Month: April 2019

Anesthesia and Sedation
Certain medications are available to help you endure dental procedures that would have been very painful otherwise. These drugs make your dental visits more comfortable than they would have been in their absence. These drugs are called anesthesia.

Anesthesia drugs either control pain, help you relax, or put you into a deep sleep during those gruesome dental treatments. Your dentist can discuss a number of factors with you when he is deciding which drugs are to be used for your treatment. The type of dental procedure, history of allergies, your overall health and your anxiety level are examined to decide which approach is best for your particular case.

Local anesthesia is a type of anesthetic used to prevent pain in a specific area of your mouth where it is applied during a treatment. The anesthesia blocks the nerves that sense or transmit pain, by numbing the mouth tissues. Your dentist may numb the area where the procedure is to be done by applying a topical anesthetic to that area.

This can be done by administering an injectable local anesthetic. Topical anesthetics may also be used to relieve painful sores in the mouth. Injectable anesthetics are generally used in procedures such as filling cavities, preparing teeth for crowns, doing root canal operation or treating gum disease.

If the procedure calls for, you may need a pain reliever after treatment as the aftermath can be painful. Analgesics are another type of sedatives that are used to relieve pain and are categorized into two groups: non-narcotic and narcotic.

Non-narcotic are the most common type of analgesics that are used to provide relief in case of a toothache or pain post dental procedures. They include acetaminophen, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. More severe cases of pain are treated by Narcotic analgesics, such as opioids. Narcotic analgesics act on the central nervous system to relieve pain.

Sometimes your dentist may use a sedative, which can moderately mitigate any pain. Sedatives can be given both before or during dental procedures. Sedation can be done either by inhalation (using nitrous oxide), oral (by taking a pill) or intravenous (by injection).

For more complex treatments drugs that induce deep sedation are used. Reducing consciousness in such cases relieves the patient from both pain and anxiety. On other occasions, in which drugs cause a temporary loss of consciousness, general anesthesia can be used.

Dentists have used the above mentioned pain and anxiety control techniques to treat millions of patients safely year after year and their quality is continuously being improved by intense R&D activities as complimented by the advancements in the field of medical sciences in general.

Though, taking any kind of medication has a certain amount of risk or side effects. That’s why the ADA( American Dental Association) advises you to take a conscious effort to improve your oral health.

Being an informed patient aids both the dentist and the patient himself. The patient should be aware of all the risks and benefits involved in the dental treatment, so that the patient and his dentist can make the best decisions about the treatment as they both are on the same page while taking the case forward. Working together, the patient and the dentist can choose the appropriate steps to be taken to make every dental visit safe and comfortable.

A very important thing to learn in this process is how to dispose all unused, unwanted or expired medications properly . Especially if there are children at home, the proper disposal of such unused drugs is an important thing to learn. Also, one must take time out to talk with children about the dangers of using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes.

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Our body is a temporary abode that has been assigned to us by the almighty for a predefinite number of years. It is a gift from God and should be treated like a temple and thus, its cleanliness and hygiene should be taken care of like devotion. Quoting the Bhagawat Geeta, this body is a house which has nine doors, the first one being the oral cavity or simply the mouth. Mouth is the commencement point of the digestive system. As the first stage of digestion takes place in the mouth itself, it contains both good and bad bacteria to breakdown the food we intake.

A lot of fluid secretion in the form of saliva happens in the mouth, the food we eat is of various types. Some food items might be hard to crack, others might be very greasy. While the saliva help gulping down most of the foodstuff down our throat, a fraction of it still gets stuck in the mouth at places like the in betweens of the teeth or at the back of the teeth. Such foodstuff if not cleaned, decays. That calls for more germs in the mouth and these germs damage the teeth and gums.

Thus, finding the best technique to clean our mouth is always a sought after activity. Big corporate giants belonging to the dental industry are spending billions of dollars on R&D to make their tooth pastes, tooth brushes, mouthwash solution etc better and hence, more competitive.

‘Which technique is better than the other’ is often a question that challenges many dentists and hygienists. Can rinsing with Listerine or some other mouthwash, completely do the job of flossing? There is a lot of scientific debate around this question. Though the lobbyists for the mouthwash industry are leaving no stone unturned to win this debate in their favour, usually the neutral jury vote in favour of flossing.

Recently, a summit was held at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). Here two clinical trials were demonstrated to exhibit the effectiveness of rinsing. Their research showed that antiseptic mouthrinse is at least as good and effective, if not better, than flossing.

There are many who opine that rinsing cannot compare to flossing. Mouthwash maybe a convenient way to clean your mouth wherein you just have to spray some minty solution in your mouth and gargle. It is not very time taking nor does it require any kind of precision. Whereas, while flossing you have to rustle that thread in between the tight areas of teeth. This activity takes time and needs to be done carefully, not so easy like mouthwash or rinsing.

When we are talking about oral care, effectiveness takes precedence over convenience. Mouthwash is a very mild solution or otherwise it could harm the inside tissue of the mouth, thus, it can be ineffective in plucking out foodstuff that is tightly stuck in between teeth and also it has been proved to be not very effective in reducing the formation of plaque or removing its debris, at most it softens the plaque. Here flossing has been miles ahead in terms of effectiveness.

