Oral health Throughout Your Life: What Your Needs Are

As we grow older our oral health changes. The oral health that you had as a kid, or even as a young adult, is definitely different from the oral health that you’ve gotten in the past.

When you take care of your teeth, you will notice these changes that become different over time, and how they will magically become easier for you to deal with. Adapting to these needs is vital, especially for your own well-being. 

Infants and toddlers 

It might seem silly to start with oral habits at such a young age, but it is important. Even those that are infants can have good oral habits, which they will carry throughout their entire life.

Putting a dab of toothpaste on your finger and rubbing them around the gums is great for infants who don’t have their teeth yet. Once the first tooth starts to erupt, you can get a brush specifically for that. cleaning their mouth with a cloth works too.

For toddlers, they might have some idea of their mouth and teeth, but may struggle with brushing them.   so, you can help them by doing it for them, showing them the importance of cleaning all their teeth. 

Adolescents and Teenagers 

Now, as a kid gets older, they will start to develop dexterity and motor skills, especially for taking care of themselves. This translates to their oral health.

So what that means for you is simple: you start them with a brush, showing them how it’s done. Guide them on learning how to brush their teeth, paying attention to how they take care of the hard-to-reach spots.

You can get them a timer, and they can use their toothbrush themselves. An electric toothbrush might work.

Now for teenagers, by this point they probably have the habit, or not. Maybe a dental wakeup call is what they need.

They might start to get orthodontics, which will help with their bite. As young as eight can get them, but most of the time you get these orthodontic appliances when you are able to get the information you need on your teeth.

Adults 

Adults are mostly just maintaining their oral health despite the busy lives.

Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day at least, eating right, drinking water, and refraining from smoking and other habits that can compromise teeth is the main part of this point.

Lives get busy, but don’t forget about your teeth. All those important habits that you formulated early on don’t go by the boards because you’ve got kids and a job now! 

For Aging Adults and Seniors 

As one gets older, other dental problems arise, which can get worse if they’re much older. 

Dry mouth is one of them, especially with development of the salivary glands. 

The other one is tooth loss. This might cause one to need dentures or bridges. In some cases, they might need some implants for this job, so it’s important to make sure that, if you’re not seeing your dentist for this help already, you get out there and get the care that you need.

As one gets older, the needs will always change. Here, we went over the entire gamut of what you need in order to make sure that your oral health is on point.   If you know the evolving needs, you will be able to do something about it.   your oral health will take a lot of time to master, but you will notice that, once you’ve got it, you will be able to form a lifelong habit.

Dental Hygiene Around the World

Dental hygiene is a growing world, and it’s varied based on place to place. While it might be due to the current costs of everything, or maybe how cultures regard such, there’s a lot that’s different around the world. Here, we’ll go over some of the different dental hygiene habits that those around the world possess. 

Cultural Practices 

There are different practices of how people clean their teeth throughout the world.

The first are the tools that are used. While we might use a small soft-bristled toothbrush, other cultures don’t necessarily use this. There are twigs, bristles, various feathers, and even porcupine quills that you will start to see that might be different from what you see here.

In India for instance, twigs from cashew, coconut, and also mango trees are used to clean the teeth they have.   Ayurvedic medicine encourages people to use neem trees as well to clean their teeth. 

Obviously this is very different from the toothbrushes and toothpastes that are out there. 

Dental Tool Differences 

Speaking of other tooth cleaning tools, there are also big differences in dental tools that you might use. Here in the west, we again have the toothbrushes and toothpastes, but there are also electric toothbrushes and water flossing, which are popularized here in the west. This is because of the innate ability to get rid of plaque, and also keep gum health strong.

In Asian countries though, they use different types of dental tools. We mentioned the twigs, but also their toothpastes are far different. They might use herbal toothpastes that are different from the modern formulas. Some western countries, however, have started to utilize this type of different toothpastes, because it’s seen as less ridden with chemicals. 

