If you need to replace a number of teeth, you no longer have to dread the idea of dentures or fight with an ill-fitting bridge. With the new advancements in dental implants, you can have replacements that look and work just like the real thing. Imagine no fighting with moving dental work, no icky pastes, or wafers. All you need is a good dental hygiene plan and regular visits to your dentist.

Dental implants were great before, but advancements in the materials used and the techniques for implantation have made them even better. Once everything has healed, there should be no worries about anything coming loose, sores, discomfort, or the embarrassment that comes with other orthodontic treatments.

The Implant Process

A specialized titanium post is added in along the jaw where the bone will eventually grow around it and fuse onto the metal. This hygienic metal leaves a screw-like appendage above the gums. After approximately six months of healing time, the dentist will screw a crown-like top made of porcelain that resembles a natural tooth.

While it can take a year or more to do an entire mouth, they are long lasting, look natural, and don’t stop you from eating your favorite foods. The porcelain not only looks great, but also is resilient when it comes to pressure and chipping while resisting staining better than many traditional materials.

New Materials, Better Implants

Older dental implants used stainless steel. However, after some experimentation, doctors turned to titanium because it has the same hypoallergenic qualities and fuses to the bone faster. (This discovery goes to Per-Ingvar Branemark and a rabbit’s broken leg.)

Several other benefits to dental implants make them a superior choice as well. As we grow older, our jawbones begin to wear away. However, researchers have found titanium implantations actually prevent the bone from wearing away.

Staying Healthy

A degradation of nutrition is also common in people as they age because of the restrictions and difficulties they have with other treatments such as bridges and dentures. With the improvements to implantation technique and materials, there are no restrictions. This keeps patients eating more variety and maintaining a balanced diet. Also, because they are not attached to adjacent teeth, there is no wearing way of the enamel on healthy teeth, and therefore, less risk of decay.

Even with all of the advancements in this area, they still require good quality care. Without the proper cleaning and checkups, you leave your gums open to gingivitis and disease.

If you are interested in getting dental implants, you must meet a few requirements. First, you cannot smoke. This restricts the blood vessels and inhibits healing making it impossible for the bone to fuse to the metal. You need to have a healthy bite pattern to prevent an excessive amount of force from being placed on a single tooth. Finally, you need to have good oral health with enough bone to support the titanium.

With all of the advantages over traditional treatments, dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred treatment for replacing missing teeth and maintaining that healthy smile.

Each year, one debate goes on across the country: Should we continue to add fluorine to drinking water? Dentists and oral care professionals argue that fluorination is an important tool in the fight against tooth decay. Some religious, environmental, and political groups state that this violates human rights and is actually detrimental to the oral health of many.

Dental Associations And Health Organizations Fight To Keep Fluoride In Water

Water authorities have added fluoride to public water since the 1940s in an effort to combat tooth decay, which occurs in 60-90% of the population. By adding fluorosilicic acid, sodium fluorosilicate, or sodium fluoride, governments can reduce the occurrence of cavities by up to 40%. It is completely odorless, tasteless, and invisible to the naked eye.

When you drink fluorinated water, the fluoride mixes with the saliva in your mouth to create a protective barrier. This slows down the demineralization of tooth enamel and promotes the repair of early cavities. It is possible to get too much fluoride leading to a condition known as dental fluorosis. However, this only extremely mild and does not cause and health problems or aesthetic malformations.

Opposing Groups

Organizations such as political, human rights, environmental, and religious groups such as Christian Scientists are greatly opposed to the fluoridation of water. Some see it as a violation of human rights because it is forced on the individual.

Others say it is unnecessary and has no benefits. And others argue that it is part of a large conspiracy. Those focused on natural living or who believe traditional medicines are evil, see fluoride as being a direct violation of their beliefs and rights. One final argument is cost — however, this argument is clearly unfounded. A yearly fluoride treatment from the dentist costs an average of $83. For one person to get the same amount of fluoride from toothpaste, it would cost $8-$16 per person for a year. Fluoridated water cost only $0.93 per person per year.

To avoid the fluoride, many members of these groups live on natural or bottled water. However, both of these water sources contain natural fluoride, and in some instances, in higher doses than found in public water systems.

