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.

Proven Ways to Reduce the Buildup of plaque Naturally

Plague is no good, and you should get rid of it as fast as you can. but did you know that there are unique ways to reduce the buildup of plaque naturally? 

Well, there is, and here, we’ll go over what plaque is, its effect on the teeth, and how to naturally mitigate the effects. 

What is Plaque 

Plaque is the result of what happens when bacteria eat the sugars in our foods. It builds up on teeth, and when it hardens, it becomes tartar.

Now you can get rid of plaque, but tartar needs to be removed by a dentist. Too much of this buildup, and the bacteria will start to eat into the tooth, causing decay. If it reaches the dentin and root, it can even kill the tooth! 

Overall, plaque is definitely something you’ve got to be mindful of, and removing it is the best thing you can do. 

Oral Habits to minimize Plaque 

The first way to minimize plaque is to take care of your teeth. Brushing the teeth twice daily for two minutes with soft-bristled toothbrushes and a fluoridated toothpaste is the best way to do it.

To brush, you want to move front and back, and also make sure that you get all parts of the teeth.

Flossing is super important, because it gets between the teeth, and those hard-to-reach areas, which can help with removing the plaque that forms along the side of the teeth. Your oral health matters, so make sure that you reduce the buildup through these actions. 

Natural remedies for reducing Plaque 

There are other natural remedies for reducing plaque. Crunchy vegetables for starters naturally remove the plaque and reduce the buildup.

Sugarless gum is another one. It is good for removing some of the plaque that’s there, especially after you eat and drink something with sugars and starches. 

Aloe vera also helps with reducing tooth decay and plaque buildup. Rinse your mouth with the juice to help reduce the bacteria, as it naturally kills it.

Coconut oil is another. Due to the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory elements, it can help to reduce plaque and other microbes in the mouth. Swishing a tablespoon around the mouth for five to ten or so minutes will aid you with reducing plaque.   While it might not be as quick as the others, this is a good way to naturally pull out the germs. 

Finally, you should consider lifestyle changes as well. While not a natural remedy, sometimes prevention is best done through the actions you undertake. For instance, changing your diet to less sugary foods is a great start. Also, if you’re smoking, quit. It increases the buildup of plaque and increases the risk of oral cancer. 

Dental Treatments for Plaque 

If you have plaque that you can’t get rid of, then you should see your dentist. A regular cleaning will get rid of this buildup. The cavitron is used for those with significant buildup in order to make it easier to remove.

If you have plaque that’s gotten so bad it’s affecting your gum health, a scaling might be asked for.  A root canal might be done if the buildup reached the root. Finally, if there is a bit of decay, they might give you a filling to aid with treatment.

Overall, dental treatments for plaque are done as a last resort and are best used when you’ve exhausted the other options and are unable to get rid of the plaque effectively. So make sure you see a dentist to figure out what’s next. 

How to stop Bruxism

 If you wake up the next day with your jaw being sore, a big headache, or the sound of gnashing coming from your mouth, chances are you’re grinding your teeth. Bruxism isn’t just a mild annoyance though, it’s something that can damage your teeth if you leave this unchecked. But there are ways to prevent this, and here, we’ll go over how to stop bruxism. 

The symptoms 

This is usually seen in the form of TMJ and headaches that are common. You also may notice that your teeth are fractured, inflamed, and gums are receding. 

Other symptoms might include: 

• more sensitive teeth 

• soreness of the jaw 

• loose or chipped teeth 

• temple headaches 

Teeth grinding along with bruxism both have very similar symptoms to other types of conditions, and if you notice that it’s happening, you can stop it. Usually though, most people do it when sleeping, so that’s hard to mitigate, but if you learn the symptoms, it can help. 

How it impacts oral health 

When you clench and grind your teeth, the force that’s there is actually much higher than what you do during chewing. When you eat, usually the food buffers this, but the thing is, when you engage in bruxism, this affects the whole mouth, with no barriers. 

This leads too: 

• enamel wearing away 

• chipping or cracking of implants, teeth, and bridgework too 

• sensitivity of the teeth 

• teeth that are loose or painful. 

• Facial pain and jaw muscle clenching 

• Headaches 

This is usually caused by different things. 

