Oral Care Advice

Dogs are loyal, playful, and affectionate because they are so companionable. Dogs are often dubbed man’s best friends. Dogs have 28 deciduous teeth (temporary) and 42 permanent teeth. Deciduous or milk teeth begin to appear when a puppy is about four weeks of age, and are lost gradually between 14 and 30 weeks of age. Dental disease is one of the most common health disorders in dogs. There are many dental disease in dogs include plaque, tartar and periodontal disease. Dog dental problems may also result from injury, foreign bodies such as porcupine quills or foxtail, malnutrition or systemic diseases which infect the mouth as well as other parts of the body.

The common signs of the dental problems in the dogs imply the loss of appetite, red, inflated and gums of bleeding, radoter, blood in saliva, tartar yellow-brown with the gum line, broken teeth and blows stinking. Dogs sometimes bear from broken teeth, frequent a cause of biting on sticks or rocks. A cracked or broken tooth can be painful if the nerve tissue is exposed. Prevention is always better than cure”. Keeping that in mind can prevent our most loved dog from acquiring such dental diseases. To prevent dental disease, your dog needs routine dental care at home. Home care is impotant step of your dog dental care.

Home oral care includes routine examinations of your dog’s mouth and brushing her teeth. Clean your dog’s teeth frequently with special toothbrushes and toothpaste designed for dogs. Toothpaste for dogs is generally quite savory to them, so he shouldn’t mind this. If your dog balks at having his teeth brushed, get him used to it by rubbing his teeth and gums with your finger. Then put a little of the toothpaste on your finger and let him sniff and lick it; do the same with the toothbrush. Make sure to provide chew toys or other products that will help clean his teeth.

As your dog gets older, he may have a buildup of tartar that requires special cleaning by a veterinarian. Another method to assist cure calculus and build up on your dog’s teeth is by using rawhide masticates specially expressed for dental care. Dental diets is very important for your dog. Hard crunchy foods tend to be better for the teeth than soft ones although there is nothing wrong with feeding a proportion of a soft tinned or flat pack food.

Now i am not a dentist or any expert in this field, but i know that it is important to look after your teeth. If you are anything like me you will be rushing round in the morning, having breakfast, doing things with the children and getting ready for work. On more than one occasion i have missed brushing my teeth because of time restraints.

About a year ago i started having trouble with my teeth, toothache etc. I visited the dentist which is always daunting (bearing in mind i had not been for the past three to four years) and i had them checked out and cleaned which obviously cost money, that made me realise that i need to look after them otherwise it could end up costing a small fortune, and in this economic downturn that is the last thing you need. So i asked the dentist what i need to do at home to keep my teeth healthy.

The minimum recommendation is to brush your teeth at least two times a day, usually once after you get up and again before you go to bed, or whatever way fits in with your lifestyle. Some people will brush there teeth after every meal.

When brushing do not rush (three minutes recommended) or be too aggressive as this can lead to your gums bleeding, your brush strokes should be away from your gums. Always do the back and sides of your teeth as well as the front, a lot of people concentrate on the front as that is what people tend to see but they are all as important as each other.

Change your toothbrush regularly, every three months should do it, and always make sure you get one suitable for your teeth, for example a person with sensitive teeth and gums needs a soft bristled brush, someone who has strong teeth can use a harder bristled toothbrush. Regarding sensitive teeth, there are many toothpastes out there available for people who have sensitive teeth.

As well as brushing, to keep your teeth healthy it is recommended that you use a mouthwash after brushing. Mouthwashes help reduce the amount of bacteria and plaque in your mouth, also a mouthwash with fluoride will reduce cavities.

Dental floss helps get rid of food remnants stuck in between your teeth that a toothbrush will not get too. You need to persevere with flossing as it does need some time to get used too, but will be well worth it if you achieve having healthy white teeth.

Just brushing you teeth is not enough to keep them healthy, so using mouthwashes and/or flossing on top of brushing does help, but it does not mean you do not need to visit the dentist. Keep having regular check ups, at least twice a year to ensure everything is okay.

It is important to keep your teeth healthy, not just for your appearance and confidence but also your finances, if you neglect your teeth now you could end up paying hundreds of pounds on dentistry work in the future.

Periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. There are many reported cases in which the patients have lost tooth because of gum disease. Just like any disease, the gum disease can be treated best when diagnosed early. You must know the warning signs of gum disease so you can report it as early as possible to your dentist.

