3 Ways To Improve Your Dental & General Health

Our teeth are important to our well-being. Of course, we know a smile enlightens our day. Would you agree it is worth it to keep the smile bright by taking good care of your teeth? In our practice, we offer teeth whitening/brightening solutions.

However, have whiter teeth is not the pinnacle of oral health, as many hold it out to be. Having a whiter smile is appealing, but your dental health is much more important. Can you imagine having a car with a dazzling paint job with ragged seats and a filthy interior? The answer should be, no. The same principle applies to our smile. Why have a white smile and have bad breath or health issues? In today’s appearance conscious world, many invest a lot of capital in looking good on the outside. Unfortunately, the lack of care for what is on the inside may get little concern.

More and more research is being shown to the public that good oral health can lead to better overall health. Here, are some ways to examine where giving more attention to your dental care can help your general health.

1. After the Yawning Ends Start Brushing

After you do your morning stretching walk into your bathroom, pick up the toothbrush and dental floss. Some people choose to wait until after breakfast to brush. Whichever you choose brush your teeth in the morning. First, developing a habit of brushing is excellent. Morning brushing helps to eliminate stale morning breath. Additionally, morning brushing helps since this can reduce the number of bacteria before exposing them to food. Thus, the amount of acid production is anticipated to be less, which is always a good thing.

Health Benefit of Morning Brushing

Brushing your teeth in the morning reduces acid on your teeth. Significant acid content in food and drinks which we all take in can do a job on your pearly whites. Acid in foods or liquids can cause irreversible erosion of tooth enamel. The results of the erosion can consist of sensitivity, pain, a greater prospect of tooth decay, and darker teeth, because the layer underneath our white enamel is dark.

2. Watch What You Eat (& Drink)

Some of the things we can do to improve our health are so painfully obvious they often go overlooked. Our staff will tell you that sugar and other sticky carbohydrates, like sugar coated cereals and snack foods, are the preliminary point of tooth decay. Other foods such as bread and raisins can cause problems too. Why? The problem is not just about too much sugar, but that the sugar and refined carbs are the starting point for the streptococcus bacteria inside the mouth. These bacteria live on a biofilm called plaque, and they produce acids. The acids eat away at the exterior layer of teeth. Saliva can only moderately neutralize the acid. If the acid stays on the enamel just 20 minutes, the teeth demineralization process starts.

Also, be careful of the very popular energy drinks. MensHealth.com, reports, “Energy drinks are worse for your teeth than either sports drinks or coffee.

Researchers recently analyzed 13 sports drinks and nine energy drinks. They immersed samples of human tooth enamel in the liquid for 15 minutes, followed by a soak in artificial human saliva for 2 hours. After five days of testing, the scientists found that 3.1 percent of protective enamel eroded in the energy drink samples compared to 1.5 percent in the sport drink group.”

3. Buy Dental Floss and Use It

If you have ever been to the dentist, you have heard the hygienist and dentist beg you to floss your teeth. Brushing your teeth is not enough. A vacuum cleaner today has several attachments to help clean various areas of your home. Your tooth brush is one attachment your dental floss is the nook and cranny attachment.
There are several paybacks to developing the practice of daily flossing. Dental floss can help remove food particles and plaque from the spaces between your teeth. These spaces cannot be reached in an effective manner by your tooth brush. Flossing is better than oral irrigators too. Using dental floss effectively helps prevent gum or periodontal diseases, tooth decay, and bad breath.

Good health to you.

Dr. John E. Robinson, DMD enjoys developing individualized care plans and related tips for his patients to aid in maintaining their overall dental health. Our practice offers the some of the most state-of-the-art advancements in assisting our patients healthy teeth and smile.

The Embry Hills Dental Care family would be pleased to discuss your dental concerns and offer the necessary information to help you and your family make educated decisions regarding your dental health.

