Teeth cleaning homemade tips

Teeth care is very important, without them we can not chew well, which produces a bad digest.
Toothpastes and mouth washers do not clean tartar, which progressively destroys your teeth. To avoid this there are some homemade methods like.

1. Rubbing your teeth with strawberries or the juice of any citric fruit.
2. Brushing your teeth with warn water after each meal.
3. When you feel your teeth lose, chew raw water cresses.
4. For children teeth problem, they can suck a piece of marsh mallow root.

Read More!

What’s new on dental implants?

Our first recommendation: never be the first one on trying a new medical treatment.

New and revolutionary techniques come with some level of uncertainty, since all their risks and long-term complications are unknown. Unfortunately of the thousands of revolutionary invents that have come up on the dental implanting scene in the last ten years; just a few are still being used.

Said this, there are three aspects in which dental implant treatments are improving:

Esthetic: It not only matters functionality, but also having esthetic appearance. It’s usually required a multidisciplinary team to achieve great results. Periodontists, orthodontists and prosthesis specialists must team up with coordination.

Time saving: Every time we have to wait lees time between the dental implant placement and the prosthesis. Sometimes they can both be done in the same day. Among these treatments we find: one day teeth, teeth in “x” hours, all in four prosthesis, Novum, etc.

Bone regeneration: We can get back part of the lost bones with regeneration techniques.

Read More!

Braces placement: Does it hurt so bad? (*)

Let’s face it! There are just a few lucky ones who can feel proud of a straight, white and healthy smile. The rest of mortals have yellowish and imperfect teeth due to many causes such as a deficient diet, excess of drinking and smoking and genetic inheritance.

However, we don’t have to settle for this. Of course not, cosmetic dentistry has advanced at huge steps and is now able to work wonders for our teeth.

One of the most common recommended solutions by dentists is wearing braces. Conventional methods in orthodontics are still the same in essence, some have been ruled out, though they are now enhanced with new materials and techniques that make them more comfortable and more esthetic.

Braces treatment varies according each person, depending on such factors as: Age, teeth’s position, dental bone structure, mouth’s health and esthetic wishes.

The treatment lasts from one to two years approximately, as I said, depends on each case. In kids and teens is easier to handle because their teeth are constantly moving and not hard and fixed as adults’; nevertheless, the dentist has to foresee the appearance of wisdom teeth, since they could pushed the frontal teeth.

But don’t think if you are pushing base three or four you don’t have a solution. Of course you do. It takes more time because your teeth are already formed though, but the risk of moving teeth is far less than in young people.

The braces treatment follows these steps (the order is not strict) (...)

Feature article on Ezine Articles®

Read More!

What are teeth impants? Part III

What happens if all teeth are missing?

If you have lost all your teeth in one of your jaws, you have two possibilities:

1. Wearing a complete flipper
2. Implant treatment

Complete dentures work very well in many cases, but over time maxillary bones get reabsorbed and the fake teeth doesn’t fit very well, unless you use special adhesives.

Other people instead, can not stand a removable prosthesis for psychological or social reasons. The sensation of getting their teeth back and being able to chew well, turn into a great life quality improvement for many of them.

With dental implants the dentist can get a fixing point placing a bar upon two implants, over this point he/she can make a removable “overflipper”, that stays firm in despite of the chewing movements.

Another alternative is placing many implants in the frontal area and making a fix bridge, less notorious than the complete dentures, which goes fixed to the implant and is not removable.

Implant treatment advantages

• More comfort
• Being able to chew any kind of food
• Keeping the size and shape of dental bones

Modern dentistry offers conventional restoring treatments enhanced with the use of new materials and technology, and also gives new options with the use of dental implants.

Treatments are personalized considering many factors. Not always the new is the best. Ask your dentist which is the most suitable option for your needs.

Read More!

What are teeth implants? Part II

What happens if there is only one tooth missing?

In kids and young patients is common the congenital absence of one tooth –that didn’t appeared- or it broke.

