Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

It turns out there’s not much difference. WebMD.com cites “a review of nearly 30 studies” that was unable to determine a significant difference in plaque removal between electric and manual toothbrushes. (Some research did find that electric toothbrushes performed slightly better, but only if the electric toothbrush was of the “rotation-oscillation” variety, in which the bristles both rotate and move side-to-side.)

Regardless of what type of toothbrush you choose, it’s important to use it correctly. Brush twice a day, for two minutes each time. Cover the inner, outer and top surfaces of your teeth, and brush all the way down to the gum line. Don’t forget the hard-to-reach areas in the back of your mouth.

There’s a breed of person who drives a stick shift, uses a push mower and prefers sailboats to motorboats. When faced with the choice of a toothbrush, that purist will certainly choose the dependable, disposable, do-it-yourself toothbrush. But what about those of us who swear by Blackberries, iPods and TiVo? We want the latest, greatest gadget and we’re convinced that an electric toothbrush must be better than its manual counterpart… right?
So if electric and manual toothbrushes are so similar in plaque removal rates, how should you decide which is best for you?  Here are a few factors to consider:
Your budget. Electric toothbrushes are pricier. However, while high-end options can cost upwards of $100, you can find some in the $10 range. Remember that you may need to add the cost of batteries and replacement brushes to your toothbrush budget.
Your dexterity. People who have limited manual dexterity – including the very young, the elderly, or those suffering from injury or arthritis – may find that an electric toothbrush allows them to reach spots that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.
Your habits. If you have a hard time brushing regularly, and you find you enjoy the sensation of brushing with an electric toothbrush, then by all means use the brush that will encourage you to brush most often.
Your patience. Many people are in too much of a hurry to brush for the full two minutes recommended (or they simply forget to watch the clock). Some electric brushes come with a timer that helps enforce the proper length of brushing.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking an electric toothbrush will do the work for you; you still need to guide it around every bit of enamel you possess in order to stave off plaque and bacteria.
And remember that while brushing and flossing daily will help you maintain good oral health, regular professional cleanings are vital to keeping your teeth in tip-top shape.

Diet

The primary cause of cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease is accumulation of plaque and tartar on your teeth. The bacteria normally present in your mouth converts the food you eat into acid, which in turn combines with bacteria and leftover food to form a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque accumulation can begin on your teeth in as little as 20 minutes after you've eaten. If not removed, the acid in the plaque dissolves tooth enamel and creates a cavity.

The way you eat and the things you eat will either aid your body in fighting cavities and gum disease, or make you more likely to develop them. While your grandmother would have probably told you that eating candy was bad for your teeth, today's dental nutritionists know that she was only partly right. Yes, sugary snacks are one of the culprits that set up the right conditions for development of plaque, but did you know that carbohydrates, such as bread or potatoes, are just as bad for your teeth as a candy bar? And did you know you can combat these conditions by eating your food in the right combinations?

The two main factors that make a food a bad snack is the amount of sugar in the food and the length of time the food stays in your mouth. Strangely enough, the sugar and chocolate in a candy bar will actually be washed out of your mouth faster than the sugars from some fruits or the bread from your pizza. So it's the frequency of meals and snacks and the way foods are combined that increase the risk for cavities. Any food or beverage, even a healthy one, will be converted into acid if it stays in your mouth long enough. When eaten with a healthy meal, sugary or starchy foods will be washed away by the protein and fat in the meal, leaving your teeth cleaner and healthier.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you eat healthy for your teeth...

• Eat a moderate, balanced diet using the Food Guide Pyramid
• Combine sweet or starchy foods with protein rich foods, so that the sweets and starches will have less chance of sticking around
• Chewing sugarless gum after meals and snacks can help the pH (acidity/alkalinity) balance in your mouth and also increases the production of saliva, which helps wash food off your teeth
• Only drink sweet or acidic beverages with meals and snacks to buffer their effect on your teeth
• When planning your diet, choose foods and meal patterns that give you the energy you need to get through the day, provide the nutrients your body needs, and promote oral and general health

Remember that your teeth are essential, not just for smiling, but for biting and chewing food. They're a very important part of physical growth and health. Brush and floss every day, and eat a diet that keeps your body functioning properly and keeps your teeth and gums their healthiest.

Dental Sealants

Many of the foods you or your child eat, especially those high in sugar and starches, cause the bacteria that normally occurs in your mouth to produce acids. If this acidic plaque isn't removed from your teeth by daily brushing and flossing, tooth decay will occur.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, some teeth, especially the back molars, can be difficult to clean because of their shape. The chewing surface of the molars have tiny grooves, called pits and fissures, that can be so deep and/or narrow that the bristles of your toothbrush can't reach down into them to clean out the plaque. Also, the enamel at the deepest part of the groove is frequently thinner, giving any plaque that does form an easier time of penetrating through.

