Showing posts with label Preventive dentistry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preventive dentistry. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Good oral hygiene for overall health


Prevention is always better than cure and it is advisable to be educated on dental health by your dentist through regular dental checkups and treatments.

Dental care can sometimes be the forgotten part of a healthy lifestyle, and while its importance is often underestimated, the need for regular dental care cannot be overstated. Our teeth can last us a lifetime with the proper preventative dental care.

Preventive Dentistry aims to reduce the required dental restorations throughout your lifetime. This process allows you to keep your beautiful, vibrant smile whilst still maintaining the healthy structure of your teeth and gums and also saving a large amount on future dentistry bills which can prove expensive when intensive remedies become necessary.

Poor oral and dental health can result in serious infections of the mouth, the teeth, and the entire body. Preventive care minimises your risk of developing tooth decay and periodontal disease (gum disease).

Poor oral health has been linked to heart and lung disease, diabetes, stroke, low-birth weight, and premature births. Often, diseases give their first warning signs in the form of oral problems.

There are four basic steps to maintain good oral health:
• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss everyday
• Limit the number of times you snack
• Visit the dentist regularly

To prevent poor oral health, visit your family dentist and always ensure that your children are seen to by their dentist from a young age.

There are a number of options available for overall dental treatment, if required but always remember the importance of looking after your teeth by general everyday brushing, flossing and eating healthy!

Monday, November 30, 2009

BrushingTechniques For Healthy Teeth


Did you know wrong brushing techniques lead to tooth decay? Tooth decay in children is mainly due to improper brushing techniques which are then carried over to adult hood. Introducing your child to a pedodontist is always a good idea and children can be encouraged to learn proper brushing techniques to save their teeth. Do you know proper brushing two times a day will help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease?Wondering how you can improve your brushing techniques? Proper dental care starts with selecting a good tooth brush. Start the process by selecting a soft-bristle brush to remove plaque and food particles. This is very important as this is where the tooth decaying bacteria thrive. There are many varieties of brushes available in the market. Try to replace your brush every two to three months. The tooth paste you use also matters a lot in your dental care. Depending on the condition of your teeth there are many kinds of tooth pastes available in the market. There are tooth paste for cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity.

When you brush there are some brushing techniques you should follow about brushing.

• Use half-tooth-wide strokes of brush to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth against the gum line.
• Hold the brush flat and brush back and forth for the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• You can use gentle up-and-down stokes by tilting the brush vertically for inside surfaces of front teeth.
• Some brushing techniques are there to brush your tongue as well. Use a back-to-front sweeping motion to brush your tongue.

If you think that brushing and flossing alone is enough to keep your teeth and mouth clean and healthy, think again. If you think that you can manage to have a clean and healthy mouth without the help of a dentist, then what are dentists here for?Dentists play a big part in managing the personal dental care of individuals. Dentists check your teeth and mouth for signs of cavities and gum disease.They will also help you maintain extra clean teeth and they will also teach you the proper ways of brushing and flossing.Regular brushing and flossing along with regular dental checkups are all that is required to prevent dental problems. So don’t wait any longer. Go fix an appointment with your dentist now.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dental Hygiene For Toothache Free Life

Maintaining a good standard of dental hygiene can keep your mouth healthy and prevent a lifetime of costly and unpleasant dental problems. Nearly all dental disease can be prevented by carrying out a few small but very important cleaning procedures each day. The saying ‘look after your teeth and gums and they will last you a lifetime’ is very true.

The two most important factors in maintaining a good standard of dental hygiene are brushing and flossing. Tooth brushing has been in existence since Egyptian times over 3,000 years ago. Back then they used leaves on the end of twigs but the premise was the same. They had worked out that by keeping teeth free of debris and clean they would last a lot longer. The Egyptians may have not understood exactly why, as they were unaware of the existence of microscopic bacteria, but they knew it worked. Indian medicine (Ayurveda) has used the neem tree (a.k.a. daatun) and its products to create toothbrushes and similar products for millennia. The end of a neem twig is chewed until it is soft and splayed, and it is then used to brush the teeth. In the Muslim world, the miswak, or siwak, made from a twig or root with antiseptic properties has been widely used since the Islamic Golden Age. Rubbing baking soda or chalk against the teeth was also common. Today we know that brushing helps to remove plaque, a bacteria rich substance that clings to the surface of the teeth and gums. Acid from decaying bacteria in plaque erodes the enamel on the surface of the teeth. This causes cavities to form in the enamel. If left untreated these cavities can continue to grow until ultimately they penetrate to the centre of the tooth. This central cavity can then become infected leading to tooth ache, abscesses and eventually tooth loss. By brushing for three minutes twice a day with a suitable brush and paste, as dentists recommend, you can prevent the build of cavity forming plaque and the formation of any dental cavities.

Flossing is also very important for dental hygiene. Flossing reaches the parts of teeth that regular brushes cannot. For instance, food debris gets trapped between teeth which is too narrow for a normal brush. Dental floss can remove this debris which is the cause for over 90 per cent of causes of bad breath. Flossing also helps to clean below the gum line, where bacteria can build up. This helps to keep gums healthy and prevent painful and destructive gingivitis, also known as gum disease.

