Numerous people are still uneducated about oral cancer despite its rising prevalence. Many are often not aware they may be at risk or even have the disease already. To help raise awareness, here are 7 facts you may not know about oral cancer.

7. Oral cancer prevalence had been decreasing since the 1960s until a 2004 National Cancer Institute survey. This survey showed that in the year 2004, approximately 244,000 cases of oral cancer were reported. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, this is the fifth year in a row in which the prevalence of oral cancer has increased.

6. Men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with oral cancer as women. The 2004 survey by the National Cancer Institute found that approximately 157,000 of the affected 244,000 were men, as opposed to 87,000 women.

5. About 66% of oral cancers are found as late stage 3 and 4 diseases. However, oral cancer is actually not difficult to detect. The late detection results partly from a lack of screenings which would help yield early detection, but it is also because of a lack of public awareness of the disease.

4. Oral cancer becomes more prevalent with age. In the survey, the number of those affected drastically increased after age 40. The number of individuals with oral cancer under age 40 came to just over 10,000. The remaining 234,000 were all over 40 years old.

3. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of oral cancer. Fruits and vegetables contain micro-nutrients that work to prevent cancer. Citrus fruits can influence cell cycle progression. Berries high in ellagic acid as well as vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage are great for helping prevent oral cancer.

2. Approximately 34,360 individuals in the U.S. are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. Only about half this number will live for more than 5 years afterward, and more than 25% of those diagnosed will die.

1. Oral cancer is a very serious issue. Treatment involves the assistance of many professionals, including dental professionals. Even then, treatment may not be successful, and it will cost you thousands of dollars.

Oral cancer is becoming highly prevalent and can be life-threatening. However, there are steps you can take to help reduce your chances of being diagnosed with oral cancer (like brushing your teeth daily and eating the fruits and vegetables mentioned above, for example). The most common causes of oral cancer aretobacco and alcohol use. Moderating the amount of tobacco or alcohol you take in (or cutting it out altogether) is one of the best ways to prevent the disease. Excessive sun exposure can result in lip cancer, so take precaution when you’re headed out on a sunny day—wear a lip balm that contains SPF or even a hat with a brim to provide shade.

Last but not least, scheduling regular dentist appointments is key in preventing oral cancer. You can ask your dentist to inspect your mouth for any indication of cancer. Your dentist should easily be able to detect cancer and begin treatment early if you have been affected. If finances are an issue, a dental plan can make those visits much more affordable for you. The oral cancer survival rate is much higher when detected in the early stages, so it is extremely beneficial to see your dentist regularly.

For more information, visit 1Dental

Does your child suck his or her thumb? Are you wondering whether to be concerned or not? Learn here the effects of thumbsucking on teeth.

Many parents may not understand why children suck their thumbs or other fingers, but it is actually a very common reflex in young children. In fact, statistics indicate that 45% of 2 and 3 year olds have developed this habit.

Thumbsucking is a natural reflex for infants and young children. Sucking on things such as thumbs, fingers, or pacifiers often help kids feel secure and happy. It is often relaxing and may induce sleep.  It is completely normal for children to suck their thumbs, and they usually quit sometime between the ages two and four.

Effects on Teeth

Thumbsucking becomes problematic to dental health once the child starts developing the permanent teeth.  It can cause changes in the roof of the mouth and it will also affect proper growth of the mouth and the alignment of teeth.

Effects can include:

• Reshaping of the jawbone
• Misalignment of teeth
• Teeth growing out of position
• Protruding front teeth
• An open bite, where the back teeth touch when biting down, but the front teeth do not, causing the bite to not completely close
• Poor tongue placement/movement
• Speech impediments
• Narrower dental arches
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Whether or not your child develops problems from thumbsucking or not often depends on the intensity of sucking. Passive suckers, who just simply rest their thumb in their mouth, may not develop any problems at all. Aggressive suckers, however, often will experience dental issues, maybe even in their baby teeth.

Breaking the Habit

Most children simply grow out of the habit. Usually this happens sometime between the ages of two and four. By the time the permanent front teeth are ready to erupt, children should have stopped sucking their thumbs.

If your child sucks his or her thumb and it is posing a concern, the ADA suggests these tips to help encourage your child to stop.

• Praise your child for not sucking, instead of scolding them when they do
• If your child is sucking in order to seek comfort, focus on correcting the source of anxiety instead of the habit.
• You can remind the child of their bad habit by somehow covering the thumb, such as with Band-Aids or a sock.
• Your pediatrician or dentist may be able to provide further encouragement. They can also prescribe bitter medications to apply to the thumb to give it a bad taste.

While thumbsucking for infants is completely natural and not a concern, continued sucking into their later years could pose several problems. If thumb sucking does result in crooked teeth, abnormal bite, or deformed jaw, it can take years of orthodontic treatment to correct. Not to mention, orthodontics is very expensive, and could cost up to thousands of dollars if you don’t have a dental plan. Encouraging your children to quit sucking their thumb and avoid a dental crisis is the best option.

For more information, visit 1DentalBlog

When To Start Proper Oral Hygiene For Kids

 

Many parents want to know: At what age should I brush and floss my child’s teeth? A good rule is to start flossing as soon as the child has teeth that are in contact with each other, usually around age two to three years. Once teeth reach this point, food particles can get caught between them and foster the growth of bacteria and the development of plaque. Not all children need to have their teeth flossed at this age, so ask your dentist for advice. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents should be brushing a toddler’s teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush specially designed for toddlers’ small mouths and delicate gums, like the Oral-B® Stages® line of toothbrushes.

 

And good oral care starts before teeth appear. The AAP recommends that, after a feeding, parents wipe a baby’s gums with a soft washcloth or a baby toothbrush using water only (no toothpaste). You could also use a dentist-recommended cleanser like Oral-B Stages 1 Baby Tooth & Gum Cleanser. Once a child reaches 12 months of age, start brushing any existing teeth twice each day. Some dentists recommend using a non-fluoride toothpaste before a child reaches two years of age, but ask to be sure. Water and an age-appropriate toothbrush may suffice.

 

Once children reach two years of age, encourage them to brush their own teeth. Parents, however, should still follow up and brush them again to make sure they’re clean. If a child resists having his or her teeth brushed, parents need to get creative and make the process fun, like "looking for treasure behind the teeth.” And of course, using a themed brush with your child’s favorite cartoon characters can make brushing more enjoyable.

 

For more information, visit Oral-B

Hate that aching in your tooth? Wish you knew a way to make it stop? Now you can, getting rid of a toothache is not as hard as you may think.

 

Getting Rid Of A Toothache

You’ve probably experienced tooth pain at some point, whether from a loose tooth, impacted wisdom tooth, or sensitivity when you bite into an ice cream cone or a hot potato. But tooth pain can be an early sign of tooth decay. If you notice consistent pain in a tooth that lasts for more than a day or two, see your dentist; you may need some dental work. Tooth decay causes pain in children, too, so the same rules apply. If your child complains of a persistent toothache, move up the schedule of that next dental visit to as soon as possible. Also see the dentist immediately if your toothaches (or your child’s) are accompanied by a fever, or if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.

 

Meanwhile, there are some steps that you can take to relieve tooth aches and tooth pain until you make it to the dentist’s office.