Economic Differences 

The biggest and most apparent problem is dental care access.   For instance, South Africa has dental care for those in accessible and urban areas.  However, underserved and rural areas don't get much.  Egypt as well does not offer dental care due to the lack of affordability, which plays a role in the way the people are there.

For third-world countries, it’s not possible. However, some countries such as Denmark, offer dental care for those under the age of 18 for free. 

In the west, we usually have to pay for insurance, but with the new technology and preventative care, there tends to be more opportunities, especially if there are some major problems. 

Some areas, due to the lack of information and the prevalence of old tales, end up creating myths for what to do with their teeth. For instance, some countries encourage children to throw their baby teeth on the roof when they come out. certainly different from the tooth fairy, right? 

The biggest problem at the moment is to reduce the discrepancy between low-income and higher-income nations. Some doctors are going out there to offer free or reduced dental care for those possible. 

What we can Learn from this 

There is a lot actually that you can learn.

First, there’s a lot of different cultures that do different things, especially for those that are in different geographical regions.

There is also the difference in how dental care systems are. Some have a full-fledged system that offers free healthcare in some instances. But others don’t have this, such as in Egypt.

We can do more to learn about this, and if possible, if we want to offer dental services, going out to these underdeveloped nations might be the answer that they need to get the dental care that they deserve in the long-term as well.

DIY Dentistry: Why you Should Avoid it

DIY activities are all the rage these days, including, unfortunately, in the realm of oral health and dentistry. While yes, you can find almost anything online, it’s better to leave the care to the professionals.

DIY dentistry is something that is harmful, and does have severe consequences, especially with certain processes. While it might tempt you to try these, your oral health might end up worse. You know what they say, you should leave certain stuff to the professionals, and this is but one of them. 

Why Do DIY Dentistry? 

There’s a few obvious reasons for this.   First is the vast amount of information that’s online. You can google right now and learn that there are articles claiming apple cider vinegar will make your teeth whiter, or teach you how to make a bridge out of materials you have at home.

With the rising costs of how much everything is, a lot of times people don’t go to the dentist, so their oral health will suffer. Those without insurance may not be able to afford it either, which is why they try to use these methods.

The third is fear. So many are afraid of the dentist to the point where they will do anything but go see them. This, of course, includes trying stuff at home that you should be avoiding.   

DIY Whitening Treatments 

The most innocuous ones are the DIY dental treatments. At worst, they don’t work and make your teeth more sensitive. At best, they may brighten up your smile, but not by much. It’s better to go see your dentist and get a whitening treatment from them, rather than just put all of your faith in drinking some apple cider vinegar. 

Fillings and Gap Closings 

Two of the other more popular are the fillings and closing the gaps of teeth. Cavities happen due to the presence of bacteria, and some people may try to do DIY dental fillings at home. However, this is a problem. First and foremost, it’s not hygienic, so you’re putting the area at risk of infections. Sometimes it creates more sensitivity, and even gum disease as well. At worst, it causes tooth loss.

Closing gaps is another one.   You might try to make a bridge for your mouth using gap strips, but this is a problem. The ligaments that are along the tooth surfaces and gums move, and will damage the bones and soft tissues, so you’ll lose your teeth.   Gap strips also cause tooth infection, irritation, and damage to multiple structures. 

DIY Braces 

One a lot of people try to do is DIY braces and even aligners. These will damage the jaw. They’re not made for the mouth usually, and while you might think it’s a good solution, it doesn’t replace the professionals that received the training to get this on there.

It does cause the teeth to move quickly, which will damage the bones and other teeth. 

DIY Extractions 

Finally, there are DIY extractions. This is tying a string to the tooth and the doorknob.   While we saw this on TV, it can lead to infections and soft tissue damage. Some might use pliers for this, but again, it can cause infections and tooth cracks, which are painful and cost a lot.

You should try not to do any of these if you can. There's a reason why the professionals are so good at their job. Leaving it to them means that you’re able to get the results that you want, so make sure you let them do their job, and you keep your smile.

What Fluoride does for you

If you’re trying to make your smile really shine, you can do so via brushing, and flossing. But what about other ways for you to make your oral care really shine? Well, fluoride is one of those ways. Here’s what you’ve got to know about this, and why it’s imperative to use fluoride to improve your oral health.

