Toothpaste Allergy Symptoms

From the nickel in the button on your jeans to the herbal products in your expensive moisturizer, virtually any product that you use has the potential to cause an allergic reaction.

But toothpaste ingredients should be low on your list of potential allergens.

Of course, there have been some reports of allergic reactions that have been linked to toothpaste ingredients, but these reports are rare. The low degree of sensitization in most toothpaste ingredients contributes to the rarity of toothpaste allergies. The ingredients in toothpaste have changed over time and continue to change as companies refine their formulas to make them safer and more effective.

That said, flavorings often used in toothpaste, such as oil of peppermint, can cause an allergic reaction, but such reactions are usually mild and will resolve if you switch to a different flavor or brand of toothpaste. For example, a 1998 report from Denmark published in the journal Contact Dermatitis described a case of a person who developed severe chapped lips (cheilitis) as the result of a contact allergy to spearmint oil that was traced to toothpaste.

If you experience an allergic reaction, such as swelling, redness, dryness, or infection in your mouth, see your dentist immediately to rule out gum disease and to discuss your choice of toothpaste. You may find that you simply have sensitive teeth and gums, rather than a full-blown allergy, and that a mild flavored toothpaste and soft-bristle brush—such as Oral-B’s Sensitive Advantage—may solve the problem.

Source link: http://www.oralb.com/topics/

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Dental Care During Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, your dentist needs to know about the first signs of gum disease symptoms. Pregnant women are at increased risk for periodontal disease because the increased levels of progesterone that come with pregnancy cause an exaggerated response to plaque bacteria. As a result, pregnant women are more likely to develop gingivitis even if they follow a consistent oral health care routine. Gingivitis is most common during months two to eight of pregnancy. Tell your dentist when you are pregnant — he or she may recommend more frequent dental cleanings during the second trimester or early in the third trimester to help combat the effects of increased progesterone and help you avoid gingivitis. In addition, eating a balanced diet during pregnancy will help promote dental health and overall health for you and your baby. A baby’s teeth begin to develop between months 3 to 6 of pregnancy, so be sure that you are getting enough calcium, vitamin D, C and A, phosphorous, and protein. A myth persists that a pregnant woman will lose calcium from her teeth if she isn’t getting enough calcium in her diet during pregnancy. In fact, any calcium loss due to inadequate dietary calcium will occur in the bones, not the teeth. But if you include plenty of calcium-rich foods in your diet during pregnancy, your bones and teeth—and your baby’s bones and teeth—should be strong and healthy. Source link:http://www.oralb.com/topics/avoid-gingivitis-during-pregnancy.aspx

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Possible Causes Of Toothaches

Toothaches have many causes, from gum disease to jaw clenching, but tooth root sensitivity can also cause a tooth to ache.

The tooth root includes the lower two-thirds of the tooth, and it is usually buried in the jawbone. But when gum disease develops, the bacteria that cause the disease can also dissolve the bone around the tooth root. The combination of dissolved bone and receding gums means that more of the tooth root is exposed. Without protection from healthy gums and healthy bone, the root often becomes sensitive to hot and cold and to sour foods. In some cases, the sensitivity is so severe that you may avoid very hot, cold or sour foods.

If the root exposure is not severe, try using a special toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth that contains fluoride and other minerals. The extra fluoride and minerals will help to strengthen the exposed root and make it less sensitive.

The best way to manage root sensitivity and to prevent gum disease with a consistent oral health care program of twice-daily toothbrushing and daily flossing. Try a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid irritating your gums, which can increase the risk of root exposure and sensitivity.

Sourc link: http://www.oralb.com/topics/possible-causes-of-toothache.aspx#

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Monitor Your Dental Fillings

If you have dental fillings, it’s important to check your fillings for signs of wear and tear as part of your daily dental health routine. Over time, the edges of dental fillings can become rough, and the filling material can weaken and begin to break down. Rough or weak fillings may make plaque removal more difficult because plaque can build up in those areas.

If you develop tooth decay that has progressed beyond the process of eroding your tooth enamel and has created holes in your teeth, your dentist will likely recommend a filling. When you get a filling, your dentist will remove the decayed material from the tooth and replace it with something else to restore the shape of the tooth. Fillings can be made of tooth-colored resins or a combination of materials (amalgam) that may include mercury. Although some people worry that the mercury might make them sick, medical studies have shown that amalgam fillings are safe for most people. If you are concerned, ask your dentist about different choices for fillings.

