Everyone knows that dentists and hygienists are big advocates for flossing for gum health and to prevent cavities between teeth. But most patients are not big fans of flossing. So what are some alternatives to flossing?
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1️⃣WATERPIK / WATER FLOSSER uses a stream of pressurized, pulsating water jet to remove plaque and food particles. It is often easier than floss when cleaning the tricky spots around braces or wire retainers, under bridges and around dental implants.
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2️⃣INTERDENTAL BRUSHES (eg: Piksters, TePe) are good when you have larger spaces between you teeth and gums. The key is to pick the correct size as too large a brush can traumatize your gums.
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3️⃣FLOSS PICKS (eg: Plackers) are popular as they are convenient. There is a “pick” at the other end that can be used like a toothpick. These can be hard to remove when spaces are tight between teeth. They are meant to be single use as you do not want to re-use the same section of floss. This is the best option for kids and parents who are doing the flossing for them. 👌🏻
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4️⃣FLOSS AID is like a “sling shot” used to hold floss. The long handle makes it easier for patients with dexterity issues like arthritis.
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5️⃣SOFT PICKS (eg:GUM) are convenient like toothpicks. These should be used with caution and should never be forced between teeth as that may traumatize the gums if spaces are tight.
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Ultimately, the best way to clean between your teeth is the way that you can commit to regularly. Talk to your dentist or hygienist and we will help find the best option for you!
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Charcoal Toothpaste
Activated charcoal toothpaste has become popular in the past few years, first as a novel health trend, and now becoming more mainstream with brands like Colgate and Crest coming out with their own versions.
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Marketing for charcoal toothpaste makes claims for its whitening, antibacterial, antiviral and breath freshening properties. But are these claims valid? Here is what we know:
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🦷 Activated charcoal may help remove surface stains on your teeth (from coffee, wine, smoking). But lightening of the deeper instrinsic stains that come from within the tooth can only come from bleaching treatment that penetrate below the enamel.
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🦷 Most charcoal toothpaste is too abrasive for everyday use. It may wear down your enamel over time, exposing the more yellow dentin and making your teeth more sensitive.
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🦷 Most charcoal toothpaste brands DO NOT contain fluoride, an important ingredient that helps to protect your teeth against cavities and decay.
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🦷 Charcoal particles can accumulate in the cracks and crevices of older teeth and margins of restorations like veneers, crowns, bridges and white fillings, leaving a black or gray outline.
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The bottom line: although charcoal toothpaste is getting a lot of press, it is NOT more effective than other toothpastes and at-home whitening products on the market and should be used with caution.
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The Many Faces of Oral Cancer
April is Oral Health Month, a great time to raise awareness for oral cancer. Oral cancer is most often discovered after it has spread to the lymph nodes of the neck, at which point the prognosis and survival rate become much worse. Early detection is key to surviving oral cancer.
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Oral cancer can occur on the lips, gums, tongue, inner lining of the cheeks, roof or floor of the mouth, salivary glands and the back of the throat.
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Signs and symptoms:
❗️unexplained bleeding in the mouth
❗️changes in taste or tongue sensation
❗️lumps on the lips, tongue or neck
❗️sore or patches in the mouth that do not heal
❗️changes in texture or colour of oral tissue
❗️a sore throat that is persistent and/or difficulty swallowing
❗️dark red or white patches in the mouth, lips or tongue
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Risk factors that can increase your risk of oral cancer:
♦️tobacco use
♦️heavy alcohol use
♦️excessive sun exposure to your lips
♦️human papillomavirus (HPV)
♦️weakened immune system
Your dentist can play an important role in early detection. The oral cancer screening done by your dentist during a routine dental exam is fast, easy and painless - and it could save your life!
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD)
With stress at an all-time high these days, we are seeing a record number of patients presenting with emergencies related to teeth grinding - from cracked teeth to acute jaw pain and headaches.
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There are many treatment options for jaw pain due to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Which treatment is chosen depends on the cause, severity and timing of the symptoms.
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😬 NIGHTGUARD is the most common and least invasive option. Wearing a nightguard helps reduce the tension to the jaw joints during involuntary night time grinding by providing a more balance “bite”. It also helps protect the teeth from being worn down over time as a physical barrier.
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💉 BOTOX injections can be done to weaken the muscles that are involved in grinding and clenching. It works well for patients who are also day time clenches and those who cannot tolerate wearing a nightguard. However, the effects are temporary and injections have to be repeated every few months.
