5 Things To Know About Your Toothbrush:

1. Be sure to look for the ADA seal of approval when selecting your toothbrush. The ADA stands for the American Dental Association and is the gold standard in toothbrush quality. It is the most predictable way to know if your toothbrush will hold up to normal wear and tear, and if it will work effectively when brushing with proper technique.

2. The toothbrush was invented over 5,000 years ago. Ancient civilizations used variations of a ‘chew stick’ to remove food from their teeth. Originally, it wasn’t much more than a think twig with one end frayed. Over time, they developed to have stiff bristles from animals on one end. The modern toothbrush, which has nylon bristles, was invented in 1938.

3. The first mass-produced toothbrush was invented in prison. In 1770, an English man cleaned the teeth of fellow prisoners using a rag covered in soot or salt to clean their teeth. It eventually developed into a toothbrush with bristles, and after his release from prison he started a company to manufacture his toothbrush. The company still exists in the United Kingdom today.

4. Manual or Powered Toothbrush? When your toothbrush is used properly and for the right amount of time, either type of toothbrush can work well. But if you are unsure whether you actually brush for the full 2 minutes, you should use a timer or a brush with a timer. If you have been told you brush too hard, then I would use an electric brush to avoid the scrubbing motion. Bottom line: an electric toothbrush is the safer play.

5. There is no correct order to brushing and flossing. We often receive questions about whether you should brush or floss first. It usually doesn’t matter if you are using proper technique. But if you have larger spaces between your teeth that tend to catch larger pieces of food, I may recommend flossing and clearing the larger debris before brushing.

For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

Trendy Diets May Negatively Affect Oral Health

          Over the years we have heard about all of the different types of crash diets to help lose weight. There has been the Atkin’s diet, a juice cleanse, and now the Paleo diet. I am not here to tell you what diet you should or should not try. However, it is important to see how some of these could affect your oral health. You don’t want to finish a round of dieting and have a mouth full of cavities to show for it.

            When you think of dieting, you think of eating less food. Obviously the goal is to lose weight by ingesting fewer calories each day. However, by eating less you can change the amount and the content of your saliva. Decreased saliva flow increases your risk of tooth decay. So if you are dramatically cutting back on how much you are eating, be extra careful in taking care of your teeth and gums.

            Juice cleanses have become popular over the past few years. It involves drinking a concoction of different fruits, vegetables and other things that are loaded with vitamins. When they are loaded with acidic fruits, this can be very damaging to the teeth if not handled properly. The acidity can erode the tooth structure and lead to sensitive teeth. There are toothpastes available to protect your enamel (Pronamel) and it is important to drink plenty of water after ingesting the different juice mixtures. This will help to wash away some of the acidity from the teeth. And you don’t want to brush your teeth right after ingesting a citrus drink. The tooth is more vulnerable to erosion right after exposure and should be given at least 30 minutes before brushing with an abrasive tooth brush and toothpaste.

            We don’t want to talk you out of dieting, but just be sure to know how it could affect your oral and overall health before starting a program. And for more information you can visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

ADA, Federal Agencies, and Dentists Still Encourage Flossing

            A few months ago a study was released questioning the efficacy of flossing your teeth. Because of this, many people began to think that ‘science’ doesn’t support flossing. However, the Department of Health and Human services, the American Dental Association, and others have “reaffirmed the importance of interdental cleaning.” So what is the truth behind all of this?

            A periodontist is a specialist of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. When it comes down to it, they are the authority in how to take care of the gums. Their group still strongly supports the importance of flossing and cleaning between the teeth. A toothbrush is absolutely essential in cleaning your teeth and gums every day, but it cannot access all of the areas in between the teeth. And even though there are plenty of studies that support the use of floss and interdental cleaning, many dentists and periodontists say the reason they support flossing is because of what they see in their offices every day. Flossing improves the health of their patient’s gums.

            Traditional flossing isn’t the only way you can clean in between your teeth. Even though I believe it should be a part of every person’s home care, there are other tools to clean in between the teeth. For people that have larger gaps between their teeth, gum recession, or dental bridges, the use of ‘soft picks’ can be helpful. These tools look like rubberized tooth picks with small rubber barbs to help clean the gum tissue. And there is a product called Super-Floss that is effective for cleaning under bridges. It is a much thicker type of floss that can remove more food and debris than traditional floss.

            The bottom line is you should floss every day. The improvement in the health of your gums will be worth the extra couple of minutes it may take you. And if you stop to see what has been hiding in between your teeth all day, it will be extra motivation!

For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

What should I know when buying dental supplies for my family?

            When you walk down the ‘oral care’ aisle at any store, the number of options can be intimidating. There are so many different brands and variations of similar products. Hopefully we can help simplify the process.

What kind of tooth brush should I buy?

• Do yourself a favor and get an electric tooth brush with a 2 minute timer. It will reduce the chances of tooth decay, gum disease, gum recession. Chances are it will save you thousands of dollars during your life.
• If you absolutely can’t stand an electric brush, make sure it is a soft bristle brush.
• The expensive brushes are great, but you don’t have to buy the most expensive brush to get a solid brush. However, remember that you get what you pay for and if it only costs $10 it probably is inexpensive for a reason.
• Use a different brush or brush head after you are sick. You don’t want to increase the risk of spreading anything bad to your family.

What kind of tooth paste should I buy?

