Hairy Tongue

This sounds (and looks) scary, but hairy tongue is really harmless.

Hairy tongue is a build-up of bacteria or yeast on the tongue that collects on overgrown taste buds. These overgrown taste buds can then be stained black occasionally.

You are at a higher risk to develop hairy tongue if you:

• have poor oral hygiene
• are dehydrated
• are using antibiotics 
• you smoke tobacco
• you use a Peroxide based mouthwash

What can be done if this happens to you?

Improve your home care. When you brush your teeth twice a day, also lightly brush your tongue or use a tongue scrapper.

Hygiene Basics: Floss a Bridge 101

Floss threaders are flexible plastic designed with a loop at the end to enable the floss to be threaded underneath a fixed bridge.

Step 1: Thread a piece of floss (14-16 inches long) through the loop, leaving one end twice as long as the other.

Step 2: Insert the non-looped end of the flosser between the gumline and the bridge.

Step 3: Gently pull the threader all the way through, leaving only the floss between the gum and bridge.

Step 4: Holding on the each of the floss, you can move the floss back and forth underneath the bridge. Be sure to floss all the way across the bridge, from where it starts to where it ends.

Step 5: Let go of one end of the floss and slowly and gently pull the floss from under the bridge.

Product Review: Mouth Guards

Since my last few posts have been on grinding your teeth and the wear of your teeth due to that grinding, I though I might want to say a word for the mouth guard.

Mouth guards, night guards or occlusal guards are designed to protect the teeth from chewing forces and/or sports injuries.

You can purchase ready-to-wear guards or guards that you boil and bite to shape to your teeth. But the highest standard to care is a custom fabricated guard that is adjusted by your dentist to address your specific problems.

One common complaint I have from patients is that their occlusal guard is cracking or wearing down. To this I say, "All of that wear and tear would have been to the teeth they had not been wearing the guard."

The occlusal guard is doing it's job. Especially if it looks like this: