices (carrot juice, apple juice, cranberry juice, etc.) or even beer. If you want to protect your front teeth from staining, you should definitely start using a straw when consuming these fruit juices and sodas that can cause tooth staining.

Another important tip is to rinse your mouth with water every time after consuming these types of staining drinks, This way, you will not allow the staining agents to stick to your teeth and cause problems.

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Tooth Staining: Tooth staining foods

These include cranberries, cherries, blueberries or the excessive consumption of soy sauce. These foods are healthy, so you should not avoid eating them. Instead, try to brush your teeth properly after consuming these foods to avoid tooth staining.

Tooth Staining: Aging and the genetic factors

Aging is a natural process, and teeth will also age the same naturally. The enamel layer becomes thinner, exposing more of the dentin, and thus brown or yellow dentin might show through. Genetics is also highly important, as some people will have teeth with a much stronger and whiter enamel than others.

Tooth Staining: Accidental damages and tooth staining

If you accidentally crack a tooth, that tooth will become more susceptible to collecting food particles and debris which will stain your teeth. This is why it is important to go to the dentist for a checkup even if you do not feel any pain after an accident.

He will check up your teeth closely and suggest possibly needed dental work to stay away from tooth staining in the future or other complications.

Tooth Staining: Improper oral hygiene

People who do not brush and floss their teeth regularly, will notice a change in the overall color of the teeth. Even the dentist can immediately tell if you haven’t been brushing your teeth.

Brushing only before the appointment will not make any difference, because the skilled dentist can spot instantly that you are brushing your teeth only occasionally.

Amalgam filings used to be the most popular restorative dental treatments, up until it has become more and more obvious and scientifically proven that they represent a hazard to overall health.

Dental fillings made of amalgam basically contain harmful trace metals, mercury, copper, tin and silver. Plenty of studies in the health field have made it clear that these types of fillings can bring about a wide range of cancers and degenerative diseases.

According to a report issued by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, one can find more than 1,000 tons of poisonous mercury within the mouths of the Americans who got their fillings decades ago.

There is a growing trend now that patients with amalgam fillings will go to the dentist, have their amalgam fillings removed and replace them with other non-hazardous fillings (ceramic dental fillings, composite resin fillings, etch.).

Even today, amalgam fillings are used in the greatest part of the world as the cheapest option for dental fillings, even though it is unsafe. There are a few countries which have completely banned the use of amalgam fillings in dentistry and these are Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Canada.

Mercury is one of the most toxic substances out there, and people absorb mercury within their system through the mercury vapor released by the dental fillings. In the 70s mercury filings might have been a trend, and there were not so many studies available back then, but now it is important to acknowledge that these types of fillings are extremely harmful.

It has been also medically documented that patients who replaced their amalgam fillings improved their health condition for the following diseases:

oral keratosis (a form of pre-cancerous disease)

periodontal disease

autoimmune and immune system conditions

sinus complications & allergies

chronic migraines/headaches

stomach problems

multiple chemical sensitivities

all sorts of allergies

There are many proponents of amalgam fillings even today, but studies clearly indicate that they pose a certain health risk for the patient. Whenever you need a new dental filing, make sure to avoid amalgam fillings, and ask your dentist every detail regarding the material used for the filling. Health is your most precious asset, so do not allow any toxins to enter your system.

Paying attention to good oral health of your baby is extremely important.

This way, you will ensure that your baby will develop healthy and strong teeth, and will have an overall good oral hygiene. Hydration is of paramount importance for babies. They need plenty of fluids so that their digestive system functions properly, and this way constipation can be avoided.

Breastfeeding/Baby Formula

The first drink in the baby’s life, which is also the healthiest, is breast milk. You should breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, because this will ensure a strong immune system which will be able to fight off infections and diseases.

If your baby is on formula, make sure to select one based on whey, because it is the type of formula most complete from a nutritional point of view. The whey based baby formula is made using plenty of healthy protein from whey, instead of casein. The formula based on a higher percentage of whey protein helps promoting healthy and soft stools for your baby.

