All Toothpaste Is Not The Same

Choosing the Best Toothpaste for You

Early in the last century, choosing a toothpaste was pretty simple. Due to economics and a limited selection of alternatives, most people simply used a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda. Even with the bitter flavor and rough texture at least it left a feeling of cleaner teeth and fresher breath.

Today's tooth paste selection options present a whole new level of complexity to choosing the right toothpaste for you. This article will hopefully help you better understand those options.

Here are some primary variability's

• Abrasive agents
• plaque control
• caring for sensitive teeth
• gum care
• whitening agents

Toothpaste can come in a number of different forms from powders to gels. However most have some similar ingredients because of the common purpose they have for cleaning your teeth, controlling plaque build up, whitening your teeth and helping to freshen your breath.

Abrasive Agents

In varying degrees most toothpaste contains some sort of abrasive agent. This is the working function of the toothpaste which helps remove stains, eliminate plaque build up, and dislodge food particles in the gaps and tight spaces between your teeth. Check the ingredients on the side of the box to compare the amount of silicates and calcium carbonates included. The higher the level the more abrasive power the toothpaste has. If you have sensitive gums or teeth, you will want a lower level.

Fluoride

Also check the ingredients for the level of fluorides in the toothpaste. Fluoride ingredients included in toothpaste has done more to reduce tooth decay than any other single factor in the past century. Fluoride kills bacteria that build up due to the sugars and starches which are in most American diets. Fluoride strengthens the enamel of your teeth which helps keep them stronger and helps avoid tooth decay.

Tartar Control

Tartar control toothpastes normally contain fluoride. Tartar is a hardened substance on the teeth which is caused when layers of bacteria have built up over time. In other words Tartar is hardened plaque and is very difficult to fully remove without professional cleaning. Tartar buildup can lead to gum disease. Look on the box of your toothpaste to see which agents are used for tarter control. Look for the active ingredient sodium pyrophosphate to see how much tartar control the toothpaste has. Just be aware that toothpaste with high tartar control can lead to sensitive teeth over time and a small percentage of users have encountered increased levels of canker sores.

Sensitive Teeth

People with sensitive teeth experience substantial pain when eating or drinking anything that is very hot or cold. Sensitive teeth toothpaste generally includes an element of potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate may help relieve sensitive teeth pain by blocking pathways in the teeth that attach to nerves.

Whitening Agents

In recent years whitening toothpaste has become very popular. Most tooth whiteners use one of two chemical agents: carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. When used in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with the active whitening ingredient being hydrogen peroxide. In other words this process is literally bleaching your teeth. To date there has been very little negative side affect to using toothpaste with whitening agents.

Of course when selecting a toothpaste always look for the ADA seal of approval. The seal gives you the assurance that the toothpaste has met strict requirements for dental safety and effectiveness.

Thank you for reading, to learn more about the advantages of long-term dental care go to www.tupelosmiles.com or http://tupelodentist.com/

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Why Choosing A Toothbrush Is Important

How to Choose a Toothbrush

Most people don't really give a lot of consideration when picking out a toothbrush. They rarely consider the quality but instead end up picking the one that matches their favorite color, or that looks sleek. But there genuinely is more to consider when choosing a toothbrush. You want to get the great value from your toothbrush that your hard earned money deserves. Knowing just a few key points will help you select a toothbrush that ensures you are getting that value.

Primary Factors for Choosing a Toothbrush

• Bristle strength is a top consideration. You will want to choose a toothbrush with soft bristles since this can help you avoid gingivitis recession. Soft bristles can clean your gingival margin without irritating your gums. Hard bristles are much more prone to cause bleeding and even damage gum tissues.
• You will want to select a handle that is comfortable when you grip it. While this is not really a health issue, it is important that the brush does not feel awkward in the grip. In recent years there have been several advancements to handle sizes, textures, and design features. Select a handle that is not so large as to make it difficult to get to those hard to reach teeth in the back of the mouth.
• Likewise the head of the toothbrush needs to be small enough so that it can reach the back areas of the mouth without feeling like you are going to gag. Those areas are where most bacteria and plaque buildup usually start, and require extra attention when brushing.
• When picking out a toothbrush for your children, another consideration might be finding a toothbrush with their favorite action hero or other animated character on it. Anything that will encourage them to brush often is always a good thing. Action figure toothbrushes may actually cause your child to want to brush longer as well.

