Month: July 2023

The surface of our tongue has numerous papillae, which are finger-like projections. When these projections swell up due to overgrowth, it results in a white tongue. Your tongue appears bleached because bacteria, debris, and dead cells are lodged between your inflamed and enlarged papillae. 

Along with the paleness of your tongue, you may also experience bad breath, irritation, and a hairy appearance on this organ. White tongue looks bad and unappealing but is usually temporary and harmless. You need to see a healthcare provider only when the bleached look lasts for more than a week, or you also develop pain and issues while talking or eating.

Papillae hypertrophy could develop for various reasons, including poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, excessive alcohol consumption, dehydration, mouth breathing, usage of oral tobacco, smoking, fever, irritation due to sharp edges of teeth or other dental appliances, etc. 

There could be a multitude of other health conditions associated with a white tongue, such as oral thrush, geographic tongue, mouth cancer, leukoplakia, tongue cancer, etc.

We will look closely into what causes white tongue, its symptoms, and what treatment options are available for this condition.

Why Is My Tongue White?

It whitens when food and bacteria get caught between tiny bumps or papillae on your tongue’s surface. 

• When the papillae are inflamed or raised, they create a larger surface area for debris to accumulate inside your mouth.
• Due to this build-up, you may often have bad breath.
• A greyish-white coating could cover your entire organ, or the layer might appear in patches.
• A white tongue is usually harmless, but in rare cases, it might indicate a severe underlying illness.

Causes Of White Tongue

Some of the common reasons for developing a bleached tongue are described below:

• Poor oral hygiene – If you do not brush, floss, and scrape your tongue as per your dentist’s recommendations, then you have a high chance of developing Papillae hypertrophy.
• Antibiotics – Antibiotics can cause yeast infections inside your mouth.
• Lifestyle and habits – If you smoke, vape, or chew tobacco, you have a high chance of getting Papillae hypertrophy.
• Dentures – If you wear dentures, it could damage your tongue with its sharp edges.
• Mouth breathing
• Eating a low-fiber diet – If you do not consume sufficient vegetables and fruits and consume lots of soft foods which lack roughage, you can have a white tongue.
• Excessive alcohol consumption – If you drink more than one drink daily, it leads to dehydration and can give rise to Papillae hypertrophy.
• Dry mouth due to medical conditions – If you use certain medicines such as muscle relaxants or certain medications used in cancer treatment, you could develop a dry mouth, which might lead to a white tongue condition.

What Does Having White Tongue Mean?

Papillae hypertrophy denotes you might have several other health conditions including:

• Leukoplakia – This is caused when there is an overgrowth of cells in your mouth’s inner lining. Keratin protein (which is present in our hair) combines with these cells forming white patches or spots within your mouth. This is mostly caused by irritation in your mouth due to heavy smoking, chewing tobacco, and alcohol consumption. Leukoplakia is, in general, not a serious condition, but at times, it could lead to oral cancer after years (or even decades).
• Geographic Tongue – Your tongue will have patches of redness having white borders when you suffer from this condition. This appearance is because a portion of the top layer of your tongue falls off too quickly, leaving tender red areas that usually are infected. This condition is more prevalent in people with eczema (skin disorder), Type I diabetes, psoriasis, or reactive arthritis.
• Oral thrush – This infection is caused by fungus or candida yeast. Candida is present in our mouths usually also, but when it overgrows, it can create problems.
• Oral lichen planus – This is a chronic inflammatory mouth condition where white patches would appear on your gums, inner cheeks, and tongue. This is most likely a disorder of the immune system.
• Syphilis – This is a bacterial infection and a type of SIT (Sexually Transmitted Disease) which has many symptoms, and one of them is Papillae hypertrophy.

How Is Papillae Hypertrophy Diagnosed

To diagnose Papillae hypertrophy, the dentist would scrape off a portion of white matter from your throat or mouth to look at it under a microscope.

• To confirm the diagnosis, the dentist would look for fungi or yeast in the scraped portion.
• If candidiasis is in the esophagus or lowers down the throat, then an endoscopy is performed where the doctor passes a small camera toward the back of the throat to view the tissues and collect samples. A gastroenterologist usually performs an endoscopy.
• If there are white lesions, the doctor will perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment For Papillae Hypertrophy

Most people might not need treatment for Papillae hypertrophy. This condition usually goes off within a few weeks, but if it persists, you would need to see your doctor, who would look at the following course of treatments based on symptoms:

