Oral health tips to carry into the New Year
The new year is almost here, making it the perfect time to think about what healthy habits you should start including. Don’t forget about your oral health when adding healthy habits to your New Year’s resolutions list. Here are four healthy dental hygiene habits to add to your resolutions list for the new year. Remember to visit your dentist at least twice a year as well. Consider getting cleaning and fillings for your teeth or even undergoing a teeth whitening procedure. Some people may need the help of cosmetic dentistry as well.
Revamping Your Morning And Night Routine
If you want to maintain your oral health, then you’ll need to create a dental hygiene routine for yourself. Spend at least ten minutes in the morning, and ten minutes at night, on your routine. You should include two minutes devoted to brushing your teeth, two minutes for flossing, as well as one minute for cleaning your tongue. Then, you’ll need to use mouthwash as well.
One way you can make your dental hygiene routine more fun is by creating a music playlist that you can listen to while you care for your teeth. You can brush your teeth for the duration of a song, floss your teeth and clean your tongue over the next song. Adding your favorite songs to your dental hygiene routine makes caring for your oral health more fun. Cleaning your teeth properly helps reduce the need for professional cleaning and fillings.
Get Great Oral Hygiene Products
Before you buy your next toothpaste, check the label first. Does it contain fluoride? This is an essential ingredient in toothpaste. It helps strengthen parts of the tooth that are weak, as well as any exposed roots. It would be best if you also considered any dental conditions you might have. Do you have sensitive teeth? Then avoid toothpaste that’s meant for tooth whitening. You can also talk to your dentist about what products you should use on your teeth.
You can also find toothpaste dedicated to specific oral health purposes. There are those that are anti-plaque, which helps prevent the build-up of plaque in your teeth. You can find a toothpaste that allows you to whiten your teeth, especially for smokers. You can also get a tooth whitening treatment from a dentist.
You’ll also need to use mouthwash after you brush your teeth. Ideally, get the mouthwash that serves the same purpose as your toothpaste. For example, if you have sensitive teeth, try both toothpaste and mouthwash meant for people with sensitive teeth.
Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones
What you eat and snack on can have an impact on your teeth as well. When the food you eat is nutritious, your teeth will be stronger. Consider adding natural whole-food supplements to your diet. You can also take vitamins that help maintain oral health, such as vitamins D, C, and A. In addition to this, calcium and phosphorous supplements can also be beneficial for your teeth. With any nutritional supplement, it is best to speak with your dentist or physician first.
You should also drink more water. This could dry out your mouth if you aren’t drinking enough water. This, in turn, could lead to tooth and gum-related problems. Drinking at least eight tall glasses of water a day would be best. At the same time, your stress levels can also affect your oral health. You may forget to do your dental hygiene routine or skip it altogether when stressed out. Increased stress compromises your immune system and triggers the release of cortisol, the stress hormone. When your body has increased cortisol levels, this triggers increased protein production in the gums. This causes inflammation in the gums and also increases your chances of experiencing gum-related diseases, such as gingivitis.
To reduce stress in your life, adopt good habits such as meditation, yoga, as well as deep breathing. You could also pursue a new hobby, such as photography.
Keep in mind that when you don’t tackle your bad habits, you may need to invest in cosmetic dentistry later on.
Invest In Your Oral Health
You mustn’t avoid your dental cleaning and fillings. Schedule your dentist appointment ahead of time to ensure that you don’t forget at the last minute, and end up skipping them. Get dental cleanings and fillings, or do an annual teeth whitening procedure.
It would be best to visit your dentist at least twice a year. This applies even if you think there’s nothing wrong with your teeth. Getting a dental checkup can help the dentist to detect any signs of tooth or gum decay. When these problems are taken care of earlier, you’re less likely to suffer serious oral health problems later on.
As people age, the color of their teeth also changes. It gradually becomes more and more yellow. Smoking can significantly exacerbate this, but even drinking coffee can make your teeth yellow. To get rid of the yellow tinge, get professional teeth whitening done. When you book a professional teeth whitening treatment, you’ll get visibly better results than at-home treatments.