How About Electric Toothbrushes

There is a wide variety of electrically operated toothbrushes available in the market today. Many of the newer models have even been proven to reduce plaque better than manual brushes because of the action of the bristles. Most high quality brands will include the brush features on the box. Always purchase a reputable brand.

Most people do not spend the time brushing that they should. With a manual brush you should spend at least two minutes ensuring that you brush thoroughly. With an electric brush, it takes less time to get the same benefits, due to the number of strokes delivered for the same amount of time.

Most electric toothbrushes are far less likely to damage your gums due to applying too much pressure when manually brushing. Anyone finding they are having trouble with bleeding gums from manual brushing might consider replacing their manual brush with an electric one. Of course you are having a problem with bleeding gums, you should seek counsel from a dentist to see if there are more serious issues going on.

It's Not Rocket Science

Selecting a toothbrush is not rocket science, but it does require a little more attention than most people give it. If you ask your dentist there is a good chance that they can give you an exact brand and style of brush that is best for you. Making the right decision about a toothbrush can be considered a small investment in the right tool by possibly avoiding expensive dental bills later.

For more detailed information about the advantages of long-term dental care go to www.tupelosmiles.com or http://tupelodentist.com/

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Why Flossing Is Even More Important Than You Thought

The Long Term Benefits of Regular Flossing

Regular dental flossing can be the best way to keep clean those hard to get at spaces between your teeth. Many people do not realize that dental flossing is as important as brushing your teeth. The bristles from your tooth brush simply cannot reach those very small gaps where small food particles tend to accumulate.

But a more important factor about flossing is that flossing is more about removing plaque than it is about removing food particles. There are complex bacterial ecosystems that form on tooth surfaces. Plaque is what causes tooth decay, inflamed gums (gingivitis), periodontal disease, and even tooth loss. Flossing is the only effective way to remove plaque between teeth.

Oral irrigators have become quite popular in recent years and many general public consumers consider them to be a sufficient replacement for flossing. They are however not as effective as regular flossing, once again due to their ineffectiveness for removing plaque buildup on your teeth. Oral irrigators have almost no affect on plaque control.

How to Use Dental Floss to Acquire the Long Term Benefits of Regular Flossing

Make no bones about it; flossing is probably one of the more labor intensive personal hygiene activities an individual can perform for themselves. A 2008 survey found that only 49% of Americans floss daily and 10% never floss. That's most unfortunate, dentists say, because flossing is even more important than brushing when it comes to prevention of periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss.
Effective flossing will take up to 3 minutes of intensive efforts. There are times when you may see a tinge of blood especially if you haven't flossed for a while. This could be due to your gums being slightly inflamed and may be caused by plaque buildup. This may require you to floss a little more to ensure you completely remove the bacteria.

Traditional dental floss comes in rolls packaged for easy pulling and cutting of strips about 6 inches long. Dental floss is generally nylon string covered in some type of wax coating. There are however new products on the market making flossing easier than ever before. These floss products include disposable flossing picks with precut string length and a handle fashioned like a toothpick for easy grasping.

Always take the time to run the floss between the teeth and over the gums.

It Is Worth It

Admitting that it takes a little special effort to make flossing a part of your daily routine, the benefits for those who make the effort are worth it. The long term benefits are having strong teeth and gums, avoiding bad breath, alleviating cavities, and preventing tarter buildup. Aside from the purely health benefits of regular flossing, you will also save you a great deal of time and money from potential dentist office visits. But even more than that in recent years American Dental Association (ADA) studies have generated reports indicating that regular long-term flossing may also help avoid the risks of stroke and heart diseases. All that for just a few more minutes per day.

For more detailed information about the advantages of long-term dental care go to www.tupelosmiles.com or http://tupelodentist.com/.

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Preventing Cavities: How and When You Eat Matters

When it comes to maintaining healthy teeth, chances are you already know to limit your consumption of sugary and sticky foods. However, there are other factors that can contribute to cavities beyond what you eat. When and how you eat impacts the health of your teeth, too.

How do cavities form?