The causes 

There are a few causes that lead to bruxism. 

The first is snoring.  Usually, snoring plays a large part in bruxism. When you suffer from sleep apnea or even sleep talking, it can impact the breathing, and you might clench your teeth to open up the airway. 

Anger, stress and frustration also cause this, according to the ADA. When you start to engage in more relaxing activities, it can help with the development of this. 

Some people also may have this due to lifestyle choices. If you smoke or drink alcohol, this can sometimes lead to a development of this. However, this is something that’s also seen in children, so it does depend on the circumstances. 

There are also certain meds, such as antidepressants, and also other neurological conditions including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease.  

Treatments 

The best way to treat this is to talk to your doctor.  You want to also discuss this with a dentist too. 

Most dental hygienists will see the signs of bruxism right away, and they can help provide the best treatments possible to help with this. 

Probably one of the biggest things you must do, is to calm down, and stay relaxed as best as you can. That’s because it can help you relax, and reduce the chances of teeth grinding. A hot shower, a bath with a book that you enjoy, or even practicing meditation and mindfulness is a good way to reduce this. 

You also may want to get a nightguard, which is basically a device that you wear that’s like a mouthguard for your teeth during the night. If you grind your teeth, you can prevent further damage. 

You also may need some mandibular advancement devices as well, which brings the jaw forward as you sleep, and this is something that’s used for treating sleep disorders. 

You want to treat this right away, and get rid of it whenever you can, for your own jaw’s health and safety reasons as well and for your oral health needs too.

Home Remedies to treat Dental Issues

Having good oral health habits is important, but what can you do if you can’t get into the dentist immediately?  While there’s no substitution for preventative care, home remedies might serve you pretty well, especially in the interim before you can get to your dentist. 

Knocked out and Broken Teeth 

There’s nothing worse than falling. Except, maybe losing a tooth, especially the front.   Losing teeth is a huge emergency, but if you need to wait before getting care, here’s a few ways to minimize overall damage. 

For baby teeth, you don’t need to take action. In fact, it might even be knocked inside and will re-emerge later on. 

But for adult teeth, rinse this in water, but do not touch the root.   Put the tooth back in the socket if you can till you get to the socket.   If it can be put back in, there’s a better chance it will survive. Never let the tooth dry out. 

If you cannot put the tooth back into the socket, place it in water then get to the dentist. 

If the tooth is cracked and broken, but not totally dislodged, try to get all of the pieces that are broken. There is a chance that you can repair this tooth with bonding using the fragments you originally lost. 

Canker Sores and ulcers 

Sores and ulcers are painful and can really stink! If you have one, but don’t want to go to the dentist yet, or you can’t get in, use warm water and salt rinses to soothe that discomfort. Oragel is also great for reducing the pain, however make sure that the area is dried before you apply the product. 

Try to avoid salty and spicy foods, as this will exacerbate the inflamed tissues in many instances. 

Yellowed Mouthguards 

Mouth guards are great for protecting the mouth, but you want a mouth guard that isn’t yellowed and gross. 

Not just because it looks nasty, but if you don’t take care of it, you’re going to introduce the bacteria into the body and mouth, which puts you at risk for diseases. 

The best solution is to brush the mouthguard with some baking soda and water on some toothpaste. Make sure that the brush is only used for this. along with it, soak the mouthguard in a rinse every other day for about 30 minutes. 

Do not use blue mouthwash, unless of course, you want a blue appliance! 

Make sure monthly you do a deeper cleaning by using a solution that’s a third bleach, and two-thirds cold water for a few hours. Rinse it in a thorough manner, then submerge this again for another half hour. Then, put the mouthguard in a mouth rinse for another 30 or so minutes. Then, let it air dry after you’re done cleaning it.

As of note, NEVER put the mouthguard in some boiling water, the dishwasher, or microwave. When you don’t wear it, keep it in safe locations for pets and children. 