• Hairy tongue – For this condition, your doctor would not directly treat the organ but instead focus on treating your immune system, which has become weak. In some rare cases, they may prescribe antiviral medicines or topical ointments such as retinoic acid.
• Tongue rash – This condition does not require any treatment, but if it lasts too long, your doctor might prescribe you steroid-based mouthwashes (you prepare this by dissolving steroids in water) or steroid sprays, which may reduce discomfort caused due to sore or burning gums.
• Mouth fungus – If you have oral thrush, you will be given anti-fungal medicines.
• White patches – This has no specific treatment, but you might be advised to avoid foods and drinks that cause pain or discomfort. You could also apply topical ointments that treat mouth fungus.
• Syphilis – Papillae hypertrophy will not go away if it is due to syphilis. Syphilis needs to be treated else it could damage your nervous system and create severe long-term health issues. To treat syphilis, you might be given a single injection or antibiotics.
• Oral cancer – This might require surgery where the doctor would use a scalpel or a laser to remove the white patches. Removing them ensures they will not become cancerous.

You can develop a white tongue due to a hoard of underlying health conditions. On its own, Papillae hypertrophy is not dangerous and can be managed easily, but it is necessary to get it checked if the bleached appearance does not go away within weeks.

 

We all wish to have white teeth which enhance our smile, our overall appearance, and of course, our self-confidence. But like most parts of our body, our teeth also go through wear, tear, and damage as we age and can turn yellow.

One of the popular ways of achieving that dazzling smile is through whitening strips. These strips can be bought at any store and are an easy, effective, cheap alternative to brighten your pearly whites. These patches can be applied directly to your dentition at home, and for desired results, you might have to repeat this process several times.

But before you buy this whitening product, you must be aware of whether the product actually works, what the strip contains, and whether it can cause more harm than good. To answer all your questions about the teeth whitening strips, we have jotted down all the information you need to decide if you wish to use this product and how to select it.

What Are Whitening Strips?

The brightening patches comprise a thin plastic film with a whitening gel. 

• The gel often has hydrogen peroxide in it, having a concentration between five to fifteen percent. Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient that whitens the tooth’s enamel.
• Other active or inactive ingredients of a brightening strip are:
  • Sodium hydroxide – It is a stain remover.
  • PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) – It acts as a shield for enamel against new stains.
  • Hydroxypropylcellulose & glycerine – Aids in holding the patch in place on your tooth. 
• You need to wear them for thirty minutes a day (the time could vary based on the brand you choose.)
• The treatment time with this product is usually very short (maximum of two weeks.) 
• It can effectively remove extrinsic stains from your tooth’s enamel. Extrinsic here denotes stains present on your tooth’s surface.
• These strips can not remove stains that are intrinsic, i.e. stains present underneath the enamel (in the dentin) or deeper.

How Does Dentition Brightening Patches Work?

These patches are thin with a rectangular shape and have whitening gel on one side with some adhesive ingredients. The other side is smooth.

• The strips have a plastic backing, just like other stickers.
• Patches for top teeth and bottom teeth are usually different. The top strips are generally longer.
• You need to peel the backing off from the patch and place them on your pearl whites and press them gently. Some manufacturers might instruct you to avoid brushing your teeth before you apply the strips. You should read the instruction manual that comes along with the product to know exactly how to use them.
• The white patches can be worn anywhere between ten minutes to an hour, based on the brand you get. You need to follow the product instructions to know the amount of time the patches need to be on your teeth.
• After the stipulated wearing time is over, you take the strips out and discard them. You should rinse your mouth as many strips leave a gooey gel behind your pearly whites.
• The product manufacturer’s instructions would tell you how frequently you should apply the patches, but the most common frequency of white strips is every day for two weeks.

Do The Brightening Strips Damage Our Teeth?

In general brightening strips are safe to use for most people. Its safety depends on how properly you follow the instructions while using the patches.

• If the strips are left on your teeth for too long or you use them too often, you can develop dentition issues. 
• Our teeth have three layers; enamel, dentin, and the connecting tissues. The dentin layer contains high protein levels that include several collagen proteins. Dentin is a critical component of our pearly whites that strengthens and supports our enamel. Hydrogen peroxide in the whitening patches shrinks the protein and weakens the dentin layer.
• You must also look for another ingredient in the product which is chlorine dioxide. This agent not just removes stains but also enamel which can be dangerous and have side effects.
• One of the common side effects of using teeth whitening patches is increased teeth sensitivity due to its effect on the enamel.
• One of the salient features of the teeth whitening process is the bleaching action of the patches. This bleaching action has the potential to damage your soft gum tissue, so it is vital that you place the patches on the teeth, avoiding the gum area. To be precise with the placement, consider cutting the patches to match your smile.

Do Over The Counter Whitening Products Work?

