January 2016 Entries

Toothbrush 101

01/03/16

By brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste and using the dental floss, you will be able to protect your teeth from plaque buildup and caries in the right way. However, we should all know that toothbrushes last only for a certain period of time.

As a matter of fact, toothbrushes that are worn or damaged cannot effectively remove plaque, which is the key to proper maintenance of healthy teeth and gum. The toothbrush is the basic tool for proper maintenance of oral hygiene, so don’t let your bathroom turn into a place where you keep old and worn out items. In case your toothbrush starts looking like a lavender bush or some other plant, this means that your toothbrush should be thrown into the trash bin. According to many dentists, it is a good idea to change the toothbrush every four months and after each cold or fever in order to avoid getting sick again.

A good toothbrush must have a solid handle sop that users can have full control of the movement and pressure. In addition, a high-quality toothbrush should have as much fiber as possible and fiber that cannot be very hard because they can lead to gum recession and abrasion in the dental necks area which is a common occurrence in patients who used a brush with hard bristles. The same situation is present in people who use heavy pressure when brushing their teeth.

It is recommended to avoid using a cap to cover the toothbrush after you use it because in this way it can’t dry naturally. Make sure that you have rinsed the brush properly and thoroughly after each use. You should occasionally disinfect the brush by leaving it in antibacterial mouthwash for about 5 minutes.

Follow these simple tips and visit your dentist on a regular basis in order to enjoy good oral health. 

 

What is Periodontitis? 

01/10/16

Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a common chronic disease of periodontal tissues surrounding the tooth. Periodontitis usually occurs before the occurrence of gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that can lead to inflammation of the deeper structures because of the presence of bacteria, weakened immunity and other risk factors. The main cause of this disease is plaque, a layer of food debris, bacteria and saliva responsible for tooth decay and for the inflammation of the gums. Plaque turns into tartar which additionally supports the growth of bacteria.

The gums become red, swollen, painful and start bleeding and if this problem is not treated at this phase, the bacteria located under the gum will start to multiply and destroy the supporting structure leading to the formation of pockets and withdrawing bone. The condition can develop faster or slower, but the final result is the same – tooth loss. The presence of bacteria from the plaque is crucial for the development of this disease, but there are many other factors that affect the progress and form of periodontal disease.

For instance, genetic factors, systemic factors, immune system, risk factors like stress and smoking, environmental impact, social factors are some of these factors. According to numerous scientific studies the risk of periodontitis is increased in smokers and the disease in these patients develops very fast.

In addition, these studies have shown the link between systemic diseases like cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, osteoporosis and periodontal disease. It was determined that patients suffering from periodontal disease have a 25% greater risk of developing coronary heart disease.

These are some of the reasons why it is important to maintain periodontal health at home and by visiting dentist’s office for regular examinations. Treating this problem is much easier when it is diagnosed early. 

 

Why dental health is so important during pregnancy? 

01/17/16

Have you ever heard that the risk of premature birth or birth of babies of low birth weight is 700% higher in pregnant women suffering from periodontal disease? The increased level of certain hormones during pregnancy can also lead to gingivitis. So, how can pregnant women take care of their teeth and oral health during pregnancy?

The level of hormones during pregnancy is increased and the rise of progesterone leads to overreaction in the gums when they get in touch with dental plaque. In cases like this, pregnant women can easily develop gingivitis. So called pregnancy gingivitis occurs in women between the second and eight month of pregnancy and some of the symptoms include sensitive and swollen gums, redness in this area and tendency to bleed when the teeth are brushed or flossed.

It is not unusual for pregnant women to experience pregnancy tumors. These tumors are malignant changes that occur in the gingival area as a result of irritations caused by gingivitis and dental plaque. Pregnancy tumors often withdraw on their own after childbirth, but if they cause pain or fear it is the best idea to visit a dentist.

Periodontal disease has been related to problematic pregnancy few decades ago. Scientific studies have confirmed that there is a link between this disease and premature birth.

In order to keep your dental health safe during pregnancy, don’t ignore dental hygiene. Regular brushing, proper diet, flossing and using mouthwash are very important for dental health. Make sure to visit the dentist before and right after you get pregnant. In addition, make sure to stay informed. When you are the dentist’s office, talk with the dentist about the effects of pregnancy on your oral health. Finally, take care of all the problems with your teeth before you get pregnant if that’s possible. 

 

Wisdom teeth – healing and extraction 

01/24/16

Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last teeth in the dental arch of the lower or upper jawbone. There should be a total of four wisdom teeth in the jaw.

Wisdom teeth belong to a group of genetically diverse teeth just like each of the last tooth in certain groups of teeth like the second molars. In addition to their genetic diversity, there is another reason why people visit their dentists because they experience pain in their wisdom teeth. Because of the specific development of human species, there is sometimes no room for the proper growth of wisdom teeth. It is very rare to find people with four regular wisdom teeth. Most of them have partially emerged wisdom teeth and some of them don’t have wisdom teeth at all.

The most common problems related to the third molars are difficulties with their emergence, impacted and semi-impacted teeth and caries. Whenever a patient feels or notices some of these problems, they should immediately visit their dentist’s office because the problem can get worse.

When we talk about wisdom teeth extraction it is good to mention that this is the most common dental procedure related to wisdom teeth. This extraction can be complicated or simple. In cases of complicated removal, dentists must open the gum and remove part of the bone that prevents regular extraction. The procedure is performed with the help of local anesthesia, but this is a small surgery and should not be taken seriously. Experienced dentists won’t have any problems with this procedure.

After the extraction process is finished, patients might experience symptoms of difficulties when they are opening their mouth, pain, swelling and even fever. It is very important to treat these symptoms and to be careful in the following days. Eating softer food, applying cold compresses and not rinsing the wound are some of the tips that each patient should follow.

 

A Few Things You Should Know About Root Canal Therapy

01/31/16

Tooth pain can significantly affect the quality of your life. Those who have felt this pain know that it is almost impossible to fall asleep when there is tooth pain present. In many cases, this pain leads to pains in other parts of the body like headaches, pain in the oral cavity etc. Needless to say, eating with tooth pain is a real challenge. This pain usually occurs due to tooth decay which results in pulp infections and makes our live living nightmare. One of the best ways to eliminate all these problems is to get root canal therapy conducted by professional dentist.

Root canal therapy, sometimes called endodontic therapy, represents a series of treatments centered on the pulp cavity in the painful tooth. If the pulp cavity is dealing with infection, it leads to extreme tooth sensitivity and unbearable pain. Root canal therapy has one main goal – to remove the infection while protecting the problematic tooth from the negative effects of harmful bacteria and microorganisms. In other words, endodontic treatment is solving this problem in the interior of the affected tooth. This is the basic and recommended type of treatment in cases of infected or inflamed tooth. It is good to point out that the reasons why these infections/inflammations occur in the first place are numerous. In vast majority of cases, the deep decay of teeth causes this problem. In addition, cracks, damages and faulty crowns can also lead to situations like this. What is important to understand is that only a fast and professional treatment can make the pain go away.

Thanks to the root canal therapy, the problematic, inflamed pulp is gently removed and the tooth is carefully cleaned. After that, the consequences of the infection are eliminated with thorough disinfection. When these procedures are finished, the tooth is filled and carefully sealed up with special material. The last stage is to completely restore the proper functioning of the tooth with the help of a filling or crown.

The endodontic therapy is very important because once it is finished the pain is gone and your teeth are as good as new. With the help of this procedure, you will get back your natural biting sensation and power and protect other teeth from unnecessary wear and tear. Finally, your tooth will look natural and your chewing ability will be normal.