A New Toothbrush Will Be On The Market - Gum Disease

A new toothbrush will be on the market later this year. The sad news is that it doesn't address the area between your teeth. This new toothbrush designed by a major toothpaste company has special sensors to let the user know that the biofilm (plaque) has been removed from the area being brushed, so the patient then moves to a new area.

The sensors relay a signal that turns on a light in the tooth brush handle. This feature is great but most gum disease starts at the gum line between the teeth. Plaque is a sticky mass of bacteria that forms every day. Whether we eat or not, plaque forms. If plaque is not removed in 24 to 48 hours, plaque crystallizes. Then the crystallized plaque can only be removed with dental instruments. Plaque removal is one part of the problem.

Saliva forms constantly in our mouths, saliva contains calcium which will harden. Hardened calcium is called calculus or tartar. Crystallized plaque and tartar (calculus) are two different layers. Together, crystallized plaque and hardened calcium (tartar or calculus) can only be removed with dental instruments and even dentists and hygienists have a hard time removing it. A special sonic type scaler is sometimes needed.

Yet, the bacteria in plaque that forms every day can penetrate tartar and gets close to your tooth surface. Bacteria on your tooth surface release acids that weaken your tooth enamel and can cause cavities. Allowing caked on food and debris to remain on your tooth surface along your gum line can cause "ring around each tooth white spots". These white spots weaken enamel and if you continue to neglect your home care, may become "ring around your tooth cavities. at your gum line your tooth nerve, artery and vein complex are the closest to your mouth gum line surface. Decay doesn't have to be too deep before decay invades the nerve, artery and vein structures that sits in the lower center of each tooth. If decay reaches that complex, you may need a root canal or an extraction. The cost of restoring decayed surfaces on a tooth is expensive.

Root canals are expensive, removing gum line decay is expensive. A root canaled tooth and large restorations around the necks of teeth requires care when you eat. Using strong biting forces on root canaled or teeth with large restorations can fracture a tooth at the gum line. The restoration of gum line fractured teeth/implants may be done. Will these restorations last? Some patients will do correct daily flossing and brushing and will not bite into apples, hard nuts, or chew on ice. These patients know what limitations they have and they follow them.

Other patients will not floss or brush correctly and are determined to eat what they want even if their teeth keep breaking. The dentists who treat these patients (who have dental insurance) and dental insurance companies may have already rejected any payments due to lack of patient compliance. If it is determined that your tooth structure remaining won't hold a restoration or if gum disease is present most insurances will not approve a crown until the gum disease is treated. By correctly flossing and brushing a patient with have healthy teeth and body health. Patients sometimes wait longer periods of time between dental checkups. Although gum disease and cavities sometimes don't cause any sensitivities, bad taste, or bleeding gums (etc.) until problems get out of hand. 

Having dental treatments are expensive, and dental insurance is costly and each year dental insurance pays less and less. Each year that patients do not restore their teeth, the higher the cost. Your tooth and gum disease are affecting your present and future health. Having mouth odor, bad taste, pain, swelling, loose teeth and difficulty eating is no way to live. If you find yourself in this dental state, there are dentists who may help you but you have to be honest with yourself.

Dental insurance companies with maximum $1,000 -$2,000/yearly benefit can help, but if your teeth are breaking down at a faster rate, you may need to use your own savings to remove all the infection. You can only restore teeth if the remainder of the tooth structure left can hold on to a filling. If you are thinking of dental implants, implants are expensive and if not cared for can cause gum disease. 

The natural teeth that you were born with belong to you. We all have to learn good home dental care. Some patients take care of their cars better than they take care of their teeth. Your gum line tissue is precious and needs to be flossed and brushed correctly daily. You have to remove plaque bacteria, rotting food, dead bacteria, and dead fighting cells. By daily flossing and brushing, this will save your teeth for life and protect your present and future health.

Bacteria is all around us, and there's nothing we can do. If you are taking care of your children or a family member, it is a good idea to make sure your mouth is being checked on a regular basis. It is easy to neglect your health when taking care of someone else. 

A recent article about a man from England used various items to remove a piece of food from a back tooth. The man developed an infection involving the valves of his heart and aorta. This shows that dental infections can progress quickly. It is important to always wash your hands and use proper tools when removing food particles from your mouth. Washing your hands after you take your hands/fingers out of your mouth prevents you from infecting your eyes and any cuts or bruises on your face and hands.

If you are about to eat a meal and notice there is food or other debris on your utensils, ask for new ones. If you wouldn't eat with dirty utensils, how could you allow food particles to stay between your teeth for long periods of time. Every time you swallow and eat, bacteria, rotting food, dead bacteria, is fighting cells to collect the debris in your mouth. Most patients don't realize the amount of damage that plaque can cause. Research has shown that plaque can lead to eventually losing your teeth.

Each of our unique immune systems is determined by genetic and environmental factors. When our body's defense system is also being attacked by bacteria and toxins, our vascular system becomes inflamed. Our body's organs are becoming inflamed/can be infected. Having uncontrolled high blood sugar and high blood pressure may be the result. This can also lead to Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancers, and blood cancers which are associated with gum disease. Every week, new diseases are being connected to gum disease.

Gum disease is a slow process, and may take years to notice. However, you can change the way you floss and brush to prevent it from progressing. Once you practice dental hygiene in a healthier way, you will ward off these types of oral diseases. There are two ways to repair the damage from gum disease. The latest gum disease treatments is called lanap (laser assisted new attachment procedure) a special laser that was built to treat gum disease. By using the periolase(r) mvp-7, there is no cutting/no sewing, all diseased tissue and bone are vaporized in one treatment. Immediately following treatment, a scab is formed. You will be told how to treat the affected area. A one year follow up appointment will be scheduled. 

Our Philadelphia office cares about protecting our patients from developing gum disease. We are introducing lanap to the Philadelphia area for $1,000. We will offer the lanap protocol to the entire mouth. There are other additional features. However, this treatment is not paid for by dental insurance. The lanap protocol is a cash or employer benefit. Look at our website for more information: philadelphiadentallaser.com