Teeth Whitening & Oral Health Blog

Not all toothbrushes are the same; as anyone confronted by the many shelves of toothbrushes at a pharmacy or supermarket can vouch for. Choosing a good toothbrush is a mixture of preference and need. Certain types of toothbrushes may be needed depending on the condition of the users’ teeth and the age of the user. First, baby teeth need to be treated differently to a set of dentures, and small, evenly spaced teeth have different requirements to those teeth that are crooked and awkward to clean. However, what is important is that the choice is given as much thought as is the choice of your hair and body products.

Oral hygiene

A toothbrush is part of a range of products that should be used to maintain good oral health. The whole mouth needs to be considered when establishing a good oral hygiene routine. Bacteria especially like the tongue and awkward spaces between teeth in which to grow and produce their smelly sulfur compounds. The formation of plaque, bad breath and serious gum disease can be prevented with good oral hygiene. Choosing a good toothbrush is part of this oral hygiene routine; along with, regular flossing, use of mouth rinses and six monthly check ups at the dentist.

Types of toothbrush

There is a bewildering variety of toothbrushes on the market and much advertising revenue spent on convincing consumers that the latest and newest types are the best. The most expensive, in this instance, is not always the best. Natural bristle brushes may be great for the hair on your head, but become soggy and out of shape when used as toothbrushes. Nylon is a good material for toothbrushes as it can be precisely shaped, has an even texture and is hygienic to clean; it does not trap bacteria. Nylon does, however, have to be reasonably thick in order to maintain its shape, so the ends of a nylon toothbrush need to be rounded to avoid damaging the gums. Many people choose a hard toothbrush because they believe, wrongly, that this is the only way to clean teeth effectively. In reality, hard toothbrushes and over vigorous brushing can damage the tooth enamel and make gums bleed. The other mistake a lot of people make is, using a toothbrush past its lifespan; even a good toothbrush needs replacing every three months. A toothbrush with a small head is more likely to be able to get into each and every part of the mouth and behind the teeth. The handle needs to be comfortable for the user and encourage up and down brushing. A good nylon toothbrush is the “Supersmile, Next Generation Toothbrush”; it guarantees the ADA recommended 45 degree angle when brushing and its soft nylon bristles will not damage the gums. An alternative to nylon is a polyester compound as found in the the “Dr. Collins Perio Toothbrush”, with an ergonomically designed handle, and bristles that are more durable and longer lasting than nylon, and absorb less water so harbor fewer germs. The bristles are tapered into a needle like shape which means penetration between teeth is improved; gums are massaged as you brush and the tooth enamel is protected from the abrasion caused by hard toothbrushes. Using this toothbrush means that plaque prevention is improved, and with its superior cleaning the risk of gum disease is reduced. Choosing a good toothbrush is a vital part of overall oral health; remember that, and your teeth will thank you for it!

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Sometimes, over-zealous brushing of teeth results in bleeding gums, but it usually stops. However, if gums bleed for no apparent reason and they feel sore, then it could be a sign of gum disease. The mildest form of this disease is known as gingivitis, usually caused by poor dental hygiene; the most serious form is called periodontal disease.

Gum disease, causes

Poor dental hygiene is not simply forgetting to brush one’s teeth; it can be that the brushing is inaccurate, or that teeth are awkwardly shaped, need flossing and a tooth brush is not enough. The main culprit in gum disease is plaque, the sticky colorless film that always forms on teeth; the problem is that it contains bacteria. Plaque gets under the gum line and toxins in the bacteria irritate the gums, causing inflammation, and the body’s own defense mechanism reacts to attack the intruder. This leads to the tissues and bone supporting the teeth breaking down. It is not always painful, beyond some soreness and occasional bleeding, but the damage can be significant. The plaque will eventually harden to calculus (tartar) which cannot be removed by brushing alone. If this develops into full blown periodontal disease, teeth loosen and may fall out, but, more worryingly, the final outcome could be a heart attack, stroke or respiratory diseases. Contributing factors to gum disease are smoking, and diabetes, but the guilty party is always plaque.

Gum disease, symptoms

Even if infrequent; bleeding gums are an alert that not all is well. Gums may be slightly swollen or sore but then seem to get better; this still needs investigating, and a visit to the dentist is advised. Recurring abscesses are an indicator of gum disease and/or periodontal disease; antibiotics will cure the infection of the abscess, but the gum disease itself still needs treating or it will progressively get worse. Teeth may have recently started reacting to hot and cold; sensitivity to extremes of temperature is another symptom of gum disease. Bad breath is not uncommon, especially after eating certain foods, but persistent bad breath is another early warning sign of gum disease. Information on bad breath treatments can be found at Whiter Smile: Bad Breath Products.

