How much brushing is too much?

Every year I evaluate my own health.  This usually starts with looking in a mirror and seeing how I am looking in the mirror and it moves me to start thinking about my health and planning for the year.  dental health always comes into play because that is an area that I see the most when I am looking in a mirror and I am seeing that this is an area that I need to focus on.  Working on my habits and making sure my teeth are in the best shape to continue to last and be going strong when I am 70+ years of age is my goal.  So in order to do that I want to make sure I am doing all the right things and definitely brushing the right amount to make that happen!

 

Now my focus is going to be working on my teeth for a big and I first want to make sure I am relying on professional help.  So my goal is to visit the dentist every six months and make sure that no major problems are happening. 

I know that tooth decay and gum disease can lead to other major medical issues in the body, so it is part of my overall health to make sure those issues don't happen due to my dental hygiene!  So I have scheduled 6 months out on my phone calendar and my actual home calendar to see the dentist and then I did it for a year as well.  This will get me on track to use the insurance I am paying for to benefit me and not a company.  I will then always ask about changes in routines.

 

My daily routine is to brush my teeth during the morning when I wake up and also before I go to bed.  This is also done with mouthwash to try and get the rest of the bad bacteria out and keep my mouth clean.  My goal this year is to add in the routine of flossing once daily.  I think I will do this at the end of the day.  

Hence It will be after I have eaten to make sure no extra food particles are left in my teeth. This is my goal and I am planning on sticking to this.  I have picked up little flossing sticks that are pre-strung to make sure this will be an easy habit to add.  Hard habits really are tough to start and do enjoy things that are simple and healthy.

Can you save your teeth from bacteria?

Staying healthy is a really important part of growing older.  Being in health is almost as good as being rich and well in many cases much better. Some of the most important parts of health are often neglected and because of that lots of pain and financial costs come in the long run from lack of care. 

In some ways it is a very good thing to stay on top of your health and create habits to help fight off possible ailments.  One of the most neglected areas due to the creation of habits is your dental health.  Many people create a bad habit of only taking care of their teeth a minimal amount and never changing that habit. So I want to go over a few things to help fight the evil bacteria that decays your teeth and work on best habits to stay healthy.

 

One of the first things I think of when it comes to helping your teeth is growing enamel while you can.  This as I have read is done with making sure your body has the correct amount of vitamins and minerals that promote tooth enamel growth.  I would suggest you ask your own personal healthcare provider which ones will be best for you.  I like to take calcium magnesium every morning because that promotes tooth enamel growth.  For me I want to make sure my strength of teeth as long as I can until my body is no longer able to grow.  I want to make sure my teeth are strong up until I am in my late years.

 

Now a good way to help fight bacteria and growth of tartar is to eat healthier foods that are not loaded with sugar and acid.  The acid and sugar will eat away at your teeth and buildup bacteria that is damaging to enamel.  This is a serious issue and is mostly based on diet and what you are eating and drinking.

  One place that I like to say to start at is to start lowering your intake of soda or pop.  Sugary drinks really hurt your dental health and lowering the intake really can lower the damage done to your teeth and keep them healthy for much longer. This is a very important part to staying healthy in the long run and cutting back on candy goes right along with this line of thinking. So stay safe and healthy and eat  and drink wisely.

Information Takes the Worry Out of Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Teeth are important in maintaining a healthy body. The cracked tooth syndrome affects a person's dental health as much as missing teeth or those with a cavity. It places the teeth in danger of decay or further damage. A cracked tooth can make it difficult to function socially since many like to gather with friends and share food and drink. The discomfort of a cracked tooth syndrome can ruin any outing.

Definition:
Cracked teeth sit primarily on molars and are undetectable on an x-ray. They can lay below gum lines and are very hard to see.

Signs/ Symptoms:

If teeth are sensitive to liquids, with no obvious reason, there is a good possibility that the problem is a cracked tooth. Pain does not linger; however, it is still uncomfortable.

Causes:
The cracked tooth is not an odd occurrence; however, this is not a hygiene issue. People who care for their mouth judiciously have problems with cracked tooth syndrome. This tooth problem can happen when tooth enamel is suddenly exposed to a change in food temperature, during daily activities, or due to the age of a person. In essence, time can wear at the teeth.

Diagnosis
Dentists use special instruments to find cracked teeth along with patient history and radiographs. Many with this problem may have multiple cracked teeth. The problem can cause the gums to inflame, and the pain grows more constant over time.

Prevention:
The problem of cracked teeth is prevented by eating hard foods carefully. In addition, protect the teeth during sporting activities. Sleeping is certainly normal; however, some people grind the teeth while sleeping, therefore, a mouth guard is very helpful to prevent crack tooth syndrome.

Treatment:

The line of treatment taken will depend upon the level of damage to the tooth. In some instances, a crown or a filling is used on the tooth. If cracks sit deeper into the teeth a root canal might be the answer. In the case of a crack that sits below the gum level, removal is generally the course of action.

• Craze lines are repaired by the dentist far easier than others. Some require bonding, crowns, root canals, or implants.
• Bonding-resin is used to seal the crack. Best suited for light pressure areas.
• Crown- porcelain teeth cover
• Root Canal-removes the root when the inner tooth is damaged.
• Implant- Tooth is inserted in the jaw, this is an artificial tooth that looks like the real thing.

