We are still in this crazy heat wave, the importance of drinking lots of water is stronger than ever, especially with all the smoke in the air. Drinking sufficient amounts of water also have an impact on your oral health.
Water provides healthy nutrients, gets rid of waste, gives your skin a healthy glow and keeps your muscles moving. Have fluoride water for your oral health is important for preventing cavities.
There are many reasons to explain the importance of water for oral health.
No Dry MouthSaliva is 99% water and saliva is the first combat for tooth decay. Saliva washes away leftover food, helps you swallow with ease and keeps your teeth strong by washing them with calcium, phosphate and fluoride. But when your mouth is dry, you won’t have sufficient saliva.
Get Rid of Bad Stuff in Your MouthWe all know that brushing your teeth and flossing is important to keep your mouth clean. But drinking water is also important for keeping your mouth clean. Water washes away cavity-causing bacteria – the stuff that loves to eat sugar and produce acid that wears away enamel, which is the outer shell of your teeth.
Stronger TeethFluoride is the teeth’s natural cavity fighter. Fluoride is a mineral and in the right amount, fluoride in drinking water strengthens teeth. Drinking water with fluoride make it able to seep this strong mineral into your enamel. It helps to repair the enamel by replenishing the lost calcium and phosphorous to keep your teeth hard.
Your oral health is so important to us, but so is your overall health. Please make sure your drinking enough water in this heat wave and fire season. If you feel like you’re not drinking enough water set an alarm on your phone to give you reminders to drink that water!
Embarrassed by chronic bad breath? Breath fresheners can be an effective short-term fix.
But if bad breath persists despite a regular brushing and flossing regimen, it’s best to see your dentist for an exam.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, is an embarrassing problem that could signify a more serious medical issue, especially if you’re already practicing good oral hygiene.
The tongue harbors many bacteria, which are normally kept in check by saliva. However, an excess of bacteria can form plaque on your teeth and gums—producing plaque and volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.
Risk factors for bad breath include:
Smoking or chewing tobacco
Poor oral hygiene
Dry mouth due to medications
Gingivitis or periodontal disease
Medications that interfere with saliva production (antidepressants and antihistamines are common offenders)
High-protein diet
Good Oral Health is Essential for Overall Health
Maintaining good oral health is essential for overall wellness.
Teeth and gums are vulnerable to decay, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers. You can prevent many problems with regular visits to your dentist for exams, cleaning, and x-rays.
The American Dental Association recommends these steps for good oral health:
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Use an ADA-approved soft-bristled brush. Floss once a day unless your dentist tells you otherwise.
If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, floss at least once a day and brush after meals whenever possible.
Visit your dentist regularly—at least twice a year—for checkups and professional cleanings. You may need professional cleanings more often If you have problems with your gums or periodontal disease.
If you use tobacco products, stop. Smoking increases the risk of developing oral cancer and causes bad breath, stained teeth, and mouth sores.
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation (no more than one drink per day). Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the tissues of the mouth.
Common Signs of Dental Problems
Many people don't realize that their oral health is an important factor in maintaining overall health. A healthy mouth can help prevent severe conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer—not to mention periodontal disease that can lead to tooth loss.
Some signs of dental problems are obvious, such as bad breath or pain when chewing.
These are common signs of dental problems:
Bleeding gums. Bleeding may be a sign of gum disease caused by plaque. Left untreated, gum disease will worsen and may eventually lead to tooth loss and other problems.
Swollen or discolored gums. If you notice any changes in your gums, see your dentist. Changes in gum tissue may indicate a more serious problem.
Bad breath (halitosis). Bad breath can occur when your teeth decay or become infected. Halitosis can be eliminated with proper treatment for any dental problems.
Tooth pain or sensitivity. See your dentist if you’re experiencing persistent tooth sensitivity or toothaches.
Embarrassed By Bad Breath? Schedule an Appointment Today
Good oral hygiene can help prevent embarrassing bad breath, but you should see your dentist if the problem persists.
