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Is Your Toothbrush Making You Sick?
Just about everyone knows that you should change the oil in your car's engine at least every three months or 6,000 km's, but how many of us are mindless when it comes to maintaining and changing our toothbrushes?
Under normal conditions, you should replace your individual toothbrushes every three months because they can harbor harmful bacteria that can cause infection such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Moreover, toothbrushes stored in the warm, steamy environment of a bathroom (one of the most contaminated areas of the home) can harbor germs that can prolong sore throats and oral infections.
While not asubstitute for quarterly toothbrush replacement, soaking your toothbrush in an anti-microbial mouthwash for at least 30 minutes after each use can help to cleanse your toothbrush.
Alternatively, you might consider cleaning your toothbrushes in the dishwasher after every use. If ...
March 8, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Plaque, Tartar, Gingivitis. What’s the difference?
You've heard the terms in TV ads, seen them in print ads, and perhaps noticed them on the labels of a variety of dental products. But what do the terms plaque, tartar, gingivitis and (worse) periodontal disease really mean?
Our mouths are full of bacteria! In a healthy mouth there is anatural balance of different bacterial species. However, when anyone family of bacteria dominate an area, their levels of toxins increase to a point where they stimulate the immune system and cause an infection.
Proper daily brushing and flossing removes these bacteria from the mouth ensuring that they do not overgrow.
Sadly, a common mistake that many people make is to brush, but not to floss! Not flossing allows these bacteria to build up to dangerous levels between the teeth where brushing alone can't reach.
Plaque is asticky, yellowish-white film that's composed of the bacteria, small particles, ...
March 1, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
How To Protect Your Teeth From Cavities
How does acavity form in atooth? First, for atooth to be susceptible to decay, the bacteria which we all carry in our mouths must adhere themselves to the tooth by combining with proteins in saliva and food debris, and forming a layer known as plaque.
These bacteria consume the food debris with which they come into contact, and often digest it within a matter of mere minutes. Bacteria are very fond of easily digestible foods like potato chips, candy, ice cream, milk, cakes and other foods containing carbohydrates. Eventually, these bacteria need to "relieve" themselves and do so by excreting an acid which if concentrated in one area, can actually dissolve the calcium in atooth.
If a small colony of plaque remains attached to a tooth surface for a period of time, it can cause localized destruction of the tooth enamel, which left untreated can eventually destroy the tooth and the ...
February 22, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Putting The Squeeze On Toothpastes!
Readers should know that brushing at least twice aday with toothpaste is important for several reasons.
First; toothpaste combined with the correct brushing action works to remove plaque (a sticky, harmful film of bacteria that grows on our teeth, and can cause cavities, gum disease, and eventual tooth loss if not controlled).
Second; a toothpaste containing fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which helps to repair early decay before the damage can even be seen.
Third; special ingredients in the toothpaste help to clean and polish your teeth.
Fourth; toothpaste helps freshen breath and leaves your mouth with aclean feeling.
However, contrary to what all those toothpaste commercials show, the amount of toothpaste or gel needed on your brush for effective cleaning does not have to be a"heaping" amount. Simply squeeze a ...
February 15, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Dental Implants - The Next Best Thing To The Real Thing
Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. Perhaps you have dentures that don't feel secure.
If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak, and eat once again with comfort and confidence, we have good news for you. The science of dental implantology has progressed remarkably in recent years.
Today's dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own natural teeth. They can be the next best thing for you if you are missing any of your teeth, providing increased confidence and self-esteem that can change aperson's life.
Implants are "titanium roots" that integrate into the structure of your jawbone. Dental implants can be used to replace asingle lost tooth or many missing teeth. They can also be used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures. They look and feel so much like natural ...
November 25, 2009Dental News2Continue reading