To protect a tooth that is deeply grooved, your dentist can apply a plastic resin material called a dental sealant. The sealant levels out the grooves in the tooth, making the tooth smoother and more even so it is easier to clean, and seals the surface, protecting it from the acid attacks of plaque.

Since the 1970s, the widespread exposure to fluoride, in water, toothpaste and mouthwash, has lowered the incidence of tooth decay on the smooth surfaces of the teeth. However, fluoride is not as successful at preventing pit and fissure decay on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Since pit and fissure decay is the most common form of tooth decay for children and teens, dental sealants are utilized as a preventive measure to protect a child's teeth during the years in which they are most likely to experience tooth decay.

Dental sealants aren't just for children, however. Adults can benefit from dental sealants, too. Any tooth that has the deep pits and fissures that place it at risk for tooth decay should be sealed. The only requirements for sealing are that a tooth have deep fissures and pits and that the patient be of an age and disposition to cooperate with the dentist during the procedure.

The sealing process itself is very simple. The surface of the tooth to be sealed must be clean for the material to adhere, so first your dentist will scrub the surface. Next, an "etching" gel will be applied on the area that is to be sealed. Once the surface has been prepared so that the sealant will bond well, the tooth is cleaned and dried. Keeping the tooth dry is very important, as it determines the quality of the bond between enamel and sealant. Your dentist then 'paints' the sealant onto the tooth and uses a special light to 'cure' the material.

If the tooth was kept properly dry during the application process, the dental sealant can last from five to ten years, or even longer, keeping your or your child's tooth healthy and protected from decay.

Choosing the Best Toothpaste

Thanks to better care and technological advances, more people than ever before are keeping their teeth throughout their lives. The most important thing you can do to make sure you're one of those who keep their natural teeth is to brush and floss regularly.

Most dental decay is caused by plaque, a sticky, colorless bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. Saliva, food (especially sugar) and fluids combine to produce plaque, which collects on teeth and where teeth and gums meet. Plaque that is not removed by regular brushing and flossing can harden into tartar, a crusty deposit that can only be removed by a dentist. Plaque also leads to gum disease, a potentially serious infection that can erode bone and destroy the tissues surrounding teeth. Flossing removes plaque between teeth, and brushing removes plaque from the large surfaces of the teeth and, if done correctly, from just under the gums.

With brushing being such an important factor in your oral health, you can see why your choice of a toothpaste is important, but with so many brands and types - plaque control, tartar control, whitening, gum care, sensitive teeth, polish, smoker's - from which to choose, picking the right toothpaste can be a daunting task. Your dentist or dental hygienist can help narrow the field by discussing what your special brushing needs are.

If you tend to build up plaque or tartar quickly, you'll want a plaque or tartar-control toothpaste. Anti-plaque/tartar toothpastes will have ingredients such as fluoride and/or antibacterial agents to limit plaque and tartar formation. (Check with your dentist before choosing fluoride toothpaste for your young children. Excessive fluoride ingestion by pre-school age children can lead to discoloration of the permanent teeth. If your child uses fluoride toothpaste, make sure s/he does not swallow toothpaste while brushing.)

If you smoke or drink tea or coffee, a whitening toothpaste may help with stains. However, whitening toothpastes only remove adherent stain. The ingredients necessary to actually bleach your teeth are not chemically stable enough to be included in toothpaste. Use caution with those toothpastes made to remove heavy stains, frequently referred to as "smoker's toothpaste" or "tooth polish". These toothpastes may be excessively abrasive and may cause progressive wearing away of the tooth and supporting tissues. (Also, if you smoke, be sure to see your dentist regularly, as smokers are at increased risk of gum disease, early tooth loss and also soft tissue conditions including oral cancer.)

Temperature sensitive teeth will benefit from a toothpaste made to desensitize your teeth. Your needs may change as you age, so don't be surprised if your hygienist recommends a type of toothpaste you haven't used before.

Once you've determined which type of toothpaste is best, choose the one that tastes and feels best and doesn't cause irritation or sensitivity problems. If you like the flavor and texture of your toothpaste, you'll brush more and longer. And brushing well and regularly means you'll be smiling with your natural teeth well into your mature years.

Moms for Mouthguards

We watched this great video about what some moms might do to keep their kids protected during sports.  We loved it!
It's very important to your dental health to wear safety gear when playing sports.  Mouth guards are the only way to keep your teeth protected.