Take Care Of Your Teeth

Advantages Of Using An Electric Toothbrush

2011-03-02T13:57:00.001-08:00

Electric toothbrushes have been around for a while now but what are the advantages and are they any better than the standard manual toothbrush?

The bristles move a lot faster on an electric toothbrush compared to an ordinary manual toothbrush. Therefore it is better at removing plaque and brushing between ones teeth. You do not need to brush so hard with an electric toothbrush, just guide it effortlessly around your mouth, you will be doing less work whilst getting a better result, cleaner whiter teeth.

With a standard toothbrush, if you are in a hurry, say in the morning before work, or of an evening before going out, you can rush brushing. This could mean three things.

You will not brush as thoroughly, this can then lead to build up of plaque and bacteria. This of course could lead to bad breath, gum disease or tooth decay.

Secondly you may cause your gums to bleed and damage the gum tissue, gum tissue does not grow back.

Thirdly you can strip the enamel off your teeth, which leads to them becoming sensitive. So cold items like ice cream and hot items like tea lose their appeal because they can cause you discomfort due to your now sensitive teeth.

If you are an arthritis sufferer electric toothbrushes are much easier to use, because as mentioned above you need not work so hard. This could be said with people with arm or shoulder injuries also.

Using an electric toothbrush can give you the feeling of a dentist like clean and they are great at removing stains. Cigarettes and coffee are the most common things that cause staining to your teeth. If you are a smoker and have been using a manual toothbrush then changing to an electric toothbrush has to be a very positive action, as you could have been hiding a very nice set of teeth underneath all them tobacco stains.

Bacteria build up in your mouth leads to bad breath, a very unwelcome but common problem. Bacteria can be found in places where a standard manual toothbrush can not reach. In general you would not know it is there, but if you do have a build up of it, your family and friends would know because as mentioned your bad breath. Electric brushes can reach and therefore remove this bacteria leading to a cleaner mouth and fresher breath.

Most electric toothbrushes if not all are rechargeable and some have features such as timers and pressure sensors.

Timers allow you to spend either a certain amount of time in each part of your mouth cleaning or to let you know to finish brushing after a certain time period, usually two minutes.

The pressure sensor enables you to brush gently whilst still having an excellent clean with the aim of protecting your gums from excessive brushing.

As mentioned electric toothbrushes can give your teeth a real thorough clean, although you do still need to visit the dentist regularly for check ups. But an electric toothbrush is a good starting point for improving your dental hygiene and at a fraction of the cost of having them cleaned professionally.

In general buy an electric toothbrush that is right for you, there are many on the market to choose from, and then you are on course to have much healthier and cleaner teeth and gums.

Things to Consider Before Cosmetic Dentistry

2011-03-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

By Brian May

Cosmetic dentistry is increasing in popularity as people are becoming aware of its possibilities and availability. Cosmetic dentistry benefits these people by increasing their confidence level and helping them to attain a smile that dazzles others, as important first impressions are made by smiles. It is a common belief that a person's smile says a lot about him or her, so people are going to great lengths to get that perfect smile, as it could change their lives. This change in attitude has totally changed the way people look at dentistry or orthodontists, as it is no longer about fillings, extractions and capping, but about changing the way you look and feel about yourself.

You can choose from a plethora of options to attain that picture perfect smile that you have always wanted. However merely choosing an option is not enough and you will need to refer to a dentist as to its viability for your individual requirements on the basis of cost and effectiveness. However here are a few common options, which you can talk about with your dentist.

Often teeth have a tendency to get stained from tobacco smoking, excess coffee or tea drinking or even excess red wine consumption or even having food with too much turmeric in it. A lot of people are also born with teeth of a darker color than others. Teeth whitening methods are useful in changing the color of your teeth to a lighter shade and the latest techniques, instead of acting in an abrasive manner, use laser beams, which are shone on your teeth covered with whitening chemicals. This process eliminates the abrasive method of whitening your teeth which also damages the tooth enamel. The laser based technique can whiten your teeth by up to six shades.

Often teeth with cavities are not extracted, but filled up with dental cement, when the holes are not too big or too deep and the tooth can be saved. Earlier fillings were done using materials which did not match the tooth color, but filling of late have advanced in technology, using porcelain based white composite fillings. Many people often opt to get their older fillings replaced by fillings which are tooth colored.

