dental care Archives - Austin Dental Center

Dental Care for Senior Citizens

July 7, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Are you assuming care for an aging relative?

Have you noticed changes in your own teeth as you age?

Are there other concerns that relate to your teeth in later adulthood?

If you have answered yes, then you are among many other Americans who find that age results in new challenges in the realm of oral hygiene. Though the general care practices remain the same, there are issues that are more likely to come up later in life, which may require changes in routine.

Dentures are a big concern for aging Americans as they are generally a solution used for older adults.

Whether full or partial dentures, they do require a certain level of care in order to function correctly. It is important to keep them clean. Brush them every day and brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth as well to ensure you stave off gingivitis and other mouth disease.

Store the dentures in lukewarm water or denture cleaning solution. The dentures should fit snuggly and comfortably and should open and close easily. If that is not the case, consult your doctor.

For aging adults that suffer from arthritis and other conditions that affect the grip on the toothbrush, it is important to enlarge the handle of the brush. Consider wrapping with sponge, foam, or soft rubber ball.

Electric toothbrushes will often feature a naturally larger handle, which makes them an excellent consideration.

To read more about common causes of dental concern as we age, such as increased rate of decay and dealing with gum disease, as well as the proposed solutions, visit the full article.

Men’s Health Week: Oral Health for Men

June 13, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Like with medical care, men tend to postpone seeing a dentist until they absolutely must go. They are more cavalier about their oral hygiene than their female counterparts. This indifference to their teeth and gums may be taking a greater toll on their health than they realize.

Men often participate in sports that can result in trauma to the teeth. Hockey, football, and baseball all come with a risk factor for broken or displaced teeth—but these are the times when a guy will willingly head for the nearest dentist. He is less likely to do so for a bi-annual check-up and cleaning; yet regular visits to the dentist may unearth advance warnings about oral cancers, or gum diseases that can be cured with just a few changes to a night time routine.

The average man will lose at least 5 teeth by the time he reaches 72 years old and if he smokes, that number more than doubles.

If you don’t want to be one of those old guys gumming your food at the home, take these suggestions to heart:

• Brush daily
• Use a soft bristle toothbrush
• See your dentist twice a year (or more frequently if necessary)
• Replace your toothbrush quarterly
• Learn to brush properly—a quick online search will provide a number of instructional videos on the subject
• Floss daily

Be one of those guys with a sparkling smile and fresh breath. Take care of your teeth, and they’ll take care of you.

Learn more about men’s oral health care here.

How Eating Disorders Damage Your Teeth

May 15, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

For a long time now, the media has reminded us time and time again of the many reasons that eating disorders are dangerous. But, for sufferers of Bulimia, there may be a side-effect that has been overlooked. So, if you or a loved one is suffering (or trying to overcome) this condition, it is very important that you keep reading.

Bulimia is a condition defined by periods of binging (eating in excess) and purging (intentionally vomiting before digesting food). This is obviously not healthy for the body for many reasons, but among the concerns is the welfare of the mouth and teeth.

When a person vomits, he or she exposes the mouth to high levels of gastric acid. This is not a big deal for a person that gets the occasional bug or flu, but for someone that is repetitively throwing up, the acids can quickly eat away at the teeth and soft tissue.

It is not unusual, in long time sufferers, to find that the teeth have become smaller, rounded, and soft. Decay and fracturing of the teeth also become major concerns. The soft tissue, such as the gums, can also become infected or recede away from the teeth as a result, which can leave the teeth at further risk of damage.

It is highly recommended that victims of bulimia find help immediately! If you are concerned that you are getting ill too often, there are steps that you can take to stop some of the damage done by gastric acid.

Rinsing with a mixture of baking soda and water after vomiting is recommended. One teaspoon of the powder mixed with half a glass of water can serve as a very effective rinse for nullifying the acid.

For more information, continue reading.

What is Bruxism?

