Do you know that putting a baby to sleep with a bottle in the mouth can harm your baby’s teeth by eating away the enamel? This oral condition is called ‘bottle mouth’.
Did you know that the simple act of breathing can hurt when you have gingivitis? As softened bone and gums begin to pull away from the teeth, they leave your roots exposed and highly sensitive to air.
Why worry about periodontal disease? Not only does it affect your teeth and gums, but it can also contribute to other health problems such as heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and more.
The appropriate care of your mouth involves brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Brush your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes each time you brush. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and change your toothbrush at least once every three months.
What are oral and maxillofacial surgeons? These are dentists who've trained and acquired the certification needed to perform mouth and jaw surgeries. Such specialists perform corrective work for oral issues and reconstructive procedures for patients who've experienced facial trauma.
If your child is taking medications or is on a special diet, pay extra attention to his or her oral hygiene and health as these may put him or her at a higher risk for tooth decay (especially if the medications have a high sugar content).
A child’s teeth change over time. A good dental evaluation six months ago doesn’t guarantee that the child’s teeth are still in good condition due to changes in diet. Regular visits to the dentist help ensure good dental health.
One of the best ways to keep a bright and beautiful smile is to visit a dentist at least twice a year for a professional teeth cleaning.
While a competent dentist will be thorough when conducting an examination of your mouth, he or she may miss something despite their best efforts. So, if there is some uncertainty, or if something doesn't check out, your dentist may order a dental x-ray just to cover all bases.
Accredited programs for studying to become a dental hygienist can be found through the American Dental Association, so this can be a helpful resource for you if you are pursuing this career field.
How does a dentist help protect you from other diseases? It's a variation on the theme of "you are what you eat." Everything you swallow goes into your body. By examining your teeth and gums, dentists are clued into the bacteria that you are sending into your system.
Though most toothpaste manufacturers tout great taste and whitening ability, the most important factor to consider would be the ability to fight tooth decay. As such, it pays to compare brands to see which one has the most effective ingredients.
Keep in mind that your health history can affect dental sedation techniques, so be sure to give your dentist all relevant information. The day of the procedure, it’s recommended that you stay hydrated and that you avoid driving or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours.
Why do your teeth yellow as you age? First, you stain them by eating foods like beets, drinking dark-colored sodas or smoking cigarettes. But the other reason isn’t preventable: As you age, your enamel thins and reveals the yellowish tint of the dentin below.
Did you know that nitrous oxide is one of the most widely used forms of anesthesia in dentistry? Not only is the gas safe and partners well with other pharmacological agents, but it raises pain threshold and makes the patient more comfortable overall.
Even if you are conscientious about your oral health, it’s important to see your dentist at least twice a year because professional cleaning is something you cannot do. Dentists use specialized instruments and substances that work very well and leave your mouth thoroughly clean and fresh.
The first types of toothbrushes were created in different cultures, thousands of years ago, from tree sticks. Many of the popular “chew sticks” came from trees known to have medicinal antiseptic properties including the Neem and Arak tree.
Do you ever wish that you didn’t have to go under anesthesia just because you’re having a dental procedure? Because lasers can often be quick and painless, you may find that your next procedure won’t require any anesthesia.
When is a filling required? When dental cavities break through the surface enamel of teeth, they may get bigger unless your dentist closes them off with fillings.
It’s important to remember that there may be certain areas of the mouth that the laser simply can’t reach. In these instances, it may be necessary to employ traditional dental methods, like drilling.
If you don’t want to be aware of what’s happening during a dental procedure and instead be “out of it,” the IV sedation is going to be your best bet. If you just want a little help to relax, then something like nitrous oxide will be more appropriate.
While we think of teeth when we hear the word dentist, that's not all they fix. In fact there's a specific type of dentist called a periodontist who specializes in gum disease as well as the placement of dental implants.
Just like brushing, daily flossing is recommended to maintain good dental health. Flossing is highly effective in removing food particles that brushing cannot, plus, it helps stimulate gums and prevents them from bleeding.
A study has found that people who drink 3 or more cans of soda daily have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than people who don't drink soda.
