Deutsch: Amalgamfüllung Español: Ejemplo de Amalgama (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since the late 1990’s there has been a growing debate about the mercury (silver) fillings commonly used to repair cavities. While the American Dental Association had remained steadfast in its assertion that the fillings are harmless, the FDA has proven itself far less confident. Mercury is universally acknowledged to be a toxin, and it is likewise accepted that mercury fillings do release trace amounts of mercury into the body. The debate centers around one pressing question. Do mercury fillings release enough toxin to cause negatively affect those who receive them?

The American Dental Association’s View
In a statement originally released in 1999 and revised in 2009, the ADA asserted that, “Dental amalgam has been studied and reviewed extensively, and has established a record of safety and effectiveness.” But while the official position of the association is clear, the opinions of individual practicing dentists is much more muddled. In a 2005 WebMD article, the president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Nicholas Davis, DDS, argued that the fillings were safe for the general public, but conceded that if he “had immune problems or anything that would make me subject to getting an infection, I would do anything I could to boost my immune system and decrease my chance of infection including purging all metals from my mouth . . .”

The FDA’s Opinion
One reason the mercury debate is confusing is that the FDA has yet to make a truly final decision. In 2002 the agency declared the fillings were safe. However, it agreed to revisit this decision and in 2009 reclassified the fillings as a Class II moderate risk to health. Despite the fact that this ruling was said to be a “final regulation” when it was made, in 2011 the FDA once again assembled teams to review the earlier ruling.

So Who is Right?
With numerous advocates decrying mercury fillings as harmful, the ADA staunchly defending it, and the FDA vacillating in no man’s land, what should one do about the debate? For new fillings, a mercury substitute is the safest option. Healthy individuals with mercury fillings may want to leave them alone, as there are risks to removing them. But for those who have health problems, an article by Dr. Michael Fleming, DDS, may provide valuable guidance. Whatever your current situation, it is important that you recognize your options and make the best choice you can for your personal health.

Brushing teeth (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever brushed your teeth quickly in a rush to get out the door, only to regret it? You sit in your car on your way to your appointment and feel that… speck of uncleanliness in your mouth. You try to fight it with a mint, but you still feel like you’ve missed something. The fact is, you have. Your overall health is far more dependent on your oral health than you might think—and your oral health is completely dependent on brushing… and brushing right. Let’s take a look at some steps you might be overlooking as you nurture your health by brushing your teeth correctly.

Angle the Brush

The angle of your toothbrush makes a huge difference when it comes to the effectiveness of your brushing technique. Don’t brush straight on. Don’t brush straight up or down. Keep that brush at a forty-five degree angle. You will be astonished at how much more effective your pearly-polishing sessions are by using that simple tip.

Brush Methodically

Move your toothbrush in a small circular motion. Don’t run it back and forth or up and down. Remember that the goal is to maximize the effectiveness of your toothbrush. By controlling the angle and using a circular motion, you’re bringing out the best in your brush, and ensuring a fantastic clean.

Take Your Time

Too many individuals compromise their oral health when they “rush their brush.” Keep brushing for at least two minutes. Time it if you have to. Don’t shortchange this absolutely vital component of your health. If you’re going to brush your teeth, why not do it right and make sure you’re really taking care of your health?

Floss

Okay, this is an article about brushing—but flossing is an absolutely vital follow-up to brushing your teeth. Gum disease—which can eventually lead to horrible complications including heart disease—often begins in those nooks and crannies your toothbrush can’t get to. The only way to keep those pearly whites pearly is through regular flossing. Once again, remember if you’re going to keep your teeth clean, you might as well do it right.

Repeat

The key to any positive aspect of your life is consistency. Brush and floss correctly, methodically, and most importantly, regularly. Every time you brush your teeth, you’re maintaining the only body you have. Keep it up for optimal oral health and a long, healthy life.

What is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint is a joint, one which basically connects your jaw to your skull. It’s this joint that allows your mouth to move. For obvious reasons, it’s essential in a number of life tasks, including chewing your food, talking, etc. The joint is connected (like most are), to the muscles which control your jaw.

What is TMD?

TMD is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint. It can result in a hefty amount of pain, and may get in the way of talking, chewing, etc. This disorder may have any number of causes including head injury, dislocation, arthritis, bad chewing habits, etc. It is, in short, a blanket term for what may be one or a number of problems.

The Burden of TMD

To say the least, TMD can make life difficult. Symptoms range from clicking sounds in the jaw to limited mobility of the jaw to inability to chew… even lockjaw. Swelling and muscle pain may occur. This wide range of symptoms may result in a wide range of treatment options.