There are the following treatment alternatives:Removable prosthesis or flipper: it has an acrylic palate or holding hooks. It’s the cheapest system, but also the most uncomfortable and not so esthetic. However, it’s a good temp solution for a dental implant treatment.

Adhesive prosthesis : It sticks to the teeth’s enamel thanks to the application of shallow acids and then a resin. It can be temporary while a bridge or tooth implant is made.

Dental implants are an ideal solution for the reposition of a single tooth; the implant is introduced within the bone and; in a second phase is restored with prosthesis.

Once the implant is placed we can observe through X-rays its position within the bone, we can see it has replaced the root of the lost tooth. From now on, we have to wait between four months approximately for the upper jaw and six months for the lower jaw to proceed to the elaboration of the definite crown upon this implant.

What happens is there are many teeth missing?

Over the years teeth come out because of gums problems, cavities or fractures.In these cases, multiple implants placement is an alternative, since the teeth left don’t have to be involved to replace the absent ones. On the hand, this avoids the inconvenient of a flipper.

However, traditional alternatives provide a solution too, and sometimes, there amore more suitable for certain patients.

The treatment options when there are many missing teeth are:

1. Removable dentures
2. Fix bridge trimming neighboring teeth
3. Individual implant with crowns upon.

Read More!

What are teeth implants? Part I

Dental implants consist of a cylindrical-shaped titanium piece introduced inside a maxillary or mandibular bone, through a small surgical intervention, similar to a tooth extraction.

Afterwards, between 4 to 6 months after the implant collocation, the dental surgeon will proceed to the crown elaboration that will be placed upon the implant, now intimately integrated to our own bone (bone-integrated)

What advantages do dental implants have?

The most important advantages are that you can avoid the use of fake teeth, as well as the trimming of the surrounding teeth for fix prosthesis. However, teeth implants do not represent a panacea for the reposition of lost teeth. There are many cases that can be solved with a conventional prosthesis; and it’s always wise to ask the dentist, who is the most indicated to suggest the different alternatives for each case.

We must point out that tooth implant most be done in team, under the charge of a professional in dental final restoration (prosthesist), since he/she must indicate which is the most suitable position for the implant, according to the work plan.

Read More!

Lingual braces: A new esthetic challenge

Against more esthetic requirements from teenage and adult patients, comes up the necessity of giving a solution to crooked teeth. This way, orthodontists make new braces design: lingual braces, which allow getting results as good as with the braces placed outside the teeth.

Among the different models in the market, the most used worldwide are Dr. Craven Kurz’ 7th generation (G7) and the Scuzzo-Takemoto-Bracket (STB),d eveloped by the Ormco. With this new design they can reduce most of the first disturbances fro talking that patients had. For instance for deep bites, G7 braces are the most suitable.

With these new braces dentists are able to treat all kinds of malocclusions, including surgical patients or with periodontal diseases, refrained canines, open bites, overbites class II and III; and of course they can de used for the same purposes of the regular braces, with the same results.

Dentists do not have to acquire special instruments, except for some pliers of distal cut and the Weinghart pliers of long handle, that are very useful to work in the inner side of the mouth.

It’s also very important to point out a careful oral hygiene to avoid gingival inflammation, something, that with any other dental technique makes difficult the tooth movement.

There is no limitations for the use of this dental techniques, as always the dental practitioner is well trained to realize it. And, as in any other treatment, the treatment planning and objectives must be individualized for each patient, taking into account not only the malocclusion, but also the presence of cavities, plaque and rule out the presence of any oral disease.

As a conclusion, dentist comment that the number of patients demanding these braces is increasing, and living them excellent results and the plus of a more esthetic and natural look.

Read More!

Senior dental health

As we grow old our dental need get more specialized. Since our dental needs might be different from the ones we used to have it’s vital to regularly visit our dentist. Although many senior people wear dentures, teeth loss is not necessarily related to the aging process, but also with dental diseases that can be prevented.

