Dentists have long debated back and forth about whether it’s better to brush or floss first.
Is it best to brush before flossing or floss before brushing your teeth? The answer may surprise you.
Study Confirms That Flossing First Wins
One recent study suggested that flossing before you brush may be the most effective way to clean your teeth. The study participants had less plaque left between their teeth when they flossed before brushing when compared with brushing before flossing.
Benefits of Flossing First
It’s quite possible that flossing before brushing gets your teeth the cleanest they can be. Removing more debris lowers the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, and a cleaner tooth surface has better access to fluoride from the toothpaste used in brushing.
Perhaps the biggest benefit is that having a habit of flossing first makes it harder to skip this chore. It’s easy to conveniently forget to floss! If you brush first, your teeth will feel clean and your mouth will taste minty-fresh leading you to conclude that your job is all done. But get that flossing out of the way, and the hard part is over.
Brushing or Flossing First—When it Doesn’t Matter
The difference between brushing and flossing first is small and may not have a major impact on your oral health. The most important thing is to get your flossing in at least once a day. Do it whenever you have the time and whenever you want to do it, whether it’s before or after you brush. Find a routine you can stick with to get the greatest benefit out of flossing.
Visit a local dentist for more dental hygiene tips.
Posted on behalf of:
Pure Dental Health
2285 Peachtree Rd #203
Atlanta, GA 30309
(678) 666-3642
Are bleeding gums a common occurrence for you? Even if your gums always bleed when you brush or floss it may be time to see a dentist. Bleeding gums are never normal.
Why Gums Bleed
Normal brushing and flossing and dental cleanings don’t cause healthy gums to bleed. Gums that are already sick will easily bleed when disturbed, however.
Your gums are made up of a complex and sensitive tissue. When they’re exposed to irritants such as plaque bacteria, they swell up as part of an immune response. The skin over swollen gums thins out and the blood vessels inside the tissue expand. This makes them very susceptible to bleeding when they’re bumped.
What Does it Mean When Your Gums Bleed?
If your gums bleed from a normal activity such as brushing, then that’s a sign that they’re probably swollen.
Gum swelling is often due to poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth properly or often enough, the plaque that’s left behind can trigger gingivitis. Swelling may also be an overreaction to irritants due to hormone changes such as during pregnancy.
How to Stop Bleeding Gums
Happily, it’s quite simple to treat gums that bleed when you brush. The first thing you might try is switching to a soft toothbrush and brushing more often to ensure all the plaque is gone. Use an anti-gingivitis rinse to reduce bacteria in your mouth. Swish with salt water to soothe sore gums and bring down the swelling.
Gum swelling and gingivitis can lead to a more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. So if your gums bleed during brushing, schedule a dental checkup right away.
Posted on behalf of:
Gold Hill Dentistry
2848 Pleasant Road #104
Fort Mill, South Carolina 29708
(803) 566-8055
Yes, you’ll be relieved to learn that swollen gums are reversible. Whether or not your gums get better, however, depends mainly on you.
Why Gums Swell
Swollen gums are marked by:
As you likely are experiencing, swollen gums can be quite uncomfortable. What’s causing this discomfort?
The tissues in your delicate gums are reacting to plaque bacteria left on your teeth. When these germs come in contact with your gums, they trigger an immune response that results in increased blood vessels and fluids in your gums.
If you have poor oral hygiene, then your gums may swell often from constantly being covered in plaque. At other times, hormone fluctuations in your body can make your gums more sensitive despite having great oral hygiene.
How to Reverse Gum Swelling Quickly
Swishing warm salt water around your mouth can give you instant relief from swollen gums. But the most effective step is to brush and floss thoroughly. Clean your teeth as best you can and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash. The swelling should start to go down as soon as your teeth are cleaner.
Make a few small but important diet changes, as well. Malnutrition can cause gum swelling so it’s important to make sure you’re getting all your vitamins from a balanced diet.
Is it Time to See a Dentist for Gum Swelling?
If your gum swelling doesn’t improve within a week or two, it could be a sign of trouble. Chronic gum swelling may be due to a serious infection called periodontitis, commonly referred to as gum disease. Left untreated, this condition can lead to tooth loss.
Call your dentist for an appointment to learn more about preventative gum health.
Posted on behalf of:
Gilreath Dental Associates
200 White St NW
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 514-1224
Brushing your teeth will almost never be the most important thing you’ll do in any given day. But your oral hygiene is still important!
Here are five reasons why you’ll want to make sure you never miss a day of brushing and flossing.
