South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry Blog, Taking Care of Your Teeth, Dental News

Toothpaste Spotlight – Crest

Posted on February 22, 2012

First introduced in the United States in 1955, Crest Toothpaste is one of the most popular toothpastes on the market. Manufactured by Procter & Gamble the Crest brand has been associated with about twenty brands of dental care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, dental floss, as well as a tooth-whitening product called Crest Whitestrips.

Widely known toothpaste brands manufactured by Crest include Crest Pro Health, Crest 3D White, Crest Cavity Protection, Crest Whitening and Scope flavored toothpaste.

Crest Pro Health includes fluoride in it which helps strengthen teeth. This toothpaste is known to kill bacteria associated with plaque and gingivitis. Crest 3D White is known for polishing away stains and giving your teeth a pearly whitening look. Crest Cavity Protection helps strenghten weak spots within your teeth which help in fighting cavities. Crest Whitening plus Scope Toothpaste combines the whitening power of Crest with the freshening power of Scope. It strengthens teeth and freshens breath all at once.

For more information on Crest’s dental hygiene products including which brand and type of toothpaste is right for you call your local Gentle Dental office today at 1-888-513-7436.

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Overbites Can Cause Dental Problems!

Posted on February 21, 2012

When the upper jaw extends further than the lower jaw it is called an overbite. Most overbites do not pose any problems. However, sometimes the teeth do not function properly because of the overbite. When this happens corrective dental measures are needed.

The significance of an overbite is that sometimes the teeth can wear unevenly, causing dental problems, and sometimes the teeth have an unnatural appearance if the upper teeth completely cover the bottom teeth. Also, the bottom teeth can cause problems for the upper palate if they rub against it.

If overbites aren’t treated they can cause TemporoMandibular Joint Syndrome or TMJ. This syndrome can cause neck pain, sleeping problems, jaw pain and migraines. Overbites can also cause people to bite their lips by mistake, which can lead to bleeding and infection.

Correction of an overbite is possible at any age, but this procedure is usually done when a child is between the ages of 10 and 14. There are several ways to correct an overbite including braces which are usually worn for about two and a half years. Once you have corrected your overbite you can prevent slippage by wearing a retainer at night. You should also have your Gentle Dental Dentist or Orthodontist check your teeth every few months, as usual, paying special attention to your overbite in case you need special treatments for maintenance.To learn more about overbites and to see what options you have to correct them for you and your family call Gentle Dental at 1-888-513-7436.

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How Do Cavities Form?

Posted on February 20, 2012

Cavities are one of those common dental problems that we all have to deal with at one time or another. Yet even though they are rather common and we all heard of them, people are sometimes not quite sure what causes cavities.

Cavities are caused by tooth decay. Within your mouth are bacteria that latch onto your teeth, creating a film called plaque. This plaque is generally easy to remove so long as it is cleaned within a day or two. If kept there to long though the plaque gradually wears down the surface of the teeth, leading to cavities and in some severe cases, tooth decay.

If you want to prevent cavities, it’s important to keep your mouth clean and free from food particles that can harbor or nourish the bacteria in your mouth. This means that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. You should also visit your Gentle Dental dentist twice a year for professional cleaning, fluoride treatments, and x-rays. Your dentist can help identify cavities that are developing and instruct you further on how to reverse the damage.

People of all ages get cavities. Fortunately they are treatable! One of the ways we can treat cavities is by using a filling. The treatment involves the removal of decayed tooth material in the cavity and then filling the hole with a special composite material to prevent further decay of the tooth. More advanced tooth decay can be dealt with using advanced restorative techniques such as the placement of dental crowns.

To make an appointment for a cleaning, fluoride treatment or x-ray with your local Gentle Dental dentist call 1-888-513-7436 and lets keep cavities out!

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Yes There Is An App For That!

Posted on February 17, 2012

Apple’s iPhone is one of the most popular smart phones on the planet and has millions of applications or apps that help all kinds of people in various aspects of their lives, even apps for your teeth and mouth. Below are few popular ones that may help with your oral health:

Mouth & Teeth is a dental app which covers various topics of various dental problems including overall dental health, gum disease, oral cancer, snoring, tonsils and various other topics. It is a very informative app which covers various aspects of these issues.

Brushy Time is an app which helps you maintain the amount of time for which you brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. It has an animated look that will be very helpful to teach children easily.

iBraces Help is a great app with useful information for patients who are currently using braces or patients who want to undergo orthodontic treatment. It includes pictures and videos with descriptions.

