Discovering The Truth When it Comes To Your Oral Health

Over time you have probably heard a lot of different things about teeth and oral health that sometimes seem too crazy to be true. Well, that’s because some of them aren’t true and they’re just myths. So what facts about teeth and oral health are myths?

Here some common oral health myths busted:

Myth #1: Sugar is causing most of your tooth decay.

Busted: While sugar definitely plays a role in tooth decay, it isn’t really the main cause. It turns out that consuming carbohydrates actually aids more in tooth decay. This is because tooth decay occurs when acids in our mouths combine with saliva creating plaque that builds up on our teeth. This process occurs more as we eat carbohydrates rather than sugars.

Myth #2: It’s ok if you have silver fillings.

Busted: Silver fillings, although much less common in recent years, can cause serious health risks. These fillings are often made with mercury which can be a very dangerous chemical to have in your mouth. The mercury from these fillings can seep into the mouth from grinding your teeth, chewing gum or even from drinking hot or carbonated beverages that wear away at the mercury. If you or someone you know still has silver fillings, these should be replaced by your dentist as soon as possible.

Myth #3: Brush your teeth right after every meal.

Busted: You should not be brushing your teeth immediately after you eat a meal. Brushing too soon after eating can actually weaken your enamel, especially if you ate anything that is high in sugar or has high acidity that is already harmful to your enamel. It is best to wait about 30 minutes after a meal to brush your teeth for the best oral health.

Myth #4: Your teeth are healthy as long as they don’t hurt.

Busted: Many people believe that pain in the mouth is the first warning sign that there is something wrong. This is not true. Pain is usually one of the last signs and this is why regular visits to the dentist are so important. Just because your teeth don’t hurt doesn’t mean you don’t have a cavity that can be taken care of in the early stages avoiding any pain at all.

Myth #5: It’s ok if your gums are bleeding, you probably brushed too hard.

Busted: Bleeding gums are not ok even if you did happen to brush a little too hard. When your gums bleed, your mouth is telling you that something is not right. Bleeding gums are a sign of an infection in your gums from a buildup of plaque in places your toothbrush can’t reach. This is where the importance of flossing comes in to help remove that plaque and decrease your chances of gum infections. If you begin flossing and the bleeding continues, it is best to make an appointment to see your dentist so they can get to the bottom of the problem.

Benefits of Using an Electric Toothbrush

When you think of the word toothbrush, you probably think of the standard plastic manual toothbrush that most people use daily. It’s important to know that these are not the only kinds of toothbrushes out there for you to use. There are also electric toothbrushes which make quick automatic brushing oscillations to clean your teeth. You may even know someone who uses an electric toothbrush and have asked yourself if it’s a better brushing alternative.

Here are the pros and cons of both manual and electric toothbrushes so you can decide whether or not to switch over to an electric brush:

Electric Toothbrush

• PROS:
  • Easy to use: Electric toothbrushes tend to be easier to use than manual brushes since the brush does most of the work. These brushes are also easier to use for people who find it difficult to hold and brush using a manual toothbrush.

• • Fun for kids: These brushes tend to be more fun to use for children than manual brushes. This is great because it instill good oral hygiene habits at a younger age since they will actually enjoy brushing with an electric toothbrush.

• • Built in timer: As your dentist has probably told you before, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. While using a manual brush, you may rush the process and find yourself brushing for less than two minutes. Many electric toothbrushes have built in timers that will automatically turn off the brush after two minutes. This ensures that you are brushing for the proper amount of time in order to keep your teeth, gums and mouth clean.
• CONS:
  • Expensive: Electric toothbrushes are generally pretty expensive and definitely cost more than the manual brushes. Since these brushes aren’t very cost effective, it may not be the best option for everyone.

• • Bulky: These brushes are also much larger and more bulky than a manual brush. This makes them a little more inconvenient to travel with.

• • Can break easily: Unlike a manual toothbrush, an electric brush is pretty fragile and can easily break if it is dropped. If it breaks you then have to pay a pretty penny to buy a new one.

• • Have to be charged: Another hassle associated with the electric toothbrush is the need to be charged. For many people this can be seen as an inconvenience especially if they are forgetful and often forget to charge their brush. This is also a hassle for traveling and now having to pack your bulky toothbrush and the charger as well.

Manual Toothbrush

• PROS:
  • More control: with a manual toothbrush, you’ll have much more control over your brushing and how you’re brushing. This is beneficial if you have sensitive areas in your mouth that are irritated when using an electric toothbrush.

• • Smaller: These brushes are significantly smaller than an electric brush making them more travel friendly and easier to pack anywhere without having a charger to worry about either.

• • Inexpensive: Manual toothbrushes are much less expensive than electric brushes. This makes them more cost effective and easier to replace when it is time.

