Let's talk about the PROs and CONs between sodium fluoride toothpaste, stannous fluoride toothpaste, and monofluorophosphate toothpaste! Each type of fluoride has different benefits for different types of mouths! Did you know that there were different types of fluoride in toothpaste and professional dental products? For example, sodium fluoride vs. stannous fluoride. They’re both a type of fluoride mineral, but like other types of vitamins and minerals, fluoride comes in varying forms. That’s why you have so many different options when you go to the store.
Sunday, February 26, 2023
Thursday, February 23, 2023
History of Tongue Scraping
Ayurveda, the practice of traditional Indian medicine, recommends tongue cleaning as part of one's daily hygiene regimen, to remove the toxic debris, known as Ama. Tongue cleaning has existed in Ayurvedic practice since ancient times, using tongue scrapers made from copper, silver, gold, tin or brass. In modern time, plastic scrapers are used in India and the Far East.
Tongue hygiene has been practiced for centuries in Africa, Arabia, Europe, South America and many eastern and oriental cultures. The various materials used for tongue cleaners include thin flexible wood sections, metals, ivory, mother-of-pearl, whalebone, celluloid, tortoiseshell, and plastic.
Western civilizations placed less emphasis on tongue cleaning. Between the 15th and 19th century, tongue cleaning was primarily practiced by those who were affluent. It was recorded in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries that Romans also performed tongue cleaning. In the 20th century, a wide variety of tongue cleaning devices came on the commercial market.
Read more, here.
Monday, February 20, 2023
Health Effects of Tongue Scraping
Breath
While there is tentative benefit from the use of a tongue cleaner it is insufficient to draw clear conclusions with respect to bad breath. A 2006 Cochrane review found tentative evidence of decreased levels of odor molecules.
Some studies have shown that it is the bacteria on the tongue which often produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids that may account for 80% to 85% of all cases of bad breath. The remaining 15% to 20% of cases originate in the stomach, from the tonsils, from decaying food stuck between the teeth, gum disease, dental caries (cavities or tooth decay) or plaque accumulated on the teeth. In addition, degradation of oral debris by microorganisms produce organosulfur compounds (volatile sulphur compounds) on the posterior (rear) of the tongue.
Aesthetics
The tongue is normally pink in appearance. It may acquire a white or colored coating due to diet, reduced salivary flow, reduced oral hygiene or tongue anatomy. The thickness of the tongue coating can also vary. Tongue cleaning can reduce this coating to make it cleaner and to help return it to its natural pink color.
Dental caries and periodontal disease
The tongue surface can be a reservoir for tooth pathogens and periodontal pathogens. It can contribute to the recolonization of tooth surfaces. People with periodontal disease are more likely to have a thicker tongue coating and a microbial flora that produces more volatile sulphur compounds compared to those who have healthy periodontal tissues. Tongue cleaning might help to reduce halitosis, dental caries and periodontal disease.
Read more, here.
Friday, February 17, 2023
What Is Root Resorption?!
Let's talk about the differences between internal and external root resorption! We'll also discuss the dangers of "at-home teeth straighteners" because they can often CAUSE external resorption which can lead to loose teeth ...and tooth loss!
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Tongue Cleaner
A tongue cleaner (also called a tongue scraper or tongue brush) is an oral hygiene device designed to clean the coating on the upper surface of the tongue. While there is tentative benefit from the use of a tongue cleaner it is insufficient to draw clear conclusions regarding bad breath. A 2006 Cochrane review found tentative evidence of decreased levels of odor molecules.
The large surface area and lingual papilla are anatomical features of the tongue that promote tongue coating by retaining microorganisms and oral debris consisting of food, saliva and dead epithelial cells. Tongue cleaning is done less often than tooth brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash.
Read more, here.
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
What is an Abscessed Tooth & What To Do About It
Let's talk about what CAUSES an abscessed tooth, how to TREAT an abscess & how to PREVENT an abscess, as well! Tooth and gum abscess stages vary, depending on the type of dental abscess you have. But one thing is for certain, you need to get it treated quickly. What does a tooth abscess look like? Usually, a swollen blister or pimple on your gums, with pus that drains from that area. Some abscesses cause fluid to drain out near the gumlines whenever the tooth is depressed. The earlier you seek out professional care, the better chances you have of saving your tooth and preventing the infection from spreading elsewhere. Don’t ignore abscessed teeth; in rare conditions, they can put you in the hospital because of how life-threatening the infection is.
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Floss Pick
A floss pick is a disposable oral hygiene device generally made of plastic and dental floss. The instrument is composed of two prongs extending from a thin plastic body of high-impact polystyrene material. A single piece of floss runs between the two prongs. The body of the floss pick generally tapers at its end in the shape of a toothpick. There are two types of angled floss picks in the oral care industry, the Y-shaped angle and the F-shaped angle floss pick. At the base of the arch where the "Y" begins to branch there is a handle for gripping and maneuvering before it tapers off into a pick.
Floss picks are manufactured in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes for adults and children. The floss can be coated in fluoride, flavor or wax.
History of floss pick
In 1888, B.T. Mason wrapped a fibrous material around a toothpick and dubbed it the "combination tooth pick." In 1916, J.P. De L'eau invented a dental floss holder between two vertical poles. In 1935, F.H. Doner invented what today's consumer knows as the Y-shaped angled dental appliance. In 1963, James B. Kirby invented a tooth-cleaning device that resembles an archaic version of today's F-shaped floss pick.
In 1972, an inventor named Richard L. Wells found a way to attach floss to a single pick end. In the same year, another inventor named Harry Selig Katz came up with a method of making a disposable dental floss tooth pick.
Environmental Impact
It’s estimated that the yearly production of almost 5 billion single-use flossers for North America emits about 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. This results in 10 million pounds of plastic trash entering the North American environment every year.
Read more, here.
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Floss for Orthodontic Appliances : Floss Threader
Floss for orthodontic appliances
Orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, wires, and bands, can harbor plaque with more virulent changes in bacterial composition, which can ultimately cause a reduction in periodontal health as indicated by increased gingival recession, bleeding on probing, and plaque retention measurements. Furthermore, fixed appliances makes plaque control more challenging and restricts the natural cleaning action of the tongue, lips, and cheek to remove food and bacterial debris from tooth surfaces, and also creates new plaque stagnation areas that stimulate the colonisation of pathogenic bacteria.
Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment may be recommended to maintain a high level of plaque control through not only conscientious toothbrushing, but also proximal surface cleaning via interdental aids, with dental floss being the most recommended by dental professionals. Notably, small-scale clinical studies have demonstrated that dental floss, when used correctly, may lead to clinically significant improvements in proximal gingival health.
Floss threader
A floss threader is loop of fiber that is shaped in order to produce better handling characteristics. It is (similar to fishing line) used to thread floss into small, hard to reach sites around teeth. Threaders are sometimes required to floss with dental braces, fix retainers, and bridge.
Read more, here.
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