Bad Breath 

Finally, you’ve got bad breath, which might be due to food, but also might be because there’s something else going on there. it can be an indication of gum disease or GERD, or it might just be dry mouth. Take care of your teeth through brushing and flossing, but if it’s still lingering, utilize essential oils to mask the scent, and gargle with a drop of this inside a cup of water. If certain medications are causing this, then you should talk to your dentist, and get an appointment to help with offsetting these major issues too. n

Hypoglycemia and Blood sugar

We’re probably aware that hyperglycemia is high blood sugar, but hypoglycemia is the opposite, low blood sugar. What’s the cause of this, and what symptoms are there? Does your oral care play a part in this? How can it connect directly to dry mouth? Here, we’ll give you the lowdown on what it is. 

What Hypoglycemia Is 

This is basically what happens when your blood sugar gets down to low levels. Blood sugar is basically how much glucose is within your blood. You need glucose in order to create energy, but too much, and insulin helps keep it at the right levels. But there is a threshold for safety with this, and that where hypoglycemia comes in. 

This is usually when the fasting blood sugar is about 70 milligrams per deciliter, which is based on the Mayo clinic findings. However, this does vary between different people, so your range may be a bit different for it to be considered. This is sometimes a common thing that happens in diabetics. There are other reasons for this too, including: 

• Type ½ diabetes and other hormonal problems 

• Too much alcohol 

• Overtaking of medications, or taking medications you weren’t properly prescribed 

• Rare conditions that create insulin overproduction. 

• Hepatitis, kidney problems, and cirrhosis of the liver 

• The foods that are in your meals and the combination of this 

It’s important to discuss this with your doctor if you find yourself experiencing this. 

Diabetes and hypoglycemia 

Hypoglycemia is common in a lot of diabetics, especially when there is too much insulin. This is very common with those who have type 1 diabetes, and some may experience two episodes of this during the week.Your blood sugar does rise and fall throughout your daily activities, but if it gets too low, this can be a problem. Blurred vision, dizziness, confusion, and weakness are all common, and it can lead to injuries n some cases. If it’s untreated, it can cause a lot of complications, so if you are a diabetic, you need to make sure that you control this. 

The symptoms 

The symptoms do vary based on the types of instances. But, no matter what, all hypoglycemia should be taken quite seriously. These can be quite scary, but it’s a sign that you have to correct this ASAP, for your own health needs. Some of the symptoms do include: 

• Skin being pale 

• Sweating 

• Shaking 

• Feeling weak and tired 

• Stress, irritability, or anxiety 

• More hungry 

• Numbness in the tongue, lips, and cheeks 

• Disorientation or confusion 

• Rapid heartbeat 

• Seizures 

• Losing consciousness 

• Blurred or disturbed problems with your vision 

If you have hypoglycemia, you should definitely go to the doctor to get help with this. 

How this Impacts the Mouth 

Your mouth definitely gets impacted by this. You should try to have some sugar drinks, but also keep in mind that this does put you at risk for possible cavities and what not. Low blood sugars can cause dental issues, but it’s not direct. You might experience one of the following health problems: 

• Dry mouth, due to the lack of saliva in the mouth 

• Gum disease, which is usually what happens when the blood sugar is not under control 

• Injuries taking longer to heal 

• Changes in the flavor and tastes of food. 

• Infection and disease, which impacts your immune system, making you more susceptible to possible infection or disease within your mouth

Take care of this right away, for your oral health needs!

Saliva and Dry Mouth

Saliva is great for chewing your food, is vital for digestion but some people don't produce enough saliva, and this causes dry mouth. But there are substitutes and different types of ways you can fix this, and here, we’ll discuss the  potential benefits of these, and how they impact oral health.

How Dry Mouth can Affect You 

Dry mouth is otherwise known as xerostomia, which is something that can happen from medications, autoimmune conditions, chemotherapy, and even radiation, and so much more. Some of the signs include: 

• A sticky, dry feeling within the mouth and tongue 

• Trouble with chewing, tasting, swallowing and speaking 

• Lips that are cracked 

• Burning sensations within the mouth 

• Lips that are cracked 

• Mouth sores 

• A dry tongue that’s rough.

• Mouth infection 

Dry mouth also has impacts on dental health, leading to inflammation, infections, and even tooth decay.

That’s due to the fact that saliva works within the oral cavity to improve the mouth pH, and also prevents demineralization within the teeth.

Artificial Saliva 

This is something that is great for managing and treating the dry mouth symptoms that are there.

You’ve got three main actions that happen. You can manage these conditions through medications, preventing the decay of teeth, and boosting saliva production. 

