6 Things You Can Do To Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion

Our teeth battle against hostile attacks of the bacteria every day. But our teeth also have armor to fight these microscopic enemies: enamel. This strong and hard layer acts as a barrier between the sensitive inner pulp and bacteria. Although strong in nature, this layer can erode when exposed to high concentration of acid. Losing this protective layer exposes our teeth to a number of diseases and dental conditions. Here we have discussed a few things that you can do to prevent enamel erosion.

Limit Sugary Drinks And Foods

Sugary food and drinks fuel the bacterial growth in our mouth. The bacteria feed on these foods and beverages, softens the enamel and leads to substantial enamel erosion. Sugary and chewy candies that stick to our teeth and drinks with extra acids, significantly damage our enamel. If you want to have a soft drink, opt for the ones with artificial sweeteners. Their less sugary content makes them preferable over other sugary soft drinks.

Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion

Eat Foods That Strengthen Enamel

Calcium plays a vital role in fighting the bacteria that cause decay and strengthening our enamel. Calcium-rich dairy products like milk, cheese help in building our enamel. Also, prefer the fat-free and low-fat product to maintain your calories. If you don’t prefer dairy, then consume other foods that have high calcium content.

Avoid Overbrushing

Brushing is essential but overbrushing may deteriorate your teeth enamel. When choosing a toothbrush, pick the one with soft bristles. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle and gently move it back and forth. Wait for at least 30 minutes before your brush your teeth. It gives time to saliva for neutralizing the acid and reduces the chances of losing softened enamel.

Use Fluoride

Fluoride helps in repairing tooth decay and strengthening our enamel. It also helps in making our teeth more resistant towards the acidic foods and drinks. Most specialists recommend fluoride toothpaste to support the growth and repair of our teeth.

Quit Grinding Your Teeth

Some people have a habit of grinding the upper teeth and lower teeth. It may seem harmless but over time this may harm our tooth enamel. If you find it difficult to overcome this habit, then consult your dentist for a mouthguard.

Get Regular Checkups

See a dentist regularly ensures the health of your teeth. Visit your dentist for a regular and cleaning and thorough examination. Regular checkups help in the early detection of decay and other damages to the enamel. Also, your dentist will offer further advice on protecting your enamel and maintaining your dental health.

Recommendations Of Oral Hygiene Of Dentists

It is increasingly common to hear about the importance of the integral health of the human being, which includes attending to all those physical, social, mental and emotional aspects that, when affected, can diminish the quality of life of people of any age. While there are campaigns that seek to promote measures to ensure the health of the population, and more and more people join in taking action to ensure their own health, there is still a lot of resistance to addressing the problems that affect the health of the mouth, teeth and gums. However, it is proven that oral health is a fundamental pillar for integral health and therefore it is recommended to visit dentists periodically, either to prevent conditions or to treat existing problems. In any case, one of the most important recommendations made by specialists in the field of oral health is to have good hygienic habits, and this time we will talk precisely about the role played by preventive hygiene, and basic measures to be taken to avoid the most common problems that affect the teeth and gums.

To begin, it is necessary to identify hygienic habits as an essential element of health care programs at any level. In the specific case of oral health, proper hygiene can prevent problems that affect the aesthetics of the mouth and cause conditions that in addition to being annoying and painful may require complex treatments, such as bad breath, infections and deterioration of dental pieces. It is the poor and incorrect hygiene, the cause of most of the conditions that require the attention of dentists, from something that might seem as simple as an inflammation in the gum or a small caries, but that can be complicated and involve the loss of dental pieces or other conditions, which in addition to having a negative aesthetic effect can cause complications when chewing or speaking. All this can be avoided by following the recommendations of the specialists, and the most basic but most important is to brush your teeth correctly.

dental-hygienist

Knowing the techniques of brushing to ensure good oral hygiene is a preventive measure that should visit a dentist. It is also necessary to correctly use dental floss and rinse, as well as other products available in the market, such as bleaching agents, which require supervision to avoid problems due to their misuse. However, if swollen gums, whitish in color, bleeding during brushing, gum or teeth pain and bad breath are identified, it will be necessary to visit the dentist to make a diagnosis, indicate the appropriate treatment to prevent further development of the problem and cause greater complications in the future. It is worth mentioning that, although the treatment has been carried out and the results obtained are satisfactory,

In addition to a correct brushing technique, specialists recommend adopting other oral hygiene measures, such as having a balanced diet with reduced consumption of sugars, soft drinks and other foods that can weaken the oral enamel and favor the accumulation of bacterial plaque. Using fluoride products can strengthen teeth, as well as having cleanings directly in the dentist’s office is favorable for the health of teeth and gums. In patients who are under special treatments, such as orthodontics, hygiene recommendations may vary slightly, as well for those who have fixed or removable dentures, or who have a complete denture.

