12 Tricks for Healthy Teeth and Gums 1
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Issue-02
Contents
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12 Tricks to Healthy Teeth and Gums Don’t RUSH the BRUSH Is your mouth making you SICK? Why Do Our Teeth Turn Yellow? Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth? Is Your Family Sharing too Much? Does Whitening Toothpaste Actually Whiten Teeth?
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12 Tricks to Healthy Teeth and Gums
12 Tricks
to Healthy Teeth and Gums By Dion Kramer
Want healthy teeth and a gorgeous smile? Try these 12 tricks: 1. GO ON A WHITE-TEETH DIET What goes in shows up on your teeth. So if you’re drinking a lot of red wine and black tea, or smoking cigarettes, expect the results to show up as not-sopearly whites. Other culprits include colas, gravies and dark juices. The bottom line: if it’s dark before you put it in your mouth, it will probably stain your teeth. Step one: brush your teeth immediately after having foods that stain. Step two: regularly use a good bleaching agent, either from the pharmacy or your dentist. Step three: be conscious of tooth-staining foods and drinks, and have them only when a toothbrush is around. If not, have an apple for dessert. 2. HUM WHILE YOU BRUSH The ideal amount of time to brush to get all the bacteria-packed plaque out is two minutes. Use your watch or keep a timer in the bathroom and set it for two minutes. Or find a tune that lasts about two minutes and hum it to the end. 3. GRIP YOUR TOOTHBRUSH LIKE A PENCIL Does your toothbrush look as if it’s been used to clean the car? If so, you’re probably brushing too hard. Brushing with force is not the best way to remove plaque. The best way is to place your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against your gums and gently move it in a circular motion, rather than a back-and-forth. Grip the toothbrush like a pencil so you won’t scrub too hard.
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4. DRINK A CUP OF TEA EVERY DAY Flavonoids and other ingredients in tea seem to prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to teeth, and also block production of a type of sugar that contributes to cavities. Tea also contains high amounts of fluoride. 5. CHANGE YOUR BRUSH Throw away your toothbrush or change the head of your electric toothbrush at least every two to three months. Otherwise, you’re just transferring bacteria to your mouth. 6. USE ALCOHOL-FREE MOUTHWASH TO RINSE AWAY BACTERIA Most over-the-counter mouthwashes have too much alcohol, which can dry out the tissues in your mouth, making them more susceptible to bacteria. Some studies even suggest a link between mouthwashes containing alcohol and an increased risk of oral cancer. To be safe, be a teetotaller when it comes to choosing a mouthwash. 7. CLEAN YOUR TONGUE Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper every morning to remove tongue plaque and freshen your breath. A major cause of bad breath is the build-up of bacteria on the tongue, which a daily tongue scraping will help to banish. Using a tongue scraper is more effective than brushing your tongue with a toothbrush.
8. CUT BACK ON SUGAR Even if you’re an adult, avoid sugary foods. Sugar plus bacteria equals oral plaque. Plaque then
leads to bleeding gums, tooth decay and cavities. Plus, the acid in refined sugars and carbonated beverages dissolves tooth enamel. 9. EAT TOOTH-CLEANING FOODS Foods that are firm or crisp help to clean the teeth as they’re eaten. Apples have already been mentioned; other choices include raw carrots, celery and (unsweetened) popcorn. For best results, make “detergent” foods the final food you eat in your meal if you know you can’t brush your teeth straight after eating. 10. HYDRATE
Drink about a glass of water for every hour that you’re at work. That way, when you get home, you’ll have had plenty of water for the entire day. Not only does the water help to keep your digestive system healthy and hydrate your skin, but it also helps to keep your teeth white. The more water you drink, the more bacteria you flush off your teeth and out of your mouth, meaning less risk of gum disease, fewer cavities and fresher breath.
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11. PREVENT TOOTH FRACTURES Suck—don’t chew—very hard foodstuffs such as hard candy or ice. Chewing hard foods creates tiny fractures in the enamel of your teeth that, over the years, combine to result in major cracks. 12. KEEP TEETH FOR EATING Keep a bottle opener and a small pair of scissors in your bag or desk drawer. If you have the right gadgets to hand, you won’t be tempted to use your teeth as tools, which can damage them. In fact, never, ever use your teeth as tools for anything except eating.
Don’t RUSH the BRUSH “Since many people brush during the morning or at night with the radio on, I tell my patients to brush for one song,” says Luke Matranga, DDS, past president of the AGD. “That’s about three minutes – the right amount of time to get the best results from brushing.”
