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Teeth which have been damaged by tooth decay can be returned to their useful self with sealants which can also prevent further decay, the hitch, early detection. Our teeth are the hardest bones in the human body but like all the other parts of the body care should be exercised for like machinery that works but isn’t maintained it can fail. Teeth are designed to last a lifetime but dietary changes and unhealthy eating habits have changed their longevity causing teeth loss and other maxillary problems that can affect your health and your confidence. The sealant works like an invisible plastic coating which is applied to the chewing surface of the tooth preventing the enamel itself from getting worn down. The teeth are first cleaned and then the sealant is applied and depending on the type used (some require lasers for curing and others don’t) they are a fast and easy treatment for your teeth that can extend their life enough top last your lifetime.
Brushing your teeth is important to prevent tooth decay, and it is also for your overall hygiene as well. To brush your teeth properly, you need to have a soft bristle brush, and a tube of toothpaste. Simply squeeze a little bit of toothpaste with fluoride into your toothbrush. Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle and use short strokes back and forth while brushing the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth.
Make sure that you brush along the gum line, as this is where gum disease usually begins. Brush your tongue too to prevent bacteria build-up. However, do not brush too hard because you might damage your gums.
Dental x-rays and diagnostic tests on the infected pulp are to be done to determine if root canal is needed.
Before starting the procedure, administration of anesthesia is needed to make it painless.
To protect teeth from germs in the saliva, a rubber sheet is placed around the teeth.
When the anesthesia takes effect, an opening is made in the tooth to remove the pulp tissue and the area cleaned and enlarged.
After cleaning and shaping the enlarged space, a temporary filing is placed to seal it, and a permanent filling will be done as soon as the dentist specifies it.
Here are some tips to follow when choosing a toothbrush:
The head of the toothbrush should be compact so it could be easily moved at different angels.
Synthetic bristles is far superior than natural bristles because their quality and size control is better and does not readily absorb fluids or bacteria therefore it’s more hygienic.
A medium textured toothbrush is better for removing plaque
A lightweight handle is easy to grip
Indicator brushes have blue bristles at the center which lose color with wear and are good for monitoring brushing techniques.
For teeth with braces, orthodontic brushes with groove in the middle are recommended.
Over-brushing – hard brushing will abrade and wear away the enamel layer of teeth and may also cause the gum to recede.
Teeth as tools – biting on hard objects, using teeth as bottle openers can chip their edges.
Overuse of toothpick – using toothpicks create wider gaps between teeth and may cause lesion in the enamel and dentin.
Ice cubes and hard candies – eating these may fracture the molars’ crowns exposing the pulp resulting to toothaches.
Thumb sucking – this interferes which the normal development of jaw resulting to anterior open bite or posterior cross bite.
Tooth grinding –most common cause of wearing away of enamel and dentin.
Infrequent tooth brushing and flossing – brushing and flossing the teeth at least twice a day removes the food debris left between our teeth and this could lead to plaque formation.
Eating/snacking many times a day – it takes about 20 – 40 minutes for the food acid to be neutralized by the saliva and frequent eating gives the saliva less time to act on them.
Sucking citrus/acidic fruits – the ph levels of fruit juices are enough to erode the enamel making it susceptible to dental caries.
Smoking – this causes teeth stains due to tar deposits and more likely to develop gum diseases.
Maintain good oral hygiene – thoroughly clean all areas of teeth and mouth.
Soft bristled toothbrush is recommended – will cause less abrasion to tooth surface.
Use of desensitizing toothpaste – toothpaste that contains strontium chloride and potassium nitrate relieves the pain of tooth sensitivity.
Avoid the use of whitening toothpaste - Some ingredients found in whitening toothpastes and the sodium pyrophosphate for tartar control increases tooth sensitivity.
Be aware of what you eat – food and drinks with high acidic content should be avoided as acids slowly dissolve or erode the enamel over time.
Use dental products with fluoride – daily application decreases tooth sensitivity.
It is recommended that children get sealants as soon as their permanent molars start to come in, even before decay occurs. This will usually start around six years old. Second molars usually come in at age twelve. These are the perfect time when children can highly benefit from this technology.
Adults on the other hand, can also take advantage of this protection by sealing in the areas of their teeth that has not yet been filled or restored. These may last ten years long. However, it may need to be regularly checked to make sure that they are not worn or chipped away. If it is needed, the dental hygienist or dentist can repair it by adding more layers of sealants.
These are plastic coatings applied to the fissures and pits of the surface of the teeth to prevent accumulation of plaque that are causing decay in these areas. They are usually applied as a flowing liquid which is then hardened with a dental curing light. It is a painless procedure which does not require drilling or anesthetic.
Sealants protect the decay of the chewing surfaces on the back teeth. It is most commonly used in children, but it could be for adults too. It was already approved by public health agencies and professional health associations for many years yet only a few people are aware of it.
If you will brush as recommended by your dentists, you should do it for two whole minutes and twice each day. However, an average person would rarely do this properly, therefore leaving behind plaque that will definitely cause tooth decay.
The big difference between a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush is the number of strokes that they can deliver. Manual brushing only yields 300 strokes per minute while electronic brushing will deliver 50,000 strokes per minute! Also, most of these electric toothbrushes have a timer to let you know if you have brushed the recommended amount of time. Modern ones will even have a sensor to let you know that you are brushing too hard.