Month: August 2023

We all know and understand that caring for our pearly whites is paramount to preventing tooth decay and gum disease and improving overall health. The rule of thumb says to brush twice daily for two minutes and floss once, along with regular bi-annual visits to your dentist. 

Some of us might feel that skipping any of the oral hygiene recommendations might not lead to anything serious and might get lax with it. But if you are well informed about the many dangers of not taking proper care of your teeth, you will be diligent in your oral regime. 

Your dental hygiene not just affects your dentition but may also cause other complications such as diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, and many other medical conditions.

This article will acquaint you with the importance of taking proper care of your teeth and some of the dangers of failing to do so.

Why Should We Be Diligent With Oral Care?

Good oral health means good overall health. If you think tooth decay just impacts your oral health, you will be in for a shock at how oral health is linked with many other functions of our body.

• Tooth decay causes enough pain to impair your ability to do daily activities.
• With pain in your teeth, you cannot eat or speak properly.
• Bacteria from your mouth can travel to other organs in your body, like the heart, and cause heart problems such as strokes or clogged arteries. 

Some Of The Obvious Side Effects Of Poor Oral Care

The most common result of improper oral hygiene is cavities which might lead to root canal treatment or tooth loss. Some other apparent effects are:

• Tooth decay – Decay of your dentitions occurs when the outer enamel is destroyed, causing you pain and sensitivity. If the decay is not treated, it could lead to tooth loss. Your dentitions decay due to sugar and bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria in our mouths eat the sugar, creating acid that erodes the enamel.
• Gum disease – When your gum is infected, it gets red, swollen, or starts bleeding. If this is not treated in time, it can lead to more severe periodontitis or tooth loss. Plaque (a thin film of bacteria) accumulation in our mouth is the main reason for gum disease.
• Bad breath – You get bad breath or halitosis due to bacteria buildup in your mouth. Bad breath could cause embarrassment and make you self-conscious.
• Low self-esteem – Due to poor oral health, your teeth would look stained, you will have bad breath, and you could even have missing teeth. All this leads to low self-esteem, and you would hesitate in laughing or talking to people.

Some Hidden Side Effects Of Poor Oral Hygiene

Apart from some of the apparent outcomes of poor dental care, there are a few severe implications for your health if you do not maintain excellent oral hygiene.

• Diabetes – When there is excess bacteria in the mouth, it can cause inflammation all through the body, which can impact how the body processes sugar. This implies people with gum disease are more prone to get diabetic. The opposite is also true, i.e., people with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease due to high levels of sugar in their saliva. The bacteria in plaque feed on sugar and give rise to gum disease.
• Pneumonia – In pneumonia, a patient’s lung gets infected due to bacteria. The excess bacteria in the mouth can travel to the lungs through the bloodstream and cause infection.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – This is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in joints resulting in joint pain and damage. Periodontitis can give rise to rheumatoid arthritis because this severe gum disease causes inflammation in our bodies allowing bacteria in our mouths to pass into the bloodstream.
• Heart disease – The excess bacteria in the mouth can travel through the bloodstream to the heart and attach themselves to the arteries, causing them to inflame. Inflamed arteries are at high risk of developing plaque deposits that increase the chance of heart attack. 

Tips For Excellent Oral Care

In order to maintain optimal dental hygiene and overall health, it is essential to minimize bacteria in the mouth. Some common oral care tips are outlined below:

• Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes.
• Floss once daily, preferably after your night meal, before brushing your pearly whites.
• Avoid smoking and tobacco intake.
• Limit intake of sugary foods and beverages.
• Visit your dental doctor once in six months for regular checkups and cleanings.
• Eat a healthy diet.

Summing Up 

In this post, we discussed some of the common and hidden consequences of not properly caring for your teeth. We have also provided tips to maintain excellent oral health, which results in improved general health. Follow the directions for a beautiful smile and a healthy body.

