Dental Tips and Tricks

A good set of teeth can be a valuable asset. It helps us chew, pronounce words properly and even win talent search contests. Like all valuable assets, maintenance is essential and teeth, being subjected to cruel punishment from all the garbage that we put into our mouths every day, require extra maintenance. But with so much homework, so many projects, so many good movies and so few girlfriends, who has time left for teeth? Well, here are some tips on how to spend quality time on your teeth so that it doesn't affect your social life.

1. Use disclosing dyes.
We normally brush every surface of our teeth to make sure that we remove all the plaque. However, there are spots which require more attention than others. Since plaque is hardly visible until it gets thick, we would need some indicator to guide us. Disclosing dyes are available in tablet form. They can be red or blue and when dissolved and applied to your teeth, they will stain wherever the plaque is. Concentrating on the stained spots will save you time.


2. Pre-brushing mouthwashes
Look for the ingredient triclosan in a pre-brush mouthwash. Rinse your mouth in this mouthwash before you brush. The ingredient seems to be able to loosen plaque and facilitate its removal by brushing. Much research point to the benefits of triclosan mouthwashes. Do remember that you still have to brush.


3. Chlorhexidine mouthwash
This is a very powerful antiseptic that wipes out bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. It is expensive, bitter but very effective. People who have just undergone oral surgery and cannot brush will find this mouthwash indispensable. If you are an active serviceman in the field "too exhausted" to brush every night, hold a mouthful of chlorhexidine for one minute before spitting out. It works just as well as brushing, but remember that a bottle of that solution will add more weight to your full pack than your toothbrush. Prolonged use of more than one week can result in brown stains, ulcers or a bad lingering taste in the mouth.


4. Other mouthwashes
Products containing cetylpyridium and benzethonium chloride are also known to reduce plaque. Fluoride mouthwashes strengthen teeth against decay but have little effect in preventing gum disease. Recent fears about some cancer-causing alcoholic mouthwash are not supported by sufficient evidence.


5. Proxabrushes
Have you ever tried brushing for hours to get a piece of stuck meat out of a gap between your teeth? Using a toothpick may work, but toothpicks are known to break inside these gaps and worsen the problem. A proxabrush which looks like a miniature version of a baby's milk bottle brush is the proper instrument for this purpose.
Common Dental Problems

---

Since the introduction of fluoride into our drinking water in 1965, the incidence of tooth decay in Singapore has dropped markedly. However, gum disease will continue to haunt us for quite a while. In an age of overall excellence and cosmetic perfection, bad tooth alignment has also been "upgraded" from an acceptable shortcoming to a major disability.

1. Tartar
This is a hard, chalky substance that forms around the gum margins of our teeth. It is formed from plaque that has absorbed calcium from saliva. Most of it is found on the inner surfaces of our lower teeth, but it can occur anywhere and for some really negligent people, an entire molar can be encrusted with tartar. You will need to see your dentist for scaling to remove tartar.


2. Gum bleeding
Gum bleeding caused by a combination of plaque and tartar is a sign of gum disease which is usually painless in the initial stage. However, if untreated, the gums start to shrink away, the teeth seem to get longer and eventually, ugly gaps appear. The affected teeth get loose due to gradual destruction of the supporting gums and bone. There is no cure at this stage. You will either have to extract your teeth or wait for them to be loose enough to be spat out.


3. Crooked teeth
Everybody knows about this one. You may need to extract a few teeth and then put on braces. However, such treatment will only make minor adjustments to your overall appearance even though for some people, the results can be dramatic. For more severe cases like a long jaw, gummy smile or short chin, a combination of surgery and orthodontics will yield the best results. Pain and discomfort are unavoidable, so think carefully and seek your parents' advice before you decide.


4. Wisdom teeth
Most of us have three molars in each quadrant of our mouths. The last molar usually erupts when we are about 18-21 years of age. The exact purpose for these teeth is not known, but they often cause trouble by erupting sideways, slanting forwards or backwards. This causes food trap, decay, bad breath, swollen gums, crooked front teeth and a host of other problems. Very often surgery is the only way to deal effectively with this problem. Perhaps the purpose for these teeth is to test if we have the wisdom to trade a few days of pain for a lifetime of comfort.


5. Tooth Decay
Dental caries is caused by chemicals produced by cariogenic bacteria. They first eat into the enamel. Exposed dentine, the next layer, is sensitive to heat and cold. This sensitivity progresses to pain and when the pulp is reached, a condition called acute pulpitis occurs. This is one pain you'll never forget. You will either need to have the tooth extracted or go through the tedious and expensive process of root canal treatment. Always fill up those cavities before they get too deep.

---

1. Toothpastes
A few brands of toothwhitening toothpastes have entered the market with a big bang and left with nothing more than a whimper. Users don't seem to miss them, so their results can't be that remarkable. Most toothwhitening toothpastes are capable only of removing surface stains from coffee, tea and tobacco. Actual bleaching action is quite limited and seldom permanent due to the short duration of contact between the active agent and the teeth.


2. OTC Bleaching Sets
These DIY sets are simple to use, but usually quite costly. They often require two steps. Step one is brushing with a "special" toothpaste. Very often, this toothpaste is abrasive. Next, the user wears a piece of plastic that has previously been moulded to his or her mouth. The bleaching gel is placed in this plastic piece and remains in contact with the teeth for a few hours, sometimes overnight. Remarkable results have been shown, but like what they said, there are individual variations. The "oxygen" that bleaches the teeth are derived from peroxides or urea. Side effects like gum irritation and tooth sensitivity may occur.


3. Chairside Bleaching
Your dentist can perform a wide range of toothwhitening procedures for you. A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment often turns brown. You would need your dentist to bleach it white again. On the other hand, you may not require an expensive bleaching set at all. If the stains are external, simple polishing or a bicarbonate jet are all you require to get your teeth whiter and shining again. Your dentist is also licensed to use powerful agents and special lighting units that can bleach your teeth in a much shorter time. A kind of bleaching similar to the DIY sets is also performed, but it is probably better with supervision. Different kinds of stains also require different kinds of treatment. Many OTC products are not effective on stains caused by drugs like tetracycline.


4. Bonding
Bonding is a reversible process of masking the colour of your teeth. Your dentist performs the procedure by chemically treating the surface of your teeth and then coating it with a layer of tooth-coloured substance. The coating can be replaced, repaired or removed any time.


5. Porcelain Veneers
Another way of masking the colour of your teeth is by using porcelain veneers which look like fish scales. These go over the surface of your teeth which have been previously trimmed. This procedure is more lasting than bonding and is especially indicated for people who have slightly chipped and stained teeth.

---

1. Fruits and Vegetables
All kinds of fruits and vegetables are beneficial to our teeth because of the vitamin C they contain. Some people have suggested that chewing crunchy fruits is a self-cleaning process. However, all fruits can form particles that get lodged in between teeth, so don't count on any fruit to clean your teeth for you. An apple a day won't keep the dentist away if you forget to brush the right way. And sugar cane juice is certainly more beneficial for our teeth than sugar cane itself.


2. Tea
Tea contains fluoride which can strengthen our teeth against decay by reacting with enamel to form a protective layer. For most teenagers, consuming fluoride internally has little benefit. However, giving our teeth an occasional fluoride bath can offer some protection.


3. Fluoride Gum
If you have a chance to study overseas, try chewing fluoride gum regularly. The gradual release of fluoride ions from these gums provides a environment for prolonged contact with fluoride and maximum benefit for the teeth.



---