Why flossing is better?
Scrubbing with a floss string completely destroys the colony of bacteria formed on the teeth. These colonies cause the most damage to teeth and gums. Thus, the removal or destruction of these colonies is very important for maintaining good oral health. Thus, flossing automatically stands out better than mere rinsing or mouthwash.

Using antiseptic mouthwash has its own benefits, we don’t intend to undermine mouthwash in any way. But, we advice, under no pretext, do not stop flossing. Do all i.e brush, rinse and floss for best care of your teeth and oral health as a whole. Taking out time for the benefit of your own body always pays long term benefits, so don’t be selective!

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Though the two of them, flossing and heart disease may seem two poles apart, there are some researchers who have claimed that gum disease may lead to heart disease. To neutralize the effects of heart disease, flossing goes a long way. How? We will explain you.

Flossing and Brushing Altogether Turn Out to Be Greatly Effective
Brushing goes a long way in maintaining an optimal oral health. However, if you leave the floss unused, you may develop advanced and severe stage of disease. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Brushing is a regular activity but it has one drawback. Toothbrush won’t adequately clean between the teeth or under the gums. This is where flossing comes in. Flossing specifically removes plaque from the spaces between the teeth and under the gums.

According to the American Dental Association, flossing before brushing makes brushing even more effective. If there is less plaque found between your teeth, fluoride gets to more part of your mouth.

Flossing Protects Gums
Flossing has a major role in areas where a toothbrush can’t reach. There are tiny particles of food that get lodged in between the teeth and gums. Plaque deposition gets harder in these areas and accrete to form tartar. Tartar can only be removed by dentists because it is extremely thick and can be removed with a scraper. Extreme buildup of tartar leads to red, swollen gums which is also known as gingivitis. If not treated well, tartar and plaque spreads even below the gumline, thereby leading to periodontitis. It is severe gum disease characterized by eventual tooth and bone loss.

Flossing Prevents Bad Breath
Whenever dental plaque is left untreated, it spreads further to occupy the space between the teeth. This creates bad smell in mouth. Plaque is the major reason for bad smell. Tooth decay and gum disease are sources of bad breath caused by dental plaque.

Flossing Avoids Tooth Decay
Flossing on a daily basis helps to prevent tooth decay and cavities. If cavities aren’t treated, they get larger and cause problems like toothache and infection.

If you choose not to floss, you will not be able to get rid of dental plaque build up. Cavities are more likely to form and the same dental plaque causing gingivitis can lead to growth of harmful bacteria. It destroys the enamel between your teeth, consequently leading to the formation of a cavity.

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Brushing and flossing of teeth are very important cleaning processes for our teeth. They benefit other parts of the mouth as well. Both the processes aim to remove the build-up of plaque on our teeth and keep up oral hygiene. Plaque is very dangerous for the health of our teeth and gums. It is nothing but an active colony that abodes hazardous bacteria, which eats and then excretes on our teeth.

Thus, to take prWhich Is Better: Flossing or Brushing?oper oral care one must brush as well as floss at least twice a day. Both the activities are not very time consuming and can save us from a lot of oral problems. Therefore, they should not be omitted from our routine schedule. Both brushing and flossing are not a substitute for each other.

Brushing is effective in cleaning our teeth from the front and back areas whereas flossing takes care of the spaces in between the teeth and the area underneath the gums. So, for complete oral protection and hygiene one should do both. To do one and leave the other of the two activities is half the job done. Still, if one has to choose as to which is more important or whose ramifications are greater, the answer would be ‘floss’.

As explained above, floss works for areas where brushing is ineffective like the underneath areas of the gums or the tight gaps between the teeth. These are hard-to-reach spots that house the most dangerous of the microbes. Failure to remove plaque from such places might cause gum diseases like gingivitis or periodontitis.

So, we learn here that both brushing and flossing are important in their own ways. Some may give a few extra points to floss but that doesn’t make brushing any less important. It would be highly wise of us to leave this obnoxious debate as to which is better, rather it is recommended by dental professionals that we buy both, a toothbrush and floss string.

We are so much concerned about our body that we take good care of our nutrition and workout to maintain it in good shape either by lifting those iron rods in the gym, doing yoga in the park by sporting those gorgeous yoga pants or by simple walks. That exercise enthuses us with more confidence and enhances our productivity while charging up our mood. Similarly, investing time in our oral care has its own long term dividends and we should not be lethargic about it. Why should the mouth be an exception to the general practice of care that we follow for the rest of our body? Thus, don’t ponder on choosing whether to brush teeth or go for floss, do both and enjoy eating and smiling!

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When compared with other restorations, dentures prove to be extremely comfortable. There is no comparison in the way different types of restoration work because each of them is designed keeping the requirements in mind. Losing a tooth turns out to be extremely painful and embarrassing too. Dentures that are introduced as a lifesaver fit well to your mouth and come in different varieties of styles.

Structure and Design
The structure of dentures consists of a set of artificial teeth attached to a base which is gum colored. They have been used for a long time to replace missing, lost or damaged teeth. Dentures have turned out to be extremely usable, durable, attractive and functional as compared to the ones in the past.

