Chicago Dentist

Your dentist may treat gingivitis in several ways, but the first step is to thoroughly clean your teeth, removing all traces of plaque and tartar — a procedure known as scaling. The cleaning may be uncomfortable, especially if your gums are already sensitive or you have extensive plaque and tartar buildup. Gingivitis usually clears up after a professional cleaning as long as you continue to follow a program of good oral hygiene at home. Your dentist may recommend using an antiseptic mouth rinse in addition to brushing and flossing.

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Bleeding from the gums is mainly due to inadequate plaque removal from the teeth at the gum line. This will lead to a condition called gingivitis , or inflamed gums. If plaque is not removed through regular brushing and dental appointments, it will harden into what is known as tartar. Ultimately, this will lead to increased bleeding and a more advanced form of gum and jawbone disease known as periodontitis .

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Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Every day, minerals are added to and lost from a tooth’s enamel layer through two processes, demineralization and remineralization. Minerals are lost (demineralization) from a tooth’s enamel layer when acids - formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth - attack the enamel. Minerals such as fluoride, calcium and phosphate are redeposited (remineralization) to the enamel layer from the foods and waters consumed. Too much demineralization without enough remineralization to repair the enamel layer leads to tooth decay.

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Dental flossing technique. The information found on this page provides instructions for what we would consider a good tooth flossing technique. It’s one that is thorough and one that should be able to keep you in good dental health, if practiced daily. We’d suggest that you study our description of this technique and then demonstrate your interpretation of our instructions to your dentist or dental hygienist. This way they can refine your flossing technique as needed, and also give you tips and pointers that may help you use dental floss more effectively in specific locations in your mouth.

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When using dental floss, think in terms of using the floss to scrub as much of the surface of each tooth as is possible. When reading Dental-Picture-Show.com’s flossing instructions take note of their description about pulling the dental floss up against the side of each tooth being cleaned. The vast majority of people, including those who do use dental floss regularly, simply do not have a grasp of this concept. Dental floss is intended to clean teeth by way of scrubbing dental plaque off their surface. Effective flossing is not accomplished by just placing dental floss between teeth. Effective flossing involves placing dental floss between your teeth and then drawing it up against the side of each tooth individual tooth and scrubbing as much of its surface as is possible.

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Bad Breath is an embarrassing problem. Many of us would have suffered from bad breath at some point in our lives. Bad Breath is usually caused by the breakdown of proteins by bacteria somewhere in the mouth. Bad breath is not contagious, meaning you cannot catch it from someone else. Chronic bad breath, known as Halitosis, does not come from the stomach. The only odor that comes from the stomach is when you burp. Food eaten such as garlic and spicy foods once absorbed into the body can release odor through the lungs when you breathe. Food odors are transitory and should not be confused with bad breath. Human’s sense of smell has the ability to adjust to odor. Therefore, most people with halitosis are not aware of their bad breath.

