Vitamins That Improve Teeth and Gum Health

For better health of your body, you need proper nutrition. Good nutrition also helps in improving health of your teeth and gums. Among other nutrients, vitamins are the ones which can specifically be used for improving the health of oral cavity. Having that said, below mentioned are some vitamins which you can use to improve the health of your teeth and gums.

Calcium

We all know how important calcium is for bone health. Teeth are also the bones. The matter of fact is that direct exposure of teeth to supply of calcium can help in strengthening of dental structure in pretty nicer way. In order to get adequate supply of calcium, you need to consume foods which would absorb well in the body. Milk and yogurt are those foods which are not only rich in calcium but they also absorb well in the body. Canned salmon and sardines also contain calcium in good amount. Vegan foods, which are high in calcium, include green leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses and fortified cereals.

Phosphorus

After calcium, the nutrient which is present in our body in abundance is phosphorus. This nutrient is very helpful for teeth. For good overall health, phosphorus mainly helps in the repair of body tissues. For teeth, phosphorus works with calcium to improve strength.

Phosphorus is mainly contained by protein-rich foods such as meat, eggs, legumes, lentils and dairy products. Whole grains and dry fruits also contain fair amount of phosphorus.

Vitamin D

When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, vitamin D is the micronutrient which you cannot ignore. The main job of this vitamin is to instruct intestines to absorb calcium you have eaten. After that, the calcium gets added into the bloodstream. Milk and breakfast cereals usually have high content of vitamin D.

Vitamin C

While a lot of vitamins are good for teeth, vitamin C is particularly helpful in maintaining and improving health of gums. Study suggests that vitamin C can be helpful in formation of blood vessels and other tissues in your gums in order to support your teeth well. Furthermore, this nutrient also helps in the healing process. Without adequate amount of vitamin C, your gums may be more susceptible to bleed. The major source of vitamin C usually lies in vegetables.

Vitamin A

While you may have heard about importance of vitamin A for eyes, it is also good for the health of your oral cavity. Tissues of teeth and mucus membranes are supported well by vitamin A.

How to take these vitamins?

For optimal health, you need to make sure that you get all your vitamins from natural food resources. Supplements should be avoided as much as possible. if you thing that you require vitamins from supplements, you can ask your dentist.

Herpangina in Children

Children get scratches and bumps like anyone else due to their curiosity and interest in the world around them. But what if the bumps happen in their mouth, and not as a result of them falling? It could be herpangina.  Here, we’ll go over what herpangina is, and how to relieve the discomfort associated with this condition. 

What it is

It’s something that does come with mouth sores, but you also may get a headache, loss of appetite, fever, and even a sore throat, all of which can make swallowing hurt in a lot of cases. 

The sores in the mouth are like tiny fluid bumps or even blisters that are white or even whitish gray, with a border that’s red. 

Visible on the mouth roof, the back of one’s throat, and sometimes in specific areas in the mouth. Sometimes, a fever accompanies it, which can be quick, ranging from 101 to even as high as 106 in a lot of cases. The biggest thing to worry about is avoiding dehydration, as it happens a lot in this condition. 

Relieving Discomfort 

Because herpangina is a viral condition, the symptoms can be discomforting.  Many times, healthcare professionals diagnose this, but it’s mild, with no specifics in terms of treatment. 

There are different ways to relieve symptoms, which include: 

• Reducing fever and pain with acetaminophen and ibuprofen 

• Increasing foods or fluids that will help with lowering temperatures 

• Eating a diet that’s bland and not irritating 

• Gargling with peroxyl and cold water 

Try to also make sure that the oral health environment is maintained too. Have them brush their teeth and take care of it as best as they can. 

A mouthwash may be used too in this case, in order to heal the irritation a little bit faster. However, you should always check with the dentist, in order to ensure that rinses are appropriate for them before they get thrown into the oral care routines. 

Herpangina is a contagious disease, and it can be something that does spread to siblings and classmates. That means, practicing good oral hygiene and also practicing good overall hygiene is imperative. 