The Answers to Your Questions about Dental Implants

The temporomandibular joint is what allows us to eat, laugh, drink, talk, blow, bite and yawn – it is the joint that joins the lower jaw or maxilla with the skull shaping our lower facial third and allowing the movement of the jaw itself. Other joints of our body (shoulder, knees …) are double but both joints TMJ are joined by the jaw itself and have to move together; for example, the two knees are separated and can perform different movements to the same time independently of each other. The two TMJs cannot move separately, they have to do it in unison and in a coordinated way – this complicates their pathology.

It is an anatomically complex joint. It has an intra-articular meniscus that also moves with the mandibular movements, ligaments with intra-articular and extra-articular insertion, musculature that provides movement and joint capsule. This variety of elements makes it easy to cause pathologies and pains. They are not always easy to locate and diagnose.

Do you feel sharp and stabbing pain in the mouth?

The temporomandibular joint dysfunction may cause joint pain and pain in the muscles that control jaw movement.

TMJ or TMJ joint

What is the temporomandibular joint?

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex joints in the body. As with any other joint in the body, the TMJ joins different bones, i.e. the temporal bone and the jaw, on both sides of the head. They are two joints that work synchronized with each other. The main function of the TMJ is to guide and limit the movements of the lower jaw, since this joint is involved in various facial actions, such as phonation, communication, chewing, swallowing and yawning. The TMJ consists of three anatomical structures, the jaw condyle, the glenoid cavity and the temporal bone condyle. Between both condyles we find an articular disc or intraarticular meniscus. Another important part of this joint is the temporomandibular ligament, which has the function of preventing the condyle from moving excessively. Thanks to the TMJ we can perform three types of movements with our jaw:

Lateral movement: in this movement the jaw moves alternately to the right or to the left. Movement up or down: this is a very important movement since it is the one that we use the most with this joint. It allows us to articulate the words and other essential activities in daily life, such as to chew. With it we open and close our mouths. Protrusion and retrusion movement: this is the movement that is performed in the horizontal plane, when the jaw moves forward keeping in contact with the upper jaw. It is a movement that in humans is quite limited, but that in other mammals such as rodents is very important.

Symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction

The most frequent symptoms of TMJ are:

  • Bruxism, which is the tendency of certain people to grit their teeth or make them grind by sliding or rubbing their teeth back and forth one on the other.
  • Jaw pain
  • Feeling of jaw fatigue
  • Difficulty opening the mouth, cracking in the jaw
  • Bad occlusion problems
  • Dizziness
  • Headache, neck or back
  • Jaw lock
  • Tooth wear
Dentist explaining the details of x-ray picture to his patient

Winter is a time of the year where days are shortened and nights are lengthened. Also at this time of the year the low temperatures, so it is common the appearance of colds and flu, which make the immune system defenseless. For these reasons, this year is very important to take care of yourself to prevent all these diseases and symptoms so typical of winter. In addition, we cannot neglect the care of the mouth, since the oral cavity is also more vulnerable to weather variations and we must prevent possible pathologies of the oral cavity.

TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SMILE IN WINTER

TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SMILE IN WINTER

During the winter in the oral cavity and in the perioral zones, a series of change occurs as a result of the lowering of temperatures and the changes that this entails. The lips during winter undergo changes and these are drying and dehydrating due to the cold and humidity of the oral cavity. Thus, at this time of the year it is of special interest to drink a large amount of water to keep the body and skin hydrated and, in addition, moisturize the lips with special creams to protect them and avoid moistening them with their own saliva. During these winter months temperatures drop and cold air also appears. The entry of air into the oral cavity can cause dental hypersensitivity. In addition, during this time of the year the fruits of season that are more consumed are usually acidic and of an intense color, so it can increase the sensitivity in the teeth and cause damage to the enamel. With the arrival of the cold, the consumption of drinks such as tea and coffee is increased, which can cause extrinsic stains to appear on the surface of the teeth. In addition, at Christmas the intake of products sweetened by multiple dinners and family meals, as well as Christmas events with friends. So the risk of caries is increased and the appearance of future pathologies. In the winter it is essential to cover yourself well and warm up with appropriate clothing to prevent all the pathologies and symptoms typical of this time of year. In addition, covering the neck and mouth area can improve the sensation of dental hypersensitivity by preventing cold street air from entering the oral cavity.

It is very important to perform a good tooth brushing technique to prevent multiple oral pathologies, and also prevent the appearance of extrinsic stains. One of the most recommended brushing techniques is the modified Bass technique. This technique involves placing the brush at an angle of 45 degrees with the axis of the tooth. With this position a slight penetration of the bristles of the brush is achieved in the gingival groove and can eliminate the bacterial plaque from this sensitive area. While maintaining the position it is recommended to perform a small vibrational movement together with a sweep towards the occlusal / incisal area of ​​the tooth. Tooth brushing should be accompanied with a fluoridated paste to be able to prevent dental hypersensitivity or, if it exists, to be able to maintain it and even reduce it. In addition, fluoride in toothpaste helps strengthen tooth enamel and can prevent the risk of tooth decay.