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💆🏻♀️ MUSCLE THERAPY like physiotherapy, chiropractics and acupuncture may help alleviate some symptoms of TMD.
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💊 MEDICATIONS like anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxant will help with acute symptoms. Anti-depressants may help with the chronic pain many patients experience.
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🏥 JAW SURGERY may be a last resort when more conventional therapies are not helping, especially in cases of traumatic jaw injuries and advances degenerative conditions like arthritis.
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Is lemon water bad for your teeth?
Many of our patients like to drink hot lemon water first thing in the morning to help cleanse and detoxify the digestive system. But did you know that it can damage your teeth?
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Lemon acidity can cause enamel erosion. When the enamel is worn away, the underlying dentin is exposed, possibly causing tooth sensitivity. As the enamel becomes thinner, the yellower dentin underneath becomes more visible.
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Unfortunately, dental erosion is irreversible, meaning that your enamel won’t grow back. When teeth whitening is done, the active ingredient primarily works on the enamel. So if you want white, healthy teeth, preservation of the enamel layer and prevention of acid erosion is key.
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So how can I drink lemon water without ruining my teeth?
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🍋 Use cold or room temperature water. The rate of chemical reaction increases with temperature so erosion will be more severe with hot lemon water.
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🍋 After drinking lemon water, rinse your mouth with water right away. This removes any acid remaining on tooth surfaces and reduces the acidity of the saliva.
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🍋 DO NOT brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes after drinking lemon water. Use a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste and do not brush aggressively. The enamel is the softest immediately after the acid attack. Letting saliva work for 30 minutes as a buffer in the mouth will allow you to safely brush again.
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What's the deal with this wiggling tooth?
The questions that we get most often from parents of infants and young children revolve around the state of their baby teeth and their changing dentition:
- at what age are the baby teeth supposed to come in, which ones and in what sequence?
- this tooth has been wiggling forever and why is is not coming out?
- this baby tooth has been gone for a long time and why hasn't the permanent one come in?
The truth is, the sequence of eruption and exfoliation of baby and adult teeth are highly variable and not every child will follow the "textbook" sequence. For reference, here is a chart of the average ages baby teeth will come in, become loose and exfoliate and when the permanent teeth will erupt.
Your child will most likely not follow this sequence to a "T" for the same reason they will not hit their other "milestones" on schedule. Every child is unique.
Some common concerns for a lot of parents, which often prompt them to call the office are:
- the permanent tooth has come in behind the baby one and the baby one is not moving at all.
- the baby tooth has exfoliated for a long time and the succeeding permanent tooth still has not come in.
Baby teeth become loose when the developing permanent tooth under it begins to erupt and resorb the root of the baby tooth. This process does not always occur in perfect harmony and sometimes the permanent tooth may not be in the correct position to resorb the root of the permanent tooth. In this case, the baby tooth may not loosen and the permanent tooth may erupt behind (more common) or in front of the baby tooth. Whether or not the baby tooth needs to be extracted depends on the age of the child, the relative position of the two teeth and whether the tooth (if loose) are interfering the child from eating and brushing properly. In most cases, once the baby tooth is extracted and the space is freed up, the misplaced permanent tooth will drift into space naturally and the situation will correct itself over time.
In the case of the permanent tooth taking a long time to erupt after a baby tooth is lost, this can result from the baby tooth being lost prematurely; the permanent tooth being congenitally missing and other reasons. If it has been many months that the space has been present, it may be prudent to bring your child in for an examination or possibly an x-ray to see why this is happening and if intervention is needed.
Feel free to call or email us @ info@centrodentalcare.com if you have any questions or concerns. We would love to hear from you!
What exactly is tooth decay (cavity), anyway?
Tooth decay starts when the normal bacteria in your mouth combine with food and saliva to form a sticky substance called plaque that attaches to teeth. When you consume sugary food or drinks, the bacteria in the dental plaque mix with the sugars to make a mild acid. This acid attacks the hard outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel. If the dental plaque is not removed everyday by brushing and flossing, over time, the enamel gets soft and a cavity forms.
Stage 1
The dull spot on the tooth's surface may be decay. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing may prevent it from becoming a cavity.
Stage 2
The decay is now a cavity. It has gone through the tooth's hard surface layer (enamel).
Stage 3
Now that the cavity has reached the softer layer of the tooth (dentin), it will get bigger faster.
Stage 4
If the cavity is not filled, it can cause bigger problems deeper in the tooth. This is why it's important to see your dental team regularly.