Disinfect the surfaces that a child has touched in a lot of cases. 

You may even need to isolate the child, keeping them at home, and away from other people, so that they don’t spread the infection. 

If they’re in daycare, you may need to keep them at home, until the symptoms resolve. 

Now, you don’t send them back until they’ve fully made a recovery. This can be a bit of a challenge for some parents, as they may believe that once the fever breaks, it’s okay. However, due to the contagious nature of this disease, it’s better to keep them at home until they’ve managed a swift, speedy recovery. 

Herpangina is a condition that has a lot of lingering effects if one isn't careful, and it can affect the mouth, along with the rest of the body. Like other colds and ways of getting sick, it can take some time for you to properly get used to this. With that said, if you notice that you have some issues, the best thing for you to do is to make sure that you get the treatment that you do. 

Herpangina is treatable, and it can be a bit scary for children. But with the proper treatment and wellness, you’ll be able to improve the aspects of this, and in turn, you’ll be able to, over time, create and craft the best experience that you can, and enjoy the results too.

How long will my Bridge Last

If you’ve gotten a dental bridge, you probably want to replace those teeth to make them function like the real thing, and to make them last the length that your real teeth do too.  Are they able to last a long time with the dental bridge? How can you make the lifespan better?  All those answers are here. 

Removable Vs. Fixed bridges 

When you’ve got bridges, you have two types: the removable ones, and the fixed ones. Removable is pretty simple. it’s removed, and they’re usually clipped onto the current teeth that you have, and your dentist files them down.  If you want to get this, you do have to clean every single day, taking them out. They tend to cost a lot lower, and they won’t require you to get surgery either. You can get fixed bridges too, one with the bridge that caps right over the tooth naturally, or there is one that’s put on each side, and one of them does get cemented.

There are also implants that you need to have put on via surgery directly to where the jawbone is. 

Over 3 million people in America alone have some form of dental implants, and these implants tend to last a long time. they get put into the bone, Osseo integrating where the bone gets fused to the metal, offering support, and allowing you to speak and eat like how you would normally. 

These can take a bit longer, and usually, after the implant is fastened onto there, there’s a pole that’s put on there, and then of course, the crown.

This is something that a lot of people have looked into as it can prevent the shifting of those empty spaces and reduces the rate of TMJ in the body.

How long do they last? 

There are various amounts of time, and this is something that’s really just impacted based on the diet you have, your oral care, and also, how you take care of it, and what sorts of activities you do. Usually, the removable ones last up to seven years, but if you do visit the dentist on the regular and take care of your teeth, they can last over a decade. This is something that you should be mindful of, since if they last longer than a decade, they might even last a whole lifetime. 

How to Care for this 

Caring for this is important, as it offers you good hygiene, in the same manner that you would your actual teeth. The goal is to brush these twice daily, floss these between the teeth either with interdental cleaners, or through using water flossers once a day.  You may also want to consider using tongue scrapers and mouth rinses, in order to ensure that everything is cleaned up. 

Another thing that you should do is see a dentist, since they can check and clean the teeth, ensuring that they look perfect, no matter what.

They also will give you everything that you need to know to care for the bridge health, so you’re not left hung to dry.

If you’re worried about your bridge getting gross, make sure that if it’s removable, you remove this, and then you want to clean it the same way you would anything else. 

Make sure that you brush it the same way you would a normal toothbrush, and consider denture cleaners too, but be mindful of anything that’s abrasive.

Don't leave the bridge in denture solutions or in water, as this can cause it to rust. 

Take care of it, and you’ll be able to make it last.

What causes Submandibular Gland Swelling

Most people know what salivary glands are, and they usually aren’t something that we think about. But if something goes awry, then we’ll notice this quickly. Our salivary glands are used to chew, swallow, speak to others, and also wash out the food that’s on our teeth. The submandibular gland swelling is associated with infection, dry mouth, and most other conditions. Burt, most of the causes of this are easy to treat. 

