Which chewing gum to choose for bad breath fighting ability..

If you chew gum, choose your gum carefully.

Any gum will help with bad breath because the chewing action results in more saliva being produced. Some gums, however, have better bad-breath-fighting abilities than others. These are some factors to consider..

 

Cinnamon flavoring seems to be especially effective in reducing bacteria counts in your mouth.

Look for gum sweetened with xylitol. For one thing, sugar's not good for your mouth. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that actually works to prevent bacteria from replicating in the mouth.

Chewing gum stimulates saliva production (in addition to covering up the odor with some kind of scent). Mints do not encourage saliva production which is good for better oral health.

 

TIPS FOR GOOD ORAL HEALTH FROM 1YEAR TO 2 YEARS OF AGE..

         

FROM 1YEAR TO 2 YEARS OF AGE 

 

 

 

 

           Take your child for a first dental visit at 12 months.

          Brush your child’s teeth daily (using non-fluoridated toothpaste).

          Check for signs of early childhood tooth decay once a month. Lift your child’s upper lip and look for chalky-white or brown spots on the teeth or along the gum line. If you see any, take your child to a dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist may suggest you start using a small amount (the size of a grain of rice) of fluoridated toothpaste.

          Switch to a regular cup for all drinks between 12 and 15 months.

Limit soother use to nap and bedtime.

Tips for Good Oral Health in an Infant

TIPS FOR GOOD ORAL HEALTH FROM BIRTH TO 12 MONTHS

 

 

 

·         1. Wipe your baby’s gums with a soft, clean, damp cloth twice a day.

·         2. As soon as the first teeth appear, clean them at least once a day (usually at bedtime) with a soft bristle toothbrush designed for babies. Lay your baby on a flat surface or with his head cradled in your lap to brush teeth.

·         3. Avoid leaving your baby in bed with a bottle.

·         After 6 months:

·         4. Introduce a sippy cup.

·         5. Avoid juice. If you do offer it, limit juice to no more than 125 to 175 mL (4 to 6 oz) per day, in a cup rather than a bottle and only as part of a meal or snack.

·         6. If a bottle is needed at nap time, offer water rather than milk or juice.

·        7. If you breastfeed before naptime, be sure to clean your child’s teeth before he goes to sleep.

·        8. Never sweeten a teether or soother.

 

 

 

Does green tea stain the teeth?

Does green tea stain the teeth?

 

Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

 

Green tea today is the most consumed beverage amongst youngsters and adults.

 

 

 

 
Just like coffee and wine, black tea and (over time) green tea, will change the color of your pearly whites to a color not so pearly
Drinking green tea can cause lasting discoloration, but it is possible to reduce staining by developing healthy oral care habits.
At home, simple things such as :

-brushing your teeth regularly can help.
-Brushing twice a day is good, but brushing immediately after you drink a cup of tea is even better.
- Drinking water after a cup of tea can help reduce the amount of tannin left in your mouth, too
-Get professional clean ups regularly.

Which Toothbrush is Really Better???

Which Toothbrush is Really Better - Manual or Electric?

With all the bells and whistles and hundreds of toothbrushes on the market, you've got to wonder, which is really the best toothbrush to buy -- manual or electric?

 According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the best toothbrush that you can buy is the one that you will actually use. That's it. Yes, it's really that simple. While both electric and manual toothbrushes have some pros and cons, the bottom line is which one you will use.

 Manual Toothbrush:

Pros
• Inexpensive
• Most have an easy grip handle
• Some come with a tongue scraper
• Easy to travel with  

Cons

• No built in timer to tell you when two minutes are up

• Can be difficult for some people to hold onto firmly
 

Electric Toothbrushes

Pros
• Most have larger ergonomic handles
• Some have built in timers that let you know when you have brushed for a full two minutes
• The feel and buzzing of an electric toothbrush feels good to a lot of people
• Some electric toothbrushes dispense toothpaste
• Its pressure sensor alerts you when you’re brushing too hard

 Cons

• Some electric toothbrushes can be quite expensive
• Most electric toothbrushes require charging or battery replacement

  Although almost any toothbrush can do an effective job, research suggests there is one electronic toothbrush bristle configuration that seems to be better at removing plaque and preventing gum disease. Electric toothbrushes with bristles that rotate together in one direction, and then switch and rotate in the opposite direction — a process known as rotating-oscillating — appear to be more effective than manual brushes and other electric brushes that spin in only one direction.