If you’re still unhappy with your smile, consider cosmetic dentistry. If you need braces, then investing in Invisalign can enable you to fix your teeth without losing your smile. When you invest in oral health, you ensure that your teeth stay healthy longer. When using Invisalign aligners, you avoid needing more complicated cosmetic dentistry procedures to correct your teeth. Avoid plaque-related issues, cavities, and the need for expensive dental treatments, by investing in your oral health today.
These four habits will help you to maintain excellent oral health in the coming year. You can smile brighter and feel confident when you have great oral health. From creating a dental hygiene routine to choosing the right toothpaste, this guide details what you should do to maintain your oral health this coming year.
Feeling under the weather? The 101 on caring for your oral health when your sick
It’s flu season, which means more people are about to deal with stuffy noses, congestion, fever, and more. Even if you happen to fall sick, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore your oral hygiene. Which leads to the question, how can you maintain good oral health if you’re down with the flu?
If you are experiencing issues with your teeth, such as increased sensitivity, when you have the flu, you’ll need to visit a dentist. A specialist in pediatric dentistry can be beneficial for your child. You can also ask your dentist for dental cleanings, as these can keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright.
How Colds and the Flu Affect Oral Health
Breathing through your nose may be challenging when you have a cold or the flu. This is due to congestion. When this happens, you’re more likely to try to breathe out of your mouth. This is bad for oral health, as it could dry your mouth. Saliva is needed to fight off bacteria as well as get rid of food debris. When you have a dry mouth, this dramatically increases your chances of experiencing tooth decay.
If you’re sick, you should also keep yourself well-hydrated. Some decongestants, antihistamines, and painkillers can make your mouth dry out. This is why you should take extra care to stay hydrated. You may also notice a weird taste in your mouth when you have a cold. At these times, you can get bad breath as well.
This is due to the post-nasal drip or the excess mucus leaking down your throat. Bacteria can multiply easily in such environments, which can cause bad breath. To get rid of this kind of bad breath, you’ll need to brush and floss your teeth, even if you feel sick. Speaking of bacteria, they also love the sugar that’s present in food, cough drops, and sweets. Make sure that the cough syrup you choose is sugar-free to ward off bacteria in your mouth.
You could also find yourself vomiting if you have the flu. When you vomit, food debris may be left behind in your mouth. Vomit also hastens tooth decay and can have a negative effect on your oral health. If you do find yourself vomiting, then use mouthwash afterward.
Did You Know Cold And Flu Remedies Can Affect Your Teeth?
If you have a cold or the flu, then you can find yourself taking the following medicines:
- Cough drops and lozenges
- Cough and decongestive syrups
- Sugar filled beverages
- Antacids
These can affect your oral health in various ways. Cough drops and lozenges are made of sugar. These can cause tooth decay. This is why you should limit how many cough drops you take in a day and ensure that you don’t keep them on your tongue for too long.
Both colds, as well as the flu, increase the amount of mucus your body produces. Therefore, it may make it difficult for you to breathe. Decongestants can be super helpful, as they can dry out the sinuses. However, decongestants and cough syrup can also cause dry mouth. If the saliva production in the mouth is reduced, the growth of bacteria in your mouth can increase. This can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Sugar-filled beverages are loaded with sugar, and oral bacteria love to feast on this sugar. If the beverage is acidic, such as orange juice, it can affect your tooth enamel. Sugar-filled beverages can also make your teeth more susceptible to cavities.
Antacids can wreak havoc on your teeth as well and cause tooth decay. They lower the production of saliva in your mouth. When your mouth is dry, bacteria can run rampant in your mouth more easily. Avoid antacids that have sugar.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene When Under The Weather
Taking care of your oral health is essential, even if you feel under the weather. But once you recover, you should replace the oral hygiene tools you’ve been using. This means getting a new toothbrush, tongue scraper, and anything else you may have used when you were sick. Should you use mouth guards, retainers, or other kinds of oral appliances, then these should be cleaned thoroughly. They should also be disinfected before you put them in your mouth again.
Remember to use salt water to rinse and gargle your mouth after you recover. If you need to take cough drops, then these should be sugar-free. You can drink electrolyte beverages as well as fruit juices, but ensure that these are sugar-free. Most importantly, it would be best if you stay hydrated at all times. When you have good saliva production in your mouth, you prevent harmful oral bacteria from growing there.
You may not want to consider maintaining your oral health when you’re sick. But if you don’t practice good dental hygiene, even when you’re sick, this could cause your teeth to decay. Ensure that you visit a dentist for a thorough dental cleaning at least twice a year, especially after you have recovered from the flu. This guide details everything you need to know about practicing good oral hygiene if you have a cold or the flu.
Protecting your smile for the holidays
Ashraf Dentistry weighs in on four tips to protect your smile this holiday. (Source: WebMD, 4 Tips to Protect Your Holiday Smile, by Jodi Helmer, Medically Reviewed by Eric Yabu, DDS, August 19, 2014, https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/holiday-smile ).
Jodi Helmer believes that consuming sweets during the festive period does not necessarily mean dental cavities going ahead. Jodi Helmer has listed four tips for protecting dental health during the holidays, and Ashraf Dentistry agrees. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “sweets during the holidays aren’t the most harmful thing for your teeth. What’s harmful is not taking the right steps to protect them.”
- Avoid excessive sweet consumption
Helmer says that the combination of the holidays and sweet mouthfuls is great until too much of those sweet mouthfuls result in increased teeth sensitivity and pain. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “sugar consumption is associated with increased acid levels in the mouth. Also, bacteria feed on sugar, and bacteria festering inside the mouth can lead to rapid tooth decay.”
According to Helmer, limiting your sweet intake is the best way to avoid all that sugar wreaking havoc inside your mouth. Ashraf Dentistry suggests, “it’s best to steer clear of sugary sweets altogether and instead opt for sugar-free alternatives. People should also stick to single desserts after meals followed by a thorough 2-minute brushing session.”
- Eat nuts with care
Next, Helmer goes on to talk about the importance of taking care when eating nuts. According to Helmer, many people prefer cracking nut shells with their mouths but end up damaging their teeth. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “nut shells can be incredibly hard to crack open using teeth, and it’s best to use a nutcracker for the job.”
In the article, Helmer quotes Columbia University College of Dental Medicine professor Steven Chussid. Chussid warns that all it takes is one poor decision to damage the teeth and create the need to visit a dentist.
- Maintain a healthy routine
In the third point, Helmer stresses the need to brush twice daily. Ashraf Dentistry shares, “it can be difficult to maintain a routine during the holiday season due to the daily festivities. However, not maintaining one can significantly raise the risks associated with tooth decay and enamel erosion.” Helmer also points out that keeping a toothbrush and toothpaste handy for on-the-go brushes is a good idea.
Additionally, Ashraf Dentistry recommends “each brushing session must be at least 2 minutes long. This gives toothpaste the time to work its magic and eliminate stains and bacteria.” The last thing you would want after the expenses of the holiday season is to spend money on avoidable cleanings and fillings.
- Don’t ignore appointments
Routine dental exams may be voluntary, but you can consider them mandatory to maintain good dental health and hygiene. This is what Helmer has to say in the third point.
Ashraf Dentistry shares, “routine dental exams can help identify minor issues, so you can take the appropriate steps to resolve them before they become major problems.”
In addition to Helmer’s points, Ashraf Dentistry also expresses, ” thankfully; there are many wonderful innovative dental solutions in the event of a dental issue. Suppose you want to correct your oral health issues before the New Year. In that case, you may want to inquire about and consider CEREC® Restorations, which are beneficial for people needing crowns, implants, inlays, onlays, partial crowns, and veneers. Botox Therapeutics can be effective in avoiding headaches and migraines arising from teeth clenching and grinding issues. Although festivities are a priority, don’t forget about your oral health this season.”
Do You Have A Dental Emergency?
Experiencing discomfort in your teeth can be annoying, but many people choose not to go to the dentist, despite the pain. They let the pain grow until it becomes a dental emergency. So how do you know it’s time to go to the dentist? What exactly do you do in the event of a dental emergency?
How to Identify Dental Emergency
If you’re dealing with any dental issue that requires treatment from a dentist immediately to alleviate pain, then this is considered a dental emergency. You could be experiencing:
- You may have lost a tooth. If you’re about to lose a tooth, it can sometimes be saved through emergency treatment.
