Archive for the ‘Preventive Dentistry’ Category
Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
Toothbrushes:
Frequently, I am asked what is the best toothbrush and toothpaste. As with many things in life, the answer is not so simple. But there are a few guidelines.
Definitely, I would never recommend any hard-bristled or medium-bristled toothbrush, only soft-bristled toothbrushes for human teeth. Hamster cages and boots can be cleaned with hard or medium bristled toothbrushes, but not teeth. Also, the bristles should be rounded on the end, not sharp or ragged. Gums can be lacerated easily with a sharp bristled toothbrush.
SOFT: Soft nylon will prevent teeth and gums from being scratched. Tooth- brushes with the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance (ADA Seal) should be your only reasonable choice for toothbrushes (and tooth- paste) for that matter.
RIGHT SIZE: The size and shape of the brush should also be user appropriate. Children need smaller brush heads and handles. Your brush should feel comfortable in your hand. Smaller brush heads in adults is usually better. Ask your dentist or hygienist if you have a question about your brush or brushing.
MAINTAIN: Replace your worn or frayed brush at least every 3-4 months. Frayed bristles can damage teeth and gums and harbor bacteria.
ELECTRIC: And, if you need (children and handicapped patients) electric toothbrushes work as well as manual brushes. So…if you’ve followed the above guidelines, the best brush is the one you like to use at least twice daily.
The average person brushes for about 37 seconds. However, to do a proper job it takes two to three minutes to sufficiently remove plaque when brushing. A three minute egg timer is a good reminder for children’s brushing. Aim the bristles at a 45o angle to the long axis of the teeth and with gentle circular motions, brush all exposed surfaces.
DEVELOP A BRUSHING PATTERN: Brush in a pattern that covers all the surfaces of all teeth each time you brush. For example, brush from right to left on the outside of upper teeth, then left to right inside surface of upper teeth, then outside right to left lower teeth and then inside left to right lower teeth and then lower biting surfaces left to right and upper biting surface right to left.
TOOTHPASTE: Tooth paste not only polishes teeth, it also helps remove plaque (bacteria and its waste products) from teeth. Daily removal of plaque from teeth helps keep teeth and gums healthy and breath fresh.
AMERICAN MADE: This is one place where the American Dental Association (ADA) seal is particularly important. Never use toothpaste from China.
WHITENING TOOTHPASTES: Teeth whitening toothpastes don’t really work to whiten teeth. They may rid you mouth of stains. However, they often cause sensitivity.
DESENSITIZING TOOTH PASTES: These toothpastes are valuable in blocking irritants from getting to nerve ending. Potassium nitrate (salt peter) is the most effective desensitizing agent in desensitizing toothpastes (potassium nitrate is also used to cure and maintain red color in corned beef).
FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE: Fluoride is the most significant chemical element which can be easily added to tooth paste to improve dental health. Fluoride remineralizes and strengthens teeth as well as desensitized teeth. Children, especially through teen years, and senior citizens can benefit from fluoride in toothpastes and other forms of topical fluoride, especially in areas (there are still a few) without the benefit of community water fluoridation.
Keep smiling!
Dr. James G. Hood
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Dentistry in a Struggling Economy
by Dr. James G. Hood, D.D.S, M.A.
Dentistry in the United States is second to nowhere in the world in terms of quality. We are fortunate in this great nation to have not only highly trained dentists and oral health specialists, but to have their services readily available as well. However, in these difficult economic times, many people are not taking advantage of the excellent dental care available.
On a regular basis people tell me, “I don’t have dental insurance, so I can’t have dental work done.” However, oral health is crucial to overall health and quality of life and should be considered a necessity, not a luxury. Many of my patients would prefer to complete diagnosed dentistry no matter the cost, no matter whether or not they have insurance coverage. Mind you, I’m not saying that insurance isn’t often a significant help—it is. However, your dental work should not be governed by an insurance company. Each person should spend time with his or her dentist to discuss how to make their dentistry affordable for their situation. Everyone should know what good oral hygiene is and receive instruction in how to practice preventive dentistry. Your dentist and dental hygienist are a wealth of knowledge on how you, as an individual, can best keep, maintain, and restore your oral health.