As you can see with technology, times are changing for all aspects of our life including our oral health. If you have an iphone or ipod touch try downloading a few of these great dental apps and to make an appointment with your local Gentle Dental office call 1-888-513-7436.

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Gum Disease Can Cause Breast Cancer

Posted on February 16, 2012

A recent study conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, found that women with gum disease which had advanced to the stage of losing teeth had a much higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. In this prospective clinical research study, 3,273 women between the ages of 30 and 40 years were evaluated between 1985 and 2001. Young women in this study who had documented chronic gum disease, or who had lost one or more molars due to gum disease, were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer when compared to women without periodontal disease.

The exact mechanism whereby chronic gum disease increases cancer risk is unknown at this time but some experts have proposed that bacteria from chronically inflamed gums may enter into the bloodstream, and induce an inflammatory response that, in turn, causes cancer formation.

The good news is that daily flossing, along with regular professional cleanings can protect your health and prevent gum disease. If you experience red, swollen, sore, or bleeding gums, or premature tooth loss you may have periodonal (gum) disease and should see your Gentle Dental dentist immediately. To make an appointment for a checkup or cleaning call 1-888-513-7436.

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Cleaning Your Tongue

Posted on February 15, 2012

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you have a white tongue? A white tongue is something that nobody wants to have. Why? A white tongue not only looks abnormal, but if left untreated, it’s a strong indication of a bad breath problem. Tongue cleaning or tongue scraping is a process that the majority of people in the United States don’t do on a daily basis. Yet, it’s one of the most important steps you can take to keep your breath clean and fresh!

Tongue cleaning is really not that difficult to do, and it’s not even very time consuming. That extra minute or two you spend on your tongue per day can reap huge rewards in preventing bad breath. It’ll help prevent a white tongue, return it to it’s normal color, and most importantly cut down on bad breath.

Starting at the base of your tongue, place a tongue cleaner/scraper flush against your tongue’s surface and make slow sweeping strokes from the back to the front. You can start at either side of your tongue and work your way across to the other side. Depending on the tongue cleaner you are using, you might need to make three to four different swaths across your white tongue.

Once the surface debris from your white tongue has been removed, apply a small bead of toothpaste to the head of your tongue cleaner. Make sure your toothpaste does not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate because this ingredient will dry out your mouth.

Gently coat the surface of your tongue (as far back as possible without gagging yourself) with the toothpaste. This allows the toothpaste to penetrate below the surface of your tongue and neutralize those sulfur-producing anaerobic bacteria. There is more bacteria in the rear of your tongue than in the front!

Once your tongue is coated, allow the toothpaste to stay on the surface of your tongue as long as you can. Up to 90 seconds is ideal, but if you start to gag it is okay to spit and rinse. If you leave the toothpaste on the surface of your tongue, while you brush your teeth normally that is ideal.

For more information on tongue brushing and keeping you and your families breath fresh contact your local Gentle Dental dentist at 1-888-513-7436.

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Mouthwash Spotlight – Listerine

Posted on February 14, 2012

Listerine is one of the most popular mouthwashes sold in the United States. Originally marketed by the Lambert Pharmaceutical Company (which later became Warner-Lambert). It is currently manufactured and distributed by Johnson and Johnson and was named after Joseph Lister who promoted the idea of sterile surgery by sterilizing instruments. It has been around since 1876.

It is recommended to use about 4 teaspoonfuls morning and night for 30 seconds each time. You should not swallow it and should keep it at room temperature and away from young children. Listerine has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance for helping to prevent and reduce gingivitis and plaque. It also helps in dealing with bad breath (halitosis) caused by smoking.

Listerine is known to kill millions of germs on contact. It leaves your mouth feeling, and smelling fresh, and clean, and your gums tingling. There are many flavor varieties including original, which has a strong taste to it and others that are more milder including the Cool Citrus & Cool Mint flavors.

To learn more about Listerine mouthwash and to see if is the right mouthwash solution for you contact your local Gentle Dental office by calling 1-888-513-7436.

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Psychology and The Dentist Chair

Posted on February 13, 2012

It is estimated that as many as 75% of US adults experience some degree of dental fear, from mild to severe. It isn’t a shock that going to the dentist isn’t the most enticing thing to do during the day, especially for children and younger people. Some people that have extreme cases of avoiding the dentist may even be classified as having a dental phobia.

Direct experience is the most common way people develop dental fears. Most people report that their dental fear began after a traumatic, difficult, and/or painful dental experience. However, painful or traumatic dental experiences alone do not explain why people develop dental phobia. Sometimes it’s an impersonal past experience with a prior dentist.