If you do opt for an electronic toothbrush, a model with rotating-oscillating bristles is probably your best bet.

Whatever toothbrush that you decide to buy, remember that using it is what's really important.

 

Sensitive Teeth: Hot / Cold / Pressure..

A drink of iced tea or biting down on a candy bar, or slurping some hot soup. If the electric stinging sensation in one or more of your teeth sends you flying out of your seat. You've got "sensitive teeth," a rather mild name for what can be a wildly uncomfortable condition.

By far the most common cause of tooth sensitivity to temperature and sweet or sour foods is exposed dentin, the hardened tissue just beneath the tooth's enamel that contains microscopic nerve fibers. Dentin can become exposed as a result of dental decay, food or toothbrush abrasion, or gum recession. Regardless of the cause, exposed nerves make the teeth sensitive.

If sensitivity develops in one or more teeth:  first see your dentist to determine the cause. 

Then, if your sensitivity is caused by simple enamel abrasion or by normal gum recession, try the following home remedies for relief.

Desensitizing toothpaste

Fluoride rinse

Keep your teeth clean

Use a soft toothbrush

No chewing or snuff

When to See a Doctor About Tooth Sensitivity

While you can often self-treat generalized tooth sensitivity, see your dentist if:

·         Teeth are persistently sensitive to pressure.

·         A single tooth is persistently sensitive, which could indicate that its pulp is infected or dying.

·         Sensitivity doesn't decrease after two weeks of using desensitizing toothpaste.

·         Dental pain that lasts more than an hour.

·         The gums around a sensitive tooth change color.

·         Any obvious decay.

Early treatment stops the problem in its early stages, avoiding more painful dental procedures.

Alcohol Can Be Good....

Alcohol can be good…

                          EXCEPT in your oral health care products……

Alcohol is ethanol (or ethyl alcohol). While it does have some anesthetic and disinfecting properties it also acts as a desiccant, which means that it removes water.

As you'll read further down, alcohol can lead to more serious oral health issues and alcohol mouthwash should be replaced with alcohol free alternatives.

 

Alcohol can cause several problems such as:

1. BURNING SENSATION IN THE ORAL CAVITY: The "Burn" while we use A MOUTHWASH, we experience is actually a bad thing, especially for chronic bad breath sufferes who use mouthwash many times a day and for people who have been using an alcohol mouthwas for many years.

2. DRY MOUTH: Alcohol by its nature is a desiccant and it will dry the surfaces it comes in contact with.

Some issues associated with dry mouth:

• Higher risk of fungal infections
• Dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, bad breath
• Poor nutrition
• Poor sleep
• Problem speaking
• Difficulty swallowing tablet- or capsule-type medication

3.CHILDREN AND ALCOHOL: Children, specially should not use alcohol mouthwash.The American Acadmy of Pediatrics reports that as little as 30ounces of a mouthwash containing 5% alcohol can be dangerous to an average 22pounds toddler.

4. DENTAL CONCERNS: Alcohol has a tendency to shrink or negatively impact dental resins. If users of an alcohol mouthwash have a lot of dental work, they may be doing more harm than good.

 

Bottom line :  alcohol free, clear mouthwash is a safer bet.

ALCOHOL-FREE MOUTHWASHES THAT YOU CAN USE: 

(very few of these are available at medical stores due to lack of advertisements and awareness)

• Hexidine: ICPA
• Perio Wash
•  Listerine Total Care Zero (This is the only listerine with zero alcohol)
• Corsodyl Alcohol Free Mouthwash 
• Reach ACT Anti cavity Fluoride Rinse alcohol free for adults
• Reach ACT Anti-cavity Fluoride Rinses for Kids
•      
• Biotene Antibacterial Alcohol-Free Mouth Wash which is recommended for people with "dry mouth ."
• Smart Mouth Alcohol free Mouth Wash
• Oral B anti plaque Alcohol Free Mouth Wash

 

         

                                     Sources: The telegraph news Sydney 2009, cpsmagazine.com, dailymail.co.uk and others