What is Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on the tooth surface. Saliva, food and fluids combine to produce these deposits that collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque buildup is the primary factor in periodontal (gum) disease, including gingivitis.

How to Get Rid of Plaque
To help prevent plaque buildup, be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with an anti-plaque toothpaste such as Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste for around the clock protection against plaque buildup, and floss once a day.

Adding a mouth rinse such as Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Rinse to your routine can help against plaque buildup, without the burning sensation of alcohol. Eating well-balanced meals and brushing after snacks will reduce the formation of plaque. Visit your dental office regularly for oral exams and cleanings, during which your dental professional will scrape away any accumulated plaque with a special instrument.

Above posting from: www.crest.com

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
200 East Bridge St., Suite 100
Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 843-9800

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease — an inflammation of the gum tissues surrounding the teeth. Bleeding and swollen gums are signs of gingivitis. In fact, what may seem like a little “problem area” in your gums can actually be the early stages of gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which can be a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Gingivitis can sometimes be painless and, therefore, people may be unaware they have it.

Causes of Gingivitis
One of the primary factors contributing to gingivitis is plaque buildup, a sticky colorless deposit of bacteria that regularly forms on teeth. These bacteria build up and can produce byproducts that damage the gums.

While gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of gum disease, it may lead to more serious, destructive forms if left untreated.

Help Prevent Gingivitis
Helping prevent gingivitis requires removing plaque buildup, and that starts with good brushing habits.But it’s also essential to have the right products on your side. That’s why we recommend the following dental hygiene routine:

• Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled or power toothbrush, such as the Oral-B® Vitality™ Precision Clean electric rechargeable brush. It removes up to two times more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.
• Be sure to use an anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque toothpaste containing fluoride to strengthen teeth. Crest® Pro-Health™ Toothpaste is a good option because one of the medicinal ingredients it contains is therapeutic stannous fluoride, an effective anti-microbial agent that kills harmful bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis.
• Rinse thoroughly after brushing with an anti-bacterial rinse, such as Crest® Pro-Health™ Multi-Protection Rinse. It contains a clinically proven anti-microbial agent, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), which is attracted to bacteria in your mouth, making it effective at fighting plaque, gingivitis and bad breath.
• Floss at least once a day with a product like Glide® to help remove food particles and plaque between teeth. Glide is the #1 dentist-recommended dental floss brand, and it gently stimulates gums and helps remove plaque to prevent gingivitis.
• Removing plaque is an important step to help prevent gingivitis. Try using the Oral-B® Vitality™ Precision Clean toothbrush along with Crest® Pro-Health™ Toothpaste and Crest® Pro-Health™ Multi-Protection Rinse for up to 7x better cleaning.*
• Visit your dentist regularly for oral exams and cleanings.

* On teeth with regular use versus a regular manual brush and regular anti-cavity toothpaste.

Gingivitis Symptoms
If you are experiencing the following symptoms, visit your dental office as soon as possible to determine if you have gingivitis.

• Mild inflammation of the gums
• Red or swollen gums
• Gums that bleed easily

Above posting from: www.crest.com

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
200 East Bridge St., Suite 100
Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 843-9800

Dental Emergencies

If a dental trauma occurs, the best advice is to remain cool, calm and collected. Read and learn the following steps now, and you'll know what to do in an emergency. Keep in mind that the advice of a dental professional should be sought any time there is an injury to the teeth or mouth.

Dental Emergencies
Unlike a chipped or cracked tooth, some dental hygiene injuries are not obvious. Trauma to the mouth can cause damage that may not be seen, but could result in loss of one or more teeth. So check with your dental professional as soon as possible after any injury to the teeth or mouth.

If a tooth is knocked out during an accident:

• Do not scrub or clean the tooth.
• Place the tooth in a small container of milk, saline solution if available, or a special tooth-preserving solution available at your pharmacy.
• See your dental professional as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes. Don't forget to take the tooth with you.

With prompt attention, a permanent tooth may be re-implanted into the tooth socket and remain normal and healthy-looking.

Above posting from: www.crest.com

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
200 East Bridge St., Suite 100
Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 843-9800

Dental Health & Diet

Limit Carbs to Mealtimes

 

Even not-so-sweet treats—like a handful of potato chips or a whole wheat roll—can be as damaging to your teeth and gums as a double-fudge brownie, if you're not careful.

That's because all carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, which are ultimately converted by bacteria in the mouth into plaque, a sticky residue that is the primary trigger of gum disease and cavities. Carb-based foods such as breads and crackers tend to have a chewy, adhesive texture, making it easier for them to get caught between teeth or under the gum line, where bacteria can then accumulate, says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Smile Rx: Have carbs at mealtimes rather than as a snack: When you eat a larger amount of food, you produce more saliva, which helps wash food particles away. 

Above article from: www.prevention.com

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
3417 Schofield Avenue
Schofield, WI 54476
(715)-355-5570

5 Ways Poor Dental Care Makes You Sick

Even if you brush your teeth daily, you may still have dangerous bacteria growing inside your mouth. Not only could that lead to periodontitis (an advanced form of gum disease that comes with symptoms such as bleeding when you brush and gum pain), but studies also find a link between poor oral hygiene and major health issues. Here are some ways that missing the mark on oral care could harm your heath.