Many old people might be taking medication that could interact negatively with dental anesthesia. For this reason it0s important to keep your dentist informed about any change or update on your clinical history to avoid any damaging interaction with your medication or any health change. Likewise, many medications may reduce saliva production, resulting in a dry mouth, which can produce cavities or the loss of dental pieces over time.

The right use of fake teeth

The fact of using fake teeth doesn’t mean to forget about your oral health. Actually, oral health is imperative if you use complete or partial dentures, since this will allow you feeling more comfort and fitting when using them.

Daily use of fake teeth

The following techniques explain better how to effectively remove plaque and food rests from dentures and mouth:

Rinsing: Rinse your mouth completely with water to eliminate loose pieces of food.

Brushing: Use a special toothbrush that fits that adjusts to your dentures’ shape for a slow brushing but no so roughly fro not damaging the plastic pieces or double the metallic bands. It’s desirable to use specific toothpastes to clean fake teeth instead of the regular ones because these could be to rough for the material. Never use bleaching products on them because they could change the color of the fake teeth or the metallic pieces.

Soaking: Unless your dentist recommends you the contrary, take off your fake teeth at night to give rest to your gums. You must keep your dentures humid if you are not wearing them in your mouth. On the contrary they might loose their shape. Soak them in a dentures cleaning solution during the recommended period if you soak them for more time the metallic bands might get stained). Never soak them in hot water because they could get deformed.

Reinsertion: Handle the fake teeth with over a folded towel or a bowl filled with water to the middle, because even a slight fall could break the base of the dentures or any of the dental pieces. Before reinserting the dentures, brush your gums and palate with a smooth toothbrush in order to eliminate plaque and stimulate circulation.

Read More!

Kids going to the dentist

To take your children to the dentist you should not wait until he or she presents any pain or disturbance. The relationship child-dentist has to start in good conditions for not creating in his/her mind frightening ideas about visiting this professional.

It’ not convenient at all to inspire fear on the kid by commenting misfortunate experiences about dental visits. Talk in normal and simple terms; do not make a drama of it. Avoid telling your children about your bad experiences with the dentist.

Do not threaten your child with taking her/him to the dentist as punishment. On the contrary, try to make him/her feel confident and happy about visiting a good friend. When your kid arrives to the dentist’s office, leave him alone; allow him to answer the questions when he is requested to.

Try not to show yourself in panic if your child cries at the consult, remember that that’s a normal reaction before gaining confidence. Do not cheat on your kid telling him what they are going or what they are not going to do to him. Do not embarrass him in the presence of other people or other kids of his age because of his behavior at the dentist’s office.

But above all you should not forget that of a good dental health many depends times the good physical and mental state of our children, since many oral problems are health problems too and should be treated like that. A neglected mouth represents a serious danger for the health an even to the life of the child.

Read More!

Baby’s first tooth

Once the first baby tooth appears you must start taking care of your baby’s oral health, so in this way he will have healthy teeth in the future. From the moment you notice that your child’s first tooth is coming up, you should clean it introducing a piece of dressing wrapped up on your index finger in his mouth after he had had milk or any food, and also clean his tongue. This has the purpose of creating a good dental care habit and protecting the baby’s teeth once they start appearing. It’s a point of start for dental protection.

The chronology of dental eruption, mostly known as “baby teeth” is as follows:

• 5 to 7 months: Lower incisors or cutting teeth.
• 8 months: Medium upper incisors.
• 14 months: Lateral lower incisors.
• 14 to 18: First molars.
• 20 months: Canines
• 30 months: Second molars

The first teeth is conformed by 20 dental pieces until the child turns 6 years, when the first permanent molar will recently appear, that’s’ why is also known as the “6 year molar”. It will have different characteristics from the baby teeth, such as bigger size and volume than the temporary ones, and never comes out. Likewise, it’s very important for the development of the maxillomandibular (upper and lower jaws) and for the perfect alignment of the definite teeth.

