Reva Dental Blog

Category Archives: Dental Checkup

Dental Checkup, Dental Health

Why is brushing my teeth important?

Why is Brushing my Teeth Important?

According to the Dental Trivia section of dentist.ie (the Irish Dental Association website), only 46% of households purchase toothbrushes.

That’s an alarming statistic, and hopefully an inaccurate one, as your toothbrush is the most vital component of your oral health regime. Your dentist at Reva Dental can tell you what happens to those who don’t brush their teeth.

Flossing, mouthwash and regular dental check-ups are ideal, but if your toothbrush isn’t doing its job-or worse; you don’t have one – you’re destined for decay.

Gum Disease Can Kill

Good oral health relies on brushing your teeth to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease is not only a cause of tooth loss, but can also in extreme cases cause heart attack and stroke, as bacteria can enter the bloodstream via the mouth.

When we eat, the sugars and starches in food combine with any plaque coating the teeth and produce acids that attacks tooth enamel, leading to decay.

Plaque is a sticky substance that builds up on the tooth’s surface, and if you don’t brush to get rid of it, plaque will irritate your gums, making them red and swollen. This is gingivitis, which is the start of gum disease. It’s reversible in the early stages but left unchecked, the gums will begin to pull away from the teeth and the resulting pocket will fill with bacteria.

These pockets of bacteria can destroy the bone supporting the teeth, and ultimately can cause teeth will fall out. If you brush properly, you remove a large proportion of the plaque from the tooth’s surface-and flossing removes it from the spaces between teeth.

How Often Should I Brush?

To maintain good oral hygiene, you should brush for about two minutes morning and night, and preferably after eating so that plaque doesn’t build up.

A lot of people wait until their toothbrush is on its last legs before replacing it; acquiescing to the purchase of a new one only when the bristles are flat and falling out. If your toothbrush looks like that; it stopped doing you any good months ago.

If you brush twice a day, your toothbrush is ready for replacement every three to four months. Better yet, treat yourself to an electric toothbrush.

Power vs. Manual Toothbrush

‘Power’ or electric toothbrushes have become very sophisticated in design, with advanced brush heads and bristles based on oscillating/translating, vibrating, or ultrasonic technology.

There is no competition between a manual and a ‘power’ toothbrush. Even the most sophisticated of designs and the most regimented of brushers cannot compare to the plaque-removing efficacy of a power brush; they remove anywhere form 10% – 49% more plaque than a manual brush.

You can buy a reasonably priced electric toothbrush in most pharmacies and many department stores; and they are often on special offer at certain times of the year. It’s important to remember that even with an electric brush; you must replace the head after a while, as the bristles will become worn. At Reva Dental we generally recommend the Oral B Pulsar range of electric toothbrush which is available to purchase in the clinic (price €9.95).

Whether you use a traditional toothbrush or an electric one, be conscious of wear and tear, and change it at the start of each season. This way you can keep your gums healthy and your teeth cavity-free.

Ask your dentist’s advice on brushing; you can call Reva Dental on (056) 7763786 to schedule your appointment. You may be eligible for a free check-up; see www.revadental.ie

Dental Checkup, Dental Health

Do you grind your teeth?

Bruxism is an increasingly common condition where people gnash or grind their teeth, sometimes unconsciously, clenching them together to the point where it causes headaches, damaged teeth and jaw pain.

Jaw Pressure

Our teeth are designed to exert force on the foods we eat, allowing us to break it up and chew it. The jaws use a lot of force to do this; about 175 pounds per square inch (psi) where they’re working on food between the teeth.

When the teeth are grinding together without the cushion of food between them, the direct pressure is even greater with the result that significant damage can be caused over time. Teeth become worn, fractured, the jaws themselves may ache or the patient may have frequent headaches.

Gnashing of Teeth by Day-and Night

At Reva Dental we regularly see patients who have damage from grinding their teeth subconsciously during the day. Often a result of sublimated stress, it’s a habit than can be corrected if it happens during waking hours, once the patient is made  aware of the fact that they do clench or grind their teeth.

Patients who grind their teeth by night, however, in ‘sleep bruxism’ are often at a loss to explain why they have a sore jaw or worn teeth. In fact, it’s often their partners awaking to the odd noise of teeth being compressed against each other that provides the explanation for the symptoms.

Signs of Teeth Grinding

If you’re grinding your teeth severely enough to cause problems, particularly if you have ‘sleep bruxism’, you may experience the following:

  • Teeth are worn down, chipped (very common result of teeth clenching) or fractured
  • Worn tooth enamel
  • Worsening of tooth sensitivity
  • Sore jaw muscles or tightness in the jaw area
  • Headache or ear ache due to jaw contractions
  • Unexplained facial pain
  • Marks on the inside of the cheek or tongue
  • TMJ – problems with the temporomandibular joints casing pain or clicking when you open and close your mouth. Grinding your teeth puts pressure on these joints.

