You are currently browsing the Oral Care category

How A Good Oral Hygiene And Teeth Care Can Prolong Your Life

  • December 28, 2010 at 6:19 am



Have you ever heard of the disease called Focal Infection? Well, it won’t surprise me if you have no idea what I am talking about. However, what you should know, and this is very important, is that you stand the risk of contracting a deadly disease that can kill very fast, if you do not have a good oral hygiene and teeth care. For goodness sake keep a regular appointment with both your doctor and dentist.

Focal infection can be easily overlooked, which is why it’s usually very fatal, because the disease can develop in your teeth, gums or the tonsil and be seen as ordinary oral problem if you do not let your dentist look into your mouth regularly.

According to Dr Price, people who have had their teeth root canal treated could develop focal infection. So you can see why it is very important to keep a regular appointment with both your physician and dentist who are trained to recognize signs of focal infection.

Though it could be said that focal infection is not pandemic, but according to Dr Martin H. Fischer, “Focal infection started in a tooth is obviously no trivial matter! From it are destined to flow into the periphery (other gland, organs and tissues) what amounts to unexpected and acute orchronic invalidism at the best, at the worse, death.”

Wow, so who wants to be associated with so much Doctor talk when you can prevent focal infection by simply ensuring proper oral hygiene and teeth care? All the oral and teeth care hygiene stuff you need can be found both at the corner shop and online at ridiculously cheap prices, and you can also locate the best dentists in your area online, and keep regular appointments that will prolong your life .

Make oral hygiene and teeth care your daily habit brushing at least twice and flossing once a day for a long sickness free life. Focal infection problem is deadly because people take their oral hygiene and teeth care for granted. Always remember that any problem tooth can predispose focal infection, so take adequate care of problem teeth, gum, tongue and tonsils. These are the organs that focal disease favors.

Finally, Let me repeat that though both your doctor and dentist can detect focal infection, there is no way they can help you if you don’t visit them regularly. Having said that, remember that your oral hygiene and teeth care is your responsibility in the first instance. Do not live without all the teeth care and oral hygiene stuff necessary for sickness free life.

Oral Health Concerns and Dental Hygiene During Pregnancy

  • December 26, 2010 at 7:25 am



Pregnancy poses unique dental situations. If you are pregnant, your teeth and your gums are prone to various gum diseases primarily because of the increase in your hormone levels.

That is why you should practice extreme dental care during your entire pregnancy period. Bear in mind that if you fail to perform the appropriate dental hygiene procedures, you and your child may suffer from serious health consequences such as the following:

Pregnancy Gingivitis

This is the most popular oral health condition that affects women who are pregnant. Based on the recent statistics, more than 60% of all pregnant women are affected with pregnancy gingivitis. This oral health illness is often caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque in between the teeth.

If you have pregnancy gingivitis, you will notice that your gums are becoming reddish and swollen. Your gums may also recede as you feel that your teeth are becoming loose.

You might notice some pus developing in your gum line and you will have bad breath no matter how frequently you brush. If this is the case, you should consult your dentist right away. Fortunately, pregnancy gingivitis can be managed and treated right away in order to prevent the occurrence of a periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is technically a complication that results from unmanaged and untreated pregnancy gingivitis. If you have this illness, your bone will deteriorate, as well as your gum tissues.

If you have periodontal disease, you may notice that your gums are quite tender, reddish and inflamed. In some cases, you might experience frequent bleeding of your gums as well.

Aside from these symptoms, you will also have chronic bad breath as well as tooth loss and other gum infections. However, you should take note that some periodontal diseases are asymptomatic which means that your gums and bone structure are decaying with no apparent symptoms.

If you think you have periodontal disease, you should consult with your dentist and your physician right away as this illness is often associated with pre-term labor and babies with low-birth weight.

Pregnancy Tumors

If you have pregnancy gingivitis or periodontal disease, you should consult your dentist right away and ask him to examine if you are on the verge of developing pregnancy tumors.

If you have the gum diseases discussed above, then you are highly at risk for pregnancy tumors or “pyogenic granulomas.” If you develop these tumors, you will find it hard to eat and speak. Even yawning can become difficult for you. However, the good news is that these tumors can be removed right away through a surgical procedure.

Care Of Your Dog’s Teeth

  • December 19, 2010 at 12:08 am



Studies of dog teeth and mouth issues show a whopping 98% of cases of bad breath in dogs are caused by periodontal disease, resulting from tartar buildup and gum infections. This should be seen as a serious warning that, left unchecked, can lead to serious health problems and very possibly the shortening of our pets’ lives.