With the coming out of the baby teeth, the child might present some disorders like intense drooling and gums itching, which make the child take anything he finds into his mouth. For this, you should keep his toys very clean.

With the appearance of the first tooth the child presents an irritated and restless conduct, as well as diarrhea, vomits or temperature. When you notice these symptoms do not wait much time and take him to the pediatric dentist. Always remember that kids dehydrate quickly; so if he got an infection for something he took to his mouth, it could be the beginning of a terrible gastroenteritis (stomach inflammation).

Suggestions on baby dental care
It might he an inherited habit brushing your teeth when getting up in the morning to then have breakfast and stay with the mouth full of rests of food, which contribute to form germens that produce cavities.

It’s recommendable for the child when he get up to have an antiseptic mouth and throat wash for 2 minutes. The teeth brushing should be done after eating because in this way the mouth will be free food rests and will have a better breathe.

After lunch is also recommended a second teeth brushing, but in case there is not time for it, the child can get a quick mouth wash to remove the rest foods. However, after dinner dental hygiene must be done more carefully with the help of a dental floss.

To make the cleaning effective and preventive is necessary in first place to realize a correct and daily brushing of the dental surfaces touching the cheeks and the interior part of the lips, as well of the surfaces next to the palate and the tongue.

For this, it’s necessary the use of a short toothbrush, with smooth and even hair. As for the dental toothpaste, choose the ones with fluoride with a soft and tasty flavor for your child. And don’t forget the periodic visits to the pediatric dentist, or at least once a year.

Read More!

Elastics and elastomer chains

Dentists use elastics (rubbers) to complement the displacement of teeth. They are classified as follows:

Elastics type 1: they are placed on the arc for closing spaces an helping the elastomer chains.

Elastics type 2: they are used for the lower molars to upper canine tooth.

Elastics type 3: they are used from the upper molars to lower canine tooth

Elastics can be used in vertical direction to close the frontal open bites or to descend dental pieces that are moved outside.

Elastomer chains are used to close spaces; they are places o e ach braces, generally from molar to molar. There is also placed a chain link on each brace.

Coil Spring

These springs are placed inside an arc, just 2 mm more from the space they should be put on. They are used to separate pieces or to keep the space for the piece that should be placed there.
Bottoms Bottom-shaped metallic pieces used to displace outside teeth get adhered as well as braces. The dentist makes traction with elastics and later places a brace to align the piece. Mostly there are included pieces like the canines, on which there must be made fenestration; a space like a “little window” to place the bottom right there, or the dentist might put surgical cement on the wound to avoid cicatrisation. Nowadays is demonstrated than better than a fenestration is better leave flaps for lateral and top reposition.

Read More!

How to tighten braces

Straight wire braces are pre angled and individualized for each piece, the position the crown and root will get will be determined by the brace base and gap’s angulations, that’ why braces must be placed in a determined position each dental piece. For this, the dentist uses an instrument called “star” that will allow him/her to find a geometric center to place the brace.

The center, where the brace will be out, is determined by the intersection of the horizontal line given by the star with the vertical one, which divides the tooth’s face in two. The tooth is cleaned up with a rotator brush, it’s also very effective the use of pumice stone. The acid engraving is done and the vestibular tooth face becomes white matte when it dries. The adhesive is placed of the brace’s base and on the tooth’s face; the brace is put with special tweezers of the determined center, the dentist corrects the position with an explorer until it is well aligned.

Wires

Wires used in orthodontics can be active or passive if they exert strength or not onto the teeth. They are used wires of steel, nickel, titanium or titanium nickel with copper. Steel wires are used to make removable and fixed appliances, to make different types of arcs that are unable to make with nickel titanium. They are used wires of 0.5 to 1.25 mm of diameter; they can be welded to other bands and wires.

