Toothpaste A to Z: First in a Four-Part Series

We may take the concept of a minty fresh gel or paste squeezed out of a tube and onto our toothbrush for the purposes of improving our oral hygiene for granted. But like any product, toothpaste has evolved over time to become the fortified cleaning and enhancing agent that it is today.

Part I: A Brief History

Although toothpaste was used as long ago as 500 BC in ancient Egypt, China and India, it was not until the 19th century that it came into general use. Ancient toothpastes, actually powders at the time, used abrasive ingredients to help bring back the original white color of teeth.

Items such as bone, eggshells, snails and oyster shells, were burned or crushed into tiny pieces and used as scouring powder to more or less sand the surface of teeth. While these abrasives did work in the short run; in the long run, tooth enamel was removed, which led to dental problems much more significant than yellowing teeth.

The first modern toothpastes came about in the 1800s. Most were homemade from chalk, soap, salt and other common ingredients and stored as powders or pastes. Dental treatment of teeth during this time consisted mostly of the removal of teeth that were too painful to remain in the mouth.

The most important breakthrough in the history of toothpaste was the addition of fluoride in 1914, which was found to stave off tooth decay. Fluoride use in toothpastes became widespread by the 1950s and dentists even applied it directly to teeth during office visits.

In Part II, we’ll discuss the various ingredients in modern toothpastes and the pros and cons to each.

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

Types of Toothbrushes

Given the many types of toothbrushes available to consumers, confusion about which type to use is understandable. Prices vary from about a buck to well more than $100 for some electric styles. What’s the best?


The bottom line is cleaning your teeth thoroughly, which has a lot more to do with the user than it does the tool. For the sake of argument, however, following is the lowdown on the basic toothbrush styles.


Manual Brushes


A high quality, totally satisfactory manual toothbrush can be had for around $2-$4. It won't be exciting, expensive or equipped with all the bells and whistles, but if used properly and for at least two minutes per session, three times per day, it will do everything it needs to accomplish.


Be sure to use a brush with soft bristles to prevent damaging your teeth and gums. Soft bristles will clean your teeth thoroughly and stimulate your gums adequately without causing the damaging abrasion that medium to hard bristles will. Also, be sure to replace your toothbrush every two to three months, as the more wear it endures, the less effective it becomes.


Manufacturers may add all manner of gadgets—textures, colors. rubber tips, special gum-massaging whiskers. There are even some toothbrushes that play music. None of this makes your mouth any healthier. But if it amuses you, by all means, indulge yourself. Anything that gets you to brush longer or more often is worth it.


Electric Toothbrushes


The technology used in some of the newest brushes is nothing short of amazing. There are sonic brushes utilizing acoustic energy to cleanse teeth, spinning, reciprocating and vibrating bristles to remove plaque. Some of the newest designs allow you to simply hold the brush in the right spots and let the brush do all the work. These machines really are pretty cool and many work very well. They’re especially helpful for people who have arthritis, lack coordination, or are just not very good with their hands.


Manual vs. Electric


Just remember, it's all about the operator and not the tool. Manual brushes can work just as well as the best electrics. Can you be happy with low tech? Then save yourself some money and stick to manual brushes. Do high-tech tools make your day? Then open your wallet and have some fun.


The Bottom Line


Tooth brushing winds up like so many things in life: a trade-off. Manual brushing is low cost, but labor-intensive. Electric brushing is higher cost, but less work. Whichever direction you go, just be sure to brush well at least three times daily.

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

Conquering Your Fear of the Dentist. Part II of a Two-Part Series

As we explained in Part I, dental anxiety is quite common and prevents some otherwise intelligent, rational people from routinely getting dental care and optimizing and maintaining their dental health. Most dental phobics have experienced a high degree of discomfort at one time or another with either an unskilled or uncaring dentist. Unfortunately, if the experience is unpleasant enough, these folks will seek help only in a situation where what, oftentimes begins as a minor condition, progresses to a significant one and the pain becomes unbearable.  

So how do you conquer your fear of the dentist? The second of the two main principles is a technique called Guided Imagery, a relaxation technique that has been used for decades both by individuals to calm themselves and by healthcare workers and therapists, etc. to help calm their patients.

