Teeth Whitening Through the Ages

The concept of whitening teeth probably began around 4,000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians who were known for their beautification techniques. Similar to a slight paunch on a man during the early 1900s was thought to convey affluence, the whiter one’s teeth in ancient Egypt, the wealthier one was thought to be. They used a paste of wine vinegar and ground pumice and brushed it on with frayed twigs.

A few thousand years later, the Romans came up an interesting twist that did indeed work—albeit it the method would likely make you want to go back in time and live with the ancient Egyptians. The Romans brushed their teeth with urine. Yep, pee pee. Urine has a high concentration of ammonia, which is a powerful cleaning ancient. Who in ancient Rome discovered the technique is a mystery and akin to the first person who looked at a raw oyster and thought, “Mmmmmm, this looks delicious.”

Then in the days of cowboys, cattle drives and stage coaches, dentistry became the domain of the town barber. There weren’t many dental remedies at the time, so barbers fixed most issues by pulling problem teeth. They also whitened teeth by filing them and applying nitric acid. The method worked remarkably well, at least temporarily. It also was quite painful and severely damaged tooth enamel, which, more times than not, lead quickly to tooth decay and periodontal disease.

In the 1980s, dentists stumbled upon a new technique. They noticed that the hydrogen peroxide used to treat gums also whitened teeth. Trays and gels specifically for teeth whitening quickly followed the discovery, and a few years later, laser whitening entered the picture. The rest, as they say, is history.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Smoking: Kick the Habit Now

While there’s a school of thought that the root of most serious dental problems lies in genetic predisposition, there are, of course, many environmental factors that contribute to unhealthy teeth and gums. One of the biggies is smoking.

Smoking discolors teeth, reduces the flow of saliva that helps maintain a clean mouth and protect against decay and inflames otherwise healthy gums and mouth tissue. Because smoking also restricts blood flow, it reduces vitamin C and other nutrients vital to healthy teeth and gums. Lastly, smoking causes systemic breakdown in the body’s immune system.

Smoke long enough and, in combination, these dangers can lead to periodontal disease—a progressive disintegration of the tissue and bone that anchor the jaw caused by bacterial infection—even if no predisposition to the malady exists.

The message, though short and sweet, is loud and clear. If you smoke, quit. Your teeth and gums will thank you for it. And if the thought of losing your teeth isn’t motivation enough, remember that smoking is also a source of bad breath. If you quit, your family, friends and colleagues will thank you for it.  

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Protect the Protector: Tooth Enamel

Although tooth enamel—the outside protective layer of the tooth—is one of the strongest substances in the human body, stronger than skeletal bone, it can erode and decay over time for a number of reasons.

Too little saliva is generally the main culprit of early enamel erosion and subsequent tooth decay. Saliva supplies high levels of calcium and phosphate that enhance protection of the tooth’s enamel surface. Saliva also washes away food and the sticky acid-producing plaque that can cling to teeth.

Chronic dry mouth is sometimes a side effect of a medication or combination of medications prescribed for conditions unrelated to the mouth and can often be relieved by your doctor altering the medications or dosages. In addition, your doctor may recommend chewing sugar-free gum containing xylitol.

Another cause of decaying enamel is too little fluoride. This mineral is important to dental health because it makes teeth stronger and enhances saliva’s remineralizing, anti-decaying properties.

Fluoride is usually obtained through drinking fluoridated water and brushing with fluoride-enhanced toothpastes. Nutritional supplements containing the mineral and fluoride rinses can also help preserve tooth enamel.

Lastly, limiting acidic foods known to be detrimental to tooth enamel, including citrus fruits, tart candies, diet and regular sodas, sports drinks, fruit juices and wine, is always a good idea. And when you do consume these foods, be sure to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly immediately afterward.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Back to Basics: How to Properly Brush Your Teeth

You probably started brushing your teeth before you can even remember. That’s a long time to reinforce poor technique. But if you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums over your lifetime, it’s imperative that you brush your teeth properly.

Think of it like correcting your golf swing. If you’re satisfied never shooting under 120, then keep swinging the way you always have. If you want to break that barrier, however, you’re going to need to unlearn the bad habits and replace them with good ones, and the easiest way is to follow a step-by-step how-to until the proper technique becomes natural.

Time to get back to basics.

1. On the outer and inner surfaces, brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle in short strokes, half a tooth wide, against the gum line.
2. On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat, with the bristles flush against the tooth, and brush back and forth.
3. On inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes.
4. Avoid brushing your gums and irritating them, which can lead to irreversible damage including receding gums.
5. Brush your tongue back to front to remove food particles and freshen your mouth.
6. And remember to spend at least 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth for a total brushing time of at least 2 minutes.

