Choices of Tooth Brushes should be determined by functionality

Toothbrushes are an integral part of our lives. So much so that we give little thought to them, till the time comes to change the old one for a new. The right toothbrush is a part of your maintaining good dental health. If you discuss this with your dentist, he or she will ask you to choose a soft-bristled one. These are best to remove plaque from your teeth. Soft bristles are comfortable and also good for gum tissue.

When at the store we usually tend to buy toothbrushes which are good to look, by a color which attracts us and opt for a brand we recognize. But the advantage we derive is not from the look but the functionality of the toothbrush. It is important that we know and remember what these are.

Size considerations for choices of toothbrushes–

Don’t pick a toothbrush at random. Choose one which fits you best. Every mouth is different in size and shape. If you have a large mouth you will need a full size brush. If you have a regular face then you will probably choose one with the small head.

Maneuverability considerations for choices of toothbrushes –

While buying a toothbrush you must buy one that reaches all the places inside your mouth comfortably. The back ones are tricky to reach. Flexible and small heads are actually very good for maneuverability. Brushes with small heads are good as they make reaching inner and difficult parts of the mouth easy.

Choices of toothbrushesby types –

The top part of the toothbrush has bristles and is called the brush head. Choosing the right type of brush head is important. Here’s a brief glimpse of the different types that you can choose from.

·       Angled – This kind of toothbrush helps reach all parts of the mouth easily. The insides of the lower and upper front teeth are very vulnerable to tartar build up. Instead of a regular toothbrush, using an angled one will help remove the tartar and plaque more effectively.

·       Compact – A compact toothbrush is good for those who have a smaller mouth size. At times even those who have larger mouths choose a compact brush head to help reach the inner recesses of their mouths.

·       Full Size – Full size brush heads are meant for people with bigger mouth size. Here the smaller sizes won’t be of much help. Full size brushes for larger mouths prevent bacterial build-up.

·       Ergonomic – The ones with no-slip grips or ergonomic handles make it easy to hold the brush. This makes brushing more comfortable and effective. It is great for people who suffer from arthritis and cannot move their hands easily.

·       Soft or hard – Different types of bristle makes help cleaning better. A soft one reaches in the deepest recesses of the mouth and makes brushing easy. For recession use an extra soft-bristled one without fail. A hard toothbrush is not always the first choice. But if you have large yellowed teeth these may better than the soft ones.

·       Manual or power – The traditional manual toothbrush has worked well till now. And even today it is very effective for the disciplined soul who brushes hard and long, twice a day without fail. But for those who want results but also have little time, opting for a power/electric toothbrush is a good idea. It is compact, powerful and does good cleaning on its own. It has customized option for sensitive teeth and oscillating-rotating technology to remove gingivitis.

Your dental health depends a lot on your choice of toothbrushes. Choose the right size and type so that the results are more effective. It is more important than simply picking one off the shelf. Ask your dentist for advice and guidance on which type would suit your teeth best.

Medically any pattern of grinding or clenching of teeth is termed as Bruxism. Millions of adults around the world suffer from Bruxism, some without even being aware of it. We usually grind our teeth when in deep sleep and thus may not hear it ourselves. Although we may not realize that we have been grinding our teeth often, we will definitely feel the after effects of it later in toothaches, loosening of teeth, fracturing or loss of teeth. After a thorough dental check up your dentist can inform you whether your dental problems are a result of Bruxism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Although there are no concrete conclusions available to determine exactly why we grind our teeth, researchers widely believe the following to be the top most possible causes:

• #1 reason why we grind our teeth - Stress and anxiety: These are considered to be the leading factors for grinding of teeth or bruxism. Stress and anxiety can be an outcome of mixed bag of factors depending on our lifestyle. Stress could be psychological and emotional, physical, results of professional or personal problems. Anxiety is generally defined as a feeling of fear and uncertainty and it may arise out of multiple other conditions and actions. It can be the reason why we grind our teeth, make us react to situations and inadvertently harm our bodies in many ways.

• #2 reason why we grind our teeth - Side Effect of Certain Medications: Grinding of teeth can occur as a side effect of certain drugs or medication. Many doctors have found that anti depressants and drugs used to treat mental illness have led to their patients grinding their teeth in sleep.

• #3 reason why we grind our teeth - Angry or Violent Nature: For people with high temperament and aggressive nature, grinding of teeth becomes a mode to vent out aggression, anger and frustration.

• #4 reason why we grind our teeth - Growing Teeth: In young children this has been found to be the most common cause of teeth grinding. In kids whose jaws are getting firmer and teeth are still growing this is quite common. As the upper and lower jaws find alignment, teeth grinding become an involuntary but natural occurrence. 