Full Fat Cow Milk

In order to develop strong bones and healthy teeth, your baby needs Calcium. The best way to get the needed amount of Calcium is from the milk. After the child turns 1 year old, you can give pasteurized, full-fat cow milk as a healthy drink to your baby.

Pure water

Water is extremely important for babies, especially from six months and up. Instead of sweet drinks which contain sugars and other additives, you should give your baby water as the main drink after meals. This way, you will protect both their oral health and overall health.

Stay away from the commercially sold baby drinks with sweeteners, because those promote tooth decay. There are so many alternatives, and your baby will surely not miss these harmful drinks if you do not get it used to them.

Unsweetened fruit juices

These 100% natural juices are loaded with important vitamins, but most of the commercially produced ones contain white sugar. This ingredient promotes tooth decay, so you should offer only homemade freshly squeezed orange or apple juices without sweetening them.

You should also not offer too many such natural drinks because they are highly acidic, and can cause tooth enamel erosion. One drink per day is sufficient. You can also do a little trick and dilute the pure fruit juice with water (half juice-half water), and then you can give your baby even up to 2 or 3 such drinks per day.

Adult orthodontics are also known as braces. Even braces are the most popular name among the people.

Adult orthodontics are used to straighten the teeth. The different designs and styles of braces are introduced day by day. There are many different designs in the market according to need of the people. Every set of braces has introduced in the market with new and unique features from the last one.

4 MAIN TYPES OF ADULT ORTHODONTICS

1) Invisible braces 2) Metal braces 3) Lingual braces 4) Ceramic braces.

The prices of the orthodontic braces and orthodontic treatment are different from country to country. Sometimes the orthodontist may suggest imported braces, and then the cost may increase two to three times.

INVISIBLE ORTHODONTICS

Invisible braces are the most unique type of braces. These types of braces are very popular among the adults. We call these braces as invisible because at the time of first impression, these cannot be seen easily.

Invisalign is one of the most popular companies who are producing these types of braces for the welfare of humanity. A number of different aligners are used in the orthodontic treatment to reshape the teeth in a better straight position.

Even aligners can easily be removed when the patient is having a meal. There is no special need of wire for adjustment of such braces like the normal braces.

METAL BRACES

Like other braces metal braces are also a very common type of braces and are very traditional type of braces. These braces are made up of stainless steel. While using metal braces brackets are attached to the teeth and are connected with the wire.

Brackets are attached by the orthodontist with the help of different tools. Patient may feel discomfort with these braces because at the time of having meal, food may stick in the braces and cause discomfort in the mouth.

CERAMIC BRACES

Ceramic braces are also becoming very popular day by day. These are not clearly visible but are similar to metal braces. These types of braces are very suitable for such people who are interested in invisible orthodontics. But the disadvantage of such braces is that they get stain by food.

LINGUAL BRACES

These types of braces are very advanced. The best thing of such braces is that they can place on the back of the teeth. It is very good for such people who often play woodwind instruments.

We can say that like ceramic and metal braces these braces also take the help of brackets and wire in order to reshape the teeth. But its drawback is that sometimes it may cause speaking problems.

Patients struggling with severely decayed, infected or even completely missing teeth, will generally consider the most advantageous alternative- getting dental bridges.

They are much less expensive than the dental implants, so they are accessible to the greatest majority of the patients with dental problems.

The dental bridges are basically fused in between two porcelain crowns, and they help you obtain a beautiful, straight and healthy smile.

Your teeth will look natural, and they will behave just like your biologic teeth, so there are no restrictions in chewing or talking properly.

These dental bridges will basically help fill in the gap between your teeth, and they are made up of an artificial tooth, and two special caps (the crowns).

With today’s advanced technology dentists are able to provide very high quality dental bridges which have nothing in common with the cheap, almost “yellow plastic” looking false teeth as they looked a few decades ago.