Gum Disease - The Effect On Your Health

Periodontal diseases may be isolated to your mouth; however, their effects are not. Maybe you have seen the white papers or other posts on the web speaking to the research coming forth on the relationship between periodontal health and general health. Adding credence to the adage, “You are what you eat.” There are known risk factors for periodontal disease; these include smoking and diabetes. Also as we age periodontal disease can become a dental health issue. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the leading causes of tooth loss in older adults (1).

Periodontal disease is commonly referred to as gum disease. This is a group of diseases caused by bacterial plaque. This bacteria gathers daily between our teeth and gums. In the absence of effective daily oral hygiene, it will in quick order affect your dental health. In many instances, cases of bad breath (halitosis) are caused by the presence of the aforementioned oral bacteria. As a dentist, I can say first hand, the odor coming from the mouth of a patient with active gum disease is often so distinctive that I can correctly expect the presence of gum problems even before I begin their examination.

The bacteria left untreated will collect between teeth and gums. A daily routine to help combat these bacteria can be as simple as maintain your brushing and flossing. Your periodontal tissues are comprised of four defined structures: (1) gingiva, (2) cementum, (3) alveolar bone, and the (4) periodontal ligament. If the choice is made not to have good oral hygiene, you have an excellent chance of developing gingivitis.

In cases where plaque and tartar stay on teeth, eventually gingiva will become irritated. This will lead to gums becoming swollen, and they will bleed easily.

Research continues to show that Gingivitis can affect other areas of the body and thus health if left untreated. Remember, we started talking about the fact of gum disease originating from bacteria. It should be no surprise that bacteria is not a good thing for our bodies. If the bacterium enter into the bloodstream through our mouth, it can cause infections in other areas of our bodies. Other posts have discussed how gum disease has been connected to cardio vascular disease and pneumonia. When individuals who have gingivitis and diabetes, they can have problems controlling their blood sugar levels.

Taking note of the relationship between oral and general health will hopefully encourage you to schedule regular visits with your physician and dentist.

If you have any questions about gum disease, general dental needs or even cosmetic procedures, please call John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.


Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.


References
(1) APA: Older Adults and Gum Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.perio.org/consumer/smileforlife.htm

Is a Power Toothbrush Right For You?

Where did you buy your last toothbrush? Most likely you bought your toothbrush and those for your family from your local grocery store or drug store. The majority of toothbrushes bought at these retail places cost under $5 U.S. With this in mind, the suggestion to purchase a power toothbrush may push you into sticker shock. These power brushes or electric toothbrushes can go over the $200 U.S. mark. Can a power toothbrush make a difference in your oral hygiene? To address this question you can consider the following.

(1) Power toothbrushes are more effective

Power toothbrushes brush more than 30,000 strokes per minute. The average with a manual toothbrush is about 100 strokes per minute. In my opinion Oral-B leads the pack. According to a 2005 independent study, “Brushes that worked with a rotation oscillation action removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes in the short and long-term... No other powered brush designs were consistently superior…”*

(2) Power toothbrushes are healthier

Usually rich in technology and features, electric toothbrushes deliver many oral health benefits. Selected models can even facilitate improved brushing habits. Hi-tech features include:

• Several brushing modes are designed to help with sensitive teeth, teeth whitening and some offer a gum-massage feature

• You may not know you are brushing to hard, if so, you will appreciate the pressure sensors which have a signal to alert you when you brush too hard

• Do you rush when you brush? Many models offer timers to help you know how long you brush your teeth

• Don’t know when to throw your toothbrush away? Some models offered by Oral-B, have digital reminders. These will let you know when to replace a brush head.

• Oral-B offers oscillating-rotating or sonic technology

(3) Power toothbrushes can save money

It is true that the initial cost of a power toothbrush is more than as everyday toothbrush. However, this is an investment in your health and well-being. Consider using a power toothbrush as it is less expensive than having to visit the dentist for periodontal treatment or to get a cavity filled. This does not even address the reduction in stress when you have one less dental visit. How much is this worth to you?

