These are basic guidelines that can ensure that your mouth is healthy and that you’re also happy wih your smile:

1. Make sure you clean below the gum line – ensure you get the area of the teeth around and below the gum line to remove harmful plaque build up

2. Keep the pressure on your teeth - sometimes people aggravate their gums by pressing too forcefully against them. Instead, pressure of the floss should be placed against the side of the teeth while flossing

3. Recognize it if your gums bleed - bleeding gums usually indicate that you’re not flossing often enough; it’s a sign that your oral health is failing and you need to step up your routine

Via: Animated Teeth

Botox is a trendy word these days for its use in cosmetic enhancements. You might not think it would play a role in dental care, but it is the latest field to jump on the botox bandwagon. Of course, dental clinics aren’t using it to help “cure” wrinkles or provide miniature face lifts to those who want to reverse the aging process, but it does have other benefits!

Botox in the dental field is being used for procedures like TMD and implantology. There are dentists that complete other cosmetic procedures which may use botox or dermal filler to correct asymmetrical lips or other skeletal issues.

Applying botox to the face and mouth does require more care than it does when applied directly to the face. It’s necessary to use a local anethetic before applying to the sensitive areas. However, that’s always been the cost of beauty whether patients are choosing to use it out of necessity or a desire to improve their appearance.

Botox procedures in the dental office may be newer, and it isn’t something that many have heard of, but it’s definitely an emerging trend in the industry!

Via: Dental News, Image Via: Flickr CC

During 9-11 ToothSavers was called out to assist, and around the world, dentists have responded to tsunamis, hurricanes, and unnatural disasters as well. Understanding that dentists can do more than simply inspect your teeth for cavaties can create greater respect for the inudstry; so here are a few things that they do.

1. Help identify victims of fatalities - in emergency situations, dentists can be called in to identify victims (as seen on CSI). Pulling dental records to compare to those who have perished in an emergency is a more important role than you may think. Sure, it helps connect names to those who have lost their lives; but more than that it can help provide closure to families who are unsure of the fate of loved ones following such a situation.

2. Assess the scene - dentists do have some level of medical training and in many cases, they are first on scene in an emergency situation. Particularly when all hands are needed on deck, dentists can help assess living victims and triage them to determine where emergency care is required. Basic first aid can also be applied to those who do not need more serious medical care. The NATO system is what is most commonly used and dentists can help others on scene carry this out.

3. Airway management - dentists have training in airway management and basic CPR, so this can be applied to those who are struggling following an emergency. CPR and airway management can be commonly required and having those trained to deliver it can make a world of difference.

Of course, no one ever wishes that a natural disaster or other emergency on any scale will take place, but the dentists at ToothSavers are proud to be able to say that we can jump in and help when needed.

Image Via: Flickr Creative Commons, Via: DocStoc

We might not treat pets, but we know that they can have oral health issues that are very similar to humans and do also require care. Bones and other products are designed to remove plaque from teeth, but that’s not always enough. Animals also require teeth cleaning and there are specially shaped toothbrushes and even non-toxic, flavoured toothpaste that is safe for dogs to swallow after brushing.

Many veterinarians also offer dental care for dogs that require deeper cleaning or other types of treatment that can parallel procedures done in dental clinics on humans.

If you want more information on dental care for pets, you can visit Pet Dental for more information.

Image Via: Flickr CC

Many families might not have thought about going green with their home dental care products, but there are options out there, including eco-friendly alternatives for the most common tooth care product; toothpaste!

Here are some tips for finding green toothpaste that you can use at home:

1. Look at the ingredients – make sure you read the packaging even if a toothpaste promises that it’s green. Toothpaste that is vegetable based is much more natural. Many popular green toothpastes also avoid using any unnecessary chemicals like perfumes, flavors, preservatives or artificial coloring
2. Read the packaging – see if the packaging is recyclable or made from recycled products. This should be listed directly on the toothpaste bottle. Many green toothpastes are not package in a box as well as the tube to further cut down on waste
3. Check for certification – do make sure that the green toothpaste that you choose is certified by the American Dental Association to ensure there are no negative consequences. Going green is important, but don’t do it at the cost of your health by making inappropriate choices

Via: Ecofriendly Daily

In many cases it is a language issue that creates a barrier – those who do not speak English comfortably may struggle to make an appointment and have a strong grasp of the information provided to them when they do get in to see a dentist. In other cases, it is cultural limitations that resides with those who have immigrated; in many Middle Eastern, and Asian countries women do not have the same rights as men and may be less likely to take control over their health and ensuring it’s a priority.