Crowns are porcelain or metallic toot caps used to cover teeth which have been damaged extensively. Crowns have multiple uses and you need to discuss it with your dentist if you need one.

Bridges are a popular option where if you just have one or two teeth missing, you can merely crown the two teeth on either side of the missing tooth and then attach a false tooth in between.

There are other similar procedures for making your teeth look better, like braces, bite correction, veneers, and even implanting jewelry on your teeth. However before opting for any such procedure you should always discuss it with your dentist, and ensure that it is the correct choice for you and for the health of your teeth. After all you just have one set, and teeth can't be grown again during your adult life.

This article was written by Brian May of Small Business Local which is a performance based marketing agency does Columbus Search Engine Optimization for it's clients. Some of the clients that Small Business local has worked with are dentist Columbus Ohio [http://www.dentistcolumbusohio.com]

You Need To More Than Brush

2011-03-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

Just brushing your teeth is not enough to keep your mouth and teeth clean and healthy. There are many things that can harm your teeth but there are also many ways to improve your dental hygiene rather than just brushing, spend that extra time not the extra money.

To improve dental hygiene we should floss once every day. Dental floss reaches the areas that a toothbrush can't get to and gets rid of harmful plaque between the teeth and by the gums.

Use mouthwashes as well as brushing your teeth, not on there own. Simply gargling mouthwash will not clean your mouth thoroughly, I know in these hectic busy days, it is a lot quicker, but in the long run it will just be more painful and expensive.

Smoking can seriously affect your dental health. As well as staining your teeth (because of the high tar and nicotine content) and causing bad breath, smoking can also affect the health of your gums, which can lead to gum disease.

In a non smokers mouth, one sign of gum disease would be the gums bleeding, if this was the case you would have to go the dentist. But if you do smoke, it can affect the circulation and gum disease could be present without you even being aware, because your gums would not necessarily bleed. Untreated gum disease could be costly in many ways, not just financial terms but general health terms.

You do still need to visit the dentist regularly, at least twice a year as they check for cavities and gum disease. They can help you achieve the white teeth that you are after and will inform you of the correct way of brushing your teeth and flossing. I am sure they will even demonstrate this.

As well as brushing advice they would give you information on the types of food and drink that have a negative affect on your teeth. Chocolate, cakes and fizzy drinks and any other sugary item(s) can attract plaque. If you truly want healthy teeth then eating fruit and vegetables will be much better for them.

In general a person who does not clean there teeth regularly will suffer at some point from bad breath, now there are many mouth sprays that are on sale to help with bad breath, but these are a temporary fix in relation to mouth and teeth hygiene. The best way to cure this, is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The sprays as mentioned only mask the odour and do not rid your mouth of food stuck between your teeth which left to build up can cause problems.

If you want nice white teeth, without the toothaches and bad breath then spend that extra few minutes a day brushing and looking after them.

Bruxism - Everything You Need To Know About Teeth Grinding

2009-10-24T04:34:00.000-07:00

By Chris T.

Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws, this commonly occurs to people while they are under stress or during sleep. It is well known that around 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from bruxism during sleep, but as well as about 50% of children are likely to suffer from bruxism. This disorder is very serious since it wears down teeth enough that their enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of the tooth (dentin) which will make your teeth more sensitive. It is very common for children to suffer from bruxism, but it is known for them to be over it when they hit adolescence, but can also get over bruxism as early as the age of 10 years.

Common symptoms of bruxism are:

Grinding sounds at night which disturbs the sleep of nearby people - may also wake up "bruxer"

Waking up to Headaches

Jaw muscles feel tight and/or painful - especially when waking up

facial pain

Teeth are damaged

Some of the Causes include:

Emotional Stress

Allergies

Injuries to the Jaw, head or neck

Anti-Depressants such as Prozac, paxil, celexa, etc.

Drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy has been reported to cause teeth grinding

Damage

The damage bruxism causes is very severe and has some long term effects. The two most common damage bruxism does is the jaw feeling sore and wearing down teeth, wearing down of the teeth will cause some long term damage if teeth has been worn down too much. The damage teeth grinding causes is likely to damage teeth and molars, which is likely to affect the neuro-muscular system (i.e. Headaches). If the damage caused is very severe and pain feels very harsh, the jaw would then may require surgery.

Treatment

Treatment for bruxism varies depending on what caused it. Treatment for children is not necessary since they will loose their baby teeth, but treatment is recommended if the child is complaining about the pain it is causing, but teeth grinding does not affect children as much as it affects adults. If bruxism was caused by stress, your dentist would recommend some professional counseling, psychotherapy, etc. to help you relax. If bruxism was caused by Anti-Depressants, you physician would prescribe you with different Anti-Depressants.

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Broken Teeth - What to Do With Them

2009-10-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

By Justin Morgan Tuttle

Have you ever wondered what it's like living without your teeth? Well, the teeth are an important part of the human body. It is responsible for the first stage of digestion- mastication. Without it, we would be living on water, which in reality lacks the nutrition we need.

A child is born without any teeth. Slowly, he will develop 20 teeth. This set is referred to as milk teeth or baby teeth. These set of teeth will be replaced one by one by a permanent set of teeth as the child reaches the later stages. The new set of teeth is normally composed of 32 irreplaceable teeth. Sometimes the number varies since some people may not have "wisdom teeth" while others may develop supernumerary teeth. While the person gets older, the teeth are exposed to different microorganisms causing cavities and dental infections. This would lead to broken teeth.

Broken teeth are pretty common especially for active people. During workouts, their teeth are exposed to the risk of getting hit; thus, getting damaged. There various types of damages which depends on its extent.

The teeth have layers: the enamel, the dentin, the pulp, and the cementum. Below this is already the nerve. When the damage is only within the enamel, pain is usually not felt. However, if the damage goes deep into the teeth, a stabbing pain is felt. Usually, when the broken teeth can no longer be fixed externally, a root canal is needed. However, there are many other types of treatments for disparate types of damages.

A minor crack is a fracture on the surface of the teeth. In this type of damage, treatments are not required. Next are chips. Chips also do not require treatment. But some maybe advised to find a cure since the damage may get worse and eventually lead to removal of the teeth. Then, there are cusp fractures. These are fractures on the surface of the teeth. Normally, it affects one's chewing that is why dental crowns are placed. Also there are serious fractures. This type of damage already reaches the nerves. Serious fractures may lead to infection. Medical attention must be sought as soon as possible. These are just a few of common types of broken teeth.

There are various types of treatments for broken teeth. For minor fractures, fillings are sufficed. However, for more serious fractures, dental crowns are applied to the broken teeth. It is very seldom that fillings would work for severe fractures. For severe fractures, the dentist will not only apply a crown, but he will also conduct an operation. The exposed or damaged nerve and vessel must be removed in order to prevent infection. In some cases, periodontal surgery is required. This type of treatment does not only depend on the severity of the damage, it also depends on the compatibility of the cure to the patient. This is because the structure and arrangement of every person's teeth may be different.

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The Pros and Cons of Teeth Bleaching

2009-10-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

By Darren Blair

Many conditions caused teeth to be discoloured. The causes of discoloration include chemicals injury to the baby teeth the that can harm developing permanent teeth, too much fluoride in the first years of life. Drugs taken in early childhood diseases, metallic fillings giving colour to the teeth and all stains caused by food and drink.

People with discoloured teeth have these these options:
1) Thorough cleaning of the teeth by a dentist.
2) Bleaching.
3) Microabrasion.

I will be discussing some of the advantages and disadvantages of bleaching discoloured teeth.

The main advantage is that the colour change can be made without having to alter the tooth structure for placement of any fillings and the teeth remained relatively unchanged except for colour. Brown, Orange and Yellow stains bleach very well.

The cost of bleaching away from the dentists office is relatively inexpensive in comparison to other alternatives in change to the teeth colour. The disadvantages is mainly the time commitment necessary to bleach and of course the small cost involved. A few types of stains such as grey and blue do not have predictable bleaching patterns and may not bleach very well.

However the disadvantages of getting your teeth bleached are minor compared to the advantages. There is some minor side effects when bleaching teeth. These include a sensitivity to cold foods and drinks for a short period of time after the bleaching. Also, you may experience minor irritation of the gums for a short period of time.