Oral hygiene is best when practiced regularly and frequently. It should be easy to understand that a person who brushes their teeth twice a day and flosses daily will enjoy better, more stable oral health than a person who brushes infrequently or not at all. Machines run better and last longer when well-maintained; likewise, patients who come in for a twice-yearly professional teeth-cleaning and check up complete with oral cancer screening rarely need restorative dentistry. However, those who do not practice any preventive dentistry are most often seen on an emergency basis only.
I see patients from all walks of life, and I can tell you from experience that the healthiest mouths are not found only in those who can easily afford quality dentistry. The healthiest mouths are found in people who understand and practice preventive dentistry, no matter their income. Frequently, patients cannot afford to have all the necessary, diagnosed dental work to be performed at once. However, we can almost always complete a treatment plan in which the dental work is done in phases for those who truly want to have quality dentistry.
The point is, don’t let financial difficulties or a lack of dental insurance prevent you from taking proper care of your oral health. Preventive dentistry in the form of regularly brushing and flossing will go a long way toward ensuring that dentist appointments are simple, inexpensive affairs, and when you do need more extensive dental work, don’t put it off until it becomes an emergency. By discussing it with your dentist, you can work out a treatment plan that will get you back on the road to full health in a way that won’t burden you financially. Call today to set up an appointment with the Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley.
Ouch! Something Cracked
If this happens to you, you may have a very commonly occurring problem in one of your teeth, a cracked tooth.
Teeth may crack when subjected to stress of chewing hard foods or ice, or by biting on an unexpected hard object. Teeth with or without restorations may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with typical silver alloy restorations are most susceptible.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS (SOME OR ALL)
- Pain on chewing.
- Pain on cold air application.
- Unsolicited pan (usually leakage of sugar into tooth crack).
- No radiographic evidence of problem.
- No dental decay present.
- Easy verification of crack when tooth is prepared for restoration.
TREATMENT OF CRACKED TEETH
Simple Crack: The majority of cracked teeth (about 9 out of 10) can be treated by placement of a simple crown (cap) on the tooth. When the tooth is prepared for the crown and a temporary restoration is placed, the pain usually leaves immediately. If this is the case with your tooth, the final crown can be placed without a problem on your next appointment and the condition should be solved.
Complex Crack: Occasionally (about 1 in 10) the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. If pain persists after placement of the temporary crown, you may have a crack into the pulp of the affected tooth. Call your dentist. This tooth may require endodontics (root canal therapy) before the final crown is placed. This will typically require about tw0 additional appointments before the final crown is then placed.
Call Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S., at 509-928-9100 if you suspect you may have a cracked tooth. It won’t go away!
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Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Dental Health Care and Prevention Programs Save You Money
Prevention is cost-effective. Following is an example of how dental health care and prevention programs could have saved one person money.
I just saw a 19-year-old female dental patient with an abscessed tooth. The sad thing about this story is that I’d seen the same patient 2 years ago and told her then that she had a beautiful set of teeth, but 2 teeth needed fillings. Since her last visit to my dental office, she has had no dental work done and has not seen any dental professionals, including me.
Sadly, both teeth now need root canals. This very pretty 19-year-old will have to spend 10 times the amount of the 2 simple fillings from 2 years ago to restore the teeth today. Or, she will lose both teeth. Neither of these options would be necessary had she restored these teeth immediately, when first diagnosed. Remember, dentistry only gets more expensive when neglected. Our office can work out a payment plan that works within your budget. The economy is tough but it is not a time neglect your teeth. Prevention and regular maintenance on most things, including teeth, is extremely cost effective.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, but they don’t take the place of brushing and other steps to prevent decay. Here are some dental health care tips for you, and if you have children, help them with these as well, to teach them good habits for a lifetime of healthy teeth:
- Brush and floss daily to remove bacteria and plaque and help keep the gums healthy.
- See the dentist regularly. Checkups every 6 months help detect any problems early.
- Get regular fluoride treatments. Along with fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated drinking water, fluoride treatments help protect the smooth surfaces of your child’s teeth from decay.
- Eat a good diet. You and your child need plenty of protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Limiting foods that are high in sugar—such as soft drinks, cookies, and sweetened cereals—reduces the risk of tooth decay.
Let me say it again … Dental health care and prevention programs save you money!
Keep brushing and flossing,
Dr. Hood
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