520 S Saginaw Blvd Ste 200, Saginaw, TX 76179

Current Patients: 682-213-4114
New Patients: 817-904-5441

Tag: #dentalhygiene

HomeAll PostsTag: #dentalhygiene
Oral Health During Covid-19

Oral Health During Covid-19

Dental Health February 17, 2021 0Comments

The year 2020 will be remembered as the pandemic year. With the closure of non essential services across the world, the one thing that has been hit among many others is oral health with reduced working hours for dental practices except for urgent and emergency services. The focus during this time has also shifted from dentist interventions to prevention.
Oral health as we all know is essential for overall good health. Hence oral care especially during the pandemic takes on an importance of its own. Recently researchers studying a small group of people in Japan have found that effective oral hygiene can improve corona virus testing and also reduce the transmission period after a person recovers from covid. British researchers have found a link between poor oral hygiene and severity of COVID-19 disease.
Here are some tips for you to maintain good oral hygiene during covid 19 –
1. Keep your toothbrush clean and separate from the toothbrushes of other family members. Toothbrushes can get easily contaminated by micro organisms and covid 19 virus is known to transmit through air borne droplets.

2. Have your own toothpaste. All members of the family must have not only separate toothbrushes but toothpaste tubes also. Many covid infected patients are asymptomatic i.e. they do not show any symptoms. So while we maintain social distancing within our homes we may end up passing on or getting the virus due to shared resources like a toothpaste tube.

3. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss and use mouth wash regularly. Make sure you rinse your mouth properly after brushing your teeth. Give your gums a massage once a week.

4. Eat well balanced diet with lot of vitamins and minerals and do regular exercise. People with poor immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting covid and are similar to those at higher risk for developing oral diseases. Common risk factors include stress, poor diet, alcohol and tobacco use.

5. Special care must be taken for the teeth of children and elderly. Being confined to homes has not only been stressful but has led to extra consumption of sodas and sugary substances. The British study also found that good oral hygiene is means to prevent airway infections in patients especially those over the age of 70.

6. Use fluoridated toothpaste or water. It has been proved by a number of studies that fluoridation helps prevent tooth decay.

Taking care of the above will help you get away with less dental problems in the year of the pandemic. However these are not a substitute for regular dental checkups so do visit your family dentist as regularly as is possible. You can also visit Ensure Dental Care today or contact us at 940-274-3229 to know more. All major insurance plans accepted.

Fluoride Myths and Facts

Fluoride Myths and Facts

Dental Health January 5, 2021 0Comments

Most of us would have seen the toothpaste makers advertise fluoridated toothpastes. Fluoride toothpastes are extremely effective against tooth decays. You may be surprised to know the fluorides exist is naturally occurring water and soil at varying levels.

It was in the 1940’s that scientists and doctors realized the impact fluorides can have on dental problems. Subsequent studies have found fluoride inhibits the acid producing bacteria in the mouth and not only that they also help in the remineralization of decayed enamel. Hence it can not only prevent but also reverse tooth decay. Unfortunately there are many myths surrounding the need and benefits of fluorides. Here are some of them which we would like to bust today.

Myth 1
Since fluoride is present in natural water, that is good enough to protect teeth.
Fact – While the above statement is partially true, the naturally occurring fluoride is not sufficient to prevent tooth decay. The optimal level of fluoride in water is 0.7 parts per million.

Myth 2
Fluoride is an added medication to the toothpastes.
Fact – Fluoride is not a medication, it’s a naturally occurring mineral which is beneficial for oral health. The American Journal of Public Health even stated that its not a medication but a naturally occurring nutrient. Just like iodine is added to salt for our health similarly fluorides are added to toothpastes in the right quantities.

Myth 3
Fluorides are unsafe for children.
Fact – The fact is that it’s the other way round, giving sufficient fluorine supplements to children as young as 6 months can help strengthen their teeth for their entire lifetime. A study conducted in 2010 showed that a child given fluoride supplements when young makes loss of teeth due to decay less likely when he/she is a middle aged adults in his/ her 40s and 50s.

Myth 4
Fluoridation causes cancer.
Fact – A number of studies by health authorities over so many years has proved that there is no linkage between fluoride and cancer. However consuming excess fluoride does cause a condition called fluorosis which is generally a mild condition involving no pain and does not affect health or function of teeth.

Myth 5
Fluoridation does not prevent tooth decay
Fact – Since the 1940s there have many numerous studies on this subject which have conclusively proved that fluoridation helps prevent tooth decay. In one such study it has been found that people not using fluoridated water require 33% more treatments for tooth decay than people consuming fluoridated water.

While the myths on this subject are many, the above listed ones are the most common. Hopefully we helped bust a few myths for you today. You can visit us at Ensure Dental Care today or contact us at 682-213-4114 to know more. All major insurance plans accepted.

10 Awesome Tips To Maintain Dental Hygiene

10 Awesome Tips To Maintain Dental Hygiene

Dental Health December 7, 2020 0Comments

Dental Hygiene is critical for an overall good health. Here is our list of 10 awesome tips you can follow very easily in your day to day life.

  1. Brushing daily twice a day – While it may be obvious that brushing twice daily is the most basic thing required for dental hygiene however you would be surprised that many people don’t do it. Most people brush only once a day. It is important that one brushes even at night cause food stuck in teeth after the lovely dinner is feast for the germs.
  2. Flossing – flossing is as important as brushing. Most people again neglect flossing. It removes plaque and the food stuck between the teeth and also stimulates the gums.
  3. Use a mouthwash – Rinsing your mouth with water is great but not always enough. Use a mouthwash. Not only does using a mouth wash prevent bad breath but also it can go in places that the toothbrush or floss cannot. Mouthwashes remove acid in the mouth that cause tooth decay.
  4. Don’t eat sugary stuff – The candies and sodas can be very harmful for the teeth, they break down in the mouth producing acids that can cause cavities. So limit your intake of such substances.
  5. Too much tea and coffee can also wear down the tooth enamel. Enamel is the outer covering of your teeth and one of the hardest substances in the human body. While you can continue to enjoy tea and coffee occasionally however too much of anything is always harmful.
  6. Cleaning your tongue is an important aspect of dental hygiene. Use a tongue scraper to clean it. Cleaning it daily can help remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
  7. Avoid tobacco, smoking and alcohol. Consuming tobacco and smoking are main culprits behind oral cancer. Too much alcohol is known to cause gum disease and tooth decay.
  8. Eat crunchy food like fruits and veggies that have natural vitamins and fiber for good dental health. Also consume products with calcium like milk, yogurt and cheese. Calcium makes your teeth stronger.
  9. Make sure to clean your brush and let it air dry. Also ensure proper hygiene of flossing and tongue scraper will ensure your efforts at dental hygiene don’t go waste.
  10. Last but not the least visit your dentist on a regular basis. It is important so that any dental problem is detected and cured at the right time before it becomes a problem for you.

We hope these awesome tips help you maintain good dental health. Contact us at 682-213-4114 for an appointment to know more. All major insurance plans accepted.