These warning signs include bleeding gums, swollen gums, expression of pus when the gums are pressed, increase in the gap between your tooth and the gum, bad breath, difference in the strength of the bite, loosening of tooth. It is important to note here as to what causes the gum disease. The major cause of gum disease occurs because of plaque. The plaque lies between the gum line and the tooth.

It then combines with the sugary substances on which the bacteria act to produce acid and toxins. This then acts on the tooth and the gum resulting in the breakdown of the gum tissue. Brushing the teeth along with flossing is truly important in preventing gum disease because brushing alone is not sufficient to remove the food residue that gets stuck between the gums and teeth.

You can also use fluoride toothpaste as it helps prevent decay. Mouth rinse is also a very good option to help remove bacteria, which prevents tooth as well as gum infection. Some of you might not pay due attention to the periodontal disease or gum disease. The periodontal disease is an irreversible disease process. In this disease, the support of teeth is lost, which results in the tooth to become loose and finally fall out.

Did you know that gum disease is also directly linked to heart attacks and it is also linked with the increased blood glucose levels. Another research suggests that the gum disease is also linked to premature birth. All these facts are the result of periodontitis and have very serious health impact on individuals who do not take proper dental hygiene measures.

There is also a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis. This occurs due to hormonal changes and has a strong impact on eating habits. In this condition, the gums are red, swollen and extremely tender and on brushing, the gums bleed. This condition occurs in about 50% of women who are going through pregnancy. This is also a situation that requires serious attention.

You might have heard of a very serious infectious condition known as Trench Mouth. It is a very painful gum infection. This infection occurs due to poor dental and oral hygiene. Other causes of this infection are lack of sleep, smoking, increased stress. The name Trench Mouth was given to this condition when the soldiers in trenches suffered from severe gum infections, which resulted in necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

The only way that you can safeguard yourself from severe gum infections is taking proper care of oral and dental hygiene. Therefore the message goes out to all including adults and children to take proper care of your oral and dental hygiene.

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It is crucial to be familiar with the main periodontal disease cause, as well as the more minor causes. Knowing them will allow you to prevent this disease from occurring. Prevention is often the best cure, and it cannot occur without knowledge. Keeping your teeth healthy and your gums in good shape is absolutely vital. Your oral health is important to your overall health. Thus you can see why knowledge is so important.

Not taking proper care of your teeth and gums is the primary cause of gum disease. Your risk of contracting periodontal disease goes up exponentially when you do not have proper oral hygiene. Gingivitis is the most minor form you can hope for; it is reversible. Periodontitis is also a possibility, however, and it is drastically more serious.

If you grind your teeth, you are also at risk for periodontal disease. Lots of times, this is an unconscious and involuntary act. If anything, that makes it riskier and more dangerous. Fortunately, your dentist can help you. There are lots of tools and tactics which can make you stop grinding your teeth.

A number of different illnesses can potentially result in periodontal disease. If you have diabetes, the risk of gum disease is quite high. You are also at risk if you suffer from obesity. Prevention will often be the best course of action.

Naturally, if you smoke, the health of your gums is at risk. There are many links and connections between using tobacco and contracting gum disease. Of course, smoking leads to many health problems. It can affect your oral health as well, thus you need to take extra care with your teeth.

You need to visit your dentist regularly to help keep your gums healthy. Taking care of your teeth is so important. Regular visit to the dentists can make sure they remain clean. You are responsible too. Make sure you brush and floss as you should.

Grab your free report: How To Stop Gum Disease at http://www.HowToSTopGumDisease.com

Scott Wells recommends the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease for those seeking more information on this topic. ISBN: 978-0981485508

Disclaimer: If you have or think you might have gum disease or any other health problem, please visit your doctor or periodontist for advice, diagnosis and treatment. This article is for information purposes only and does not intend to provide advice, diagnosis or treatment for any health condition.

Brushing your teeth is strongly recommended to keep your teeth clean. But to keep your breath fresh all the time, you need to brush your teeth more than just thrice a day. The main source of bad breath is mouth bacteria. You need to get rid of them and keep them from multiplying and bringing forth embarrassing breath odors.

When you brush, focus on all surfaces of your teeth. You have to make sure that every side of your teeth is sparkly clean. If you know that you suffer from bad breath, chewing gums and taking mints aren’t the solution. As much as they seem effective, they can never do anything about the bacteria in your mouth. All these quick fixes do is mask the odor escaping from your mouth through the ingredients contained in them.

Brush your teeth every time you eat. This includes snacks and other meals in between the major ones. Brushing your teeth regularly can keep bacteria from increasing because you’re actually taking them out of your mouth every time you do so. The use of powerful bacteria-removing toothpastes is going to help a lot in this process too.

