Essential Oils - Taking Care Of Your Mouth

Essential Oils are fantastic for helping to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong!

The benefits of essential oils are far more than aromatic, they have amazing therapeutic and healing qualities.

Which oils are best for a healthy mouth?

• Peppermint  and spearmint - They both contain antiseptic oils, which help treat pain. They both are effective in treating bad breath.
• Cinnamon - This has been used for its medicinal properties, specifically its antifungal, antibacterial properties. Research has shown that cinnamon oils has the greatest antimicrobial potency against the bacterias which causes tooth decay and gum disease.
• Eucalyptus - This is a germicide that has been reported to help fight plaque build up, gingivitis and prevent cavities.

There are many more essential oils that help keep your mouth in tip-top shape such as: lemon oil, myrrh oil, rosemary oil, clove oil.

How to use essential oils?

After you brush your teeth, add a few drops of the oil to your brush and gently brush the teeth and gums. Rinse and spit out * DO NOT SWALLOW*. 


Remember this does not replace seeing your dentist on a regular basis!

What Does Your Tongue Say About You?

What do you know about your tongue other than it lets you taste your food and helps you swallow?

Your tongue can give you a glimpse into your overall health!

Below are some irregularities you may find on tongue that may indicate serious medical conditions:

• White patches - If you notice this discoloration, it may be an overgrowth of yeast or thrush. You are at a higher risk developing this if you are taking antibiotics, on chemotherapy or on medical steroids.
• Redness - This Rosy color goes hand in hand with a sore throat or scarlet fever. This is usually associated with a high fever which can be treated with antibiotics. A red/shiny tongue can also be caused by vitamin deficiency in folic acid, B-12 or iron.
• Black and hairy - Don't Panic... this is sometimes caused by antibiotic use,diabetes, and if you are receiving chemotherapy.

Even if you don't have any irregularities yet, always check your tongue on a daily bases when you brush your teeth. if you notice any discolorations, lumps, sores or pain you should contact your primary physician or your dentist right away!

Sinusitis And Tooth Pain

When you get the occasional cold or suffer from seasonal allergies its important to understand that your teeth have "neighbors", such as your sinuses, which can mimic a toothache or cause jaw pain. At this point there is no need to panic.

There are several sinuses that are located in the human head, but which one is causing you pain? Maxillary sinuses.

Maxillary sinuses are located near the nose, below the cheek, above the teeth on both sides of the nose. A sinus infection in this area can cause headaches, weakness, fevers, chills and upper tooth and jaw pain. This is due to the proximity of the nerve roots from your teeth to the maxillary sinus, which if infected can be inflamed. The inflammation can cause irritation to the nerve roots which can cause pain to the teeth. - Info here

Maxillary sinusitis can be treated many different ways:

• Using a humidifier to moisten the air.
• Using nasal sprays.
• Taking oral medications such as sudafed.
• Taking antibiotics provided by a doctor.

If you continue to have a toothache or jaw pain after your cold/allergies have went away contact your dentist immediately.

Hyperdontia and Hypodontia - What Do These Terms Mean?

In terms of abnormalities of the mouth, these two conditions are probably among the most unusual, however, they are not rare.  Both are genetic, and each have their own specific causes. The normal number of teeth per individual is 20 primary (or baby) teeth, and 32 permanent (or adult) teeth.

Hypodontia - a condition characterized by missing adult teeth, as in wisdom teeth or molars that simply do not appear in the normal course of development. is often associated with children born with various syndromes or genetic conditions such as Cerebral Palsy or Down's syndrome.  It can be treated in adulthood by placing implants or bridges, as tolerated by the patient.

Hyperdontia -the condition of having too many teeth,  is often associated with children who may have been born with Gardner Syndrome (extremely rare)  or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. These extras can manifest as a single extra tooth or an entire second set (or even more). Supernumerary teeth (teeth in excess of the normal number) can be treated by extractions, usually as they appear.

If your child is developing teeth and you notice anything out of the ordinary regarding the number of teeth or, if there are baby teeth that are not coming out in the normal course of development, see your dentist.  Often, baby teeth will remain in tact because there are no permanent teeth behind them. Your dentist will be able to tell with an x-ray.  Your best treatment is to know and have a plan in place ahead of time.

As always, keep smiling!
 

Botox For Teeth Grinding?