Sometimes if you bleach yourself the jaw joints may become sore or tired if the bleaching trays are used to much. In summary many millions of people have used bleaching without any major side-effects.

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Tips For Taking Care of Baby Teeth

2009-10-24T04:18:00.000-07:00

By Shen-Li Lee

There is a tendency for parents to treat baby teeth as being dispensable since we all know there will be a second set of adult teeth replacing them anyway. However, baby teeth (also known as the deciduous teeth or the primary dentition) are important and are necessary to serve several functions. This is why we need to take care of them and make sure they last until the adult teeth (permanent teeth or secondary dentition) are ready to come through.

The first of the permanent teeth do not appear in the mouth until a child is about 6 years old and the last permanent teeth (not including the wisdom teeth) will appear by about 12-13 years. Therefore a child's primary teeth need to last anywhere between 5-12 years. To ensure that they last, parents need to help children look after their teeth and inculcate good oral hygiene practices from young.

The Functions of Baby Teeth

1. Biting and Chewing

The most obvious function of the primary teeth is obviously for biting and chewing food.

2. Nutrition

Children need to eat a wide variety of food to gain a well-balanced diet.

A child with limited teeth or one who is experiencing discomfort from tooth decay may refuse foods or limit food intake to those that can be consumed easily or with minimum discomfort. Chewing a variety of textures also stimulates the oral environment and exercises the jaw muscles.

The ability to bite and chew also helps to break up food into more easily digestible pieces and allow for better digestion of food. As the food is being broken up by the teeth, it is also mixed with saliva containing enzymes that begin the digestive process. A child that swallows too rapidly without chewing the food adequately will prolong the digestive process.

3. Speech

Teeth are necessary for the articulation of certain sounds. Young children who are still learning how to speak properly need their teeth to help them form words and speak clearly.

4. Development of the Jaw Bones and Facial Muscles

The presence or absence of teeth will affect the way in which the jaw bones and facial muscles develop. The growth of the jaw bones are affected by the facial muscles. Teeth and the chewing function help to exercise the facial muscles and facilitate the development of the jaw bones.

5. Place Holder

The primary teeth are place holders for the permanent teeth. They are intended to hold a space in the jaws until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. When the permanent tooth is ready, it will push out from under the primary tooth, causing the roots of the primary tooth to break down. Therefore, the primary teeth also serve as a guide for the permanent teeth to erupt into its proper position.
When primary teeth are loss prematurely, the permanent teeth have no guide to follow. Additionally, the adjacent teeth tend to close the gap of the missing tooth, meaning there will be no space for the permanent tooth to erupt into. This can lead to crowding of the permanent teeth.

6. Aesthetics

A child without teeth or with missing teeth may look cute, but she will not agree when the premature loss of her baby teeth leads to the growth of crooked permanent teeth.

Looking after Baby Teeth

From the moment the first baby tooth appears in the mouth, parents need to take the responsibility to begin cleaning it. Initially, all that is necessary will be to take a damp cloth or piece of gauze and to wipe the tooth. Once more teeth begin to appear, you can use finger brushes that are worn over your index finger and use them to brush your baby's teeth.

When your baby is about 18 months to about 2 years old, you can purchase a child toothbrush and begin cleaning your child's teeth at least once a day. Initially, it is not necessary to use fluoridated toothpaste, especially if the drink water in your area is already fluoridated.

Remember, young children have trouble spitting out and usually end up swallowing the toothpaste, fluoride and all. This may expose your child to unnecessarily high levels of fluoride which can lead to fluorosis. Fluorosis, while not harmful, first appears as white spots on the teeth. In more severe cases, it can make the teeth appear brown and mottled. Although it is not harmful to the teeth, it is aesthetically unsightly.

If you are concerned about tooth decay, there is a new range of children's toothpaste with xylitol as an active ingredient. Xylitol also serves to prevent tooth decay.

You can encourage your child to get into the healthy practice of brushing by offering the toothbrush to your child but make sure that you perform at least one brushing for your child a day. Children have poor manual dexterity and will not brush adequately without your help. At most, they will chew on the brush and make a few cursory attempts to swipe the teeth if they are older.