If your dentist is familiar with the technique, he will suggest a soothing scenario to think about or ask you to select one of your own. Then, he’ll simply guide you through a detailed description of the place or situation that has been planted in your mind. Some common imagery includes relaxing scenes such as open meadows, running streams, swaying palms, gentle snowfall, etc.

The technique can be used on yourself as well. Maybe floating on a pool raft in warm water is a soothing thought or lying back in a green field, watching the clouds. Whatever your thought process, it helps to practice at times when you’re not feeling anxious to help train your mind to feel that same calm under stressful conditions. The technique is easy to do anywhere you can close your eyes, and works to some degree for virtually everyone. No, Guided Imagery is not the cure-all for alleviating anxiety. But, combine it with the right dentist and a little practice, and you might find yourself a bit more at ease in the dentist chair and well on your way to improving your oral health. 

For information about dentures, dental implants and general and restorative dentistry, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Conquering Your Fear of the Dentist. Part I of a Two-Part Series

Dental anxiety is quite common and prevents some otherwise intelligent, rational people from routinely getting dental care and optimizing and maintaining their dental health. Most dental phobics have experienced a high degree of discomfort at one time or another with either an unskilled or uncaring dentist. Unfortunately, if the experience is unpleasant enough, these folks will seek help only if what, often times begins as a minor condition, progresses to a significant one and the pain becomes unbearable.  

So how do you conquer your fear of the dentist? There are two basic things you can start with to get back into the dental chair. No. 1, the most important step is to find the right dentist. A good dentist for the dental phobic is patient, competent, endeavors to make all visits pain-free, genuinely cares about his patients, and has the bedside manner to nurture his patients through their past trauma.

Begin by polling your friends and family about their dentists. Tell them your concerns and, even if they don’t share them, ask them how they think their dentist would handle someone like yourself.

After you’ve narrowed down a list of three to five candidates, try to make appointments simply to meet them. Ask the dentist about his practice, philosophy, the steps he takes to alleviate pain and anxiety. Don’t be intimidated. You’re the consumer and there are other dentists.

If a dentist won’t agree solely to meet, which could be the case and doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s not a good match for you, then make the appointment for a routine examination, which is almost always pain-free. During the exam, you can interview the dentist and get a feel for his style. It’s important before anyone—hygienist or doctor—asks you to open wide that you fully explain the degree of your fear.

You can ask the dentist to stop at any time during an exam if you feel overwhelming anxiety. Or, if the dentist has done a good job at allaying your fears, and he finds something that needs treating, you may opt to continue right then with treatment, which is a good sign that you’ve found a good fit.

In Part II, we’ll discuss a technique called Guided Imagery in which your dentist can lead the process or that you can undertake yourself.

For information about dentures, dental implants and gum disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Top 10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Oral Health

Improving the health of you teeth and gums isn’t as complicated as you might think. Following are 10 relatively simple steps to get started.

1.                  See your dentist and hygienist regularly.

2.                  Brush and floss at least three times daily.

3.                  If you clench or grind your teeth, get fitted for a professional night guard.

4.                  If you have exposed roots, decalcification or sensitive teeth: Use a topical fluoride toothpaste and have a topical fluoride treatment at your next dental appointment.

5.                  Seek professional nutrition counseling to improve your diet

6.                  Do not smoke.

7.                  If a spouse or close family member has periodontal disease, ask them to get treatment, as periodontal disease is communicable.

8.                  When you see the hygienist, ask for the number of bleeding points in your mouth and compare to your last visit. They should decline in time.

9.                  If pockets are deepening or the tissue collar around the teeth is not improving (getting firmer), ask for a referral to a specialist.

10.              Understand that periodontal disease is painless (until advanced stages), and regular checkups are needed to become aware of the problem.

For information about dentures, dental implants and gum disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Top 10 Reasons People Avoid Going to the Dentist

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you go to the dentist at least somewhat regularly and perhaps even to the Ferber Dental Group. But there’s a significant contingent out there who avoid going to the dentist altogether. The reasons? Well, they’re plentiful. Following are the top 10.

 

10. I can't find a dentist.

9. Dentists are too expensive.

8. My teeth don't need regular checkups.

7. I’m too busy.

6. I haven't been to the dentist in a long time.

5. Electric toothbrush works just fine for me.

4. My teeth look white enough.

3. My teeth feel fine.

2. I floss and brush my teeth; that should be enough.

 

And the No. 1 most popular reason people avoid the dentist: They’re afraid.