We all have heard of people getting botox to "better" their appearance and so on, but botox to minimize teeth grinding?

Teeth grinding also known as bruxism is when people grind or clench their teeth. Over time clenching or grinding can damage the teeth and can cause other oral health complications.

So why are people using botox to help this problem? Botox paralyzes the masseter muscle causing the muscle to weaken and it alleviates most of the tension, maximizing the dulling of the molars.

The procedure can take about ten-twenty minutes by injecting a small does of botox into the masseter muscles (muscles the moves the jaw). This treatment can last around three to four months.

Although this is not a cure for bruxism, it helps you by getting a good nights sleep, stops pain and headaches and can improve your quality of life!

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

What is baby bottle tooth decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay is tooth decay in infants and very young children that is often referred to bottle rot.

What causes baby bottle tooth decay?
 
Decay happens when sweetened liquids cling to the child's teeth for a long period of time. There are many factors which can cause decay. Common causes are; when the child is put to bed with a bottle or when a bottle is used to calm fussy children.

Another important thing that causes tooth decay and no parent really thinks about is passing cavity-causing bacteria from them to their child. This bacteria is passed through saliva, so sharing feeding spoons or licking pacifiers to clean them, the bacteria was just passed to your child.

Ways to prevent tooth decay:

• After each feeding, wipe your child's gums with a damp wash cloth if they don't have teeth.
• Try no to share saliva through common feedings, etc.
• If your child has teeth brush them gently with a child toothbrush and a pea sized smear of fluoride toothpaste.
• Try to avoid filling the bottle with sugary drinks, stick to formula.
• Try to avoid sending your child to bed with a bottle.
• Encourage your child to drink from a cup by their 1st birthday.

Keep smiling :)

*Information found  here

Basic Dental Instruments And Uses

I'm sure when you have sat in the dental chair waiting on your dentist you have noticed the tray with all the dental tools on it and wondered what there uses are right?

Next time you will be able to identify and have knowledge of what these basic tools are used for!

Mouth mirror:

• Indirect vision: There are a lot of areas in the mouth where direct vision is not possible. Using the mirror helps mirror an image of the teeth in locations of the mouth where visibility is difficult or impossible.
• Retraction: Moves your cheek, lips and tongue out of the way.

Explorers:

• To locate the presence of periodontal pockets and their depth.
• To detect dental caries (Cavities).
• To locate subgingaval calculus (Calculus formed below the gum)

Tweezers:

• Helps lift gauze or cotton of the tray.
• Helps remove broken fragments from the oral cavity.

There are many other tools that can be placed on the dental try, this is all determined by which procedure you are having such as extractions, cleanings, fillings, etc.

Tooth Decay Affects Half of The World Population-Why?

In a 3-year long study, it was determined that, globally, approximately 4 billion people suffer to some degree from tooth decay.  Basically, 1 out of every 2 people have untreated or unresolved dental problems i.e., gum disease, misalignment, injuries;  this aside from decay.  This is a huge number. Seriously, think about that for a second! Better yet, look at the person next to you.  The purpose of this study was to bring to light the lack of dental maintenance world-wide.  According to their study, the amount of recorded dental diseases has risen 20% over the last 20 years. The reasons?  Lack of adequate dental coverage, insurance or other financial aid, (in those countries where it's available), the extreme rise in dental costs, and, to put it plainly, laziness. But in many parts of the world there are no dentists at all...and in some parts of the world there are far greater needs. Seriously, how can you treat the dental needs of a starving child before you end his starvation. 

Many people only visit a dentist when there's a problem.  By that time, in many cases, it's already too late.  Many people outsource; that is, travel to other countries where dentistry may be cheaper. In the southwestern border states, the country of choice is often Mexico. This is a big problem, at least here in the United States...the rising cost of medical and dental is in stark contrast to the benefits offered by insurance companies, leading people (many of them senior citizens) to go out of the country for care. 

Apparently over 500 scientists participated in this study world-wide, in the hope of spreading awareness and educating the world on the rising problem of dental neglect.  As for me, I'll agree that neglect of dental needs is an issue, but making people aware of it doesn't necessarily fix the problem. There is nothing you can do to fix laziness, but for those in need who don't have the means to seek treatment, there must be a better way!  

Original post by MoobieDoo 6/13

Edited, rewritten by Walnutflwr