A dental cleaning removes plaque and reduces your chances of developing cavities and gum disease that can lead to bad breath. Routine dental exams are the best way to protect your smile, so schedule an appointment today!
I’d like to think I’m pretty on top of my oral hygiene. I brush my teeth twice a day every day. I also try to stick to experts’ recommendation that I brush for a full two minutes every time.
But until recently, even I, Two-Minute Tooth Brushing Girl, was missing a crucial component from my oral hygiene routine: I wasn’t cleaning my tongue. As it turns out, brushing or scraping your tongue may help you get rid of grody bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Though the American Dental Association says brushing your tongue isn’t a necessary step for good oral health in the same way brushing your teeth and flossing are, some evidence shows it can help tame breath that reeks. At the very least, it might make your mouth feel really clean. Here’s why cleaning your tongue can be a good idea, plus the right way to do it, if you’re so inclined.
Your mouth is full of bacteria, but that’s not automatically a problem. In fact, it’s a good thing for your oral hygiene.
Though tons of bacteria are hanging out in your mouth at any given moment, most of them aren’t harmful, Lisa Simon, D.M.D., an oral health and medicine integration fellow at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, tells SELF. It seems completely counterintuitive, but many bacteria in your mouth protect you by keeping out foreign organisms, like disease-causing pathogens, Philip Tierno, Ph.D., director of clinical microbiology and diagnostic immunology at New York University Medical Center, tells SELF.
The problem is that even though most of the bacteria in your mouth is doing you a solid, sometimes it doesn’t smell great.
A lot of the bacteria living in your mouth are anaerobic, meaning they don’t need oxygen to survive, Dr. Tierno says. These anaerobic bacteria—including the ones on your tongue—can produce various byproducts, including sulfur compounds, which can smell like straight-up trash.
How bad the sulfur smells will vary, Sally Cram, D.D.S., a periodontist based in Washington, D.C., tells SELF. For example, if you’ve eaten recently, bad breath can get way more pronounced because anaerobic bacteria can feed on food debris, break it down, and release those smelly sulfur compounds.
Having a dry mouth can also make the smell more severe, Dr. Cram says. This can happen if you’re dehydrated or if you have the aptly named condition dry mouth. Saliva neutralizes bacterial acids and limits bacterial growth, according to the Mayo Clinic, so when your spit is running low, bacteria may be able to cause more of a smell.
The bacteria that causes bad breath is usually non-pathogenic, meaning it’s not harmful or disease-causing, Dr. Tierno says. But sometimes, bad breath could mean you have an infection, like gum disease, aka periodontitis. If your bad breath is accompanied by symptoms like swollen gums, bleeding gums, loose teeth, or painful chewing, you should talk to your dentist.
Now, how do you actually clean your tongue? Grab a tongue scraper or toothbrush and get to work.
Cleaning your tongue is pretty easy, Vera Tang, D.D.S., a New York-based dentist, tells SELF. You can either use a tongue scraper or toothbrush once or twice a day after brushing your teeth.
If you have a strong gag reflex, Dr. Tang recommends you use a tongue scraper, because it’s flatter and may feel less intrusive than a toothbrush. But if you’d rather not spring for a tongue scraper, you can use the same toothbrush you use on your teeth every day. Since your tongue and teeth touch all the time and share a ton of bacteria, you don’t need a separate toothbrush to clean them, Dr. Simon says.
Once you have your tool of choice, you’ll want to stick your tongue out as far as you can, Dr. Tang says. Then reach to the back of it and scrape outward to the tip. Be careful not to press too hard—you don’t want to cut your skin. Just apply gentle pressure, rinsing the scraper or toothbrush off after each pass to avoid re-depositing all that crud back on your tongue.
If your gag reflex is giving you trouble, you can try humming to distract yourself while you do this, Dr. Tang says. You can also try not extending your tongue as much.
If you’d rather not come face-to-face with all the stuff hanging out on your tongue, you can just use mouthwash instead. You can opt for a cosmetic mouthwash, which can basically mask bad breath, or you can go for a therapeutic one that’s actually meant to control bacteria that can cause bad breath, tooth decay, and other oral hygiene issues. Therapeutic mouthwash is available by prescription and over the counter. Here’s more information on figuring out which kind of mouthwash makes sense for you.