• • Clean just as well: While many people think that your mouth can only be cleaned properly by using an electric brush, if you use a proper brushing technique and brush at least twice a day for two minutes with a manual brush, your teeth will be just fine.
• CONS:
  • Rely on the user: A manual brush completely relies on the user to get the mouth clean. Since it requires a bit more work than an electric brush, some people may not be getting the best clean.

• • Challenging for some to use: Some people such as elderly people and people with motor difficulties may find it harder to hold and use a manual brush and therefore are not brushing as well as they should be.

• • No timer: Finally, a manual brush does not come equipped with a built in timer like some electric brushes do. An easy solution for this is to bring a kitchen timer in the bathroom when you brush your teeth and set it for two minutes so that you know how long to brush for to ensure the deepest clean for your teeth.

Understanding Different Dental Tools

Do you get nervous every time you go to the dentist? Walking into the dentist’s office and seeing that tray of shiny metal tools next to the chair can cause some serious fear and anxiety in patients. To make patients feel more comfortable and less nervous while sitting in the dentist’s chair, it helps for them to understand what each tool is used for. Knowing the purpose of each tool and what to expect can really help to relieve some stress associated with the dentist.

Here are some of the basic dentistry tools to be familiar with before your next visit to the dentist:

The Mirror

This tool, although not a scary one, is very important and is used by the dentist in order to view the hidden and harder to see areas of the mouth. The backside of the teeth and gums are just as important as the front and there can be dental problems hiding back there that can’t be seen without the mirror. If they can’t be seen, these oral problems can go undetected and cause serious oral and health problems. The mirror is also used to keep your tongue in place while the dentist is working inside your mouth so that it doesn’t get in the way during your cleaning or other dental procedure.

The Sickle Probe

The sickle probe is the dental tool that looks like a sharp metal hook. This tool is used by the dentist to test the tooth’s hardness and to examine the tooth’s enamel. During a cleaning, this tool is used to scrape some tartar and plaque from the teeth as well as to test for cavities and gum disease. The sharp probe is stuck into the pockets of the teeth to test for cavities and if the probe sticks in the pocket, the dentist may want to further investigate for a cavity in that tooth.

The Scaler

A scaler is used to further remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. Plaque and tartar, if not removed during a cleaning at the dentist, can cause tooth decay which can lead to worse oral and health problems down the road. Although brushing and flossing can help to remove some plaque and tartar, more removal of plaque buildup is necessary at an annual dentist visit which is crucial for good oral health.

The Drill

The sound alone can make a patient squirm. The drill, although one of the most feared dental tools, for some patients is one of the most important. Drills can be used for many different dental procedures such as filling cavities, smoothing teeth after a chip, or removing tooth decay before filling in a cavity. These drills dispense water while in use to protect the teeth from the heat of the tool.

The Suction Device

This tool is very useful during any type of dental procedure or cleaning. While the dentist is working in your mouth, they usually need a dry surface to work with so the suction device serves to remove any excess saliva, water, blood or debris from your mouth. This tool may seem scary and may stick to your tongue or cheek from time to time but is nothing to be scared of.

What You Need To Know About Having A Crossbite

During a visit to the dentist, you or a family member may have been told that you have a crossbite, but what does that actually mean? Crossbites usually present themselves during childhood but if they are not properly corrected, can continue into adulthood and can cause some serious health effects including jaw pain, receding gums, and loose teeth.

What is a Crossbite?

Crossbite is “an abnormal relation of one or more teeth of one arch to the opposing tooth or teeth of the other arch, caused by deviation of tooth position or abnormal jaw position.” This simply means an abnormal bite. When your two rows of teeth don’t meet correctly, it is considered a crossbite and is something that needs to be corrected by your dentist. This problem can occur due to heredity and genetics, or can be situational. It is found that excessive thumb sucking or pacifier sucking can also cause a crossbite due to the action deforming the upper jaw.

There are Different Types of Crossbites:

1. Anterior – Similar to an underbite, when your top front teeth fall behind your lower front teeth when you bite down.
2. Posterior – When your upper teeth fall inside your lower teeth on one side when you bite down.

Effects of Incorrect Bite

An incorrect bite such as a crossbite will not only cause dental problems but can also lead to health problems. Crossbite can lead to:

• tooth decay
• tooth loss
• gum disease
• receding gums
• extra stress on the jaw muscles causing intense jaw pain
• teeth grinding
• and can even cause the face to appear asymmetrical due to abnormal growth.

If properly treated by a dentist at a young age before the growth of the jaw is completed, all of these negative effects can be prevented and the best results can be expected.

Treatment and Correction

Each crossbite case will be different and will require different treatments for correction but some of the most common include: maxillary expander, removable expander, braces, and in more serious cases surgery may be necessary. Often times dentists will recommend a combination of expanders and braces will be done so that everything is spaced and aligned properly. Since all cases are unique on a patient to patient basis, it is best to consult your dentist to come up with a treatment plan that is best for you.