As your child grows older, you can begin to teach him (or her) how to brush by guiding his (or her) hand. Once your child has mastered the art of tooth brushing, you can hand over the responsibility to your child to continue brushing, however, you may still need to keep an eye on your child to ensure the job is done properly. Tooth brushing is a task many children quickly get bored of and try to sneak out of. Some may comply with the task but do a poor job of cleaning.

It is not difficult to look after baby teeth. The challenge lies in teaching your child the process and helping him (or her) develop a healthy, lifetime habit. Knowing how important baby teeth are, it is important to ensure they last. Teaching your child to look after his (or her) primary teeth also sets the stage for healthy oral hygiene habits in future.

Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog http://figur8.net/baby%20Babylicious and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.

Why Do You Need To Regularly Change Your Toothbrush?

2009-06-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

Simple

The newer the toothbrush the more effective it is at removing plaque and tartar.

You should change your toothbrush around every three months, this is because after a while the bristles deteriorate, therefore they will not clean your teeth as well as expected and if badly worn will be rough against your gums and potentially cause them to bleed, which as we know can lead to gum disease. You need to regularly inspect your toothbrush, if you notice the bristles are worn it will need replacing as soon as possible, whether you have had it less than three months or not. Toothbrushes with worn tissues are more prone to germ and bacteria build ups.

If you a heavy or rough brusher, the bristles will wear out a lot quicker compared to someone who takes there time brushing there teeth. This can also be said for children who may have a uneven brushing technique.

In summary purchase the correct type of toothbrush that is suitable for you, hard or soft bristled, look after it by cleaning, rinsing and storing correctly, inspect for bristle damage and then replace it. I know replacing toothbrushes costs money, although relatively inexpensive but if you think in comparison to what it may cost to go to the dentists to have dental work or teeth cleaning, I believe toothbrushes are a worthwhile investment.

Why Look After Your Toothbrush?

2009-06-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

We all know or should do that it is very important to take care of your teeth, but why do we need to look after our toothbrush?

Your toothbrush needs to be cleaned and stored correctly otherwise it will have a negative effect on your teeth cleaning routine. An uncared for toothbrush may cause your teeth more harm than good if the bacteria that can grow on it builds up, no matter how many times you brush your teeth.

When you have finished brushing your teeth, always wash and rinse it under the tap, this is to ensure you remove any bacteria, any food that may of been stuck in-between your teeth and any remaining toothpaste. This needs to be done each time, whether that be two or three times a day.

Store your toothbrush in an upright position, some people have may have a pacific toothbrush holder or you could use an unused cup or beaker as the holder. Your toothbrush needs to dry naturally, so it needs to be kept in a well ventilated area. You should not cover it over until it has fully dried, if covered over before drying bacteria may grow due to the moisture remaining on the toothbrush.

Relating to toothbrush storage, make sure if your brush is shared with others, that they are not touching and kept in separate compartments. This will then eradicate the contaminating of each others toothbrushes therefore leading to healthier teeth and gums for the whole family.

The positives of looking after your toothbrush are that you are preventing against bacteria build up, the brush head itself will be in better condition, therefore it will clean your teeth more efficiently than say and old uncared for toothbrush, and it will last longer. If you do not look after your toothbrush, it could only last for a few weeks, whereas a well looked after and hygienic brush will easily last up to three months which is the recommended time to then replace it.

It is simple take care of your teeth, and your toothbrush.

Dental Abscesses - What Are They And How Can You Prevent Them?

2009-05-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

A dental abscess is a collection of pus either in or near a particular tooth, and is normally caused by a bacterial infection.

Did you know there are two types of dental abscesses?

The first is a periapical abscess. This is where the abscess starts in the centre of the tooth (dental pulp). If you are not looking after your teeth, soon you could have tooth decay, where your tooth looses its protective layer of enamel. If you have tooth decay it is much easier for bacteria to get into the centre of the tooth and cause an infection which could then lead onto having an periapical abscess.

The second is a periodontal abscess, they can start in the areas around the teeth that support them, such as periodontium (between tooth and gum) and they can also follow on from gum disease. Gum disease is a swelling of tissues around the teeth which can cause the gum to come away from the tooth, therefore causing pockets to appear which bacteria can get into and potentially causing a periodontal abscess. If this is the case you will probably find you will have a swelling / inflammation next to that particular infected tooth. This type of abscess may also be caused by heavy of fast brushing to the teeth, if you do not brush your teeth gently you can risk damaging the gum or the periodontium.