May 12, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

A fancy word that means something very simple, yet potentially very dangerous. Bruxism is unconscious the grinding or gnashing of teeth. Many people across this country and beyond have a problem with this, which is often accompanied with a tight clenching of the jaw, but those that face the problem while asleep are at the greatest risk of resulting complications.

Bruxism is generally caused by the subconscious. It is a sort of habit. Unfortunately, overnight, while the body rests, the subconscious cannot be controlled, thus the grinding and gnashing can continue for hours on end. This can be a lifelong habit or one brought on by illness, allergy, trauma, or excess stress.

Many sufferers can go years without ever being aware of the problem, simply because it takes place while they are sleeping. However, a dental visit can usually detect signs of the problem.

Fortunately, in ninety-five percent of all cases, the person will not have any problems resulting from the bruxism. Yet, for the minority, there is the potential for serious trauma to the jaw, tooth fractures, and more. This condition is actually a leading cause of receding gums and tooth loss.

Symptoms of bruxism include anxiety, stress, depression, earache, headaches, migraines, loose teeth, neck pain, sore jaw, and more. If left untreated, bruxism can lead to arthritis in the temporomandibular joints (hinges of the jaw) as well as myofascial muscle pain.

Unusual wear of the teeth can be the most telling sign of a problem, yet Bruxism is not the only cause of wear and tear, making it difficult, at times, to determine if clenching and grinding are to blame.

There are other tests that can be done in a sleep lab or even bedside in your own home to determine the severity of the condition. EMG units or biofeedback headbands can be used for this purpose.

There is more to learn,continue reading

Have a Job Interview? What Your Teeth Tell a Potential Employer

May 5, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Stains, splotches, debris, and other unwanted issues with the teeth can quickly cast a wrong impression. When seated before someone of importance – such as potential employer – these matters can take on a new level of importance.

Do you know what your teeth are saying about you?

Stains are often first associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. Yellow, brown, and black marks on the teeth are blemishes that rarely go unnoticed and can give the impression that you do not take care of yourself. Aside from the fact that they can be off-putting, many employers have been found less likely to hire someone who is thought to be a smoker or who shows signs of inadequate personal hygiene.

Lipstick or food left on or between the teeth is another no-no. One of the very last things that you should do before walking into an interview is to take a glance in the mirror, because little things like this can make for a very bad first impression. The lipstick says ‘I was running late and got ready in the car,’ and the food says, ‘I didn’t have time to freshen up.’

If your smile is crooked, unfortunately, you may be turned away. Though not always the fault of the person sporting the slightly askew smile, crooked teeth give the impression of a poor background. If you are trying to fit into the world of the rich and powerful – even the modestly wealthy and moderately powerful – chances are that upbringing would be seen as a mark against you. It’s not fair, but unfortunately, it seems that it is a reality.

If you want more information on how your teeth speak for you, keep reading.

Facts About Wisdom Teeth

April 25, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Eek! Just the thought of the troublesome molars at the back of the mouth can send shivers up the spines of even the toughest people. Wisdom teeth come with images of puffy, bruised cheeks, difficulty speaking, and eating through a straw.

However, the removal of these teeth is often of the utmost importance and understanding the science of the wisdom tooth can help make this journey to the dental office a little less scary.

Typically surfacing between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five, wisdom teeth are a third set of molars and usually come in a foursome. However, it is possible to have fewer, and in rare cases, a fifth can join the party. Thirty-five percent of the population will never have wisdom teeth.

Unfortunately, most people today do not have the room in their mouth for the additional number of teeth. Because there is limited space for their growth, these molars tend to grow incorrectly.

In many cases, they will actually become impacted, which is to say that they form horizontally and never break through the gum line. In other cases, only a small portion of the tooth will poke through. Even in the best cases, it is typically recommended that these teeth be removed.

Because human beings are not as prone to losing teeth today as they were in ancient times, these teeth serve no purpose and can actually make one more susceptible to bacterial infections, as they are difficult to keep clean being located to far back into the mouth.

For more information, keep reading.

How to Choose a Mouthwash

April 23, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

It is amazing how many choices exist in the dental care aisle at any large chain store. It can be overwhelming for those who haven’t yet chosen a favorite variety of brush, paste, and mouthwash.

