How to Prevent the Dreaded Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a destructive process that occurs over time. If left to continue, tooth cavity and tooth loss among other horrible complications may occur. Some of the longer term issues that decay causes are cavities, that require fillings or potentially worse, processes like root canals. In order to avoid creating these dental problems for yourself, there are some simple steps that you can follow. By following the guidelines in this article, you can easily keep you and your entire family free from tooth decay and tooth problems in general.

Proper Brushing 

Good oral hygiene is the best way to keep tooth decay at bay. Proper brushing technique and routine is thus recommended for the entire family. Both the frequency, duration and technique of brushing will determine whether you get tooth decay or not.

Always brush at least twice daily; before going to bed at night and any other time preferably an hour after meals. When you brush, be sure to do it for at least two minutes using quality toothpaste and a good toothbrush. It isn’t advisable to brush immediately after eating since this might damage the teeth. This is especially true if you have just had fizzy drinks, wine, fruits or any other form of acidic food.

Proper Brushing Technique

• With the toothbrush head against your teeth, tilt the bristle tips 45O to the gum line
• Using small circular motions, brush the outer, upper and lower surfaces of each tooth. Do the same for the inner surface of the teeth. Brush also the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• Brush your tongue too. This freshens your breath and removes unwanted bacteria from your mouth.
• Do not rinse out the toothpaste. Water or mouthwash will wash out the protective properties in the toothpaste
• Try to avoid eating or drinking for the next 30 minutes

Electric toothbrushes work just as well as manual toothbrushes. However, have your toothbrush replaced regularly to preserve its efficacy in plaque removal. Get good quality fluoride toothpaste to enhance further the cleanliness of your pearly-whites.

Proper Flossing

Proper flossing cleans teeth by eliminating plaque and removing bits of food from between the teeth and under the gums. These are places where a toothbrush can’t reach. Ensure that you floss at least once daily before or after brushing. The proper way to floss is to:

• Take about 30-50cm of the floss and grasp such that you have an appreciable length taut between your hands.
• Gently slip it between the teeth and into the space between the teeth and the gums.
• Use at least 8 strokes, up and down, for each tooth until you are fully satisfied that there is no material lodged within.

Flossing can be replaced with interdental brushes for folks whose teeth are intimately related with almost no space for between them.

Use Mouth Wash

Alcohol-free dental mouthwash with fluoride is effective in fighting tooth decay. It, however, is not advisable to use the mouthwash immediately after brushing. Set aside time for the mouthwash for instance after lunch.

All the above practices should then be complimented by a proper diet rich in calcium, phosphorous and fluoride. Keep off too much sugar and acid in your food, snacks and drinks. In so doing, you will keep your smile healthy and your teeth free from decay.

For more information on sound dental practices, this site http://urgentdental.com.au has a useful blog full of basic information that can assist.

How current ‘health trends’ are damaging your teeth

How Acidic Drinks Are Wrecking Your Teeth

50% of the people you meet consider your smile the first facial feature they notice about you. Having healthy looking teeth is critical to having a beautiful smile. The carbonated beverages, fruit juices and highly acidic drinks that you consume may nonetheless compromise your smile. Acidic drinks have been found to enhance tooth erosion, and you might be alarmed to learn that many of the health trends of today are actually harmful to your teeth. You need to learn about this now to prevent tooth decay and dental emergencies occurring in the future.

The Enamel

The tooth is covered by semi-clear, extra-hard layer called enamel. Dentists claim that the enamel is the hardest substance in the body. This is a quality that helps it protect the teeth from the wears and tears of grinding, chewing and biting. Other functions of the enamel include shielding teeth from extreme temperatures as well as damaging chemicals.

The shiny white smile is attributed to a healthy and intact enamel. The enamel has one weakness; it can be eroded by acid. Once the enamel shell is eroded, you get sensitive teeth, and if this isn’t checked, cavities and tooth decay eventually occur.

The effect of Acidic Beverages

Acidic erosion of the enamel is precipitated by drinks whose pH is below 5.0. Acid weakens the enamel by impairing re-mineralization of the enamel. When re-mineralization is poor, the enamel begins to break down and get eroded.  This exposes the underlying tissues which are highly sensitive hence tooth sensitivity ensures. The underlying dentine is not as strong as the enamel and easily get eroded by the acid produced by the mouth bacteria. If corrective measures are not taken, serious tooth cavities and decay occur.