 

• Floss carefully to remove any food particles wedged between the teeth or along the gum line that could be causing pain. If your child is the one with the toothache, help him or her do a thorough flossing job.
• Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water, then spit it out. This may also flush out food particles that could be causing tooth pain.
• Try an over-the-counter pain medication.
• Try an over-the-counter topical pain reliever with benzocaine that you can apply directly to the painful area. But don’t put aspirin or other painkillers directly on your gum tissue or in your tooth—it will burn.

For more information, visit Oral-B

Did you know, medications can have oral side effects? Well they can. One of the most common is dry mouth.

 

Yes, medications can have oral side effects — dry mouth being the most common. Be sure to tell your dentist about any medications that you're taking, even medicines that you purchase without a prescription.

 

These are the types of medications that will often produce dry mouth:

 

• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Pain Killers
• Diuretics
• High Blood Pressure Medications
• Antidepressants

Other medications may cause abnormal bleeding when brushing or flossing, inflamed or ulcerated tissues, mouth burning, numbness or tingling, movement disorders and taste alteration. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your dentist or physician.

 

For more information, visit Colgate

Do you get that sensitivity on your tooth when you put something in your mouth? Ever wondered what that tooth sensitivity is? Your questions can be answered here.

Do you want close to perfect teeth? Well it possible! With dental bonding you can fix those cracked or chipped teeth you may have and transform them to look good as new.

 

If you have a cracked or chipped tooth or teeth, you may be a candidate for dental bonding. Dental bonding involves the application of a tooth-colored plastic adhesive that your dentist will shape and polish to match the surrounding teeth. Dental bonding is relatively painless and is usually performed without anesthesia. If you’re having tooth bonding done on several teeth, you may need to schedule more than one visit; a dental bonding procedure on one tooth takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

 

When you undergo dental bonding, the dentist first roughens the surface of the tooth or teeth that will be treated, and then he or she applies a conditioning solution to help the bonding material stick to the tooth. Then the bonding material is applied to the teeth and shaped to fit and an ultraviolet light or laser is used to harden it into place.

 

Keep these tips in mind if you opt for dental bonding:

 

• Beware when biting. The resin used in dental bonding is not as strong as a tooth. If you bite your nails, or ice cubes, or the pens in your office, you risk chipping the material.
• Skip staining food and drink for 48 hours. The resin used in tooth bonding is especially susceptible to staining during the first 48 hours after the procedure. So avoid tea, coffee, wine and other food and drink that might stain your teeth for the first two days after tooth bonding.

But if you follow a consistent oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing with a soft floss, your bonding should last for several years before it will need to be replaced.

 

For more information, visit Oral-B

You just finished eating a nice, juicy steak, now what do you do to clean off what's stuck in between your teeth? Grab a toothpick of course! But be careful, toothpicks may not be safe for your teeth.

 

Toothpicks should be used sparingly as a method of teeth cleaning and should never be considered a substitute for brushing teeth and flossing, says a Chicago dentist.

 

"Toothpicks should be used only when a toothbrush or floss is not available, for example, when you are in a restaurant and have food trapped between teeth," explains April Grandinetti, D.D.S., a general dentist. "Toothpicks that are used overzealously can damage tooth enamel, lacerate gums, and even cause a broken tooth in severe cases. People who have bonding or veneers can chip or break them if they aren't careful. Overly aggressive use of toothpicks can severely wear the roots of teeth, especially in cases where gums have pulled away from the teeth and leave teeth with root surfaces exposed, notably in the elderly."

 

The toothpick, or its equivalent, is used in many countries as the main tool in the battle against tooth decay. Many people use the twigs of trees to clean between their teeth.

 

"Toothpicks have a long history as civilization's primary tooth-cleaning instrument," says Dr. Grandinetti. "The West began to abandon them in the 1700s as the newly created toothbrush gradually became the standard of care for cleaning teeth."

 

Toothpicks date back to 3,500 BC when the earliest known oral hygiene kit featuring a toothbrush was found at the Ningal Temple in Ur. In China, a curved pendant, made of cast bronze was worn around the neck and used as a toothpick. In 536 BC, the Chinese mandated a law that required the use of the toothpick because their armies suffered from bad breath. In the Old Testament, it is written that "one may take a splinter from the wood lying near him to clean his teeth."

 

Toothpicks probably had their heyday in the Middle Ages when keeping a toothpick in the mouth all day long was a common habit. In the 17th century, toothpicks were commonly used by the educated classes throughout Europe. In France, for example, toothpicks were served with desserts, usually poked into fruit to be handy following a meal. After they were used, they could be placed behind the ear for future use.

 

Toothpicks have been made of numerous materials through history, including wood, porcupine quill, chicken bone, ivory, gold, silver and steel. Many woods used were aromatic, some containing tannic acid which was thought to help prevent cavities and gum disease.

 

Today, most toothpicks in the United States come from "toothpick trees" in Maine. The tree is a white birch which has its trunk cut into thin sheets that are cut again to the thickness and length of toothpicks.

 

For more information, visit Dentistry

Many people every morning enjoy a big glass of freshly squeezed Orange Juice. However, did you know whitening products are actually safer for teeth than orange juice?

 

Researchers at the University of Rochester's Eastman Institute for Oral Health have determined that tooth whitening agents typically used in dentist offices and at home are safer for teeth than drinking fruit juices, soda, and sports or energy drinks. Such drinks typically have a high acid content.

 

Dr. YanFang Ren and his colleagues used a high resolution focus-variation vertical scanning electron microscope to compare the affects of 6% hydrogen peroxide (the active ingredient in most professional and over-the-counter tooth whitening products) and orange juice on the surface of teeth.

The scientists determined that orange juice has a much more significant affect on the health of teeth than whitening agents using 6% hydrogen peroxide. They found that orange juice reduced tooth enamel hardness by 84 percent. The acidic nature of orange juice, other fruit juices, and soda causes tooth damage by decreasing the hardness and increasing the roughness of tooth enamel. Weakened tooth enamel can lead to tooth decay and other dental problems.

 

The longer acidic drinks such as orange juice are in contact with teeth, the more damage they cause. For example, slowly sipping a glass of orange juice over a long period of time is more damaging than drinking it in a quicker manner. One way to limit contact between your teeth and acidic drinks is to use a straw whenever possible. Doing so will help protect your tooth enamel from damage. You can also protect your teeth by brushing your teeth after meals and visiting a dentist at least once a year for a check-up and professional cleaning.

For more information, visit Biozine

Nervous about your dental check because you don't know what's going to happen? Check out what happens here!

 

Even if you follow a diligent home care routine, regular checkups with a dental professional are still a must. Your dentist can watch for early signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or other dental problems and take appropriate action. In addition, professional cleaning rids your teeth of calcified plaque, called calculus or tartar, that can build up in hard-to-reach places. Finally, your dentist can spot clues to whether oral problems are actually symptoms of other diseases in the body.

 

For most people, two checkups per year are sufficient. But if you have special problems or if you’re at high risk for conditions such as periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend that you come in as frequently as every three months. A routine visit will include a professional cleaning, an exam, and possibly X-rays. Your dentist should also discuss your health history, asking about your past dental problems, allergies, medication use, drug reactions, recent illnesses, and chronic diseases.

