Tag Archives: Good Oral Health

Should You Brush Your Teeth? Yes, But….

Should you brush your teeth?

As a practicing dentist of 30 years, the answer from me is a definite yes. But, that comes with some qualifications in terms of scientific data, brushing that is actually harmful to your teeth, and other things besides brushing that can help you maintain healthy teeth.

I receive regular emails from the American Dental Association (ADA), including one that “compiles news stories from a wide range of sources” to keep dentists up-to-date on what seems to be of interest to the general public. Today’s email included a link to a Reader’s Digest article with this interesting title: “This is the Most Efficient Way to Keep Your Teeth Clean – Without Brushing Them.”

Reader’s Digest Article

I would encourage you to read the article because it contains interesting information about good dental care for you and your family. It is not a surprise that this article claims the best way to keep your teeth healthy is to avoid eating sugar. It explains why this is the case, but also goes further and gives information about foods that can promote healthy teeth.

Good foods include those that are alkaline instead of acidic, which help keep the pH levels in your mouth at a higher level, which is healthier for your teeth. On the flip side, foods that are too acidic can cause lower pH levels, which doesn’t promote good oral health. You can click on the link in the Reader’s Digest article to see a list of “teeth healthy” foods and explanations as to why they are good for your teeth. The list of good foods in this article includes apples, herbal teas or unsweetened fruit juice, tofu, sweet potatoes, cheese, cucumbers, stevia, and carrots.

How To Brush Your Teeth

The other important point of this article touches on proper brushing technique, or how to brush your teeth. Some patients think the harder they brush or floss, the better. What they don’t know, though, is that flossing that is done too vigorously can harm your gums. They also don’t understand that brushing too hard can actually harm tooth enamel, especially when used with some toothpastes. Almost all toothpaste includes some type of abrasive material to help with the cleaning process. Teeth whitening toothpastes tend to include a lot of this material. If you use them (we typically don’t recommend) and brush too hard, it can really cause damage to both tooth enamel and gums.

In our practice, we can also tell that some patients don’t brush their teeth long enough. We encourage our patients to invest in electric tooth brushes as they are timed for the right amount of brushing and they also help avoid problems from brushing too hard because they alert you if too much pressure is being used. There are several good brands on the market, and different staff members use different ones, but we do sell one brand in our office, at our cost, for patients of record. The better your home care, the less likely you will need to see us for fillings or other restorative services. Prevention is key!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Longtime patients know that our dental professionals perform routine oral cancer screenings during cleaning appointments.  We do this because catching cancer early is very important.  Because April is Oral Cancer Awareness month, we want to take a few minutes to remind you of risk factors for this disease.

Mouth Healthy, a website maintained by the American Dental Association(ADA) has a slide show on oral cancer.  One slide notes that  “approximately 49,750 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue in 2017.”  Risk factors listed in this slide show to be aware of:

  • Oral cancer tends to strike those 55 and older
  • Men have a higher risk of contracting the disease
  • The risk of contracting oral cancer increases for people who use tobacco products, especially those who chew tobacco
  • There is an increase in oral cancer related to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
  • Sun exposure can increase risks of all sorts of cancer, including oral cancer
  • Poor diets, especially those lacking in vegetables and fruits, can increase cancer risks
  • 7 out of 10 individuals diagnosed with oral cancer are heavy drinkers

Take time this month to educate yourselves on this disease.

Habits That Are Bad For Your Teeth

The 6 Worst Habits For Your Teeth

The ADA (American Dental Association) has an informative website, Mouth Healthy, that provides information for consumers.  A recent article there identifies the 6 worst habits that can harm your teeth:

  • Nail biting
  • brushing too hard
  • grinding and clenching
  • chewing ice
  • constant snacking
  • using teeth as tools

If you have one or more of these habits, now might be the time to start working on breaking them.

We Recommend Electric Toothbrushes

Long time patients know that we are advocates of using electric toothbrushes.  Research shows that people using a regular toothbrush will spend less than 40 seconds brushing their teeth, while most electric toothbrushes have timers in the 2 minute range.  Electric toothbrushes also guard against over-brushing, the overly vigorous brushing of teeth, as the toothbrushes do all the work.  While there are a number of different brands and types of electric toothbrushes, we have recently starting carrying one of the two top brands.  If you aren’t already using an electric toothbrush, we highly recommend that you visit with our staff at your next visit about the pros and cons of using them.

Good Dental Home Care

Maintaining Good Dental Care Habits

Regular visits with your dentist are an important part of maintaining dental health.  So is having a good dental home care routine. An article from Everyday Health titled “Maintaining Good Dental Care Habits” touches on some of the reasons why it’s important to regularly brush and floss your teeth. We also like to see patients use Perio-Aides, which help remove plaque along the gum line. If you have questions as to whether your dental home care is adequate, please ask us at your next appointment.

 

Contact Us

Mark T. Albers, D.D.S.
2155 Hollowbrook Drive
Suite 20
Colorado Springs, CO
80918

(719) 634-8458

Contact Us

To schedule an appointment, call:
(719) 634-8458

General Hours: Labor Day through Memorial Day

Monday – Thursday:
8:00a.m. – 1:00p.m., 2:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.

Summer Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day

Monday – Wednesday
7:30a.m. – 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.

Thursday
7:00a.m. – 2:00p.m.