For the straight arc they use wires of nickel and titanium, and even copper, these wires exert continuous strengths, have an extreme resistance to deformation, but with a prolonged use they get worn out, they can be folded anymore.

The NITINOL® wire used in orthodontics was a military discovery in the navy laboratories in the U.S.; it’s an alloy that has the capacity of getting back its original shape –it has a great memory- and that’s why it is used for braces placement. It moves the dental pieces until the wire gets straight –let’s keep in mind it doesn’t fold- for their reason is basic to place each brace on its normal position and one each tooth, since the gaps’ angulations are different.
There are braided, round and rectangular wires. The orthodontic treatment usually starts with a braided wire, which actually is formed with three folded wires that has an extreme flexibility, once they are placed they liberate the teeth and the alignment begins. For this, dentists use wires of 0.015 mm of diameter.

After this, the dentist place the round wire, which go from 0,012, 0,014, 0,016, 0,018 y 0,020 mm of diameter.

The rectangular wire is the last one to be placed; it’s used to twist the dental pieces. There are many seizes but the most used are the ones from 0,022 to 0,016.

Wires Ni-Ti

The wire is placed on the braces gaps and dentist use bands to hold them, whether metallic or elastic. The metallic bands are soft wires of 0.2 5mm. nowadays the elastic bands are the most used and come in different colors.

Read More!

Braces

They are metallic or ceramic pieces that are welded to the bands or stuck directly to the teeth, used to support the active element: the arc. The molar bands already have their braces. The conventional braces are formed by a base with a covering that allows the adhesion to the tooth, a gap for the arc and some clips to fix the elastics.

Each dental house as its identifying methods for braces: arrows, numbers, colors, etc. there are esthetic braces, ceramic, (the classical ones are metallic) and there are laminated ones that get easily dyed. The ceramic braces get broken more easily though; they are hard and they may cause damage the enamel.

Read More!

Fixed Orthodontic

In Orthodontia they use fixed pieces in the oral cavity, so the patient can not take them off. They are combined with other types of orthodontics and any movement can be done with them. They sue continuous forces, thus more dangerous for the teeth, and therefore there must be a careful patient control.

There are many techniques of fixed orthodontia, the most used techniques since a few years ago and still used till these days are the Begg technique and the arch on its side apparatus, but due to the new materials, especially the nickel titanium wires, and the treatment system of most specialists has changed. The technique that is now taking the lead for its simplicity is the “straight wire”.

Elements used in fixed orthodontic:

– Space maintainers
– Bands
– Braces
– Wires
– Metallic and elastic bonds
– Elastics and elastomer chains
– Bonding and bottoms
– Extra oral apparatus

The ones that will support the wires and other elements fixed in the mouth are the bands and braces.

The Straight wire was created by Dr. Larry Andrews. The treatment can be started with movable or functional orthodontia, but we’ll always be rotating pieces, radial torque, extrusion, intrusion, leveling and aligning with fixed orthodontic.

Space maintainers

To place bands, we must defeat the contact point of the dental pieces that’s why dentists use metallic bonds or plastic mainteiners. After 24 hours we get the maximum separation, which is the double of the band’s size.

Bands

They are arc-shaped metallic elements that are pasted over the molars. Formerly, they used to be placed on each dental piece, but nowadays they only paste over the molars with glass ionomers. The bands are made from laminated steel and come in different shapes and numbers (1-32), so they are no longer made at dental laboratories.

Superior and inferiors bands

The inner side of the bands is matte and the external one is plain. The superior bands use to have three holes and the inferiors ones, two, they are aimed at supporting active and passive wires. Wires are placed inside the central hole of the superior band and inside the superiors’ hole of the inferior band. They may have tubes to join together dental devices.

Read More!

What other oral diseases we may have?

Fever blisters: Infections of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). If you ever had a fever blister, herpes labialis or cold sore let me tell you, you are not the only one. Half a million people suffer from it every year. Once you’ve been exposed to this virus, this may hide inside your system for years. Taking to much sunlight, having slight temperature with a cold, stress may wake up the virus, causing tiredness, muscular pain, sore throat, inflamed and sensible and lymphatic glands and fever blisters.

