Keeping Your Toothbrush for Too Long
The ADA recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, so make a resolution to change your toothbrush with every season this year. Frayed and broken bristles won’t keep your teeth clean-these are signs it’s time to let go. When you’re shopping, look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
Not Brushing Long Enough
Speed demons, listen up! Your teeth should be brushed for a full two minutes, twice per day. Most of us fall short -the average time most people spend brushing is 45 seconds. If you’re racing through cleaning, try setting a timer. Or distract yourself by humming your favorite tune!
Brushing Too Hard
Be gentle with your teeth. You may think brushing harder will remove more leftover food and the bacteria that loves to eat it, but a gentle brushing is all that’s needed. Too much pressure may damage your gums.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Computer Guided Surgery
Computer guided surgery, with the aid of modern and increasingly sophisticated software, enables the surgeon to plan the operation by means of a computer program, step by step, starting from a proper dental CT scan. It also allows very accurate transform of this virtual surgery to a non-traumatic and micro-invasive real surgery.
After the 3D CT scan of the dental area to be treated, this scan will be imported into a highly technological software program which will elaborate 2/3 dimensional anatomical structures, enabling us to carry out a virtual computer simulation, planning the implant placement and prosthetic structure, precisely to a tenth of a millimeter. Other additional advantages of this method is the possibility to prevent surgical risk, the speed of this operation and rehabilitation period of the patient without the impact characteristics of traditional techniques.
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
Wine tasters may be at high risk for enamel stain and erosion.
Why? Sipping wine many times a day -- and swishing it in the mouth -- increases the enamel's exposure to damaging acids.
That is why it's better to drink a glass of wine, soda, or sweet tea with a meal instead of sipping it over several hours.Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
For Precise and Comfortable Dental Impressions
The Cadent iTero™ digital impression system is 3-D dentistry. Using the iTero, the dentist takes a very accurate digital impression of your prepared teeth. This completely eliminates the need for the uncomfortable tray and putty impression. In addition, iTero technology gives a perfect fit for your new crown or bridge, as well as the best precision for clear aligner teeth straightening. This results in less time at the dentist’s office and more time spent enjoying your new smile.
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
Your mother was right: Never open bottles, packages, or other containers with your teeth. You might permanently chip or crack the enamel.Gnawing on anything else -- like pens or fingernails -- or chomping down on seeds, popcorn kernels, or ice could have the same result.Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Below is an article written by by Diana Tosuni-O'Neill RDH, BS and found on Colgate.com
Have you ever woken up from a sound sleep with a dry mouth at night? Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be caused by something as simple as sleeping with your mouth open or as complex as a side effect of medication. Read on to find out what may be at the root of your nighttime lip smacking.
Signs of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can be as simple as the salivary glands not producing enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. Saliva is key to washing debris from your teeth and remineralizing tooth enamel. With too little of it, you may be at risk for tooth decay.
Aside from increasing your risk for cavities, dry mouth can be uncomfortable. If you are experiencing dry mouth at night, some noticeable morning signs are:
- A sticky feeling in your mouth
- Thick or stringy saliva
- Bad breath
- Dry or sore throat
- Cracked or chapped lips
- Mouth sores
- Changed sense of taste
What Causes Xerostomia?
The occasional case of dry mouth at night may simply be due to dehydration, but age, medical conditions and habits can also contribute to its symptoms. The Mayo Clinic reports that several medications can cause dry mouth, such as muscle relaxants, depression and anxiety medications and antihistamines. It's also associated with diabetes and the autoimmune disorder Sjogren's syndrome. Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can change or damage the salivary glands, as can nerve damage to the head and neck area.
Frequent tobacco and alcohol use can lead to xerostomia. Besides putting you at risk for oral cancer, smoking causes changes in saliva production. Alcoholic drinks and tobacco also irritate an already dry mouth and contribute to bad breath.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
The remainder of the article details the following:
- Ways to Manage Dry Mouth at Night
Although tea has a reputation as a healthy beverage, it may not be the best choice when it comes to keeping your teeth white. Dentists say tea -- especially the basic black variety -- can cause more stains than coffee. However, recent studies have found that even herbal teas and white teas have the potential to erode enamel and cause tooth staining.
Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
What is Tooth Sensitivity?Tooth sensitivity is a common name for dentin hypersensitivity or root sensitivity. If hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks, or breathing in cold air, makes your teeth or a tooth sensitive or painful then you have sensitive teeth.
Is Tooth Sensitivity Common? Tooth sensitivity is very common and it has been estimated that approximately half the population experiences tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can come and go over time.
Why does Tooth Sensitivity (Dentin Hypersensitivity) Happen? Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by dentin on root areas exposed due to receded gums or periodontal disease. Receded gums are very common and up to four fifths of people have gum recession by the time they are 65.
When the root of a tooth becomes exposed it does not have a layer of enamel like the crowns of your teeth. Instead the roots have a very soft covering called cementum, which once lost leaves the dentin of the root exposed. Overzealous brushing or using a very abrasive toothpaste can also cause abrasion of the tooth's enamel surface and expose dentin. A very acidic diet - for example a diet with a lot of citrus food, pickles or sodapop - can cause tooth erosion and dissolve the tooth surface, exposing the dentin. Bulimia and GERD can also result in dental erosion and sensitivity due to acid in the mouth.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Below is an article written by by Tracey Sandilands and found on Colgate.com
Antimicrobial therapy is a form of oral treatment used to eliminate or reduce the development of bacterial infections in the mouth. The therapy aims to prevent periodontal diseaseresulting from infections, which can cause painful, bleeding gums and loosening of your teeth.