How Can TMJ be Treated?

Because TMJ can be representative of so many issues that might occur in the temporom and ibular joint and its surrounding muscle tissue, there are almost as many treatments for TMJ as there are symptoms. Light TMJ might be treated with diet, or with standard joint pain treatments including heat packs, etc. Medication may help, ranging from simple aspirin to muscle relaxants. If the TMJ is extreme, surgical treatment may be necessary. In addition, TMJ is sometimes uniquely interlinked with dental issues, which keeps it in the realm of dentistry.

Is It Dentistry?

Absolutely. The dentist is responsible for your oral health, not just the treatment of your teeth. Your dentist understands TMJ and TMD, the burden of TMD, and knows how to treat it. If you are experiencing consistent jaw pain, see your friendly neighborhood dentist immediately.

There are three key factors that must be considered when trying to eliminate bad breath. While popping a breath mint in your mouth may address bad breath temporarily, it will not address the rood of the problem. Let’s take a look at how diet, digestion and hygiene affect whether or not you might have to deal with bad breath.

Diet

It makes perfect sense when you think about it. What goes down must come up. Believe it or not, bad breath can oftentimes be the result of a dietary issue. You see, all that food that’s being consumed and digested along your digestive tract produces gas. You know how drinking a carbonated soda can result in gross belching? Carbonated liquids aren’t the only gassy substance that likes to make its way back out of your stomach and into your mouth. Extremely sugary, extremely acidic, extremely fatty foods may result in halitosis.

Digestion

Bad food makes for bad digestion, and bad digestion makes for halitosis. In many cases, your breath isn’t just the result of bacteria in your mouth—it’s colored by the results of a digestive process that simply isn’t as efficient and effective as it should be. Put simply, if you’ve got digestion, then odds are fairly decent that you may have bad breath as well. If you’re really serious about eliminating bad breath, then pursuing a healthier diet might ensure a whole lot more progress than a box of Tic Tacs.

Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene remains one of the leading causes of bad breath. Poor oral health maintenance results in the accumulation of bacteria. That’s bad for your teeth. It’s bad for your gums. It’s bad for your breath. The same bacteria that turns your teeth an unattractive yellow hue may also be turning your breath into a rather unpleasant experience. Brush your teeth two to three times a day. Floss twice a day. Keep your teeth and gums clean to make sure your breath remains kissably fresh.

As you can see, there’s more to bad breath than a simple breath mint can solve. Manage your diet, digestion and oral hygiene to keep halitosis at bay.

Electric toothbrushes might provide tremendous advantages in terms of oral health and easy cleaning for your teeth. That doesn’t mean that manual toothbrushes are outdated, though—they’ve been en vogue for literally thousands of years.

What’s the Difference?

What makes an electric toothbrush different than a manual toothbrush? Of course, there are some obvious answers: One is battery-powered, the other is not. One seems ludicrously overpriced, the other features a price point that most consumers would deem… normal for a toothbrush.

The advantage to a motorized toothbrush is the advanced cleaning action provided by the spinning brush. That rotating brush makes it easier to clean the less accessible areas of the mouth.

Does An Electric Brush Produce Cleaner Teeth?

Is an electric toothbrush better for your teeth than a manual toothbrush? The knee-jerk reaction from the more cost-conscious of us might be, “Well, for what they cost, I’d better be able to see my reflection in my teeth when I’m done using that electric brush!” The truth is that any tool, whether it’s manual or electric, is as good as its user. While electric toothbrushes do make it easier to get teeth clean, the user must discipline himself or herself to use the device correctly—just as he or she would a manual toothbrush. For that reason, your decision as to whether to use a manual or electric toothbrush really comes down to how you choose to define value.

What Does Value Mean to You?

At the end of the day, you can keep your teeth clean with a manual toothbrush. You might keep your teeth clean a little better, a little more efficiently with an electric toothbrush. It goes without saying that a manual toothbrush saves money—electric toothbrushes can cost up to a hundred times what you might pay for a standard toothbrush. So whether you’re obsessive about pursuing a perfect clean through an electric toothbrush, or committed to maintaining your oral health the old-fashioned (and significantly more frugal) way with a manual, your commitment to regular teeth cleaning will facilitate the best possible future for your mouth.

Sticky, carbohydrate-laden foods lodge in teeth and cause tooth rot, and highly acidic foods wear away enamel. Enamel erosion is responsible for abnormal sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages, a weakened tooth surface that can crack or break off, and susceptibility to chemicals. Once gone, enamel cannot be repaired or replaced.

