Friday, December 4, 2015

Tips from a dental hygienist

 Everyone talks about going to the dentist, but I sometimes wish people would talk about going to the dental hygienist! After all, we’re the ones who get in there, scope out the situations and get your teeth all sparkling and clean for the dental exam.

I have tons of suggestions for keeping your smile bright and your mouth healthy. Here are the first few to get you going – stay tuned for more of my Teeth Tips in upcoming blog posts!

1.    Toss out your toothbrush and get a new one every 3-4 months. Studies have shown that older toothbrushes grow thousands of bacteria. Most are harmless, but still – not something you want anywhere near your mouth.

2.    Hate flossing? Don’t give up. Ask your hygienist for another option, like a dental floss holders or an alternative cleaning device.

3.    Can't get to a toothbrush? Chew a piece of sugar-free gum; it stimulates saliva flow, which helps “naturally” rinse your teeth.

4.    Ask your hygienist if you’re one of those people that accumulate tartar more quickly. If the answer is yes, then use anti-tartar toothpaste or mouthwash to combat it.

Taking Care of Your Teeth at Work

 As we all know, food sitting on teeth and in between teeth leads to decay and cavities so it’s time to get past our fear of taking care of our teeth at work and take a few steps to sparklier teeth!
No one likes to be the office goody-two-shoes who brushes their teeth in the employee bathroom after lunch, but with the amount of time the average person spends at work, taking care of your teeth is an inevitable activity at work.
Bring your toothbrush to work. It may feel dorky to be that person in the employee bathroom standing over the sink with a toothbrush, but it’s not. Brushing your teeth at work does not make you the office geek; it makes you the office star with the sparkliest teeth and healthiest mouth.
Chew Gum. Somewhat counterintuitive, chewing gum can actually be good for your teeth. As long as it's sugar free, chewing gum stimulates saliva production and neutralizes acids in the mouth that can cause tooth decay and cavities. So after that soup and sandwich, pop in a piece of minty goodness and do go for those chompers!
Mouthwash. If you really don’t want to brush at the office but are willing to do a bit more than chewing gum, try mouthwash. Rinsing for even 20-30 seconds will make a difference, and it can be less conspicuous than the full on tooth brushing. Plus it’ll help rid you of that garlic breath you’ve got from eating pesto with garlic bread for lunch!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Mouth Guards & Sports

 From tee-ball to varsity and intramural sports to a casual softball league with your work pals, these activities all have one thing in common:  the risk of sports injuries including dental injuries!  Keep your teeth as attached to you as you are to them by making sure that you and your family members always protect your smile with a mouth guard.
How important is this?  According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), sports injuries may account for up to 39% of all dental injuries in children!
Sure, they aren’t the most exciting-looking pieces of sports equipment you’ll see, but there are lots of options nowadays to customize mouth guards and make them your own – and even make a statement while you’re wearing it!
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, along with the American Dental Association, list 3 different types of mouthguards available:
  • Ready-made (can be purchased over the counter at sports stores and other retail outlets)
  • Mouth-formed (boil and bite) – can be ordered and done at home
  • Custom-made mouth guards – made to fit exactly to the athlete’s mouth by a dentist

Friday, November 27, 2015

Meth Mouth More Than a Modern Problem

The use of methamphetamines within the United States and the rest of North America is gradually increasing. The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that “12.6 million Americans aged 12 or older reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes.”  Understandably, dental professionals are seeing more and more patients exhibiting signs of abuse of this potent drug. The attraction of meth has to do with the drug being inexpensive and relatively easy to produce, while giving a long period of being “high.” Meth can be ingested in a variety of ways; namely it can be “smoked, snorted, injected or taken orally.”
Methamphetamine is a stimulant of the central nervous system and highly addictive. Meth’s effects on the central nervous system are long lasting and destructive to systemic health. The drug stimulates the release and prevents the re-uptake of monoamines such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin within the brain. These changes in the brain cause euphoric feelings.
Meth is also neurotoxic and can cause hemorrhaging, edema, hallucinations and feelings of paranoia. According to the ADA, in the short term, meth can cause “insomnia, hyperactivity, decreased appetite, increased respiration and tremors. Long psychological addiction, stroke, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, paranoia, auditory hallucination, mood disturbances and delusions” are also seen in addicts.3 With extended period of methamphetamine abuse, the depletion of monoamines in the brain can cause learning dysfunctions. Rampant decay of tooth structure is a common consequence seen in the mouths of meth users. This condition is known as “meth mouth.”
In individuals with meth mouth, the pattern of decay tends to accumulate in the interproximal regions of the anterior teeth and the buccal and smooth surfaces of all teeth. Many patients exhibiting chronic meth mouth often have teeth that are reduced to nubs. This is thought to be caused by lack of oral hygiene, bruxism, poor eating choices and the effect of the drug on salivary production (xerostomia). In an articled published by the New York Times in 2005, Dr. John W. Shaner noticed that meth “causes dry mouth and that in turn allows decay to start, since saliva is unavailable to help control bacteria in the mouth. The drug also tends to leave users thirsty and craving a constant supply of soda pop and other sugary drinks, which spur the decay; Mountain Dew, he said, has become the preferred drink of methamphetamine users.
As aspiring dentists, many of us have seen individuals with caries-riddled mouths. How do we distinguish meth users from non-users?  Signs include widespread decay in young adults exhibiting the decay characteristics noted in the above paragraph. Meth users also appear malnourished.
How do we treat meth mouth patients? Dr. Bob Brandjord, former ADA President, had the opportunity to speak to congressional staffers on Capitol Hill in 2006. During the briefing, Dr. Brandjord said, “Meth mouth robs people, especially young people, of their teeth, frequently leading to full mouth extractions and dentures.”2 Unfortunately, costly, extensive prosthodontic full-mouth reconstruction is often necessary to repair the damage caused by this drug. If patients cannot afford this treatment, dentures are the alternative treatment.
According to ADA.org, dentists should use the following protocol when treating patients with meth mouth:
  • Complete a comprehensive oral examination that includes taking a thorough dental and medical history.
  • Express dental concern regarding the dental findings.
  • If the patient is receptive to a medical consult, have the phone number of a local physician, clinic or substance abuse rehabilitation facility available and be familiar with their protocol, so that the patient can be told what to expect.10
  • Use preventive measures such as topical fluorides.
  • Encourage consumption of water rather than sugar-containing carbonated beverages.
  • Be cautious when administering local anesthetics, sedatives or general anesthesia, nitrous oxide, or prescribing narcotics.
  • Take opportunities to educate your patients about the risks associated with methamphetamine or any illicit drug use.3
In the 21st century, meth use is on the rise and shows no signs of slowing. The younger generation of dentists will definitely see meth mouth at some point during their career. When we do, we need to be prepared to educate and treat the problem appropriately.
Sources:
1) Methamphetamine Use and Oral Health. JADA, Vol. 136 Oct. 2005 p. 1491
2) Palmer, Craig. “Meth Abuse Robs People of Their Teeth: Dr. Brandjord” Sept. 12, 2006. Accessed online on ada.org on Feb. 27, 2010.
3) Ada.org A-Z Topics: Meth Mouth. Accessed online on ada.org on Feb. 27, 2010.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

