Tooth Tip Tuesday

Each Tuesday I will be blogging about a tip for taking care of your teeth. I see many patients come in with tooth decay that could have been prevented by taking better care of their teeth. With these tips, I hope that you can maintain better oral health for both you and your family.

For my first post I want to talk about proper brushing technique. My guess is that all of you are brushing too hard. I know you want to scrub all of the plaque off a quickly as possible and get on with your day, but you’re doing a lot more harm than good.

Brushing too hard causes gum recession. This can cause your roots to become exposed which can lead to sensitivity to hot and cold. Once your gums begin to recede, you will put yourself at an increased risk for tooth decay.

So, let’s talk about brushing. Start with a soft bristled toothbrush…always. You don’t need anything harder than that. You will want to angle your brush at a 45⁰ angle and take short, soft strokes back and forth, slowly working your way forward. It should take you about 30 seconds to brush each quadrant of your mouth. If you have a fancy electric toothbrush, like the Oral-B Triumph, it will tell you when 30 second is up and actually shut off when you’re brush too hard.

Photo Credit: identalhub.com

 

Let’s do your mouth a favor and take an extra minute to brush. Knowing how to properly brush your teeth will help slow this recession process down and keep your gum tissue at the appropriate level.

Picture of the day

PhotoCredit: Joe Paduda

Have you ever thought that brushing and flossing could help keep your heart strong? It sounds pretty odd, right? Actually, recent studies have shown that oral and cardiovascular health could be closer in relation than we thought.

It all starts with periodontal disease. If you aren’t sure what periodontal disease is, you’re not alone. Many people go through life with it and are completely unaware of their condition. It is the chronic inflammation of the tissues and ligaments that surround your teeth usually caused by plaque buildup. It is irreversible, but it can be maintained by routine cleanings and, in some cases, visits with a Periodontist. This is dentist who focuses on the tissues and structures supporting the teeth.

When you have periodontal disease, the bacteria from your mouth enter your bloodstream and cause a rise in a certain type of protein in your blood. This protein is known to inflame the blood vessels, which then could increase your risk for heart disease. There are still many studies that need to be done, but this link could be life changing for many. The Cleveland Clinic provides great information on this topic.  

How can you help prevent periodontal disease? First, you can start by developing a great oral health routine at home. Make sure that you are brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time, and flossing at least once a day. I know that everyone hates to floss but it is so beneficial (post on this to come).  Also, it’s great to start rinsing with and antibacterial mouth rinse that contains fluoride.  This will help by killing that harmful bacterial that sits in your mouth. Next, make sure that you're getting a routine cleaning at least once every six months. For some of you with high plaque buildup and gum disease, your dentist or hygienist might recommend you coming in every three months.

 

About this blog

My love for teeth started in the first grade. It started by watching a little boy use a Kleenex to try and pull out one of his teeth. He could not get it out and he was becoming very frustrated, so I decided he needed a little help. I walked up to him and twisted it right out. It was at that moment that I caught the dental bug. From then on, I knew I was going to work in the dental profession. I was that weird kid who always loved going to the dentist and getting my teeth clean. My freshman year of college was spent going through the dental assisting program here at IU South Bend. My title is an expanded functions dental assistant, which just means that I did extra training and am able to place fillings. I landed a job at an externship that was assigned to me for school and have been there ever since. After completing the assisting program, I came back to IU South Bend as a predental/biology student, but my plans for dental school changed when my husband and I decided to have a baby. Now, I am going to complete my bachelors this May and continue my career as an assistant.

I love teeth and genuinely care about the oral health of others. Throughout this blog, I want to give you tips and great information for maintaining good oral health. As kids we were taught to fight decay by brushing and flossing, but maintaining good oral health is much more than that. My goal is to provide you with a better understanding of how your mouth works and ways to prevent decay. I hope to lead you to a cleaner mouth and a bigger smile. If you have questions about oral health feel free to ask me or check out the American Dental Association website.