Manohar Dental Care Vizag

Sunday, January 6, 2019

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If you’re not sure how long you should brush for

If your brushing technique could use a little help, an electric toothbrush with a timer would be a great option for you. These timers are generally in 30 second segments because the intention is to have you brush each side of your mouth, top and bottom, for thirty seconds each. This gives you a total brush time of two minutes and ensures that you pay equal and adequate attention to your entire mouth. Some electric toothbrushes have timers that last only 30 seconds and others have full two minute timers that alert you when 30 seconds have passed and it’s time to switch sides of your mouth. Which one you choose is up to personal preference and how much monitoring you would like. 

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Which is better, electric or manual toothbrushes?

Deciding whether to use an electric or manual toothbrush involves two main factors: cost and control. Manual toothbrushes are considerably less costly than their electric counterparts and do not involve batteries or mechanical parts that may need frequent replacing, making them the more economical choice. They also offer more control as you have to move the toothbrush around your mouth manually. This is a positive aspect for people who have sensitive areas in their mouth or are uncomfortable with vibrating sensations on their teeth. Manual toothbrushes do, however, require the user to have a vigilant brushing technique because the toothbrush itself doesn’t do any work.

Electric toothbrushes, on the other hand, can be quite pricey both in the initial buy and then replacement parts later on. However, they do provide a great clean and are excellent for those who are less meticulous when it comes to brushing their teeth. As an added bonus, many electric toothbrushes now come with timed cleaning programs that alert you when to change sides of your mouth to ensure that you brush long enough.

Learn more about the differences between manual and electric toothbrushes and floss.

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Which electric toothbrush should you buy?

Are you curious about the world of electric toothbrushes and considering trying one out for the first time? Or perhaps you have been an electric toothbrush user for some time and are ready for an upgrade. Whatever the reason, you have come to the right place because here you will learn everything you need to know about finding the electric toothbrush that’s best for you. 

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Milk, yogurt, and cheese

Dairy products are great for teeth because they are high in calcium, a mineral that helps to strengthen bone, but they are also great for your gums. This is because of a protein called casein that is found in most dairy products which helps to neutralize oral acids that are produced by bacteria in the mouth. These acids can be destructive to tooth enamel and gum tissue, leading to irritation or worse. Include a healthy amount of dairy in your diet by drinking a cup of milk daily or by eating snacks that include dairy such as cheese or yogurt. 

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Celery, carrots, and apples

Foods that are very crunchy are excellent at scraping away stuck on food and plaque. The hard bits of foods like celery, carrots, and apples get in between teeth and into tooth crevices and can help keep your mouth fresh between brushings. Crunchy fruits and vegetables also happen to be high in fibre, which, again, means they take longer to chew and generate more saliva. Saliva is great for flushing the mouth of bacteria near the gum line. Simply add these foods to your daily diet as snacks to help get rid of food particles between meals. 

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Shiitake mushrooms

Lentinan is an antibacterial compound found in shiitake mushrooms and it fights against plaque-building bacteria in the mouth. This type of bacteria breeds in hard to reach places in the mouth such as in between teeth and along the gum line, and can cause irritation and possibly lead to gingivitis and gum disease. You can incorporate shiitake mushrooms into your meals in a variety of different ways. Try sautéing them as a side to a main course or chopping them up and adding them to whatever vegetable dish you prepare. 

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Peppers and citrus fruits

Vitamin C is also high in vegetables like peppers of all colours and acidic fruits such as oranges, kiwis, pineapple, and strawberries. Add them into your diet to reap the benefits of this anti-inflammatory vitamin through smoothies, with yogurt, and in salads. 

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Green tea

There is some research which shows that this antioxidant-rich tea can help stave off inflammation in the body. Green tea has specific antioxidants called catechins which help gums fight inflammation caused by the one of the types of oral bacteria responsible for gum disease. Try drinking a cup of green tea daily to give your gums a healthy boost. 

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Leafy greens

Vegetables like kale and spinach are filled to the brim with mouth-healthy vitamins and minerals. Specifically, they hold vitamin C, which boosts the production of red blood cells and reduces inflammation. Both these benefits battle against irritation and gum disease. Leafy greens require more chewing, thanks to their high fibre content, which is good for gums because the chewing action creates more saliva. This helps to flush out food particles, bacteria, and plaque that may be sticking to your teeth near the gum line. Revamp your diet with power-packed greens by creating salads with them, adding them as a cooked side dish to main meals, and putting them in soups and sandwiches. 