Acid Drinks that May Erode teeth

• Carbonated Drinks– these drinks have high levels of acidity such that it is possible for them to erode the enamel in a very short time. Soft drinks, diet soft drinks and sports energy drinks all contain acid and, therefore, should be taken very rarely by anyone with tooth sensitivity or eroded enamel.
• Wine– wine is mildly acidic, but it also has the capacity to erode the enamel.
• Alcohol– most alcoholic drinks are acidic
• Yogurt– yogurt contains acid and thus should not be let to linger in the mouth for long durations
• Some Fruit Juices– most fruit juices have medium to low acid levels depending on the fruits used. They should, therefore, be drunk occasionally.
• Honey– has a pH level of about 3.9 and, therefore, has the capacity to erode your teeth.

Signs That Acid Drinks Are Damaging Your Teeth

The initial stages of tooth erosion are barely noticeable. However continued drinking of acidic beverages will lead to definite signs and symptoms which may later develop into serious dental complications.

• Tooth Sensitivity– as the enamel wears away, on begins to feel a twinge of pain whenever he or she drinks cold, hot or sugary beverages.
• Discoloration– when you drink acidic beverages, you may realize that, after some time, your teeth begin to become slightly yellow as the enamel thins out exposing the underlying dentin
• Rounded Teeth– Acidic drinks, after some time, transform your teeth to give them a rounded, sandblasted look.
• Translucent Edges– the biting edges of your front teeth may begin to appear translucent

• Cracks– the edges of the teeth start to crack and become rough
• Cupping– the chewing surface of the teeth begin to cup as small dents form. In case you have fillings, they appear to be rising up and out of the teeth.

Preventive Measures

You do not have to remove acid drinks from your diet entirely but doing the following will reduce the damaging effect that these drinks have on your teeth.

• Reduce or eliminate carbonated drinks from your meals
• Drink acid drinks quickly using a straw and do not swish them around
• Swallow acid drinks as soon as they are in your mouth
• After drinking acidic beverages, gaggle water to rinse and neutralize the acid
• Brush your teeth using alkaline toothpaste that contains fluoride.

The point of this post is not to raise alarm but to raise awareness. It’s not a dental emergency to drink acidic drinks, we all like them, it’s just important to know how to counter them with the correct measures to protect your teeth. I intend to provide more informative posts through this blog so stay tuned and thanks for stopping by.

It’s Never too late to start flossing

It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to fight gum disease and to maintain great healthy teeth. It’s easy to do and even if you’ve never flossed before it’s never too late to start.

Flossing the Most Important Questions Answered

Gum disease starts between the teeth and at the gum line. You can use flossing to remove plaque from the gum line and between your teeth. Proper flossing techniques can improve your oral health.

The benefits for adults are huge, even if you start late and never flossed in your life. No one wants a retreating gum line and decaying teeth do they?

Should I floss before I brush or after? 

Flossing is necessary. You can choose a time that allows you to give a few additional minutes to your dental care.  You can floss right after getting up in the morning or after lunch or at the end of the day.

Should my child floss too?

Yes, like adults children need to floss. Flossing for children should start anytime you notice any two teeth touching. However, you should do the flossing since your child will not be able to manage it well by themselves until they reach age 10 or 11.

Is flossing painful? 

While you may experience some discomfort during flossing it should not be painful. The discomfort caused by brushing and flossing should go away within the first two weeks. Talk to your dentists if the pain persist for more than 2 weeks.

What should you do if flossing is difficult?

If flossing is difficult for you, try a different method of flossing. If you cannot handle dental floss, you can use a pre-threaded flosser, a dental pick or a wooden plaque remover.  To prevent injuring your gums, ask your dentist how to use these correctly.

What are the different types of dental floss?

Dental floss includes comfort floss, thick, un-waxed or waxed floss.

What is the correct way to floss my teeth?

• Get 18 inches of floss, wind most of it around the middle fingers of both hand.
• Hold the floss firmly between the thumbs and forefingers.
• Using a gentle rubbing motion guide the floss between your teeth. Avoid snapping the floss into the gums.
• Curve the floss into the C shape against a tooth as soon as it touches the gum line. Slide it gently into the space between the tooth and the gum.
• Hold the floss firmly against the tooth. Rub the side of the tooth gently. Use up and down movements while moving the floss away from the gum. Repeat with the other teeth. Ensure that you include flossing the backside of the last tooth.