Types of Cracks:

• The best way to protect teeth is to see a dentist. However, there is a variety of cracked tooth:
• Craze lines- are visible on the outer area of the teeth and can go without treatment.
• Fractured cusp- this crack occurs near fillings and can be repaired with a crown or filling.
• Oblique supragingival (cracks)- Crack on the crown. Usually, pain is not a factor in this tooth damage.
• Oblique subgingival (cracks)- Below the gum surface, may require a root canal.
• Oblique root (cracks)- below the surface at the jawbone level.
• Split tooth-Cracks in tooth sections.
• Vertical root fracture-Root to surface fracture. This tooth crack syndrome is a painful crack.

 

Complications:
Cracked tooth syndrome weakens the teeth and may cause them to break; this opens the mouth up for infection, and the tooth can abscess. If a patient is in pain, the use of a damp cool cloth helps lessen the pain. The use of analgesics is not recommended. It is important to see the dentist as soon as possible.

 

How to make your breath fresher when out and about

We all love going out and simply put I want to go over three ways to keep your breath date-night fresh.  Have you ever been in this situation? You’re attending a wedding or important dinner and meet someone new, but you’re afraid to speak because you worry your breath may stink. Even if you are diligent about flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash, you wonder if it’s enough.  All of our mask laws have helped to prove that almost 25% of people suffer from the embarrassing condition of bad breath. Causes range from dry mouth to dental issues to systemic diseases like diabetes. In fact, did you know the incredibly popular keto diet often results in terrible breath?

 So what can you do to ensure you have fresh breath at your next night out or special event like attending a wedding? We rounded up some helpful ideas, particularly for those events that include a meal.

Make sure that you are taking care of your teeth and prepping them before the meal.

This may seem a little overboard, but it's a date so make sure you are on the top of your game.  Of course, brushing your teeth can help prevent bad breath, but you can take it a few steps further. After brushing your teeth, make sure you clean your tongue.  Brushing your tongue makes sure bacteria doesn’t build-up, which causes bad breath. You could also try a tongue scraper for this job.

 If you have some acid issues then be smart about it.  Don't be dumb and allow yourself ot be in pain and then also get bad breath.  Another option is to take an antacid before you start eating. You may be accustomed to doing this after eating in order to alleviate any antacid or food intolerance, but doing it beforehand can reduce odors in your mouth.

 

Eat what won't harm your chances of a good night. With certain foods come additional risks for bad breath. However, some things found on the menu may help prevent it. Try incorporating a probiotic—commonly found in yogurt and sourdough—into your meal. You could also add a supplement to your daily routine.

 

Another good choice would be a food with lots of vitamin C. Green peppers, citrus, and kiwi can help with fresh breath. Citric acid makes your salivary glands work well, eliminating that unwanted bacteria that can affect your breath.

 

You probably already guessed that avoiding garlic is a good idea, but you should also add onion to that list. They both have great anti-inflammatory benefits, but they aren’t going to do you any favors in the fresh breath department.

 

It is not a bad idea to do a flossing after a meal.  This will ensure anything stuck between your teeth is removed, preventing bacteria from spreading. Old food and newly eaten food can heavily impact your breath. Keep some minty floss in your purse or pocket so you can sneak into the bathroom to floss after your meal.

 

Also, don’t be afraid to pop in a stick of gum after eating. Sugarless and peppermint flavors are the best option. It’s an easy thing to carry and can quickly help freshen up your breath if you can’t brush right away.  A final thing to do is to drink water throughout the day and during the event will help keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh. 

First Try With Charcoal Toothpaste

This year has been a year of changes.  The economic changes and working from home for many has been a very drastic differentiation from last year. I am now at least excited about something that has come from 2020.  This year the rage of charcoal has taken off.  It is most definitely possible I am a few years behind the times, but it seems like dental hygiene has really been pushed during the covid-19 pandemic.  It is a honestly been a fun trend to see on social media and the use of charcoal as a tooth whitener has been one of the biggest hits of this year. 

So I want to go over my experience with it and how I found out about this new natural tooth whitener.

My first view of this phenomenon of charcoal was watching some wild TikTok videos.  People would jump in and out of view and show their mouths blackened by charcoal.  It looked like joking pictures from 1600 britain with black teeth and crazy smiles. There were countless videos showing blackened smiles and what was fun to see was the aftermath.  The Instagram posts and before and after views from one to two months was actually shocking.  It seemed that normal people were actually getting their teeth really white by blackening them down with charcoal every day.  It was a wild sight and in all honesty I didn't believe this was a possibility and was just paid advertising.  Then I decided to possibly join the trend of social media.

 

Amazon won me over and I saw a few different brands of charcoal toothpaste available for just about the same cost as normal toothpaste.  It looked like a basic draw between the brands and I was not really sure if  I was going to buy this as a long term solution. My honest worry was that this was simply a gimmick and was not going to protect my teeth.  That means that I was truly afraid to purchase this and use it on a regular basis. It looked like it was successful after months of use, but having a better smile for the cost of bad teeth is simply not worth it to me. So I decided on a compromise.

 

My idea was to buy the charcoal toothpaste and brush with it at night and use regular toothpaste in the morning.  This was a safe bet for me because I did not really trust it to be more than a whitening and not a protecting toothpaste.  So it has been a process for me and each morning I brush my teeth with my normal toothpaste and then at night I get to see my mouth go black.  It really is fun, but be careful where you spit the toothpaste. It is black and it seems to stain things if not washed quickly. This is a big deal if you have kids.  Make sure to not let them ruin your home by brushing their teeth. It is an easy way to get them to brush due to the fun blackness that it causes, but wow can it be a mess. So take that with a grain of salt. Every family is different, but my experience with the charcoal toothpaste has been good. I have whiter teeth and my dentists didn't notice any poor effects.