 

No matter the reason stated, the consensus of the Ferber Dental Group is that people are afraid of going to the dentist. Maybe they had a less-than-pleasurable experience sometime ago. Maybe they’re reluctant to uncover a problem they believe might be lurking in their mouth.

 

The fact is that modern dentistry has come a long, long way. Physical discomfort is virtually nonexistent today, with nearly all patients reporting zero pain during most procedures. In addition, the technology has evolved such that most conditions of the teeth and gums can now be treated successfully. Add to that the increasing evidence that the mouth is the gateway to the body—with poor oral health one of the culprits behind an array of seemingly unrelated maladies from heart disease to dementia—and regular visits to the dentist become not a luxury but a requirement.

 

For information about dentures, dental implants and gum disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visitwww.ferberdental.com.

FAQs About Gum Disease

1. Is gum disease hereditary?
Not all people predisposed to gum disease will contract it. However, if you suspect that your parents lost all or most of their teeth, especially at an early age, you should be aware that you may have a tendency to contract gum disease more readily than someone who has no predisposition, or even more readily than someone with poor oral hygiene but a good resistance to periodontitis.

2. If my parents lost their teeth does that mean that I will lose mine?
Not necessarily. Treatments have evolved that allow periodontitis-disposed patients to improve their gum health and their chances of avoiding full dentures. However, if you do have a tendency toward periodontitis, it’s important to see a periodontist before you become aware of loose teeth or bleeding gums.

3. Can antibiotics be used to treat gum disease?
Antibiotics can be used in certain circumstances. In some cases of aggressive disease, antibiotics can enhance the results of non-surgical root planning—a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. However, the same antibiotics taken without doing non-surgical root planing have been shown not to be of benefit.

4. Can I spread gum disease to my family?
It has been shown that gum disease transmission does occur between spouses or between a parent and child. However, there is more of a tendency for this to occur if all of the parties do not have a good resistance to gum disease. You can not transmit gum disease to another person via food utensils or toothbrushes.

5. Predisposition or not, what is the best way to avoid periodontal disease?

Cleaning your teeth efficiently on a daily basis. This means efficient brushing and flossing. Also, regular professional cleanings and examinations, at least every six months for healthy patients, and more frequently for those at risk for periodontitis.

For information about dentures, dental implants and gum disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Your Teeth and You May Not Forget to Take Care of Your Teeth

Researchers at the University of Halifax in Canada have just completed a study that indicates that the elderly who improve and maintain certain health factors not traditionally associated with dementia—including the fit of their dentures—can stave off the malady.

More than 7,200 dementia-free people aged 65 and older were studied over a 10-year period for 19 health problems that typically plague seniors, and those with poorly fitting dentures were more apt to suffer dementia by a factor of 3.2 percent. Other of the health problems included issues with vision, hearing and skeletal diseases like arthritis.

In a story about the study reported by Fox News, a dementia specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Stephen Rao, said that the study indicates that illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease might very well be connected to overall health and not just vascular issues as previously thought.

And while a factor of 3.2 percent may not sound like a lot, in combination with improving other areas of your health, adjusting your dentures or getting new ones can go a long way in remaining clear and lucid into old age.

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

Fun Facts About Teeth

At the Ferber Dental Group, we take dentistry quite seriously. However, all work and no play can indeed make anyone dull. Following is a little fodder for when some good ol’ fashioned teeth trivia might come in handy. Enjoy.

1. A child will lose his first tooth at around age 7. 

2. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. 

3. Like humans, most mammals are born with primary teeth that are eventually replaced with permanent teeth. 

4. Teeth in humans actually begin to form before birth. 

5. Modern-day toothbrush bristles were originally made from the hair of cows.

6. Baby teeth are actually called milk teeth. 

7. Depending on the species, a shark will typically go through 40 sets of teeth in a lifetime.

8. At 6 months of age, a human baby typically will have about 20 teeth begin to emerge through the gums.

9. Although a snail’s mouth is about the size of a pin, it can have 25,000 teeth or more. 

10. George Washington did not have wooden dentures. They were made of gold, hippopotamus tusk, elephant ivory and human teeth.

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