How Long Should You Keep Your Toothbrush?

Did you know you should replace your toothbrushes at least every 3–4 months?
And if you've only had your toothbrush for 1 month, and you have a cold or sinus infection, throw it away. There is no reason to re-infect yourself from using this toothbrush. Throwing your toothbrush out after 3 months seems like a short time, but think of the germs, viruses and bacteria it is exposed to daily.
The bristles become frayed and worn with use and cleaning effectiveness will decrease. Toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. Check brushes often for this type of wear and replace them more frequently if needed. Children’s toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adult brushes. You can also kill germs by soaking your toothbrush in an antiseptic mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide for about an hour, then rinse it and dry it.

Original Source: http://www.brightnow.com/our-blog/how-long-should-you-keep-your-toothbrush

Friday, October 9, 2015

Bright Smiles with Braces

No one appreciates how easy it is to brush and floss as much as someone who has had braces. There’s no way around it - brushing with braces is an involved process. Wires, rubber bands and various other tooth-flexing appliances can really get in the way when you are trying to clean your teeth. As difficult as it can be, however, daily care is the only way to make sure that the straight smile you have at the end will still be healthy and white.
Here are three ways you can make this process easier:
1.       Start by flossing.Many people save flossing for last, but it’s easy to have food particles get caught in your braces during the process. By flossing first, you’ll ensure that these particles are cleaned away when you brush.
2.       Next, use your regular brush.Even though there are hard to reach places, your regular toothbrush will get most of the surfaces and help break loose anything between the wires and your teeth.
3.       Use your proxabrush (or as one of my young patients calls it, the tiny bottle brush). Despite what many think, the proxabrush is not just for when there is something wedged between braces, it should be used during every brushing.
No matter what you do, properly cleaning your teeth with braces will take a little more time. Just remind yourself that it’s only for a time and that the smile you’ll have at the end will make it all worth it. Original Source: http://www.brightnow.com/our-blog/keeping-your-smile-bright-braces

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

All About Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal
Root Canal Therapy
MYTH #1: Root Canal Treatments Are Painful

Typically, it isn’t that the actual root canal treatment is painful—rather, the irreversible condition that is requiring the treatment is far from comfortable in the first place! Most people who have root canal therapy admit that the pain they experienced was prior to the procedure, not during it…  And, they felt so much better after.
MYTH #2: Root Canals Always Require Several Appointments

Some cases require a tooth to be restored after the root canal is completed, but these appointments are not part of the actual root canal process.
If you are already scheduled for root canal therapy with one of our doctors, and if you’re experiencing discomfort, here are a few ideas from our friends at eHow:
Root Canal
MYTH #3: Root Canal Therapy Leads to Illnesses

This myth stems from some research that is 100 years old—and, has NEVER been duplicated or confirmed through modern research. That is, the bacteria that may be present from doing the root canal procedure can somehow make you sick after your root canal therapy. The fact is that all kinds of bacteria can be found in your mouth at any time, even if you don’t have decaying teeth, gum disease, or an upcoming root canal treatment. This myth truly is just that—a myth you don’t need to worry about.
MYTH #4: Root Canal Therapy Isn’t Necessary Until Your Tooth Hurts

Teeth in need of root canal therapy don’t always hurt. In fact, some dead teeth may just require a root canal to prevent infection. You may have a tooth in need of a root canal and not even know it.
MYTH #5: The Benefits of Root Canal Therapy Don’t Last Long
This fifth myth probably starts with people who have had a tooth crack at some point after having had a root canal treatment. While it’s true that when a nerve is removed from a tooth, the blood supply is eliminated and the tooth can become brittle—making it more fragile and susceptible to cracking. Technically, this means that although the complete restoration solution may need to be examined, it doesn’t mean that root canal therapy doesn’t “last”.