When you brush, don’t concentrate on the teeth alone. You would want to brush your tongue, the back of your cheeks, the area under your tongue, and the upper portion of your mouth. Bacteria can infest these places too. So you have to eliminate them through brushing.

But more than just brushing, flossing can also help clean your teeth and keep your breath fresh. Keep in mind that bacteria are minute organisms that you can barely see. They can be anywhere in your mouth and right between your teeth. With the help of a dental floss, you are actually polishing your teeth and clearing it from bacteria. This hygienic practice should be performed regularly.

Using a mouthwash after brushing and flossing should also be a habit of all people, regardless if they suffer from bad breath or not. Keep in mind that your teeth are just a small part of your mouth. Your toothbrush and the dental floss can only do so much to protect it. You have to strengthen your mouth’s protection against bad breath by using a mouthwash that is capable enough to kill all the germs and bacteria possibly thriving inside.

Keeping your breath fresh while on the go is the bigger challenge. To make sure you won’t get into embarrassing situations bring a dental hygiene kit with you. Take it along every time you leave the house. And each time you feel uncomfortable with your breath, excuse yourself and go to the nearest washroom to freshen yourself up.

Put a mint or two in your bag as well. They can provide instant solution to bad breath, just in case it is impossible for you to go to the bathroom to brush your teeth. Of course, you shouldn’t forget about the medications your dentist had given you. Go for the permanent solution as prescribed by a trusted health expert. Through it, you may finally gain freedom from the clutches of bad breath.

Dentists have been using teeth whitening gels to whiten teeth for decades. These teeth whitening gels are also called carbamade peroxide gels. In the past time periods, lime chloride was the main source for teeth whitening. Nowadays, carbamide peroxide is the main source for teeth whitening. The new bleaching chemical, carbamide peroxide, removes the stains left on teeth within minutes after applied. Carbamide peroxide is used by dental professional and at home people all around the world. Another popular teeth whitening chemical is hydrogen peroxide, which is similar to carbamide peroxide but has been around for over a century. Teeth whiteners have been around for over a century but since the early 1990’s, teeth whitener kits have become a phenomenon. Carbamide peroxide has become more popular for at home use since the early 1990’s. There are many types of forms of carbamide peroxide. Concentration levels for the carbamide peroxide vary from 10% to 36%. The most popular of the concentration levels are the 22%. This teeth whitener provides little to no sensitivity to the teeth while whitening the teeth at a good pace. The teeth whitening process is called oxidation which eliminates the stains from the teeth without harming the enamel in the mouth. The teeth whitening process makes the teeth lighter by eliminating the colored tooth. The teeth whitening process is very simple to do at home. It involves placing the carbamide peroxide inside thermoforming mouth trays. Each thermoform mouth tray is placed inside the mouth for up to 30 minutes daily. The longer it is placed inside the mouth the better the teeth whitening results. Results can form as quick as 5 to 6 hours.

Nowadays, teeth whitening have become a great phenomenon to do at home. With prices at a fraction of the costs compared to dental offices, many have chosen to do it at home. Teeth whitening will continue to be the number one source to whiten teeth for the decades to come.

Gum Disease

Gum or periodontal disease (also known as periodontitis) is an inflammatory condition affecting the tissues surrounding a tooth, and is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gingivitis is a bacterial infection of the tissues in the mouth and potential precursor of gum disease.

Once gum disease sets in, the toxins produced by the bacteria damage the teeth’s connective tissue and bone, effectively destroying them and fostering tooth loss.

The Signs of Gum Disease

As a gum infection progresses, the bone tends to recede; the gums may or may not recede. In some cases, the root of the tooth becomes exposed, occasionally causing tooth sensitivity. Furthermore, pus may be produced, and pockets may form between the gum and tooth.

Since bone recession is not visible to the naked eye, and if left undetected, may contribute to tooth loss, it is important to visit your dentist for professional examinations and dental cleanings to identify gum disease.

Here are some common signs of gum disease you and your dentist can look for:

Bleeding gums during tooth brushing or otherwise. Sensitive, red or swollen gums. Bad breath Teeth that are loose or appear to have shifted.

Causes of Gum Disease

There are a number of causes of gum disease, each of which can be corrected and controlled. The causes of gum disease include:

Improper Dental Hygiene: If plaque is not removed through daily dental hygiene practices and regular professional dental cleanings, bacteria may set in and cause gingivitis, which may eventually result in gum disease.

