Month: April 2021

We all are aware of the omnipresence of tooth implants in modern dentistry. But, the fact remains that an implant will never surpass the functions and capabilities of your natural teeth. Implants can be your best friend, provided that the tooth or teeth damage is beyond repair. So, we can conclude that an implant should always be the last resort, and we should focus on saving our existing tooth first.

Alternatives For Tooth Extraction

• It is imperative to know where the problem within your dental routine lies. Hence, finding out the type of disease inflicting your tooth and the reason behind the disease is the first step at protecting your precious pearly whites.
• Bacteria inside the mouth are common, harmless and natural. But certain strains of bacteria live in dental plaque, which is a thin biofilm on the teeth, can lead to diseases. As these bacteria proliferate, feeding on leftover sugar, they produce an acid that can erode the protective enamel of the teeth. This erosion can create cavities that must be professionally eradicated and filled.
• At times, the tooth decay reaches the pulp through the root canals, and the entire tooth is in grave danger then. The solution for such a problem is a root canal treatment wherein the dentist accesses the pulp chamber and cleans out all the diseased and dead tissue. After that, the dentist fills the empty root chamber and the root canal with a gutta-percha filling and seals the tooth. Lastly, the tooth is capped with a crown to protect it further.
• Dental plague can also foster gum infections that trigger chronic inflammation. The inflammation can cause gums to emaciate and detach from the teeth to form massive, infection-filled voids called periodontal pockets. This inflamed condition may result in bone deterioration, further weakening the tooth’s hold. A dentist can effectively treat gum disease by removing the plaque that is fuelling the infection. Dentists may use advanced surgical methods for graver cases. After plague removal, the inflammation subsides, and the tissues can finally heal and strengthen. At times, the tissues may need further aid through the gum or bone grafting.

As such, the substitutes for tooth extraction are common and highly recommended by professionals. Prevention is better than cure, and dental hygiene exemplifies this phrase. Your teeth could get another lease on life through proper care.

Taking Care Of Teeth – Tips And Tricks

• The statement may seem clichéd, but brushing teeth thoroughly twice a day is of paramount significance. Any negligence on this daily affair can allow harmful bacteria to attack your teeth quickly.
• You can use mouthwash, dental floss and oil pulling methods to maintain a healthy and happy dental care routine.
• You should choose a toothpaste tube with a significant amount of fluoride and avoid using gritty tubes of toothpaste in the long run.
• You should avoid poor habits like excessive sugar, candies and soft drinks.

In case of any discomfort in the teeth or gums, please visit your nearest dentist at the earliest.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

A dry mouth is caused when the salivary glands are not able to produce enough saliva. This may be a result of stress, nervousness, medication or may be associated with certain medical conditions. While it may be slightly irritating for people who experience it occasionally, it is a bothersome condition for people who experience dry mouth chronically.

A dry mouth or a cottony feeling in your mouth may result in bad breath, having trouble swallowing food or speaking. It may also affect the taste of food and lead to a sore throat. Inadequate production of saliva can also put the safety of your teeth and gums due to the buildup of bacteria in the mouth. If you experience these problems, following are some effective ways to get rid of dry mouth.

Drink enough water
Although this one goes without saying, you should make sure that your dry mouth is not a result of dehydration. Make sure to drink adequate water throughout the day.

Sugar-free candies or chewing gum
A temporary measure for relieving the symptoms of dry mouth is chewing gum or sugar-free candies. This will help the production of saliva, but make sure you go for the sugar-free variants to avoid any damage to your teeth.

Pay attention to your caffeine intake
Caffeine can worsen the symptoms of dry mouth by causing further dehydration. Go for the decaf type of beverages to avoid this.

Do not breathe with an open mouth
This is another reason that causes dryness of the mouth. Breathe through your nose and if you have trouble doing so, contact a doctor immediately.

Quit smoking
Cigarettes are known to have a significant effect on saliva production. By quitting smoking altogether, you may get relief from the symptoms of a dry mouth. Limiting alcohol consumption may also help relieve the symptoms of a dry mouth.

Use a humidifier
Breathing in a better quality of air can help prevent your mouth from getting dry. This can especially help you while sleeping and ensure that you do not experience the symptoms of dry mouth.

Stimulate salivary glands
Dry mouth may be a result of inadequate functioning of the salivary glands. This can be improved by using items such as ginger tea that may stimulate the production of saliva from these glands. Over the counter medications prescribed by a doctor can also help improve the condition of your dry mouth.

Other steps that you can take to improve the condition is to make sure you maintain proper oral hygiene. Brush and floss properly to keep your mouth clean. If these remedies do not work for you or you have a persistent condition that has become troublesome,  contact a medical practitioner to find out the best possible treatment. They can help you identify the cause of the problem whether it’s a specific medication that you take or habits like smoking or too much intake of caffeine that is causing the dryness of the mouth.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

A beautiful smile begins with pearly white teeth. But, taking care of those pearly whites can be quite the task. It can be challenging to keep teeth immaculate. Some whitening toothpaste claim to remove stains and grant everyone’s desire to flaunt sparkly white teeth. But do they work, or are we being manipulated by strategic marketing?

Whitening toothpaste – do they work?

There are two types of teeth stains – extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are surface-level stains on the teeth enamel caused mainly due to eating habits and lifestyles like drinking too much coffee or wine, smoking cigarettes, overeating sour candy, and so forth. Intrinsic stains, on the contrary, are staining below the surface of the teeth. They can occur because of certain medications, tooth decay, genetics, etc.

Whitening toothpaste can remove extrinsic teeth stains to a certain degree. Toothpaste having silicates and abrasives sand down particles on the surface and remove the teeth stains. Some whitening toothpaste tubes also contain the blue chemical Coverine that attaches to the surface teeth and creates an illusion of whiter teeth. When used twice a day, whitening toothpaste may take two to six weeks to show visible results. But, prolonged use of whitening toothpaste can do more harm than good. The harsh and reckless use of abrasive toothpaste can wear the enamel down and expose the dentin, making the teeth appear more yellow. Also, some charcoal-based whitening toothpaste has lesser quantities of fluoride than required. So, while purchasing whitening toothpaste, you must look for a brand with the seal of approval from a recognized dental organization. Also, fluoride content of 1000 PPM is prudent. Furthermore, the optimal Relative Dentin Abrasive (RDA) score for any abrasive toothpaste is 70-100.

Lastly, brushing teeth with gentle strokes and light are powerful techniques while using whitening toothpaste. These methods ensure that the toothpaste does its job without harming your precious enamel.

Ways to get whiter teeth

An excellent dental regimen is a key to maintain and achieve whiter teeth. Giving up on certain habits like drinking wine and coffee, chewing tobacco, etc., can help in the gradual and natural removal of exterior stains.  If you have naturally yellow teeth, then the toothpaste will not be of any help. You can buy a bleaching gel or opt for professional bleaching by a dentist. It is noteworthy to mention that purchasable bleaching gels are not very effective as they are permitted to contain very concentrations amounts of the ingredients necessary for whitening teeth. Hence, they are effective in cases of mild discoloration. Regular visits to the dentist, proper brushing of teeth twice a day, oil pulling, using mouthwash, etc., are rituals that you should religiously follow for impeccable dental hygiene.

In a nutshell, whitening toothpaste can help you get whiter teeth provided the stains are new, temporary, and superficial. But, excessive focus on whitening teeth is unwarranted as the need is to keep them healthy, strong, and cavity-free. If you follow a holistic oral hygiene routine, then beautiful and sparkly teeth are sure to come your way.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.