Oral Health Care and Hygiene: How to Take Care of Your Teeth

Oral Health Care and Hygiene: How to Take Care of Your Teeth

Maintaining a healthy mouth is more important than ever! That's why it's imperative to teach your whole family how to lower their risk of health issues such as gum disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes with a healthy diet, good oral hygiene, and regular dental checkups.

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Why Your Child Should Visit an Orthodontist by Age 7

As an orthodontist, I am frequently asked, "At what age should my child first visit an orthodontist?" The answer I provide often surprises parents. Even though people often associate braces or Invisalign with the teenage or adult years, the reality is that boys and girls need to see an orthodontist much sooner. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.

Although a young child's teeth may appear fine to you, there may be a developmental problem involving physiological development or dentofacial orthopedics that only an orthodontist will detect. In non-medical terminology, this means that we look at the way a child's jaw growth, bone structure, and emerging teeth will impact a child's development and appearance later in life. In many cases, orthodontists can catch subtle problems while some baby teeth are still present so we can monitor or treat them. We can often identify these conditions without exposing a child to x-rays.

In many pre-teen examinations, I simply recommend appointments to monitor the child's growth and development every six months or year. In this way, I can ensure that treatment begins at the best possible time to achieve ideal results in an efficient manner. However, in some instances, early treatment around age 7 is required to prevent more serious problems from developing or to achieve results that may not be possible without surgery once the face and jaws have finished growing...

I know that patients generally come to me to create a beautiful and confident smile, but there is a lot more that goes into orthodontics. In fact, a kid's check-up at an early age can give an orthodontist the chance to:

· guide jaw growth
· lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
· correct harmful oral habits
· improve facial appearance later in life
· guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
· improve the way lips meet
· avoid the need for corrective surgery as an adult
· make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated

Beyond the potential health and treatment benefits of early intervention, visiting an orthodontist early in life gives you and your child the opportunity to build a relationship of comfort and trust with your orthodontist before beginning treatment. I find that this familiarity reduces any fear or concern that a child might have about getting braces or Invisalign Teen when the time comes. Similarly, it helps build your confidence that you have selected the right orthodontist to perfect your child's smile.

We all want to protect our child's precious smile. Younger children don't always need treatment, but early observation and routine monitoring can help protect your child's smile as it develops. Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you'll be giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.

Karen Conn, DMD, MS is an orthodontist at Udis & Conn Orthodontics (Jenkintown, PA), where she specializes in Invisalign and braces for children, teens and adults. She is also the author of the CONNmunications Blog. Dr. Conn received her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at Temple University, where she also earned a master's degree in Oral Biology.
Udis & Conn Orthodontics proudly serves Jenkintown, Abington, Elkins Park, Glenside, Cheltenham, Wyncote, Huntingdon Valley and the surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. To learn more about Udis & Conn Orthodontics, visit http://www.UdisandConnOrthodontics.com. Contact the office today (215-576-5805) to schedule a complimentary consultation.

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The Importance of Regular Flossing

Every time you go to the dentist you probably hear the same question: have you been flossing? If your answer is that you don't or that you only do sometimes then your dentist will stress the importance of regularly flossing your teeth. Your dentist will also probably give you complimentary floss. Still, though, many people don't floss their teeth at all, or they don't floss regularly. You probably know you should be flossing, but you don't realize how serious the repercussions can be. Dental care professionals don't say this because they own stock in a floss company!

What Exactly Is Floss?

Floss is a soft thread. It's either going to be made of a multi-filament nylon or mono-filament Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Nylon floss can be waxed or unwaxed and comes in assorted flavors to make the process more pleasant. Sometimes this type of floss will break or tear. PTFE is less likely to shred and break, but both varieties are effective when used correctly.

What Is Flossing?

Flossing, when done properly, reaches parts of your teeth that you toothbrush can't, like between your teeth and under your gum line. To floss, you should start with about 18 inches of your floss thread. Wind it around your middle fingers until you've got about 2 inches to work with. Hold the floss between your forefinger and your thumb, make sure that it's pulled tight and then just work it up and down between your teeth. Be sure to get the floss under your gum line gently, never forcing it. Your gums are very delicate, and if you floss too hard, you can actually cut them. Continue making your way around your mouth using clean sections of floss as you go. That's all there is to flossing.

Why Is Flossing So Important?

Your toothbrush only cleans the surface areas of your teeth. No matter how often you brush or what type of brush you use, it simply won't reach every part of every tooth. There's a tight space between each of your teeth and there's actually a small gap between your teeth and gums too. The tiny particles of food and tiny bacteria that contribute to the formation of plaque have no problem getting into these spaces. Mouthwash can help to kill the bacteria, but it won't help to remove the bits of food that get stuck there, and it doesn't get rid of plaque that has already formed.

Plaque, if left unattended, will eventually turn into tartar. Plaque is a sticky substance that brushing and flossing removes with little effort, but tartar is hard and crusty. Only special tools used by dental professionals and a process known as scaling can remove it. Tartar also makes it more difficult for your regular, at-home techniques to remove new plaque that builds up.