- Suppose you’re in a lot of pain. Anytime you experience intense pain from your teeth or gums, it’s time to visit the dentist.
- If you have an infection, if your face is swollen, or if your gums have swollen, these can both indicate that you have an infection.
- If your teeth are loose, even if there’s no pain, loose teeth can still require emergency dental treatment.
- Suppose there’s blood in your mouth. Anytime this happens, it’s time to visit the dentist.
Dental First Aid Tips
When you spot a dental emergency, the first thing you should do is book a dental appointment. Until you visit your dentist, here are some emergency dental tips to help relieve pain and care for your teeth.
In A Pinch, At Home Tips
- Rinse your mouth using a saltwater solution. Simply mix salt into lukewarm water to make the solution.
- Rinse your mouth using a hydrogen peroxide rinse.
- Apply an ice pack to the part of your face that looks swollen or the part that’s causing you pain.
- Aloe Vera can help you during a dental emergency as well. Apply the aloe vera gel to the surface of your face, the part where the pain is coming from. This can help soothe pain in the area as well.
Have A Dental Emergency Kit
Whether you find yourself dealing with a toothache, a loose crown, a cracked tooth, or other mouth injuries, being prepared can save you from a lot of pain. So what should you add to your dental emergency kit?
- Tweezers: To help you reach areas that are otherwise hard to access.
- Gauze: Should a tooth be loose or even knocked out, apply gauze to where the tooth should be.
- Topical painkiller: Oral analgesics can help you deal with pain.
- Tylenol/Ibuprofen: Helps in reducing pain.
- Cotton Balls: Can be used while applying medication to your mouth or even to clean areas before applying the medicine.
- Disposable Gloves: To ensure you maintain good sanitary standards.
- Floss: Should something get stuck between the teeth, you’ll need to floss to get them out.
- Temporary cavity Fillings: You may need these if you have fillings that might fall out.
Dental First Aid Tips
So what do you do in the event of specific dental issues? Until you visit your dentist, you can use these dental tips to care for your teeth.
- Pain and Sensitivity: Tylenol can be enough to get you through if you have minimal discomfort. You can also apply a wrapped ice pack to the area. You’ll need to get a dental appointment to have the pain checked out. If the pain gets more intense, then visit the dentist immediately.
- Knocked Out Tooth: Avoid touching the tooth’s roots if this happens. Refrain from trying to place the tooth back into your mouth. You can also set the tooth in a glass full of milk until you see the dentist. You’ll need to call your dentist immediately, as the tooth should be positioned back into your mouth within thirty minutes.
- Broken Tooth: Broken teeth aren’t life-threatening in any way. But they can be annoying and make chewing difficult. Depending on how much of the tooth was chipped, you may want to leave it alone. But if a lot of the tooth has been chipped, then schedule an appointment with your dentist. If you’re in pain, then it is a dental emergency.
- Lodged Object: If something gets lodged between your teeth, you’ll need to floss your teeth. Do it carefully. If you feel any pain or can’t get the lodged object out even after flossing, then it’s time to visit the dentist.
- Swelling: When your mouth swells, this could indicate that there’s an infection of some kind. It’s also unlikely that the swelling will go away without treatment. You can apply a wrapped ice pack to the area, but you’ll need to visit the dentist as soon as possible.
- Bleeding: Have you noticed blood in your dental floss? This is an early sign of gingivitis and other kinds of gum diseases. It’s not an emergency, but you should still see a dentist at your earliest convenience. If you find blood in your saliva, then gum disease could be at an advanced stage. It could also indicate cancer in its later stages. Even if you’ve just had your tooth extracted, bleeding from the mouth isn’t normal. So seek help from a dentist.
The Do’s and Don’ts of a Dental Emergency
Do’s:
Here’s what you should do in the event of a dental emergency:
- Ensure that the dentist you’ve selected offers emergency services.
- Apply pressure to the area that’s bleeding to stop the bleeding.
- If a tooth has been knocked out, then keep it submerged in milk and in a clean container.
- Ensure that there’s a dental emergency kit at home. Carry it to your car while you’re driving to the dentist.