 

Cleaning Your Teeth

 

During the cleaning, the dentist or hygienist will use a scaler (a small metal instrument with a bladelike end) to scrape off tartar above and below the gum line. Or he or she may use an ultrasonic vibrating device to shake loose plaque and tartar and then rinse it away with a stream of water. The dentist or hygienist will then polish the teeth with a lightly abrasive paste and finish up with a flossing. The now-smooth tooth surfaces make it more difficult for plaque to accumulate before the next cleaning.

 

Examining Your Teeth

 

After your teeth are clean, your dentist will examine them for signs of decay, using a metal probe and a small mirror with an angled handle. He or she will check for gum swelling and redness and measure the depth of the gingival pockets. Swelling, redness, and deep pockets are all signs of gum disease. Your dentist will test how your upper and lower teeth come together and will look for evidence of tooth grinding or problems with the temporomandibular joint (which connects the lower jaw to the skull). He or she should also examine your neck, lymph glands, palate, and the soft tissues of your mouth (cheeks, tongue, lips, and floor of the mouth) for signs of infection or oral cancer, especially if you are age 35 or older. Because early detection of oral cancer is important, if you’re unsure whether your dentist screens you regularly for this disease, ask him or her to do so at each exam. You also may want to perform a monthly self-exam, particularly if you are at high risk.

 

In the course of dental work, your dentist may inadvertently touch the soft palate at the back of your throat, evoking your gag reflex. This often happens when your dentist positions X-ray films or takes tooth impressions. Fear often exacerbates the gag mechanism, so much so that some people retch at even the smallest touch to their palate. Needless to say, this causes problems for both the patient and the dentist. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, you may find that certain techniques—such as hypnosis, acupressure, or acupuncture—can help you relax.

For more information, visit Delta Dental

You always hear from your dentist to maintain good oral hygiene because if not you can get oral cancer. But, do you know what oral cancer is?

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 35,310 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Oral tumors can develop anywhere in the oral cavity and oropharynx—where the back of the mouth connects with the throat.

 

The oral cavity includes:

 

• The lips, teeth, and gums
• The lining inside the lips and cheeks
• The floor of the mouth under the tongue
• The top of the mouth (known as the hard palate)
• The small area behind the wisdom teeth3

 

The oropharynx includes:

 

• The back third of the tongue
• The soft palate (the back part of the roof of the mouth)
• The tonsils
• The back of the throat

 

What Causes Oral Cancer?

 

Risk factors include the following:

 

• Tobacco use. Ninety percent of people with oral cancers use tobacco by smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes or by chewing tobacco or dipping snuff.
• Alcohol use. Oral cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol that a person consumes.
• Sun exposure. Cancer of the lip can be caused by exposure to the sun. The risk for lip cancer increases if the person also smokes
• Personal history of head and neck cancer. People who have had head and neck cancer are at increased risk of developing another primary head and neck cancer. Smoking increases this risk.
• Leukoplakia. This condition is characterized by a whitish patch that develops inside the mouth or throat.
• Erythroplakia. A condition characterized by a red, raised patch that develops inside the mouth.

 

What Are the Symptoms?

 

The following are common symptoms of oral cancer:

 

• A lip or mouth sore that does not heal
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
• A lump in your neck
• Unusual bleeding in the mouth area
• A chronic sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Pain or difficulty when swallowing or chewing

 

The symptoms of oral cancer may resemble other disorders or medical problems. Always consult with your doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. These symptoms do not always indicate cancer. An infection or another problem can cause the same symptoms.

 

For more information, visit Delta Dental

While there is no question that chewing gum promotes tooth decay, there is clinical evidence that demonstrates just the opposite for sugar-free gum.

 

Chewing sugar-free gum is not intended to replace toothbrushing and flossing.

 

Studies have shown that chewing sugar-free chewing gum after meals and snacks, especially when toothbrushing at those times is impractical, helps to reduce the acid level in the mouth which has a potentially detrimental effect on tooth enamel.

 

The mechanism of action involved in chewing gum is the stimulation of ten times the normal rate of saliva flow, due to both the act of chewing and the flavor of the artificial sweeteners in the chewing gum (sorbitol or xylitol). The saliva washes away food particles and acid produced by bacteria in the oral plaque and neutralizes the acid because of increased concentration of bicarbonates from the saliva. However helpful chewing sugar-free gum is not intended to replace toothbrushing and flossing.

 

Sugar-free chewing gum is also recommended for people with xerostomia (dry mouth) to stimulate increased salivary flow, along with drinking greater amounts of water (six to eight glasses a day). However, those experiencing TMJ (temporomandibular syndrome) symptoms should refrain from any gum chewing.

 

For more information, visit Delta Dental

Tooth extraction is critical to repair and restore a damaged tooth. But its not as simple as when you were a child pulling your teeth out with string and a door!

 

When it comes to dental procedures, tooth extraction — or having teeth "pulled" — is among patients' most dreaded prospects. Also referred to as exodontia, tooth extraction involves removing a tooth from its socket in the jaw bone. Before your dentist considers extraction, every effort will be made to try to repair and restore your tooth. However, sometimes a tooth extraction is necessary.

 

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

 

There are several reasons for extracting a tooth. These include:

 

• Severe Tooth Damage/Trauma: Some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible. For example, teeth affected by advanced gum (periodontal) disease may need to be pulled. As gum disease worsens, the tooth — supported by less surrounding bone — often loosens to such an extent that tooth extraction is the only solution.
• Malpositioned/Nonfunctioning Teeth: To avoid possible complications that may result in an eventual, negative impact on oral health, your dentist may recommend removing teeth that are malaligned and/or essentially useless (teeth that have no opposing teeth to bite against).
• Orthodontic Treatment: Orthodontic treatment, such as braces, may require tooth extraction to make needed space for improved teeth alignment.
• Extra Teeth: Also referred to as supernumerary teeth, extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting.
• Radiation: Head and neck radiation therapy may require the extraction of teeth in the field of radiation in order to help avoid possible complications, such as infection.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of tooth infections, heightening the risk of extraction.
• Organ Transplant: Immunosuppressive medications prescribed after organ transplantation can increase the likelihood of tooth infection. As such, some teeth require removal prior to an organ transplant.

Commonly Extracted Teeth

 

Wisdom teeth removal is one of the more common categories of tooth extraction. Many dental professionals will recommend removing wisdom teeth (third molars) before they are fully developed — usually in the adolescent years — to help eliminate potential problems. One problem that could occur is development of an impacted tooth that has surfaced and has no room in the mouth to grow. Other problems associated with impacted teeth include infection, decay of adjacent teeth, bite interference and gum disease.

 

Extractions of some permanent teeth that have not erupted — such as the canines, which are also known as fangs or eye teeth — may be required in order to make space for orthodontic treatment.

 

Types of Tooth Extractions

 

There are two types of tooth extractions:

 

• Simple Extractions: These are performed on teeth that are visible in the mouth. General dentists commonly do simple extractions, and most are usually done under a local anesthetic, with or without anti-anxiety medications or sedation.
• Surgical Extractions: These involve teeth that cannot easily be seen or reached in the mouth, either because they have broken off at the gum line or they have not fully erupted. Performed by dentists or oral surgeons, surgical extractions require some type of surgical procedure, such as bone removal, removing and/or lifting and folding back all or part of the gum tissue to expose the tooth, or breaking the tooth into pieces (called tooth sectioning). Surgical extractions can be done with local anesthesia and/or conscious sedation. Patients with special medical conditions and young children may receive general anesthesia.