The main germs responsible for bad breath grow on your teeth and tongue. If you brush those every day, then you’re more likely to have sweet breath that won’t push your friends away.
A reputation for neglecting your oral hygiene can precede you and make meeting new friends a challenge. You can may even have difficulty getting a job. Good grooming is key to being taken seriously.
Losing your teeth can make you look old long before your time. On the other hand, if you take good care of your teeth and gums they’ll stay with you for life.
Did you know that cavities can lead to life-threatening brain infections? How about the fact that having gum disease increases your risk for stroke and heart disease?
Good oral hygiene now can prevent periodontal disease as well as other diseases that can have a major impact on your overall health.
Poor oral hygiene will lead to complications such as abscesses, infections, loose and missing teeth, difficulty eating normal foods, and chronic pain.
Spare yourself all of this unnecessary discomfort and risks by asking your dentist for tips on improving your oral hygiene.
Posted on behalf of:
Bayshore Dental Center
810 W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd #2900
Seffner, FL 33584
(813) 330-2006
Having a less-than-perfect smile may not be such a big deal. But having gum disease is.
Gum disease, also called periodontitis, leads to tooth loss and can even predispose you to other health complications.
Crooked teeth are far more than just a cosmetic issue. Having tipped or crowded teeth could actually put you at higher risk of gum disease. Here’s how.
The Dangers of Crooked Teeth
Your teeth are healthier when spaced out in even alignment than when they’re crammed together. Overlapping teeth trap plaque bacteria and food debris which lead to decay and gum irritation. Properly spaced teeth are easy to clean with a toothbrush or floss and are thus more likely to be healthy.
Crooked teeth also put uneven tension on your gums. This leads to gum recession which worsens the effects of gum disease.
Braces Can Lower Your Risk of Periodontitis
Orthodontic treatment frees up space between your teeth and reduces tension on the gums. Even a short treatment period can make a difference in your oral health. Wearing braces or an orthodontic retainer may seem uncomfortable or inconvenient at times. But it’ll all be worth it in the end when you have healthy teeth and gums that are easy to keep clean.
Can Braces Make Your Gums Healthier?
Your teeth and gums may stand to benefit from braces if in addition to crooked teeth you have:
See a dentist in your area for a gum health and orthodontic evaluation to see if braces are right for you.
Posted on behalf of:
Dental Care Acworth
5552 Robin Road Suite A
Acworth, GA 30102
(678) 888-1554
Gum disease is serious but treatable. By following these seven steps under professional guidance, you can rebuild your smile and restore your oral health.
The very first thing you need to do if you suspect gum disease is to see a dentist or periodontist. A gum health professional will assess your gums for signs of disease and let you know exactly which steps to take next.
Most treatment for gum disease involves a deep cleaning to remove tartar and bacteria from below the gum line. This step is crucial to controlling the infection.
Some patients benefit from antibiotic therapy to reduce the bacteria causing the inflammation. Your doctor may recommend local application around specific teeth, a therapeutic antimicrobial mouthwash, or a course of prescription pills.
Smoking delays healing and makes gum tissue tough and inflexible. Cut back on the habit while your gums recover from treatment.
Now that your gums are responding well to treatment, you must maintain the progress you’ve made. Brush and floss every day to prevent more germs from infecting your gums.
An orange a day could boost your gums’ immune health. Check with your doctor before taking any supplements.
Have your teeth lost support due to gum disease? You may need bone grafting, gum tissue grafting, or replacement teeth. Replacing these lost structures will keep your mouth healthy and prevent you from developing gum disease again.
Ready for healthier gums? Call your dentist to get started.
Posted on behalf of:
Smile Design Studios
6130 Highway 6
Missouri City, TX 77459
(281) 969-7388
Come Halloween time, many people are thinking up scary costumes to put on for parties and outings. Yet it seems that the scariest features are the ones that don’t come off when you remove the mask!
Realizing that your teeth are getting longer can be a terrifying experience.
What causes this condition? Is there anything you can do to prevent it?
Gum Recession Causes Long Teeth
It’s probably not that your teeth are getting longer but that your gums are getting shorter. Gum recession is when the tissue that normally covers your teeth shrinks away and exposes the long yellow roots.
Gum recession can be caused by a number of factors:
How to Prevent Long Teeth
There may be some gum recession factors that you have no control over. But by changing up a few small things in your daily routine, you should be able to slow down the damage.
For example, try switching to a toothbrush with soft or even extra soft bristles. Swap the manual toothbrush for a powered one that cleans your teeth for you with just the right amount of pressure.
