Is a Softer or Harder Bristle Toothbrush the Best Choice for You?

In most cases, the harder the bristles, the more efficient the brush. That’s what one might think when considering that harder bristles are better able to remove unwanted food particles and promote improved oral health. But is that always the case?

 

According to many dental specialists, hard bristle toothbrushes are only helpful to a certain extent. If you have excellent oral health, and you don’t suffer from sensitive gums or any similar conditions, then by all means, a hard bristle toothbrush can be a great asset.

 

However, at the same time, hard bristle toothbrushes are not that helpful when it comes to removing bacteria or other parasites. Also, plaque tends to build up more or less the same, and there is no real guarantee that the hardness of the bristles is a more important factor than, say, the length and pattern of the bristles.

 

The reason why soft bristle toothbrushes might actually be superior in their design is that they are far gentler. They are able to protect not only your gums, but also your enamel, which can be under threat if you keep brushing vigorously using a hard bristle brush. Soft bristles are also recommended by Highlands Ranch dental professionals for people with sensitive gums and those who are suffering from gingivitis.

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How Many Times Per Year Should You Get Dental X-Rays and Why?

There are a lot of possible reasons why you might want to get dental x-rays occasionally. Depending on what your dentist says and what your dental health is like, you might be looking at a period of more than 2-3 years between your dental x-rays, so it usually won’t be required all that often.

 

The times when dental x-rays are required will include times when your dentist discovers new cavities and complications resulting from various dental works. Other, rarer conditions and problems, as well as the need for braces or corrective dentistry procedures might also warrant the need for dental x-rays.  Dental x-rays are needed when you get cosmetic dentistry Lone Tree area services done.

 

If you have perfect dental health, your dentist will usually recommend that you get your x-rays once every 3 years. The reason is because they will want to check your molars for beginning cavities and to verify whether your teeth continue to stay as healthy as always.

 

The only exception to this rule is in the case of children. Since kids have teeth that are in a constant state of development, they may need much more frequent dental x-rays. According to most pediatric dentists, you might be looking at a period of less than a year between x-rays as a precaution, even if your child is developing normally.

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The Option of Getting a Dental Coverage Plan: Is Dental Insurance Really Necessary?

Although dentists tend to encourage just about anyone and everyone to go see a dentist twice per year, a lot of people choose not to. According to the American Dental Association, up to 40% of adults who haven’t seen a dentist during the past year claim that their main reason is money. Unfortunately, this problem isn’t fully solved by dental insurance plans, which only offer limited assistance and discounts at best. So, under the circumstances, is it really worth getting a dental insurance plan?

 

There are many different types of dental coverage plans. Some of them tend to cover preventive care to a greater extent, while others also offer better coverage for more expensive procedures. Regardless of which plan you choose, paying the minimum amount will not land you with a lot of benefits. However, there are still some you might want to consider:

 

• The most common plans are dental PPO plans. These insurance policies will pay for your cleanings and preventive dental costs in full, while also providing you with 80% off common procedures like cavity fillings.
• For a cost between $200 and $400 per year, you can get an affordable dental plan through your employer, which could also cover the costs of more expensive procedures such as visiting an invisalign Highlands Ranch dentist.
• Dental discount plans are also an option if you don’t have a lot of money at your disposal. The cost can be as low as $70 per year for each individual, and the benefits include being part of dental savings programs that operate more like membership programs, rather than regular dental insurance.

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Testing the Validity of Using Dental Health Products: Are Therapeutic Mouthwashes Effective?

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the use of mouthwash, flossing and other methods of maintaining a good level of oral health. While some dentists consider these methods to be extremely important and effective, others will tell you that all you need to do is brush twice a day or at least for a period of two minutes each day.

 

Mouthwashes are typically regarded as a secondary oral health product, when considered alongside brushing teeth and flossing. However, mouthwashes have been found to have a very promising effect on dental health. Aside from recent studies finding that mouthwashes can aid in diminishing the chance of gum disease and bad breath, it has also been found that mouthwashes help preserve tooth health and prevent tooth decay quite effectively, and are highly recommended by cosmetic dentistry Highlands Ranch dentists.