Preparing for Your Tooth Extraction

 

Prior to a tooth extraction, your dentist or oral surgeon will discuss your medical and dental histories and take X-rays. Some dental professionals will prescribe antibiotics to be taken before and after surgery. Antibiotics are more likely to be given to patients with infection or weakened immune systems at the time of surgery, those undergoing longer surgeries, or young or elderly people.

 

To avoid possible complications, inform your dentist about all the medications — prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) and herbal — you are taking. For example, aspirin slows the blood-clotting process; gingko biloba and ginseng also affect clotting.

 

Many people like to be sedated for a tooth extraction. Possible sedation dentistry options include nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), an oral sedative (such as a Valium pill) or an intravenous sedative that is administered into your veins by injection. If you opt for nitrous oxide, you can drive yourself home. If you choose one of the other types of sedation, you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental visit.

 

What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction

At the extraction appointment, your dentist will numb, or anesthetize, the tooth to be extracted, as well as the jawbone and gums surrounding it. Typically, a local anesthetic such as novocaine or lidocaine is injected to eliminate discomfort.

 

Simple Extraction: Your dentist will grasp the tooth with specialized pliers called extraction forceps and move them back and forth to loosen the tooth before removing it.

 

Sometimes, a surgical cutting instrument called a luxator — which fits between the tooth and the gum — is used to help loosen thetooth. Dentists also use "elevators," which are levers that look similar to small screwdrivers. Usually a dentist will first use an elevator to wedge between the tooth and the surrounding bone. The elevator places pressure on the tooth, which helps to expand the tooth's socket and separate its ligament.

 

Surgical Extractions: These procedures generally are more complicated, so your dentist may sedate you before numbing your tooth, then use a dental drill, apply pressure to your tooth with an elevator or extraction forceps, and remove your tooth. Greater surgical effort may be needed in other cases. For instance, gum and/or bone tissue may cover or surround a tooth in a way that makes it difficult for your dentist to view and/or access it. If so, your dentist will need to cut and lift back or remove this tissue. Sometimes a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket that your dentist must cut the tooth into pieces in order to remove each portion individually.

 

Your dentist may need to place stitches and/or add bone (natural or synthetic) in the extraction site after the procedure. Some stitches are absorbable and will disintegrate on their own; others require removal by your dentist, usually about a week after the extraction.

 

Modern Tooth Extraction

 

While surgical cutting instruments like scalpels and dental drills are still commonly used in surgical extractions, the use of dental lasers and electrosurgery in such procedures is growing.

 

Lasers use high-energy light beams to cut, while electrosurgery uses controlled heat to cut. Benefits of laser surgery and electrosurgery as an aid in tooth extraction compared to traditional scalpels and dental drills include greater precision, less chance of damage to adjacent structures, less bleeding and discomfort, and quicker healing time. However, the disadvantages of their use include higher costs, the smell of burning flesh during the procedure, and the inability to use them to directly extract teeth.

 

For more information, visit Consumer Guide to Dentistry

We are always told what not to eat due to the negative effects it may have on our teeth. However, did you know raisins are not part of that list of what not to eat? In fact, eating raisins can benefit your teeth in ways you never thought possible.

 

Countering a longstanding public perception that raisins promote cavities, a recent study suggests that compounds in the popular fruit snack may in fact fight tooth decay.

 

According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, certain chemicals in raisins suppress the growth of oral bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease.

 

It has been long known that eating sweet and sticky foods can lead to tooth decay. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on foods left on the teeth, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. Although raisins are sticky and sweet, they contain mainly fructose and glucose types of sugar — not sucrose, which some experts consider the main culprit of sugar-related oral diseases.

 

Before you break out the boxes of raisins, however, keep in mind some basic points of dental health care:

 

• Any food particles left on teeth — including particles from raisins — can lead to tooth decay. Always brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth once daily with floss.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups to keep your smile healthy.

For more information, DELTA DENTAL

Ever wondered why sometimes your mouth is dry? Why our mouths aren’t producing enough saliva to keep our mouths moist? Well believe it or not but having dry mouths can be a problem; nevertheless, there are treatments to cure your dry mouth.

 

What Causes Dry Mouth?

 

There are several causes of dry mouth, also called xerostomia. These include:

• Side effect of certain medications. Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription and nonprescription drugs, including drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, and colds (antihistamines and decongestants), obesity, acne, epilepsy, hypertension (diuretics), diarrhea, nausea, psychotic disorders, urinary incontinence, asthma (certain bronchodilators), and Parkinson's disease. Dry mouth can also be a side effect of muscle relaxants and sedatives.

• Side effect of certain diseases and infections. Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical conditions, including Sjögren's syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, anemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and mumps.

• Side effect of certain medical treatments. Damage to the salivary glands, the glands that produce saliva, for example, from radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, can reduce the amount of saliva produced.

• Nerve damage . Dry mouth can be a result of nerve damage to the head and neck area from an injury or surgery.

• Dehydration . Conditions that lead to dehydration, such as fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and burns can cause dry mouth.

• Surgical removal of the salivary glands.

• Lifestyle. Smoking or chewing tobacco can affect saliva production and aggravate dry mouth. Continuously breathing with your mouth open can also contribute to the problem.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Mouth?

 

• A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
• Frequent thirst
• Sores in the mouth; sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth; cracked lips
• A dry feeling in the throat
• A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth and especially on the tongue
• A dry, red, raw tongue
• Problems speaking or difficulty tasting, chewing, and swallowing
• Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat
• Bad breath

Why Is Dry Mouth a Problem?

 

Besides causing the aggravating symptoms mentioned above, dry mouth also increases a person's risk of gingivitis (gum disease), tooth decay, and mouth infections, such as thrush.

 

Dry mouth can also make it difficult to wear dentures.

How Is Dry Mouth Treated?

 

If you think your dry mouth is caused by certain medication you are taking, talk to your doctor. He or she may adjust the dose you are taking or switch you to a different drug that doesn't cause dry mouth.

 

In addition, an oral rinse to restore mouth moisture may be prescribed. If that doesn't help a medication that stimulates saliva production, called Salagen, may be prescribed.

 

Other steps you can take that may help improve saliva flow include:

• Sucking on sugar-free candy or chewing sugar-free gum
• Drinking plenty of water to help keep your mouth moist
• Protecting your teeth by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, using a fluoride rinse, and visiting your dentist regularly
• Breathing through your nose, not your mouth, as much as possible
• Using a room vaporizer to add moisture to the bedroom air
• Using an over-the-counter artificial saliva substitute.

For more information, visit WebMD

Ever wondered why you may be getting a sharp pain behind your mouth? Well this could be the reason for the pain you are getting: Wisdom Teeth. Many people are unaware if their wisdom teeth are out and ready to be removed.

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

 

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned - they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Poor alignment of wisdom teeth can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. Wisdom teeth that lean toward the second molars make those teeth more vulnerable to decay by entrapping plaque and debris. In addition, wisdom teeth can be entrapped completely within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through or erupt through the gum. Teeth that remain partially or completely entrapped within the soft tissue and /or the jawbone are termed "impacted." Wisdom teeth that only partially erupt allows for an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Partially erupted teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease because their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.

 

How Do I Know if I Have Wisdom Teeth?

 

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned - they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Ask your dentist about the positioning of your wisdom teeth. He or she may take an X-ray periodically to evaluate for the presence and alignment of your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may also decide to send you to an oral surgeon for further evaluation.