Organic Changes in the Mouth: Changes that occur in metabolism and hormone levels during pregnancy, puberty and menopause may affect the organic balance in the mouth, and make teeth more susceptible to gum disease.

Medical Conditions: Serious conditions that affect the body’s ability to produce sugar (such as diabetes or kidney disease) may contribute to periodontal disease. Furthermore, the Center for Disease Control has found an association between certain illnesses (including diabetes, stroke and heart attack) and gum disease. Finally, medications used to treat medical conditions may produce the overgrowth of gums. Overgrown gums are more susceptible to bacteria, and therefore gum disease.

Saliva Flow Inhibitors: Certain medications that produce oral side effects or dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia) may contribute to a reduction of protective saliva flow, and potentially to gum disease. Seniors may be more susceptible to dry mouth syndrome because of the natural reduction of salivary flow associated with age.

Poor Functional Habits: Teeth grinding or clenching may impair the surrounding tissue and is a possible contributor to gum disease.

There are a number of treatments available for gum disease sufferers, each of which varies depending on the severity of the condition.

In order to determine the treatment modality that best meets your needs, your dentist will evaluate the extent of the damage caused by gum disease to develop a conservative initial plan. A dental hygiene evaluation will determine if plaque (soft deposits on the tooth) is being removed on a daily basis.

TREATMENT

Next, calculus (also known as tartar) must be removed through a professional cleaning, and sometimes through the additional procedures of deep scaling and root planning. A local anaesthetic may be administered during these procedures. Your dentist may also administer antibiotics to treat bacteria housed in the pocketed areas of the gum, and recommend a medicated mouthwash to be used as a regular part of your home regimen.

Advanced Gum Disease Treatments

Tissue Regeneration

If the bone has been destroyed, your dentist may employ a new technique called tissue regeneration, which involves grafting the bone to offer a better chance of bone re-growth. To strengthen thin gums, soft tissue grafts may also be used. Guided tissue regeneration involves the insertion of a membrane to help in the bone regeneration process. This is sometimes useful during periodontal surgery.

Pocket Elimination Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be part of the treatment plan to help prevent tooth loss resulting from gum disease. Here are some surgical options:

Periodontal flap surgery may be performed to reduce the pocket gap between the teeth and gums. If the jaw bone has craters housing bacteria and contributing to gum disease, the bone may be reshaped through bone surgery to eliminate the craters and help prevent future recolonization of bacteria growth.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy may be used to reduce pocket size; however, no definitive evidence exists to support the idea that laser therapy helps to restore connective tissue damaged as a result of gum disease.

The Cost of Gum Disease Treatment

The cost of gum disease treatment depends on several factors. For example, additional routine tooth cleaning or scaling and root planning procedures at the gingivitis stage may be required in order to help prevent the onset of gum disease. This will further affect the cost of your treatment. At typical charge would be around £140 per 1 hour visit.

In the 1950’s Crest toothpaste started the advertising campaign that patients should see the dentist every six months to get their teeth cleaned. This was determined by the advertising department not dentists or research. Here we are over 50 years later except we know a lot more now about the effects of bacteria between the gums and teeth on our oral health and systemic health. In the 1950’s the average 60 year old only had 8 teeth left, most had dentures by then. Today we know that bacteria under the gum makes us at higher risk for heart disease, respiratory disease and low birth weight babies in pregnant women. We also know that bacteria above the gum reforms in 24 hours and the deadly bacteria below the gum reforms in 2 months once it is removed. once the bacteria has had a chance to take hold below the gum for a while they form a “biofilm” layer in the connective tissue which is very difficult to remove as it is a “living environment” for forming bacteria inside our tissues. We also know that these bacteria can be transmitted from oral fluid exchange between people, so not flossing is not the only problem. This bacteria causes no pain, and that is why our parents lost their teeth from gum disease as we cannot see or feel them. Even when we treat it in the dental office science has found the bacteria live deep in the gum tissue in the “biofilm” which cannot be easily removed, but must be retreated repeatedly. Even this is not always successful, but again science is helping us and we now have DNA testing of the bacteria sample taken from between the teeth. This allows us to identify particularly aggressive strains of bacteria which may need local and systemic specific antibiotics. The first stage is gingivitis which means the bacteria have invaded the gum tissue making it bleed easier when we floss for example but it has not affected the bone support around the teeth yet. Gingivitis is present in 80% of the general population because it always starts between the teeth and most people do not floss daily effectively. This stage is reversible once treated by a periodontal therapist like Kim but if daily home care including flossing does not follow the treatment then it will return in as quickly as 2-3 months in some cases. The next stage is Periodontitis which means the bacteria have advanced to cause the loss of some bone support around the teeth. Periodontitis is present in 40% of the general population but in a much higher percentage in the population over 40 years of age. Thus gum disease becomes more advanced the older we get and more complex to treat. Tradition treatment is removal of the bacteria from under the gum with the biofilm in the tissue and mineralized bacteria on the root surfaces. Today we use ultrasonics; time released localized antibiotics and topical anesthetics to make it comfortable. In for advanced cases or non responsive cases we use DNA testing, system antibiotics, and Laser instruments. Laser technology helps us treat severe gum disease we could not treat before as the beam penetrates and kills bacteria previously not reachable , creating a sterile zone where bacteria previously thrived and lived.