Whether you use a toothbrush or tongue scraper to clean your tongue, make sure you can’t see any matter on it when you’re done.
All you have to do is rinse it off the same way you’d rinse off a toothbrush, Dr. Cram says. If you want to go the extra mile, you can dip it in some mouthwash, as well.
You should be replacing your toothbrush every three or four months, so if you’re using a designated tongue scraper, you can grab a new one that often, too. The only exception is if you’re sick, whether with a cold or some other kind of infection. You’ll want to get a new toothbrush and tongue scraper to start from a clean slate, Dr. Simon says.
If you’re wondering whether you’ve cleaned your tongue well enough, its color might be a clue.
Remember, clean doesn’t mean 100 percent bacteria-free. “Most people’s tongues and mouths are dirty, but that’s a totally normal thing for your mouth to be,” Dr. Simon says. Still, if you want to know whether or not your tongue-cleaning efforts have been successful, check out your tongue in the mirror. It should be a fleshy pink color, Dr. Cram says.
If it looks black and hairy, white, or any other color besides pink, that probably just means there’s a buildup of debris on your tongue that you can clean off using the above method. See a dentist if the fuzziness or abnormal color persists despite regular cleaning.
Once you’ve stuck out your tongue, given it a once-over, and signed off on its fleshy, pink appearance, you’re good to go. Feel free to repeat the process daily, or just whenever your tongue takes on a weird color, or your mouth feels a little dirtier than usual. Your tongue (and the people you talk to) will thank you.
A part of proper hygiene is good oral health. However, it is often neglected. Some people only tend to pay close attention to it if they already feel irritabilities or pain with their teeth. As they say, the mouth is the window to the body’s health. Good oral health gives an impression that a person is also healthy on the inside.
Focusing on oral health is more important now than ever because it doesn’t only affect your health, but it’s also a significant factor that improves well-being. Here are other reasons why you need to give importance to your oral health:
Helps You Save Money
Receiving dental services is not cheap. That’s why not all people are privileged to visit their dentists regularly. A way to ensure you will not be spending hundreds of dollars just to do corrective procedures to your teeth is preventive maintenance. Preventive measures like brushing and flossing the teeth are the cheaper options. But routine checkups are much cheaper compared to fixing or removing a damaged tooth.
Detection and early prevention of dental problems are only identified during a dentist appointment. Your dentist may do preventive procedures like teeth cleaning where plague and bacteria buildup are removed, so that it wouldn’t cause tooth decay. It may take some time before you can feel pain and other irritabilities, so before you end up dealing with a painful tooth, it’s important to visit your dentist now.
One of the reasons why people neglect to have regular checkups is because they fear the dentist. It may be because of a bad experience in the past. A way to deal with it is to find a reputable dental clinic where you can be comfortable. If you’re in Singapore, clinics like Ocean Dental Singapore and other dental clinics offer one-stop-shop services for your oral needs. They also have well-skilled dental specialists who provide personalized service.
Oral Health Is Linked To General Health
Like any other part of the body, the mouth has beneficial bacteria. However, if you have oral disease, bad bacteria, that also reside in the mouth, may no longer be under control. Since your mouth is the entry point of the body, specifically leading to the respiratory and digestive tract, any bacteria that stays in the mouth can be flushed down into these body systems. They then can contribute to different diseases and conditions.
Here are the possible communicable and lifestyle diseases that you may suffer because of bad oral health:
Heart Disease: The bacteria from the mouth can be a cause for heart disease, specifically endocarditis, where the heart’s inner lining is infected due to bacterial buildup. It is believed that bacteria may spread through the bloodstream. And it’s from where bacteria are transported into the heart.
Pneumonia: Accumulated bacteria in the mouth can trickle down to the respiratory system during sleep. If you don’t take a brush at night, foreign materials such as food debris, biofilm, and saliva from the oral cavity descend into the lung alveoli and bronchial tree, that may cause aspiration pneumonia.