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Do you take special care of your gums and teeth? Do you follow your dentist’s suggestions and dental care reminders? Do you follow the recommended annual visits to the dentist? Are you keen in keeping your dental health at its best? Providing proper teeth and gum care are important. Here are some tips to follow in order to keep your oral health at its optimum level.1. Your dentist and dental hygienist can provide you the best education on how to properly take care of you teeth and gums. Follow the tooth brushing techniques and proper oral care advices given by your dental health professionals. Avoid rushing when brushing your teeth. Provide at least 3 minutes of your time to thoroughly clean your teeth. Take enough time to reach all the dental surfaces including those hard to reach areas and the back teeth.2. Your brush should be held at a 45-degree angle to your gums. This will enable the tips of the bristles to point to the gumline. Gently move your brush in very short strokes in a back and forth motion.3. You should not take for granted the inner surfaces of your teeth even if these are not readily visible when you smile or open your mouth. Brush thoroughly both the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth as well as the grinding and incising surfaces.4. It is also advisable to brush your tongue gently. Our tongue usually harbors bacteria and minute food debris left during mastication, which can cause bad breath.5. It is also important to floss your teeth at least twice a day or after every meal as much as possible to remove trapped food particles in between the teeth that may cause bad breath and may become a bacterial breading ground.Today there are a lot of types of dental floss coming out in the market. Choose the product that you feel most comfortable with and that doesn’t cut or hurt your gums.Here are some useful steps to follow on how to floss correctly:a. Use at least 18 inches of dental floss and wind it around the middle finger of each hand. Hold it between your thumb and forefingers and leave about an inch of dental floss. Gently slip it in between your teeth in a sawing motion. Be careful not to snap or jerk the floss into the gums.b. Curve the dental floss into a C shape when it reaches the gumline then slide it gently up the gum. Be careful not to press too hard, you don’t want to cut your gum in the process.c. The floss should be held against the tooth and perform a scraping motion along the side of the tooth. This should be done gently and moving the dental floss away from the gums. Follow this procedure until you reach the backside of the last tooth.d. Bleeding gums may occur during the first 5 or 6 days after you start flossing. If beyond this period bleeding still occurs, you need to call and inform your dentist about it. You may not be doing the right thing and in the process hurting your gums.Properly taking care of your oral health will provide you a good and healthy oral environment, which will give you a healthy, beautiful smile and increase your self confidence.Michael Russell Your Independent Dental guide
forresstanford » Blog Archive » How To Take Care Of Your Teeth For A Healthy Smile

The last time Barbara Stepp of Homewood visited her dentist, she told him about her ongoing kidney infection. “He immediately plopped me down in the chair and started doing acupuncture,” said Stepp, 70. Stepp’s dentist, John Rothchild in Hoffman Estates, is a longtime member of the American Dental Association. He uses the latest high-tech equipment to take X-rays, remove teeth and whiten smiles. But Rothchild’s practice is based on a holistic philosophy that says the health of your mouth can affect your entire body.
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In addition to acupuncture, his integrative treatment portfolio incorporates the use of mercury-free fillings, cranial therapy and homeopathic remedies. The ADA maintains that “silver” amalgam fillings, which contain mercury that can leach into the environment, are not a human health threat. And it considers muscle testing (or applied kinesiology) techniques, dental homeopathy and craniosacral therapy to be “unconventional” and not yet supported by science. Dental acupuncture, meanwhile, needs to be supported by a major research effort, the ADA says. But mounting research supports what holistic dentists have long believed: Although the mouth may not be the window to your soul, it can reveal potential medical problems in other parts of the body, including the heart, lungs and brain. And as the connection grows stronger, dentists who focus on treating the whole body as well as the teeth and gums—with prevention, education and nutrition playing a central role—may one day assume the role of a “primary care doctor.” “The ADA teaches brushing and flossing to control ever-present disease,” Holistic Dental Association President Tim Gallagher recently wrote in the group’s journal. “Instead, we teach brushing and flossing to check effectiveness of cellular immunity.” More than 75 percent of Americans over age 35 have gum or periodontal disease, an infection that can trigger an inflammatory response not just in the gums but throughout the body.

Your mouth speaks volumes about overall well-being — chicagotribune.com

Sports or “high energy” drinks can wreak havoc on your teeth because they’re high in sugar and have the highest “mean buffering capacity,” which means they can severely erode your enamel. Here are nine more things that keep dentists in business, according to the Chicago Dental Society. It’s missing just one thing: tobacco.