What Fluoride is 

If you’ve ever wondered what fluoride is, you’re not alone. It’s actually something that’s found within the earth, and is in nature. It’s a natural item that’s found in a lot of water and foods, and it’s pretty easy to procure. Many times, fluoride gets added to the water that you drink, in order to make the teeth stronger and reduce the decay of the teeth.

It was found that, as long ago as 1930, that fluoride is helpful, and it’s good for fighting the cavities in your mouth.

It was found that the areas that did drink water with fluoride in it, had better teeth, and less decay. It was also found that when it got added to the water supply in communities, it actually reduced tooth decay in a lot of cases all around the board.

The ADA and the WHO also both agree that using fluoride in the water is not a bad thing. It’s been found to be a natural cavity fighter, so it’s good for you to use. 

How Fluoride Works 

The best way to describe how it works is through the process of remineralization. This is also during the demineralization part of this.

When you have plaque and bacteria, demineralization takes place, and this is basically where the bacteria and the plaque will feast on the teeth. They feed on the carbs and sugar that are there. this creates an acid that’ll weaken the enamel of the teeth.

So how does fluoride come into play? Well, when you want to protect the teeth from the damage that’s caused by this, and other sorts of negative effects, this is it. 

Basically, it comes in here and helps with putting more calcium and phosphate into the teeth. This is the process that’s called remineralization. It’s important because it actually can help with making the teeth stronger, and keeping them stronger.

If you remineralize your teeth too much without replacement, that’s what creates tooth decay, so you have to be mindful of that.

This is good for a lot of children too. When this enters into the bloodstream in very small dosages, it actually helps with developing the permanent adult teeth that you have. It also strengthens the teeth from the outer part, so then the acids won’t damage the enamel that’s there. In essence, this will keep the teeth strong, while also preventing the cavities that are there, and also mitigating the tooth sensitivity that can happen too. 

It strengthens the teeth by helping the enamel absorb all of this. Fluoride also does naturally bond with phosphate and calcium, in order to help create a material that’s called fluorapatite, which is basically a material that resists the cavities that’s there.

Now, the bigger question, is it safe? It is, but if you do have too much, it can prove to be a problem. This can create dental fluorosis, which is basically a type of condition that causes the teeth to be discolored or gray due to too much fluoride. So be mindful of that, and if you're not sure whether or not you're getting enough to your doctor to see as well just what you can do, and if it’s right.

Genetics and Oral health

You may wonder if your oral health is a genetic problem, or because of your habits. Obviously if you’re eating sugary items, not brushing your teeth, or smoking, that puts you at risk for dental conditions, but is there a chance that your oral health might be because of what you were born with? 

Some people can get the answers to that from their dentist, as they will be able to see if you have a risk for certain conditions.   When they ask you if your family has certain conditions, answering those gives them the picture they need to understand your oral health.

But it isn’t all genetics. Some things are, some things aren’t, and here, we’ll also look at how these two come together. 

 Your Genetic Predisposition 

Some things are based on your genetics, so some of them you can blame mom and dad for.

Those who have a history of gum disease or gum issues may deal with this because of their parents. A parent who has a lot of saliva and a kid who also has that will have similar issues with their gums and teeth, and that’s something you can’t prevent.

There are also instances where you might be more at risk for gum disease because your parents have similar gums that are thin and easily worn down.

Cavities and tooth decay may also happen due to genetics. If you are following a healthy lifestyle but still get them, it might be due to the mouth you were born with, and you may be more genetically inclined to have that bacteria hanging about. 

Of course, you can’t blame everything on genetics, which we are going to talk about. 

Nature and Nurture 

Your nurture, which is your lifestyle habits, also plays a part in it.   Sometimes, you may find out you’re more at risk for certain conditions. Having parents that had bad oral health, such as gum disease and cavities might put you at risk. If they have diabetes and you’re at risk for it, you may inherit that condition if it’s genetic.