What the Submandibular glands are 

They’re basically two walnut-sized glands on each part of your face, right in front of the curve near the lower jaw, at the back part of the mouth. Along with the salivary glands, the glands here provide saliva, which contain different enzymes that’ll break down minerals and food, reducing the damage of acids and food on the enamel of the tooth. Saliva also makes food that you chew nice and wet, along with easy for you to swallow too. 

Causes of the Swelling 

If you feel some kind of swelling under the lower portion of the jaw, this could be known as swollen submandibular glands. Swollen glands are caused usually by small stones that block the ducts, and those that channel saliva into the mouth. These stones can be made through saliva, especially when you’re dehydrated. 

When stones block salivary glands, this is known as sialolithiasis, which is where you have pain and swelling in that gland.  While not totally known, this is associated with gout and liver disease. 

According to The Journal of Medical research, sialolithiasis is one of the most common types of salivary gland diseases, and the submandibular gland is usually affected in about 83% of different cases. 

The infections usually come from ducts that are blocked.  In most of these cases, the swelling is accompanied by pus and redness too. 

Salivary gland swelling also happens when you have a tumor.  This can be caused by both non cancerous and cancerous tumors, and the glands might be firmer due to this infection. 

Cancerous tumors tend to be much harder to fix and they usually are stuck to the tissue of the gland. However, tumors that aren’t cancerous might be removable. 

Talk to your dentist if you have this, so that you can get an effective treatment. 

The Treatment  for Swollen Salivary Glands 

The treatment does vary based on the severity of this. earl/y treatment will save you from developing infections. 

According to the national health service, you do want to increase the production of saliva through chewing gum and drinking tons of water. You can also massage the stone in order to dislodge this. 

If you can’t treat this at home, push the stone out through the submandibular gland, at your doctor’s office, and they use a small instrument to do this. In the rare case that it’s stuck, they may need to use surgery to get this out. If you do have a condition that causes you to develop this, getting treatment early will help with reducing the risk of developing this. 

If you do have an infection here, a doctor can prescribe some kinds of antibiotics, and also get any pus joust, especially if there is an abscess. Swelling caused by tumors, however, must be treated with surgery. Cancerous tumors need to be treated right away and do require minoring. If it’s painful, you can use a warm compress on the gland area directly, and also rinse out the mouth with water in order to help with the discomfort. Overall, make sure that you watch your water, and avoid smoking to prevent this formation. 

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.

All About Cavities

 Cavities are a form of tooth decay where bacteria generate acids, destroying the enamel of the tooth, and the dentin underneath it.  you might wonder about what these normally entail. Well, we have a little more to tell you about cavities, and why they are no good. 

Signs and Symptoms of Cavities 

Most of the time, you do know when you might have problems. The first, is your teeth hurt, aching a little bit. The second, is there’s  activity when it comes to sweet, hot, and cold drinks. The third, is a pain when chewing. 

Cavity Causes 

The main reason for cavities is because we don’t take care of our teeth and are eating too many sugary foods. 

While the mouth houses a wealth of bacteria, building up sticky film called plaque happens when the bad bacteria eat a whole bunch of sugars. 

When we drink and eat certain foods, the bacteria create what’s called acids. These dissolve the protective elements beneath the plaque that’s retained. The acids remove various minerals directly from the enamel. When not treated, cavities form. 

The decay then happens in the major parts of your mouth known as the enamel, and the enamel then gets further brown down as decay gets further into the dentin, eventually reaching the tooth pulp. That of course, can lead to some major damage and possible removal of the tooth. 

Diagnosis and Prevention 

The easiest way to diagnose these cavities is by looking at the surface of the tooth. X-rays also help to see where the cavity goes, and how far into the pulp or dentin of your teeth. 

If there is one, you will need treatments, but there are different ways to help you with preventing this. 

The first is to brush and floss these on a daily basis. It reduces the amount of plaque that builds up in the mouth on the daily. 

The second, is to eat less starchy and sugary foods as often, in order to reduce the acids that damage the teeth in the mouth.

When brushing, utilize a fluoride toothpaste. This will strengthen the teeth.  The treatments also provided by dentists, or utilizing fluoride supplements are further recommended too. 