• Look for the ADA approval on the box. If it has that, it has been put through a serious screening process to earn it.
• If you use sensitivity toothpaste, you should use it twice a day and every day. It is more effective when used consistently.
• If you want whiter teeth, toothpaste isn’t going to make a huge difference. Whitening toothpaste is more abrasive and reduces surface staining but does not whiten like bleaching your teeth can.
• Use a flavor that you like. It will make it more likely to brush consistently and for long enough.

What kind of mouth rinse should I buy?

• Only let your children use mouth rinse made for adults if they can consistently spit it out after using. But there are some rinses specifically designed for kids.
• I usually recommend alcohol free because it is less abrasive to your gums.
• Use a mouth rinse with fluoride. It reduces the potential for cavities.

Like anything else, if you are not sure what product may work best in your situation then just give us a call. We are happy to walk you through the different choices in more detail.

For more information visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

“I want to quit tobacco”

            Many people who have become addicted to using tobacco products want to stop. But as they can attest, that is much easier said than done. Everyone has been educated on the risks associated with tobacco use, but we want to reiterate how it can affect your dental and overall health. And we can also offer couple of tips on quitting tobacco.

Why should I quit using tobacco?

• Your mouth will be healthier. Quitting can lower your risk for receding gums and bone loss in the jaw bone surrounding the teeth.
• You will look and feel better. The stains created from smoking cannot be completely cleaned through brushing at home. Quitting will reduce stain and brighten your smile.
• You will set a healthy example. Chances are you are a role model to someone. Sometimes its children and sometimes it is a peer. By quitting you may inspire someone else to do the same.

Tips to Quit:

• Make a list of personal reasons for quitting and keep it in a place that you will frequently see.
• Set a date to quit in the future and do everything you can to stick to it. Try to find a time during the year that is ‘low stress.’
• Get help: ask your physician, family, friends and anyone else for their support in quitting.
• Find a healthy substitute. When you have a tobacco craving, try sugar-free gum or sugar-free candy. There is a sugar substitute called xylitol that has been shown to actually fight tooth decay.
• The four D’s:
• Delay- the craving will pass in 5-10 minutes
• Drink water- it gives you something to hold and put in your mouth
• Do something else- distract yourself by being active
• Deep breathing- this will help relax you.

We know it sounds a lot easier than it actually is, but hopefully you can use some of this information to help you or someone you know quit using tobacco. For more information go to www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

CDC Reports Benefits of Dental Sealants for Children:

           Dental sealants are placed over the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of teeth. Their goal is to protect those surfaces from the start of tooth decay. As soon as the permanent molars erupt, we typically recommend placing sealants. Depending on how susceptible each individual’s teeth are to cavities, we may even recommend sealants on the premolars as they erupt. Below we will discuss some of the advantages of dental sealants.

            ADA News reports that sealants can prevent around 80% of cavities in school aged children. However, 60% of those children did not receive dental sealants according to the CDC. The same report also found that if you did not have sealants, you had 3 times as many cavities as those who did. The resulting dental work totaled around $300 million that could have been prevented had some 7 million low-income children been provided sealants.

Because this is such a large problem, many local organizations have out-reach programs that offer free dental services to underprivileged children. A major focus of these programs is preventative dentistry. Along with fluoride treatments and home care instructions, sealants are an important part in breaking the cycle of early on-set tooth decay.

Are there any concerns or health related consequences with dental sealants? The only concern brought to our attention has been the presence of BPA (bisphenol-A) in the sealants. There is some concern BPA could be related to some health issues. But the ADA states that the potential exposure is minute and less than simply breathing air or handling a receipt. The sealants are made from a similar compound as composite (tooth colored) fillings, and there have not been any side affects to these fillings related to BPA.

Dental sealants are a good option for nearly every child as their permanent molars begin to erupt. They are non-invasive and can greatly reduce the potential for cavities. Be sure to ask us if you have any questions or concerns about your child and sealants.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

Antibiotic Overkill

            For many, conventional wisdom tells them to take antibiotics when they don’t feel well. They have been told they can go to the doctor or ‘Little Clinic’ to get a prescription for antibiotics. This will eventually make them feel better. But in many cases the antibiotics are taken after they already feel their worst, and the progression of the illness allows them to start feeling better shortly thereafter. So naturally we credit the medication for curing the ailment. In reality, the body is naturally fighting the disease and curing what ails you. But the whole experience makes you feel the antibiotics were the correct choice.

Why is it a problem to just take antibiotics regardless of the issue?

            Antibiotics are designed to attack bacterial infections, not viral infections. So if you have a cold or the flu, antibiotics will not help you get better. But the more serious issue is what it can do to your health in the long run. By taking antibiotics too frequently, your body can develop immunity to those types of antibiotics. So when an infection arises and those antibiotics are truly needed, they may not be as affective. This can make treatment more difficult and the disease more dangerous.

Some statistics that show how big of a problem antibiotic resistance has become:

• Over 70% of illness causing bacteria are resistant to at least one type of antibiotic.
• It is estimated over 50,000 deaths can be contributed to antibiotic resistance in the US and Europe in 2015.
• If the problem persists, scientists are projecting that number to rise as high as 10 million by 2050.
• The primary reason for this trend is over prescribing antibiotics.

How is this related to dental health?

            Don’t let dental infections grow too large or go too long before treatment. If you wait longer than recommended to treat an abscess then you may need to take even more antibiotics.

With cold and flu season quickly approaching, don’t be surprised if more and more health care professionals are hesitant to prescribe antibiotics if they are uncertain of the underlying problem.   

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

www.DentistWestChester.com.