If your tooth decay is severe, your dentist will likely use a crown rather than a filling to repair the damage. A crown is larger than a filling and covers the top of the tooth once the decayed area is removed. Crowns are usually made from porcelain, gold or a combination of porcelain and metal.

No matter what type of filling or crown you have, be sure to follow a complete oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing to remove plaque and prevent future tooth decay. There are lots of products designed to help you clean around dental work such as fillings and crowns. Your fillings and crowns should not need to be replaced unless they show signs of wear or become loose or defective in some way.
Source link: http://www.oralb.com/topics/monitor-dental-fillings-manage-plaque.aspx

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How to Use a Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Using A Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Believe it or not, many school-aged children are now enthusiastic about brushing their teeth. We can thank the invention of the rechargeable electric toothbrush for this happy phenomenon.

Rechargeable electric toothbrushes are easy to use—that’s part of their appeal. And although a rechargeable electric toothbrush costs more than a manual toothbrush, it may be worth it if your child (or you) is more enthusiastic about using it.

Most rechargeable electric toothbrushes operate at anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 strokes on your teeth per minute, and because of this, it takes less time to do a thorough job. Some rechargeable electric toothbrushes have even more power—Oral B’s Professional Care 7000 series of rechargeable electric toothbrushes rotates 40,000 times per minute.

To use a rechargeable electric toothbrush, just place toothpaste on the brush head and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle, just as you would a manual toothbrush. Then turn on the rechargeable electric and move the brush from tooth to tooth. The smaller heads of most rechargeable electric toothbrushes usually brush about one tooth at a time, depending on the size of your teeth. Guide the electric brush along the front surfaces, back surfaces, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.

Even with a rechargeable electric toothbrush, you should spend about two minutes brushing to ensure that you’ve cleaned each tooth. When you’ve finished brushing, simply rinse the brush head with water and allow it to dry.

Source link: http://www.oralb.com/topics/using-rechargeable-electric-toothbrush.aspx

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Dental Fields and Specialties

The American Dental Association (ADA) recognized nine different specialized dental fields. A dentist who wants to work in these fields must complete additional training beyond the four years needed for a general dentistry degree of DDS or DMD.

If you're looking to choose a dentist for specialized care, here are some of the established specialties to look for:

Dental Public Health: This field focuses on studying the causes and patterns or oral health diseases among groups of people, and how to manage them. This specialty is also involved in developing social policies related to oral health, such as the fluoridation of water.

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: This specialty focuses on straightening teeth and improving people’s bites using braces and retainers.

Endodontics: This field focuses on the management of diseases of the tooth pulp and surrounding areas. A root canal is the most well-known endodontic procedure.

Prosthodontics: This field focuses on treating dental problems with prostheses, which include dentures, crowns, and dental bridges and replacing dental implants.

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: This field involves the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the face, mouth, and jaw.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: This field involves a variety of oral surgery procedures including extractions, placement of dental implants and treatments of genetic conditions such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: This field involves using x-rays and other imaging technologies to study diseases of the face, mouth, and jaw.

Periodontics: This field focuses on caring for the structures that support the teeth, primarily the management of gum disease (periodontitis) and placement and maintenance of dental implants.

Pediatric Dentistry: This field focuses on treating dental problems in children.

Source link: http://www.oralb.com/topics/specialized-dental-fields.aspx

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What Is A Root Canal?

Decay And Infection

If your tooth's nerve chamber becomes infected by decay or damaged by trauma, root canal treatment is often the only way to save your tooth.

The Nerve Chamber

Inside the hard outer shell of each tooth is a specialized area called the pulp or nerve chamber. The pulp chamber contains a system of blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves-known as the pulp-which enter from the bone through the root canals. This system provides nourishment for the cells within the tooth.

Root Canal

Deep tooth decay or other injury can cause damage to or infection of the tooth pulp. In a root canal, or endodontic treatment, the dentist removes the damaged or infected pulp and replaces it with a special filler, which helps maintain the remaining tooth structure.

Some indications of the need for root canal treatment may be:

• Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
• Severe decay or an injury that creates an abscess (infection) in the bone

The Procedure

A root canal is completed in five steps:

1. After the tooth is anesthetized, an opening is made through the crown into the pulp chamber.
2. The length of the root canals are determined.
3. Unhealthy pulp is removed, canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
4. Canals are then filled and sealed. A metal post may be added for structural support or to retain restorative materials.
5. The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling. Usually a gold or porcelain crown adds further protection.

The material used to fill your root canal will probably last you a lifetime, but there is a chance that the filling or crown may need to be replaced eventually.

Source link: http://www.oralb.com/topics/what-is-a-root-canal.aspx

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