Should I Switch to a Silicone Toothbrush?

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Silicone toothbrushes primarily got their start as being a starter toothbrush for babies who had just gotten their first tooth as the silicone bristles fared better on their sensitive gums than other forms of bristles, such as nylon. However, silicone toothbrushes have now branched out and are becoming popular amongst adults, most likely those who have gums that are sensitive and prone to bleeding.

Despite being much softer, silicone toothbrushes perform the same way as a traditional brush, being able to get in between the teeth and around the gum line to remove particles and bacteria quickly and efficiently. For those that prefer to use them or are unable to use a regular toothbrush, electric versions are also available for a quick and easy clean.

Will silicone toothbrushes eventually become the norm that we see on the drugstore shelves? It’s difficult to say, but with the amount of positive research out there, we may see a shift in the materials that we trust to clean our teeth.

However, whatever toothbrush you keep stocked in your bathroom cabinet, continue to follow your dentist’s advice and brush your teeth twice a day, morning and night. If you experience bleeding gums while brushing your teeth, or are unable to clean them properly, call or book online to schedule a consultation.

How Can I Prevent Clenching My Teeth?

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Are you waking up with a headache or severe tooth pain in the morning? If you experience these symptoms, it’s safe to assume that you might have an issue with grinding or clenching your teeth at night. Luckily, there are a few ways that you can prevent yourself from doing this, most notably getting a night guard.

A night guard is a removable device that the wearer puts on before they go to bed. The night guard prevents the teeth from clenching together, creating a safe barrier between the upper and lower jaw. Night guards are very easy to obtain–you can pick one up at your local pharmacy without the need for a prescription, but they are also available through your dentist once they diagnose you with a teeth grinding problem. Depending on your budget, it may be a good idea to go with the one through your dentist as they are higher quality and fit to your mouth much better than an over-the-counter one. Both will produce the same results.

Besides a night guard, there are a couple of other treatments.

Stress Prevention: People often grind their teeth when they are stressed by clenching their jaw. This is often a subconscious action, meaning that the person will not even be aware that they are doing it. Finding better and healthier coping mechanisms to deal with stress may reduce or eliminate teeth grinding.

Braces or Clear Aligners: Teeth that are misaligned are more likely to put pressure on one another, creating the same effect as if you were clenching your jaw. By using braces or clear aligners, you can get straighter teeth to help with this problem.

For more information about night guards and other ways you can prevent yourself from grinding your teeth, contact us today and set up a consultation.

What Happens at a Dental Cleaning?

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Even though you make it a habit to visit the dentist every 6 months, you may not pay attention as to what happens at a dental cleaning. While it doesn’t matter to most, there are others who prefer to know all the steps involved so that they can be informed as to what is happening to them. If you’ve ever been curious about the steps involved in your bi-annual cleaning, here they are.

The first thing that will happen during the exam is a physical exam which will be done by your hygenist. Using a tiny mirror, the hygenist will move around your mouth, checking for things such as inflamed gums, sores, gingivitis, and any source of bleeding. If they find something that seems out of the ordinary, the dentist will be called in for a second opinion. However, if everything looks alright, the hygenist can move onto the next step. Before the cleaning, the hygenist may want to take a couple x-rays of your teeth, especially if it’s been awhile since they’ve been done.

For the cleaning portion, your hygenist will once again utilise the mirror to look around your mouth while they use a tool called a scaler to clean around the gum line and between your teeth. This is the part of the exam that most patients do not enjoy, but if you brush your teeth regularly, there will be less to clean and therefore will take less time.

After the teeth have been scaled, they will be polished and scrubbed using a gritty toothpaste and a high powered tooth brush. This toothpaste will have a graelly texture and is used to scrub any light surface stains from your teeth and get rid of excess tartar.

All dental cleanings end with a good flossing. If you’re not flossing at home, this part can also be slightly uncomfortable and the gums will more than likely be sore and slightly irritated, but this will pass in as little as one hour after leaving the dental office.

For the final part of the exam, your hygenist will rinse your mouth out to get rid of anything missed, then give you a new toothbrush to tae home and a sample of floss.