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Showing posts from April, 2022

Daily dental tips to cut down on plaque

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums. If you let it build up on your teeth, it can lead to several problems. The best way to remove plaque from the tooth surfaces is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day. You should brush your teeth twice a day, with a soft-bristled brush. The brush should fit your mouth comfortably, allowing you to reach all areas easily. When you use toothpaste that contains fluoride, this helps protect your teeth. You can help even more by cleaning between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental cleaners. This removes plaque from between the teeth in areas the toothbrush can’t reach. By taking a few steps each day to look after your teeth – and visiting your dentist regularly, you’ll be able to enjoy healthy teeth and a great smile all your life.

How dentistry has developed over the last 300 years

When you visit a modern dental surgery, its hard to imagine the challenges of dental treatment without all the latest technology. Yet specialists have been taking care of peoples teeth for thousands of years. Here are some of the key developments over the last 300 years. 1723: French surgeon Pierre Richard – credited as being the father of modern dentistry – publishes the first book to describe a comprehensive system for the practice of dentistry. 1760: John Baker, the earliest medically-trained dentist to practice in America, immigrates from England and sets up practice. 1790: John Greenwood adapts his mothers foot treadle spinning wheel to rotate a drill. 1790: Josiah Flag, a prominent American dentist, constructs the first chair made specifically for dental patients. 1832: James Snell invents the first reclining dental chair. 1841: Alabama enacts the first dental practice act, regulating dentistry in the United States. 1844: Horace Wells, a Connecticut dentist, discovers that nitrog

How older adults can handle dry mouth and taste problems

Reduced saliva flow that results in a dry mouth is a common problem among older adults. It is caused by certain medical disorders and is often a side effect of medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers and diuretics. Some of the common problems associated with dry mouth include: – Constant sore throat – Burning sensation – Problems speaking – Difficulty swallowing – Hoarseness or dry nasal passages Left untreated, dry mouth can damage your teeth. Without adequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by plaque, extensive cavities can form. Your dentist can recommend various methods to restore moisture. For example, sugar-free candy or gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial saliva and oral rinses. Another issue that can affect older adults is a loss of appetite due to a change in your sense of taste. Besides an age-related decrease in the sense of taste and smell, certain diseases, me

Taking steps to stop oral cancer before its too late

Oral cancer hits more than 30,000 Americans every year but you can minimize the risk by taking steps to ensure its caught early enough. The first indications of oral cancer may be a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore that you are not even aware of. In a routine examination, your dentist will carefully examine the inside of your mouth and tongue. If they notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore, this may be completely harmless. But harmful spots or sores often look the same as harmless ones. To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, your dentist may choose to perform a simple test, such as a brush test. This collects cells from the lesion which can them be analyzed. Any positive results from a brush test must usually be confirmed by a biopsy before deciding the next step. If precancerous cells are found, the lesion can be surgically removed if necessary during a separate procedure. When caught early enough, the chances of preventing the cancer developin