Posts Tagged ‘fluoride’

Dental Hygiene is a critical aspect of keeping your teeth and entire body healthy for a lifetime. This video shows that it is important to brush your teeth at least twice per day and for about 90 seconds each time. An automatic toothbrush and manual toothbrush are used in similar way except that an automatic toothbrush is more efficient and can penetrate better than a manual brush. Flossing is also very important as it helps keep your gums healthy which can ultimately help save your teeth and prevent dentures and tooth loss. flossing breaks up the growth of damaging bacteria.

Using a shower floss or waterpick irrigator introduces oxygen in the deep dental pockets. When this is done the anerobic (without oxygen) bacteria that causes periodontal disease are killed. Simply by getting water in the depths of the infected pockets on a regular basis will give you a much longer and healtier gums and teeth. Of course it is vital to get into our Southeast Michigan dental office for a complete diagnosis and treatment. Once the gum infection is taken care of and treated this technique controls the bacterial invasion.

Using fluoride, having regular dental visits, watching your diet, proper flossing and brushing, taking antioxidants are all critical to both your overall health and the health of your smile. For more information give us a call at 586.247.3500 or email Dr. Antolak at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  His motto is to “relax while we take care of your smile”. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years and is located in Shelby Township, Macomb county Michigan

This article is from the Academy of General Dentistry newsletter that I get and thought it was valuable for men.

Now to answer the question—-Men are less likely than women to take care of their physical health and, according to surveys and studies, their oral health is equally ignored. Good oral health recently has been linked with longevity. Yet, one of the most common factors associated with infrequent dental checkups is just being male. Men are less likely than women to seek preventive dental care and often neglect their oral health for years, visiting a dentist only when a problem arises. When it comes to oral health, statistics show that the average man brushes his teeth 1.9 times a day and will lose 5.4 teeth by age 72. If he smokes, he can plan on losing 12 teeth by age 72. Men are also more likely to develop oral and throat cancer and periodontal (gum) disease 

Why is periodontal disease a problem?

Periodontal disease is a result of plaque, which hardens into a rough, porous substance called tartar. The acids produced and released by bacteria found in tartar irritate gums. These acids cause the breakdown of fibers that anchor the gums tightly to the teeth, creating periodontal pockets that fill with even more bacteria. Researchers have found a connection between gum disease and cardiovascular disease, which can place people at risk for heart attacks and strokes. See your dentist if you have any of these symptoms:

• Bleeding gums during brushing
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose or separating teeth

Do you take medications?

Since men are more likely to suffer from heart attacks, they also are more likely to be on medications that can cause dry mouth. If you take medication for the heart or blood pressure, or if you take antidepressants, your salivary flow could be inhibited, increasing the risk for cavities. Saliva helps to reduce the cavity-causing bacteria found in your mouth.

Do you use tobacco?

If you smoke or chew, you have a greater risk for gum disease and oral cancer. Men are affected twice as often as women, and 95 percent of oral cancers occur in those over 40 years of age.

The most frequent oral cancer sites are the tongue, the floor of the mouth, soft palate tissues in back of the tongue, lips and gums. If not diagnosed and treated in its early stages, oral cancer can spread, leading to chronic pain, loss of function, irreparable facial and oral disfigurement following surgery and even death. More than 8,000 people die each year from oral and pharyngeal diseases. If you use tobacco, it is important to see a dentist frequently for cleanings and to ensure your mouth remains healthy. Your general dentist can perform a thorough screening for oral cancer.

Do you play sports?

If you participate in sports, you have a greater potential for trauma to your mouth and teeth. If you play contact sports, such as football, soccer, basketball and even baseball, it is important to use a mouthguard, which is a flexible appliance made of plastic that protects teeth from trauma. If you ride bicycles or motorcycles, wear a helmet.

Taking care of your teeth

To take better care of your oral health, it is important to floss daily, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily and visit your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings. Here are some tips to better dental health:

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reach every surface of each tooth. If the bristles on your toothbrush are bent or frayed, buy a new one.
• Replace your toothbrush every three months or after you’ve been sick.
• Choose a toothpaste with fluoride. This can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent.
• Brush properly. To clean the outside surfaces of your teeth, position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion using short, gentle strokes. To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle strokes over each tooth and its surrounding gum tissue. Spend at least three minutes brushing.
• Floss properly. Gently insert floss between teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or snap it into place. Curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and then the other.

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  His motto is to “relax while we take care of your smile”. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years and is located in Shelby Township, Macomb county Michigan

I have been encountering more patients recently who have severe dental decay throughout their mouths.  This prompted me to write this article and hopefully the information will help someone take action to save and protect their teeth and overall health. 

With research abounding it seems impossible that there is an epidemic of dental decay.   The reality is that there are people who are more at risk for tooth decay than others.

Let me explain how dental decay starts:  Tooth decay results when naturally existing mouth bacteria act on dietary sugars and carbohydrates, producing an acid that diffuses into the tooth dissolving it. This usually shows up in extreme cases in 2 types of patient:

1.      The elderly patient who has a chronic dry mouth from multiple medications.  Many of these people sip on Ensure or other high protein drink.  These supplements are usually recommended by their physician, but what the physician doesn’t know is that an 8 oz. bottle has 31 grams of sugar!  This is more concentrated and sweeter than any cola!!! I have visited numerous patients in their home who have an entire mouth of decay because they either sip on these drinks, suck on candies or have a high concentration of carbohydrates in their diet.  They usually have very poor oral hygiene, roots exposed and a poor diet.  These all add up to a problem of cavities. 

2.      Those younger adults (age 15-30) who sip on 2-3 cans of Coke, Pepsi or Mountain Dew soda pop throughout the day.  These drinks contain 38 grams of sugar in a 12 oz can. They may not have a dry mouth like the older patient, but usually have many teeth with cavities on the front surface of upper teeth.  When pop gets sipped it remains on the outside of the teeth and just sits there dissolving them.  If you or someone else you know  tends to sip on pop throughout the day and shows dark or white spots their teeth when they smile they need to get into the dentist immediately. 

To prove my point, after drinking a cola grit your teeth together.  You will notice they feel “chalky”.  This is the microscopic breakdown of the hard outside layer of enamel.  If the teeth never get a chance to heal themselves this breakdown continues through the enamel layer and becomes a cavity.  Typically not just one or two teeth involved, but may are affected.

In addition, the saliva that your body produces has many protective proteins, enzymes and minerals in them.  After eating or drinking they repair the damaged areas.  Snacking or sipping sweetened drinks between meals eliminates these protective mechanisms from working. 

It has also been shown that the cavity causing bacteria can be transferred from one infected person to another by casual contact such as kissing or using a common eating utensil. 

So, What can be done?

1. Stop sipping these high sucrose (sugar) containing products.  Instead, you may want to drink water—Not flavored sweetened water.  If you must, then switch to one with artificial sweeteners.  You can have sodas but just drink them with a meal and if you want to sip on something choose water.
2. Your dentist may put you on a program of using fluoride.  This could be a gel or liquid rinse that is done at least once per day.  The fluoride actually rebuilds the areas that are not too damaged.  It also hardens the existing tooth structure.
3. Brush your teeth at least 2-3 times per day or rinse with water after eating if you can’t brush your teeth.
4. Floss or use a water-pick device to get between the teeth to flush out the food, etc
5. Make an appointment with your dentist and if you don’t have a happy dental home give us a call at (586)573-4500 or visit our website at www.TheGentleDentist.com to make an appointment.. 

Please write us or e-mail me directly at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com or call us at 586.247.3500 if you have suggestions or questions you would like answered personally by me.  Thank You.