Types of Dental Bridges:

The Maryland Bonded Bridges

Most commonly, dentists will choose this option if the patient is missing teeth in the front. Also, these represent the perfect solution in case the abutment teeth are quite healthy without any big-sized fillings. The Maryland bonded bridges are also known as resin bonded type of dental bridges.

The cantilever dental bridges

When there is only one single abutment tooth present, dentists will use the cantilever dental to re-design your beautiful and straight smile.

The standard dental bridges

These are generally fixed prosthetics, and they are made from a combination of porcelain and metal or only porcelain.

The greatest advantages of dental bridges:

- Unlike with other tooth replacement procedures, in order to get dental bridges you need to visit the dentist only twice. If you choose dental implants, these are way more expensive, and it takes several months to complete the treatment.

- Thanks to today’s special technology of using the CAD-CAM system or 3D Imagery, dentists can now create dental bridges which look and behave exactly like your biological teeth. The teeth will not look artificial at all.

- With dental bridges you can keep your facial tonus nice and healthy. As you might already know, missing teeth in the back or the front will make the entire facial musculature to change, giving the impression you are much older than in reality

If your teeth are stained and have a yellowish hue, you most probably need professional teeth whitening.

Of all the procedures available out there, you should definitely choose laser teeth whitening, because it is the most practical and effective method. You will get amazing results only after 1 hour of treatment. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to laser teeth whitening that you should definitely learn about.

The first advantage is that laser teeth whitening cannot be compared to the results offered by the homemade teeth whitening products. Laser teeth whitening is surely worth both your time and your money. You shouldn’t throw your money out the window on all those expensive home-use gels and trays. Choose professional laser teeth whitening instead.

Teeth Whitening at Home or Professional Laser Teeth Whitening

Home-use teeth whiteners require that you wear a mouth guard with special bleaching gel for about a month. With laser whitening, your teeth will look like genuine pearls in about 60 minutes.

One of the first more obvious drawbacks of laser teeth whitening, is that your gums are going to feel sensitive after the procedure.

Within a few days, this sensitivity will stop, but for 72 hours after treatment, you should avoid consuming too hot or too cold foods and drinks. Especially if you have sensitive gums and teeth, you should talk to your dentist in prior to the treatment and ask for ways you can relive the pain or the sensitivity.

Laser teeth whitening is not a cheap option. You might have to dig deep into your pockets, especially if your teeth are extremely badly damaged, or if the dentist needs to perform necessary treatments in prior (such as dental fillings).

The cost of laser teeth whitening treatments can start at a few hundreds of dollars and can go even up to $1,500+. If you cannot afford to pay for this treatment, but you want to whiten your teeth with the laser, make sure to search for a dentist who can offer you an advantageous payment plan.

Dentists too will accept that you pay for the treatment in installments, and then you can afford such a procedure.

You should make the investment because you will surely not have to purchase any home whitening expensive toothpastes and gels for quite while. Do some research and choose a cosmetic dentist who offers laser teeth whitening on a price that sounds mostly affordable to you.

Taking care of the skin on your face by using anti-wrinkle creams is not the only method to keep your looks young and fresh.

If you manage to keep your teeth pearly white, and make those wrinkles around the mouth go away, you can look up to 5 or 7years younger.

People with crooked, misaligned or badly stained teeth can look very old, even if they are in their blooming years of life. A beautiful smile is your most important show-off, so make sure to respect a healthy oral health regimen and follow regular checkups and teeth maintenance procedures.

You need to see your dentist at least once every six months, in order to prevent oral health complications. Then, make sure to brush and floss your teeth twice a day to keep your teeth beautiful and your gums healthy. These are the basic dental healthcare tips that you must respect; they do not cost you a lot of money and they do not require a huge effort.

If you do not respect these basic dental health instructions, you will raise your risk for periodontal disease and inflammation. The gums can become easily inflamed if food debris is not eliminated properly from around and in-between the teeth.