 

The problem appears when taking mouthwash out of context and using it in ways or situations where it can’t be much help – in fact, it can even do more harm in those kinds of circumstances. For example, Bisphenol A, a key ingredient in many types of mouthwash, has been linked to harming enamel in children. As a result, kids and young teenagers should generally avoid using mouthwash until they are older.

 

Mouthwash is typically harmless, and it can present some important health benefits if used correctly. However, as with any dental care product, it’s important to only use it where it can actually do some good.

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Red Wine and Its Remarkable Qualities Contributing to Improved Dental Health

Alcohol has long been linked to having an adverse effect on health in general and oral health in particular. Alcohol is known to cause accelerated tooth decay and also affect the gums. Fortunately, however, there is one alcohol beverage that has a much better chance at helping than hindering your dental health: red wine.

 

There are several things we know about red wine that might surprise you:

 

• Drinking red wine has long been linked to a lowered risk of developing diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Improving overall body health can also have a positive effect on oral health.
• Recent studies have found that wine polyphenols affect the ability of certain harmful bacteria from clinging to the cells of your teeth and gums, causing problems like plaque, gingivitis and dental cavities.
• Red wine is also believed to promote the growth of “good” bacteria, which protects your teeth against decay, rather than hindering your oral health.  Note, you should make regular trips to the Lone Tree family dentistry office to assure teeth health.

 

All these facts show great promise in the moderated use of red wine in not only preventing dental health problems, but improving oral health as a whole. If you like alcohol, then keeping your habit under control with the choice of a refined red wine and avoiding drinking too much should be the top most important things on your agenda.

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How Can You Go About Keeping Your Teeth Safe This Halloween?

Keeping your teeth safe is extremely important during major holidays like Halloween and Christmas, when we generally tend to disregard the dentist’s warning and just have fun engaging in sizable meals and eating candy with our kids. Unfortunately, toothaches don’t have a holiday break, but dentists often do. So, it’s important to learn to keep your teeth safe, especially if you’re already starting to feel them becoming sensitive or if you have are experiencing an onset of gingivitis.

 

The first thing to do is avoid candy and soft drinks like soda. Although small glasses are fine especially shortly before brushing your teeth, the practice and habit of ingesting sugary products and candies should be discouraged. Sugar can greatly affect your tooth health, especially if you already have cavities. You can still, however, consider alternatives such as sugar free candy.

 

Avoiding coffee, alcohol, pastry products and hard foods is also important, alongside keeping any overly hot or cold drinks away. Finally, it’s a good idea to continue flossing and brushing regularly, as well as drinking milk and fluoridated water.

 

If you want your teeth to stay shiny and sparkly even after Halloween, following these guidelines can be very important. You can also consider having a check-up right before the holidays and getting some last minute advice on what alternatives to sugar and candy you and your kids could try.  If your tooth is past the point of return, consider this http://www.willowcreekdds.com/services/dental-implants-2/.

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Are Sleep Apnea and Oral Health Related?

Do you fight with snoring and insomnia? You may want to call a sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch office for a confirmation that you suffer from apnea.  Sleep disturbances and snoring may be signs of obstructive sleep apnea, but so are some problems with oral health.

Statistics show that 18 million Americans experience sleep apnea. This affection causes repeated interruptions of breathing during the night sleep; pauses can take from seconds to minutes and may appear several times per hour. These breaks happen because the back muscles of the neck are sore, the jaw is too small, the tongue is too big, which causes obstructions to the airway.

The problem with oral health that points to sleep apnea is teeth grinding (also known as bruxism). Dentists are looking for worn tooth surfaces, a sign that the patient grinds his teeth. This problem also causes tooth wear and tear, as well as gum inflammation.

Bruxism is only one sign of sleep apnea. There are others, such as small jaw, scalloped tongue or red throat (caused by snoring), so you must also seek advice from other medical specialists.  People with sleep apnea do not enjoy a quality sleep and are susceptible to accumulate fatigue. Sleep apnea is also associated with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and even heart disease.

 

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