Full denture replaces an entire row of missing teeth in the bottom or top of the mouth. Partial denture fits well with the surrounding natural teeth.

No matter which type of denture you choose for yourself, there are a lot of key benefits that come with each of them.

Dentures Boost Confidence in Your Looks
They say first impressions count. Patients with missing teeth feel stressed about meeting or hanging out. Having gaps in your teeth not only lessen self-esteem but also drains confidence. However, if you have your dentures fit well and securely, you will get your confidence back with a beautiful smile.

Dentures Improve Speech
A noticeable change in speech is observed with missing teeth which is very common. This happens because there are certain word-sound that require the tongue to press against the teeth. Dentures fill the gap and allow you to sound better like before.

Dentures Allow You to Eat Your Favorite Food With No Restrictions
The loss in teeth can severely impact your ability to eat your favorite food. There are several food types that you cannot eat with a lost or damaged tooth, but having dentures worn properly gives you the freedom to eat anything of your choice.

Dentures Are Effective in the Long Run Dentures are designed to last a long time. A set of dentures can last for 5-10 years, depending on the way they are handled. They also allow you to get back your normal smile.

Get in touch with our dentists today to discuss full and partial dentures today. They will be happy to help you enjoy your beautiful smile.

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Wearing dentures for the first time requires some adjustments to your overall lifestyle. During the first few months of wear, you need to accommodate yourself until you are comfortable wearing them. Depending on how your dentures are constructed, your speech, pronunciation, reading, food biting, chewing everything will be affected for the first few weeks of the wear. Adjusting with dentures may take some time until your facial muscles adapt to them. Along with it, you will also be required to learn how to chew with dentures.

Till the time your dentures are settled in properly, you must start with soft food that is easy to eat and feels comfortable.

Tips for Eating With New Dentures

• Start with a liquid diet. You can also try soft foods like cooked cereals, pudding, boiled eggs, etc.
• With hot liquids, you need to be a bit careful because initially, you won’t be able to identify the temperature properly owing to the insulating quality of your denture.
• Holding liquids in your mouth for long is also not recommended. It can loosen bottom dentures.
• With dentures, food tastes differently. Over a period of time, your sense of taste should improve.
• Start with a soft diet once you are ready to move on to solid foods. Chew your food into small bites.
• Start by distributing food evenly on both sides of the mouth while chewing. This will help keep your dentures stable while eating.
• Chew slowly and properly throughout before swallowing.
• While eating fruits and vegetables, chop them into pieces first. This makes it easy to chew them.
• Whole grain bread and cereals should be taken with liquid to make them easy to swallow and chew.
• Avoid tough red meat. Instead, choose slow-cooked meats like poultry, fish and eggs.

Once you are fully adjusted to eating with dentures, you will be able to eat almost anything. However, there are some food types that will always create problem while eating, like hard or sticky food type.

Eating a healthy diet requires the ability to chew food. This becomes a bit problematic if you are just provided with new dentures. All you need to do is follow the right eating habits and have the patience to get used to eating with dentures. For better insight, you can get in touch with our dentists who will help you understand how to handle dentures properly.

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Toothache is one of the worst unbearable pains often experienced by people who are either suffering from a cavity or other fatal dental issue. Dentists around the world suggest different types of home-based and other professionally crafted remedies to help patients get rid of dental pain. However, there are times when the issue gets severe or unidentified leading to unexpected results. To identify the real cause, you should first identify what the real problem is. So, let’s start with a basic understanding of dental pain.

Dental Pain
There could be different reasons leading to dental pain but the most common one is an inflamed gum. Inflamed gum also contribute to toothache and sore gums. Other reasons contributing to dental pain could be cavities, broken teeth, infected teeth and other bacterial infections. Oral disease like gingivitis, periodontitis have bacteria leading to infection. Dental pain acts as a warning that something is wrong and should be checked by the dentist. The only solution to correct it permanently is by scheduling a dental health checkup.

Managing Dental Pain
Given below are specific guidelines for dealing with dental pain:

Schedule an Appointment With The Dentist
Before heading towards pain-relieving methods, see your dentist as soon as possible. As your dentist what can be done to relieve the pain. Also, let him/her know about the medications you are taking, if any.

Avoid Food and Beverages That Are Very Hot or Very Cold
Since the dentin layer of your teeth has been infected by tooth decay, it may react painfully to food and beverages. Brushing your teeth with warm water instead of cold water also helps to a certain extent.

Avoid Food With High Sugar Content
Patients with tooth pain should also avoid food that is high in sugar or acidic as it leads to worst tooth decay. Your teeth may not cause immediate sensation to such food types but they can contribute to further decay and tooth pain in the long run.

Brush and Floss
This is a common and most important tip to keep your mouth clean. Try flossing between the teeth. It will help remove the food particles and plaque, thereby leading to reduced toothache.

As soon as you experience toothache, consult your dentist. The longer you wait to have tooth decay removed, the more pain it will cause. So get your smile restored by scheduling an appointment with our dentist today.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.