These blisters are quite contagious and are usually formed on the lips, or sometimes underneath the nose or the chin. The blisters take from 7-10 days to heal without leaving any scars.

There are medicines available at any drug store or supermarket to apply over the cold sore to anaesthetize and ease the pain. If the fever blisters persist, consult your doctor or your dentist to prescribe you an antivirus medication to help you diminish the chances of having these types of viral infections.

Aphthous ulcers or aphthosis: Common blisters, mostly innocuous, appear inside your mouth like ulcers of white or gray base and red border; they are more frequently in women than in men, usually during the menstrual period.

Their causes are unknown so far, but specialists relieve they are related to problems of the immunological system, which protect us from diseases, bacteria and viruses. Fatigue, stress or allergies may increase the probabilities of acquiring an aphthous ulcer. You may also get one if you have a cut in the interior part of your cheek or on your tongue. Aphtae may be small and are usually healed in one or three weeks. However, if you have a big aphtae (more than 1 centimeter); it might be treated with medication. Avoiding spicy meals can ease the pain. It may help as well using smooth mouth washers or salad water, of cleaning the aphtae with milk of magnesia or a mix or water and oxygenated water. There is no proven way to prevent aphtae, but if you get them constantly, take into account what may be irritating your mouth and tell your dental or dental hygienist.

Candidiasis or oral infections by fungi: These infections appear like red or white lesions in the mouth, plains or slightly up. They are common the people who use dentures, especially to old people, young people who have had extractions, or people who have problems in their immunological system. People with dry mouth syndrome have high probabilities of acquiring oral infections by fungi, which may be prevented with a good oral hygiene. If you use fake teeth, wash them and take them out when going to sleep. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about medicines for these infections.

Dry Mouth Syndrome: Quite common in many adults, especially as they grow old. This may difficult eating, swallowing, tasting and talking. It happens when the salivary glands stop functioning correctly, usually as a secondary effect of medicines or any other health problems. If it is not treated it may produce cavities, since saliva helps the mouth to stay free from pieces of food and also helps to avoid acid form plaque onto your teeth.

Oral cancer: This type of cancer happens more frequently in people over their 40’s. It is discovered at its most advanced stage, when it is harder to treat. This happens because oral cancer is not painful, so the person who bears it may not find out she has it. Besides, many people don’t visit the dentist often enough to discover the cancer at an early stage. The most places where this cancer is developed are the tongue, lips and the mouth’s base. The use of tobacco, especially combined with alcohol is the main cause if this cancer. Oral cancer may show as a spot or a small blister, red or white in any place of the mouth. Among other signals there are:

– An easily bleeding blister or a blister that never heals.

– Change of color of the oral tissues.

– A scab, sensibility, numbness or a corrupted area by pain in any part of the mouth or lips.

– Problems for chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue

– Change in the teeth adjustment.

Read More!

How are oral problems related to other parts of your body?

Oral health may be an indicator or your general health. Many serious diseases, such as diabetes, HIV or some eating disorders show their first signals through symptoms in the mouth. For this reason, it is important to regularly have complete oral exams.

Most of us think of oral problems in terms of cavities, tooth aches, twisted or spotted teeth. The lack of healthy teeth and gums affects our appearance, but also affects the health of our system. For instance:

If you suffer from periodontal diseases, you have more probabilities of having cardiac diseases.

If you have no teeth, this may affect your mental health, since it can make you feel bad about yourself.

If you are diabetic, this may increase you probabilities of having periodontal diseases.

If you have diabetes and periodontal disease, you may have more trouble for controlling your sugar levels in the bloodstream.

Read More!