This debris will ultimately enter the blood flow, and can cause serious oral health inflammations. Chronic inflammation can further lead to even more serious health problems such as diabetes, heart complications, Alzheimer’s disease or arthritis.

Next in line comes the periodontal disease (or gum disease). According to several health statistics, around 80% of the Americans struggle with some form of periodontal disease.

The biggest issue is that if you continue disregarding the importance of good basic dental health regimen, periodontal disease can lead to permanent tooth loss and other complications.

Bacteria and plaque buildup are eliminated thoroughly only through vigorous brushing, so if you want a healthy looking denture, you must brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.

For a beautiful smile, you also need to avoid staining. Drinking red wine, or coffee regularly can easily stain your teeth. Therefore, make sure to avoid these drinks, and enjoy your beautiful white smile for longer.

Periodically, you can whiten your teeth professionally (laser whitening), but then you need to take care and maintain your white teeth by avoiding eating staining foods.

Maintaining good oral health is extremely important for overall health. There are plenty of cosmetic dental procedures available which are meant to make your teeth look healthy, straight and white.

If you have a dental problem which cannot be resolved only with regular brushing, you should certainly invest into having a beautiful and straight smile through cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Dental veneers are thin layers of composite resin or porcelain which are fitted right onto the surface of the tooth.

This is a cosmetic dental procedure becoming more and more popular, and used especially by patients who struggle with severely discolored, crooked or misaligned teeth.

The role of the veneers is to enhance your smile, so that you will get a straight, white and pearly set of teeth. However, there are two types of veneers available: the porcelain veneers and the composite resin veneers, and there is a huge difference between the two.

The first difference is the durability. The resin veneers last about 4 to maximum 8 years with proper periodic maintenance, while the porcelain veneers last up to 25 years and they require maintenance very rarely.

Then, there is the price: the composite veneers are much cheaper than the porcelain ones, but then this difference in price is reflected and justified well if we consider the differences in quality and durability.

The composite veneers are basically made of high quality reinforced plastic. Given today’s high-end technology these veneers look and feel very good, but under pressure they can damage quite easily.

On the other hand, porcelain veneers are made of high quality porcelain and they are more natural in color, more resistant and from an aesthetic point of view, they are perfect. Thus, it can be easily said that longevity and durability are the two biggest differences between the two types of treatments.

Composite veneers also have a porous surface, which can make them quite unaesthetic after a few years of use. Porcelain maintains its strength and beauty for several decades, so it is definitely worth investing in the higher quality treatment, and getting porcelain veneers.

Because of its porosity, the composite veneers can also stain more easily. Therefore, you should think about this aspect as well, if you do not want to spend a lot of money each year to have them whitened.

The porcelain veneers do not stain at all, because they are not made of porous materials. In order to place the porcelain veneers in the most natural manner, more tooth reduction is needed than in the case of composite veneers.

Composite veneers will also chip quite easily, so you need to be very careful when chewing/biting on hard foods. The ultimate decision regarding what to choose is yours… but if you want truly durable, natural looking, and pearly white teeth for long years to come, you should stick with the porcelain veneers.

Dental emergencies, no matter how trifle they may seem should not be taken lightly.

Any dental problems and emergencies that are not given immediate attention can lead to serious and permanent damage. Thus, one must be aware about some basics on what to do if a dental emergency occurs. Examples of these are the following:

Soft-tissue injury

Any cut inside the mouth such as in the cheeks, tongue, gums and lips can lead to bleeding. In order to reduce the bleeding, gargle using a salt-water solution and apply some cold compresses. If this doesn’t reduce the bleeding, go to the nearest clinic or hospital.

Damaged braces

If your braces were accidentally damaged, make sure to contact your orthodontist (or dentist) immediately. However, if you find that your damaged braces can wait until tomorrow, you may just call your orthodontist to set up an appointment. Most of the time, this isn’t something that you have to stress out about.