Oral Cancer: It’s thought that the common cause of oral cancer is the use of tobacco. But it’s not solely because of smoking. Having poor oral hygiene increases the risk of having mouth cancer or throat cancer.
Digestive Problems: When you have a toothache or other tooth disease that makes it hard for you to chew food, there’s a tendency to lead to the stomach’s inability to digest food easily. Another cause of a digestion problem is that the bacteria in the mouth travels along with the food, saliva, or drinks that you swallow. This can cause imbalance in the gut microbiome.
To Have A Brighter Smile
Your smile is one of the first things other people see. If you don’t have a nice set of teeth, it can greatly dent your confidence and self-esteem, especially during social situations. That is why it’s important to focus on your oral health now than ever.
If you have the budget, you may opt for cosmetic dentistry, where they focus on enhancing your smile. If you have crooked teeth, cosmetic dentistry will find a way on how to improve them through the use of braces, veneers, and other advanced technologies. These can greatly beautify your teeth and smile.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to focus on oral health to avoid getting related health complications and issues. You must do all means to protect your healthy mouth and teeth, because once oral health is damaged, it’ll cost you a lot just to have it fixed. In turn, it can also affect your confidence, and how people see you.
(12/30/2023) by Hospital And Healthcare Management
Wisdom teeth extraction involves removing one or more of the teeth of the third set of molars. This can be performed before the tooth erupts, after the tooth has grown in, or if the tooth becomes impacted, i.e., it has only partially erupted from the gums. Extraction may be recommended for a variety of reasons.
Dental problems extraction can prevent
If the wisdom teeth are currently causing problems in the mouth, extraction is necessary. However, a dentist may recommend preventive wisdom teeth extraction when the patient is asymptomatic. Third molars that are not causing problems now may have the potential to do so in the future. Extracting the teeth pre-emptively can help prevent issues such as the following from ever developing.
Tooth decay
The wisdom teeth are located in the very back of the mouth where it is difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss. Therefore, keeping them clean can be difficult. If these teeth are not cleaned properly, cavities and decay may develop. The risk is still greater if the teeth are only partially erupted, because cleaning becomes even more difficult.
Infection
When a tooth is decayed, it provides a route by which bacteria may reach the inner layers. Once there, the bacteria can cause an infection of the tooth or the tissues that surround it. For example, when the wisdom tooth only erupts partially, it can develop an operculum, which is soft tissue growth over the top of it. The operculum is vulnerable to bacteria getting trapped underneath it, resulting in an infection called pericoronitis.
Once there is an infection of the wisdom tooth or surrounding tissues, it can spread throughout the mouth. It can even extend beyond the mouth to affect other parts of the body if the bacteria get into the bloodstream.
Crowding
Crowding occurs when there is not enough room in the mouth for new teeth to emerge, so the new tooth tries to push the existing teeth out of the way. This can affect the alignment of the existing teeth, causing them to become crooked and potentially affecting the bite. This may require orthodontics to correct or interfere with a course of orthodontics that is already in progress. The pressure from the new tooth can also cause damage to the others.
Cysts or tumors
An impacted wisdom tooth can form a cyst, which is a sac within the jawbone that fills with fluid. It can also develop a tumor. It is rare for these tumors to be cancerous, but both benign tumors and cysts of the wisdom tooth can damage the teeth, nerves, and even the jawbone itself. If a cyst or tumor develops, it may be necessary to remove bone and other tissue to resolve the issue.
Pain
Pain from an impacted wisdom tooth can be excruciating. It may be better to have the wisdom teeth extraction performed when the patient is not experiencing any symptoms than to wait until there is serious discomfort.
Conclusion
There is the potential for wisdom teeth that are asymptomatic now to cause issues in the future. It can be possible to avoid those issues altogether with preventive extraction.
Flossing is known as a safe and effective oral cleaning method, but it is not commonly used in Vietnam. Therefore, issues related to flossing such as "does flossing make teeth thin" or "when to floss"... are all very new. This article will answer the above questions in detail for readers.
