June 2022 - Onyx Dent

Correct way to brush your teeth

Posted on 20/06/202221/07/2023 by filip

Whilst it may appear easy and straightforward, there are always corrective measures in how we can brush our teeth.

Teeth brushing is one of the essential ways in which we maintain oral hygiene. Here are some tips in how to correctly brush your teeth.

Are you using the correct toothbrush?

The choice and quality of toothbrush is very important when brushing. Everyone needs to choose a toothbrush which suits their needs, the aim of which is to ensure that you can reach even the most difficult areas in your mouth. The toothbrush should have either soft or extra soft bristles so there is no erosion of tooth enamel.

Forceful brushing.

Dental plaque which lodges in teeth is soft. Therefore, you do not need to brush forcefully, but softly over the surface of the teeth so the plaque is removed.

Time

The average time for brushing your teeth is approximately 120 seconds (2 minutes). Due to time constraints in the morning or fatigue in the evenings, we often shorten the time spent brushing our teeth which is one of the biggest mistakes we make. Do not shorten the time spent brushing your teeth due to constraints, ensure that you spend 4 minutes per day on your teeth, they deserve this commitment.

Changing your toothbrush

Your toothbrush should only be used for 3-4 months. It should not be placed in a case, as this can cause bacteria to form and spread. It should be kept in an open toothbrush holder, and if the colour or shape of the bristles changes then toothbrush should be changed. The quality of the brushing of teeth is compromised with a damaged toothbrush, and your teeth will not have the appropriate care.

Brushing from left to right.

The brushing should be gentle, without force, in an upward and downward motion with circular movements. In the upper jaw brush downward and in the lower jaw in an upward motion. Brushing from the left to the right ensures that you are removing dental plaque as well as ensuring that you are not lodging it not the interdental spaces (spaces between the teeth).

You forget the gingiva

When brushing our teeth, many of us waste time and attention on the bite areas and forget the area which the gingiva meets the tooth. In between he tooth and the gingiva, there is an area, the gingival area, in which bacteria regularly accumulates. It is very important that brushing should focus on the junction between the gingiva and the teeth.

Brushing the tongue

It is recommended that after you brush your teeth that you massage your tongue with the part of the toothbrush which is used for that function. That can be found at the back end of the toothbrush.

Devote time and attention to your teeth and remember that you are creating a smile which you deserve and can be proud of.

Bad habits for your teeth

Posted on 19/06/202221/07/2023 by filip

Each one of us has individual everyday habits. Some of them can have negative effects on oral and general health.

In the following text we will identify the most common bad habits which affect oral health.

Biting nails, pens, pencils- one of the most difficult habits to break is nail biting. Not only does this damage the nails, but also the teeth. In younger populations it can also lead to jaw dysfunction.
Smoking causes disease of the gingiva and reduces saliva production in the mouth, which directly impacts on oral hygiene.
Alcohol reduces saliva production and is a risk factor in developing decay and soft tissue diseases in the mouth.
Caffeine can cause discolouring of the teeth, and combined with sugar consumption increases the chances of decay.
Forceful brushing of the teeth can damage tooth enamel, create hypersensitivity and cause decay.
Bruxism can be developed across all ages and the best treatment is to wear a mouth guard.Поради тоа замена за чепкалките за заби треба да биде дентален конец.
Toothpicks are not designed to clean in between the teeth. Therefore, substitute them with dental floss.

To maintain healthy teeth, it is important to brush them twice a day as a minimum, with a soft toothbrush. Increase the quantity of water we drink, use dental floss every day, and avoid consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, and sugar.

Continue to read more information on this topic, and don’t forget to regularly visit your dentist.

Why your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold foods

Posted on 12/06/202221/07/2023 by filip

Teeth sensitivity can happen when consuming too many cold or hot drinks and food and is one of the most common problems which patients can experience.

What are the symptoms of teeth sensitivity?

Hyper sensitivity in teeth can be caused by; unhealthy habits, dental disease, and other illnesses, as well as restorative dental work and prosthetic interventions.

