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The very phrase “root canal” sends shivers up one’s spine. Although this common dental procedure is synonymous with excruciating pain, the actual experience, thankfully, doesn’t live up to its reputation.

Work on the tooth’s root canal is necessary when a tooth has becomes seriously decayed or infected. In such cases, the dentist removes the pulp and nerve from inside the tooth (the “root canal”), cleans the cavity and seals it. The root canal procedure prevents infection from spreading to surrounding tissue and causing even more serious problems.

Root canal procedures have a high rate of success — in the neighborhood of 95%. Once the dentist has determined root canal work is necessary, the procedure typically occurs over the span of one or two weeks. After the debris is removed from the tooth, it may be left unsealed, giving any infection time to resolve. Later, a permanent filling/crown is applied, and in some cases, further restoration or cosmetic treatments may be done. (more…)

Children generally lose their first tooth around the age of 6 or 7. For most kids, it’s an extremely exciting thing to have happen to them, likely because of the chance that the Tooth Fairy will come by while they’re sleeping.

For some kids and parents though, it can be somewhat traumatic. Sometimes the “tonguing” of the tooth can be irresistible yet produce a pain the child may have never had before. Other times, it may be “hanging by a thread” and be begging to be yanked, but the child is frightened or the parent is squeamish to go through with it. (more…)

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Powered or Manual Toothbrushes?
The first toothbrush decision is whether to use an electric or a manual toothbrush. There isn’t a firm consensus that one is better than the other - in most cases it boils down to a matter of personal preference. Powered toothbrushes are two, three, or four times more expensive than the ordinary variety, but tend to last much longer. Lazy brushers may get better results with an electric toothbrush. The small, rotating head(s) are effective at reaching into tight spaces between teeth and other hard to reach spots.

Are you a lazy brusher? To remove plaque, a person should brush for about three minutes, which for most of us feels like an eternity. People also tend to think they brush for longer than they actually do — some powered toothbrushes come equipped with a timer, a handy crutch indeed.

Manual Toothbrushes - Hard or Soft Bristles?
The answer to this question is more clear cut. Soft bristles work perfectly well for most people, and are a must for those with unhealthy teeth or gums. Strenuous brushing with medium or hard bristles can damage teeth and gums; better to brush thoroughly but mildly with a soft bristle toothbrush.

Toothbrush Size Matters
Toothbrushes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The operative word in making a selection is comfort. Your toothbrush should comfortably reach all brushing areas, especially those hard to reach molars. Sometimes the handle, rather than the head, is the key to comfortable brushing. Trial and error is probably the best way to judge which toothbrush works best for you.

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What you eat, how you eat it, and when you eat it have a big impact on the health of your teeth. Acidic foods and beverages that can erode tooth enamel include -

• Regular soda pop
• Diet soda pop
• Citrus fruits
• Citrus juices
• Wine
• Pickles
• Vinegar

All soft drinks are not created equal. This article compares acid content of popular soft drinks - the numbers might surprise you. (more…)

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Dentists warn us to fight plaque. Innumerable brands of toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash wage war against plaque. But what exactly is this enemy we are up against?

Plaque is mainly bacteria that forms in the mouth, but contains other materials as well. Biology Online defines dental plaque as follows -

A soft, thin film of food debris, mucin and dead epithelial cells deposited on the teeth, providing the medium for the growth of various bacteria.

The main inorganic components are calcium and phosphorus with small amounts of magnesium, potassium and sodium, the organic matrix consists of polysaccharides, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and other components … (Biology Online, “Dental plaque”)

If that definition is too technical, Johns Hopkins defines plaque simply as a sticky substance made of mucus, food particles, and bacteria.

Whatever definition you choose, dental plaque is exceedingly complex, containing as many as 400 types of bacteria. Calcium, a component of plaque that comes mainly from the salivary glands, causes plaque to harden and become difficult to remove from the teeth. Sugar and starches we consume accelerate the growth of bacteria and the development of plaque. (This is an overlooked reason to avoid carbs and sugar in your diet.)

Plaque cannot be eliminated completely, but regular brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, and flossing, are the best defense against plaque buildup.

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