Sugar alone doesn’t cause cavities, but the bacterial growth and acid it causes in the mouth does. Cavities usually develop in unreachable areas of the tooth where flossing and brushing are ineffective. Severe damage isn’t caused just by the amount of sugar (carbohydrates) you eat at
meals; the longer that sugar remains on your teeth throughout the day the more extensive the damage. You won’t necessarily feel the extent of the cavity (in the form of tooth pain) until the harm is already done, and it never repairs itself—unless the dentist fills it or performs a root canal (for nerve damage).

What Foods Are Bad For Teeth?

As already mentioned, highly acidic foods and sugar or carbohydrates are the main causes of damage to teeth. Some foods are easy to identify (like citrus), others—not so much. You can still have highly acidic foods like soft drinks, tomatoes (and tomato products), yogurt, aged cheeses,
and most fruits—but within reason. Sugary foods like chocolate, gooey candy, potato chips, soft cookies, bread, and cake should be eaten sparingly as they stick easily between teeth and cause decay.

What Foods Are Good For Teeth?

Eating a wide assortment of wholesome, natural foods like fruits and vegetables is the best strategy for maintaining good teeth—the bigger the variety, the more likely you’ll be to get all the minerals and vitamins you need. Dairy products like yogurt, milk, and cheese replenish lost
calcium to teeth. Water (especially fluoridated) will stave off dry mouth and aid saliva in keeping bacteria at bay.

When combined with proper brushing and flossing, eating healthfully and mindfully can put you in good stead on your next dental checkup.

Are you missing something? If you have one or two missing teeth, there is a solution: Dental Bridges

What are the benefits of Dental Bridges?

There are so many great benefits from getting dental bridges for your teeth. For one, they restore your long-lost smile. You’ll never have to worry about looking like a child waiting for the tooth fairy ever again. In addition to your perfect smile, bridges also restore your ability to properly chew and speak again while maintaining the shape of your face and balancing out the rest of your mouth.

A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for each side of the gap. These “abutment teeth” are structured with false teeth in between. These“pontics” or false teeth can be made from gold, metal alloy, and porcelain materials

The Process

The abutment teeth are prepared during your first visit. A portion of the enamel is removed for preparation to allow room to place a crown. Next, impressions of your teeth are made and sent out to a dental laboratory. While you are waiting for your bridge to be made, a temporary bridge will be placed in your mouth to protect exposed teeth and gums.

When you arrive for your second visit, the permanent bridge will be inserted. Multiple visits may be required to ensure a perfect fit of the metal framework and bite. This depends on each individual case.

Types of Dental Bridges

• Traditional bridge- Crowns for the teeth or implants are made for each side of missing teeth, with false teeth in between. Traditionally the most common type of bridges, they are made of either porcelain fused to metal or ceramics.
• Cantilever bridge- Used when there are abutting teeth on only one side of the missing teeth.
• Maryland bonded bridge – (Resin-bonded bridge or Maryland bridge)-Made of plastic teeth and gums and supported by a metal framework. Metal wings on each side of the bridge are secured to your existing teeth.

How Long Do Dental Bridges Last?

Dental bridges can last five to 15 years and even longer if good oral hygiene is maintained and you continue regular checkups with your dentist. Brushing daily and flossing helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can lead to loss of teeth. Keeping a balanced diet and staying away from foods and drinks that could potentially harm your teeth is also a good idea. With a dental bridge no one will be able to tell that you have temporary teeth. So stop missing out and missing teeth. Ask your dentist about getting Dental Bridges today.

What is a Root Canal?

A Root Canal is a treatment used to save and repair teeth that are badly decayed or infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are abstracted and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treating the damage, the tissue will become infected.

Symptoms and Signs-When to Have a Root Canal

When nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it causes unsafe bacteria. Infections and abscess in the mouth can occur. These symptoms can lead to swelling in and around your face and neck, bone loss in your teeth, drainage issues and holes.

Some signs to look out for:

• Severe toothache caused by pressure
• Prolonged sensitivity to hot/cold temperatures even after heat/cold is removed
• Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
• Swelling and tenderness in gums
• Recurring pimples on gums

What Happens During a Root Canal Procedure?

A Root Canal Procedure requires one or more office visits to the dentist. It requires that an X-Ray be taken to see if there are signs of infection in the bone. The dentist will then use a local anesthetic to numb the area. Although anesthesia may not be necessary, it is sometimes used to make the patient more relaxed.