Preparation and Treatment
If your dentist decides you will benefit from antimicrobial treatment, they will likely start with scaling and root planing. This process removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from the sulcus area around the teeth using either a scaler or instruments as well as an ultrasonic scaling device. In severe cases where there are periodontal pockets greater than 5-6 mm deep, the dentist may recommend that the patient be seen by a periodontist to evaluate the area with deeper pocketing and determine if gum surgery may be necessary. The scaling and root planing and gum surgery treatments require local anesthesia to reduce the patient's discomfort. The dental hygienist performs the scaling and root planing procedure.
During gum surgery, the periodontist makes an incision into the gum tissue, flaps the tissue back and cleans and scales the surface of the affected teeth and bone to remove the diseased tissue and infection. The gum tissue is then put back in place and sutured and the gum tissue will heal, and the periodontist will check the area a week or so after surgery. The use of an antiseptic mouthwash or antibiotic medication may be recommended for the next seven to 10 days.
Antiseptic Mouthwashes
Mouthwashes containing antiseptic ingredients help control the reproduction of the bacteria, which grow on the gum tissue in the mouth, and help to clean out the pockets around the individual teeth. The ingredients in antiseptic mouthwashes may include chlorhexidine, essential oils, and metal salts Sn11 and Zn11 to help control dental plaque and halitosis.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
The remainder of the article details the following:
- Antibiotic Medications
- After Treatment
Same-Day Emergencies
Are you suffering from pain in your teeth or gums? Have you cracked or knocked out a tooth? You don’t have to suffer! Call us right away, and we can instruct you on how to handle it, and then find a place in our schedule for treatment the same day. It’s important that you get a fast diagnosis and immediate treatment so we can hopefully save a tooth or even your healthy smile long-term. Our caring, compassionate, and very gentle team is here to support you.
Common dental emergencies include:
- Mouth sores
- Tooth pain
- Gum pain
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Pain with hot or cold
- Cracked tooth
- Fractured tooth
Here are some things you can do before you come in to see us:
- If you think your jaw is fractured or that you could be suffering a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
- Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) for pain. Ice can be applied for 10-20 minutes out of an hour.
- Orajel, campho-phenique, and similar over-the-counter medications can ease a mouth sore by laying a protective film over the area.
- A bitten lip or tongue or similar soft tissue injury can also be eased by application of ice or pressure.
- Have you had an extraction and are bleeding? Folded gauze needs to be applied with pressure to the site. Another option is to soak a tea bag, wrap it in a thin layer of gauze, and apply with pressure for an hour.
- For a chipped tooth, soft wax can be placed over the broken area. If you have the chip, place it in a cup of milk or in water with a pinch of salt.
- Knocked out adult permanent teeth should be put back in place and held while you’re on your way to see us. If you can’t do that, put it in a cup of milk or water. You’ll need to be seen immediately.
The best way to find out why a tooth is sensitive is to have dental professional examine you. They can look for the signs of dentin exposure, and run tests to determine what the true cause of the sensitivity is. Sometimes, the sensitivity is due to a cavity or gum disease - these can be treated to address the sensitivity. Other times, the cause of the sensitivity is because the enamel has been lost through abrasion or erosion, or the gums have receded, causing the roots to be exposed.
What Can Be Done?If the sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. If gum disease is the cause, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.
However, if the cause is from dentin being exposed, then there are a number of professional and at home treatments that can be used to reduce the sensitivity.
In Office Procedures:
- Fluoride varnish can be applied to exposed areas, strengthening the enamel and dentin
- Fluoride foam or gel can be placed into a mouth tray; you then sit with this in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, providing the teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen the areas
- Bonding agent, the material used to stick tooth colored restorations to teeth, can be used to seal the dentin surface and provide a barrier to the stimuli that cause sensitivity
At Home:
- Use a very soft bristle tooth brush, with low abrasive tooth paste
- Brush correctly and do not over brush
- Use a tooth paste specially formulated to soothe the nerve endings in the tooth
- Use a high concentration fluoride toothpaste (given to you by the dental professional) to strengthen the tooth surface
There are a number of treatments available, and your dental professional can help you find those that will work best, depending on your situation. Always seek a dental professional's help - do not try to diagnose this problem yourself. It may be the sign of something more serious, and only a dental professional can tell you what it really is.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Below is an article written by by Steve Auger and found on Colgate.com
Responsible parents always want what is best for their children, even if the kids don't see it that way. That means yearly physicals, regular dental checkups and an orthodontist appointment if you suspect your child needs braces. While you're preparing for the visit, brush up on the best age for braces.
What Do Braces Do?
Orthodontic treatment solves multiple mouth issues. Some of those issues include teeth crowding, missing or extra teeth, tooth spacing and improper bites. Orthodontic issues are referred to as malocclusions. Malocclusions that aren't fixed can cause problems down the line, including worn enamel, tooth decay and issues with chewing and speaking.
First Visit to the Orthodontist
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends scheduling a child's first orthodontist visit by age 7 or at the first visible sign of a malocclusion. At that age, the child's teeth and jaw are still developing, making orthodontic issues, such as tooth crowding, easier to address.
Your child might be a bit apprehensive about the visit. A good orthodontist will take measures to put your child at ease, like giving them an office tour and introducing them to the staff. Once your child is more relaxed, the orthodontist can conduct the initial exam to determine if treatment is needed. Photographs and X-rays of the mouth and teeth will be taken to help the orthodontist decide how to proceed.
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com
The remainder of the article details the following:
- Types of Misalignment
- Adapting to Braces
- Not Just for Children