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Onions

Onions have been proven to be a fantastic food for healthy gums because they neutralize oral bacteria. They have microbial properties that target the most common types of bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities. For great gums, try incorporating more onions into your meals as salad toppers, in sandwiches and burgers, in stir fries, and in soups, stews, and chilis. 

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Want healthier gums? Eat more of these foods.

Gums are the hero of the mouth. they keep your teeth secure, protect your oral bones, and battle against bacteria on a daily basis. While we take care to make sure that our teeth are properly cleaned daily, we can often forget to take care of our gums. An easy way to make sure your gums are getting the healthy support they need is through your diet. Read on to discover the best gum-loving foods that you can easily incorporate into your meals to give them an extra daily boost. 

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Treatments

There are toothpastes and mouthwashes available on the market produced specifically for those who use tobacco products, however they are not nearly as effective at treating oral issues brought on by smoking as getting rid of the habit is. These products are generally more harsh and abrasive in an attempt to target destructive bacteria but they have no effect in restoring enamel, reversing tooth rot, root rot, gum rot, or preventing any kind of cancer. 

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Tooth sensitivities

Because smoking weakens or erodes tooth enamel, smokers’ teeth are often vulnerable and can become extremely sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. This can be quite painful and very restricting when it comes to food and drink. 

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Oral cancer

Tobacco products such as cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco, and others are highly carcinogenic. The chemicals found in these products have been cited as a leading causes of many cancers, including oral cancer. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, there are over 7,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, including over 70 known to cause cancer. Oral cancer is especially dangerous in that, generally those who have it are unaware of it in the early stages since it does not produce painful side effects until it has spread. Historically, over 75% of people over the age of 50 who have had oral cancer were regular tobacco smokers at one point in their life. Oral cancer can take many forms including unexplained bumps, bleeding, swelling, numbness, pain, and difficulty swallowing. 

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Gum disease

Decreased levels of oxygen in the blood leads to a weakened immune system and leaves your mouth vulnerable to infection. This means that bacteria found in your mouth can more easily build-up and infiltrate your gums. The bacteria can quickly destroy gum flesh, causing it to recede and become loose and unhealthy. The gums help to anchor teeth in place, so when their health is compromised teeth can become loose and potentially fall out. When gum disease progresses it can affect the bones and surrounding flesh, causing them to break down, too. Studies have shown that those who smoke are two times more likely to contract gum disease than those who don’t. 

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Rotting teeth

Because the chemicals in tobacco products weaken the tooth’s protective enamel, teeth become more susceptible to bacteria, acids, and other destructive substances. With no protective layer, these substances can eat away at teeth and eventually cause them to rot right down to the tooth root. This can be extremely painful and can cause teeth to become loose, requiring removal, and even falling out. This rotting can also lead to infection which leads to even larger issues. Smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the blood, which your body needs in order to fight these infections. Being less able to naturally fight infection can also lead to major issues such as gum disease. 

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Yellowing stains

Smoking is well known for the yellowing effect it has on teeth. This discolouration is actually stains left by the nicotine and tar found in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Yellowed teeth can be extremely difficult to whiten, depending on how deep the stains actually are and for how long they have been exposed to the various chemicals found in tobacco products. Exposing your teeth to these chemicals weakens the tooth enamel, the protective layer that cannot be replaced, causing teeth to become vulnerable and allowing stains to become deeply set into teeth. 

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Why is smoking bad for your oral health?

You have likely heard time and again that smoking and chewing tobacco products can have a serious impact on your oral health. But what does smoking actually do to your mouth and why is it such an issue? Read on to discover the real reasons why smoking is one of the most destructive habits when it comes to your oral health and the serious health risks that come with it. 

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Gum Disease: Get the Facts [Infographic]

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis or periodontal disease, is a very common illness among adults. You may wonder, “What is it? What are its causes? And is it preventable?”

When plaque isn’t removed by brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits, it can become a problem. Bacteria in plaque produce toxins that can infect gum tissue, causing redness, irritation, and bleeding. 

As gum disease progresses, gums pull away from teeth, creating pockets. Over time, these pockets can become deeper, and as they fill with bacteria and toxins, gum tissue and bone are destroyed. This could ultimately result in tooth loss. 

Initial stages of gum disease can be painless, so it’s important to see your dentist regularly so you can spot the signs and symptoms early! 

Early periodontitis can be treated by your dental hygienist. A deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing removes the buildup and bacteria from below the gum line or in areas your toothbrush cannot reach, thus allowing your gums to begin the healing process. After this treatment, the disease can be kept in check with brushing, flossing, and regular maintenance cleanings by your dental team.

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