dental health Archives - Regular Link

Can Tooth Decay be Reversed?

Tooth decay is a common problem across the globe. In fact, tooth decay is the top reason people visit dentists each year. With that being said, many people wonder whether or not tooth decay can be reversed once the process has begun. Well, the answer is not as cut and dry as most would hope. In some cases, tooth decay can be reversed, but in the vast majority of cases, the best action is preventive measures to slow or stop the process of tooth decay. Fluoride Flouride has some efficacy in helping to actually reverse early tooth decay. Flouride, a mineral, can prevent mineral loss, and help to fortify the enamel on the tooth. While it cannot really reverse advanced tooth decay, many experts agree that fluoride treatments can help prevent further damage, and, in mild cases, prevent tooth decay that has already begun. Before starting fluoride treatments, or using a mouthwash rich in fluoride you should speak to your dentist about the health of your teeth. Some individ…

Gingivitis Symptoms and Treatment

There are three main symptoms of gingivitis. The first one of these symptoms is going to be trench mouth. Most of the time, this is going to mean that your gums are bleeding or starting to swell. You might also have some very bad breath and pain in your gums. This means that your gums are going to appear to have a gray color to them. The pointed part of your gums that is in between the teeth will become flat, which is going to accommodate more to the dead tissue inside of the gums.

The second one of these symptoms of gingivitis is the recession of the gums or loose teeth. The longer that you have gingivitis, the more that your gums are going to recede. Therefore, they are no longer going to be able to support the bone structure that you are going to need for your teeth to stay in your mouth. This means that you might end up having to get dentures but they might need to be fitted several times for your mouth. This could also change the…

Is it Possible to Reverse Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is the number one cause of dental visits. Tooth decay is a major issue because, for many people, there are no signs until a cavity appears in one or more teeth. While a cavity must be filled, and it can not be reversed, there are ways to reverse tooth decay, or prevent the problem from becoming worse and causing more cavities. We've collected five tips that will help you reverse tooth decay. 1. Change What You Drink Drinking coffee, sodas, and other sugar-laden beverages are bad for the teeth. The acid in coffee can breakdown the protective coating on teeth, and sugar-based drinks combine with plaque to create a film over the tooth that will wear away at the enamel and cause cavities. Dentists suggest sticking to water for beverages. When you aren't drinking water, consider using a straw. A straw will help the liquid bypass the surface of the teeth, where it does the most damage. 2. Check with Your Primary Care Doctor Speaking to your primary care doctor abou…

Fun Ways to Teach Kids About Dental Hygiene

When it comes to teaching kids about dental hygiene, the most innovative methods are the most effective. Considering kids have shorter attention spans, the content should be interesting, engaging, and most of all, fun. To help you along the way, the following information explains a few fun and creative ways to teach kids about dental hygiene. Dental Trivial Pursuit Since most children are competitive, you can create various games designed to reward them for their knowledge of dental hygiene. One great format to use is the Trivial Pursuit format. You can even use the trivia questions found on the ADA website. As a result, your child will be engaged, entertained, and learn about dental history at the same time. Write a Smile Another great way to make learning about dental hygiene fun is to create an essay or poetry contest. You can pitch themes such as, "The brighter my smile,....." or "I love my smile because...." Using creative prompts will get the kid's minds jogging and…

5 Benefits of Flossing Your Teeth

The most common question your dentist will ask you is, “Have you been flossing regularly?” For many patients, the answer will be yes, but not everyone follows recommendations to floss at least once a day. What the latter group does not realize is that flossing plays a vital role in your dental health. Toothbrushes are great and get the outer surfaces as well as the tops of your teeth and gums, but floss gets into all of those hard to reach areas almost all toothbrushes cannot access. Using mouthwash can help to kill additional plaque that forms, but it cannot remove food bits and tartar that cling on to your teeth the way that floss does. Taking care of your teeth can give you much more than a great smile. Flossing on a regular basis can also help to lower or eliminate your chances of much more serious diseases. Here are 5 benefits of flossing: 1. Flossing Prevents Tartar Buildup Anyone who has ever been to the dentist dreads that awful scraping sound on their te…

How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?

Brushing your teeth is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent plaque buildup, cavities and gum problems. While some people are more prone to tooth problems than others, everyone must brush regularly to avoid tooth decay, and costly dental procedures. While everyone seems fully aware that tooth brushing is a necessary part of the daily routine, the number of people who are unaware of how often to brush, how much to brush, and exactly how to effectively brush teeth is staggering. We've collected some information that should help to clear up the ever important question of "how often should I brush my teeth?" How Often Should You Brush? Most dentists agree that teeth should be brushed at least twice a day. Morning, after you've had breakfast, and evening after your dinner, is generally considered acceptable. While twice a day is a general recommendation, most dental professionals agree that you should brush your teeth three times a day if possible, or after each …

5 Worst Foods for Your Teeth

If prevention is the best medicine, then why not do your best in attempting to prevent cavities, plaque, and tooth enamel loss? Well, if you really want to continue eating sugary or acidic foods, then you certainly can brush your teeth 2-3 times per day with that special enamel strengthening toothpaste that is out now. Or you can even use Oral B electronic toothbrushes such as Vitality, Black, or Deep Sweep. Maybe you already do all of the above anyhow, along with not eating sugary and acidic foods that destroy your teeth from the inside out. Either way, if you want great teeth, it's vital that you floss every day, use mouthwash, and brush with the right kind of toothpaste according to your particular needs at the moment. If you really want white teeth because you are conducting some extra grooming on yourself this month, use whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. If you are attempting to get rid of extra plaque, then you may decide to floss twice a day instead of just once. …

Caring for Your Teeth When Wearing Braces

Braces are an awkward part of life for many kids, but in the long run, braces help to make your teeth straighter and stronger. Braces, along with wires and rubber bands, attract food and plaque buildup. This can cause staining of the teeth if not properly brushed away after each meal. If you do in fact brush after every meal, you can ensure adequate removal of any food which may have gotten caught in your braces while eating. Using mouthwash and floss after brushing will help to ensure an even better cleaning. Flossing & Brushing Tips For Teeth With Braces Flossing may seem a little more difficult while wearing braces, but it is actually quite easy. Begin by feeding the short end of the floss in between the upper portion of your tooth and the main arch wire of the brace space. Once you wriggle it in there, use a gentle back and forth “sawing” motion on each side of the tooth, being careful not to pull too hard around the arch wire. When brushing, you will want to use a…

The History of Braces

Dental braces would seem to be the kind of invention that was developed in the Victorian era and refined during the 20th century, as so many of our modern items seem to be. Given the necessary finesse in constructing and attaching braces, combined with the needed understanding of orthodontics, this hypothesis stands up to reason - but not the facts. Remarkable though it may be, braces have a far longer history than is commonly assumed. Classical Braces Dental braces go back not one or two centuries, but over two and a half millennia. The Greeks discussed ways to straighten teeth, for example, and archeologists have found remains with metal bands and catgut attached to the teeth such that the most reasonable conclusion to draw is these were early efforts at dental braces. The Etruscans, meanwhile, seem to have applied dental braces to their deceased, apparently in an effort to maintain the shape of the teeth for the afterlife. The Romans also provide examples of dental braces …