Dry Tooth Brushing

Tooth brushing is necessary for optimal dental health. It helps prevent tooth decay, disease and tooth loss. While you're taught to use fluoride-enhanced toothpaste for brushing several times a day, you may also add the benefits of dry brushing, which means that you can also brush several times a day without water or toothpaste. Used in combination, wet and dry brushing may help protect your oral health and reduce chances of cavities, plaque buildup and periodontal or gum disease.

Function

Dry tooth brushing is often suggested by dentists so that you can actually see the area of the teeth you've brushed without your vision being hampered by foaming toothpaste. This method also enables you to see where areas of the gum may be reddened or irritated by brushing, or to help determine whether or not your gums are bleeding after you've brushed.

Benefits

Gently dry tooth brushing offers a number of benefits for oral health. Many people miss the lower inside arch of the lower jaw, where plaque buildup often occurs fastest. The gentle action of dry brushing may help reduce the amount of plaque buildup in this area, and also massage the gums for oral health. Dry brushing the gums may help reduce gum sensitivity and bleeding. Toothpastes provide bacteria-fighting properties that help protect against decay and cavities.

Procedure

Using a dry toothbrush without any toothpaste on it, start brushing the teeth by reaching the toothbrush so that the bristles clean the teeth located on the inside of the lower jaw. Continue to gently brush in an up and down motion, moving from the top of the teeth to the bottom to help remove tartar and plaque. Hold the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, suggests the American Dental Hygienists' Association. You can then brush up and down or in a circular motion on the surface of two to three teeth at a time.

Combination Wet and Dry Brushing

You can combine the benefits of dry and wet brushing by dry brushing first, then wet brushing. By using a gentle abrasive action of brushing the surface of the teeth without toothpaste and water may help reduce the amount of germs, plaque and tarter on the teeth. Then follow the dry brushing with a good brushing using water and toothpaste for the benefits provided by fluoride, as well as fresher breath.

Cautions

Individuals diagnosed with receding gums or sensitive teeth may find dry brushing irritating so talk to your dentist about dry brushing if you've been diagnosed with either.

Why Does the pH in your Mouth Even Matter?

Who would have thought Ph levels can help prevent tooth decay in your mouth? Visiting our practice regularly has probably turned you into a cavity prevention expert , right? Well, there’s always more than meets the eye...especially when it comes to the little things we can do to keep our mouths healthy. Even those of us who are diligent brushers and flossers, we sometimes find ourselves with some tooth decay. Here’s one more little snippet of information that may help you. While it is true that things like flossing, brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day, coming in to our practice for regular checkups, using mouthwash, and avoiding sugary foods help immensley with prevent cavities, there are other things we can do. New discoveries show that the pH levels in our mouths actually have a lot more to do with tooth decay than we may realize, and maintaining normal pH levels can be helpful in fighting off cavities and gum disease.


Exactly What Is pH?
To put it simply, pH is a measure of acidity… The lower the pH, the higher the acidity, and the higher the pH, the higher the alkaline levels. The pH scale runs from 1 to 14, and in the middle of the scale is the neutral number 7, being most like water. This is where we want our mouths to be. While we know that sugar feeds the bacteria that produces acids and turns into cavities, it is actually prolonged acidic oral pH that can cause tooth decay and a demineralization of your enamel.

Confused?...Here's the breakdown:

Heading off the domino effect means intercepting those pH levels before they get out of hand. Ever heard of a pH test strips? They’re like the sticks you dip into your swimming pool, except they’re for your mouth. You can buy them at your local pharmacy and then try these remedies at home!

• Fresh Lemon and/or Lime Juice: Lemons and limes are acidic until they react with the sodium bicarbonate released by the pancreas. Upon entering the intestinal tract lemon and lime juice have alkaline properties. However, since both lemons and limes can erode tooth enamel, if you spice up your water with these delicious flavor accents, make sure you drink with a straw placed at the back of your mouth!
• Take your multivitamins: Take a high quality multivitamin that contains both the essential vitamins and minerals.
• Eat those leafy greens: Dark green vegetables and “green drinks” contain a high abundance of chlorophyll—a strong detoxifier and immunity–building agent.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar: Eliminate all processed foods, and when you opt for grains, make sure they’re “whole.”

If you have any additional questions about how to keep your mouth healthy, call our office and set up an apppointment to talk to me or one of my trained staff. We can work together to prevent tooth decay!

George Washington's "Not-So-Wooden-Teeth"

Today our nation celebrates George Washington's birthday. An interesting dental fact about him was that Washington's teeth were NOT made out of wood, as the rumor states. Instead, the first President's teeth were made out of gold, elephant ivory, hippopotamus tusk, and human teeth!