Beginning today, follow these steps every time you brush and in a few months, if not sooner, like your newfound golf swing, you won’t even have to think about it.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

The Worst Foods for Your Teeth

The typical teen will have three decayed teeth by 17 years old largely because of an over-consumption of sugar-laden foods. Plaque, that sticky substance that forms on your teeth and gums, is a magnet for sugar, and contains a bacteria that transforms sugar into acids that are powerful enough to dissolve tooth enamel. So, the concept is pretty simple: The less sugar you eat and the more you brush and floss your teeth, the fewer cavities you’ll suffer.

Major offenders include:

Candy, of course. Lollipops, caramels, jelly beans, etc. are all bad news. If you have to have a sweet, try to eat something that clears out of your mouth quickly—i.e. a plain chocolate like a Hershey Kiss versus a caramel-and-nougat filled candy bar.

Starchy carbohydrates like cookies and cakes and cooked starches like sweet potatoes can also linger in your mouth.

Besides being laden with sugar, most carbonated soft drinks contain phosphoric and citric acids that erode tooth enamel. Drink water and uncarbonated sugar-free soft drinks if you must. 

Go easy on the fruit juice. Many contain added sugar. Go instead for whole fruit with lots of fiber and less sugar.

Lastly, if you do eat sweets, eat them once a day—perhaps as dessert after dinner—as opposed to several times a day between meals. You’re much more apt to brush your teeth following a meal, and eating sweets just once per day cuts down both the frequency and quantity consumed.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

History of Dental Floss

Regular flossing is part of a healthy oral hygiene regimen that can help preserve healthy teeth and gums for a long, long time. However, floss wasn’t always in the form it is today. 

A dentist, Levi Spear Parmly, from New Orleans is credited with inventing the first floss. In 1815, Parmly recommended that his patients use silk strings to clean between teeth. It was not until 1882 that silk floss became commercially available. A company by the name of Codman and Shurtleft started mass-producing un-waxed silk for consumer use.

Sixteen years later, the very first patent for dental floss was awarded to Johnson & Johnson Corporation. Johnson & Johnson made their product from the same silk thread that doctors used for stitches.

Although floss was now commercially available, not many people used it until World War II. It was during this time that, thanks to Dr. Charles C. Bass, nylon began to replace silk because it has a more consistent texture and is less prone to shredding. Consumers found nylon cleaned their teeth more thoroughly and more comfortably.

Today, you can find dental floss made from a variety of materials ranging from biodegradable compounds to Kevlar threads. It also comes flavored, waxed and non-, and there are all kinds of tools and accessories designed to improve the overall experience.

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Questions to Ask Your Dentist Prior to a Procedure

Most dentists are pretty good about educating their patients prior to a particular dental procedure, particularly those that are invasive or complicated. However, if your dentist doesn’t cover any of the following about a slated procedure, don’t hesitate to ask. The conversation could lead to sharing all kinds of information from dental treatment alternatives to recovery tips.

--Are the results I desire from this dental treatment realistic?

--Is there an alternative dental treatment that I may consider as well?

--How long will the procedure take and how many dentist appointments are necessary?

--What kind of anesthesia is used, if any?

--How long have you performed this dental procedure and how many of them have you performed in the past year?

--What percentages of your patients have had significant complications?

--Will you repeat or correct the procedure if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated or corrected, will I be charged again?

--What kind of longevity can I expect from this particular dental treatment?

--Do you have before and after photographs of any of your patients who have been treated with this procedure?

--What should I expect after this dental procedure in terms of discomfort?

For questions about dentures, dental implants, periodontal disease or general dentistry, call the Ferber Dental Group a 561-439-8888 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com

Ten Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene

The mouth is the gateway to the body, and keeping your teeth and gums clean and disease free is the first step in maintaining overall health. Here are 10 tips to get you on your way.

1. Use a timer and brush for at least a full two minutes.

2. Use a floss aid. Flossing without one is difficult and often results in people avoiding it altogether.

3. Brush your teeth at the same times every day. If brushing becomes a habit, you won’t forget to do so.

4. Brush in the same pattern every time. Like No. 3 above, brushing in the same manner will make you less likely to miss a spot.

5. Avoid sports drinks. Their sugar content is just as tough on teeth as soda.

6. Use mouth wash for 30 seconds. Any longer is unnecessary to kill the bacteria in your mouth.

7. Don’t brush too hard. Brushing harder won’t help remove more plaque. It may even abrade your enamel and cause damage to your gums.

8. Use toothpaste bearing the ADA seal. By choosing an ADA-approved product, you can be sure it has been thoroughly tested to be safe and effective.

9. Chew sugar-free gum. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating can help reduce the amount of acid in the mouth and dislodge particles on and between the teeth.

10. Ask your dentist or hygienist for personalized suggestions. Don’t be afraid to ask for personal hygiene recommendations to make taking care of your oral health more productive.

For questions about dentures, dental implants, periodontal disease or general dentistry, call the Ferber Dental Group a 561-439-8888 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com.