Baby’s oral health

If you’ve just given birth you must be wondering what to do for your baby’s oral health. Here we tell some facts you should know:

The same germens that affect your teeth may be transmitted to your baby if you put in your mouth your baby’s stuff, such as toys, spoons, etc.

If you clean the teeth and gums of your baby with a soft cloth or a special toothbrush for babies after breastfeeding or giving him/her meals, this helps to remove the sugar contained on milk and that may cause dental detriment.

If you give bottle to your baby, you‘d better stop doing it before he/she turns one year old. Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. Never put a pacifier or lollypop on his mouth either. Sucking a bottle being lying on his/her cradle may destroy your baby’s teeth, causing great pain and difficulties for feeding him/her.

Pediatricians and pediatric dentists suggest baby should have an oral exam between the first and the second year of age. This is to evaluate possible problems in your child’s mouth, and this also will teach you how to take care correctly of the mouth and teeth of your baby.

Read More!

Women and oral health

Why as a woman I should worry about my oral health? Actually you should have a proper oral health care in every stage of your life. As a woman the changes in you hormonal levels during puberty, menstruation and menopause produce changes in your mouth. These hormonal changes may produce:

• Blisters and thrushes
• Gingivitis during puberty
• Mouth dryness (often related to the use of certain medication)
• Changes in the sense of taste
• High risk of having periodontal diseases
• Bone weakness by menopause

If I’m pregnant, should I take a special oral health care?

If you are pregnant you require special oral care:
Try to have a complete oral exam before or at the early beginning of your pregnancy, all the dental arrangements needed should be made before pregnancy or between the fourth or sixth month of it.

It is possible to receive emergency treatment during pregnancy, but this could be risky for your baby. Oral treatments are more dangerous during the first three months. If you are in the last three months of pregnancy you can receive oral treatment, but the dentist chair can be uncomfortable for you.

If you haven’t received oral assistance it is now time for practicing oral hygiene and having a healthy diet. Brush your teeth and use dental floss carefully everyday. Doing this you can control your risk of having an inflammation or periodontal diseases.

Some pregnant women have periodontal diseases, like pregnancy gingivitis, which increases the possibilities of having more serious periodontal diseases. This condition may be produced by a bad oral cleaning and by the increase of hormonal level during pregnancy as well. Having this problem may cause inconvenience while brushing your teeth or using dental floss, but it is important not to leave these things aside.

Also keep in mind that women with periodontal disease are more prone to have premature babies and low-weight babies.

Read More!

Simple and easy actions to have a healthy smile

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Try to do it just after getting up and before going to sleep. One a day use dental floss or inter dental cleaner to have deeper dental hygiene and take off the rest of foods from the places your toothbrush can’t reach.

Make sure to take mouth washer after brushing. Fluoride protects dental deterioration at any age. Most communities in the U.S. receive services of running water with added fluoride. Bu not everybody lives in a community with a centralized, public or private, resource of fluoride water. Consult your health or water department of your community to know if there is fluoride in your water.
Brush gently every side of each tooth with a soft-haired toothbrush and with fluoride toothpaste on. Circular and short movements forward and backwards give the best results.

Take your time to brush along your gums and brush smoothly your tongue to remove plaque and food rests. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you the appropriate way to use dental floss.
Change your toothbrush at least every three months or before if you fin it very wasted. A new toothbrush removes more plaque then one that has over three months of use.

If you use dentures make sure to take it off at night and wash it before put it on the next day.

2. Try to have a healthy lifestyle. We know it is hard these days but it is a must. Eat healthy food. Reduce dental deterioration by brushing your teeth after meals and avoiding sugar foods between meals.

Do not smoke. Smoking increases periodontal disease risks, oral and throat cancer and oral infections by fungus.

If you drink alcohol only drink it in a moderate way, no more than one drink for women and no more of two for men. The excessive consume of alcohol increases oral and throat cancer too. When you consume alcohol and tobacco you have much a much higher risk or oral cancer than taking just one of them.