Many patients have conditions which make it them more susceptible to the bacteria of gum disease such as pregnant women, diabetics, smokers, older patients with limited motor skills, patients with old dental work who have put off have their teeth restored (bacteria trapped in and around old corroded surfaces), patients on medications which makes their month dry (reduces saliva flow) or cause overgrowth of gums (hyperplasia) like Dilantin. Patient who are on radiation or chemo therapy have little resistance to these bacteria, bulimic patients, patient’s who have chronic Halitosis , kids with severe gingivitis from not brushing and flossing or have braces on. Any patient with dentures or partials or anyone who does not floss regularly. Then there is patients under emotional stress from work or relationships which results in a compromised immune response to non invasive bacteria. When we do smile makeovers we require our patients to get their gums healthy through active treatment with our periodontal therapist Kim. This helps achieve a beautiful result, but too often patients let their gums go after their makeover and slowly the gum disease returns ultimately resulting in gum recession, root exposure and new spaces between their teeth at the gum line that look like dark holes between their teeth where gum used to be. So health and esthetic or beauty go hand in hand, you cannot have one without the other.

Slowly we are becoming aware of the far reaching effects of gum disease on our bodies. The bacteria between our teeth and in our gums get into our blood stream and is carried through our bodies. Physicians have discovered this link and now I get regular requests for consultations from MD’s wanting to do surgery on their patients but require the patient to be free of gum disease before they will go to surgery. The risk of doing surgery with bacteria from gum disease in the blood stream is too great unless it is a life threatening emergency. The connection to heart disease was discovered by the cardiologists as they realized these bacteria in the blood stream triggered the body’s immune system to release agents to eat or encapsulate this bacteria resulting in “plaque” in our arteries. This plague clogs our coronary arteries resulting in heart attacks.

Treatment for gum disease starts in the gingivitis stage in our office. Why wait till you have bone loose and biofilm in your tissue and bacteria in your blood stream? Interesting enough often periodontist (gum specialists) do not suggest treatment till the disease gets to the more advanced stage of periodontitis. Their offices are set up to handle more advanced gum disease many general dentists are not trained to treat and refer to the specialist. This presents a problem, as some people are under the opinion that they will get the best gum treatment in a periodontist office, and if they have periodontitis (bone involvement this is often true, but if they have gingivitis they may not be treated aggressively to stop the disease. In our office our goal is to keep the gum disease from advancing by treating the disease as early as possible. Unfortunately gingivitis often goes under treated as the insurance companies do not cover it. Hopefully our profession will correct this approach is the future as more research becomes available and the public become aware of it.

Your teeth are a very important part of your body and your life. When you have problems with your teeth or gums, you may not eat well most of the time. Your diet may be affected as well. Not to mention the agonizing pain you are experiencing whenever you have toothaches. 

Taking calcium supplements to maintain strong teeth is only one of the methods that you could use. There are also a wide variety of dental products that are proven effective and friendly to different kinds of consumers who have sensitive teeth. Your oral hygiene is the key in having a good appetite and you will not experience any weight loss in regards to this.

A pretty smile may come from within but it is also necessary to make it the same on the outside. Whiter and stain-free teeth are what the dental products nowadays are targeting. There are tons of brands of different dental products such as toothpastes, mouthwash, whitening strips, dental floss, bleaches and more. 

The vast selection of these products would depend on a consumer when he is picking the right product for him. He should be aware of its long time benefits, side effects, availability, popularity and cost.

It may sometimes be difficult to choose which is the best for you, you may sometimes be confused on what you should use. But the most important thing is, you should be able to brush your teeth at least twice a day and visit your dentist regularly. No matter how expensive and effective your brand of dental product is, you will not gain the best results if your passion about making your mouth healthy does not come from within.