When you’re increasing this, you can get artificial saliva rinses or sprays, which you’re able to purchase. There are also drugs that boost saliva production naturally. Artificial saliva is great for helping this, but keep in mind they don’t have the enzymes used for digestion, and it doesn’t have the same minerals that the regular saliva that your body makes.

It’s important that, if you do use artificial saliva, you don’t just rely on this, but also rely on other types of ways to relieve this.

These include: 

• Having water, or sugarless drinks that don’t contain caffeine 

• Using humidifiers 

• Chewing gum that’s sugar-free, or having candy that’s sugar-free to suck on

• Avoiding foods that are dry, hard for you to chew, along with spicy and salty items 

• Using a lip lubricant 

• Avoiding sugary or sticky foods 

• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol, even mouth rinses that have alcohol within them 

You’ll want to try different kinds of treatments that do work best and using this is based on the direction of the doctor, however, when you consume these, do not drink or eat for up to 15 minutes after you’ve used this. 

Substitutes Vs. Stimulants 

There are also saliva stimulants, but they’re a bit different. Saliva substitutes do cause you to have a more moist mouth, and they usually are devices.  They won’t stimulate your salivary glands, but they can help with moistening the mouth.

But a saliva stimulant is basically a way to boost the production of this in there.  The best way to boost this is through chewing, causing the muscles to start to compress, release the saliva, and boost the production. Chewing gum for instance might be a great simulant, especially if you don’t want to use a substitute. 

If you are going to stimulate the salivary glands, you should use sugarless gum in order to make this work. 

Overall, it’s important that you get the help that you need with your dry mouth. Discuss this with a healthcare provider, to figure out the best treatment plan. You don’t need to live with this daily annoyance, but there are different treatments that you can get, helping you boost your oral health, and bringing your oral health back to the state that it was in before.

Wisdom Teeth - The Worst Tooth Pain I’ve Ever Been In

Wisdom Teeth - everyone has them! Unless of course you don’t have them, which can happen in some cases. To be honest, I don’t really know what wisdom teeth are, how they form, or what they’re for, but I know that a lot of people have to get them out in their teenage years or early adult life. For me, I had to get mine out at the start of the summer before I began my internship. I was told I had 4 wisdom teeth in total that needed to come out and that they could do it all in one morning. I have heard lots of stories about people getting their wisdom teeth out, including from everyone in my family. It’s a little different from person to person, but for the most part it is generally not the end of the world for most people. Dry sockets were my ultimate fear, however, as I had heard many horror stories about them and how badly they hurt. I remember hearing that tooth pain is some of the most severe pain because the nerve endings don’t need to travel through the spinal cord to get to the brain - they have direct access I guess.

I got my wisdom teeth taken out May 4th, 2021, which also happens to be Star Wars Day - “May the 4th be with you”. Anyways, my mom and I drove down to a dental surgeon in Holland MI and I got all checked in. After some last minute xrays, the dentist's assistant pointed out something strange; I actually had 6 wisdom teeth, not 4. Somehow this was missed in my first round of x rays. The dental surgeon said it’s not that big of an issue and that they could remove the other 2 free of charge. Interestingly, only 2% of people have more than 4 wisdom teeth. So I’m pretty much a huge deal. They administered some laughing gas which didn’t really do too much for me while they put the IV in and prepared to put the full blown anesthetic in my arm. I was kind of nervous at this point and I remember watching the dental surgeon slowly inject the syringe of anesthetic and asking him if I’m gonna fall asleep soon. That’s the last thing I remember. 

The surgery went well and they woke me up to keep me in the stabilizing room to make sure there were no problems immediately after surgery. I barely remember anything at this point because I was still under a lot of sedation, but I took a few videos of myself and I didn’t appear to be super confused about what was going on. My mom told me later that I was the most put together out of my sisters, so that’s pretty good I guess. 

The recovery process for the holes where my wisdom teeth once were was longer than I expected. I experienced quite a bit of pain the first few days and having to keep the gauze in my mouth was very annoying. After about 4 or 5 days, things started to get better. That is until I got an infection on my left side which caused my jaw and mouth to continue bruising and swelling. This is some of the worst pain that I have ever been in.