Dislodged tooth

If you suddenly notice that your tooth has been dislodged, go to your dentist office right away. If you cannot get to the clinic soon, grab a cold pack and apply it to the affected area. If possible, you can also buy an over-the-counter pain reliever for temporarily pain relief. If your dentist is closed, it’s best to look for an emergency dentist or consider a local urgent care.

Severe swelling

If you are experiencing too much pain in your mouth due to a swollen gums, contact your dentist. Severe swelling may be caused by an abscess which may put you at risk of having systemic infection. If you fail to ignore these infections, it can lead to thousands of dollars worth of bills down the road. This is something that you don’t want to avoid!

Lost filling

Fillings sometimes do fall out, but this shouldn’t cause panic. Make sure you place the filling in a clean and safe place. Contact your dentist and set an appointment with him or her. With this lost filling, it’s normal to feel sensitivity and slight pain. Again, contact your dentist as soon as possible so that they can refill it.

Broken tooth

If you notice that one of your tooth has broke, rinse your mouth well with a salt-water solution. After rinsing, grab for a pack of cold compress.

Avulsed tooth

If your tooth had been avulsed chances are your blood vessels, nerves and your supporting tissues are also damaged. These damaged blood vessels and nerves cannot be repaired. However, you should try your best not to touch the root of your tooth. Keep the avulsed tooth moist by dropping it inside a glass of milk or water. Then, go to your dentist’s clinic immediately.

Lodged foreign objects

If a foreign body was lodged under your gum, try to remove it with the use of a dental floss. But, if you still cannot remove it with a dental floss, use a toothpick. Just be extra careful not to prick or hurt your gum. If none of these tips work, go to your dentist’s clinic.

If you are doubtful about performing any of these tips during a dental emergency, it’s better go to the dentist’s clinic right away. If you live in a popular area, there’s likely a 24-hour dentist that can help with emergencies.

Sometimes, people do suffer from a panic attack especially when they experience bleeding inside their mouth. But, knowing these first aid tips can help alleviate your anxiety and save you from more trouble.

If you see several teeth lost inside your mouth and you often fear to smile simply because of this reason, or you are often tired of trying uncomfortable dentures, then make sure you believe in splashing the cash on some implant dentistry.

A dental implant basically replaces the root of a tooth and serves as a sound structure on which an implant dentist can secure a crown, denture or bridge. The implants are in general made from titanium because this metal is known to be “body friendly” and as a result few dental implants problems happen from rejection.

The process is time consuming and can take up to a year from start to finish, but the majority of this time is spent waiting for your gums to heal following the dental implants surgery.

Who can be a candidate?

Generally anyone who seems to fall in the age assembly of 9-99 can be the most appropriate candidate for implants even though you may find several exceptions into this idea:

Anyone whose jaw bone is not properly developed

The Pregnant women

People with quite a few medical situation plus the active diabetes or cancer (though there are some separate treatments which could be probable options, hence never give up hope)

Why would a person look for an implant?

There are countless of reasons for replacing teeth that could take account of cavities, bone loss, gum disease, fractures, missing teeth, broken teeth, poor dental work and ill fitting dentures.

Millions of American citizens are seen in distress from tooth loss and this is generally owing to tooth decay, wound or gum disease. The fact is as per the statistics, people above the age of 50 on average often miss their 12 teeth.

It was the only judgment which worked with dentures or bridge work, however, now with the low charge dental implants options people are seen treading this path.

How do you find a dentist and what are the benefits of an implant?

If you think you won’t be able to find an reasonable dental implant dentist, then think again. The creative unfamiliar scheme could render you together the patients and participating dentists in their local area and render some cheap dental implants for everyone.

Dentists benefit from unfamiliar life long patients and patients advantage from lower prices and the convenience of being able to slot in appointments in their lunch breaks or before work, in a handy local location. It can be called as a win-win situation.

