Tips for Better Oral Hygiene
Brushing
Proper brushing helps minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, the major cause of tooth loss.
- Use a soft-bristle brush and an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and food particles.
- Replace your toothbrush every 3 months.
- Brush at a 45-degree angle on the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth in short, half-tooth-wide strokes against the gum line.
- On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth.
- Brush the tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to freshen your mouth.
- Be sure to follow any special home care instructions provided by your hygienist or dentist.
Flossing
Flossing at least once daily removes plaque and food particles between teeth and below the gum line. Here’s how:
- Wrap an 18-inch strand of floss around your middle finger and hold a one-inch section tightly.
- Ease floss between teeth. Clean up and down several times while curving the floss around teeth at the gum line. Unwind clean floss as you proceed between each tooth.
- Be sure to floss behind the last tooth, too!
- You may experience sore or bleeding gums for the first several days you floss. If bleeding continues after the first week of flossing, call your dental professional. If you have trouble handling floss, ask your dentist about the use of a floss holder or other types of interdental cleaning aids.
- For patients with bridges, floss around the abutment teeth of the bridge and under artificial teeth using a floss threader.
Rinsing
Rinsing with a mouthwash is the third and final step in a comprehensive daily oral care routine. Mouthwash not only freshens your breath, but fluoride-containing mouthwashes can also help strengthen or rebuild lost enamel. The flavor and type of mouthwash you choose is a personal preference, but know that mouthwash containing alcohol tends to dry out your mouth, so if dry mouth is a concern, choose a mouthwash with no alcohol.
Caring for Dental Implants
Dental implants should be treated and cared for just like natural teeth. Although dental implants cannot get cavities, the health and stability of implants is dependent on healthy gums, bones, and a balanced bite. Most patients with implants should wear a night guard to protect the implant from excessive forces. The best way to maintain healthy gums is to brush and floss at least twice a day. Dental implants are a big investment in your looks, your health, and your well-being, so take care of them diligently and they can last a lifetime.
Taking Care of Sensitive Teeth
If you occasionally experience a sudden flash of pain, or a mild tingly feeling when you bite into sweet or sour foods or drink hot or cold beverages, you may have sensitive teeth or undiagnosed problems.
Pain from sensitive teeth is not always constant. It can come and go. Constant pain could be a sign of a more serious problem. It is important to discuss your symptoms with your regular dentist or the PerioHealth team to determine the cause and proper treatment.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
In healthy teeth, porous tissue called dentin is protected by your gums and your teeth’s hard enamel shell. When this protection is lost or worn off, microscopic holes in the dentin called tubules allow heat, cold, and other irritants to be transmitted back to the tooth nerve, triggering pain. Dentin can be exposed by:
- Receding gums caused by improper brushing or gum disease
- Fractured or chipped teeth
- Clenching or grinding your teeth
Depending on the diagnosis, your dentist may recommend one or more of the following treatments to relieve the symptoms of sensitive teeth:
- A soft-bristle toothbrush or a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth that can either block access to the nerve or make the nerve itself less sensitive. A sensitivity protection toothpaste usually takes several weeks to ease the pain.
- A fluoride rinse or gel for sensitive teeth.
- A bite guard may be prescribed to alleviate clenching or grinding while you sleep.
Temporomandibular Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a joint that slides and rotates just in front of your ear, consisting of the temporal bone and the mandible, or lower jaw. Chewing muscles connect the lower jaw to the skull, allowing your jaw to move forward, sideways, and open and close. The joint works properly when the lower jaw and both right and left joints are synchronized during movement.
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) may occur when the jaw twists during opening, closing, or side-motion movements. These movements affect the jaw joint and the muscles that control chewing. Symptoms may occur on one or both sides of the face, head, or jaw, or develop after an injury. TMD affects more than twice as many women than men and is the most common non-dental related cause of chronic orofacial pain.
What Causes TMD?
Normal function for this muscle group includes chewing, swallowing, and speech. Most experts suggest that certain stimuli, such as strenuous physical tasks or stressful situations, cause or aggravate TMD. Most discomfort is caused from the overuse of the muscles, specifically clenching or grinding of the teeth, known as bruxism.
These excessive habits tire the jaw muscles and lead to discomfort, such as headaches and neck pain. Additionally, abnormal temporomandibular joint function can lead to worn or sensitive teeth, traumatized soft tissues, muscle soreness, jaw discomfort when eating, and temporal (side) headaches.
What are the Symptoms of TMD?
- An earache without an infection
- Jaw pain or soreness that is more prevalent in the morning or late afternoon
- Jaw pain when you chew, bite, or yawn
- A clicking sound when opening and closing your mouth
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
- Locked or stiff jaw when you talk, yawn, or eat
- Sensitive teeth when no dental problems can be found
What Can I Do to Treat TMD?
The majority of cases can be treated by unloading (resting) the joint, taking a non-aspirin pain reliever, and practicing stress management and relaxation techniques.
It is important to break bad habits to ease the symptoms. Most treatment for TMD is simple, often can be done at home, and does not need surgery. For example, control clenching or grinding during the day by sticking your tongue between your teeth. If you still experience pain, you may be grinding or clenching your teeth at night while you sleep. Your dentist may prescribe a night guard to alleviate this unconscious habit.
Is TMD Permanent?
The condition is often cyclical and may recur during times of stress. As the patient, you should be active in your treatment by being aware of the causes of your jaw problems after seeing a dentist for a diagnosis. Make routine dental appointments so your dentist can check the TMD on a regular basis.
Helpful Links:
The American Academy of Periodontology
The American Board of Periodontology
The American Dental Association