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“People swear they’ve brushed three to four minutes, but the average person brushes for less than a minute. This is not long enough to reach all areas of the mouth and scrub off cavity-causing bacteria,” says Dr. Matranga. Most people don’t brush long enough to get the best results reports the Academy of General Dentistry. Generally, a toothbrush should have a long, wide handle with soft bristles. Be sure to brush on both sides of the teeth and the tongue. Change toothbrushes every three to four months before their bristles become frayed. Toss the toothbrush after an illness to avoid harmful bacteria harbored in the bristles. Electric toothbrushes are a great option for those who have limited dexterity, such as older people or arthritis sufferers, and are effective for people with braces since the rotating heads can clean hard-to-reach areas.
Is your mouth making you SICK?
Is your mouth making you
?
Why Do Our Teeth Turn Yellow? By Dr. Seth Rosen
M
any people obsess about the color of their teeth. Over time our teeth are no longer pearly white, they get a yellowish tint. Many people don’t realize that there are a number of things we can do to prevent our teeth from turning this yellowish color. On top of ways to prevent it, there are also many ways to bring back the white and get that perfect smile everyone wants. The tooth is made up of four different tissues. The enamel is the strong white covering that protects the tooth from wear and tear of chewing food. Dentin supports the enamel. It is a hard, yellow material that carries the nerves in your teeth. The pulp is the center of the tooth. It contains nerves, blood and lymph vessels. This part is where the tooth receives nourishment and transmits signals to the brain. The fourth part is called the cementum. This covers the root of the tooth. It attaches the teeth to the bones in your jaw. The key reason teeth turn the yellowish tint is that when people eat, drink, or smoke, a layer of film develops on the tooth.
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Even with regular brushing, some of the film is left behind and eats away at the enamel. The enamel is what makes the tooth white so when the enamel thins, the dentin (yellowish bonelike material) starts showing through. This is what gives off the yellowish tint. Age also affects discoloration of the teeth. Teeth darken simply with age. Regular visits to the dentist can also prevent tooth decay, a leading cause of discoloration. If younger people have issues with yellowish teeth, it’s more than likely from staining, not from long-term thinning of the enamel. Staining can happen on the inside or outside of the tooth. Inside staining happens when your teeth are developing and is probably caused by medications taken as a baby. Age also affects discoloration of the teeth. Teeth darken simply with age. Regular visits to the dentist can also prevent tooth decay, a leading cause of discoloration. If younger people have issues with yellowish teeth, it’s more than likely from staining, not from long-term thinning of the enamel. Staining can happen on the inside or outside of the tooth. Inside staining happens when your teeth are developing and is probably caused by medications taken as a baby. There are many ways to whiten your teeth. However, be careful with the products you use and the method you choose. The most common way to whiten teeth is to have a dentist do it. Whitening strips are placed over your teeth. These strips contain a hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. Most strips do not allow active oxygen to penetrate the teeth; this makes all the efforts of truly white teeth in vain. Some strips or trays can take up to two hours a day which is a lot of time in pursuit of white teeth.
Teeth staining is often caused by: • Drinking a lot of coffee, red wine, smoking and certain types of foods cause outside staining.
• Soda, tea and berries contain chromogenic agents which stain your teeth. • Some types of medication taken as an adult can cause staining. One common drug is minocycline which is used to treat facial skin conditions. • Extensive use of fluorid can also cause chalky white spots to appear. A minimal amount of fluorid can be healthy for your smile but too much can do more harm than good.
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Impacted wisdom tooth
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth? The last teeth to develop can cause havoc for the rest of your healthy mouth.
By Regina Boyle Wheeler Erupting wisdom tooth
It’s estimated that 95 percent of 18-year-olds have wisdom teeth and most of them have little if any chance to function in a normal manner.
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ust as you enter adulthood, your wisdom teeth make their presence known in the far reaches of your mouth. Wisdom teeth — officially the thi d molars — are the last set of teeth to come in, usually between 17 and 25 years of age, in the socalled “age of wisdom.” For some, these teeth come in fine. For many others, wisdom teeth don’t come in properly (if at all), are vulnerable to disease, and need to be removed to protect a healthy mouth. So if wisdom teeth are virtually useless in millions of mouths, why do we have them? One theory lies in the mouths of our ancestors. Early humans needed an extra row of teeth to chew their food: a diet of uncooked, hard items like roots, nuts, and
meat. “I’m not an expert on anthropology, but clearly the need for and utility of wisdom teeth in the past exceeds that of the need of today,” says Louis Rafetto, DMD, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Wilmington, Del.