President Washington lost his teeth at a relatively early age, his first tooth when he was 22 years old. He suffered from poor dental health throughout his younger years. Despite the fact that he used tooth powder daily, over the next 35 years he would lose the rest of his teeth. Toothaches were a common problem for Washington, especially after he had bouts of small pox, malaria and the flu. Back in the 1700's, there were no antibiotics such as we have today. Treatments for illnesses in those days included blood-letting and remedies such as the use of mercurous chloride, which is known to destroy the teeth.

During his life, Washington had nine different dentists. Even his physician extracted teeth for him. His dentists made him many sets of false teeth but he hated wearing them because his dentures were uncomfortable. One dentist, John Greenwood, was able to make teeth for Washington that were comfortable and he became his favorite dentist. Washington had two sets of false teeth (dentures) made by Dr. Greenwood. They were carved from the finest hippopotamus ivory and gold. One of the sets was donated to the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, the oldest dental college in the world. The dental school in turn loaned one of the dentures to the Smithsonian in 1976 for a bicentennial exhibit. The denture was stolen from a storage area of the Smithsonian (presumably for its gold content) and has never been recovered.

Because of his responsibilities as a general and then as President, it was inconvienient for Washington to travel to New York where John Greenwood had his office.  Instead, he had to send his teeth through the mail to be repaired or adjusted. But sometimes he fixed his own dentures.  He wrote letters to John Greenwood describing a problem he was having with his teeth and asked for the right tools to fix them.  He requested files to adjust his teeth, scrapers to clean them, and pincers to fasten the wires.  Once he even asked for material to make an impression of his mouth for new dentures.

By the time Washington was inaugurated as the first President in 1789, he had only one natural tooth left in his mouth.  He wore dentures made by John Greenwood during his presidency.  He was elected to a second term as President, but delivered a very short two paragraph inaugural address, probably because his mouth was bothering him.

For me, the most interesting part of the story about George’s teeth is the mechanism of their fabrication. The upper and lower gold plates were connected by springs which pushed the upper and lower plates against the upper and lower ridges of his mouth to hold them in place. Washington actually had to actively close his jaws together to make his teeth bite together. If he relaxed, his mouth would pop open. There is speculation that this is the reason that the Father of Our Country always looks so stern in his portraits. Take a look at a dollar bill. George isn’t upset - he’s just trying to keep his teeth in!!!

Many pictures were painted of George Washington during his lifetime.  These portraits show how his face changes as he ages and loses his teeth.  In 1795, Rembrandt Peale painted a portrait of Washington that shows his mouth puffy and swollen.  The most famous portrait of Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart, but he had to pack cotton in Washington's mouth to make him look better.

George Washington died in 1799, and was buried with a set of dentures made by John Greenwood.

We Care For Your Children's Smiles!

Every parent knows that taking care of the littlest members of the family is a full-time job! Along with diaper changes, bath time, and medical checkups, parents also need to take care of their children’s teeth. But what are the best ways to go about caring for teeth (and baby gums!) during those early years?


Birth To 18 Months: No Toothpaste Required!
Oral care is important to everyone—no matter what their age. Our office recommends that you begin cleaning your children’s teeth as soon as the teeth begin to come in. For babies younger than 18 months, the best way approach is to use a wet cloth or gauze...without toothpaste. Gently rub their teeth and gums with a cloth over your fingertip. This, along with nursing and/or drinking water, is all the oral hygiene that your child needs at the infant stage. Once your child has more of a "full set" of teeth, your can use a small, soft toothbrush to brush your child’s teeth with water.


When To Start Toothpaste? 18 months old!
In general, children should not use toothpaste until they are at least 18 months old - and when you do start using toothpaste, make sure it is a safe "children’s toothpaste" made especially for young ones. Young children have different dental needs than grown-ups—and children’s toothpaste is made for this purpose.


What To Look For In A Children’s Toothpaste:



SAFE TO SWALLOW: Most young children tend to swallow while brushing, rather than spitting out the toothpaste—so we recommend that your children’s toothpaste is formulated with this in mind.
USE ONLY A PEA-SIZED AMOUNT: Don’t use too much toothpaste—just squeeze a small, pea-size (or smaller) amount onto the toothbrush. Your child doesn’t need much toothpaste to be effective, and you don’t want your child to swallow too much toothpaste.
CONSIDER LOW-FLUORIDE CHILDREN’S TOOTHPASTE: Fluoride is an important element of keeping teeth healthy and strong, but too much fluoride can be harmful for young children. Several varieties of children’s toothpaste have lower amounts of fluoride or are fluoride-free.
FUN FLAVORS: Try some different flavors of toothpaste and see what your child likes. Some children—especially at the toddler stage—are very picky about flavors and might be reluctant to use a certain flavor of toothpaste. So be prepared to buy a few different varieties of children’s toothpaste and see which one is your child’s favorite.