Bacteria combines with saliva and leftover food debris in the area between the gums and your dog’s teeth, causing plaque accumulation. Bacteria grows within the plaque. As the plaque ages, gingivitis turns into periodontitis and with deposited calcium salts, quickly turns the plaque into tarter.

The bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide that causes halitosis, known as “bad doggy breath”, evidenced by a yellow- and brown-colored buildup of tarter on the dog’s teeth with inflamed gums and terrible bad breath, that people tend to notice first.

Oral disease is the most diagnosed health problem in dogs.

80% of dogs exhibit signs of gum disease by age three. For whatever reason, people don’t realize their dogs need preventive dental care until the signs show up.

The inflamed gums of gingivitis can be reversed with a thorough removal of plaque and continued plaque control. This course of action must be followed to help add years to your dog’s teeth and, more importantly, your pet’s life.

Pockets of puss can form in the environment along the gum line and cause your dog’s teeth to separate from the gums, which further allows food and bacteria to accumulate, causing periodontal disease. This will destroy the tissue structure that supports your canine’s teeth. Don’t allow this to happen.

Periodontits is irreversible and should be contained to prevent it from progressing.

The disease causes swollen gums that are red in color and tender. The gums will recede and bleed, producing pain and bad breath in dogs. Left untreated, periodontitis results in tooth loss in your dog. Infection due to periodontal disease can enter the blood stream, potentially infecting the heart, kidneys and liver, and may lead to other health problems in the pet’s latter years.

If we provide proper oral care to our canine family members we can actually extend their lives by as much as three to five years.

If you live in an area with hard water, your dog’s teeth may develop tartar deposits. Tooth problems are more likely if your dog eats mostly soft foods, because these leave debris in gum pockets at the base of your dog’s teeth, leading to infections. Dry food and hard bones won’t keep your dog’s teeth clean. Hard foods will not remove plaque below the gum line, and hard bones are the primary cause of your dog’s teeth breaking.

Introduce toothbrushing slowly to gradually accustom your dog to having you handle its mouth.

Plaque is the problem. The solution is a toothbrush that can reach the critical groove area at the gum line. Regular brushing of your dog’s teeth is the best way to prevent all these problems.You’ll be able to clean your dog’s teeth and take care of its mouth without too much difficulty. It should become part of a routine, like grooming.

Raw knuckle bones are great because they are soft and allow dogs to scrape their teeth into the bone, nicely cleaning food and tartar from teeth.

An effective method for preventing tarter buildup and for maintaining clean teeth is giving your dog raw knuckle bones (the joints) from your local butcher or meat counter at the supermarket. They have tendons and muscle meat to provide a nice oral workout as well as a healthy amount of natural calcium. Your dog will enjoy a knuckle bone, will be content and relaxed while chewing and a little sleepy afterwards.

Keep your dog on a towel that is easily washed. Supervise your dog to make sure it doesn’t swallow a large piece, leading to choking or digestive problems. Give your dog bones that are too large to swallow and NOT cooked. Cooked bones can splinter and cause mouth injury as well as intestinal problems. Do NOT give unthawed frozen bones which may possibly break your dog’s teeth. Raw carrots are a good substitute.

Any loose or obsessed teeth in your dog should be addressed by the veterinarian dentist as soon as possible.

Knowing Tooth Decay and Its Modern Treatments

  • December 3, 2010 at 8:17 pm



“Tooth decay, also known as dental cavities, or dental caries, is a disease that is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.” — Michael C. Alfano, Dean of the New York University College of Dentistry.

As warned by the World Health Organization, tooth decay is one of the world’s most prevalent health problems in industrialized and especially in developing countries. An estimate of 90% people in the United States has at least one cavity. Children and senior citizens are the two groups of people at highest risk.

In children, it usually happens when sugar-laden foods such as candies are frequently left on the teeth. In the mouth, there are bacteria that live in plaque (a sticky, whitish film produced by our saliva) that convert the sugar into acids. These acids eat away the tooth’s protective coating also known as the enamel. Excessive destruction of this outer surface of the tooth results in tooth decay.

What makes adults also prone to being afflicted with tooth decay is when aging causes gums to move back from the teeth. Combined with gum disease, this gum recession exposes the tooth root to plaque. This will cause the breakdown of the tooth root. People who already have a number of dental restorations (fillings and crowns) may also suffer from tooth decay, especially around the teeth’s edges, or margins.