To prevent against dental abscesses start looking after your teeth, good dental hygiene is the key. Brush your teeth twice a day for 2-3 minutes with a good toothpaste and brush, regularly floss, use mouthwash and get checked out by the dentist twice a year (every six months) Also think about cutting down or quitting smoking and look at what things you eat, the more sugary stuff you eat or drink the more chance there is of having tooth decay.

The signs of a dental abscess are toothaches, swelling of the gum or face, loose or tender teeth, feeling unwell, having a temperature and trouble with swallowing . If you feel you have an abscess in your mouth, you need to visit your dentist asap. He / She will drain the pus which can often relieve the pain, they will then advise you on any further measures you need to take. If left you are putting the health of your teeth and even yourself at risk, abscesses need treatment.

In summary Take Care Of Your Teeth.

Gain The Benefits Of Home Teeth Bleaching Products

2009-04-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Author: Jarvis Noel

Article:
Home teeth bleaching products has come popular because of the fact that many professional teeth whitening procedures may be costly. All are already informed with at home teeth bleaching. Since dental teeth whitening options are pricey, at home teeth bleaching grant inexpensive alternatives.

OTC teeth whitening products are marked risk-free and effective by the
American Dental Association. Dentist-prescribed home teeth bleaching made by authorized producers or those used per dental instruction are acknowledged safe and sufficient teeth whitening products.

Several alternatives for home teeth bleaching include:

* Teeth Whitening Trays

* Teeth Whitening Strips

* Teeth Whitening Toothpastes

Teeth whitening strips may be really prevalent and may be acquired in any drugstore. They are composed of plastic and put directly to the surface of your teeth. Same with trays, they're to be worn for several hours. As the concentration of the carbamide peroxide (teeth whitening agent) is half correlated with those found in teeth bleaching trays, most teeth whitening strips may be worn overnight. Once you use them regularly, you could regard your teeth growing whiter, though they do consume time to gain clear-cut results.

Teeth whitening trays may be obtained via the dentist. They come with a specialized tray formed to conform with the special form of the mouth, as well as prescription bleaching compound. These teeth bleaching trays give wonderful results when they're used routinely, similar to getting professional teeth whitening.

There are a few drawbacks with teeth bleaching trays. Intermittently the bleaching solution are too active and result to sensitive teeth. There may be moments when the mixture sinks into the dentin, leading to further teeth and gum irritation. Many people still see teeth whitening trays an unviable alternative as making the customized trays are costly.

For teeth bleaching toothpastes, majority is made up of low concentrations of carbamide peroxide. Once teeth is whitened professionally, teeth bleaching toothpastes can be good complements in keeping them. If not, using them alone may require patience to have perceptible results.

Whatever home teeth bleaching you prefer to use, consulting your dentist first is the best way to assure strong and safe teeth whitening.

Have white brilliance past the risks of teeth whitening side effects via MaximumTeethWhitening. Containing all-natural ingredients, getting the Hollywood smile is now in your reach.

About the author:
Jarvis Noel writes regularly about health related topics. I hope you enjoy this article.

Bad Breath and How To Deal With It

2009-04-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Bad breath, do you even know if you suffer from it? If you do not look after your teeth and gums then you probably do. The only trouble is other people may realise before you do.

The medical term for bad breath is Halitosis, and everybody at some time or another has or will suffer from it, whether it be because of poor dental hygiene or have eaten a particular foodstuff such as onions and garlic. Generally a bad breath problem relating to these types of foods, if you have a good regular teeth care routine, will clear up without a need for treatment due to your body breaking it down and removing it naturally.

If you do neglect your teeth and gums, bacteria will build up inside your mouth, left untreated then it is likely you will have bad breath and therefore you will need to do something about it. Having a dry mouth either through exercise, lack of fluid, stress can also contribute to having bad breath.

There are many products on the market which say they help eliminate a bad breath problem, such as mouthwashes, sprays, chewing gums and mint sweets. These merely mask the odour, not cure it. First of all visit your dentist to get his opinion, after all he is the professional and will tell you what is best for your teeth and gums. When he checks your mouth he will be able to tell you if the odour is because of your dental health or another factor has contributed to it. If it is a dental issue he/she can either treat it or advise you of another method. If not dental related they could refer you to your GP. Bad breath can signal other health issues, so it does need to be taken seriously.