Replacing your missing teeth can make an older person appearance younger, since the jawline begins to sag when teeth are lost, and it can also give a person back much essential confidence.

If you are amongst the denture wearer, then it can help you in putting the paid to not being able to bite and chew on certain foods, like apples, hence you actually get a additional number of varied diet, plus it also means you are now able to talk in a proper manner without getting into any kind of embarrassment.

Dental cleanings done at the dentist is a special “deep” dental cleaning, where all the harmful plaque and tartar is removed professionally.

People unfortunately regard professional dental cleanings as not so useful procedures. They think if they brush their teeth twice a day, nothing wrong can happen.

However, the dental cleaning done at the dentist is a special “deep” dental cleaning, where all the harmful plaque and tartar is removed professionally.

Two dental checkups per year are of primordial importance, and so are at least two professional dental cleanings. Here are the main reasons for which you should not skip even one dental cleaning:

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, every single hour of every day, there is one patient dying of oral cancer. Partly, these people will lose the battle to cancer mainly because they did not keep up with their regular checkups – when disease could have been discovered early.

Dental cleanings helps greatly reduce risks such as gum disease, severe infections or bone loss. Therefore, regular dental cleanings can be regarded as playing an important role in the overall maintenance of good oral health.

Several clinical studies have proved that poor oral hygiene can easily lead to other complications such as stroke and heart issues. Your mouth is the gateway to your entire organism, this is why you need to maintain a perfect oral health.

Dental cleanings help save both your health and our money. If you skip these important dental cleanings, over time you might develop serious dental complications such as abscesses, badly stained teeth or you might even lose your teeth because of severe gum disease.

Fixing these oral health issues will cost you a fortune compared to how much regular dental cleanings cost (you may not even have to pay for them, if they are covered by your dental insurance plan).

Patients with bad breath complications can reverse to good health if they have their teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Partly, bad breath is caused by the plaque and tartar deposits and by the food particles stuck in between your teeth. Regular brushing at home helps you a little bit, but nothing compared to professional dental cleaning.

Dental cleaning will also help whitening your teeth. You should not use only those teeth whitening products that contain peroxide and which might weaken the enamel of your teeth. With regular dental cleaning, your teeth will be brighter, shinier, healthier and much whiter.

Monday, September 10, 2012 - Dental Health with Dr. Patel by Dr. Priya Patel

ENGLAND, September 10, 2012― A lot of people worry about the cost of dental treatment. Here are some dental care tips that can help you keep your teeth healthy and lower your costs.

Visit your dentist on a regular basis.

You should visit the dentist regularly. The chances of getting an infection or tooth decay decreases with regular checkups. This is quite obvious because if the dentist sees something wrong then he/she will recommend a treatment to resolve the problem. Allowing it to continue untreated could result in a more serious problem.

Rinse your mouth after meals.

Once you have eaten meal, it is beneficial for you to brush. However, sometimes this is not possible. If you can’t brush, try rinsing your mouth after every meal instead. When you rinse, the food left in your mouth will be removed and pH levels will be neutralized in your mouth.

Use dental floss.

Tooth decay can be fought with proper use of dental floss. This will clean the areas between your teeth which are at risk of getting infected. Make sure that you do not irritate gums while flossing. Get in touch with the dentist if your gums bleed during flossing. The idea is to slip the floss between your teeth and then hug the side of the tooth with the floss whilst using an upward motion (for lower teeth) or a downward motion (for upper teeth) to clean the side of the tooth. This should be repeated for the other side of the tooth.

Brush your tongue as well as your teeth.

It is essential for you to clean the tongue while brushing as there are various kinds of bacteria which tend to reside there.

Utilize anti-bacterial mouthwash.

In order to maintain a healthy mouth, opt for anti-bacterial mouthwash.

Stop Smoking.

Smoking is bad for teeth and gums. Smoking can also discolor teeth. The blood supply to the gums is disrupted and it makes it harder for them to maintain good health. With the lack of blood supply, it is also harder to diagnose gum disease.

