Prevention Dental Examination | Oral Cancer | Tooth Grinding Dental Sealants | Fluoride | Bad Breath | Home Care Home Care Toothpastes Whitening, cleansing and fluoride are the keys. Most of the ADA approved brands do this to some degree. Super Smile whitening toothpaste works very well to prevent plaque accumulation and helps maintain whitened teeth. Rembrandt Dazzling white is also effective. Floss for Life Harvard Medical School researchers studied longevity and found one of the most important contributing factors was daily flossing. Because it removes bacteria from the teeth and gums, flossing helps to prevent periodontal disease and gingivitis. Another study found that men with periodontitis had a whopping 72% greater risk of developing coronary disease. Gingivitis was associated with a 42% increased risk for men. Floss or die is about the possible association of gum disease with a series of potentially life-threatening disorders. Scientific evidence now exists that strongly suggests associations between poor periodontal (gum) health and these systemic illnesses: Heart Disease: Oral bacteria may compromise cardiovascular (heart) health by promoting the formation of blood clots and fatty deposits. Periodontitis (infection in the gums) has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Diabetes: Periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. In addition, diabetics with periodontitis are more likely to have heart attacks than those with healthy gums. Respiratory Disease: Oral infections, including periodontitis, are associated with increased risk of respiratory infection and endocarditis, especially in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Birth Weight: Women with periodontitis are eight times more likely to give birth to premature low-birth weight babies and have pre-term delivery. Researchers are sorting out the relationships involved between periodontal disease and other serious health problems. There is one fact: Periodontal or gum disease is a bacterial infection. Reducing plaque formation is critical in lowering the risk of periodontal disease-related illnesses that may be fatal. A regular recare schedule and root planing, when recommended, are essential in the prevention and treatment of gum disease. Most important is effective DAILY plaque removal through flossing. Daily brushing with a manual toothbrush has been shown to have limited effectiveness in the areas between the teeth. The onset of gum disease often begins in the area between the teeth. So it is important that these areas be cleansed of plaque on a daily basis. Flossing is designed to effectively clean these areas. Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of the population ever flosses regularly or effectively. This is one of the reasons why we recommend oral irrigators. How do I care for a Bridge? With a bridge, it is more important than ever to brush, floss and see your dentist regularly. If you do not control the buildup of food debris and plaque – the sticky film of bacteria formed from food acids – your teeth and gums can become infected, requiring further treatment and resulting in possible loss of the bridge. We recommend using floss threaders that help remove bacteria from hard to reach spaces between the bridge and adjacent teeth and gums. Oral irrigators are also excellent for cleaning around bridgework. Oral Irrigators Water Pik is one brand we recommend. There are also several other good oral irrigators. We like Orajet by Viajet and we like Hydrofloss. We recommend when using an irrigator to add an antibacterial agent like Chlorhexidine or Tooth and Gums “Under the Gum” irrigant. Diluted Listerine works nicely on a periodic basis. Home Whiteners Whitening toothpastes like Super Smile only help to maintain a bright smile. They won’t really whiten your teeth. Home whiteners using carbamide peroxide or activated hydrogen peroxide can effectively whiten teeth if used in a properly fitting professionally made mouth tray. Nite-White and Opalescence by Ultradent are great whitening solutions. Ideal whitening is achieved when combining in office whitening by Zoom with home whitening trays for maintenance. Mouthguards and Bite Protectors Soft athletic type mouthguards are used to protect the teeth from trauma during contact sports. They are not intended to treat bruxism or tooth grinding and clenching. The NTI device prevents tooth contact and allows the muscles to relax and the lower jaw to return to a comfortable hinge position. They protect the teeth from tremendous forces the muscles can create. More people should have these types of appliances. Power Toothbrushes I don’t know why anyone would use a manual toothbrush. There are so many good power toothbrushes available that are much more effective at cleaning your teeth than you could possibly do manually. The spinning of the bristles creates so much more efficiency and effectiveness in removing plaque. Unfortunately no one brush can do it all. Interplak by Conair makes a good brush but it only works effectively with Interplak toothpaste. Sonicare is an excellent all-purpose brush. Be cautious with Sonic brushes to let the Sonic vibration do the work. Don’t put too much elbow grease into it. Braun Oral B is a good smaller head with oscillating bristles. I like the Rotadent rechargeable toothbrush. It has a very soft small bristle head that allows you to clean one tooth at a time and works well between the teeth. It is great but only for people who are willing to take the time to thoroughly clean their mouths. Most of these products are available in our office. © Copyright 2007 Steven Hutt All Rights Reserved.