The cost of spoiling your sweet tooth. Tooth decay, particularly in the front teeth, may become an impediment towards achieving a pleasing appearance, thus affecting self-esteem. Cavities can also impact an individual’s emotional and social well being by causing pain and discomfort from toothache. In addition to this, it can also cause some serious health problem like malnutrition by interfering with an individual’s ability to eat certain foods. If tooth decay is not treated early, complication from infection could cause swelling of the face and neck, fever and blood poisoning.

Prevention is a lot less expensive AND less painful than treatment. Although tooth decay remains as one of the most common chronic disease, today many people are in better oral health than before. The consolidated effort of dental associations and many other health organizations in raising oral health consciousness, the support of the government, and cooperation from the public made this improvement attainable. Several community-based programs aimed at solving oral health dilemmas are carried out. These include extending fluoridated water and schools having sealant projects for children. However, these programs cannot reach many remote areas where ethnic minorities are and where many people are living in poverty. Their access to formal education and dental care is very limited. This shows the need for more community-based dental programs to help people take care of their teeth.

The American Association for Dental Research and International Association for Dental Research have long been collaborating to disseminate ways of preventing tooth decay. They educate people of how proper oral hygiene methods of brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, regular dental checkup, sealant treatment, flossing, eating nutritious meals, and limiting in-between meals will always be indispensable.

Dental researchers have recently discovered how the bacteria which attack teeth, stick themselves to the enamel. This new information could bring significant benefits to increase the public’s knowledge on eliminating the harmful effects of the tooth decay-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans). Aside from this, they are also in the process of developing vaccines against tooth decay and discovering other new methods on targeting and killing the decay-causing bacteria.

Other tooth decay treatments, i.e., dental implants, Healozone gas blast (blast that triggers the saliva to fix the teeth naturally), and squirting genetically modified bacteria that will not produce the decay acid, are also being developed. The use of fiber optics and fluorescence methodologies is also being considered to possibly detect tooth decay much sooner than x-rays and visual inspections can.

These advancements in treating dental cavities are evidences of the increasing attention to oral care. But relying mainly on these discoveries does not guarantee the complete disappearance of tooth decay from the list of the most common global health problems. Further improvements on tooth decay treatment entails expanded dental care education, early interception of poor oral hygiene habits, greater parental involvement in children’s dental health and appreciating how priceless a confident smile is.

————————-

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

————————-

The Importance of Dog Dental Care

  • November 7, 2010 at 8:26 am



Dogs and humans share many common health issues, including dental care. Just as humans must practice good oral hygiene to stay healthy, more and more studies show that regular oral care is also important for your dog’s health. Dental care for dogs is a relatively new concept. However, veterinarians now believe that proper oral hygiene can actually help your dog live a healthier and longer life.

Just like a human, a dog’s teeth will deteriorate over time if they are neglected. Poor dental care can cause pain, discomfort, illness and even infections for your dog.

Dental Disease In Dogs First, sugars and other food particles cause a layer of plaque to build up on the teeth. This plaque creates bacteria, which can be removed by chewing and eating dry dog food.

Next, the plaque solidifies into a hard, mineralized substance called tartar. Tartar build-up will eventually cause Gingivitis. Symptoms include swollen, bleeding gums and foul breath.

When tartar is left untreated, it builds to a certain level on the teeth and settles under the gums. And periodontal disease sets in. This disease eats away at the flesh, creating gaps between the teeth and gums. These gaps harbor massive amounts of bacteria. Damage from periodontal disease is permanent, and can include abscesses, infections, and tooth loss.

In the worst cases of Periodontal disease, bacteria leaks into the bloodstream, causing infections in the bloodstream and kidneys. Further complications can lead to death. This is why dental health care for your dog is so important.

Prevention

So how do you prevent this? Give your dog daily oral exams. Look for:

- reddened or bleeding gums
- chipped or cracked teeth
- swollen lips or gums
- These are signs of disease or injury and should be reported to your veterinarian.

Next, brush your dogs teeth; every day. This can be done using a washcloth and your finger, or a special doggie toothbrush. Never use human toothpaste on your dog. Because your dog can’t “rinse-and-spit”, he needs a toothpaste with a lower grit. You can purchase supplies at any pet store, online, or through your veterinarian.