 

Your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend that your wisdom teeth be extracted even before problems develop. This is done to avoid a more painful or more complicated extraction that might have to be done a few years later. Removal is easier in young people, when the wisdom teeth roots are not yet fully developed and the bone is less dense. In older people, recovery and healing time tend to be longer.

 

How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?

 

The relative ease at which your dentist or oral surgeon can extract your wisdom teeth depends on their position. Your oral health care provider will be able to give you an idea of what to expect during your pre-extraction exam. A wisdom tooth that is fully erupted through the gum can be extracted as easily as any other tooth. However, a wisdom tooth that is underneath the gums and embedded in the jawbone will require an incision into the gums and then removal of the portion of bone that lies over the tooth. Oftentimes, for a tooth in this situation, the tooth will be extracted in small sections rather than removed in one piece to minimize the amount of bone that needs to be removed to get the tooth out.

 

What Happens During Wisdom Teeth Removal?

 

Before your wisdom teeth are pulled, the teeth and the surrounding tissue will be numbed with a local anesthetic - the same injection with the same medication you would receive to numb a tooth prior to having a cavity filled. In addition to the local anesthetic to numb the pain, you and your dentist or oral surgeon may decide that a sedative is desired to control any anxiety. Sedating medications that could be selected include: nitrous oxide (otherwise known as "laughing gas"), an oral sedative (for example, Valium), or an intravenous sedative (administered via an injection into your veins). If nitrous oxide is given, you will be able to drive yourself home. If any of the other medications is selected, you will need someone to drive you both to and from the appointment.

 

For more information, visit WebMD

Advertisements recommend that we need tartar control toothpaste for removing tartar, whitening toothpaste to whiten teeth, and even gum-care toothpaste to prevent gum disease. Is this all true?

 

Many toothpastes share common ingredients. The average toothpaste is about 75 percent humectant and water, 20 percent abrasive (silica or powdered calcium), and 1-2 percent foaming and flavoring agents, buffers, coloring agents, opacifiers and fluoride.

 

Most fluoride toothpastes contain stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride or monofluoride phosphate (MFP).

 

Tartar Control Toothpastes

 

Most studies suggest that tartar control toothpastes do not remove tartar. They do seem to prevent the accumulation of additional tartar, however. They do not reduce the tartar that forms below the gum line, which is the area where tartar can cause gum disease. This is why it is important for your dentist or hygienist to perform regular dental cleanings. Many companies, including Procter & Gamble, are currently working to formulate a tartar control dentifrice that also fights plaque and gingivitis.

 

Toothpastes vs. Gels

 

While gels may seem less abrasive than pastes, this is not the case. Actually, gels can be more abrasive because of the silica (sand) used to make them. However, both are safe, effective cleaners -- use whichever type you prefer.

 

Gum-Care Toothpastes

 

Gum-care toothpastes have questionable efficacy. This type of paste contains stannous fluoride as opposed to sodium fluoride found in other types of paste. While some studies show stannous fluoride may be helpful in reducing the incidence of gingivitis, it has also been suggested that stannous fluoride is not as effective in protecting against cavities as sodium fluoride. Any toothpaste containing fluoride is recommended over non-fluoridated pastes.

 

Baking Soda Toothpastes

 

Baking soda toothpastes have mounted an incredible comeback in recent years. I have not seen any conclusive studies that prove baking soda toothpastes significantly reduce cavities compared to other toothpastes. Some people enjoy the taste and feel of baking soda toothpastes. The flavor of baking soda may encourage people to brush teeth longer. This is advantageous. However, many baking soda toothpastes may also contain peroxides which can irritate and damage gum tissue. These peroxide formulas can be dangerous. Advertisers have conditioned people to believe that the fizzing action of the combined baking soda and peroxide clean teeth. People think they are getting extra cleaning action from the bubbling activity but there is no scientifically proven therapeutic activity. The American Dental Association (ADA) believes that the current levels of peroxide in toothpaste are safe. Still, peroxide toothpastes are controversial. Peroxide toothpastes are not sold in Canada.

 

Abrasive "Smoker's" Toothpastes

 

These toothpastes are not recommended as they can cause recession of the gums and abrasion of tooth structure. The best way to rid your teeth of smoking stains is to quit smoking and then have a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist.

 

Toothpastes for Sensitive Teeth

 

You should have any sensitivity checked by your dentist first to be sure it is not a symptom of a more serious problem. Sensitive toothpastes work for the 80-85 percent of the population that regularly brush with them. Generally, they are needed when a patient has had gum recession, thereby exposing the root of the tooth. Once this exposure occurs, a tooth can be sensitive to hot or cold temperatures or sweet and sour foods. Sensodyne®, Denquel®, Protect® and Aquafresh® for Sensitive Teeth are the major brands on the market. Some brands use different ingredients, including potassium nitrate, sodium citrate or strontium, as their desensitizing agents. If one brand does not reduce sensitivity, try a different brand.

 

Whitening Toothpastes

 

Again, one must be careful when using these dentifrices due to their abrasivity. These should not be used exclusively but should be incorporated into a routine using a fluoride paste. Do not use a whitening paste every time you brush; use it only once every day or two. Certain brands can be more abrasive than others. Brands with sodium pyrophosphate are very abrasive. Rembrandt® is one of the least abrasive whitening toothpastes. I question the effectiveness of whitening toothpastes. If you are serious about teeth whitening, you should discuss this with your dentist.

 

Conclusion

 

Brush with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes at least twice a day using a soft bristled toothbrush. Most people only brush their teeth for about 20 seconds on average! Your toothpaste should also bear the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval on the container, which means that adequate evidence for safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in controlled, clinical trials. The mechanical action employed using the proper brushing technique is more important than the brand of toothpaste you purchase.

 

Contrary to what toothpaste commercials show, the amount of toothpaste or gel needed on your brush for effective cleaning should only be pea-sized. Flossing at least once a day is also very important because it removes food and plaque from between teeth where even the best toothbrush and toothpaste are ineffective. Studies suggest that plaque (bacteria) regrow on clean teeth about four hours after brushing. Brush and floss regularly!

 

For more information, visit Dentistry.com

Many of us have our own preference in the type of toothbrush we like to us: electric toothbrush or a manual, old-fashioned toothbrush. Nevertheless, does the type of toothbrush really matter? Does one cleaner better than the other?

 

The electric toothbrush has become very popular in recent years — some even say it provides superior dental care. But how does it actually compare to manual brushing?

 

"The idea of a toothbrush is to remove plaque and to stimulate the gums,” explains John Ictech-Cassis, DDS, DMD, clinical associate professor at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. "Most toothbrushes will keep the teeth clean if you know how to use them.”

 

Manual Toothbrushes: A Classic Route to Good Dental Care

 

"There are many advantages to the manual toothbrush,” says Dr. Ictech-Cassis. "We’ve been using this toothbrush for many years. It has a good track record.” Advantages include:

 

• Cost and availability. "It’s inexpensive and accessible,” says Ictech-Cassis. "This is the toothbrush that the majority of dentists give away.” Electric toothbrushes may simply be too expensive for many people, so it’s nice to know that you can do a great job brushing with a manual toothbrush.