1. It may hurt your heart.

People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease compared to those don't have periodontitis. Researchers aren't exactly sure of why this might be, but one theory is that harmful bacteria from your mouth enters your blood stream and attaches to fatty plaques in your heart's blood vessels, leading to inflammation and upping your risk of clots that can trigger heart attacks.

2. Your memory may suffer.

Some research suggests there may be a tie between poor oral health and an increased risk of dementia. One study that followed 118 nuns between the ages of 75 and 98 found that those with the fewest teeth were most likely to suffer dementia. Experts think oral bacteria may spread to the brain through cranial nerves that connect to the jaw or through the bloodstream, and may contribute to the type of plaque that's been linked to Alzheimer's.

3. It might worsen your body's control of blood sugar.

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than those without diabetes. While this may be because diabetics are more susceptible to infections, there's also been research that finds gum disease could make it harder to control your blood sugar, and that treating it helps improve diabetes symptoms.

4. It may affect your breathing.

Gum disease may increase your risk of getting respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia, according to the Journal of Periodontology. The infections might be caused when bacteria from the mouth are inhaled into your lungs, possibly causing your airways to become inflamed.  

5. It could make it harder for you to have a baby.

Women of childbearing age with gum disease took an average of just over seven months to become pregnant – two months longer than the average of five months that it took women without gum disease to conceive, discovered researchers in Western Australia. Other research finds that pregnant women with gum disease might have higher odds of miscarriage.

Above article from: health.yahoo.net

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
3417 Schofield Avenue
Schofield, WI 54476
(715)-355-5570

Expert Teeth-Cleaning Tips

How can you tell if you're hitting the mark when it comes to good oral care? "Generally, your teeth and gums should not bleed, be painful, or feel rough or sharp to your tongue," says Pam Atherton, RDH, a dental hygienist for Dr. John Carlile, DDS in Skaneateles, NY. "Your breath should be fresh for at least a couple of hours after brushing in the morning and after having eaten breakfast." One of the easiest ways to prevent gum disease is to clean your teeth properly, so try these tricks for a healthier mouth.

1.    Rinse your mouth.

If you use mouthwash twice a day, you'll slash your risk of gum disease by 60 percent, says Marjorie Jeffcoat, DMD, Professor of Periodontology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia. Ideally you should aim to rinse for about 30 seconds with a mouthwash that has microbial protection to fight plaque and gingivitis, such as Listerine®.

2.    Floss first.

You should floss before you brush your teeth, rather than after, says Jeffcoat. "That way you'll be able to brush away any food that was stuck between your teeth to prevent bacteria from growing." If you find dental floss hard to hold onto, Atherton suggests trying floss picks, such as Plackers® dental flossers, instead.

3.    Get the right toothbrush.

Soft or extra soft bristles are best. "Gum tissue can't make a callous; therefore, when a person uses a medium or hard-bristled toothbrush, it literally scratches the tissue away over time, exposes the root surface underneath and leads to possible bone loss," says Atherton.

4.    Brush smart.

To really clean your teeth, aim to brush them for a full two minutes. "Make sure you brush both your tongue and cheeks as well as the chewing surfaces to improve the removal of harmful bacteria in the crevices," says Atherton.  To get your kids to brush the full two minutes, sing "Happy Birthday To You" or the "Alphabet Song" twice through at a normal speed for each half of your mouth. And be sure to replace your toothbrush about every three months.

Above article from: health.yahoo.net

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
3417 Schofield Avenue
Schofield, WI 54476
(715)-355-5570

Teeth Sensitivity

Do you experience pain or tingling in your teeth, especially when eating sweet, hot or cold foods? Do brushing and flossing sometimes cause you to cringe? You may be suffering from teeth sensitivity — and you’re not alone: One in five adults suffers from sensitive teeth.

Pain from sensitive teeth usually comes and goes. If you have constant pain, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. Discuss your symptoms with your dental professional to determine the cause and proper treatment of your condition.

Teeth Sensitivity Causes
In healthy-looking teeth, porous tissue called dentin is protected by your gums and by your teeth's hard enamel outer layer. Dentin can become exposed due to receding gums, fractured or chipped teeth or erosion. Microscopic holes in the dentin, called tubules, connect to the nerve, triggering pain when irritated by certain foods and beverages.
But there are other factors that can cause tooth sensitivity:

• Brushing too hard: Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can cause gum recession and root exposure over time
• Gum disease: Inflamed or sore gum tissue may lead to tooth sensitivity by exposing the root surface leading directly to the nerve of the tooth
• Your age: Because enamel can erode with age and expose dentin, sensitivity can increase with age
• Acidic foods: Eating acidic foods and beverages on a regular basis can cause enamel to erode, increasing the likelihood of sensitivity

Above posting from: www.crest.com

Wisconsin Dentist
Quirt Family Dentistry
200 East Bridge St., Suite 100
Wausau, WI 54403
(715) 843-9800