- If you’re experiencing severe pain or your mouth has swollen up, visit the emergency department of a dentist’s clinic.
Don’ts:
- Don’t eat or drink anything that’s either hot or cold.
- Don’t eat food that’s hard, sticky, or crunchy.
- Don’t be aggressive when you brush or floss your teeth.
- Avoid smoking and tobacco products
- If your tooth was knocked out, don’t place it in a napkin or your pocket.
Most importantly, you should not hesitate to get medical assistance should you experience any of the following:
- Tooth pain
- Fever
- Sudden pain and Sensitivity
- Swelling of the gums or the mouth
- Trouble breathing
- Trouble swelling
- A foul-tasting discharge
If your face experiences swelling or you get a fever suddenly, you’ll need to visit the ER immediately. Should there be any head trauma, you’ll also need to go to the ER. If there’s continuous bleeding from your mouth after an extraction or surgery, then it’s an emergency as well.
There may be times when you experience tooth pain; as a result, it may affect your gums, face, or jaw. During such times, it’s necessary that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. This guide helps you learn about what you can do to provide immediate medical assistance until you see the dentist.
How to care for your teeth on-the-go
Everyone knows oral care is essential, but only some take care of their teeth as well as they should. You probably care for your teeth twice every day – during the morning and night. But should you leave your oral care till you’re at home? Or is it something that you should care for on the go?
Do you want to have quality teeth throughout your life and don’t want to suffer from gum or teeth-related issues? Then you’ll need to care for your mouth throughout the day. Remember to visit your dentist for regular dental cleaning sessions.
Let’s see why.
Can Oral Care Wait Till You Get Home?
Your oral care routine probably consists of brushing your teeth and flossing twice a day. You may also visit the dentist for dental checkups at least twice a year. But that’s not enough to prevent cavities from forming or thwart gum disease. You could be someone who needs to spend the day running errands, or you might have a professional life that keeps you busy. Even if that’s the case, you shouldn’t avoid oral care.
But why is having a sparkling smile so important in the first place? When your oral health is maintained, you’ll always be presentable. You don’t have to worry about bad breath or unclean teeth embarrassing you. Even if you need to attend a meeting last minute at work or find yourself suddenly invited to a party, your oral health won’t worry you.
Caring For Your Teeth On The Go
There are a few simple things that you can do to care for your teeth throughout the day. One of these is drinking a lot of water. When you drink more water, you rinse away any food particles that might be present in your mouth. Sugars, as well as acids from juices, coffee, and even soft drinks, can be removed.
It would be best if you kept some gum that’s sugar-free with you. Did you know chewing gum is actually good for your teeth? Chewing gum activates the production of saliva. Saliva is necessary to neutralize acids and keep your mouth moist. It would also help to brush your teeth after each meal, including lunch. You can bring a special travel toothbrush with you to brush your teeth if you’re away from home.
In addition to this, you can also eat snacks that are considered detergent food. These kinds of food help keep your teeth clean and are great for oral health. Apples, carrots, celery, and cucumbers are the most popular kinds of detergent foods that you can try.
Also, remember that you shouldn’t put things in your mouth, such as pen caps. Only use toothpicks to clean your teeth, or clean them when you’re flossing.
How To Keep Your Breath Fresh On The Go
One way to make your breath fresh is by chewing gum that’s sugar-free. When you chew gum, this helps your mouth produce more saliva. This can allow you to keep your breath fresh. Even healthy snacks like carrots and apples can help you keep your breath clean. Firm vegetables can act as tongue scrubbers and help remove plaque from the teeth. Mints can also help you keep your breath fresh.
It would help if you also kept teeth wipes with you. These are particularly good for emergencies. Tea, like peppermint tea, is particularly good at keeping the breath fresh. If you want to avoid bad breath, then choose tea over alcohol. Chewing on fresh herbs can also help you keep your breath fresh. For lunch, pick something that comes with fresh herbs, such as parsley or mint.
Another way to keep your breath fresh on the go is by using a tongue scraper. Keep a tongue scraper in your travel oral care kit.