It is essential that oral brushing be done for a minimum of 3 minutes and 3 times a day, once in the morning, once after eating and the last before going to sleep. Sometimes it can be boring and heavy to be brushing your teeth for 3 minutes, it is recommended to listen to a song that has an approximate duration and thus tooth brushing can be a pleasant part of the day. Tooth brushing should be complemented with interproximal hygiene, that is, the hygiene of the interdental spaces, which during planing can not eliminate plaque. To perform this interproximal hygiene, floss or interdental brushes must be used.

How Can I Remove Stains From Teeth

The color of the teeth varies with age but also with the habits you have. Some habits may favor the appearance of stains on the teeth that make them look not very aesthetic.

TYPES OF DENTAL STAINS/ STAINS

Tooth stains or dental stains are alterations in the color of teeth due to carious causes that cause the tooth to pigment. Dental stains can be classified into two main types:

HOW CAN I REMOVE STAINS FROM TEETH
  • Intrinsic stains
  • Extrinsic stains

Extrinsic stains are those that deposit on the surface of the teeth but can be easily removed by a dental polished and are produced by chromogenic bacteria, food, snuff, by the profession or iatrogenic. On the other hand, in the intrinsic ones there is a pigmentation of the inside of the tooth and they cannot be eliminated, but they can be camouflaged so that the most pleasant teeth are not visible and look. Extrinsic stains are produced by several substances, which are mainly classified into two: primary and secondary chromogens. Primary chromogens are all those that bind to the dental plaque of the teeth through hydrogen bonds. In their initial form they can be eliminated by means of a good brushing technique but if they are fixed it is necessary a professional cleaning and the use of abrasive pastes. The primary chromogens can be coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco nicotine and sugary drinks. Secondary chromogens are substances that are converted into chromogens by chemical reactions, also called iatrogenic. The extrinsic stains produced by this type of chromogens make the surface rough and can retain more bacterial plaque. Most of these substances are in dental rinses, such as chlorhexidine or tin fluoride. The dyeings or intrinsic pigmentations are color changes that occur within the dental tissue is affected when the enamel and / or dentin. This type of pigmentation can be local or general cause.

Those of local cause usually affect the dentin of one or several teeth and are due to dental pathology (caries, necrosis, and hemorrhages due to trauma or pulp degeneration), fractures, iatrogenesis (an inadequate opening in an endodontic tooth, the endodontic material, among others) or fillings with amalgam or gold. General cause stains affect the dentin of all teeth and are due to excessive intake of fluoride during development (fluorosis), tetracyclines or systemic diseases. Fluorosis is the consequence of excessive intake of fluoride during the development and calcification of tooth enamel. The degrees of dental involvement are related to the concentration of fluoride absorbed. Doses greater than 1 ppm in drinking water can produce fluorosis. Fluorosis can be classified into three: simple fluorosis (if there are white or brown spots on the smooth surface of the enamel), opaque fluorosis (when the spots in the enamel give it a dull appearance) and fluorosis veined (where there is a loss of substance and exposure of dentin). Tetracyclines constitute a group of antibiotics that cross the placental barrier and are excreted in breast milk, therefore, temporary dentition can also be affected. These types of antibiotics are fixed to the teeth and bones due to their affinity for calcium. The effects of tetracycline depend on the dose, the duration of treatment, the type of tetracycline and the time it has been ingested. This is why there are 4 degrees of staining: grade I (minimal involvement with brown coloration on the surface), grade II (darker coloring), grade III (presence of horizontal bands of dark gray or deep yellow) and grade IV (involvement of the entire crown with a very dark coloration).

HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM TEETH?

Extrinsic stains can be easily removed, but depending on the state they are in, the treatment is simpler or more complex. Stains with an initial stage of adhesion can be easily removed by a good tooth brushing technique, however in a medium state complementary methods are necessary with the use of abrasive pastes to effectively remove the chromogen. Finally, if these stains are in an advanced stage, professional dental prophylaxis is necessary. In order to eliminate intrinsic stains it is necessary to use more specific procedures. The use of teeth whitening can be performed both on a vital tooth and on a non-vital tooth to improve pigmentation. If there is an advanced degree of pigmentation it is necessary to resort to alternative therapies, some of these could be the use of veneers or porcelain facets and even the use of crowns of total coating if the involvement of the pigmentation is of the entire crown of the tooth.  In order to know the most appropriate therapy, it is essential to conduct a study of each case and analyze the type of staining in order to offer a more individualized treatment.