Reasons why teeth may be hyper sensitive:

Consuming too many processed drinks and acidic foods which can lead to erosion of the enamel and exposure of the dentinal tubules from the dentin.
Decay- sensitivity can lead to thermal irritation causing pain when chewing, indicating that decay is present.
Gum disease- accumulated dental plaque around and in between teeth and gingivitis is an indication of gum disease which produces sensitivity to cold.
Forceful brushing of the teeth- the use of toothbrushes with hard bristles and forceful brushing of the teeth, can damage the enamel and erodes the dental channels, which causes sensitivity to warm and cold food and drinks.
Grinding and clenching of teeth- this condition, named Bruxism, damages the teeth enamel which can also be a factor which contributes to sensitivity to hot and cold.
Receding gingiva- the receding of the gingiva occurs when the part of the gum around the base of the teeth is eroded and can cause periodontal disease and can also be caused by forceful brushing.
Other factors can erode the nerve in the tooth which causes greater sensitivity to hot and cold food.

Preventative measures and interventions

Reducing consumption of acidic and processed food and drinks.
Using toothbrushes with soft or extra soft bristles and brushing without force.
Using sensitive toothpaste
Using a mouth rinse which has fluoride so sensitivity can be reduced.
Regular dental checkups of restorative and prosthetic interventions
Using a mouthguard if you grind or clench your teeth.

Until next reading…

Halitosis (bad breath)

Posted on 08/06/202221/07/2023 by filip

Halitosis appears as bad breath in the mouth cavity and is present in 25% of the world’s population. This condition can affect self-esteem, cause embarrassment and in some cases anxiety, even though in most cases it is easy to treat.

The most common cause of Halitosis is bad oral hygiene. After decay and gum disease, this is the third most common problem that people visit dentists for.

With proper hygiene habits, Halitosis can be treated easily.

Cause of Halitosis

Tobacco- the products of tobacco cause bad odours in the mouth, as well as gum disease.
Food- food remnants lodged between the teeth leave a bad odour in the mouth.
Dry mouth- saliva naturally maintains a clean mouth. Unless the mouth is naturally dry, or there is decreased saliva due to illness, eg: Xerostomia, bad oral odour can become more pronounced.
Oral hygiene- correct brushing and use of dental flossing rids the mouth of food and dental plaque. In instances when brushing and flossing is not adequate, then dental plaque forms embedded in the area between the teeth and gingiva (periodontitis), which results in an intense and unpleasant odour.
Removable, partial or total prosthesis which are not cleaned regularly and adequately, can also cause Halitosis.
Diets-hunger and low intake of carbohydrates in food, can form ketones, which have a strong odour and can cause Halitosis.
Medication-some medication can affect the production of saliva (eg: medication for calmness, distress) as well as an increased intake of vitamins and supplements can cause Halitosis.
Bacterial infections-localised in the nasal and mouth cavities, tonsilitis can cause Halitosis.
Illnesses-some metabolic illnesses of the liver can cause a bad odour in the mouth.

Prevention and treatment of Halitosis

Brushing of the teeth- correct brushing of the teeth twice a day, recommended after each meal. Brushing of the teeth cleans 60% of the surface of the teeth.
Use of dental floss- use of dental floss enables the removal of dental plaque and remnants of food between the teeth. Using dental floss cleans 40% of the surface of the teeth.
Clean prosthetics-all prosthetics which are used in the mouth, must be cleaned, including total and partial prosthetics, bridges, mouthguards used for treating Bruxism.
Clean tongue-bacteria and food remnants can lodge in the tongue. Cleaning of the tongue is also recommended.
Avoid dry mouth- do not consume too much water throughout the day and avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
Gum for chewing, preferably without sugar so the saliva can be stimulated and can keep the mouth clean.
Diet- avoid onion, very spicy foods, and products with sugar. Reduction of caffeine, consumption of raw foods also assists with maintaining a clean mouth cavity.

For further information on similar themes, please visit our website and read our blogs.

Month: June 2022

Correct way to brush your teeth

Bad habits for your teeth

Why your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold foods

Halitosis (bad breath)

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