Most of us avoid going to a dentist for fear of pain associated with dental work. Some people are averse to the idea of someone else intruding inside their mouths and being in control of it. For people with such anxiety, sedation dentistry is a wonderful option to opt for while undergoing some formidable oral procedure.

Sedation dentistry is a method used in dental procedures where the patient is made more comfortable by administering some form of sedation. Another name for sedation dentistry is twilight sleep, as this creates a state of forgetfulness or short-term amnesia where the patient does not lose consciousness yet becomes insensitive to pain.

We will learn more about how this twilight sleep works and what are some vital things to keep in mind before considering sedation dentistry.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

With sedation dentistry, even the most anxious of patients will feel relaxed and comfortable while undergoing any dental treatment.

• The level of sedation is moderate, where you are technically awake but feel carefree.
• People opt for this short-term amnesia method while undergoing a lengthy or painful oral procedure.
• Twilight sleep can be achieved via many options, such as inhalation of nitrous oxide, IV or intravenous sedation, and oral conscious sedation.
• Dentists who can administer twilight sleep to patients need to have special certification to carry out this procedure.

Who Might Want To Undergo Twilight Sleep Before Oral Procedures?

People of all ages can take advantage of sedation dentistry (including children). Your dentist would recommend this option if you have any of the following considerations:

• Fear of visiting dentists.
• Fear of needles (also called aichmophobia).
• Dental anxiety.
• Low sensitivity to local anesthesia.
• Extreme sensitivity in teeth.
• You have a severe gag reflex.
• You have difficulty controlling movements.
• You feel claustrophobic in the dental chair.
• You have special needs, which could be physical, cognitive, or behavioral.
• If you need a lot of dental work, all of it can be done in one sitting if you go for twilight sleep.
• You have sensitive gums.
• You experience pain in the neck, jaw, or back.

Types of Dental Sedation

There are mainly three types of twilight sleep with different levels of relaxation that they provide:

• Nitrous oxide or laughing gas – This is the most common one and also the least invasive without any complications. It gives you a sense of euphoria, and you might feel silly and giggly with it.
• Oral sedation – This is also called conscious sedation and comes in pill form. Generally, your dentist would give you two doses of the pill; one to take the night before the procedure and another to take an hour or so before the appointment. Oral sedatives make you relaxed and drowsy.
• IV dental sedation – This is the most invasive and deep form and is given to only those who have severe dental anxiety. The drug is injected through an intravenous needle in the patient’s arm and monitored for the complete duration of the procedure.

Five Things To Keep In Mind When Going For Sedation Dentistry

Twilight sleep is a safe, tried, and tested practice in the dental world. It may sound appealing to you, but not all of us are a candidate for all types of twilight sleep. Here are a couple of things you must know about this practice when you are considering twilight sleep for your next dental treatment:

1. Anesthetics and sedatives are not the same – Anesthetics and sedatives are two completely different types of drugs. Anesthetics numb your senses, making you oblivious to pain during any procedure. On the other hand, sedatives merely relax patients. If you go for general anesthesia, you will be unconscious during the procedure, but with sedatives, you are awake but just in a relaxed state of mind.
2. Inducing twilight sleep is safe when done right – There are no significant risks with sedation dentistry, and many sedatives used in this practice have been around for quite some time, with lots of research verifying their safety and effectiveness. Based on the severity of your anxiety, your dentist would decide on what type of sedative to go for. S/he might prescribe you some drugs to take before the appointment, or s/he may consider IV sedation as a more apt choice for you.
3. Specific doses – Do not try to self-medicate to deal with your dental anxiety because you need very specific doses of these sedatives, which only an experienced dental professional can determine.
4. Schedule a consult with your dentist – You must talk to your dentist and give your complete medical history before deciding on twilight sleep.
5. Must have someone come along – Some of the sedatives can induce sleep, give a disoriented feeling, or slur your speech hence ensure you have someone to drive you back home after the procedure.