• #5 reason why we grind our teeth - Non aligned teeth: People whose teeth are not symmetrically aligned may unconsciously grind their teeth in an attempt to find a comfortable contact point between upper and lower teeth.

• #6 reason why we grind our teeth - Sleeping disorders: Irregular sleep or certain sleeping disorders like insomnia may also lead to bruxism.

Once we determine the reason why we grind our teeth, we can take steps to get rid of the same. Some of the above causes may be temporary and the grinding of teeth may stop when the causes cease to exist on their own. But for more severe cases you would need expert advice and guidance. Teeth problems should not be ignored and should be treated before they worsen. Call your dentist today.

What do you mean bySensitive teeth?

Medically, tooth sensitivity is referred to as Dentin Hypersensitivity. Many a times you might feel a sudden bout of pain while eating. Especially when, what you are eating is something cold, hot, sweet or sour. In some cases the pain can be felt even while brushing teeth. This pain is usually due to sensitive teeth.  You might have observed that it occurs repeatedly only in a particular part of your mouth. This is because your teeth only in that part have become highly sensitive.

Why do you suffer fromSensitive Teeth?

Your teeth become sensitive when the outer layer of the teeth, i.e. enamel gets eroded and the layer below it i.e. dentin gets exposed to external elements. Dentin has numerous nerve-endings which when come in contact with hot cold or sweet fluids, trigger pain. Another cause of sensitive teeth is the receding gum line. When the gums get pushed downwards, the roots of teeth get exposed thus making them hypersensitive.

The causes of enamel erosion and receding gums are:

• Improper Brushing of Teeth: Brushing your teeth with too much pressure or for too long will gradually cause the tooth enamel to wear off and the gum line to recede, leading to sensitive teeth.
• Unhealthy Oral Care: Regular and healthy oral care are of utmost importance for healthy and long lasting teeth. When there is lack of healthy oral care, decaying and other oral problems like sensitivity of teeth start developing. Repeated treatment of decaying and unhygienic teeth also erosion of teeth and recession of gums.
• Wear and Tear of teeth: Wear and tear of teeth due to brushing, dental treatments, etc over the years tend to make teeth sensitive. Strong mouthwash if used frequently can cause erosion of teeth.
• Immediately post Dental Treatment: If you have recently had a cavity filled or undergone a root canal, your treated tooth may remain sensitive for a week or two and then return to normalcy on its own.
• Bruxism: Bruxism refers to frequent clenching or grinding of teeth. This brings pressure and causes friction in teeth causing erosion of its protective layer.
• Unhealthy food habits: Eating too much of acidic food or drinking too much of acidic or aerated beverages can cause as much harm to your teeth as to your body. Excess of acid content in food and beverages act upon the teeth enamel eroding it away. Eating very hard food or for that matter eating ice cubes can cause you teeth to develop cracks, thereby making them sensitive.
• Whitening treatment for teeth: It is believed that chemicals used in whitening of teeth are acidic in nature and frequent use causes sensitive teeth

How to CureSensitive teeth?

Sensitive teeth in initial stages can easily be treated with basic toothpastes available for sensitive teeth. These contain potassium nitrate or potassium chloride which forms a protective cover over the nerve-endings, thereby desensitizing the area.

In case these don’t work you can opt for fluoride based mouthwash or gels which work in a similar manner. Consult your dentist for your sensitive teeth. He or she may might prescribe a high fluoride content mouthwash or a toothpaste containing strontium chloride that can help cover up the root pores. This way it will not be easily affected by elements that could trigger pain in the nerves.

If the above basic treatments do not work, you might need advanced treatment from your dentist. If your sensitive teeth are a result of highly receded gum line then tissue-grafts can prove to be a help. For eroded enamel, application of fluoride varnish or dental bonding can be done depending upon the need of the hour.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

Sedation dentistry, as the name suggests, refers to dental treatment under sedation. It quite resembles anesthetic operations. There is no such big difference between sedation in dentistry and an anesthetic injection. Sedation is performed in 3 degrees – deep sedation, moderate sedation and minimal sedation. It involves numbing the central nervous system so that dentistry can be performed easily. With minimal sedation the patient can respond to whatever is happening around him. In fact, minimal sedation reduces the anxiety in patients quite easily. In moderate sedation the nerves of the patient is even more relaxed and can partially respond to a stimulus. In deep sedation, the patient becomes unconscious and does not respond to any external stimuli. Sedation is normally practiced in the oral form and is administered depending on the anxiety level of the patient.