But at the end of the day looking after your teeth is the key, to eliminate the threat of bad breath, brush your teeth after eating foods such as meat, spicy foods, fish, cheese, garlic and onions. In general you should brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and use a good mouthwash. Of course no one intentionally wants to have bad breath, if you do it can affect your self confidence and can be very embarrassing. But it should not be, look after your teeth and gums.

Dentists - Why Do We Need To Go and Should We Fear Them?

2009-04-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

We all should go to the dentist twice a year, but why?

We are brushing twice a day, Flossing once a day, Using Mouthwashes, our teeth look healthy and white.

The answer, Prevention. Prevention of gum disease, tooth decay and any other conditions that may risk our dental health.

Everyone has been to the dentist at some time in there lives, especially when young, there is not such a fear factor when you are at a young age. But as you get older fear comes it to it, being afraid to go to the dentist is a very common phobia.

But is there any reason to be fearful?

When you do go to the dentist they will ask you what care you have taken of your teeth since your last visit (which in some cases may have been years.) They will then continue to check the health of your teeth, gums and mouth tissue. Dentists will use a probe and mirror to check the crown of every one of your teeth, they check these for either plaque, decay or general looseness. In relation to your gums they should be firm and pink, if they are soft, red and/or swollen it could be a sign of gum disease.

Also on top of this dentists will check the to see if you have any pockets (deep depressions) where the tooth meets the gum. If you have healthy teeth and gums and no sign of gum disease they should only be slight depressions rather than deep as mentioned above. When having a thorough check up the dentist will take x-rays of your mouth, this could flag up tooth decay or even abscesses.
After your teeth have been checked the dentist may recommend a professional clean. By having a professional clean they can remove tough plaque/bacteria build ups and will also polish your teeth which will get rid of unwanted stains (yellowness). Your dentist will run through this in more detail.

If the dentist finds a cavity you will need to return to have it filled at a later date, or if you have other issues you may be referred to an orthodontist.

It is recommended that you visit the dentist for a check up twice a year, if you do, it will only cost a small amount. Say if you do not look after your teeth at home and still do not visit the dentist regularly you could be looking at massive dentistry costs in years to come. How many people can afford unplanned dentistry works? Especially if you a struggling to pay bills at the moment.

Even if you have a healthy routine you still need these regular check ups, some people do not go to the dentist either because of fear or because they feel they do not need to, at the end of the day the dentist is the one who knows whats best for our teeth, what we think may be clean may actually not be.

Going back to the fear / phobia of dentists, or the dentist chair. If I sit back and think about the dentist I automatically think of them standing over you and drilling or pulling out a tooth. A few years ago, when I was neglecting my teeth, I had a tooth pulled out at a local dentist. I knew it was going to be done beforehand and was dreading it, to make it worse it was a cold night and when I came out my tooth absolutely killed (so to speak) I said I would never go again. But when you think logically, if you look after your teeth with regular brushing, flossing and not eating too many sugary items then you should never need to have a tooth pulled out or major work done. Going to the dentist for a check up does not involve any pain, so in fact there is now no fear factor.

Now I make sure I look after my teeth at home, while still having the twice yearly check ups, so I can hopefully avoid expensive dentistry work in the future. So is it the dentist we need to fear or ourselves for not looking after our teeth?

Flossing, What Is It All About?

2009-04-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

As we all know brushing your teeth is hugely important, but did you know flossing is equally so. This post gives a brief insight into the world of flossing and how it can help improve your overall dental hygiene.

A lot of people may brush there teeth but not floss, why? With flossing it can remove old traces of food that get stuck between your teeth, under the gum line or if you wear braces it can remove the food traces from there too.

For the type of dental floss to use, it is probably best if you consult your dentist as everyone’s teeth are different. They will also show you the best way of how to floss. The last thing you want to do is damage your gums because either you are using the wrong type of floss or flossing the wrong way. Unwaxed dental floss is generally good, as it gets into real small gaps. But in general take care when flossing.