1. Potato chips. When you eat starches, including pretzels and pasta, enzymes in your saliva break the food into simple sugars, feeding the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
2. Peppermints. Sucking on sugary hard candies all day puts your teeth under constant attack by tooth-decay-causing bacteria.
3. Cough drops. Gram for gram, some cough drops have as much — if not more — sugar as chocolate. The same is true for other “medicinal” products, such as antacids and breath mints.
4. Soda. If you want to feed the bacteria in your mouth, drink soda. It’s just loaded with sugar and flavor additives, and the acids — found in diet sodas too — can destroy tooth enamel.
5. Bottled water. Not all dentists sing the praises of fluoride, but the ADA stresses the decay-preventing benefits. Most bottled waters don’t have it and most home water-filtration systems remove all fluoride.
6. Coffee drinks. Whipped cream, chocolate sauce and flavor syrups are loaded with sugar. A small caramel macchiato, for example, has more sugar than a Snickers candy bar.
7. Juice. Even unsweetened juices contain naturally occurring sugar; an 8-ounce glass of orange juice contains about 30 grams of sugar. The same size serving of Mountain Dew contains 31 grams of sugar.
8. Fruit leathers and roll-ups. Made from sweetened fruit purees, these sticky snacks are essentially candy. Bits stick to teeth, leaving your teeth susceptible to decay.
9. Gum. Sugary chewing gum puts your teeth under prolonged attack, but don’t rule out gum altogether. Xylitol, a sugar substitute in some gums, has been shown to help prevent tooth decay.

Julie’s Health Club - Where alternative and mainstream health meet | Chicago Tribune | Blog | Blogroll

Have you heard the saying, “Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away”? It’s not a pretty thought, but it is a very true one. Our teeth and gums require daily attention, and letting your home care or dental visit routines slip can have a dramatic effect on the longevity of your teeth and the overall health of your mouth. Here, we take a look at the reasons people end up with major dental work and/or missing teeth, and help you prevent tooth decay, damage and loss through effective cleaning.
Press Release - Teeth Cleaning

Contrary to popular belief, flossing isn’t just a way to dislodge food wedged between your teeth. Regular flossing reduces cavities, gum disease and bad breath by helping to remove the bacterial film called plaque that forms along the gum line.

How To Floss Your Teeth | eHow.com

Bad breath doesn’t have to keep you from getting close. If you’ve got bad breath that just won’t go away, there’s help available. Bad breath may be embarrassing, but the good news is that there are several treatment options that can eliminate bad breath for good.  Treatment for bad breath may be available at your local cosmetic dentistry practice.

The Origins of Bad Breath
Bad breath is caused by bacteria that hide under the tongue and in the grooves and rough edges of teeth. As bacteria come in contact with food particles they can turn these food particles into volatile sulfur compounds, or VSCs. Sometimes, lack of regular brushing and flossing can encourage the reaction that leads to bad breath. And, of course, eating foods like garlic and onions can contribute to foul-smelling breath. For many people, however, bad breath may occur regardless of how healthy your teeth and gums are. When the bad breath sticks around, it is most likely a problem that requires attention. The important thing is to never assume that a condition like bad breath is just a fact of life. It may actually be a medical problem that can be fixed with proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s up to you to seek help.

Press Release - Bad Breath

by Anne Kelly

Twice a day Karen Redman flosses her teeth to protect not only her gums, but also her heart.

Becoming a more faithful flosser was the Liberal party whip’s New Year’s resolution for 2007, even though she doesn’t have gum disease or risk factors for heart disease. The Kitchener Centre MP stepped up her routine from every day or so to twice daily after learning of an association between plaque in the mouth and the plaque involved in coronary artery disease.

“I was watching a news show on television about the fact that flossing had a connection with heart health and the plaque on your teeth,” Redman said in an interview.

“I had always viewed flossing as something you did for the health of your gums. So for me, it was a real revelation to realize there were other implications that may, in the long run, have a greater impact.”

People with serious gum disease have higher levels of certain types of bacteria in their mouths. Researchers suspect the bacteria may travel through the bloodstream to the coronary arteries, causing inflammation which eventually leads to plaque buildup and narrowing of the arteries.

Another theory is that high bacterial levels in the mouth may lead to a chronic increase in the immune system response, which helps fight infection, but also involves inflammation.

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