Sip On This

Soda drinkers, Beware!

The sugar and acid found in many sodas can be very damaging to the teeth. The sticky sugars break down into acids. Phosphoric and citric acids contribute to the acidity of sodas also, meaning diet sodas can be hazardous as well.

Saliva helps to neutralize acids and naturally cleanse our teeth, making water a better choice than a soda. The pH in our mouth is normally 6.2-7.0. At a pH of 5.2-5.5 or below, which is more acidic, the acids begin to soften and weaken the enamel. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes. It starts over again with each sip.

Here are a few examples of how some popular drinks compare:

For further comparisons on your favorite beverages, click here or

visit Sip All Day Get Decay.

What's a six pack a day soda fiend to do?

Whether you drink one or six:

• Dont sip - It's better to slam it down and get the acid attack over or better yet, drink soda with a full meal...and don't supersize it!
• If you drink soda by itself, chew sugarless gum afterward to increase your saliva flow.
• And always Drink More Water!

Hygiene Basics: Flossing 101

Cliché as it may be, a dental hygienist is always going to nag you about your flossing habits and technique.  This is because proper flossing removes plaque and food debris in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach — under the gum line and between your teeth.

Here are a few tips to make the arduous process of flossing a little bit easier.

First, start with about 15-18 inches of floss.

Then, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work between the teeth.  Anchoring the floss around the middle fingers allows our most dexterous fingers, the thumb and index finger, free to do most of the maneuvering.

Next, hold the floss taut between your thumbs and index fingers and move it back and forth until it moves gently between your teeth.

The key to great flossing is curving the floss around the tooth, like a C, and make sure you slide beneath the gum line.

Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.

Finally, to remove the floss, use the same back and forth motion to move through the contact of the teeth, or you can simply let one finger free of the floss and pull the floss through the space.

Click here to view Colgate's educational video of proper flossing technique.

Manual verses Powered Toothbrushes

Have you ever wondered if springing for the more expensive toothbrush was worth it?

In addition to things like brushing time and technique, experts believe that the type of toothbrush you use can directly affect your plaque removal.

According to a 2005 independent study (The Cochrane Review), “there was a wide range in plaque and gingivitis reduction among the powered toothbrushes.”

The difference in plaque removal and gingivitis:

The most effective toothbrush for the removal of plaque and the reduction of gingivitis was the rotation-oscillation rechargeable brush. It reduced plaque by 7% and gingivitis by 17% in both short-term and long-term use as compared to a manual toothbrush.

Other features of powered toothbrushes make them beneficial. Additional features are:

• Brush modes for sensitive teeth or gum massage
• Pressure sensors to signal when brushing too hard
• Quadrant timers
• Power-off once brushing is complete
• Variety of brush heads and brush action (sonic or oscillation)
• Reminders to replace your brush hea

Hygiene Basics: Brushing 101

Let me tell you that the proper brushing technique is not using a death grip on your toothbrush then sawing back and forth for thirty seconds.

What, then, is the right way to brush?

First, you need to angle the toothbrush bristles at a 45° angle against the gum line.

Then you sweep or roll the brush away from the gum line.

Brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of each tooth-using short, gentle strokes. Pay extra attention to the gum line, hard to reach back teeth, especially wisdom teeth or crowns.

Proper brushing technique takes at least two minutes.  

For fresher breath, be sure to brush your tongue too. Start and the base of the tongue, in the back of the mouth, and use three or four downward strokes. 

Click here to view Colgate's educational video of proper brushing technique.

Got Tartar?

What is Tartar?

Tartar, sometimes called calculus, is a deposit that forms when plaque hardens on your teeth. It can form both above and below the gumline.

Getting rid of these calculus deposits is important, since they can lead to chronically inflamed gums and gum disease, receding gums, and persistent bad breath. Tartar also accelerates plaque formation and helps to hide deposits of plaque, which can in turn create greater risk of periodontal disease.

Tartar is distinct from plaque, which is caused by bacteria on the teeth, but both are usually present in the mouths of people who have less than adequate oral hygiene.

Individuals vary greatly in their susceptibility to tartar buildup. For many, these deposits build up faster with age. Tartar is easily noticeable because of its yellow or brown color on teeth.



image courtesy of findmeacure.com



How do I Know if I Have Tartar Buildup?

Unlike plaque, which is a colorless film of bacteria, tartar is a mineral buildup that's fairly easy to see if above the gumline. The most common sign of tartar is a yellow or brown color to teeth or gums. Because tartar buildup bonds strongly to enamel, once formed, it can only be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist.

The process for removing tartar is called scaling. During a scaling, the dentist or hygienist uses special instruments to remove tartar from your teeth above and below the gumline.

How can I Prevent Tartar Buildup?

While tartar can only be removed by a dental professional, you can avoid tartar buildup by removing plaque.

You should plan to brush their teeth at least twice daily. They should floss once daily too, and also make and keep appointments to have teeth cleaned at least twice a year. Ask you dentist or dental hygienist about using a tartar control toothpaste to reduce formation of tartar if you notice that tartar build-up occurs quickly, even despite good oral hygiene.

Other common risk factors for greater build-up of calculus include smoking, having diabetes, and taking medications that cause dry mouth. Keeping sugar levels under control if you have diabetes may help reduce tartar build-up. 

There’s also been some suggestion in recent medical literature that tartar buildup and gum inflammation or gum disease in pregnant women may be linked to low birth weight in babies, and also to heart disease.

It is a fact that people are more at risk for bacterial endocarditis when they have gum disease, which can be accelerated by tartar. Many people who have heart disease also have gum disease, but medical researchers haven’t quite identified a causal relationship. Neglect of one’s health, poor diet, and smoking may cause both heart disease and gum disease, and might possibly explain the presence of both conditions in many people.

Got Plaque?

What is Plaque?

Plaque is a soft, sticky, colorless biofilm of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on our teeth. Some types of plaque cause tooth decay while other types of plaque cause gum disease.

Everyone develops plaque because bacteria are constantly forming in our mouths. Often undetected, these bacteria use ingredients found in our diet and saliva to grow. Plaque causes cavities when the acids from plaque attack teeth after eating. With repeated acid attacks, the tooth enamel can break down and a cavity may form. Plaque that is not removed can also irritate the gums around your teeth, leading to gingivitis, periodontal disease, and eventual tooth loss.

Dental plaque is difficult to see unless it’s stained. You can stain plaque by chewing red “disclosing tablets.” The red or purple color left on the teeth will show you where there is still plaque—and where you have to brush again to remove it. Periodically, it can be beneficial to examine your teeth to make sure you are removing all plaque.

Ask your dentist or dental hygienist if your plaque removal techniques are okay.

Plaque accumulates in hard to reach areas of the mouth. If it is not removed daily, it begins to harden into a calcified substance called calculus, also known as tartar. Calculus can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.

How Can I Prevent Plaque Buildup?

It's easy to prevent plaque buildup with proper care. Make sure to:

Brush thoroughly at least twice a day to remove plaque from all surfaces of your teeth. Electric toothbrushes are the most effective source of plaque removal, especially plaque collecting at the gumline.

Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gumline, where your toothbrush cannot reach.

Diet with limited amounts of sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks, eliminate the food source for the bacteria found in plaque.

Regular Dental Visits for professional cleanings and dental examinations.

People used to think that as you got older you naturally lost your teeth. We now know that’s not true. By following easy steps for keeping your teeth and gums healthy – plus seeing your dentist regularly — you can have your teeth for a lifetime!

colgate.com

oralb.com

dentalplaque.org