But you can’t blame everything on your genetics. The lifestyle and habits that you form can sometimes help with the risks, one way or another.

For instance, if you eat healthily, make sure to drink enough water, reduce your sugar intake, and don’t smoke or drink, you’ll find that even with that predisposition, you can manage your oral health.

Other times, you may be the pinnacle of oral health, and because of your habits, you end up developing cavities.   So they do kind of work together, you just have to be mindful of the current picture of your oral health. 

Get Personalized with your dental Care 

Which brings us back around to our first point. At the dentist office, they see the genetic situation they’re dealing with. If they know you have worn gums and have a genetic history of bruxism, they can offer dental health treatments for this. even if you’re not grinding your teeth right now, they may try to get you a mouth guard to help with this.

Overall, you should understand that your dentist can help you better shape your dental treatment, allowing you to take care of your oral health better. Combining these two means better oral health in the long run, so don’t be afraid to mix them up. know that you may have some genetic problems with your teeth, but also know that you can beat this through proper taking care of your teeth to ensure that your oral health is at tip-top shape.

All about Gingivitis

If you’re someone who has been told by the dentist that you have gingivitis, you’re not alone. This is a mild type of gum disease that’s created by the plaque that builds up within the gumline.  You might feel bad about this, but don’t be. In fact, it’s quite common. But the problem is, if you’re not careful, this creates something worse, so the sooner you take care of the problem, the better that it’ll be.  Here, we’ll talk about this, and tips to have better gum health too.

What Gingivitis Is 

This is basically where a bacteria builds along where your gum line is, and it creates a plaque that’s a film that’s soft and sticky that sits around there.

Plaque in general, when you don’t get it taken off by the dentist, becomes tartar, and this needs to be taken off by your dentist.

They both contribute directly to gum disease, and the early stages of this are called gingivitis.

About half of the adults within the US alone deal with this.  While it’s mild to start with, when you don’t properly treat this, it becomes what’s called periodontitis, and that’s much more severe. It can cause teeth to become loose, and in the worst situations, they might even fall out, which is why when you get a diagnosis for this, you want to treat this immediately. 

The Symptoms 

The best way to get this treated is to talk to your doctor. But if you notice something is wrong, you can go in early on before it gets worse.

The symptoms of gingivitis that you typically deal with include: 

• Gums that are swollen, puffy, or receding 

• The gums feel tender 

• It becomes more red than pink 

• The gums will bleed when you brush or floss 

• You have a bad taste within the mouth

• Your breath is bad 

• The teeth are loose 

If you start to notice this, then you’ll want to talk to your doctor 

The Risk Factors 

There are a few risk factors that you need to be mindful of.

Lifestyle choices, including smoking a lot, not brushing your teeth or flossing, a diet that’s unhealthy, stress, and obesity, are major contributors to this.

Age is another one.  Those who are over the age of 65 develop this in some capacity. 

Medications can also play a major part in this. if you have certain medications, they can dry out the mouth, increasing the risk for gingivitis. 

Finally, there are other diseases that can cause this. diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis, or even pregnancy can cause this to develop in some capacity. 

Preventative Care 

There are a few things that you can do to make this better for you.

First, you want to brush twice daily. If brushing on the regular is already something that you do, look at your technique. You might need to just be gentler with your teeth, and use the correct pressure so that the gums don’t get irritated.

With this as well, you also want to make sure that you floss between each of your teeth once daily, in order to eliminate the bacteria and other things that irritate the teeth, reducing the inflammation that’s there.

Finally, you want to incorporate mouth rinses, so that there is more protection, and it can be used to treat infections, and the growth of bacteria. Talk to your doctor for a good recommendation before you get a chance to do this. 

Gingivitis is not fun, but proper prevention and care can make this easier on your oral health, and make things easier.

Epigenetics and Oral Health

Epigenetics is a study of how the environment and certain actions can cause changes to your genes, and thereby your oral health. The environment and various habits you pick up all play a focal role in the way you treat your health and wellness. 