• Easy to travel with. "It’s easy to take a manual toothbrush with you when you travel. It’s not bulky like an electric toothbrush,” says Ictech-Cassis. You’ll be less likely to let your good dental care habits lapse on vacation with a toothbrush that you can easily bring along, he adds.

• Puts less pressure on teeth and gums. "You can feel [how much pressure you're using] as you grasp the toothbrush,” Ictech-Cassis notes. "This helps you to avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth. With an electrical model you can’t feel that as well.” Placing too much pressure on your teeth can wear away at the tooth enamel, causing pain, sensitivity, and an increased risk of tooth decay.

• Good for kids. Even young children can use manual brushes safely and effectively once they’ve learned how, Ictech-Cassis points out.

 

Electric Toothbrushes: Recommended in Some Cases

 

Nevertheless, Ictech-Cassis admits that there are some situations where an electric toothbrush has clear advantages. "We recommend it for people who can’t do a good job with a manual toothbrush,” he says. For older people or people who have less manual dexterity, like those who have arthritis, the electric toothbrush may clean more effectively, he says. According to the American Dental Association (AMA), people with limited ability to move their shoulders, arms, and hands can benefit from the larger handle and powered brush of an electric model.

 

How to Choose an Electric Toothbrush

 

Today, electric toothbrushes are outfitted with a variety of features. Though they make nice additions, pressure sensors that tell you if you’re brushing too hard or timers that indicate when you’ve brushed long enough don’t directly affect how well the toothbrush actually cleans your teeth.

 

Electric toothbrushes "try to stimulate the gums and teeth with different configurations of the bristles," Ictech-Cassis says. "Even the most inexpensive electric models will keep your teeth clean, but you may have to move them a little more to reach the difficult areas.”

 

Although almost any toothbrush can do an effective job, research suggests there is one electronic toothbrush bristle configuration that seems to be better at removing plaque and preventing gum disease. Electric toothbrushes with bristles that rotate together in one direction, and then switch and rotate in the opposite direction — a process known as rotating-oscillating — appear to be more effective than manual brushes and other electric brushes that spin in only one direction. If you do opt for an electronic toothbrush, a model with rotating-oscillating bristles is probably your best bet.

 

For more information, visit Everyday Health

With dentistry comes many myths in which many people believe to be true. Identifying those myths can help you take better care of your teeth in many ways.

 

Over the years, dentistry has evolved from an imprecise practice based on folk cures to a structured medical discipline that relies on science and technology.

 

Although modern dentistry has come a long way, there are still many dental myths that are passed on by word of mouth. Here is the truth about some common dental misconceptions:

 

Myth: If there is no visible problem with my teeth, I don't have to see a dentist.

 

Fact: Just because your teeth look healthy doesn't mean that it is a good idea to skip going to the dentist. You should visit your dentist twice a year for an exam and dental cleaning to make sure that your teeth stay healthy and that any dental problems are treated before they become serious.

 

Myth: My parents had good dental health so I don't really have to worry about mine.

 

Fact: Though genetics may play a small role in determining your dental health, it is mostly up to you to take good care of your teeth and gums to keep them healthy in the long term.

 

Myth: Brushing my teeth more than once a day can harm my enamel.

 

Fact: Most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush to avoid being overly rough on gums and teeth. If you do so, you shouldn't run into any problems brushing twice a day or -- if possible -- after each meal.

 

Myth: Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal is just as effective as brushing.

 

Fact: While chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help clean your teeth and freshen your breath after meals, it is no replacement for thoroughly brushing and flossing to remove dental plaque and debris.

 

Myth: I shouldn't brush my teeth if my gums are bleeding.

 

Fact: Bleeding gums are often caused when dental plaque or food debris is not properly removed by regular brushing and flossing. If you notice that your gums become more prone to bleeding, it is a good idea to thoroughly and gently brush and floss them at least twice a day. If the bleeding continues, visit your dentist.

 

For more information, visit 1-800-Dentist

 

Braces are remarkable pieces of mechanisms. Over time, they have the capability to move your teeth to make them straight. But how do they do it?

 

Braces have four basic parts:

 

• Brackets made of metal or ceramic. A bracket is attached to each tooth.

• Bonding material (glue) or a metal band. This is what attaches the bracket to the tooth.

• An Arch Wire, which is a thin metal wire that runs from bracket to bracket and puts pressure on the teeth.

• The Ligature Elastic (also called an "o-ring"). This is a small colored elastic that holds the bracket onto the arch wire. The ligatures are usually changed at each adjustment visit. Some types of brackets do not need elastic ligatures (they are called "self-ligating").

The teeth move when the arch wire puts pressure on the brackets and teeth. Sometimes, springs or rubber bands are used exert more force in a specific direction. Braces exert constant pressure, which over time, move teeth into their proper positions. Occasionally adults may need to wear headgear to keep certain teeth from moving.

 

Your teeth are surrounded on top by gum tissue (also called Gingiva). Under the gum tissue, the Periodontal Membrane (sometimes called the Periodontal Ligament or PDL) encases the bottom portion of the tooth. Next to that lies Alveolar Bone.

 

When braces put pressure on your teeth, the periodontal membrane stretches on one side and is compressed on the other. This loosens the tooth. The bone then grows in to support the tooth in its new position. Technically, this is called bone remodeling.

 

Teeth Move Through Bone Remodeling

 

Bone remodeling is a biomechanical process responsible for making bones stronger in response to sustained load-bearing activity and weaker in the absence of carrying a load. Bones are made of cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

 

Bone remodeling works like this: increase the load on a bone and osteoclasts are created which break it down in response to the load. Remove the load and osteoblasts are created which create new bony cells. Repeat the process through repetitive motion and eventually the bone density increases.

 

Your teeth are socketed in bone (your maxilla for the upper teeth, and your mandible for your lower teeth).As mentioned, surrounding each tooth is a Periodontal Ligament (PDL) which attaches it to the surrounding bone.

 

The PDL as a sort of messenger between the teeth and surrounding bony sockets. Pressure between the PDL and bone causes the bone to create osteoclasts and breakdown the bone to restore the normal spacing between the teeth and bone. The corresponding tension on the PDL behind the movement causes the bone to create osteoblasts, effectively building new bone to fill in the difference and restore the normal spacing between teeth and bone. Not a whole lot of force is necessary, only "some" force which is not normally present.

 

Enter the brackets and arch wire - the artificial force needed to create and sustain the pressure.

 

Arch wires are interesting things in that they tend to want to retain their normal shape. They are also made of materials activated by body heat to increase stiffness. The wire you have presently is what is called a twist wire which is like a small cable. It wants to remain straight. When it is put onto your teeth which as a braces patient are all over the place, and activated by the heat of your mouth which is 20-25 degrees above room temperature, its desire to remain straight provides the forces necessary to get the biomechanical process of bone remodeling to begin and continue.

 

The solid wires which come later are made of a nickel-titanium alloy and while so flexible that you can tie a knot in it, once activated by body heat becomes quite stiff. The strategic placement of brackets on teeth and tying of those brackets to this wire complete the transmission of forces from the arch wire to the teeth and sustained result in the awesome process of bone remodeling as your teeth are moved to new positions in your mouth.

 

The osteoclast (breakdown) process takes about 72 hours to get fully going, the osteoblast (rebuild) process about 90 days. Stabilizing the result takes about 10 months (which is why it is important to wear your retainer to avoid a relapse of the original or some intermediate positions).