So, how does the beginner pick from the many different varieties of dental rinse?

Mouthwash does come in several brand names and can make wide varieties of claim regarding its potential power. The one that you choose will likely depend on your needs.

For those trying to escape foul breath, brands like Scope offer zinc and chlorine based rinses that have been shown to combat the bacteria and neutralize the sulphur they put off.

On the other hand, Listerine and similar brands often feature products laced with thymol, eucalyptol or menthol, which truly do a number on mouth bacteria, thereby reducing the chances of cavities and infection.

Finally, those containing fluoride are great for those who are prone to cavities, especially those who don’t have fluoride in their drinking water. While this substance doesn’t defend against gum disease, it does strengthen enamel to defend against boring bacteria.

For those who need more help than can be offered by over-the-counter brands, there are even prescription mouthwashes that can actually help fend off the effects of gingivitis or periodontitis.

So, depending on the needs of your mouth, these rinses can serve a variety of purposes. It’s worth taking a moment to seek out the one that will best help you, but always opt for an ADA approved brand.

For more information, read the full article.

10 Facts About Oral Health You Probably Didn’t Know

April 21, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

As with all areas of health, there is a lot about dental care that people simply don’t know. After all, there is a lot that takes place in that relatively small space and not everyone has been schooled on such things. However, there are a few matters that you might be interested in knowing about.

Here are ten of them.

Babies are not born with mouth bacteria, yet all adults have massive amounts of the microorganisms. It is because adults pass the species on to the babies when blowing on foods, kissing or otherwise making some form of mouth to mouth contact.

Toothbrushes can provide stable environments for bacteria and should be replaced after each bout of illness. If you want to avoid further contamination of the bristles, put the brush behind closed doors.

Toilet water, when flushed, can reach a toothbrush up to six feet away.

Yet, placing the commonly used plastic caps on the end of your brush can allow bacteria to reproduce more quickly.

Electric toothbrushes are easier, but do not necessarily clean any better than manual brushes.

Similarly, Whitening toothpastes have not been shown to provide a significantly better outcome than standard pastes.

The sweetener most commonly used in toothpaste is so sickly sweet on its own, that it would take five hundred times more sugar to equal its taste.

Speaking of sweet — the number of patients with cavities and other mouth related problems surged during the same year Coca-Cola was released.

There can be ‘too much of a good thing.’ Fluoride, which is found in most toothpastes, is very good for the teeth, but can be toxic if swallowed.

Similarly, brushing your teeth is very important, but brushing too often or too hard can actually damage the gums and enamel.

There’s more to read.

You Won’t Believe How Much Bacteria is Living in Your Mouth

April 19, 2011 by Austin Dental Center Leave a Comment

Most people realize that it is bacteria that eat away at teeth, causing cavities. They also know that bacteria can lead to infection. So, wouldn’t it seem that the goal would be a bacteria-free mouth? Wouldn’t you like to think that you have only a minimal amount of the microscopic beings existing among your teeth and gums?

Well, no matter what you think, what you hope, or how much you brush, bacteria is a fact of life and it can be found in everyone’s mouth at any given time.

There are more than six hundred known species of bacteria and for every inch of saliva filled space, there are approximately two and half billion unwanted organisms. In fact, the only human beings devoid of the microscopic visitors are newborns, but with that first sip of milk, the colonization begins.

Not all of these teeny-tiny species are troublesome. Actually, most serve a good purpose, in that they keep away the unscrupulous types, yet there are always those ‘bad eggs’.

Some of the most common forms of bad bacteria found in the mouth include staphylococci, which are the plaque causing problems, porphyromonas gingivalis, which is associated with periodontitis, and fusospirochetes, which can cause infection if the gums should be nicked or cut. There is other plaque forming bacteria as well, such as the actinomyces, which is rather adaptable and can quickly attach to the surface of teeth.

Want to know more about the inner workings of your mouth? Then, read the full article.

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