ADA (American Dental Association) states that teeth whitening patches are capable of effectively removing both intrinsic and extrinsic stains from your dentition. But OTC products generally have a low concentration of brightening ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide; hence, they might be unable to remove adamant or intrinsic stains. The strips do not work on fake pearly whites like crowns, veneers, fillings, bridges, etc.

Rules of Thumb For Using Brightening Patches

When you are using OTC products at home to whiten your teeth, there are certain rules of thumb you must follow:

• Unless the instruction says do not brush your teeth immediately after taking off the whitening patches.
• Use the patches as frequently as mentioned in the package instructions; never overuse them.
• Do not leave the patches longer than what is written in the instructions, as it will not make your pearly whites brighter but only damage them.
• Do not use patches that have chlorine dioxide in them.
• Do not use patches having more than fourteen percent hydrogen peroxide in them.

You can easily and effectively brighten your teeth with whitening strips you get over the counter. But you must follow their instruction manual and also be aware that these patches can only remove extrinsic stains. Not following the packaging instructions can result in damage to your tooth enamel and cause sensitivity.

 

Your smile is the most beautiful thing you wear, but if your teeth have decayed or you have massive gaps in your teeth, you might be reluctant to smile so often. Missing teeth hampers our social interactions and hits our confidence when talking to others.

With advancements in dentistry, thankfully, traditional dentures are not the only option if you want to get a beautiful smile but have missing teeth. You can now have a more natural-looking, safer, and durable option to dentures in the form of dental implants.

The longevity of these fixtures depends greatly on how you care for them and keep them clean. Let us learn in this article a little more about these oral appliances and how to maintain them in the best possible way.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth that consist of metal posts surgically fitted to the jawbone to replace a missing or broken tooth or a set of teeth.
⦁ They are made of high-grade titanium and look and function like natural teeth.
⦁ After the fixture is placed at the desired position in your mouth, the body initiates a fusion process known as osseointegration, which ensures that the appliance is secured in the gums, just like a natural tooth root.
⦁ For the final restoration (dentures, bridge, or crown) process, an abutment is added later, allowing secure attachment.

Keeping Your Dental Implants Clean
The gums around your oral appliance must be healthy for the implant to stay in place. Peri-implantitis is the biggest risk associated with these fixtures, a gum disease associated with implants. When the bones and gums surrounding your artificial teeth get infected, the attachment tissue around your appliance will weaken its hold. So, it is highly essential to keep your implants clean, and here are some things you must follow to keep your mouth free of infection while wearing this oral appliance:

⦁ Brush them – Though these fixtures do not develop cavities, they are still prone to tartar buildup and stains. Brush them for two minutes twice a day to keep them clean. For brushing, you must use non-abrasive toothpaste along with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Harsh products can get too rough for any kind of tooth restoration. You should brush your implant in the same way as you would brush your natural teeth.
⦁ Floss around the appliance – You can use unwaxed tape or buy floss designed specifically for dental implants to clean between your teeth. Flossing around these fixtures is similar to normal flossing around natural teeth. Make a “C” shape with the floss around the fixture, then rub it up and down a couple of times to thoroughly eradicate food debris. A water flosser is an excellent alternative to traditional flossers. Water flossers, also called oral irrigators, use a steady flow of water to eradicate microorganisms from pockets as deep as six millimeters. All you have to do is trace the water flosser around your fixtures and other teeth to reach under the gumline, where normal flossers cannot reach.
⦁ Use gum stimulators for removing plaque buildup – A gum stimulator is another way to ensure the longevity of your artificial teeth and protect your gums. A gum stimulator consists of a tool having a rubber tip that can get inside your gum pockets and remove hidden food particles and plaque, which could gather inside them over time.
⦁ Visit your dentist regularly – Visiting your dentist regularly is of utmost importance if you have got dental implants fixed. Through regular checkups and professional cleanings, any lingering plaque or tartar can be removed by your doctor before it can lead to a more severe gum disease called periodontitis.

Recovery Time After Dental Implants

After your surgery for fixing artificial teeth, you would take two days to recover fully. There could be slight pain and discomfort, disappearing within one to two days. Some important post-surgery suggestions are listed below:

⦁ On the day of getting these fixtures, you should have someone with you to drive you back because you might be sedated during the procedure, and it is not safe to drive immediately after that.
⦁ In the first eight to twelve hours, do not move around excessively, and try to sit with your head in an elevated position as much as possible.
⦁ Repeat the ice application on your face all through the day. Apply it on the site for fifteen minutes, remove it for fifteen minutes, and repeat the process.
⦁ You should eat and drink only soft foods for the first forty-eight hours after the surgery.
⦁ Do not forget to take all the medications prescribed by your dentist.
⦁ Avoid rinsing your mouth for the first twenty-four hours, and after that, gently rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water after every meal.