Try to use mouth rinses that are antibacterial, in order to reduce the bacteria that’s responsible for activities. 

Finally, if you have gum, chewing gum with xylitol in there also decreases the overall bacterial growth of the area, and can make things easier on you. 

Treatments for Cavities 

Most of the time, treatments involve filling in the cavity especially if the enamel isn’t able to be fixed.  If you have a chance, get sealants early to prevent this. 

If it gets serious, you might need a root canal. 

Children can get the baby molars and later on those permanent molars sealed. The fluoride varnish on both the permanent and primary teeth protect you from decay.

When not treated, it actually can cause significant decay. Eventually, the decay, when left uncontrolled, permanently destroys the teeth. There is also the possibility of an abscess developing as infection spreads to the tooth root. 

The cavities that occur are a result of poor hygiene and retained dental plaque. The specific bacteria can also hit the gum line, causing gum disease in the mouth, which at that point, you’ll need a periodontist to treat. because they can penetrate the mouth, they may also create nerve damage too if you’re not careful. 

Simply put, with cavities, treating them right will eventually lead to prevention. Utilizing preventative care stops the worst of the damage from happening and builds better dental health.

Is Dental Floss Eco Friendly

Interdental cleaning on the daily is vital for a healthy, happy mouth. However, some worry that there might be implications of dental floss on the environment. If you’re looking to be more eco-friendly with your healthcare products, there are other options, and here, we’ll go over whether dental floss is truly eco-friendly. 

About Floss 

We need floss in order to prevent the biofilm from forming on the teeth. Interdental cleaning offers gum health to prevent this plaque from becoming a problem. 

Not only does dental floss do this, but floss picks, water flossers, and the like reach different areas where they normally cannot.  Thie can reach those areas you normally can’t with a brush, and lowers the risk of tooth decay, along with gingivitis. 

Dental floss is made from Teflon, or synthetic waxed nylon. The materials used in this do make recycling a challenge. It takes 80 years just for this to break down. Even plastic dental floss picks can’t be easy to recycle, as they’re made of too different materials to the point where recycling is an issue. 

You can’t reuse dental floss either, because multiple uses of this will cause the floss to fray. It also already has bacteria and food on this, so it will transfer directly to the mouth. 

Eco-Friendly Alternatives 

There are eco-friendly alternatives that you can get, all without sacrificing one’s oral health. 

Recyclable tubes of toothpaste and dental floss containers are two options. Cardboard, along with other materials that are biodegradable are becoming more commonly used as a dental floss option. 

There are plenty of other ones, and they include: 

• Silk flossing 

• Dental floss from beeswax and plants 

• Bamboo floss made with charcoal polyester 

• Reusable picks made from some recycled paper 

• Water flossing 

The transition from waste to no waste is pretty hard to do, since there are many people that don’t know the best dental flossing options. In fact, there are so many that usually don’t realize that their actions are impactful. After all, many times when you think about floss, you’re usually thinking that it’s safe for the environment. 

While small, it does have a profound impact on the world around you, and this as well can make it a challenge for plenty of people to deal with. 

With that said, your best course of action is of course, to try and find more eco-friendly options for your needs. 

These eco-friendly flossers make a lot of big changes for people’s health and wellness. It lets you of course, with all of your items in place, build the ideal situation for yourself, and the correct course of action. 

Take some time and look at the dental floss that you have. If it’s not as eco friendly, consider maybe trying different options which are of course, nice and safe for the environment.  You can, over time, make the transition from waste to zero waste, and you’ll notice that it’s better for the planet. 

Plus, you’ll get to take care of your health and wellness. Plenty of people don’t realize the impact that their oral health has on everything. It can even cause issues with your physical health! With that said, try to be mindful of the dental floss that you use, and in turn, build the right sort of style for yourself, and the correct, most impactful,  ways for you to take care of your oral health. 

And of course, you can as well keep it for a long time, and also make it easier for you to build the ideal sort of oral health you can.