Chew toys with ridges and bumps are excellent tartar removers. Keep your dog on dry food. Crunching the kibble helps prevent tartar build up.

Your vet can do the necessary routine dental cleanings. This is done under anesthesia. Your vet will also take dental X-rays to check for any abnormalities and to ensure that all the teeth are strong and healthy. Afterwards, your dogs teeth will be clean and healthy.

Dental care for dogs, with it’s cleanings and x-rays, can be just as expensive as a trip to a human dentist. Fortunately, another new concept is “Pet Health Insurance”. You can learn more by going online. You can also check with your local pet store, veterinarian or your own health insurance company to see what type of coverage is available.

Why Therabreath is Better Than Any Other Oral Care Product

  • October 25, 2010 at 7:49 am



1/ TheraBreath active component are soothing and produces Oxidizing Power once it enters the mouth. This stabilization procedure permits TheraBreath to have maximum 3 year shelf life. When any of the TheraBreath products enter your mouth, a chemical reaction occurs, which permits bounty of Active Oxygenation to happen each and every time you make use of it. That’s why millions and millions of bottles and tubes of TheraBreath products are sold every week in just the U.S. single-handedly!

2/ TheraBreath has turn out to be the most “comprehensible” unsullied breath system, comprising of Oral Rinse, Toothpaste, Breath Spray, intense PowerDrops, Oxygenating Chewing Gum, (all in both normal and Extra Strength editions), together with Nasal Sinus Drops and ZOX Breath Lozenges, and Fresh Breath Strips, all intended to hit the origin of the trouble all through the day with the maximum of expediency. A few Breath-refreshing systems depend exclusively on mouthwash to get rid of Bad Breath(Halitosis).

3/ TheraBreath Toothpaste is also found in a Fluoride edition which protects against decay and tooth sensitivity, in addition to a non-fluoride edition which takes in Xylitol to protect against decay. Fluoride has also been revealed to be a successful de-sensitizing mediator. A few of the other “Anti-Halitosis” systems do not take in any Fluoride at all. In both the ways, TheraBreath Toothpaste helps to protect against decay, on top of Bad Breath (Halitosis), dreadful tastes, and dry mouth.

4/ We have added extremely strong Whole Leaf Aloe Vera to our toothpaste. Current research in Asia has revealed that Aloe Vera improves the body’s capability to form collagen, which also reinforces feeble and inflamed gums to restore to health more rapidly. Bleeding gums make available a protein source to the bacteria that produce Bad Breath (Halitosis). No other “anti- Halitosis” process takes in this type of Aloe Vera to fight this supplementary trouble.

5/ Therabreath toothpaste does not have Saccharin. A lot of other breath-refreshing products like Oxyfresh, TriOral, and Closys II have saccharin. Saccharin has been known to be carcinogenic in lab animals and the state of California has lately made available a long term research on its pessimistic consequences. In addition to this, for a few people, Saccharin produces a bitter savor, as a result of one of the chemical compounds formed during Saccharin’s chemical breakdown.

6/ TheraBreath toothpaste does not have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a strong detergent), which along with other things has been known to be linked to an augmented occurrence of canker sores. Nearly all toothpastes like TriOral and Oxyfresh have this chemical. Research has revealed that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate should not be applied by those who experience canker sores, those who are diabetic or those who experience dry mouth.

Toothpaste that contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate will cause high levels of bubbles in the mouth. You will be better off rinsing out these odour-causing bacteria from your mouth by brushing more often.

7/ TheraBreath toothpaste is in reality a gel. Chemically speaking, gels are to great extent smaller molecules than pastes, permitting deeper infiltration under the surface of the tongue. TheraBreath toothpaste also have first showing tooth polishing and whitening agents, so as to maintain your smile white and dazzling, however without the harmful abrasives. They are animal cruelty-free and are not damaging to the atmosphere. And, we’ve lately got Kosher guarantee on all of our rinses, toothpastes, sprays, drops, and mints. This implies that we make use of simply pure vegetable or mineral based components – no animal or animal-based components.

8/ All of our toothpastes now have a new variety of mineral protectant known as Polypyrophosphate machinery. On the whole, these natural minerals stop calculus, tartar and plaque from attaching to tooth enamel, resulting in cleaner teeth and improved gums.

No other “breath” toothpaste has these valuable minerals. Actually, only a few manufacturers have worried to spend the funds to put in this to their formulas.

Well, I guess their bottom line comes prior to your gum line!