Avoid choosing to have an extraction.

It is always better to save the natural tooth rather than going for permanent solutions like bridges, etc.

Permanent constructions can be better than dentures.

When people have missing teeth, they usually opt for dentures because this is less expensive than alternatives. But these people are not aware of the fact that dentures can provide only 20 percent of the strength that a natural tooth can provide. On top of that partial dentures might apply more pressure which can lead to damage of teeth in the long term.

There are some instances where bridges can create more damage to teeth than a denture so it is always good to get a dentist's opinion, as they can guide you on what options are available for you.

Stay away from staining drinks and food after teeth whitening.

Once you are done with teeth whitening you will find that the white shine of your smile lasts only a little while. This is because of the kind of lifestyle choices that you make. In order to maintain your bright smile, avoid fizzy drinks and colored food. Smoking and red wine will also stain your teeth.

Eat spinach and fish, and drink milk.

Calcium is essential for teeth and for this you need to eat spinach and drink milk as these are rich in calcium. Vitamin D is required to absorb Vitamin C. Oily fish is good for this as it contains vitamin D.

Eating carrots can help to have healthy gums.

Carrots, rich in vitamin A, can help in development of saliva. This can help in maintaining teeth and gums healthy as saliva possesses anti-bacterial qualities.

Stay away from sudden temperature changes.

When teeth are exposed to sudden temperature changes, sensitivity can occur and in extreme cases it can lead to enamel damage. Do not consume hot and cold food together.

Make use of minimal treatment for cosmetic dentistry.

For your smile makeover, veneers or crowns are used by dentists. The end result is the same from both. When veneers are used, your tooth will be trimmed a little bit. Crowns are more destructive to the tooth tissue. Ensure that you seek the dentist’s opinion for which one would be best suitable for your teeth.

There are many factors that have an impact on the price of dental treatment. If you opt for private dental care, it will prove to be expensive. Location as well as reputation will influence cost. Therefore in order to get reasonably priced dental care, you need to shop around to get best value for your money. Do not forget to check credentials.

Do not fear the dentist.

Nowadays with the advancement of technology it has become possible for you to get dental treatment that is painless. So there is no need for you to fear the dentist.

Do not wait until it is too late.

Just leaving your teeth infected, damaged and untreated can leave you with serious problems. If you visit the dentist at the initial stages it can prove to be reasonable and quick treatment. So if you find any problem, get in touch with the dentist soon!

Coconut oil is used in hair care and skin care products and now scientists are saying that it could be used in dental care products to fight tooth decay.

Researchers from the Athlone Institue of Technology in Ireland said that coconut oil treated with enzymes blocked the growth of the main cause of tooth decay, streptococcus bacteria.

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in your mouth create acids that decay teeth, according to WebMD.com.

Bacteria feed on sugars in food, make acids and then the acids attack your teeth for at least 20 minutes after eating.

Tooth decay affects more than one-fourth of 2-5 years old in the United States and about half of all children have had decay, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers tested the effects of coconut oil along with vegetable oil and olive oil. The oils were then treated with enzymes to create a process similar to digestion and tested against streptococcus bacteria, BBC reported.

According to the researchers, only the coconut oil treated with enzymes stopped the growth of most strains of streptococcus bacteria.

Coconut oil is made up of mostly saturated fats, but its 60 percent concentration of medium chain fatty acids is what makes it different from the other oils.

Also, when lauric acid, a fatty acid in the coconut oil, is digested it converts into monolaurin, which is helpful in fighting harmful bacteria, reported Organicfacts.net.

The ability of the enzymes to transform the coconut oil into an active acid was what was thought to stop the growth of the bacteria, but the enzyme-altered oil’s exact mechanism is unknown.

The properties of coconut oil make it a wonderful oil to cook with, nourish your hair and fight bacteria in your mouth. The possibilities are numerous with this oil and researchers are taking notice.