By making these few small sacrifices and tying it together with the all important six-monthly check ups with a your dentist you can help to prevent any future dental concerns. An extra few minutes each day to maintain dental hygiene is a small price to pay for a life free of the pain and worry caused by dental disease.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Dental Hygiene Prevents Teeth Problems


When it comes to dental hygiene, prevention really is better than cure. Nothing is better for your teeth than maintaining a regimented routine of oral hygiene. By spending just a few extra minutes a day to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy, you could avoid a lifetime of painful and costly dental procedures. Ask any one who has suffered from tooth decay, gum disease or who has suffered form a serious toothache and they will tell you that that extra few minutes brushing and flossing are definitely worth it.

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before bed, using suitable toothpaste (ask your dentist about fluoride content) and a suitable brush with appropriate bristles. They also strongly recommend flossing your teeth at least once a day. These are the two main front-line defences against a whole array of painful and unpleasant dental problems.

By not brushing and flossing regularly you are allowing bacteria to build up in a filmy substance called plaque which surrounds the teeth, attacking the enamel and causing cavities. If these cavities are allowed to penetrate to the root of the tooth it can cause an infection that will be very painful and can eventually lead to tooth loss. It is also possible for the infection to spread to other teeth in the mouth and even infiltrate the bloodstream causing serious health problems such as heart disease.

It is an unpleasant thought, but the mouth is in fact one of the dirtiest places in the human body. Its warm and moist conditions make it ideal living conditions for the 500 million or so bacteria that live there. If this bacteria is not properly controlled by cleaning it will thrive and cause health problems.

Good oral hygiene also eliminates unfortunate social conditions such as yellow teeth and bad breath. Over 90 per cent of cases of bad breath are caused by poor dental hygiene. Food and bacteria trapped between the teeth break down releasing foul smelling sulphurous compounds that are the cause of bad breath. Brushing and flossing help to remove the bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

A good dental hygiene routine, accompanied by the all important six-month visits to the dentist can help you maintain a happy and healthy mouth. Look after your teeth and they can last you a lifetime. Ask your dentist about how to correctly brush your teeth and which brush is most suitable for your teeth and gums.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Mouthguard :Ideal for sporting activities


As you may be aware, it only takes one blow to the mouth to cause gum injury, tooth loss, and nerve damage. Regardless of whether that blow comes from a cricketball or a fall, it is very important to do what you can to protect your teeth during certain activities. In most cases, wearing a mouth guard will prevent injury to your mouth. Fortunately, when you visit a dentist in Shimla, you will be able to obtain a custom fit mouth guard.

Consider a situation where you would normally wear some kind of helmet. This may include working in construction or riding a bicycle, as well as playing some type of sport. As a general rule, if you are concerned about head injuries, you should be equally concerned about dental ones. This is especially important to consider if you have children that play sports or ride bikes. A custom mouth guard created by a dentist is the only type that will ensure inner mouth structures receive the maximum amount of protection.
Typically, you will find that the procedure for obtaining a custom mouth guard is fairly painless and easy. Your dentist will make a model of your teeth, and then create the mouth guard from soft plastic. Unlike the virtually useless mouth guards sold in most stores, you will have very little, if any difficulty breathing or talking while wearing the mouth guard designed by a dentist. At the same time, if something hits your mouth, the teeth, gums, and inner cheek tissue will all be protected.
Even though you may not engage in activities that require the use of a mouth guard, it is crucial to consider the activities of your children. Unfortunately, even one injury during gym or recess may undo years of dental alignments, cleanings, and cavity management. At the same time, the last thing you will want is for your child to suffer with long term nerve damage. Therefore, it will be best to have custom mouth guards made as quickly as possible.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Change Your Tooth Brush !


Even though you may know when to change your toothbrush, you may not know which toothbrush will work best for you. Among other things, you may have been buying hard toothbrushes for years, and causing damage to your gums at the same time. Fortunately, your dentist can give you a good bit of information about what to look for when you change your toothbrush.

As you may be aware, there are many different kinds of toothbrushes on the market. This includes sonic toothbrushes, electric ones, and conventional bristle brushes. Depending on your situation, you may need to use a brush with raised bristles along the other edge. In other cases, you may be better off with a smaller brush surface. If you have other types of health conditions, your dentist may even be able to provide you with brushes that make it easier to maintain good oral hygiene.

When you visit your dentist for routine exams, you may want to ask about which toothbrush will work best for you. This will also be an ideal time to learn how to brush your teeth properly. Chances are, you will be surprised at some of the answers that you receive. In particular, if you have been scrubbing across the surface of your teeth without gently brushing down from the gumline, you may not have optimal oral hygiene.

Today, many people think that replacing a toothbrush is a simple as buying the same type of brush once the old one wears out. On the other hand, if you don’t talk to your dentist about your specific oral needs, you may be buying, and using the wrong type of toothbrushes. Interestingly enough, taking just a few minutes to discuss this issue can save you from developing receding gums, as well as several other kinds of gum disease.