 

For more information, visit Archwired

 

Proper flossing and brushing does not guarantee that you will have perfect plaque-free teeth but it does help a lot. Nevertheless, there are ways to help remove any remaining plaque after flossing and brushing,thus increasing your chances of healthier teeth.

 

If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth with proper flossing and tooth brushing, you are increasing your risk for developing a cavity. Cavities are among the most common dental problems in people around the world, but good oral care, including proper flossing, can help prevent them.

 

Cavities are tiny holes that develop in areas of your teeth that have decayed due to poor oral hygiene. If you have teeth, you can develop cavities, regardless of age or gender.

 

If you ignore a cavity long enough, it may become larger and cause symptoms such as a toothache. If you don’t see a dentist to have the cavity restored (filled), a cavity can develop into an infection, and you could lose your tooth or develop a more severe infection.

 

When it comes to cavities, prevention is the best protection. Prevent cavities by keeping plaque under control with a consistent schedule of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. Choose from among the many types of toothbrushes and flossing products to find something you’ll like, so you’re more likely to use it every day.

 

And don’t forget to schedule regular dental checkups for a professional cleaning and to identify problems before they become serious. If your dentist identifies a cavity early, he or she might recommend a series of fluoride treatments to help restore or remineralize the demineralized tooth enamel and help prevent the need for a filling. Fluoride treatments can be in the form of a gel, rinse, foam or varnish. The fluoride product is placed on the teeth for a short time and is incorporated into the tooth structure to make enamel harder and more resistant to demineralization (break-down).

For more information, visit Oral-B

Dentistry has changed tremendously over the years. In the past dentists would use mercury to fill in tooth decay. Due to this they had to mix the different chemicals together by hand, thus allowing them to be at high risk of danger.

 

As early as the 7th century, the Chinese used a "silver paste" containing mercury (Hg) to fill decayed teeth. Throughout the Middle Ages, alchemists in China and Europe observed that this mysterious silvery liquid, extracted from cinnabar ore, was volatile and would quickly disappear as vapor when mildly heated. Alchemists were fascinated that at room temperature Hg appeared to "dissolve" powders of other metals such as silver, tin, and copper. By the early 1800's, the use of a Hg/silver paste as a tooth filling material was being popularized in England and France and it was eventually introduced into North America in the 1830's.

 

Some early dental practitioners expressed concerns that the Hg/silver mixture (amalgam) expanded after setting, frequently fracturing the tooth or protruding above the cavity preparation, and thereby prevented proper jaw closure. Other dentists were concerned about mercurial poisoning, because it was already widely recognized that Hg exposure resulted in many overt side effects, including dementia and loss of motor coordination. By 1845, as a reflection of these concerns, the American Society of Dental Surgeons and several affiliated regional dental societies adopted a resolution that its members sign a pledge not to use amalgam.

 

Consequently, during the next decade some members of the society were suspended for the malpractice of using amalgam. But the advocates of amalgam eventually prevailed and membership in the American Society of Dental Surgeons declined, forcing it to disband in 1856. In its place arose the American Dental Association, founded in 1859, based on the advocacy of amalgam as a safe and desirable tooth filling material. Shortly thereafter, tin was added to the Hg/silver paste to counteract the expansion properties of the previous amalgam formula.

 

There were compelling economic reasons for promoting dental amalgam as a replacement for the other common filling materials of the day such as cement, lead, gold, and tinfoil. Amalgam's introduction meant that dental care would now be within the financial means of a much wider sector of the population, and because amalgam was simple and easy to use, dentists could readily be trained to treat the anticipated large number of new patients. By 1895, the dental amalgam mixture of metals had been modified further to control for expansion and contraction, and the basic formula has remained essentially unchanged since then.

 

Scientific concerns about amalgam safety initially surfaced in Germany during the 1920's, but eventually subsided without a clear resolution. At the present time, based on 1992 dental manufacturer specifications, amalgam (at mixing) typically contains approximately 50% metallic Hg, 35% silver, 9% tin, 6% copper, and a trace of zinc. Estimates of annual Hg usage by U.S. dentists range from approximately 100,000 kg in the 1970's to 70,000 kg today. Hg fillings continue to remain the material preferred by 92% of U.S. dentists for restoring posterior teeth. More than 100 million Hg fillings are placed each year in the U.S. Presently, organized dentistry has countered the controversy surrounding the use of Hg fillings by claiming that Hg reacts with the other amalgam metals to form a "biologically inactive substance" and by observing that dentists have not reported any adverse side effects in patients. Long-term use and popularity also continue to be offered as evidence of amalgam safety.

 

Potential toxicity from exposure to mercury vapor (Hg) from dental amalgam fillings is the subject of current public health debate in many countries. We evaluated potential central nervous system (CNS) toxicity associated with handling Hg-containing amalgam materials among dental personnel with very low levels of Hg exposure (i.e., urinary Hg < 4 ug/l), applying a neurobehavioral test battery to evaluate CNS functions in relation to both recent exposure and Hg body burden.

 

New distinctions between subtle preclinical effects on symptoms, mood, motor function, and cognition were found associated with Hg body burden as compared with those associated with recent exposure. The pattern of results, comparable to findings previously reported among subjects with urinary Hg > 50 ug/l, presents convincing new evidence of adverse behavioral effects associated with low Hg exposures within the range of that received by the general population.

 

Presently, dental amalgam accounts for 10% of Hg used in the USA and one third of Hg used in Sweden. Multinational political actions, similar to those against the use of Hg in batteries, have not been directed towards the use of amalgam for dental fillings, despite economically viable alternatives and large and well-documented emissions to both air and water. Mercury emissions to the air from cremation are estimated to 0.28 t yr-C in Sweden,75 or 0.03 g per capita per year from a population of 8.5 million with 40-100 t of Hg in dental fillings and a cremation rate around 65%. Mercury losses to waters from amalgam fillings via human feces amount to about one third of that to the air, while losses to waters from dental practices are not quantified in Sweden but could be larger and are of concern for sewage treatment plants. In Denmark with 5.4 million inhabitants, Hg losses to water from dental practices were estimated to between 83 and 120 kg per year in 1992/93. Losses of Hg from Danish dentistry is expected to continue, because dental amalgam is until further notice excluded from the general ban on Hg use from 1994.

 

An estimated 20% of Hg consumed as dental amalgam is lost within a 10-year period. This indicates that of 108 t of Hg consumed for dental applications in Sweden during the 1970's, about 20 t could have polluted the environment until the end of the 1980's. Dental use of Hg has been significant also in Japan and most European countries. Part of the demand in the EU has been supplied by Swedish companies, exporting dental amalgam when the demand in Sweden decreased during the latest decade. Dental amalgam is classified as a medical product according to EU legislation and consequently exempted from the Swedish export ban of Hg, compounds, mixtures, and products containing Hg. Swedish efforts to reduce the use of dental amalgam beyond voluntary agreements by legislation have been hindered by economic interests profiting on the continued use of amalgam. Considering that some persons evidently suffer from dental amalgam and that researchers have been able to show effects of inorganic Hg at lower concentrations than before, it seems appropriate that the amalgam producers set aside funds for treatment and convalescence of patients affected by amalgam, instead of leaving this cost to the public.

 

Read more on Corrosion Doctors

Do you or someone you know, grind their teeth?If so, what causes this often misunderstood condition?The medical term for this condition is called "Bruxism”Bruxism (BRUK-siz-um) is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day or grind them at night, which is called sleep bruxism.