Fighting plaque is a lifelong battle, and it's the main goal of pretty much all dental care. Plaque starts to form between 4 and 12 hours after each brushing, which is why both brushing and flossing are both extremely important. Each time you brush you should also be taking a few moments to floss. The two go hand-in-hand, and they are two tools that work together to complete the job that is cleaning your teeth. When your plaque turns to tartar and you can't remove new plaque, then that new plaque is more likely to turn into even more tartar. This is a dangerous cycle.

Dental health not only keeps your smile looking its best, but it also prevents bad breath, gum disease, and periodontal disease. Tartar creates a home for even more bacteria leading to gingivitis, a gum infection. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. The final and most severe stage of gum disease is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is painful and all around unpleasant. It can even lead to the loss of teeth that have become too infected to save or that have become loosened by the condition eating away at your gums and roots.

Brushing keeps your teeth clean and looking great on the surface, but it's the places you can't see where plaque and tartar can really do the most damage. If your teeth look fine when you smile, but you have bacteria eating away at your gums and teeth below your gum line, then your mouth still isn't healthy. It's only a matter of time before you start experiencing the negative consequences. Simply flossing can save you a lot of trouble and money down the road.

Dr. Marichia Attalla, D.D.S, P.C. is a Periodontist in Nassau County, NY with more than 10 years experience practicing the art of dentistry, including the treatment of gum disease, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Learn more by visiting her website at www.nassaucountyperiodontist.com

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8 Things to Avoid for Strong, Healthy Teeth

Most of us know the importance of keeping our teeth clean healthy. You have teeth of various shapes and sizes in your mouth, and these are all used for different jobs. Teeth not only help us to chew food, but they also help us to talk and pronounce words correctly. They also help give our face its shape. And although it may be cosmetic, having a great smile is a great asset to have. I mean, who wants to be embarrassed to smile? So looking after your teeth just makes sense.

Looking after your teeth means having a daily 'dental health' routine. Advice from experts - such as the International Dental Foundation - recommend your daily routine should include:

· Brushing with fluoride toothpaste last thing at night and once during the day]

· Using floss or 'interdental' brushes to clean between teeth

· Having good eating habits - cutting down on sugary foods and drink

· Having you teeth checked out regularly

Most of these are well known. There are other ways however we can adopt to look after our teeth and gums and prevent tooth decay and damaging our teeth. Avoiding some (or all) of the following will certainly help:

Sodas and fizzy drinks

The combination of high sugar and high acid is bad news for teeth. Drinking soda's frequently has the result of 'soaking' your teeth in sugar, a sure way to tooth decay. The acid in the soda also helps to erode the enamel on your teeth, leading to tooth sensitivity. If soda is a must for you, then try cutting down as much as possible - thirst-quenching water is a great alternative. If you like the fizz - then just try soda water... Another tip is to sip sodas through a straw to avoid contact with the teeth.

Sports drinks

Sports drinks may help you recover quicker on the sports field, but they're similar to sodas in that they contain high amounts of sugar and acids - not so good for teeth. Opt for calorie-free water instead.

Sticky sweets and gummy candy

OK, so all candy and sweets are not considered good for your teeth, but the chewier and stickier they are, the more harmful they generally are for you. Because of their sticky nature, they are more prone to stick to the crevices between the teeth, and therefore less likely to be washed away by saliva. Be sure to brush well after eating such foods - or better still find sugar free alternatives.

Cough Drops

Cough Drops that contain sugar usually have a high content. Although they are designed for medicinal purposes, sucking on cough drops for extended periods helps cover the teeth with sugar. The risk of tooth decay and gum disease is increased as dental plaque (which includes bacteria) increases in the mouth. Opt for sugar-free cough drops.

Grinding teeth

Also known as "bruxism" grinding or clenching of the jaw affects millions of people all over the world. If is often associated with stress or is even shown to be hereditary. More often than not it occurs subconsciously at night, but can happen during the day as well. It puts pressure on the teeth and jaw and can cause pain. Wearing a mouth guard may help alleviate the pressure and protect the teeth from being worn down.

Using your teeth for purposes other than chewing and eating

Chewing, eating, smiling and speaking clearly - that's all your teeth should be used for. Anything else is a no-no. This includes opening stuff such as potato chip bags (or any other type of bag for that matter) using your teeth to 'hold' stuff if your hands are full, or anything else that brings your teeth into direct contact with hard, sharp objects. This can cause damage by chipping or fracturing teeth.

Tongue Piercings

A matter of personal preference for some, tongue piercings are highly discouraged by dentists. These items in the mouth can cause teeth to chip or crack, as well as rub up against gums and cause gum problems. Tongue piercings also encourage more bacteria to build up in the mouth - not a healthy situation for your mouth to be in. Having mouth jewellery may be trendy - but your mouth may pay a high price for it.

Sports with no mouth guard

It's always recommended to wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports. The mouth and face area are more susceptible to damage in some sports than others, (such as rugby, hockey or basketball) so wearing a mouth guard will help cushion any blows received in the mouth area and protect the teeth from damage and being knocked out.

If you would like to learn more, download your free Fat Myths Loss Guide George Vlismas is the owner of OnlyMensHealth.com, a newsletter and website dedicated to providing information and resources on all aspects of men's health, nutrition and fitness.
http://www.OnlyMensHealth.com

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