In the dental industry there are a number of things that dental practices can do to ensure all members of society have equal access to dental care.

1)   Don’t discriminate – regardless of whether the person calling to make an appointment seems to have an accent or something that sets them apart, appointments should be distributed equally. It’s a sad reality that this is still an issue in this day and age, but statistics prove it to be the case

2)     Make all patients feel comfortable – all individuals deserve the same respect and level of care in the dental office. However, dental staff should also recognize that some women from other cultures may not feel as though they are deserving of equal care. Make it clear that their health is of the utmost of importance to you  and that they deserve the opportunity to focus on their own health

3)     Local government agencies should provide support – dentist offices can’t do it all, local agencies need to provide information about the oral care available to them and even provide lists of practices accepting patients to encourage those new to North America to access the resources available

So you don’t have to worry about asking, here are the typical tools used and their basic function so next time you’re in the dental chair you’ll have a better idea exactly what’s going on inside your mouth!

Ultrasonic instrument – this is the tool used by dentists to initially move plaque and tartar from the teeth. To a patient, it feels just like water being sprayed, but it also sends out ultrasonic vibrations.

Hand tools – a dental hygienist will use fine instruments after using the ultrasonic instrument to remove any remaining plaque and tartar. Mirrors and scraping tools that fit different areas of the mouth and teeth smooth the surfaces of the teeth so that the next instrument can be used.

Saliva ejector – though this is not necessarily involved in the cleaning and is not the next tool referred to above, at this point it is most required. It helps suction saliva to provide better visibility and help the patient resist the urge to swallow while work is being done

Electric tooth polisher – a gritty toothpaste is used to smooth and polish the teeth with the electric tooth polisher. The toothpaste helps keep build up of anything from sticking to teeth between cleanings

Via: eHow

1. In seniors who have the dexterity to provide for their oral health, caregivers can simply encourage them  through the process if it is memory due to illnesses like Alzheimer’s that make the process a struggle
2. Make sure the toothbrush that a senior is using has soft bristles, whether or not the senior or caregiver will be doing the brushing
3. If caregivers are doing the brushing, it’s easiest to stand behind the senior, and important to ensure they’re comfortable
4. Complete periodic checks between dental visits
5. For seniors who have dentures rather than natural teeth, it’s important to clean them daily using denture cleaner not toothpaste

Via: Canadian Dental Association , Image Via: Flickr Creative Commons

Tips for home examinations:

1. Sit comfortably with your child’s head in your lap. In this position, you should be able to see all surfaces of the front and back teeth relatively easy
2. Use gauze or paper towel to help move your child’s tongue around their mouth to get a good view of the teeth all around the mouth
3. Use a compressor to hold their tongue down when you try and look at the back teeth. If you don’t have a tongue compressor then use the end of a spoon
4. With a younger child, don’t take too long with the examination process, otherwise they might not be so cooperative next time. The first time you try this at home, get your child to open his/her mouth while you do a quick check!

Via: Your Dental Care Tips

Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons

Sinusitis results in the overproduction of mucus in the sinuses, causing post nasal drip as the sinuses drain into the back of the throat and the tongue. Sinusitis doesn’t just occur when colds persist; it can also result from allergies and other environmental irritants.

One of the most important prevention methods of bad breath due to sinus drainage is to see a doctor regularly. A doctor can provide solutions to ongoing problems caused by allergies or recommendations to cope with post nasal drip from a cold. Sinus irrigation is another method to help all irritants and mucus from the system and this can be done at home.

Remember, your overall health and your oral health are closely linked – so if you ignore one you may have negative repercussions with the other; and bad breath is just not one issue that anyone wants to face!

Via: EZine Articles

Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons