Choosing a Toothbrush......

Tooth brushing is the major behavior performed by patients to fulfill their needs to feel clean and fresh and to avoid dental problems.  It is also considered by the dentist-dental hygienist team to be the major tool in the removal and control of dental biofilm and the prevention of periodontal diseases and dental caries. 

Effective brushing is important but so is the design and selection of the brush.  Not all brushes are the same.  By using the appropriate brush and technique together, patients can maximize their daily oral hygiene efforts.

Why must plaque be removed?  When the plaque matures, the microbial ecology changes and becomes pathogenic due to the different microorganisms, their by-products, and in the case of gum disease, the inflammatory response provoked by the host.

For gum health the plaque must be removed from:

*the healthy sulcus or shallow pocket, the ideal anaerobic breeding ground

*the gum tissue where maturing and growing supra gingival plaque deposits are in contact with the marginal gum tissue and can alter the sub gingival environment

*the interproximal areas-in between the teeth, which are hard to reach.

For cavity prevention:

Plaque must be removed from the the gum line, pits and grooves in the teeth and the interproximal areas.

Understanding the different elements of toothbrush design will help with making the correct selection.

Head and Bristles

The toothbrush head is an extension of the handle and is contoured to position the bristles.  Bristles are typically round nylon filaments.  The degree of hardness is determined by the diameter and the length of the bristles.  Larger diameter bristles are stiffer and do not extend as easily into hard to reach areas.  The shape of the end of the bristle has evolved over many years.  The tapering of the bristle allows greater flexibility and slenderness to reach deep into the sulcus.  A recently introduced bristle has a feathered tip, providing up to 70% more surface contact with the tooth.  Positioning of the bristles is also important.  Positioning tufts10 -20 degrees away from the vertical axis increases interproximal penetration.  A dome-shaped head of bristles, where the bristles are raised in the center, has been shown to increase plaque removal.

Handle

The ideal handle grip should aid in holding the brush at the correct angle so the bristles are present at 45 degrees to the long-axis of the tooth.  Is should be long enough to provide adequate grip to give full control, and the distance between the grip area and the head should enable easy access to the most posterior teeth.

Toothbrushes alone do not lead to adequate plaque removal.  There is a clear need for between-the-teeth cleaning.  This includes flossing and interproximal brushes.  These are available in a wide variety of designs and a high level of customization is available.

Summary

*The bristles must be effective in cleaning the hard-to-teach areas-extremely tapered bristles have demonstrated superiority

*The handles should have a grip designed to automatically position the brush to achieve the correct angle

*The brush is only one element of a plaque removal system

*The brush should be readily available commercially

*The brush head should be compact to reach to the back of the mouth and have soft bristles to minimize soft and hard tissue trauma and sensitivity, while maximizing cleaning

*The brushes should be designed and manufactured by a long-established supplier of scientifically tested toothbrushes

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844

Losing Weight can help with TMJD

Temporomandibular  Joint Disorder- TMJD

*  Chronic TMJD does not correlate w/ low socioeconomic status.  This finding is in stark contrast to trends seen in other chronic pain conditions.

*  Chronic TMJD seems to be associated w/ alterations in some parts of the nervous system that control pain perception. 

*  Genetic variability contributes to chronic TMJD.  This includes several genes known to influence stress response, psychological well being and inflammation.

TMJD patients frequently experienced many more chronic pain conditions, such as lower back pain, headaches, and fibromyalgia.  Evidence of abnormal jaw function associated with teeth grinding and clenching was also observed.

Losing weight improves the diabetic status and helps in the response to periodontal therapy.  One theory is that excessive fat cells secrete more cytokines, which make insulin less functional and lead to hyperglycemia.  Losing weight improves the diabetic status and helps in the response to periodontal therapy.  A second theory pertains to leptin hormone, which regulates appetite.  Leptin is involved in regulating metabolism and has been associated with C-reactive protein.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDC

Complete Dental Care

103 South Carolina Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-397-3844

Mussels can help with certain tooth pain

 From a recent Readers Digest article-

Some tooth pain develops when the hard outer enamel wears away and exposes the softer underlying dentin, which is sensitive to stimuli such as hot and cold.  Pain-fighting toothpastes and chewing gums contain minerals that can augment enamel but don't adhere long enough to permanently rebuild it.  For a solution, Chinese scientists turned to mussels, which secrete an adhesive to attach to underwater rocks, and they created a substance with similar sticky properties.  When scientists coated worn-out teeth with the mussel-like adhesive and then soaked them in a bath of minerals, the teeth rebuilt a protective layer that simulates enamel.  This discovery lead to better products for sensitive teeth.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem , Virginia , 24153

540-387-3844

Preventing Infections

In light of recent news reports concerning a Tulsa, Okla.-based oral surgeon, the American Dental Association (ADA) understands that there may be heightened interest in infection control procedures. Regulations for dental office inspections are determined on a state by state basis by the state dental board.

The ADA has long recommended that all practicing dentists, dental team members and dental laboratories use standard precautions as described in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Infection Control in Dental Health Care Settings guidelines. Studies show that following proper infection control procedures greatly reduces risk to patients to the point of an extremely remote possibility.

Infection control procedures are designed to protect patients and health care workers by preventing the spread of diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Examples of infection control in the dental office include the use of masks, gloves, surface disinfectants and sterilizing reusable dental devices. In addition, dental health care providers are expected to follow procedures as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, instrument tray, drawer handles and counter-tops have been cleaned and decontaminated. Some offices may cover this equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient.

Non-disposable items like the dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized between patients. Disposable items like needles or gauze are placed in special bags or containers for monitored, proper disposal. Infection control precautions also require all dental staff involved in patient care to use appropriate protective garb such as gloves, masks, gowns and eye-wear. After each patient, disposable wear like the gloves and masks are discarded. Before seeing the next patient, the members of the treatment team scrub their hands and put on a new pair of gloves.

Patients who have questions about infection control in the dental setting should talk with their dentists, who will be glad to explain or demonstrate their procedures.  More information on infection control in dental offices is available online athttp://www.ADA.org

Please be assured that we look at these guidelines as a minimum standard for our practice.We hold your safety and well being as paramount to how we work. We would welcome our patients to walk through with us on the various procedures we utilize in our practice.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia , 24153

540-387-3844 

 

Chewing Gum Can be Healthy for Your Teeth

There has been evidence of improved oral health associated with chewing gum containing xylitol, twice a day for 15 minutes.  There is a a definite increase in saliva production and flow.  This increase results in lower plaque and healthier gums.  This is particularly significant for our aging population who typically experience decreased salivary production and flow.  The resultant decrease leads to increased decay and gum disease.  Chewing sugar-free gum can add to the quality of life for the aging population.

Dentistry Today-August 2012

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia , 24153

540-387-3844