Alternatives To Fluorinated Water

Dental sealants and fluoride treatments, toothpaste, and gel are all suitable alternatives to fluorinated water. Education on things such as proper oral hygiene and proper diets can also help significantly. Salt and milk have both been fortified with fluoride in some instances. Extensive tests and studies have shown that the best option is still water because most people from all walks of life have access to it.

Dentist and oral care professionals have noticed a significant drop in the occurrence of cavities in both children and adults. For children and adults who do not have access to a dentist, and live below the poverty line, milk, toothpaste and other items are often inaccessible. And, with no real negative effects of any kind, there is no reason to keep fluoride out of the water.

The tongue is the red headed stepchild of dental care. We spend a good deal of time and attention on our teeth, brushing, flossing, whitening, straightening, capping, filling, and replacing. But what about the tongue? Did you know your tongue is the leading culprit for bad breath?

Bacteria from the food we eat sticks to the tongue, especially the back, or anterior, portion. These bacteria produce foul odors that produce bad breath. By cleaning the tongue regularly, we can clear away the bacteria and solve what for some is a serious problem. (more…)

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Here’s a list of foods, beverages, and a few other things that cause your teeth to stain. Be on the lookout and consume in moderation. Drinking through a straw helps reduce tooth staining. Best anti staining advice — stop smoking! Second best anti staining advice — stop smoking!

• Antibacterial mouthwashes
• Apples
• Berries
• Balsamic vinegar
• Beets
• Blueberries
• Coffee, especially black. Creamers blunt the effects. Avoid drinking extremely hot coffee - it increases the staining effect.
• Curry
• Dark colored colas
• Dark colored fruit juices

(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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• Toothbrush holders for the kid in you–or the kids

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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…)

Have you noticed there are a lot extremely white teeth running around these days? That’s because tooth whitening has become almost as popular as brushing and flossing these days. Here are some tooth whitening options.

At home. Product choices abound. Over-the-counter whitening strips can be purchased in any drugstore and, though easy to use, are not as effective as other options. Whitening toothpastes contain chemical additives to remove stains, but usually do not contain bleach. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the product’s label to make sure you are making a safe choice. Bleaching kits typically involve smearing gel on a mouthguard which is then inserted in the mouth for 30 minutes or longer, at a variety of intervals. Products come in several concentrations, so care should be taken when selecting a product. Bleach can cause tooth sensitivity; poorly fitting mouthguards can irritate gums. (The dentist can fabricate a custom mouthguard to overcome the latter problem.) (more…)

If you’re shopping for mouthwash, the variety of choices can be perplexing. Some mouthwashes claim to cure bad breath. Others promise whiter teeth or tartar control. Some tout all natural ingredients, while others have a list of ingredients that look like a chemistry exam.

Make life easy by checking with your dentist. S/he can recommend the mouthwash that will work best for you.

According to the American Dental Association, antiseptic mouthwashes do indeed offer oral health benefits, including reducing plaque, controlling gingivitis (bleeding gums), and yes — killing germs. (Not the germs that cause gum disease, unfortunately.) (more…)

Dental flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. Flossing and brushing both get rid of bacteria that cling to teeth and cause tooth decay (not to mention bad breath). Regular brushing is a must, but it won’t clean out the bacteria hiding in those narrow spaces between your teeth. Regular flossing will. The American Dental Association recommends at least once per day.

True, regular flossing is a chore. If you need motivation, remember that over time, the bacteria hiding out between your teeth, if undisturbed, will turn into hard-to-remove tartar. Tartar irritates and inflames the gums and eventually leads to serious conditions that inflame and weaken the gums and bone structure supporting the teeth. In short, flossing keeps your teeth from falling out.

If you avoid flossing because of discomfort, you might be surprised to see how many types of dental floss are available these days — waxed, unwaxed, flavored, flat, rounded, floss on string, floss mounted in holders. Waxed floss is more durable than the unwaxed variety, but is harder to work in between tightly spaced teeth. If you’re not sure which variety is right for you, check with your dentist.

Flossing is not just for adults. Children should begin flossing (with adult supervision) around the age of 2 to 3. Starting the dental floss habit early may be the best way to prevent serious decay and gum issues decades later.