To best understand how these factors play a role in the health of your teeth, let's look at how cavities form. When the bad bacteria in your mouth isn't kept in check, it has a better chance at causing damage to your teeth.

You can stop this from happening by brushing and flossing to eliminate the bacteria, and by cutting off their food supply: sugar. They don't just get sugar from sweet foods and drinks, but from white flour products as well.

As they break down these sugars, it creates a lot of acid. These acidic conditions inside your mouth make saliva less effective at protecting your teeth. The flow of fluids in your teeth is also reversed by the acidity. Fluids normally flow outward to repel bacteria away from the enamel. This extra acid causes the fluids to flow inward and pull bacteria in towards the tooth.

With the saliva unable to protect your teeth effectively, the acids begin to wear away at the enamel, exposing the dentin beneath. The bacteria can then cause damage to the dentin, which results in cavities.

Keep track of when and how you eat

Limiting the amount of time your mouth is exposed to acidic conditions is key to preventing cavities. If you only eat one snack each day, you may think you're doing a good job at cutting back on sugar. However, if you munch on that snack continuously throughout the day, you're prolonging the time that your mouth is exposed to harmful acids.

Instead, keep regular mealtimes and eat any sugary foods with your meal. Eating a meal stimulates saliva production to wash away any harmful acids. This will also limit the time that your mouth spends in an acidic state.

If you do decide to have a snack between meals, try to

• Avoid "grazing" over several hours by eating it all at once.
• Keep a bottle of water handy and drink it with your snack.
• Drink sugary drinks with a meal or drink them all at once rather than sipping slowly throughout the day.

Most people don't know that when and how one eats can encourage cavities to develop. The good news, however, is that small changes in your eating habits can result in healthier teeth.

A healthy lifestyle enthusiast, F.R. writes about keeping our bodies and oral health in prime condition. Look for similar topics from a top Arlington (TX) dentist - team dentist for the Texas Rangers. This dentist in Arlington specializes in creating a beautiful, healthy smile using stress-free care in a comfortable environment.

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Tips and Tools for Flossing More Effectively

Chances are, even if you know you should be flossing at least once a day, you may not be doing it consistently or correctly. Brushing, while important, isn't enough to keep your teeth healthy. Flossing after meals is recommended, but if you can only floss once a day, right before bedtime is the most ideal time to do it.

This is because saliva, your mouth's natural defense against the buildup of bacteria, slows while you sleep. Any kind of debris left in your teeth when you go to bed has a full night to feed bacteria and contribute to decay.

Signs that your flossing technique needs some work

Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing are a sign of gingivitis, a form of periodontal disease. Luckily, gingivitis is reversible with proper brushing, flossing and regular visits to your dentist for cleanings.

Without intervention, gingivitis can progress to a more advanced condition known as periodontitis, which is not reversible without intervention from your dental hygienist.

A disclosing solution will highlight areas that haven't been getting cleaned properly by turning plaque a bright purple or pink color. If you are seeing a lot of buildup between teeth where brushing alone can't reach, this is a sign that you need to concentrate on flossing more thoroughly.

How to floss correctly

• Take about 18-24 inches of floss - around 2 feet or so - and wind a long piece at either end around your middle fingers. Leave enough space in the middle to use on your teeth.


• Hold the floss tightly between your index finger and thumb, and slide the floss up and down between teeth. Move the floss up and down only, not side to side, as this motion can wear notches in to your teeth over time.


• Gently pull the floss around the curve of each tooth as you work your away around the mouth. It is important to reach below the gum line, but do not force or snap the floss in to place; you may injure sensitive gum tissue.


• Make sure to switch to clean sections of floss as you progress.

What type of floss should you use?

There are a variety of flosses available on the market, depending on your particular needs. Use whatever feels comfortable for consistent flossing.

• If there are spaces between your teeth, dental tape is ideal. Teeth that are packed tightly together may require thinner, Teflon-based floss.
• Woven yarn floss is great for problem areas along the gums and between teeth.

A health enthusiast, F.R. (Felix) writes tips for keeping your fitness and oral health in top condition. Look for related topics from a high quality Arlington dentist who is the dentist for the Texas Rangers baseball team. His own team specializes in reducing anxiety using stress-free dental care in a comfortable environment and custom teeth whitening in Arlington, TX.

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