1. Flossing and recommendations from a dentist
Food plaque on teeth when persisted for a long time can lead to periodontal disease and the serious consequence of this problem is tooth loss, if left untreated. Therefore, it is extremely necessary for everyone to protect and clean their teeth from the residence of these plaques.The American Dental Association has long stated that flossing is essential to taking care of your teeth and gums. Dentists also believe that repelling the growth of bacteria and plaque through brushing and flossing will ensure your teeth are always clean, thereby minimizing the risk of gingivitis - something conditions that can lead to periodontal disease.
2. Why use dental floss instead of toothpicks?
Vietnamese people are often more familiar with toothpicks than floss when they want to remove food stuck in between their teeth. However, the use of toothpicks, in the opinion of dental experts, is a bad habit for oral health. Toothpicks have the potential to cause damage to teeth and soft tissues. Moreover, the use of toothpicks also causes the interdental spaces to become thinner, which looks unsightly.At this point, flossing is the most optimal solution. This dental hygienist is recommended by every dentist every day. Because of its soft, thin and chewy structure, floss easily penetrates into many nooks and crannies of the teeth, even the narrowest of teeth, helping to thoroughly clean daily plaque and food debris.
3. Does flossing make teeth thinner?
A lot of people, for cosmetic reasons, question whether flossing will make teeth thinner. The answer from dental professionals is no, if you use dental floss correctly. This is also an outstanding advantage that makes dentists recommend using dental floss instead of daily toothpicks.However, in some cases, if you do not choose the right type of quality dental floss with a large size, the use of these floss will cause teeth to become sparse after a while. So, if flossing properly; Choosing quality silk thread with thin, soft, smooth but high durability will not thin teeth but still achieve absolute cleaning effect.
4. How often should you floss?
In order to determine if flossing can make teeth thinner, the factor of frequency of flossing is also taken into account. Flossing too much can also cause tooth decay because you're constantly flossing between your teeth. So how often is it reasonable to use dental floss?So far, there is no exact conclusion about the number of times to use dental floss per day. However, the formation of plaque in the mouth takes place continuously. Along with that, bacteria will take about 4-12 hours to grow on plaque. So flossing more than once per day won't be as beneficial. As recommended, this will cause serious damage to gum tissue if you floss the wrong way, exposing the roots more. Not only that, this also creates an opening for bacteria to enter and cause tooth decay.In short, you can floss once a day and up to 3 times a day if you feel food stuck between your teeth after eating.
When you visit the dentist, you typically receive X-rays wherein a piece of plastic is placed inside your mouth to bite down on, and multiple pictures are taken that shows one or several teeth. Dentists often do several of these X-rays to identify conditions that may be affecting different parts of the mouth.
In contrast to this traditional radiograph, a panoramic dental X-ray creates a single image of the entire mouth: the upper and lower jaws, their temporomandibular (TMJ) joints, all the teeth, the nasal area and sinuses. This image provides a flat representation of the jaw's otherwise curved structure, making it easier to analyze each part.
Why Use a Panoramic X-ray?
Because a panoramic X-ray shows the entire mouth in one picture, it doesn't produce the detail needed to show cavities. This type of X-ray does, however, show problems such as bone abnormalities and fractures, cysts, impacted teeth, infections and tumors. A dentist who suspects any of these problems may choose to take a panoramic X-ray. He or she may also use this imagery method when planning for treatments such as braces, implants and dentures, and when recommending products like Colgate® Slim Soft™ to treat teeth that appear worn from overaggressive brushing.
How Is the X-ray Done?
Unlike traditional intraoral X-rays, panoramic dental X-rays are extraoral, meaning the imaging machine and film are outside of your mouth. A panoramic dental X-ray machine projects a beam through your mouth onto film or a detector that rotates opposite the X-ray tube, according to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
The basic design of a panoramic X-ray machine consists of an imaging tube mounted on one ho rizontal arm that can point toward one side of your face, whereas an opposite horizontal arm that points toward the other side contains the X-ray film or detector. Typically, your head is positioned using chin, forehead and side rests while a bite-blocker keeps your mouth open. The X-ray machine's arms then rotate in a semicircle around your head, starting at one side of your jaw and ending at the other side.
