Green initiatives for Oral Health

Your oral health matters, and making sure that you go green with him is so important. Our carbon footprint is increasing. With more people becoming aware of just what these harmful activities do to you, it’s imperative to look at different ways to go green, and also have a healthier, better planet.

A lot of times, we don't look at the oral health that we have, and instead, ignore it. but this is something you can be a little more mindful of, and when you partake in these green initiatives, you’re able to commit to improving the world. 

Here, we’ll go over some of the green initiatives for oral health. 

The Plastic Problem 

Plastic is everywhere, and as a form of waste, it’s something that you have to be mindful of. For instance, we have food packets that are made of plastic, and plastic bags and straws that litter our world. 

However, did you know that plastic is also present in our oral health products? While it is safer plastic than what you might get from a bag, it’s still not good for the environment. In fact, plastic waste from toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and floss is definitely a big old problem.

And of course, if you’re not careful that plastic accumulates.   So, if you’re not considering the plastic that you use when you’re taking care of your oral health, it’s going to create a major problem. 

Eco Friendly Alternatives 

With plastic out of the question, one might wonder what the eco-friendly alternatives are for dental care products.

The first, is bamboo toothbrushes. These are made with bamboo, which is an eco-friendly material.   Bamboo is one of the most sustainable sorts of materials out there, and is very strong too.   this is a great alternative if you’re looking to ditch your plastic friend.

The second is biodegradable floss. This is made with a plastic that’s easy to break down. Sometimes, they’re also made with other sustainable alternatives as well.   This is a great one, and also much easier on your teeth as well, since it can be easily tossed away.

The third is refillable toothpastes.   You can get a bottle of toothpaste, and then once you’re done using it, refill it once again. not every retailer does this, but it’s a great measure if you want to save your resources. Plus, it can be cheaper in the long haul too. 

Dentists and Sustainability 

Dentists do have a bit of a hand in the sustainability of the products that are out there.

While not every dentist is out here frothing at the mouth to use sustainable dental products, some are taking the initiative and trying to give customers exactly what they want. That means that a lot of dentists are using these types of products, or giving them to their consumers when they get their teeth cleaned.

While it isn’t as prevalent as it should be yet, this is a great alternative to just using the same old plastic when you’re taking care of your teeth.

Small Changes, Big Impact 

All of the changes to your oral health are not that huge. Most of these also cost a fraction of what you might have to pay out for the plastic dental products. But, despite the slight price increase, the effects of this are much faster.

When you make these small changes, both in your dental routine and in the items that you choose, you’ll find that you’ll make a big environmental difference. So don’t wait, go green today, and see for yourself just how much of an impact your actions can have.  

What Makes your tongue Gray

Normally, tongues are pink and healthy, and you may notice that it’s a varying degree. It’s usually not something that you think about the most, and usually, your teeth are the primary focus. But if you see it become grayish, concerns might be there. Some people may wonder what the cause of a gray tongue is, and whether you should worry about this. Here, we’ll go over what it is, the risk factors, and the treatments. 

It’s Usually Leukoplakia 

This is a condition where you get gray and white patches that appear within the mouth. They may be on your tongue, or on the gums and cheeks. They’re usually not painful and you might not even notice it, unless you look at the tongue, or you scrape all of this off.

If you smoke a lot, have lots of alcohol, or like to chew tobacco, you’re usually not going to get this.  It’s not something that you shouldn’t pay mind to, but for the most part, it’s not dangerous. Untreated though, you might get oral cancer. 

Oral Lichen Planus 

This is an inflammatory condition that affects some parts of your body creating bumps that are reddish-purple, and they may be rashes too.

This usually creates gray and lacy lesions on the tongue, and this can usually create ulcers in some people, sores, or a sensation that it’s burning.

Most of the time, you usually won't even be able to determine how this is  caused, but this happens usually when there are immune responses. If your immune system is weakened, you also may have some risk for this.