Dental implants are a fantastic way to replace missing or broken teeth. But like every good thing, certain precautions, and regimes must be followed. You must follow the tips in this article to keep your fixtures clean and your mouth free from gum diseases. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth is necessary for healthy oral health post-artificial teeth.

If misaligned teeth are an issue for you and you are considering getting an orthodontic treatment done, then you have come to the right place to gain all the information needed to make a decision on the type of braces. 

Today the shape of orthodontic treatment has changed many folds from the old time when metal braces used to be the only option. Now apart from metal brackets, you have ceramic or clear braces as well as Invisalign which are clear trays. All these options can fix a range of cosmetic issues with your smile, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

Invisalign can fix most dental alignment issues ranging from crooked teeth to gapped and crowded teeth. But for severe and more complicated cases dentists recommend braces that have the capacity of moving teeth a longer distance than Invisalign. 

When it comes to braces, there are primarily two choices available to you: metal and ceramic. Which one to choose depends entirely on you, your desire for more aesthetically appealing brackets, your budget, etc. So, let us touch upon some of the major differences between these two types of braces and help you decide between them.

What Are Ceramic Braces?

Ceramic braces are also known as clear braces as they use brackets made of tooth-colored polycrystalline alumina that blend relay well with your teeth color.

• These brackets are less noticeable and subtler than alloy brackets.
• The wire that connects these clear brackets could also be made of tooth-colored material which further decreases the visibility of these brackets.
• Working professionals and teens prefer these brackets as they can straighten their teeth without making them feel awkward in social setups.
• Since these brackets are of light shade, they can easily get colored or stained if you have beverages like wine or coffee. 
• They are in general more expensive than metal brackets.

What are Metal Braces

Metal braces are made up of medical-grade stainless steel material and have alloy wires strung through these brackets. The wires are typically made of durable stainless steel.

• These brackets use rubber bands to make additional corrections to the teeth.
• These brackets are very visible to others.
• These brackets are also highly durable and completely resistant to stains.

Comparison Between Metal and Ceramic Brackets

Both these braces use a similar design to give you straight teeth and a dazzling smile, the difference lies in the materials used. Let us see a comparison of both of them on various parameters:

Parameter	Metal Brackets	Ceramic Brackets
Aesthetics	They are very visible and appear bulky, making them less pleasing to the eyes. They can make your teeth look all juggled up with silver brackets and wires.	These are tooth-colored or clear brackets and are barely noticeable. They give you high aesthetic results so if pleasant-looking braces are your priority, then you should go for these.
Durability and strength	Alloy braces are much sturdier than ceramic ones and last longer.	These brackets tend to chip off when used for a long time. If the duration of our treatment is longer, then your doctor might suggest you should go for metallic brackets. These brackets also stain easily, and you would have to avoid eating or drinking some highly pigmented foods and beverages or use a straw for drinking. If you have these brackets on the lower front teeth as well then it could erode the enamel on the backside of the upper teeth when you bite or chew since these braces are made of abrasive material. That is why for patients with excessive overbite dentists suggest metal brackets for the lower set of teeth.
Extent of correction	These brackets can withstand high levels of pressure hence your dentist would recommend them if your teeth need a lot of correction.	These do not do well with highly complicated alignment issues as the material can not endure the kind of pressure needed in such cases.
Cost	They are typically less expensive so if you have a tight budget, you might want to go for these brackets.	These are made from more delicate and costly material hence their charges are more than metallic ones.
Sensitivity	Sensitivity towards hot and cold food could be accentuated while wearing these braces.	Sensitivity is much less with these brackets as compared to alloy ones.
Speed of teeth movement	Since they are sturdier, they can move teeth faster than any other aligners.	Since they are more fragile and prone to breaking easily, they move teeth slower than metal braces. When there is a breakage, you might have to spend more time in appointments to repair these brackets which further delays the treatment time.
Discomfort	These braces are not as comfortable as ceramic ones and often give a metallic taste to the mouth.	They do not have any taste and feel more comfortable than their alloy counterparts.

Both metal and ceramic brackets can effectively straighten your teeth. Which one you choose depends on your priorities and likes. If being less visible is more important to you than durability and strength then you should go for ceramic brackets. On the other hand, if budget is an issue for you, metal orthodontic appliances will be a better fit for you as they are cheaper than ceramic ones. Maintaining both brackets properly is important during the course of your treatment. Food can get stuck and hide easily within these brackets, which needs careful removal else you might develop swollen gums and cavities.