Our Dental Blog

Question: Should I floss before or after brushing my teeth?

Answer: It is recommended that you floss after you brush. Flossing before brushing can be very messy for most people. Additionally, flossing in a mouth that has a lot of debris can only serve to introduce more bacteria into the gum pockets. If one brushes very well, they should be able to better visualize what they are trying to accomplish with the floss.

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If you have a question that you would like answered, download The Dental Expert App to your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad and look for it updated here!

Another recent question asked via the Dental Expert App.

What does it mean to have receding gums? What can be done for this?

There are a few reasons why one might develop receding gums. One way is by using an improper brushing technique (i.e. brushing in an up and down or circular motion with a manual brush, rather than with small, vibratory strokes on a 45 degree angle). Another reason involves using a brush that has harder bristles or that is frayed and overdue for being replaced, which can traumatize the gums. Sometimes there may be high muscle attachments (attaching the inner part of the lips to the gums), which pull down on the gum tissue over time as one speaks, smiles, eats, etc. Additionally, gums can recede as a result of periodontal disease, due to the bone loss beneath.

While the gum tissue may not grow back on its own, there are a few things one can do to help prevent gums from receding further. Among the suggestions are:

• Use an electric brush

• If using a manual brush make sure to use soft bristles

• Use the proper brushing and flossing technique

• Consider re-attaching the muscle attachments so that they are not pulling down on the gums (frenectomy).

• See your dental provider frequently to avoid developing periodontal disease (gum disease)

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If you have a question that you would like answered, download The Dental Expert App to your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad and look for it updated here!

The Dental Expert App has had more than 35,000 downloads so far! One of it’s great features is the “Ask the Expert” function which allows you to send your question directly to Dr. Lazare.

Hundreds of people have submitted questions already, and to get the answers out, before the updates become available, they will be answered here, on our Blog. Here is a question that many people are curious about:

Question: Why do teeth turn yellow?

Answer: Teeth can turn yellow for a variety of reasons, including:

• Aging (years of cumulative stain and the wear of the outer, white enamel layer of the teeth over time)

• Heavy consumption foods and beverages that are more likely to stain (including: red wine, dark teas, coffee, vegetable juices, hot chocolate, soy sauce, etc.)

• Smoking

• Poor oral hygiene (which creates a thick coat of a yellowing plaque or tartar)

• Heavy Grinding (which can wear away the enamel to reveal the yellower layer of tooth structure beneath)

Please note that the most common cause of this yellowing is due to poor brushing, which builds up this plaque and tartar, which is more likely to hold the stain than the tooth’s enamel. Once the teeth are cleaned, the yellow often disappears. Whitening is only effective for brightening the enamel itself, and will not do anything for teeth that are not properly cleaned.

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If you have a question that you would like answered, download The Dental Expert App to your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad and look for it updated here!

The composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings have come a long way in recent years. Their strength and longevity are now comparable to that of the silver fillings, but with much-enhanced esthetics. The dentist has the capability to match the filling exactly to the shade and color of your tooth such that no one else will ever know you had a cavity. Another advantage of these tooth-colored restorations is that the preparation is relatively conservative. Only decay is removed, and the filling is then bonded to the area that has been prepared.

Silver fillings do not have the same bonding capacity, and therefore rely on mechanical retention to hold the filling in place. As a result, good tooth structure is taken away to create the ideal depth and undercuts required to achieve adequate retention. Another advantage of composite restorations is that they are typically less sensitive to hot or cold, as metal tends to conduct temperature more readily. Since 1990, when “60 Minutes” ran a story on the alleged risks of dental amalgam (Silver-Mercury fillings), there has been a tremendous amount of media coverage.

Roughly sixty million Americans have been diagnosed with TMJ syndrome. For that reason it is a commonly heard term, but not many people know what it is and how it can be treated. The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is a joint that attaches the lower jaw to your skull. Symptoms such as frequent headaches or a popping sound coming from the jaw may be a result of the TMJ not functioning properly. This could be due to one or more of the following having been adversely affected: your chewing muscles, joints, ligaments or surrounding bones. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of one’s TMJ syndrome. It may be the result of a traumatic accident or a disease such as arthritis.

The most common causes, however, are clenching and grinding of one’s teeth, which can tire and strain the chewing muscles, causing them to go into spasm and cause pain. An improper bite can also result in TMJ dysfunction. Among the symptoms are: headaches (usually upon awakening), tenderness or fatigue of the jaw muscles, earaches, and pain or difficulty when chewing, yawning or opening wide. Clicking or popping sounds are very common signs, and in some extreme cases the jaw can actually get stuck in the open or closed position.

Many people struggle with bad breath even if they have tried mints, rinsing with mouth wash, and cutting out pungent foods. It has been said that bad breath is so common that it is difficult to decide which is normal: individuals who have bad breath or those who do not have it. Bad breath, also referred to as oral malodor or halitosis, is so common a problem that it is estimated that close to a billion dollars are spent on products to combat this widespread condition. Of the 50% of the adult population affected, 90% of the odors were found to be of oral causes and therefore become the responsibility of the dentist to diagnose and treat these individuals.

Many products found in commercial markets simply try to control oral malodor by masking it with minty and fruity scents. Mint candies, gums and most mouthwashes are not powerful enough on their own to combat the foul smelling volatile sulfur compounds, the molecules primarily responsible for oral malodor. At this moment I’m sure that many of you readers are breathing into your hand to see if you may be one of those affected individuals. Don’t bother. One problem associated with bad breath is the inability to self-diagnose. A person with a normal sense of smell usually becomes desensitized to its own stimulants. The majority of individuals with halitosis are often unaware they even have bad breath unless someone around them happens to mention it.

Who wouldn’t want their teeth whiter, straighter and more beautiful? With in-office tooth whitening and porcelain veneers, all of that is not only possible, but often done non-invasively and painlessly. In just a couple of visits a smile can be fully transformed. There are a few ways to correct your smile without having to wear braces or retainers. Among your options are Porcelain Veneers and Enamel Shaping.

In mild cases of crowding, the more conservative approach is Enamel Shaping, which involves modifying the shape of your teeth by removing or contouring enamel to create the illusion that your teeth are more balanced in their appearance. This process does not require anesthesia, and the results are noticeable immediately. Keep in mind that the removal of enamel is an irreversible process, and may also require additional bonding to enhance the appearance of your teeth. Porcelain Laminate Veneers, in my opinion, are the restoration of choice to correct poorly shaped or slightly crooked teeth for those individuals who do not wish to experience orthodontics.

A lack of certain nutrients can become a factor in periodontal disease by making it more difficult for the mouth to resist infection. Periodontal disease is a condition where the infected gums gradually pull away from the teeth, deepening the surrounding pockets, allowing the infection to destroy the supporting bone. This results in the loosening of the teeth and their eventual loss if left untreated.

Vitamins and minerals play a crucial part in helping the body combat bleeding and swollen gums, loosening of teeth, decay and bad breath. More specifically, vitamins and minerals help to form antibodies, help fight bacteria and infection and aid in the response of the immune system.

The first suggestion regarding diet and nutrition should be to eat a well balanced diet and take the necessary nutritional supplements. Keep in mind that food storage, food processing, freezing and thawing, and cooking depletes the majority of nutrients from foods that were originally nutritious.

There are many other factors that affect the way vitamins and minerals are absorbed into our system. Stress, smoking, alcohol, drugs (pharmaceutical and recreational), pollution and various medical conditions can act to prevent one from receiving the benefits of a well-balanced meal. Remember that disease tends to occur less frequently in a healthy, well-balanced body.

Posted by: Marc Lazare, DDS