There are other triggers too, including: 

• The flu vaccine 

• Some chemicals and anagram metals 

• Hepatitis C

• Some pain relievers like ibuprofen or arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and blood pressure medication 

This is usually not harmful, but usually about 1% of the cases account for oral cancer 

Oral Thrush 

This is basically candida, and it’s a yeast. This is basically a fungus that’s present naturally within our mouths, but when it’s overgrown, it can cause problems over time. This also happens to babies and adults that have immune systems which are weakened. This usually creates patches that are white, with a cottage cheese texture on them, including where your tongue is.

They’re usually not totally removed easily, and usually, it’s bleeding and red. You shouldn’t get rid of this yourself. You should definitely go see your doctor, as it can be caused by immune systems which are weakened, cancer, diabetes, and even some antibiotic resistance due to years of poor treatment and imbalance. 

Bad Oral hygiene 

Finally, you may just have bad oral hygiene that’s causing this.  You may have some possible inflammation in your tongue papillae, the little hairy projections, and they become inflamed due to the bad oral hygiene. These cells get trapped, and that causes an appearance of a white coating.  Usually, it also comes with bad breath too. 

The best way to treat this is to see your dentist, as they can offer you the ideal treatment.

Most of the time, they’ll look it over to make sure it doesn’t turn into cancer, and they’ll ask you to quit those lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol for now.  Usually, lichen planus goes away naturally, but there are some gels which help.

For the most part, oral thrush is treated by prescriptions, depending on the situation.

The bet way to treat this yourself, is to make sure that you take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing and making sure that you clean your tongue. 

What to do about Cracked Molars

 When it comes to consuming food, molars are the MVPS. They do a lot of the work, and sometimes, if they crack, it can be a major problem.  You do need them.  Here, we’ll go over the cracks in molars, what to do about them, and the treatment before you get to the dentist, and when you get there. 

How it Happens 

Cracks in molars happen due to the fact that they’re on the mouth’s side and back, and they absorb the brunt of the force whenever you chew something. Hard types of foods such as candy, and even chewing on some ice leads to this. 

Teeth grinding also causes this a lot of times too. Sometimes, you may not even realize that this is happening until you get a shot of pain through the mouth, and it can be quite sensitive as well, especially when drinking or eating foods that are cold or hot.  If you suspect this, it’s better to get an appointment sooner than later to look into this and get relief fast! 

What to do when waiting for Appointments 

Obviously, not every person’s able to get in immediately to their dentist. If you’re not able to, there are a few things to figure out before seeing them. 

Make a note first and foremost of the location of the pain. That way, you’re able to create a better experience, and also have a cracked molar treatment that is pinpointed. 

Try not to chew on the side with the crack, so that it doesn’t get worse or cause further problems 

Keep anything hot or cold away from that area if you can, especially liquids. 

The Diagnosis and Treatment 

If you’re able to get in, the first thing is they’ll look at the teeth. 

If you’re lucky enough to have a crack that only affects the outer layer of the teeth, they’ll look to see if they need to do something immediately. Hairline fractures are usually not a big deal, and if they’re superficial enough, the dentist may be able to just polish and smooth out the area and dissipate the pain as well. 

If it’s more than that however, they may need to do something else.  If there is an infection, or even deeper fractures, then the treatment will be based on crack severity.  Dentists may recommend crowns, root canals, or extraction of the teeth, depending on the situation. 

If there is a situation where you may need to get a root canal or a crown, they’ll do that.  they may need to do this if there is an internal infection problem with the teeth. 

Extraction is the final case scenario, if they’ve exhausted the options, or if the tooth is so far gone that they’re unable to save it. 

They only do that as a last minute thing because molars are integral to tooth structures. If you’ve cracked one, it’s even more important to go see a dentist that will look at this.  This is especially true if it’s sensitive to heat and cool. 

The sooner you’re able to see a dentist, the better it will be.  Hairline fractures are always a best case scenario, and early treatment does mean a difference between just crowning it, getting a root canal to handle inner infections, or an extraction. 

Good oral hygiene keeps this maintained, and when you do regular cleaning that check on the teeth, they keep these molars, which are so hard working mind you, healthy and happy for the long-term, benefitting your mouth in the best ways that it can possibly do so as well.