By properly using the right techniques and habits to improve your oral health, you can naturally do so, without needing to get surgery or other lengthy dental procedures.

Oral health is expensive, so taking care of this now plays a big role in your overall health and wellness. Let's dive in and explore the ways in which epigenetics plays a role in the oral health you possess. 

Negative Environmental Factors and Epigenetics 

There are certain negative activities that do actually exacerbate your epigenetics. 

For example, stress. Stress causes issues with your oral health, and it can create problems down the line. For example,. If you’re stressed, it increases the immune cells, and it can cause growths and swelling.   Stress also puts you at risk for bruxism, which is teeth grinding, and that can wear down the teeth, while also causing them to look duller and more boring. 

Another is diet.   If you have a diet of healthy foods and various drinks, you’ll be able to keep bacteria at bay, and a healthier smile. But, if you’re constantly eating junk food, riddled with sugars and starches, you’re giving those bacteria free reign to eat at those sugars you’ve given them, and in turn, it also causes issues with your oral health, including tooth and gum breakdowns, and as well gum disease.

Finally, there’s other lifestyle choices and your oral health.   Smoking is one of the biggest, and it can cause many negative health consequences, including oral cancers.   If you smoke, you’re putting yourself at a huge risk, but by cessation, your epigenetics will improve and naturally, you’ll have a healthier lifestyle. 

Epigenetics and Periodontal Disease 

The various actions you take in life also open the door to periodontal disease, and oral cancers. 

If you don’t take care of your teeth, it’s putting you at risk for those, and in many cases, periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, and issues with the gum and bone.   But, if you do take care of your teeth, by brushing twice daily and flossing once, you can nip gingivitis, and periodontitis, in the bud as well.

Oral cancers are the same.   Again, while cancer can occur in anyone, those who engage in smoking and chewing tobacco end up putting themselves markedly at risk for this.   if you’re not careful, it can happen to you. oral cancer screening, and engaging in healthier habits and lifestyle choices allow you to have better dental health, and better oral results. 

More Research, More Opportunities 

There’s more and more research coming out as well on the various epigenetic changes you can make to improve your oral health. Switching to sugarless gum for instance, can help to naturally clean out the mouth, flushing out all of the bacteria before it becomes an issue.

With more research at the helm, it can change the game for so many in the field of dentistry, and patients too who struggle with different types of various issues.

Remember, while we do have genetics that play a role in the lifestyle that we offer, by making sure that you also take care of yourself, you’ll be able to practice epigenetics, and have better oral health. So make sure you do that, and try to make sure as well that your epigenetic changes offer marked results in the field of dentistry.

How to Eliminate Your Bad Breath

 Eww. Have you ever smelled your breath and recoiled in disgust? Bad breath happens from time to time. Whether you ate too many onions or garlic, or there’s a real issue there, bad breath is not good for anyone. It can mean bacteria in your mouth are also wreaking havoc, and tooth decay is rampant. 

Here, we’ll go over some of the different ways halitosis, or bad breath happens, and what you can do to prevent it. 

The cause for bad Breath 

Now some people may just have bad breath because they ate some garlic and it made their mouth smell foul. But others, this bad breath might be a symptom of something else. Oral bacteria, especially the gross bacteria that eat away at your enamel, create this foul smelling scent for your mouth, and it’s hard to get rid of.

Dry mouth is another. When your mouth is dry, it can sometimes create a smell, as it may be coming from the food stuck to your teeth. Finally, digestive health. If you have gut health or acid reflux, it might be a reason why your mouth just kind of smells a little bit.

In some cases, it might also be because of tooth decay, so keep that in mind when you’re trying to look into the root cause of bad breath.

The Best Practices for fresher Breath 

There are a few practices that help maintain fresher breath. These are, of course, brushing your teeth, tongue scraping, and mouthwash. 

Brushing your teeth is straightforward. If you brush your teeth, you get rid of the bad bacteria.   If that happens, then your breath will smell nice and fresh too.

