Oral Health Facts

• Dental caries is the major cause of tooth loss in children; periodontal (gum) disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.
• Toothbrushes should be replaced every two to three months and after illnesses like a cold or flu.

• Three out of four patients don’t change their toothbrush as often as they should.
• Tongue and lip piercing can cause blood poisoning, prolonged or permanent drooling, damaged sense of taste, toxic shock syndrome, permanent damage to tooth enamel and oral tissue, and transmission of infections such as hepatitis B and HIV.
• Tobacco is the primary cause of oral cancers. Smoking a pack of cigarettes a day or using smokeless tobacco quadruples the risk of developing oral cancer.
  
• Oral cancer occurs twice as frequently in men as women.
• The biggest oral health problem for infants is early tooth decay, known as baby-bottle tooth decay. This results when babies routinely fall asleep with bottles filled with sugary liquids such as milk, formula, and juice—anything other than plain water.
• Chewing gum can help eliminate food particles caught between teeth after a meal and also helps prevent plaque build up by stimulating saliva production.
  
• A vigorous rinse with water may help to dislodge food particles and dilute acid produced by plaque bacteria. Rinsing throughout the day supports daily brushing and flossing to maintain oral health.

• Contrary to popular belief, there is no significant advantage of an electric or powered toothbrush over the normal toothbrush except ease of use.
• You should always maintain a distance of 6 feet between the toilet and where you brush. The air borne particles from the flush can travel up to 6 feet.
• There was a sudden massive surge of patients with tooth decay the year coke was launched.
• The swallowing of a fluoride containing toothpaste can cause many harmful effects such as fluoride toxicity.
• The popular practice of placing a cap on toothbrush head actually favors bacterial growth on it as moisture is increased in enclosed containers favoring the growth of bacteria.
• Vigorous brushing does more harm than good. Overzealous brushing can lead to eroded enamel which never grows back causing teeth sensitivity along with other.
• Fluoride is an important tool in the fight against tooth decay and may be found in such sources as community water supplies, private wells and tooth paste.
• Between-meal snacking may contribute to tooth decay. Choosing nutritious snacks that are low in sugar and do not promote tooth decay helps in the fight against cavities. Foods such as apples and raw carrots, and hard cheese have a natural cleansing action on teeth, making good snack food choices.
• Acid production from bacterial plaque occurs most dramatically within 20 minutes of eating, contributing to tooth decay. That is why rinsing your mouth after eating is a good habit.

Tipes of Mouthwash

It looks terrible with plaques on the teeth, it smells miserable with a bad breath and it feels painful with cavities in the teeth. Still most of the people shy away from these problems and never take proper initiatives to get rid of these menaces to get a flawless oral health. Many of them think it is enough to brush the teeth twice daily to maintain the oral health. But the truth of the matter is that, you have to follow a regular regimen to clean between your teeth and for that you need the help of the mouthwashes.

There are many different mouthwash products available today. It is important to find out the product which is suitable for your particular needs and, for that you have to learn about the different types and categories of mouthwashes meant to serve specific purposes.

Mouthwashes may be classified as cosmetic, therapeutic or a combination of the two.



Cosmetic mouthwashes (sometimes called antiseptics) are available over the counter.
Most cosmetic mouthwashes perform the following functions:

• Temporarily mask bad breath (halitosis)
• Rinse away oral debris
• Temporarily reduce bacterial levels in the mouth
• Provide a pleasant, refreshing taste

Therapeutic mouthwashes offer most of the benefits of cosmetic rinses, but contain an added active ingredient that helps prevent or treat certain oral health conditions. These types of rinses are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and voluntarily approved by the ADA. They usually fall into one of two categories:

• Antiplaque/antigingivitis rinse. This type of therapeutic mouthwash has been shown to control bacterial plaque and to reduce and inhibit gingivitis. Many chlorhexidine gluconate and are available by prescription only. They may have an unpleasant taste or may leave a bitter aftertaste in the mouth. These solutions usually include alcohol, although they may be available without alcohol. They are recommended for short-term use only (e.g., six months or less).
• Anticavity fluoride rinse. These rinses include fluoride, which helps strengthen teeth and prevent decay. They are available over-the-counter and by prescription (for a higher-concentration level of fluoride). People at high risk of tooth decay, as well as patients with orthodontic appliances, may be advised to regularly use these types of rinses in addition to their daily oral hygiene regimen.

