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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 ...
May 3, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Baby, What a Smile!
Many parents may not realize how important "baby" teeth really are, not only for esthetics, but also for function and to hold places for the child's permanent teeth.
After all, they reason, "baby" teeth are going to fall out eventually. It's just a matter of time.
Baby teeth or "deciduous" teeth, start erupting at about six months of age. They will remain until the age of eleven or twelve. During that time, it is crucial to do everything you can to protect your child against the loss of any teeth. If a "baby" tooth is lost, the later adult tooth will lack aguide needed to position itself properly.
You can do a lot to reduce the possibility of tooth decay with an oral hygiene program that includes daily brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and gentle flossing.
Fluoride is one of the best tools in the fight against tooth decay because it strengthens the teeth. Use only "pea" sized ...
April 19, 2010Dental News1Continue reading
Don’t Let Missing Teeth Limit Your Lifestyle
Few incidents have greater impact on a person's dental health and personal appearance than tooth loss. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can drift out of position which can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay and even gum disease.
Your teeth work together to help you chew, speak, sing and smile. When you lack teeth, it can be difficult to do these things. The loss of a back tooth for example may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older. More importantly, though, your dental health may suffer when missing teeth are not replaced. Teeth were designed to compliment each other. When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may tilt toward the empty space, or the teeth in the opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space, placing unusual stress on both the teeth and the tissues in your mouth. In addition, the gum tissues and ...
April 12, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Caring For Your New Baby’s Teeth To Insure Long-Term Oral Health
Good dental care for your baby actually begins before he or she is born. It begins with you, the mother. It's important to continue proper dental hygiene during pregnancy and special attention may be needed at this time because red and tender gums that bleed easily may be caused by increased hormone levels. Snacking too often on foods that have a high level of sugar can also lead to tooth decay.
What you eat can also affect the development of your unborn baby's teeth. The baby's teeth begin to form between the third and sixth month of pregnancy and during that time it's important the right nutrients be provided in sufficient amounts.
Nutritional deficiencies may result in abnormal formation of your baby's primary teeth. All 20 of your baby's primary teeth (also called baby teeth) are actually present in the jawbone at birth and usually appear before the age of three.
When your ...
March 15, 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