Getting Smart About Wisdom Teeth How to manage your wisdom teeth is a decision to make with your dentist. Getting them removed isn’t always a foregone conclusion if they are fully erupted and functional. Follow your dentist’s advice to stay free of gum disease. Because wisdom teeth are predisposed to problems, you’ll have to be vigilant about oral hygiene and keeping regular dental appointments. If wisdom teeth show signs of disease or decay, your dental health team will strongly suggest getting them removed. It’s a common practice the world over.
Wisdom Teeth Surgery: A Wise Choice? Rafetto says it’s important to get wisdom teeth
examined during your teens. Dentists are able to determine whether the teeth will be functional or likely to cause problems down the road. If the decision is made to take them out, Rafetto advises not to wait. The surgery is usually less complicated in young people, because the roots are less established and, in general, healing is easier. What are the potential risks of wisdom teeth surgery? As with any surgery, infection is possible, and there are risks associated with anesthesia. There’s a slight chance of nerve injury, but if that occurs, it’s usually a temporary problem. Immediately after the procedure, you’ll have pain and swelling, but your surgeon will suggest overthe-counter pain relievers and possibly prescribe a stronger painkiller, should you need one. How to manage your wisdom teeth is ultimately your decision. Though it’s aggravating to have to consider expensive surgery for teeth the body shouldn’t be making anymore, it may be the right dental health option. Having a frank discussion with your dentist and reviewing all your options is the first step in making the right choice
The
with Wisdom Teeth
Anatomy is at the root of most problems with wisdom teeth. Either the jaw is too small or teeth themselves are too big for the jaw. This adds up to a crowded mouth. Mother Nature probably programmed third molars to come in during the late teens or twenties, when the jaw would be big enough for another set of molars. But today, wisdom teeth often don’t cooperate with Mother Nature’s plan. Because of the lack of space, molars can grow sideways, only
partially emerge from the gums, or get trapped in the gums and jawbone. Partially impacted wisdom teeth are chronically contaminated with bacteria associated with infection, inflammation tooth decay, and gum disease. Because they’re so far back in the mouth, it’s hard to keep them clean and get rid of the bacteria. Fully impacted wisdom teeth also can get infected and disturb the position of the other molars. These consequences can spread outside of the mouth, causing other health problems.
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Is Your Family Sharing too Much?
5 Smart Toothbrush Habits
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ou wouldn’t think of sharing your toothbrush. Not even with a family member. But it takes more than sole proprietorship to avoid partnering infection. Studies show that toothbrushes can become heavily contaminated with oral bacteria. Because most families store toothbrushes in a common storage space, airborne bacteria can move from toothbrush to toothbrush, passing opportunistic infections such as periodontal (gum) disease and the common cold from one person to another. Splattering water, contact with skin and toothbrushes knocking against one another are all circumstances that contribute to the spread of bacteria. The bathroom is usually the most contaminated room in the house,” says Dr. Howard Glazer, DDS. “Protect yourself by protecting your toothbrush.
1. Rinse the bristles of your toothbrush thoroughly 2. Shake extra moisture from the brush 3. Storing it upright put a cover over the head 4. Soak unused brushes in antiseptic mouthwash 5. Don’t store toothbrushes in a common holder.
Does Whitening Toothpaste Actually Whiten Teeth? By Alan Carr, D.M.D.
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hitening toothpaste can whiten teeth slightly by removing surface stains, such as those caused by drinking coffee or smoking. Whitening toothpaste can also be used after a bleaching treatment to help maintain results.
If you’re considering using a whitening toothpaste, look for a brand that has a seal of approval from a reputable dental organization—such as the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. This seal indicates that the toothpaste is effective at removing surface stains.
To remove surface stains, whitening toothpaste typically includes: • Special abrasives that gently polish the teeth • Chemicals that help break down or dissolve stains Some whitening toothpastes contain the chemical blue covarine, which adheres to the surface of the teeth and creates an optical illusion that can make teeth appear less yellow. When used twice a day, whitening toothpaste can take from two to six weeks to make teeth appear whiter. Whitening toothpaste that contains blue covarine can have an immediate effect. Although whitening toothpaste is generally safe for daily use, be careful to follow manufacturer recommendations. Excessive use of whitening toothpaste can damage your tooth enamel over time. Keep in mind that whitening toothpaste can’t change the natural color of your teeth or lighten a stain that goes deeper than a tooth’s surface. If you’re not satisfied with the e fect of whitening toothpaste, ask your dentist or dental hygienist about other tooth whitening options—such as over-the-counter or professional bleaching products.
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