When can my child use adult toothpaste?
We typically recommend switching to adult toothpaste with fluoride when your child is able to spit out most of their toothpaste after brushing. This usually happens around age 4-6. However, they should still only be using a "pea-size" amount.


Rember!
Brushing your child’s teeth is part of parenting, and you need to start at a young age. By taking the time each day—before bedtime and in the morning—to clean your child’s teeth with a specially formulated children’s toothpaste, you will be helping to create a lifetime of healthy dental habits and happy smiles! Check out this great instructional video to help you get started!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvyLAjSJhow

Cosmetic Dentistry: A Reason to Smile

The condition of our teeth says a lot about how well we take care of ourselves. You can be the most beautiful or handsomest person in the room, and if your teeth are discolored or chipped or even missing, the natural beauty is overshadowed. Cosmetic dentistry offers a full range of dental procedures that cover from bare essentials in tooth maintenance to elaborate procedures that alter many of our teeth. How much you modify your teeth depends upon the teeth problems.

Barely There

Modern dentistry is a science, but it is also an art form. Teeth are reshaped, molded, filed, polished, filled and crowned. The procedures range from simple fillings that are barely there to complete coverage of the existing tooth. The cosmetic dentistry profession is always developing new techniques for teeth maintenance and repair. Following is a partial list of cosmetic dentistry procedures now available.

• Fillings have been done for decades but now they can be color matched to your existing teeth
• Teeth can be reshaped to correct jagged edges or chips in the tooth
• Implants are used to replace one or more missing teeth
• Veneers are thin pieces of enamel applied to correct discoloration or a poorly shaped tooth
• Decayed teeth can be restored with bonding resin
• Discoloration can be erased with teeth whitening bleaching procedures
• Dentures and bridges replace missing teeth
• Teeth that are cracked or worn can be crowned
• Root canals eliminate infection in a tooth
• Enamel shaping can improve a poorly formed tooth

Cosmetic dentistry can work unimaginable wonders now with teeth. Scientific advances in techniques and materials have resulted in procedures that make teeth better looking than genetics bestowed.

Baring It All

If you have ever been afraid to smile too wide because of the condition of your teeth, cosmetic dentistry will make you want to bare your smile to everyone. At one time, simple fillings were made out of materials that did not match natural tooth color. They stood out like a foreign object in your mouth. Today, the new porcelains can be color matched. If your teeth are discolored, you can use whitening procedures to brighten your teeth first. Then the dentist can match the crowns or caps to the brighter white color. The interesting fact about teeth is that our teeth are actually different colors. An expert dentist will be able to match to the tooth being filling or covered.

But cosmetic dentistry is not just about fillings and appearance. Cosmetic dentistry can also include Orthodontics. This specialty deals with correcting misalignment of the teeth and jawbones for a correct bite. Occlusal problems can be serious and affect a person's ability to eat normally. Included in orthodontics are also braces that realign teeth.

Au Naturel

The goal of any cosmetic dentistry is to give a natural appearance to your teeth and your smile. It may require the dentist using a combination of the many procedures available. Each tooth needing dental work must be evaluated. By using one of the many cosmetic dentistry options available, you can be assured that you will get the best smile possible. And everyone likes to see you smile!

Are You Tongue Tied?

Tongue Tied or Ankyloglossia is defined as a person having a short lingual frenum (membrane connecting under side of tongue to the floor of mouth) that prevents full range movement of the tongue. Being tongue tied can cause problems with breast feeding, speech development, eating, and swallowing. It can also prevent good hygiene since the tongue plays an important role in sweeping food and debris from the teeth. The tongue is one o f the most important muscles for speech and swallowing.

Poor oral and dental hygiene because of limitations in tongue mobility or habitual incorrect tongue posture usually results in messy eating habits, with food debris remaining on teeth and lips, and causing dental caries. Commonly, excessive saliva is dealt with by the patient in different ways. Whereas the younger child may dribble profusely, older patients will maladapt, keeping their mouth small during speech, reducing the length of utterances or slurping loudly. Involuntary splashing of saliva during speech occurs frequently and embarrassingly.