Tips How to keep your Oral Health and a Fresh Breath

Brushing and Using Dental Floss

• Floss and brush your teeth, gums and tongue daily. Clean as far back on your tongue as you can, as that’s where bacteria often collect. If you don’t clean your mouth, any remaining food particles will attract bacteria, which cause bad breath and contribute to tooth decay.

• Electric toothbrushes will do a better job of removing plaque and tartar from your teeth. Use fluoride toothpaste and gently concentrate on where your teeth meet the gum line, and keep your toothbrush on for at least two minutes. Afterwards, grab some dental floss (waxed is a good choice since it can get in the spaces between the teeth much easier) and go around each tooth in a curved motion.

Have a healty diet

• To prevent tooth decay cut down on those carbonated sodas, chocolate bars, hard candies and those sickly sweet energy bars you might be tempted to eat in the morning. Instead, choose more raw vegetables like celery, and fruits like apples and pears. Red wine, fruit juices and vinegary salad dressings can be acidic and will eat away at the tooth enamel over time.

• Be aware that certain foods — such as garlic, onions and some spices — can contribute to bad breath for up to 72 hours after eating.

Cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco

• Can cause dry mouth and bad breath -- on top of being harmful to your overall health. Ask your dentist for help with smoking cessation.

Bad breath

• Can be an early symptom of periodontal or gum disease. Gum disease is an infection that affects the gums and jawbone, which can lead to a loss of gum and teeth. If left alone, the bacteria will build up on your teeth and irritate the gums.

• Dry mouth leads to bad breath. Saliva inhibits the growth of bacteria that contribute to bad breath by cleansing the mouth and removing odor-causing food particles. Dry mouth is also caused by some medications, alcohol and breathing with your mouth open. Drink plenty of water or chew sugar-free gum or candy to keep your mouth moist.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

• Dentists have all the technology necessary to make sure your teeth are in good shape, and to find problems that are not visible just by looking in the mirror, like cavities and gingivitis. The dentist will also screen for signs of oral cancer, which is treatable if detected early.

Top 5 electric toothbrush

I will present you the best electric toothbrush along with the links where you can find the product on Internet.

1. Sonicare Elite 9500 Electric Toothbrush
The reason this is the first in my list is because Sonicare Elite 9500 Electric Toothbrush is number-one recommended brand by dental professionals. This electric toothbrush has slim design, angled neck, tapered brush head, contour-fit bristles, and ultra-high bristle speed. I have one of these in my bathroom, and I am very pleased with it. I've tried a lot of electric toothbrushes but this one was the best by far. If you want quality then you should pick this electric electric toothbrush.
Amazon buyers gave it 5 stars:
"Comparing this with Oral-B, Sonicare is more powerful, giving you versitility to move around the mouth. As a man and as a regular guy who has been using the regular tooth bush since childhood, I couln't help moving any electronic tools up and down and left and right in the mouth. With Oral-B, you can't do that, you feel it's not right doing it. But Sonicare makes that easy. I love it. "




2. Oral-B D25526 Triumph 9400 Professional Care Electric Toothbrush
The new FlossAction Brush head with MicroPulse Bristles cleans as effectively as brushing with a manual brush and flossing. Smart Technology displays actual brushing time, tracks charge level, and advises when brush head has passed optimal-cleaning performance.


3. Braun Sonic Complete Electric Toothbrush
The Oral-B Sonic Complete electric toothbrush offers 2 brushing modes, a 2-minute timer with 30 second intervals and an ergonomic handle. Includes 1 refill brushhead. Rechargeable, lasting up to 2 weeks on a single charge.

4. Homedics PT-5RH PowerDent Sparklen Electric Toothbrush
Colorful, flashing lights while you brush. It has a pressure sensitive feature that helps protect teeth and gums from the damaging effects of brushing too hard. Model Number: PT-5RH Smart Sensor technology is a pressure-sensitive feature that turns the brush on with the lightest pressure against the teeth. Quad Action bristle motion combines rotary action with up-and-down movement to clean teeth more thoroughly.