X-Ray Benefits and Risks
A panoramic X-ray gives your dentist a comprehensive view of your entire mouth on a single film and in a relatively short amount of time. However, the radiation exposure from one panoramic X-ray is 0.02 millisieverts, which is four times the 0.005 millisieverts produced by the four bitewing X-rays part of a routine exam, according to the Society for Pediatric Radiology. Talk to your dentist if you're concerned about radiation exposure, and whether you can explore alternative imaging processes.
Interproximal cavities, more popularly known as the cavities in between your teeth, are actually pretty common. They start to form when there is a breakdown of the outer, calcified enamel of the tooth that is caused by bacteria in your mouth.
Cavities are easily preventable, even if you seem to be finding them with every dentist visit. The more information you have on interproximal cavities the better!
Did you know?
35% of your teeth’s surface are in between other teeth. If you decide to skip flossing one day, then only two-thirds of your teeth are getting cleaned! Think of it this way–not flossing is like washing your hands but not scrubbing in between your fingers. Gross!
Dental cavities are one of the most prevalent diseases amongst the general population. But, the good news with this is that they are easily preventable.
Once a cavity is treated, the tooth will stop decaying. So don’t wait until the pain becomes unbearable, because the earlier you treat the decaying tooth, the less damage will occur. And the less treatment you will have to receive!
Symptoms of Interproximal Cavities
Many of the symptoms occur when the cavity has penetrated into the dentin, known as the second hard layer of tissue beneath the enamel. Symptoms of these cavities include:
Sensitivity to cold
Sensitivity to sweets or sugar
Trouble chewing on the tooth with the cavity
How can I prevent cavities?
Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day. While doing this alone is great, it is still important to make sure your technique is up to par. Use circular motions on the fronts and chewing surfaces of your teeth and small, up-and-down motions on the backs. Remember to pay some attention to the back molars too!
Floss every day. This is another really important technique you’re going to want to master for optimal results. Start by winding 18” of floss around the middle finger of each hand. Use your thumb and index fingers to pinch the string while leaving 1-2” length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss in between teeth while using a zig-zag motion. It is important to remember not to snap the floss in between your teeth. Contour floss around the side of each tooth.
X-Rays
When receiving your yearly x-rays from My Dentist, we’re looking for the earliest signs of tooth decay. We can tell when you’re about to develop a cavity by observing the dark areas developing around the outermost layer of your tooth, known as the enamel.
If there seems to be a suspicious amount of decay, a mouth rinse or dental paste with extra fluoride may be prescribed to you.
Holy Molar! You already have a cavity
We’ve all been there and there’s no point in beating yourself up for it. The best way to bounce back from having a cavity is to focus on taking better care of your oral hygiene, which will help prevent future cavities. But for now, this one will be easily treated with a dental filling.
Maintaining good oral health is not just about brushing and flossing; it's also about what you eat. Eating a balanced diet that includes superfoods can play a significant role in keeping your teeth and gums in top shape. Here's a list of superfoods that you should incorporate into your diet for a healthier smile. Chetany Lakhera, Dental Hygienist, based in Bandikui, Dausa, Rajasthan, suggested some foods to eat for healthy gums.
Superfoods To Eat For A Healthy Gums
Leafy Greens
Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens are filled with vitamins and minerals like calcium, which is essential for strong teeth. They also contain folic acid, a B vitamin that promotes healthy gums.
According to the National Institute of Health, folic acid consumption can help reduce bleeding and inflammation in gums.
Dairy Products
Milk, cheese, and yoghourt are rich in calcium and phosphorus, both of which are crucial for remineralising tooth enamel.
Cheese, in particular, helps balance the pH level in your mouth, reducing the risk of tooth decay, as research suggests that consumption of cheese can help deal with plague. It also fights with carcinogenic bacteria
Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Apples, carrots, and celery act as natural toothbrushes. Their crunchy texture can help scrub away plaque and food particles from your teeth. Plus, they stimulate saliva production, which helps neutralise acids and protect your teeth.
