Why it’s so important to look after your gums

Check out your smile. You probably don’t notice them, but your gums are an essential part of the healthy smile you see in the mirror.

WHY ARE GUMS IMPORTANT?

Your healthy gums consist of a pale pink tissue called the gingiva. This covers the bone and tissues that support the teeth with a tough layer to keep the bacteria out and resist wear. The gingiva also protects  fibres from the periodontal ligament within the bony socket which hold the teeth in place. This support structure also help absorb shocks that could damage your teeth and provide a tight barrier to keep bacteria away from tooth roots.

Gum health is essential for healthy teeth. When gums are diseased or damaged, they cannot adequately support and protect teeth. The result of this can be tooth loss, bad breath and wobbly teeth.

GUM DISEASE CAUSES AND EFFECTS

Gum or periodontal disease is the bodies response to bacterial plaque in your mouth. Your mouth is home to many types of bacteria, which in health live in happy coexistance. When the balance between good and bad bacteria is disturbed, often as a result of poor oral hygiene and the bodies efforts to destroy these bacteria. Disease causing invasive bacteria can proliferate causing infection and inflammation.

As your body’s immune system fights the infection, it sends white blood cells to the gums. In the process of fighting off the bacterial infection, the white cells also damage surrounding gum tissue.

As the leading cause of adult tooth loss, gum disease has also been tied to serious illnesses including:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes
  • Respiratory disease
  • Premature birth

The good news is there is evidence that restoring gum health may reverse or improve some of these conditions

SIGNS OF GUM DISEASE

The first indication you may have of periodontal disease is bleeding gums when you brush your teeth. Other indicators are gaps between gums and teeth or very low gums that leave tooth roots exposed. These conditions make it easier for invasive bacteria to attack teeth.

CARING FOR YOUR GUMS

Protect gum health with a regular dental care program that includes:

  • Daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing
  • Proper nutrition
  • Regular dental exams

At the first sign of gum disease, a visit to your dentist is in order. Left untreated, gum disease will advance, destroying more gum tissue and causing progressive tooth loss.

Modern dentistry can successfully treat periodontal disease reducing the risk of gum-related tooth loss and associated health problems. Behind every healthy smile is a healthy set of gums.

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Are you brushing your teeth correctly?

Using proper technique when brushing your teeth is important. There’s much more to brushing your teeth than loading up your brush with toothpaste and sawing rapidly back and forth.

What is the right technique?

First of all, that sawing action is a no-no. It will damage your enamel and miss the debris between your teeth. Instead, place your bristles gently where your teeth meet your gums. With your upper teeth hold the brush with the bristles pointing at 45 degrees upward and move the brush in very small circles. When brushing teeth on the bottom, start at your gum line and point the brush down at 45 degrees in towards the teeth, in both cases you will feel the bristles getting in between the teeth as much as they can to clean efficiently. Repeat this motion for all tooth surfaces on both sides of your teeth.

I usually advise right handed people to start at the bottom left on the cheek side and clean teeth one at a time moving forward slowly until you get to the front right incisors. Then swap the brush to the back hand and carry on brushing one tooth at a time until you get right to the back on the bottom right side.

After that you repeat the action on the tongue side of the bottom right and one tooth at a time clean the teeth swapping from back hand to forehand behind the incisors and clean all the way to the back left on the tongue side! Whew!

Then using gentle ‘wiggly’ motions to help bristles access all nooks and crannies, glide your bristles along the top of your back teeth surfaces.

Then repeat the process with the upper teeth starting at the top left outside.

Lastly, don’t forget to brush your tongue because it carries bacteria too.

Use the right kind of toothbrush

Make sure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Stiffer brushes don’t clean better and they can damage tooth enamel and cut into the root surface of the tongue making the teeth very sensitive.

 Your toothbrush may last for months, but make sure to get a new one if bristles start to fray. Let it air dry thoroughly after each use. If you are using the proper technique it will not look like a toilet brush after a couple of weeks with the bristles all splayed out!

Don’t press hard when brushing teeth. Pressing hard isn’t more effective and could cause damage.

Don’t forget toothpaste

Use toothpaste when brushing at least twice a day. Not only will it help inhibit bacterial growth, which causes cavities, but it will make your mouth feel and taste clean. Rinse your mouth thoroughly, even if you’re not using toothpaste. You don’t want any food particles etc. left behind.

Get the timing right

Spend at least two minutes brushing or you may not be cleaning well enough. If it’s hard to keep track of time, set a timer.

