Tooth Whitening

“Tooth decay, also known as dental cavities, or dental caries, is a disease that is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.” — Michael C. Alfano, Dean of the New York University College of Dentistry.

As warned by the World Health Organization, tooth decay is one of the world’s most prevalent health problems in industrialized and especially in developing countries. An estimate of 90% people in the United States has at least one cavity. Children and senior citizens are the two groups of people at highest risk.

In children, (more…)

Tooth decay, or dental caries, is caused by prolonged exposure to acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. We cannot avoid bacteria in the air. When we breathe it enters the mouth and attaches itself to everything, including the teeth. In fact, there are more microcosms in one mouth than there are people on the earth.

Sugar is the main culprit in tooth decay, because that is what the bacteria eat. Bacteria then produce acids as a byproduct. Those acids eat at the enamel of our teeth, until hole or cavity in the tooth appears. (more…)

Are you suffering from tooth decay? Is it that you are feeling inflammatory reactions in the part of pulp cavity of your teeth? Root canal is the best treatment available for you to get rid of the inflammatory reactions. These reactions are caused because of the tooth decay that occurs in the nerve tissues. The inflammation can lead to severe pain in your teeth. The nerve tissues are the special tissues that make up the central and peripheral nervous systems. These nerve tissues consists neurons with their processes and other supporting cells. (more…)

The best way avoiding tooth decay lies in establishing positive habits. This is especially important for children who must learn that frequent teeth brushing and eating the right food is important to maintain healthy white teeth.

Bad teeth are always caused by eating the wrong food and not cleaning the teeth. First of all your children should brush teeth at least twice a day, but better after each meal. Replace the toothbrush every month because of the bacteria that will grow on the tooth brush over time. Also the bristles become ineffective and can even hurt the gum.

There are also bacteria on your tongue. Brush your tongue or use a tongue cleaner. A dental floss is important to remove dirt between your teeth which couldn’t be reached by your tooth brush. (more…)

Passive tobacco smoke exposure has been associated with numerous childhood illnesses and diseases. A recent study found a new and somewhat surprising relationship between passive tobacco smoke exposure and childhood dental decay.

The 3,500 children, ages four to eleven years old, who were part of the third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, had a dental exam and a measurement of their cotinine levels. (Cotinine is a breakdown product of nicotine found in blood.) The study took into account many other factors including age, sex, region, dental care, socioeconomic and nutritional status, and blood lead levels. Nearly half of the children had at least one cavity in their deciduous (baby) teeth and over a quarter had at least one cavity in their permanent teeth. Those exposed to passive tobacco smoke were 70% more likely to have dental decay and had a 40% increased risk of having at least one filling in their deciduous teeth. They found no association between passive smoke and decay in permanent teeth.

The reason for the increase in deciduous decay isn’t known. Possibilities include tobacco-related impaired growth leading to poor tooth formation; increased ear, nose, and throat infections; allergies; and reduced vitamin C levels. (See following article.) The growth of Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium known to cause dental decay, is stimulated by nicotine.

The researchers suggest that the lack of effect on permanent tooth decay occurs because by the time the permanent teeth erupt, children spend a lot less time around their parents.

 

Laser technology is the latest and most exciting development in the ever-expanding practice of dentistry. According to Dr. George Willenborg of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, it should play a major role in the fight against tooth decay.

The detection of decay is usually accomplished by the visual inspection of teeth or by X rays. For the most part, these methods have sufficed. However, the detection of “beginning decay” (surface erosion of calcium that has not yet penetrated the enamel) has frequently been inadequate. According to Dr. Willenborg, a laser that is capable of detecting slight changes in the enamel will pass across the teeth and clearly note any area of beginning decay. By varying the intensity of the laser beam, the decalcified area can be removed, leaving a small depression on the tooth surface. A synthetic enamel in powdered from can be used to fill the depression, then fused to the enamel, restoring the tooth to its normal form. The fused material should be more resistant to decay than the natural tooth structure. (more…)