Yoghourt with Probiotics
Probiotics found in yoghourt can benefit your oral health by reducing the levels of harmful bacteria in your mouth. This can help prevent conditions like gingivitis and bad breath.
Salmon and Fatty Fish
“If you find these fish then you can have it for healthy gums,as these are excellent sources of vitamin D, which is necessary for calcium absorption. Vitamin D helps keep your teeth and bones strong, reducing the risk of tooth decay,” said the Dental Hygienist.
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, cashews, and chia seeds are high in phosphorus, which, along with calcium, plays a vital role in maintaining dental health. They also contain healthy fats that are beneficial for your gums.
Green Tea
This antioxidant-rich beverage has been associated with a lower risk of gum disease. It contains compounds that can help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria in your mouth.
Cranberries
These berries contain polyphenols that can help prevent the formation of plaque and reduce the risk of cavities. However, consume them in moderation as they can be acidic.
Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is essential for saliva production. Saliva helps cleanse your mouth and neutralise acids, protecting your teeth and gums.
Garlic and Onions
While they might not do wonders for your breath. According to the journal Antioxidants, garlic and onions contain sulphur compounds that can help combat harmful oral bacteria. Include them in cooked dishes for their health benefits without the strong odour.
While the above superfoods can contribute to better oral health, it's essential to maintain a regular oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist for check-ups. By combining a nutritious diet with proper dental care, you'll be well on your way to a radiant smile and healthy teeth and gums.
"The 6 list" is a feature exploring various topics on oral health, curated for both patients and dental professionals to share with their patients. "6 at-home dental trends to avoid" was medically reviewed by David R. Rice, DDS, chief editor of DentistryIQ.
Social media has given rise untold trends over the years, both good and bad. Among the decidedly questionable is the uptick in DIY dentistry, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are six home dental practices that range from probably not effective to downright dangerous.
1. Using DIY dentures
A quick Google search on DIY dentures will pull up websites touting assemble-at-home dentures as affordable alternatives to the real deal. But this is one case where you get what you pay for: the cheap materials used in homemade dentures make them an esthetic mishap; worse, they can impede chewing and cause pain in the mouth and jaw.
2. Straightening your teeth
Rubber bands, dental floss, fishing line, paper clips—they all have their purpose, but that purpose isn't straightening your teeth. Why not? Because dentists use a very precise amount of force, in very precise locations to move your teeth through your bone. Trying to achieve this yourself can result in teeth breaking, gum damage, and even tooth loss.
3. Using charcoal as a whitener
A charcoal and baking soda combination has gained popularity as an effective at-home whitener, but dentists don’t understand why: there is no evidence that shows charcoal is effective, let alone safe for the teeth.
4. Filing teeth to reshape them
Early on in the pandemic, filing teeth was among the dental trends popular on TikTok, with one poster saying “A lot of people started cutting their own hair, I became my own dentist” about the practice. Teeth-filing is dangerous in ways those thinking of doing it might not realize: grinding down the enamel and alters tooth structure, making it easier for cavities and nerve damage to develop.
5. Whitening with Magic Eraser
Briefly rubbing a sponge over the teeth to whiten them sounds harmless enough, right? Wrong—Magic Eraser-type sponges are made from Melamine foam, which contains chemicals that become abrasive when wet. If you have any remaining doubts about the practice, just read a Magic Eraser box. The health and safety warning reads, “Do not use on skin or other parts of the body”—including the teeth.
6. “Oil pulling” for oral health
The practice of oil pulling—swishing oil in the mouth to remove bacteria or whiten teeth—is no social media trend; it’s been around since ancient times. And unlike some of the more recent trends, there’s little actual danger to the practice. But there may also be little point: According to the American Dental Association (ADA), currently there are no reliable scientific studies to show that oil pulling reduces cavities, whitens teeth, or improves oral health and well-being.