Summing up 

Sedation dentistry is a viable option for those with dental anxiety, but you must talk to your doctor about the various options to decide if you are the right candidate for it.

 

The initial fit of Invisalign aligners may not always be optimal, but as you progress through your treatment, they will gradually become more comfortable. However, there are situations where ill-fitting aligners can cause concern. Here are a few factors that can lead to improper fit:

When you start using a fresh set of teeth-aligning devices, it indicates progress in your treatment process. Failing to wear your teeth-straightening device for at least 22 hours per day can hinder your teeth’ movement, resulting in misalignment with the aligners as you transition to new sets. If your teeth-aligning device has been damaged or deformed, it may no longer fit properly and require attention.

How Can I Resolve the Issue of Poorly Fitting Aligners? 

To address ill-fitting aligners, follow these steps for optimal fit: 

• Gently position the device onto your frontal teeth, ensuring a firm fit, and exert pressure on the back teeth until they lock in position. 
• Use your thumbs to press along the entire surface of the aligners to ensure it has been sealed securely. 
• A gap may need attention if an aligner doesn’t fit properly over a tooth.

Enhance Aligner Fit and Placement with Invisalign Chewies:

An effective technique involves utilizing Invisalign chewies to optimize the fit of your Invisalign. These compact cylinders serve as valuable aids in familiarizing yourself with the trays. By biting on these chewies for a brief duration, the applied pressure assists in aligning the trays accurately onto your teeth. 

Typically provided by your dentist, these chewies resemble cotton rolls crafted from a soft, chewable material. After reinserting your Invisalign or teeth-aligning device, chew on these chewies for approximately 3-5 minutes. Biting down prompts the device to exert pressure on your teeth, even in cases where a tight fit is encountered. 

Chewies prove particularly advantageous when transitioning to a new set of teeth-straightening devices. If you encounter difficulty fitting your fresh trays snugly onto your teeth, employing Invisalign Chewies can effectively resolve the issue. Consequently, this ensures proper alignment. A desirable outcome is achieved after the designated chewing time, characterized by a seamless and gap-free connection between your aligners and teeth.

Ensure Optimal Treatment Progress by Wearing Your Aligners for 20 Hours Daily:

To maintain a successful treatment trajectory, it is crucial to adhere to the recommended minimum of 20 hours per day for wearing your aligners. Deviating from this duration will hamper your treatment progress, as insufficient time will be allocated for each set of the device to shift your teeth. Consequently, you may need help with the fit of subsequent sets.

While 20 hours is the absolute minimum requirement, wearing your aligners for 22 hours or more is advisable. Remove them solely during meals, beverage consumption, and oral hygiene routines for brushing and flossing. Falling within the 20-22 hour timeframe may compromise the alignment and fit of your teeth-straightening device.

Exploring the Option of “Backtracking” to Previous Aligners:

If your teeth do not comfortably fit within your new set of Invisalign trays, contact your dentist regarding the possibility of “backtracking” to your previous teeth-straightening device. Wearing an initial set of aligners for an additional week or two could prompt the desired movement of your teeth and help you regain progress in your treatment. Nevertheless, consulting with your dentist before considering this action is crucial. 

Collaborate With Your Dentist to Modify Your Treatment: 

If your attempts with chewies, correct aligner usage, or reverting to a previous set of teeth-straightening devices prove ineffective, you might need to collaborate with your dentist to modify your Invisalign treatment plan. By doing so, you can acquire a fresh set of aligners.

There is a chance that your initial treatment plan was not flawless or that your teeth are undergoing slower movement than expected. Your dentist has the expertise to evaluate the alignment of your teeth, provide you with a new teeth-straightening device, and ensure that your treatment progresses as intended. 

Resolving Alignment Issues- A Concluding Note: 

When Invisalign aligners do not fit correctly, several remedies can be pursued either at home or with guidance from your orthodontist. Maintaining an optimistic mindset and diligently adhering to all instructions for optimal results is crucial.