3. Visit the dentist regularly. Having an oral exam twice a year helps to find out the early signs of an oral disease. During regular check-ups dentists may find out signs of nutritional deficiencies, diseases, infections, immunologic alterations, injuries and some types of cancers.

Make an appointment ASAP if your gums bleed frequently, if you notice any red or white spot on them or on your tongue, if you have a non-stop mouth or jaw pain, if you have blisters that don’t heal in weeks or if you have problems to chew of swallow.

Besides dentists there are other professionals who provide oral attention:

Dental hygienists: they are part of your dentist’s staff. They clean gums and teeth, and teach patients how to prevent oral diseases and to keep oral health.

Periodontists: Dentists specialized in periodontal diseases, place dental implants or fake ones.
Oral surgeons: dentists who take biopsies (take tissues sample to examine them with a microscope) and practice oral surgeries.

4. If you have another health problem think how it may affect your oral health. For instance, if you take medication that cause you oral dryness, ask your dentist or dental hygienist if there is another medicine you can take instead. Get an oral exam before starting a cancer treatment. If you have diabetes it is very vital to keep a good oral health to prevent periodontal diseases.

Read More!

Teens and oral health

There is evidence that reveals periodontal disease may increase during adolescence for lack of motivation in practicing oral health. Children who keep good oral health habits until the 13 years old have more chances of keeping brushing and using floss than those kids who were never taught an appropriate oral health care.

Hormonal changes related to puberty may increase in teenagers the risk of developing periodontal disease. During adolescence, the level increase of sexual hormones like progesterone y possible estrogens cause and augmentation in gums bloodstream. This may cause more gum sensibility and a reaction much stronger to any simple irritation, and even small rests of food and tartar.

During this phase, gums may get irritated, red and feel pain. As long as youngsters are passing to adolescence, the gum inflammation starts decreasing. In spite of this it is still very important to follow a good oral health regime during puberty that includes daily brushing and the use of dental floss. In some cases, a dental specialist might recommend a periodontal therapy to help preventing harm to the tooth’s surrounding tissues and bone.
Advice for parents

Early diagnose is important to get a successful treatment for periodontal diseases. For this, it is important kids receive a periodontal exam as a part of their visit to the dentist. You must consider a general medical evaluation for teenagers with a severe periodontitis, especially if it seems to be resistant to therapy.

Many medications may get the mouth dry or create other oral health menaces. Make sure to tell your oral health professional about any other medicine you child is taking.

Observe very well if your son or daughter grind his/her teeth. Teeth grinding may increase the periodontal disease risk besides causing teeth getting fractured and splintered. Dentists can make custom mouth trays to avoid grinding at night.

Investigators suggest periodontal disease might be contagious through saliva. This means, that the common contact with saliva among relatives and couples may expose kids and teenagers to come down with this disease from a close person. So, if someone in the family or if your children have a mate they all should go to a specialist to receive a periodontal evaluation.

The most preventive measure against periodontal disease is definitely establishing good health care habits in your kids at a very early age. There are three basic preventive measures to help your children keep a good oral health:

- Once your child is 12 months old begin establishing seriously the first oral health habits. You may at that age starting using toothpaste for brushing. But, use only a little bit of it and push it inside the toothbrush hair for avoiding you kid swallowing it up. And when the spaces between the teeth start closing, it is time to use the floss then.

- Be a role model: practice good health care habits. Make your family regularly visit the dentist for check-ups, periodontal evaluations and cleanings.

- Examine your child’s mouth to see if there are any signs of periodontal disease like gum bleeding, gums getting red and swollen, gum receding and bad breathe.

If your child has now bad oral health habit, make the endeavor of leading him or her to change them ASAP. It is much easier to change habits in kids and teens than in grown-ups. If your child models his or her behavior following yours, it is logic you should serve as a positive oral health role model for him or her. A healthy smile, fresh breathe and strong teeth contribute to the appearance of the teenager, as well as his or her self-confidence and self-esteem.

Read More!