Dentists normally prescribe and administer a sedative to the patient one night before any kind of procedure or surgery is scheduled. The sedative primarily serves two major purposes. The first is to make sure that the patient is able to sleep properly through the night before the procedure. The second is to ensure that the sedation has worked its way into the patient’s system so as to complete relax him or her prior to the procedure. This particular approach of asking the patient to take a sedative the night before a surgery is known as the no-needle approach. The patient can take a prescription pill or the dentist can administer them sublingually. According to experts in the field, sublingual sedation dentistry is more effective as it reaches the bloodstream quickly.

Sedation dentistryis considered a safe method. Usually the medicines used for sedation dentistry are checked on the therapeutic index to protect the patients. The more the score on the measurement scale, the safer the drug is. Sometimes a patient, particularly under deep sedation does not remember the preceding events. Therefore, this kind of medication is also termed as ‘comfort dentistry’. Patients generally feel free of the usual anxiety and fear of dental procedures after taking these medicines.

Sedation dentistryneeds careful practice by dentists. A dentist must know which sedative works best for patients after considering the height, weight and degree of anxiety in a patient. The sedative drugs include Sonata, Ativan, Valium and at times laughing gas. The effect of the sedation stays awhile, depending on the degree of sedation performed.

The benefits of sedation dentistry include reducing the stress level in the patient. Sometimes dentistry procedures take a long time. During such prolonged operations sedation is a good alternative. Patients can overcome their fear during the procedure. Sedation dentistry has become a viable option to patients who are phobic to dental care routines or operations. It is without side effects and helps the patient to go through the dental procedure without fear and in the proper manner. In extreme cases of anxiety IV sedation is done. The patient can relax while his dentist can continue his work. After the patient regains consciousness, he can see a healthy inner mouth and smile. If you have moved and about to choose a new dentist make sure you check his credentials. He needs to be an expert of sedation dentistry before you agree to the process.

Maintaining good dental health is imperative. Most of us suffer from some dental problem or the other. Most of these can be taken care of with easy precautions and solutions. You just have to be careful about maintaining dental hygiene. Regular dental checkups, brushing your teeth twice a day are some of those habits that can prevent serious problems. You need to know what these are so that you can prevent them from happening. Remember your dental health contributes a lot to your personality. Take a glimpse into the top five dental complaints

Top five dental complaints - #1 – bad breath - Suffering from bad breath is one of the most common dental complaints. A large number of people experience this. As per top medical surveys, about 85% of humans suffer from persistent bad breath which is caused due to some kind of dental ill health. Bad breath is caused by many reasons - bacteria on tongue, oral cancer, dry mouth, gum disease and cavities. You can use mouthwash to refresh your bad breath, but that is not a permanent cure. Some people suffer from chronic bad breath. It is important to consult your dentist to improve your condition.

Top five dental complaints - #2 – Gum disease- Gum disease or periodontal disease is a serious problem which can also cause heart attacks. Gum disease causes tooth loss in adults. It is basically an infection in the gums around the teeth. Gingivitis and Periodontitis are two familiar forms of gum diseases. Flossing your teeth and brushing your teeth twice daily can prevent this disease. However, if it is a persistent occurrence then consult your dentist right away.  

Top five dental complaints - #3 – Tooth decay – Tooth decay or cavities often occur after common cold. Every second person in the US is afflicted with this problem. Cavities are caused when plague combines with sugars or starches on our teeth. Sugar is derived from the food we eat and plague is already present in our teeth. And when they combine together cavities are caused. Tooth decay can be prevented by taking care of your teeth and keeping them clean. You must also maintain healthy eating habits. Less junk food, less giving in to your sweet tooth.

Top five dental complaints - #4 – Toothache and Tooth sensitivity - Toothache can happen due to various reasons. If you have cavities you can suffer from recurring toothaches Call your dentist and fix a meeting as soon as you feel the pain. Tooth sensitivity is also a common tooth ailment. Whenever you eat anything too cold or too hot you will experience a chilling pain in your teeth. This can also be prevented by taking good care of your teeth.

Top five dental complaints - #5 – Tooth erosion and mouth sores- Mouth sores lasting over two weeks can cause serious problems. Common forms of mouth sores include thrush, ulcers, fever blisters, cold sores and canker sores. Tooth erosion is caused when the teeth enamel is lost due to acid attacks. Sensitivity is the first indication which can lead to serious consequences like cracking. Prevention includes maintaining your dental health and regular dental checkups.