(4) Power toothbrushes clean better around braces and bridges

"It's critical to find a high-rated electric or sonic toothbrush, especially if you have braces. Orthodontic bands, brackets and wires can making cleaning the gum line difficult; it's not uncommon develop sore, red gum lines, white spots in the enamel, signs of early decay and gingivitis during the brace-wearing period." **

In conclusion, brushing and flossing is the best pair for caring for your oral health. When you add a professional dental care team, such as our team at Embry Hills Dental Care you are reducing your risk for periodontal disease, developing cavities, losing teeth and even oral cancer.

If you have any questions about the right Oral-B power toothbrush, general dental needs or even cosmetic procedures, please call John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.


Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.

Article references

(*) Robinson PG, et al., Manual versus powered tooth brushing for oral health, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005; Issue 2. This study did not endorse, and is not affiliated with, Oral-B products.

(**) http://www.livestrong.com/article/225565-the-best-electric-toothbrush-for-braces/#ixzz1iV6Zikkq

The editorial content in this blog is not provided in place of or as a substitute to, recommendations from your medical, dental or mental health professional. Please consult with your individual health provider.

6 Good Reasons to Floss Your Teeth

The Embry Hill Dental Care team always insists on the importance of flossing, and recommend doing it twice a day.

Here are 6 very good reasons why you should listen to them:

1. To prevent tooth decay

Dental plaque can cause cavities if it's left between teeth. When mixed with sugar, the bacteria that live in plaque can start the process of tooth decay. This is why it's bad for plaque to be left in your mouth. Brushing alone does not clean in between teeth, only dental floss can remove plaque in those areas.

2. To prevent gum disease

Gingivitis (inflammation of gums) is the first stage of gum disease (periodontal disease). It is caused by an accumulation of plaque around gums and between teeth. Plaque also contains bacteria that are harmful for the gums. Flossing is therefore important to remove all plaque accumulated after a meal.

3. To prevent halitosis

Dental plaque is one of the causes of halitosis, and if it's left between your teeth, it will generate a bad smell in your mouth. This odour comes from the metabolism of the bacteria contained in plaque. Bad breath can also be caused by gum disease and tooth decay which are also primarily caused by plaque.

4. To prevent tartar build-up

Tartar is actually dental plaque that has become hard from the saliva's calcifying action. Good oral hygiene measures, which include brushing and flossing, can slow down the accumulation of tartar, but does not actually remove it. Some people produce tartar more than others. Regular dental cleanings are recommended to remove tartar.

5. To reduce the risk of heart disease

As mentioned earlier, the mouth is an entry point to harmful bacteria that may eventually reach the body organs, including cardiac tissue. Dental plaque, which contains dangerous bacteria, must be therefore eliminated to prevent those micro-organisms to reach the heart through the blood stream and cause heart disease complications.

6. To avoid the complications of diabetes

There is scientific evidence that people who suffer from diabetes can have their condition complicated by gum disease. Diabetics usually have a weaker immune system and take more time to fight inflammations and infections, including the ones that start in the mouth. That's why oral hygiene, which includes daily brushing and flossing, is very important to prevent diseases, or disease complications, such as diabetes


Please call us today and take advantage of our dental specials...on ClearCorrect Clear "Braces"

Dr. John Robinson DMD is a dental professional is the Atlanta area. For more information on Dental Care in Atlanta please visit the link.

I'm Going to the Dentist - What is local anesthesia?

Topical anesthetics are applied to mouth tissues with a swab to prevent pain on the surface level. At Embry Hills Dental Care we generally use a topically anesthetic to numb an area in preparation for administering an injectable local anesthetic. Topical anesthetics also may be used to sooth painful mouth sores.



Injectable local anesthetics prevent pain in a specific area of your month during treatment by blocking nerves that sense or transmit pain an numbing mouth tissues.


They cause the temporary number often referred to as a "fat lip" feeling. Injectable anesthetics may be used in such procedures as filling cavities, preparing teeth for crowns or treating periodontal (gum) disease.



Dr. Robinson is a fantastic Atlanta dentist. Call 678-383-2622