When you take care of your oral health, you ensure that you have clean teeth and fresh breath all the time. There are several things that you can do to maintain good oral health. But when you care for your oral health on the go, you ensure that your teeth and gums are better protected in the longer run. This guide details how you can make that happen. Need to schedule a dental cleaning, contact Ashraf Dentistry today!
Bruxism Solutions
Why Do We Experience Teeth Grinding, And What Is Bruxism?
There could be several reasons why people grind their teeth. It’s been seen that people with sleep apnea are likely to grind their teeth in their sleep. Some people who suffer from anxiety or depression can also grind their teeth as a way to soothe themselves. If you’re highly stressed, you may also end up grinding your teeth.
Another factor that could cause someone to grind their teeth is being hyperactive. People who abuse substances, such as alcohol or tobacco, might grind their teeth more often as well. If your smile is misaligned, you may grind your teeth every time you try to smile. Finally, there are also certain parasites that could induce you to grind your teeth more often.
If you find yourself grinding your teeth often, this can cause oral issues later. You could end up chipping or cracking your teeth and more. If this does happen, you’ll need to visit a dentist, and you can also consider Botox therapeutics for a more effective solution. If you need to see a dentist, ask them about Botox therapeutics today.
Symptoms Of Bruxism
These are the symptoms that you’re suffering from bruxism:
- You could end up waking your partner from their sleep by how loudly you grind your teeth at night.
- Your teeth could be fractured, flattened, loose, or even chipped.
- The tooth enamel has become worn, which could expose the deeper layers of the teeth in your mouth.
- If your tooth pain has increased or if your tooth feels sensitive.
- If your jaw muscles are tight or tired, and you can’t open and close your jaw correctly, you may also hear sounds when moving your jaw.
- There’s any soreness in your jaw, face, or neck areas.
- You feel like you have an earache, even though there’s nothing wrong with your ear.
- You have a dull headache that starts at your temples.
- You hurt your mouth while chewing.
- Your sleep is disrupted.
If you experience any of these bruxism symptoms, visit a dentist and experience Botox therapeutics as soon as possible. Without treatment, the pain can get worse, and you can also end up damaging your teeth. In order to tell whether you clench your teeth or not, the dentist will first look at the tooth enamel that’s become worn. They’ll check whether the jaw muscles are enlarged or if you have tooth injuries, such as fractures. They’ll look for flattened teeth, as well as crowns and filings that might be damaged.
Teeth Grinding And Bruxism Solutions
Here’s what you can do to manage bruxism:
- Avoid eating foods that are hard, like nuts, popcorn, as well as hard candies.
- Exercise caution when eating something challenging to chew, such as tough meat.
- Avoid chewing gum.
- Try adjusting the position you sleep in to provide more support to your head and neck.
- If you feel pain, a hot compress or an ice pack can help you deal with the pain.
Here are a few helpful exercises that can help you deal with bruxism. For the first exercise, begin by closing the lips gently. We recommend placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth. Your tongue should not touch your teeth. Try to stay in this position for as long as you can.
There’s another exercise that you can do as well. First, place your hands on the TMJ joint, which is where the lower part of the jaw connects to the face. Then, open your mouth and close it slowly. Do this at least thrice a day, for ten minutes each time.
To get help with bruxism, consult a dentist today. Botox therapeutics isn’t cosmetic treatment but a therapeutical approach to dealing with bruxism. Teeth grinding can also be caused by tension within the muscles. Botox Therapeutics can be used to decrease this tension. It can also assist with migraines associated with bruxism.
Alternatively, consider a nightguard, such as those made by us here at Ashraf Dentistry. If you have sleep apnea, a nightguard can help protect your teeth while you’re sleeping. Nightguards help protect your teeth against damage, as well as TMJ disorder. This is the temporomandibular joint disorder, and it affects muscles used in chewing. You’ll be able to prevent chronic headaches as well. You can also save on money you would have needed to invest in restorative dentistry as a result of consistent teeth grinding.
If you think you have bruxism, then visit your dentist as soon as possible. Many solutions are available, and your dentist may offer additional tips and tricks to improve the overall condition. Get a dentist to look at your teeth, and ask them about a Botox Therapeutics treatment. Contact Ashraf Dentistry today if you require bruxism solutions.