 

Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. Because you may have sleep bruxism and be unaware of it until complications develop, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.

 

Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:

 

• Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
• Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured or chipped
• Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
• Tired jaw muscles
• Earache — because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear
• Headache
• Chronic facial pain

People grind their teeth for a number of reasons. Doctors believe that it is because of stress. Dentists say that it happens because one's teeth are not properly aligned with each other. There are quite a few reasons why people grind their teeth.

 

Don't make your teeth the brunt of your stress.If stress is the cause, there are many ways you can find relaxation:Physical therapy, muscle relaxants, counseling and even exercise may help reduce tension. Teeth grinding happens in kids too. Some parents might find it disturbing to hear their child grinding their teeth in their sleep. While it is really not as big of a problem for kids as it is for adults, it is still proper to bring your child to a dentist so that their teeth are checked. Children normally outgrow their teeth grinding habits.

 

Kids usually outgrow teeth grinding because their teeth are not yet permanent. Eventually, their baby teeth will be replaced with a permanent set that's stronger, better, and more aligned.

However, the same can't be said for adults. Adult teeth are permanent and will not change any longer. Therefore, adults should watch out for the complications of teeth grinding.

 

If you notice damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek, indentations on your tongue, or if teeth become sensitive, be sure to mention it at your next dentist appointment. If your condition warrants it, your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep.

 

Read more on MayoClinic and ADA

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.

 

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.Whether you're a member of the dental team, a teacher or a parent, there is no time like the present to help make children aware of good dental hygiene.

 

Read on for advice that will help ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles for your child.

 

1. Remember, a child's dental care begins before birth.
A child's teeth form between the third and sixth month of pregnancy. An expectant mother must practice good health habits to ensure proper development of her unborn child's teeth. This means consuming plenty of calcium-rich foods such as leafy greens, fortified cereals and dairy or soy products.

 

2. Just because you can't see your baby's teeth doesn't mean they aren't there.
At birth, your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are almost completely formed in the jaw. The first four teeth will usually erupt when the baby is between 6 months and 1 year, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything in the meantime. Simply wiping a baby's gums with a clean gauze pad after feeding will remove harmful plaque and bacteria.

 

3. Take your child to the dentist by his/her first birthday.
A dentist will check your 1-year-old for tooth decay, as well as identify fluoride needs and address any potentially dangerous habits such as thumb sucking.

 

4. Don't use toothpaste for children under 2.
As soon as the first teeth appear, brush teeth with a little bit of water. After children have reached the age of 2, toothpaste can be introduced in pea-sized amounts.

 

5. Teach your children the proper brushing techniques.
Most children will be able to brush their own teeth by age 6 or 7. Select for them a brush that has soft, rounded bristles and teach them to use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Show them how to use circular brush strokes to reach all surfaces of teeth, and make sure they spit out the toothpaste and rinse with water after brushing to avoid swallowing any toothpaste.

 

6. Don't forget the floss!
As soon as any two teeth touch, make sure that you use floss to clean between your child's teeth. This is the only way to avoid decay in places where a toothbrush can't reach.

 

7. Make trips to the dentist fun for your child.
 It is important for your child to have a good attitude toward dental visits. Be positive and remind your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who is helping to take care of his or her teeth. Set a good example yourself by brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting the dentist regularly.

 

8. Take an active role in your child's oral health.
You should always inform the dentist as to the status of your child's health. Tell the dentist if your child is ill, what medications your child may be taking and if your child has any known drug allergies. If you don't understand a dentist's recommendations for the treatment of your child, ask for a more detailed explanation. Ask if there are other treatments available for this problem and, if so, how these

 

Here are some great resources from the ADA to keep those pearly whites-pearly white!

 

Source: http://www.dentistry.com/daily-dental-care/pediatric-dentistry/keeping-your-childrens-teeth-healthy

 

Do you get subconscious about your teeth? Are you afraid your teeth look yellow and dirty? In order to prevent these insecurities regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist can prevent these problems, as well as increase your self-confidence of your teeth, leaving you with good oral hygiene.

 

1. To Prevent Oral Cancer According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer, every hour of every day in the United States alone. When you have your dental cleaning, your dentist is also screening you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.

 

2. To Prevent Gum Disease Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. If diagnosed early, it can be treated and reversed. If treatment is not received, a more serious and advanced stage of gum disease may follow. Regular dental cleanings and check ups, flossing daily and brushing twice a day are key factors in preventing gum disease.

 

3. To Help Maintain Good Physical Health Recent studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene. A dental cleaning every 6 months helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.

 

4. To Keep Your Teeth Since gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, regular dental check ups and cleanings, brushing and flossing are vital to keeping as many teeth as you can. Keeping your teeth means better chewing function and ultimately, better health.

5. To Detect Dental Problems Early Your dentist and hygienist will be able to detect any early signs of problems with your teeth or gums. Early detection of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are easily treatable. If these problems go untreated, root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth could become the only treatment options available.

 

6. To Maintain Good Oral Health Your dental hygienist will help to ensure that you are maintaining your good oral health by visual examination and comparing your previous dental checkups. If you are falling off track with your oral hygiene he / she will help put you back on the right path.

 

7. To Use Your Dental Insurance Plan Dental insurance plans usually pay for all or most of the cost of dental cleanings and check ups every six months. Take advantage of this and save a lot of money in the long run by avoiding costly dental procedures that can result from poor oral hygiene.

 

8. To Create a Treatment Plan If your dentist diagnoses any problems in your mouth, he /she will most likely give you a treatment plan. This treatment plan should have the cost of each procedure that you will need, so that you can discuss financial arrangements with the front office.

 

9. To Have a Bright and White Smile Your dental hygienist can remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains. During your cleaning, your hygienist will also polish your teeth to a beautiful shine. The result? A whiter and brighter smile!

 

10. To Prevent Bad Breath Dental studies show that about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis have a dental problem that is to blame. Good oral hygiene is essential in preventing bad breath. Regular checkups and cleanings are the best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene.

 

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Practicing good dental hygiene is something we all must learn to do in our everyday lives. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are all components of maintaining good oral health. With good oral health we can keep smiling. 

Dental hygiene is the process of maintaining proper dental care to avoid oral health problems. It is recommended that you see your dentist and dental hygienist at least twice a year however the dental care that you provide on your own in-house is an integral part of maintaining good oral health. A good in-house regimen supplemented by regular dentist check-ups and cleanings is the best way to prevent dental emergencies.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is recommended at least twice a day to remove plaque and the remnants of food and drink from our teeth and gums. Flossing once a day is an essential practice to avoid gum disease and preventing tooth decay. An oral rinse also helps promote good oral hygiene as it will reduce oral discomfort, provide moisture to oral tissues and help with bad breath. More therapeutic oral rinses can be anti-plaque, anti-cavity, anti-tarter, and anti-bacterial and are all good at preventing oral health problems. Ask your dentist what he/she recommends for you.

Practicing oral hygiene habits are great ways to maintain proper oral health. However, good habits alone will not remove plaque that builds up over time. It is necessary to see your dentist and dental hygienist regularly to remove plaque to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease, and even the loss of all your teeth. Your dentist and dental hygienist will ensure that you will receive the necessary treatment to maintain good oral health of your teeth, mouth and gums and keep you smiling.

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