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, it’s important to get to your dentist to evaluate the damage. Fracturing of teeth can allow bacteria to get into the tooth and potentially damage the nerve of the tooth as well as the gums.

Suspected Causes of Teeth Grinding

The root causes of bruxism are not fully understood, but many common factors in adults seem to be stress- related and include:

  • Anxiety, tension or stress
  • Frustration or anger
  • Response to pain in adults and children
  • Sleep problems and nightmares
  • Poor alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
  • Rare response to certain types of medication
  • Illegal substances (ecstasy; methamphetamine)
  • Some caffeinated beverages and other legal stimulants

Effective Treatment for Teeth Grinding

The dental team at Reva Dental will be able to tell if you are showing the symptoms of bruxism as part of your routine dental examination. We can work to repair the damage that has already been caused, and help each patient work to overcome their teeth-grinding habit.

In the case of sleep bruxism, our dentists can provide you with a specialised bite guard to act as a cushion between your upper and lower teeth, preventing them from becoming worn or chipped by the unconscious jaw pressure exerted in your sleep.

Teeth Grinding in Children

Children often grind their teeth; it’s quite common in childhood but tends to disappear as the child gets older and is usually resolved completely with the onset of adolescence.

If you child is grinding his/her teeth, take them to the dentist as soon as you become aware of the habit to ensure no major damage is being done, and to avoid future dental issues.

Call Reva Dental on (056) 7763786 to schedule your appointment. You may be eligible for a free check-up; see www.revadental.ie

Bad Breath, Dental Checkup, Dental Health, Periodontal Treatment

Causes of Bad Breath

The medical name for bad breath is halitosis, and usually results from poor dental habits.

Keeping your mouth and teeth clean is important to avoid cavities, gum problems and bad breath. Brushing and flossing should be part of your daily routine, and if your gums have become sore, a timely trip to Reva Dental will minimise damage.

Poor Oral Hygiene

As food is chewed, small pieces lodge between the teeth-some are obvious and may be removed easily; but microscopic food particles remain in the mouth. As these begin to decay they encourage growth of bacteria over the tongue, teeth and gums.

These bacteria cause an unpleasant smell, giving an odour to your breath that you may not notice yourself, but others find distasteful at close quarters.

Brushing your teeth twice a day will help dislodge the food particles, cleaning the mouth. Flossing between teeth is also important to remove food remnants from the nooks and crannies of teeth to eradicate the bacterial breeding ground.

A mouthwash containing an antibacterial agent is an excellent way to finish your dental home care regime to ensure fresh breath.

Dry Mouth & Gum Disease

Occasional bad breath is usually the cause of strong foods like garlic, coffee or onions, but persistent bad breath is often the result of gum disease or an unusually dry mouth (xerostomia) where decomposing cells from food build up in the mouth.

Chewing a sugar-free gum will help stimulate saliva to keep the mouth moist. In the case of possible gum disease, your dentist will examine and evaluate your gums and suggest a care plan to address the issue.

Bad breath may be a possibly be a symptom of a more serious medical issue in the stomach or throat, and your dentist will identify whether this is the case or if the issue is indeed a dental one.

Smoking

Smoking leads to increased levels of gum disease, risk of a huge array of cancers, and stains your teeth. It also irritates the inside of your mouth and causes inflammation of the palate. All tobacco products cause bad breath, as particles linger in the lungs and lead to stale breath.

Tobacco smoke contains aromatic hydrocarbons, (most of which are carcinogenic) which are pungent; permeating the saliva and leading to ‘Smoker’s Breath’.

Smoking dries out the palate; repeated inhalation of hot gases parches the tongue and gums to leave a dry mouth where bacteria gather. It also causes tartar build-up on the teeth, which increases the risk of periodontal disease.

Reva Dental Can Help

At Reva Dental your dental examination will assess your particular issues, ensuring any concerns are addressed properly. An oral exam will be able to identify any periodontal disease, and stop it from worsening.

A professional cleaning called a scale and polish, along with good home care, makes a large difference to your breath.  Brushing after meals may be recommended, and using a special little interdental toothbrush will help to ensure the whole mouth remains clean if there is an ongoing issue with food lodging between teeth.

Fluoride toothpaste and an antibacterial mouthwash (not just one that masks unpleasant odour) complete your arsenal in the fight against bad breath.

At Reva Dental our dentists also recommend gently brushing your tongue, as much of the bacteria in the mouth gathers on top of the tongue and can be removed with a tongue scraper or toothbrush.

Drinking plenty of fluids will keep the mouth moist; avoiding coffee where possible. Your dentist will suggest a plan for quick, efficient home care to establish healthy dental habits.

Call Reva Dental on 056 776 3786 to schedule your appointment. You may be eligible for a free check-up; see www.revadental.ie