We at Gentle Dental want to make your experience as comfortable as possible, both mentally and physically. All our dentists and hygienists use positive reinforcement, non-threatening language, and tell-show-do techniques which includes verbal explanations of procedures in easy-to-understand language (tell), followed by demonstrations of the sights, sounds, smells, and tactile aspects of the procedure in a non-threatening way (show), followed by the actual procedure (do). We can also help with more specialized behavioral treatments that include teaching patients relaxation techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.

For more information on how Gentle Dental can make your experience even more “gentle” please call 1-888-513-7436 and don’t forget to keep smiling!

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Bad Breath & Valentines Day

Posted on February 10, 2012

Did your know a Valentine’s Day kiss is good for your health! A nice smooch will stimulate saliva production which can help prevent tooth decay. Having bad breath, or halitosis, can be embarrassing. Especially on Valentines Day.

The best way to prevent bad breath is to eliminate the potential causes. Bacteria lingering in your mouth from food or infections can create odors (and lead to decay). Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day is a good start. Also clean your tongue –it can retain bacteria. A gentle and thorough cleaning with a tongue scraper or toothbrush can remove lingering food particles.

Foods play a role in lingering bad breath. Most people know they should avoid foods with strong smelling ingredients, like garlic or onion. Foods such as apples or oranges contain helpful enzymes that naturally remove bacteria. Crunchy foods like carrots or celery help stimulate the flow of saliva which also helps get rid of odor causing bacteria. Chewing on parsley or mint leaves can also help freshen your breath.

Sometimes the cause of halitosis is a dry mouth and not food. Saliva is a natural cleaner for the mouth, helping to remove food and other particles that may cause halitosis. Some people don’t produce enough saliva to keep their mouth wet. People experiencing dry mouth can stimulate the flow of saliva with sugarless gum or candy. It is also a good idea to drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Try to avoid alcohol and tobacco; both are “drying agents” which remove saliva from your mouth. Ultimately that can lead to an increase in bad breath and a higher tendency to tooth decay.

Adding a mouthwash to your daily care routine can help sweeten your breath. Select alcohol-free products — they are less drying. And, pick a mouthwash with fluoride; it can help prevent cavities by strengthening your teeth.

So on this Valentines Day, make sure to brush, floss and rinse before you pucker up! Oh yes, don’t forget to make regular visits to your local Gentle Dental office as well. To make an appointment call 1-888-513-7436.

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Toothpaste Spotlight – Colgate

Posted on February 9, 2012

Colgate, one of the most popular names in oral care around the world carries over 30 different types of toothpaste. All of the toothpastes under the Colgate brand are FDA-approved and recommended by the American Dental Association.

Colgate Total Advanced is a range of nine different types of toothpaste, all approved by the FDA to fight plaque and gingivitis. Each provides 12-hour protection against plaque and gingivitis. It also fights these oral problems if you already have them. Colgate Total Advanced is also formulated to fight tartar buildup and halitosis (bad breath). Some of the most popular Colgate Total Advanced products includes, Total Whitening Gel, Total Advanced Whitening Paste and Total Advanced Clean.

Colgate Total offers much the same types of benefits as Colgate Total Advanced, including 12-hour protection, and prevention of plaque, tartar and gingivitis. The toothpastes in the Colgate Total line include Colgate Total Clean Mint Paste; Colgate Total Whitening Paste, which helps to remove surface stains and also whitens the teeth.

If you suffer from dentin hypersensitivity, or tooth pain then you may want to look into these two types of Colgate toothpaste. Colgate Sensitive Whitening reduces sensitivity, removes stains, freshens breath and protects against cavities. Colgate Sensitive Enamel Protect offers the same benefits as Colgate Sensitive Whitening minus the stain removal option. Relief comes within two weeks of using either type.

If surface stains caused by substances such as coffee and tea is a problem you have you should take a look at Colgate Visible White. This type of paste fights these stains and helps to protect against the formation of new ones. It contains sodium fluoride and phosphate to protect against cavities and tartar.

Colgate 2 in 1 offers the uniqueness of having toothpaste and mouthwash in one liquid gel. When using the gel it foams in the mouth. This foam is intended to reach in between each tooth to eliminate bacteria and germs that cause halitosis.

Colgate’s, parent company has been around for over 200 years so it is a sure bet that it is an established and safe brand of toothpaste to use on you and your families teeth. For more information on the benefits of Colgate brand toothpaste speak with your local Gentle Dental Dentist by calling 1-888-513-7436.

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