Treatment of gum disease

Dentists and dental hygienists can both treat gum disease; they are the experts that can identify the extent of the damage and the appropriate treatment. If caught early, gum disease can be treated by improving dental hygiene. Before the plaque hardens, it is still possible to remove it with gum disease toothpastes and rinses. Gum rinses contain a variety of ingredients, some natural some manmade. They all perform the same function, to attack the bacteria causing gum disease. To understand their function see “Perio-Therapy Gum Care Rinse“. Dental hygiene is a combination of brushing and protecting your teeth. Rinses work on the gums, gum disease toothpaste, used in combination with rinses, cleans the plaque from your teeth and gum line. For an example of how that works, see “Perio-Therapy Gum Care Toothpaste“. Gum disease needs attacking with all the dental hygiene tools available. Teeth should be regularly brushed with a high quality toothbrush, such as the “Dr. Collins Perio Toothpaste“, at least after every meal and before going to bed. A flossing agent, either flossing string, or the new tiny shaped brushes, should be used to get between the gaps in your teeth where bacteria can hide. It is important to have regular check-ups with a dentist who can scrape the hardened plaque from your teeth. If left it too late, antibiotics and surgery may be needed to treat periodontal disease and receding gums, or the teeth may be lost.

© Copyright Whiter Smile : Australia’s Largest Teeth Whitening Superstore! Stocking a huge range of the best tooth whitening kits, teeth bleaching gel, bad breath, and oral care health products on the planet. Best Price Guarantee!

http://www.whitersmile.com.au

We all know that feeling; tongue like cardboard, mouth dry, throat sore; usually the result of too much celebrating the night before. For some people, however, a dry mouth is an almost permanent state and can be very distressing. This article will look at what causes a dry mouth and possible treatments for it.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is also called xerostomia when it is recognized as a medical symptom of other illnesses. Sufferers of diabetes, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer patients can all experience an uncomfortable dry mouth as secondary symptoms of their illness. More severe conditions such as Parkinson’s, Sjogren’s syndrome and HIV can also result in patients having a dry mouth. Certain medications can produce a dry mouth as an unpleasant side effect. Ironically the very tablets a hay fever sufferer takes, or decongestants for a bunged up nose, can result in a dry mouth, as too, muscle relaxants and depression treatments. Some causes of dry mouth are peoples’ lifestyle choices, such as smoking or chewing tobacco which depletes the saliva glands. Snorers who sleep with their mouths open can also wake in the morning with a badly dehydrated mouth.

Symptoms of Dry Mouth

It is not always simply a dry mouth that is the result of these factors, although it is the primary symptom. Dry mouth is often accompanied by a raging thirst, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and a tingling sensation in the mouth.  More serious symptoms include severe hoarseness, an inability to swallow, sores around the mouth and on the tongue, which in chronic cases can split and weep. All of this is extremely unpleasant for the sufferer, and when bad breath is also a symptom, it can leave the patient feeling very isolated and unable to socialize comfortably. Apart from the obvious painfulness of some of these symptoms if, untreated, dry mouth can cause severe gum problems, tooth decay and thrush. It is crucial, therefore, that someone experiencing dry mouth, sees an expert and identifies what is causing it.

Treatments for Dry Mouth

Talking the patient through their symptoms and according to the severity of the condition, a doctor can prescribe a number of alternative treatments. It may mean changing medication or lifestyle, but for a lot of people, it will only improve when the underlying cause is treated. However, this does not mean you cannot at least treat the bad taste and lack of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth rinses can greatly benefit the sufferer by lubricating the mouth, rinsing bacteria on the gums away and defeating the bad breath a dry mouth causes. To avoid potential gum disease and to maintain oral health; antibacterial rinses are a good choice, such as the TheraBreath Extra Strength Oral Rinse. A range of these products and other useful products can be found at Whiter Smile . Here, specially formulated toothpastes, including TheraBreath Extra Strength Toothpaste can also be found. Regular brushing with dry mouth toothpaste can help to restore the saliva flow and thus reduce the dry mouth sensation. Whatever the cause of dry mouth, whether medical or lifestyle; it can be alleviated by good oral care and hygiene, and products designed to increase saliva flow, reduce and attack bacteria and protect gums and teeth from further deterioration.

© Copyright Whiter Smile : Australia’s Largest Teeth Whitening Superstore! Stocking a huge range of the best tooth whitening kits, teeth bleaching gel, bad breath, and oral care health products on the planet. Best Price Guarantee!

http://www.whitersmile.com.au