Although most people think it’s best to brush right after eating, it’s better to wait up to an hour. This allows your saliva to neutralise the acid in your food. This way, when brushing your teeth, you won’t be cutting into the softened tooth structure!

Using proper technique when brushing can help ensure you have fewer trips to the dentist and keep healthy teeth that last you a lifetime.

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The 7 worst oral hygiene mistakes you need to avoid

Most people are taught tooth brushing basics by their parents whilst young and generally, this is a positive thing. But sometimes people are given brushing advice that negatively affects their teeth and the brushing habit continued over many years leads to dental problems. Here are 7 of the worst oral hygiene mistakes that should be avoided.

Using the same toothbrush for years

Change your toothbrush at least every three months to keep your brushing effective. Generally, after three months, the bristles on your toothbrush become bent, worn and less effective.

Using a hard toothbrush

Using a medium or hard toothbrush can cause oral abrasion and gum recession. A soft toothbrush gently cleans whilst ensuring that no damage is done during the brushing process.

Skipping the floss

Brushing can’t reach all areas of your teeth. Debris within cracks and crevices as well as plaque build-up near the gum line can be missed with brushing alone. Daily flossing ensures that most areas of your teeth are properly attended to.

Forgetting your tongue

Brush your tongue and inside your cheeks as well. These areas harbor bacteria that can contribute to bad breath and tooth decay.

Brushing too hard

Go easy on your pearly whites. As long as your toothbrush is making contact with your teeth there’s no need to add forceful pressure. Excessive pressure can wear down your tooth enamel and cause receding gums. Dr Jest believes that in general it is better to use manual toothbrushes where possible. A mechanical toothbrush used wrongly can cause very serious damage to your teeth.

Not rinsing after eating

It can help to rinse your mouth with water after eating to dislodge remaining food particles from on and between your teeth. Rinsing also reduces the acidity left after food consumption. Remaining acidity can lead to bacterial growth.

Brushing right after eating

Wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth. Acidic foods weaken tooth enamel and brushing immediately after food can cause enamel to weaken further. Give your saliva time to neutralise the acid before brushing your teeth.

Remember to visit your dentist for checkups and dental cleaning twice a year. Regular cleaning will remove plaque build-up so that you can avoid gum disease. Visiting your dentist is an important step in maintaining good oral hygiene so call to make a dental appointment today.

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I’m too old for metal braces, what’s the alternative?

I’m too old for metal braces, what’s the alternative?

Contrary to popular opinion, age is not a preventing factor when it comes to having orthodontic braces. At least, it is not a strong factor by itself. Therefore, you are never really too old for braces.

There are, however, other things that might pose problems and these correlate with age. These include gum problems as well as bone problems at the root level. Older people can also have gaps and severe misalignments between teeth that make braces difficult.

Fortunately, there are still other treatment options available. These are all quite flexible and use devices that will not disrupt your daily routine. Consider exploring these and don’t deny yourself the benefits of a straighter smile.

1. Clear Braces

A great example of clear braces is Invisalign. Unlike normal braces, clear braces are used as a set of varying aligners. Patients can also remove them fairly easily at the end of each day. Each tray in the set is generally worn for two weeks. The length of this program can vary depending on what you are trying to treat. However, they are capable of addressing everything from mild overbite to severely crooked teeth.

2. Removable appliances

These devices are not used as much as fixed wire braces. They are used for correcting minor misalignment of teeth often. Once Orthodontic treatment has been completed a removable appliance can be fitted to keep the teeth in position – this is termed a Retainer. Removable appliances are more ideal for those who only have mild problems with teeth position. If you feel that your teeth could simply need a little bit more staightening, then a removable appliance may be an option.

3. Headgear

Headgear consists of an elastic headpiece that is joined by a metal bow to the orthodontic braces in the mouth. It is often recommended for bigger misalignments, but it is not usually necessary to wear it at all times. Most orthodontists these days will recommend that headgear be worn only for a set number of hours. This usually leads to headgear being used while sleeping and you never have to worry about people seeing you wearing it.

Summary

Again, age is not a big factor, but there can still be other issues that you need to check to see if you are not dentally or medically fit to have braces. Consult with “Doc” Martin about any possible gum problems you might have or any bone complications that run in your family.

With Orthodontic treatment we are here to help you. It is always wise to consider costs and length of treatment. As with any dental problem, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to crooked teeth. Get a better understanding of what is wrong with your teeth by coming to see Martin who will refer you to the best specialist to deal with your needs. If necessary have more than one consultation with different Orthodontists to find the best solution that suits you as an individual.

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