The second one, tongue scraping, gets rid of those gross, white areas that are there. In a lot of cases, it can as well help you also get rid of the bad breath that plagues your mouth too. \

Finally, mouthwash. It’s a good solution if you’re worried about having bad breath and need to freshen up. It also will kill a lot of the bacteria. Try to make sure that you’re using a mouthwash without alcohol. It will not dry out your mouth then. If you do decide to use this, drink water. 

Daily tips for a Fresh Breath 

There are a few ways to keep your breath fresh every single day. 

The first is you want to try to brush your teeth after meals. Try to have it be thirty minutes after meals, and make sure to get all the areas. If you notice that you can’t or don’t have the means to, try to chew some gum in order to get rid of the foul particles. 

Then, look at your diet.   Eat a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables. Have foods that will clean the particles from your teeth. Avoid onions, garlic, and other smelly foods, especially if you’re already prone to bad breath. 

Finally, drink more water.   If you want to have fresh breath, hydration all day is the way to go. Try to go for eight glasses of eight ounces of water every single day, and make sure too that if you’re thirsty, drink some water. 

Consistency is the name of the game for improving your oral health. Taking care of it now prevents more issues in the future, so do so, and you’ll be thankful that you do. plaque and cavities are also done away with when you do this, so make sure to, when trying to be consistent with your habits, make sure you’ve got as many of these items as you can.

When Should I get Antibiotics for a Toothache

 If you’ve got a toothache or an infection in your mouth and are experiencing a ton of pain in your mouth, you may wonder if there is a way to get some relief. One way is an antibiotic. It might seem strange to take antibiotics, especially since it’s not a typical infection. But, all of these infections, especially within the mouth, have a lot in common. All of them have been caused by bacteria.  Not every dental infection however calls for antibiotics, and here, we’ll go over whether you should get antibiotics for the toothache that you have.

Tooth Decay and bacteria. 

In order to understand the reasons why a dentist might give you antibiotics, the first thing to note is that bacteria and toothaches work in a very intriguing manner. Without regular brushing and flossing that promotes the cleaning of those nasty bacteria, turning these foods into acid does happen. This results in the formation of cavities, tooth decay, and other problems. If you take in a ton of sugar, especially those that are overloaded and get stuck on your mouth, you’re going to especially give bacteria a reason to continue to fast on your mouth and structures. Bacteria that cause this are known in many cases are called Streptococcus mutans. 

The Causes of a Toothache 

The causes of this usually are from when the bacteria go and break down on the inner parts of the tooth, creating a vulnerability to this. This inner chamber is vital, as it contains different nerves that’ll supply you with different sensations. When some bacteria reach this, it’s painful, leading to worse dental problems that require an antibiotic treatment.

There are a lot of causes for a toothache, including cavities, where the chamber inside of the tooth is vulnerable, and abscesses happen with this. cavities don’t necessarily mean that it’s time for antibiotics. You can get cavities treated with crowns and fillings depending upon the infection. When it does reach the nerves however, you need a root canal and a cover to keep the bacteria out of there. if the tooth gets so broken down beyond repair as well, they might need to take it out. 

When to Prescribe Antibiotics 

Usually, when the infection is so severe that it impacts the gum and other areas of the tooth, you might need antibiotics. One example of this is pericoronitis, which is an infection that begins in the tissues of the gums, developing around the wisdom teeth. Some people who have this do get antibiotics as a treatment for this.

You may also get amoxicillin and penicillin for infections. Another one that a lot of people get is Clindamycin, which is prescribed for those who do have a penicillin allergy.  You want to make sure not to have too much of this, as this can lead to bacterial resistance. You should be mindful of this, especially when taking it.

You want to make sure that, if you do take antibiotics, you always follow what the doctor orders, as this offers the ideal outcome. You’ll want to follow through with the treatment till the end, especially if there are more prescriptions to take. 

If you have a toothache, there are a few ways to prevent and reduce the risk, including limiting the sugary drinks and foods you have, brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing your teeth once a day, and finally, getting a dental checkup. 

Doing this prevents cavities, and prevents the need to take antibiotics, leading to a happier, healthier life for yourself.