5. Ultrasonex SU800 Twin Brush Ultrasonic Toothbrush System
1.6-megahertz wave action to attack bacteria and plaque 5mm below gum line. Includes 3 tongue scrapers and travel charger/case. High sonic frequency and orbitally vibrating method is a unique and patented technology.

Choosing the right toothpaste

Going down the toothpaste aisle and choosing a suitable toothpaste can be a difficult task in today's marketplace. Most experts would agree that as long as your toothpaste contains fluoride, the brand you buy really doesn't matter. All toothpastes with fluoride work effectively to fight plaque and cavities. Of course, they also clean and polish tooth enamel.





If you have sensitive teeth, a desensitizing toothpaste should be used because the key ingredient, stronium chloride or potassium nitrate, protects the tubules in the teeth that are connected to the nerves.





In tartar-control toothpaste, the key ingredient is sodium pyrophosphate. This type of toothpaste will not remove tarter. It will only keep it from forming above the gum line. Prolonged use of this type of toothpaste may cause sensitivity in some people.








In baking soda toothpastes, the key ingredient is baking soda. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and may cause gum irritation after prolonged use. The only benefit to this type of toothpaste is that it leaves you with a fresh feeling in your mouth which can be an incentive to brush longer.





Whitening toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that lighten teeth. These ingredients may cause gum irritation and sensitivity to teeth. They are also not as effective as the bleaching kits found in your dentist's office.





In an antimicrobial toothpaste the key ingredient is triclosan, an antibacterial agent. This type of toothpaste is supposed to remove bacteria that can cause gum disease but it will not remove existing tartar.

Cosmetic Dentistry Before&After

Products For Sensitive Teeth

WHY TEETH HURT?

Sensitive teeth are a major problem for many people. More than 80% will experience pain from hot or cold liquids and foods at some point in their life, and about a quarter will experience this sensitivity frequently. The hypersensitivity arises when the dentin of the tooth -- which is normally covered by enamel or gum tissue -- is exposed to the oral environment. Small "tubules" in the dentin can then transmit fluids that excite nerves in the pulp of the tooth, causing pain.


Sensodyne is the No. 1 dentist recommended brand worldwide to treat dentin hypersensitivity. Used every day, Sensodyne relieves sensitive teeth by building a barrier that blocks the pain of hot and cold and keeps it from coming back.




SootheRx Therapy for Sensitive Teeth

SootheRx utilizes NovaMin® (calcium sodium phosphosilicate).
NovaMin is a material that can induce the formation of new hydroxyapatite (crystalline calcium phosphate) which is almost identical to the tooth mineral that is naturally replenished by saliva, the rapid release of mineral-building ions quickly occludes dentin tubules for fast relief from sensitivity, sustained-release, mineral-building ions provide continual relief from sensitivity, pleasant taste and weekly maintenance program enhances compliance.

Orajel^® Advanced Tooth Desensitizer

Orajel ® Advanced Tooth Desensitizer is a state-of-the-art treatment that provides significantly faster and longer lasting relief from dentinal hypersensitivity than sensitive teeth toothpastes. Just one treatment of this exciting product (3 applications takes just minutes) relieves pain from sensitive teeth and lasts for up to three months. Easy-to-use Orajel Advanced Tooth Desensitizer is applied to the affected teeth using a convenient unit-dose applicator. People who use Orajel Advanced Tooth Desensitizer are able to continue using their favorite good-tasting family toothpaste.

Quitting Smoking Could Save Your Teeth

The unhealthy environment created in a person's mouth by smoking and using smokeless tobacco can cause everything from bad breath to gingivitis, tooth decay, oral cancer, and even death.

Cigarette smokers who quit the habit may reap the benefit in the form of healthier gums. This may help them hold on to their teeth over the long run.
Researchers found smokers with gum disease who quit smoking experienced a significant improvement in their gum disease within one year of quitting compared with those who kept smoking.



Dentists have known for some time that smokers have worse oral and gum health than nonsmokers, but for the first time we have shown that quitting smoking together with routine gum treatment results in healthier gums.

Quitting Smoking Helps Teeth

Researchers say smokers are up to six times more likely to develop gum disease than nonsmokers because smoking dampens the body's immune system and makes it harder for it to fight back against the disease.



Because gum disease is often painless until discovered by a dentist, researchers say many smokers may be unaware of the impact their smoking can have on their oral health.