What about the damage that’s already been done? Your dentist can recommend a few solutions for protecting your exposed teeth and keeping them bright and healthy. Dental bonding and fluoride treatments are very good for fixing long teeth. In extreme cases, you may even qualify for gum grafting to replace the lost tissue.
Ask your dentist for more advice on how to make your teeth look shorter and less scary!
Posted on behalf of:
Pure Dental Health
2285 Peachtree Rd #203
Atlanta, GA 30309
(678) 666-3642
Gum disease is not as easy to cure as some make it out to be.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection from bacteria found in dental plaque that accumulates around teeth. Germs trigger inflammation in the tissue and the plaque changes into gum-irritating calcified tartar.
The early stage of gum inflammation is called gingivitis and is reversible. Once the infection reaches deeper tissues and ligaments below the gum line, however, it turns into the more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis.
Gum Disease: Don’t Treat This at Home!
If your gum disease has advanced past simple gingivitis, then it’s not likely to stop on its own no matter how many herbal concoctions you try. This is because true periodontitis means that you have toxins and irritants trapped deep within pockets around your teeth, which can’t be removed without special tools.
Additionally, gum disease causes permanent damage to the structures around your teeth. Receded gums and lost bone tissue don’t grow back on their own. The longer you wait to see if you can cure gum disease at home, the greater the danger to your smile.
The Only Way to Treat Gum Disease
You need treatment that focuses on removing the debris that’s irritating your gums and creating a healthy foundation to encourage as much healing as possible.
Professional gum therapy addresses this challenge in a few ways:
Talk with your dentist to learn more about the best way to restore your gum health and prevent disease.
Posted on behalf of:
Group Health Dental
230 W 41st St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 398-9690
Your dentist just told you that you need to have a “deep cleaning” and you’re terrified.
But the more you know about this kind of gum therapy, the less you’ll have to fear. Your dentist most likely prescribed the deep cleaning because your gums show signs of inflammation and infection.
Deep Cleanings Can Save Your Teeth
Gum tissue swells in response to the presence of plaque. As bacterial growth advances, the infection breaks down bone tissue around teeth. This creates pockets between the gums and tooth roots, where more germs collect.
A “deep cleaning” is when the dental hygienist uses specialized tools to remove plaque, tartar, and other debris from the surfaces of your roots inside the pockets.
The purpose of deep cleanings is to provide a smooth base for the gum tissues to start healing and reattaching to. A deep cleaning is the first step to restoring the health of your gums.
Left untreated, gum disease can worsen to the point that teeth get loose and fall out.
Deep Cleanings Don’t Hurt
You’ll be numbed up for the cleaning procedure. Afterwards, your gums may feel a bit sore and your tooth roots might ache slightly from having the buildup removed. Overall, however, it’s not a traumatic experience.
How to Avoid Deep Cleanings
If you take measures to prevent gum disease beforehand, you can avoid the need for having such procedures. Daily brushing and flossing are the best ways to slow down the development of plaque bacteria that cause gum inflammation.
Ask your local dentist for a comprehensive gum health evaluation to learn more about your need for gum therapy.
Posted on behalf of:
Dunwoody Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
1816 Independence Square, Suite B
Dunwoody, GA 30338
(770) 399-9199
Your gums are more important to your health than you may know. So how are your yours doing?
Why Your Gums Are Important
Your gums help keep your teeth in place to cushion and protect the tooth roots. If you lose your gums to recession or gum disease, you risk losing your teeth.
Gum tissue is loaded with blood vessels that connect with the rest of the body. The gums are the perfect portal for oral bacteria to sneak into the bloodstream and cause infections in other areas.
Inflammation in the gums also seems linked to other inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Keeping your gums healthy is not just important for your smile – it’s important for your entire well-being.
Signs Your Gums May Be in Trouble
Your gums may need some special attention to ward off disease if you notice:
Pay close attention to your gums each day to check for signs of trouble. If something looks or feels off, see your dentist.
How to Keep Your Gums Healthy
A healthy gum care routine includes daily brushing and flossing. Brush along the gum line with light jiggling strokes to loosen plaque and debris. When you floss, make sure to slip it just below the gum line around each tooth.
Use an antibacterial rinse for its therapeutic effect after flossing and brushing.
Visit your dentist on a regular basis to find out what your gums’ health is like and to get more tips on healthy smile maintenance.
Posted on behalf of:
Laguna West Dental Care
9098 Laguna Main St Ste 8
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 683-7300
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