Flossing will take time, especially when you first start, you have to put the floss in-between each tooth and gently move it back and forth until you reach the gum line then curl it round each tooth and glide the floss up and down the sides.

In these days we are all rushing about, but you do need to take the extra time to look after your teeth, flossing is not a quick fix and is something you need to do everyday. If you keep a regular routine of brushing, using mouthwashes, flossing and regular check up’s at the dentist you should be able to maintain a healthy set of white teeth.

What Is Plaque And Tartar?

2009-04-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Plaque is a transparent layer of bacteria that coats the teeth.

To remove plaque you need to brush regularly, recommended 2-3 minutes for a minimum of twice a day. Also include in your teeth care routine, flossing once a day and using mouthwash after every brush.

Tartar is plaque but in a hardened form that is more difficult to remove and can cause more damage to your teeth and if left to develop.

To remove tartar, there are specific toothpastes (anti tartar) on the market to help, but also brushing regularly as mentioned above, especially near the salivary glands can help reduce the growth of new tartar. Therefore hopefully reducing dental hygiene issues in your mouth.

Avoid Bacteria Build Up And Tooth Decay

2009-03-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

One less obvious way of reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth is to brush your tongue. Strange as it may sound but on the tongue surface there are many places for bacteria to hide and settle down for there retirement. It builds up there in the same way it does on your teeth and if left can cause other problems.

Try to avoid snacking, if you snack regularly on sugary items you are doing more damage to your teeth than you may think. If you snack here and there throughout the day, then the more times your teeth are under attack from the acid. And because these snacks are sugary it can lead too tooth decay.

Tooth decay is a breakdown of the hard tissue on the outer surface of the tooth, therefore it can cause the tooth to form a hole or soft cavity, you will need to take advice from your dentist as you would not want this to get worse. In the case of holes or soft cavities appearing in one of your teeth, then filling may be required at your dentist if not solvable by other means. Again take advice, but to avoid this, brush and floss regularly and a dentist check up at least twice a year.

Reasons To Brush Regularly

2009-03-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

Dental plaque is a soft substance that contains bacteria/germs and appears on every persons teeth. Through regular brushing and flossing it can be removed.

If you do not brush or floss regularly for whatever reason you are increasing your chances of getting gum disease. Gum disease causes redness, swelling and bleeding of your gums.

If you continue to ignore the above, then it can affect the tissues in your mouth that join the teeth and gums. From this could come bad breath, pain when eating, toothache and even loosing a tooth.

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

2009-03-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone these days seems to be so busy, with work etc.
It is easy to neglect your teeth, it may be something that you do not necessarily worry about now, but will that be the case in a few years time?

Just a few minutes a day is all you need to help keep your teeth healthy and keep bacteria, plaque and cavities out of your mouth.

The minimum recommendation is to brush your teeth at least two times a day, usually once after you get up and again before you go to bed, or whatever way fits in with your lifestyle. Some people will brush there teeth after every meal.

When brushing do not rush (three minutes recommended) or be too aggressive as this can lead to your gums bleeding, your brush strokes should be away from your gums. Always do the back and sides of your teeth as well as the front, a lot of people concentrate on the front as that is what other people tend to see, but they are all as important as each other.

Change your toothbrush regularly, every three months should do it, and always make sure you get a toothbrush (and toothpaste) suitable for your teeth, for example a person with sensitive teeth and gums needs a soft bristled brush, someone who has strong teeth can use a harder bristled brush.

As well as brushing, to keep your teeth healthy it is recommended that you use a mouthwash after brushing. Mouthwashes help reduce the amount of bacteria and plaque in your mouth, also a mouthwash with fluoride will reduce cavities.

Dental floss helps get rid of food remnants stuck in between your teeth that a toothbrush will not get too. You need to persevere with flossing as it does need some time to get used too, but will be well worth it if you achieve healthy white teeth.

Just brushing you teeth is not enough to keep them healthy, so using mouthwashes and/or flossing on top of brushing does help, but it does not mean you do not need to visit the dentist. Keep having regular check ups, at least twice a year to ensure everything is okay.

It is important to keep your teeth healthy, not just for your appearance and confidence but also your finances, if you neglect your teeth now you could end up paying hundreds of pounds on dentistry work in the future.