Friday 27 June 2014

How to Fight Gum Disease

Did you know that gum disease affects almost 40 million Americans every year?
What starts as gingivitis (slightly swollen gums) develops into a serious periodontal problem that causes considerable bone and tissue loss within a person’s jaw. Dental experts agree that unhealthy eating habits containing soft, over-processed foods contribute to this problem heavily. Medical treatments can include tooth extraction, root planning, and laser therapy. Alternatively, you can also use home remedies to fight this gum disease on your own.
Eight Rules to Live By
Massage your Gums
Dedicate at least five minutes, once a week, to gently massaging your gums. Rubbing your gums stimulates circulation which quickens the process of healing and flushing out bacteria.
Mouth Care
Experts suggest brushing your teeth after every meal with a plaque fighting toothpaste. Apart from this, flossing before brushing and using an anti-bacterial mouthwash helps battle gum disease.
Use Supplements
You should supplement your diet with minerals and vitamins that stimulate healthy gum growth. Some of the vitamins that doctors recommend include vitamin C, B-complex, zinc and magnesium. You can also get additional Vitamin C by substituting sodas with fresh orange juice.
Use Medicinal Plants
Medicinal plants have powerful healing properties. By massaging your gums with these natural resources you boost circulation, in turn speeding the healing process.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your brushing routine. Tea tree oil works as an antibiotic and antiseptic that reduces infections. You can also apply pure aloe vera gel to your gums at night to enhance your nocturnal healing process.
Equipment
Most dentists recommend electric toothbrushes over manual brushes for your teeth. Electronic brushes are better at removing plaque and tartar buildup. However, if you insist on using a regular brush, make sure you replace it every 3 months.
Dental Cleaning
Home care plays an important role in combating periodontal disease, but you may also need professional help from time to time. It is important to get your teeth cleaned professionally every 6 to 12 months or as suggested by your dentist.
Antibiotics
Some dentists recommend using topical or oral medication to fight periodontal disease. While gels are rubbed on gum pockets after cleaning, rinses are used like mouthwashes. Topical rinses and gels are extremely popular because of their ability to resist bacteria.
Salt and Soda
Use a mixture of baking soda and salt as a natural substitute to your regular paste. Soda offers gentle abrasion that helps remove plaque on the gum line, and salt helps tone the tissues.
We only get two sets of natural teeth. While losing the first can earn us money from the tooth fairy, losing the second set will only mean trouble. You might not notice the starting signs of periodontal disease (redness, bad breath, receding gums and swelling) but it’s important to stay cautious. Before the disease results in permanent bone or tooth loss, treat your gums to the home remedies and cures mentioned above. Also, make sure you visit your dentist for regular checkups so that your oral problems can be treated from their onset.

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Sports Safety - Avoid Teeth & Mouth Injuries

Injuries are part of the game, but sometimes we can avoid them by just practicing our techniques. - Troy Vincent

Sports injuries are believed to be the main cause of mouth and tooth damages among adults and older adolescents. In fact, up to forty percent of dental injuries in older children and adults happen while playing sports. Although there is no means to stop injuries completely, athletes can always take steps to lessen the chances of occurrence.
Acting with caution when playing sports, taking preventative measures and learning proper game techniques will reduce the likelihood of a teeth and mouth related injury greatly.
Tips to Prevent Oral Injuries
Wear Protective Gear
Use mouth guards: The best way to protect your front teeth when playing a sport is by wearing good quality mouth guards.
Face cages: This equipment guards against trauma to the face, particularly when playing in some of the sports positions like, hockey goalie or baseball catcher.
Helmets: It's always a wise idea to wear a strong helmet made for the specific activity that the athlete is participating in. Even though most helmets won't protect the mouth and teeth, they will secure another important area –the athlete’s head, to help protect against any brain concussion.
Learn the Game Well
Knowing the rules reduces the risk of sports injuries for everyone involved. It is a good idea to consult an expert, like a coach, on proper movement and form. The coach can help you understand how to move your body to prevent any kind of injury.

Never Play if Injured
Never play if you’re already injured. Playing before the injury has healed can increase healing time or may lead to more damage.
Visit your Dentist Regularly
If you’re an athlete, it is a good practice to visit your dentist for regular checkups. The expert will examine your mouth to see if there are any loose teeth or gum problems that need treatment. This saves your loose tooth from knocking out during play time.  
Timely visits to the dentist will ensure your teeth and mouth remain in good shape, at all times.
Tips to Save your Oral Injury from Aggravating
  • The RICE rule is the best method to treat oral injuries. This means you should rest for a couple of days, ice the injured area for reducing pain, protect the area and prevent swelling.
  • See a dentist if your injury does not heal in a couple of weeks. The expert may take out X-rays to determine whether it’s a fracture. Treatment may be required if the injury is serious.
  • Do not give any pain killer to kids under 16 without asking a qualified doctor. Some painkillers can have adverse effects on oral injuries.
  • To save your knocked out tooth, make sure you get to your dentist immediately. Teeth that are fixed back to the socket within an hour of being knocked out have the highest chances of being saved.
Caution is always the best when it comes to sports injuries. However, even if you undergo mouth or tooth damage, you haven’t necessarily lost everything. There are several great clinics in California that offer advanced dentistry procedures to restore your smile and replenish your gums.