Diagnosis can usually be done at a routine visit to our dental office. Early detection is best, therefore, we recommend that children be seen on their first birthday. The following characteristics are common on individuals who are tongue tied:

• V-shaped notch at tip of the tongue.
• Inability to stick out the tongue past the upper gums.
• Inability to touch the roof of the mouth.
• Inability to move the tongue from side to side.
• An infant being tongue tied can often lead to frustration when breast feeding because the infant is unable to latch on or may cause nursing mother significant pain.

Not all patients who have Ankyloglossia need to have treatment. This all depends on how limited the movement of the tongue is. If treatment is needed our standard of care is to remove the membrane to allow the tongue to move freely. The procedure is called a frenulectomy. This is a simple procedure that can be done by using a laser after a topical anesthetic is placed. The procedure takes less than a few minutes to complete and does not need any stitching. Some offices perform this with a scalpel which would then need stitching. This procedure can also be done by just “clipping” the membrane, but the membrane can eventually grow back. This is why our standard is removal with our Waterlase laser. This procedure can be done as early as newborn through adulthood and does not require complicated aftercare...maybe some oral rinses.

If left untreated, adult patients may find that they snore because of the Ankyloglossia. When the tongue does not have free motion it may block the patients airway. Having a frenulectomy is normally a simple procedure with rarely any complications. If you or your child has any of the above symptoms, this simple procedure should be considered because of its many long term benefits, which include:  restoring ease of speech, better nutrition, and self esteem.

Oral Piercings - What You Should Know

Piercing has been practiced in many cultures for many centuries. Body piercing was often identified with royalty and portrayed courage and virility. Egyptian pharaohs pierced their navels as a rite of passage. Roman soldiers pierced their nipples to show their manhood.

Oral piercings remain on the fringe of mainstream fashion, making the process appealing for individuals who want to make a statement or just think its cool!  Despite safety precautions and diligent care, piercing isn’t completely risk-free.

As with traditional earrings, oral piercings come in a variety of styles including rings, barbells, and studs. However, piercing your tongue, cheek, or lips involves a lot more risk than piercing your earlobes. We do get questions from patients at our office concerning these piercings. These patients have asked us if these oral piercings can affect their dental health in some way.

The most obvious oral health concern is infection. This is true of all piercings regardless where they are on the body, but related to dental health, oral piercings can increase risks of gum disease if they are not properly monitored. If your tongue piercing, lip piercing, medusa piercing, or other oral piercing comes in contact with your gums, this can cause irritation that may also lead to gum disease.

Mouth jewelry can crack or chip your teeth if you aren’t careful, so that is another concern to keep in mind. In a dental journal, a study found that approximately 47 percent of people who have a barbell tongue piercing will experience a chipped or cracked tooth within four years of getting that piercing. In some cases, a tongue piercing can cause you to salivate more than usual, which is a normal physiological response. While this is not a severe problem, it may affect your ability to speak as well as your ability to chew and swallow.

Before considering having any sort of oral piercing, take a few minutes to learn about the risks....

                    Infection: Our mouths are filled with zillions of bacteria, putting you at significant risk
                    for infection after an oral piercing.     
Prolonged Bleeding: Sometimes blood vessels are punctured by the needle during piercing which can result in serious blood loss.

Pain and Swelling: Both pain and swelling are typical side effects of oral piercings. In some extreme cases, the tongue can swell up so much that it can block your airway.

Chipped or Cracked Teeth: When a tooth makes contact with oral jewelry it can often lead to tooth damage.

Injury To Your Gums: Metal jewelry can injure your gum tissue and cause your gums to recede, putting you at greater risks of decay and gum disease, and leaving your mouth much less attractive.

Interference With Normal Oral Function: The presence of jewelry in your mouth can cause excessive saliva flow, make it more difficult to chew or swallow, and impede your ability to speak correctly.

Blood-borne Diseases: The National Institutes of Health have identified oral piercings as possible factors in transmitting hepatitis B, C, D, and G.

Endocarditis: The wound that is created from an oral piercing gives the bacteria in your mouth the opportunity to enter your bloodstream where they can travel to the heart, putting you at risk of endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart valves and tissues.
Because there are so many risks surrounding oral jewelry, even after the initial wound has healed, the safest decision you can make is to avoid oral piercings altogether. However, if you or a loved one has an oral piercing, make sure you come in and see us at the first sign of pain or trouble so that any potential ‘bigger’ problems can be avoided.

If you are you a parent with a child who may be considering oral piercing, we understand! Sometimes kids won’t listen to a parent, but they may listen to a healthcare professional. Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you feel like it would be appropriate. We’re here to help.