A hole is drilled into the tooth and the pulp, bacteria, and decayed nerve tissue are removed from the tooth to clean the area. The cleaning is done using what are called ‘root canal files’. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. If the root canal is not sealed on the same day because of infection, medication is used to cure it and a temporary filling is placed in your tooth until it can be safely sealed.

Since a tooth that undergoes a root canal often has extensive decay, a crown and post often needs to be placed on the tooth for protection to prevent it from damage. It assists in restoring the tooth to full function again. If you need a crown, your dentist will advise you if it’s necessary.

What to Expect After the Procedure

You may expect some sensitivity to the area for the first few days after the procedure. You can take some over the counter pain medications such as Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc. To prevent discomfort, you may decide to chew on the other side. Continue to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly.

Root Canal procedures have a 95% success rate and are highly recommended to maintain the health and cleanliness of your teeth. If your teeth aren’t healthy, you aren’t healthy.

If you’re hoping to keep an incredible smile, especially when you’re older, it’s important to know what may be potentially harmful in terms of what might discolor your teeth. There’s more to it than just not smoking (though that’s important); a number of factors may cause unsightly discoloration in the teeth. Let’s take a look at four potential roots of stained teeth.

Poor Diet

Two dietary staples might, down the road, burnish your teeth an unattractive brown hue. Your daily caffeine dose from both coffee and soda might blemish those fangs. The key to diet—along with most other things in life—is moderation. Keep it easy on the soda, and on the coffee, remembering that your diet doesn’t just affect your gut, but your oral health and even longevity as well.

Believe it or not, many teas and even wine are big offenders when it comes to staining teeth. Red wine and black tea are especially dangerous for the teeth when taken in excess. Be careful of sugary candy too, which has the potential to wear down the enamel.

Tobacco

The thing is, smoking and chewing of tobacco elevate, to a pretty extreme degree, just about every possible form of poor oral health. This includes staining of the teeth. Over time, nicotine and tar turn your precious pearlies into disgusting, stained, yellowed teeth. Don’t mar a great smile: Stop smoking, and stop chewing.

Nerve Problems

Deep in each of your teeth is a set of nerves. If those nerves should become damaged and cease to function, you may discover that your teeth have turned jet black. A number of issues may cause this, including physical damage from traumatic events, or from extreme tooth decay situations.

Age

Unfortunately, over time, the enamel on your teeth will start to lose its stunning white hue. This coloring can sometimes be extended or maintained. White teeth at an older age, however, is a symbol of great care and commitment to oral health.

Trust Your Dentist

If you want to keep that smile stunningly white, it’s vital to create a plan of action between you and your dentist. Set long term goals, maintain your oral health through regular brushing, flossing and dentists’ office visits, and you’ll be far more likely to keep those teeth free from unsightly staining.

Why Over the Counter Whitening Doesn’t Cut It

It’s safe to say that although over counter whitening products look intriguing and ultimately more inexpensive than dental procedures, they just don’t cut it. Drug Store bleaching gels have their disadvantages. They only whiten teeth a little but are better used to maintain teeth that have already been whitened by bleaching. Don’t spend your money on products that barely do the job. You could be missing out on the best dental options for teeth whitening that can actually make a substantial difference in your smile and your confidence level.

Naturally Speaking

There are tricks and tips to keep your teeth white and prevent stains from forming in your mouth. Drinking acidy and sugary drinks out of a straw rather than straight from the glass is one way. The straw funnels the liquids directly into your mouth instead of lingering in and around your teeth. In addition, eating fruits and vegetables and maintaining your calcium intake can help keep your teeth healthy.

Baking Soda is also something you can use moderately to naturally re-freshen your teeth. However, you should avoid using this product daily since it can do more damage than good if you overuse it. You want to help whiten your teeth, not wear down the enamel.

Bleaching and Whitening

The above products and tips are temporary and short term options for teeth whitening. Truthfully, the only option that permanently guarantees a whiter mouth is professional Bleaching and Whitening at your dentist’s office. Despite what you may have heard, these procedures are not harmful to your teeth at all.

There are a few different options for dental whitening:

Take Home Gel Trays: Bleaching trays are custom created for the patient and whitening gel is provided. This process involves wearing trays for a two-week period at home. The trays give you natural-looking whiter teeth without stains.

In Office Treatment: In-Office System that takes only 1 hour and uses a pain-free a laser to lighten the color of your teeth.

In Office and Take-Home Treatment: Use the One Hour In-Office System plus and Home Bleaching System For the whitest smile you can have, which provides a long term solution for keeping you teeth white

All of these procedures are offered at your local dentist office. They are best options out there that guarantee a whiter mouth. If you are looking to go from mellow yellow to wonderful white, the choice is clear.