Toothpaste - how does it help us?

What does the constant brushing help at? As the toothpaste makers state, we can say that teeth brushing prevents caries, gingivitis, plaque and scale formation. However, it is also shown that teeth brushing keep the heart healthy ( diminishes up to 6% the risk of myocardial infarction). It is known that toothpaste was invented many years ago. Teeth brushing was a common practice, but it was not used regularly by any other civilization.

Why do we use toothpaste? - In the oral cavity up to 500 different organisms grow. They are found in food products and remain as residues in your mouth after eating. Most of these form the plaque which sticks to the teeth. These bacteria produce acids that affect the teeth, causing cavities. Therefore, it is recommended that we brush our teeth 2-3 times a day.

What is the toothpaste made of?

Toothpaste contains substances such as baking soda, fluoride, sodium carbonate peroxide, hydrated silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide. Fluoride (a class of compounds) are associated with healthy teeth. Indeed, fluoride helps cleaning the teeth. The baking soda adds a good taste and a pleasant sensation to the toothpaste. This creates foam in your mouth when brushing. Baking soda combines with acids to form gas bubbles of carbon dioxide. Soda is slightly abrasive and will continue to clean the mouth for a short after brushing.

Another important ingredient of the toothpaste is sodium carbonate peroxide. It whitens the teeth and kills bad breath germs. Hydrated silicon dioxide, used for hundreds of years, acts as a slightly abrasive. The White colour of the toothpaste is given by titanium dioxide.

Did you know that...

- You need 17 muscles to smile :-) and 43 to frown :-(

- Toothpaste's flavours are often based on plants such as mint and pepper? Most toothpastes are sweetened with articificial sweeteners.

- Before toothpaste's invention, people used dry and abrasive objects in order to clean their teeth - things such as crushed walnut shells or even pumice stone.

- Before the tooth brush to be invented, people used twigs or their own fingers to brush their teeth.

- The tooth brush, as we nowadays know it, was invented in 1938. Archeological discoveries in Egiptian tombs dated to about 3.000 B.C. prove that the first tooth brush was a small bat which was chewed. It was actually a thin piece of branch, which was ground at one end. Some primitive peoples use such sticks even nowadays.

Zirconium - the future of dental aesthetics [slide 1/2]

In the United States of America, as well as in Europe the latest trend in prosthetic treatments consists in the replacement of metal ceramic crowns (also known as the porcelain crowns) with the procelain crowns on zirconium support.

Romania aligns with this trend through the modern dental clinics from our country. The dentists of our clinic use this new method because of its unparalleled aesthetic benefits.

The benefits of using crowns based on zirconium oxide formula are various: the excellent resitence to pressure ( withstands the chewing activities and daily attrition without fracturing itself),a translucence similar to that of natural teeth.

Due to the abcence of metal support, the light is reflected by a zirconium oxide ceramic crown similar to a natural tooth. Zirconium is thermaly inert as well.

Zirconium - the future of dental aesthetics [slide 2 / 2]

It does not lead heat so that the thermal variations are not transmitted to dental pulp (nerve) and thus the risk of a pulp irritation decreases.

Its characteristics:

- Perfect compatibility with the tissues of the oral cavity, due to the fact that zirconium is practically bio-inert
- Sustainability of the work, due to increased mechanical resistance of zirconium and to the total absence of corrosion in oral environment
- The elimination of bad taste and marginal colouring ( phenomena present in the case of restorations based on classic ceramic crowns)

During the execution of works based on zirconium,the dental technician is assisted by computer, the CAD / CAM technology (Computer Assisted Design / Computer Assisted Manufacturing), enabling the faithful reproduction of dressings made by the doctor on the restored tooth.

Myths about dentistry [1 / 2]

There are a number of myths about dental affections, their treatment, the teeth care as well as the maintenance products of a healthy dentition (toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrush). These myths can affect the brilliance of our teeth, as well as the oral hygiene.

Myth: expensive toothpastes are always better than cheaper versions.
Wrong! Some toothpastes, at low prices, can be very effective in teeth cleaning. Ask your dentist for the recommended brands of toothpaste which will keep the teeth clean and healthy.

Myth: I do not need to consult my dentist if I do not have a visible problem with my teeth.
Wrong! We are not specialists. The dental doctors can see affections hidden to our sight, affections in early development stages, before they turn into serious problems. Starting from advance a treatment for these dental affections can prevent other lasting affections.

Myths about dentistry [2 / 2]

Myth: Generally speaking, my family did not have dental problems,so neither will I have.
Inherited affections play a very small role in dental affections. Regular dental care as well as regular consultation of a specialist is the recipe for perfect oral health,and not family history with dental affections.

Myth: Too hot / too cold food will hurt my teeth.
Excesses damage. If you eat usually food very hot / very cold, your teeth will suffer on a long term. Instead, if this happens rarely, your teeth will not suffer.

Myth: Dental treatments are very painful
Wrong!The modern technologies used generally in dental treatments are usually painless. The anesthetics will often help you not to feel pain. However, some discomfort may occur during a tooth extraction procedure / caries treatment.

The use of toothpaste in 8 ways that you'd have never thought about [1 / 2]

1) Toothpaste can be used to clean the iron plate. Namely on it the calcium from water is often stored and burnings occur, both damaging the ironed clothes. Apply toothpaste, leave a few minutes,wipe it with a soft cloth. To complete the cleaning process, rinse off with water and wipe again with a clean soft cloth.

2) Jewelry cleaning . Use an old toothbrush with some toothpaste. The cleaning of very valuable jewellry is not recommended though. For this one it is recommended the professional cleaning.

3) Disinfection and smell removal out of plastic containers kept closed. Brush the container with toothpaste, wait for a few minutes and rinse. Bad smell will be removed.

4) Cleaning chrome objects (e.g., sanitary installations). For perfect shine, wipe with a soft cloth.

The use of toothpaste in 8 ways that you'd have never thought about [2 / 2]

5) Cleaning the sink - while washing your teeth, rub the surface of the sink with toothpaste and rinse. Not only does it remove the limestone deposits,but also refreshes the drain pipe, preventing bad smells.

6) Removal of drawings in pencil of your little artist - the child's drawings on the walls can be removed using toothpaste, applied on the dirty surface, scrub, and then rinse with warm water.

7) Removing the smell of onion and garlic from your hands - Wash with toothpaste and then rinse with warm water.

8) The filling of small holes in the walls. Toothpaste dries quickly, and the holes are plugged. It works also for the wooden carpentry painted in white.

The maintenance and teeth brushing

Why is it important to maintain our teeth?
To protect ourselves from caries, gingivitis, scale deposits. A constant maintenance of the teeth helps us to prevent pain and to keep a bright smile. In this article we will discuss some helpful tips related to effective teeth care.

Brushing. Brushing your teeth is essential, but it is important not to hurt the gums, by pressing too hard on them. A hard brushing can cause their bleeding and teeth spacing. Dental doctors recommend daily brushing for 2 minutes, 2-3 times a day. Brush your teeth after every meal.

If you have drunk soft drinks / a dessert containing sugar,a teeth brushing or mouthwash is recommended. If brushing and mouthwash are not possible, make sure you have at hand a sugar-free chewing gum.

Food and teeth yellowing

Some simple changes in the way we eat can help our teeth. Drinking soft drinks for a short period of time is less harmful to teeth than its consumption in small sips for a longer period. The 3 important meals of the day are also recommended, in exchange of small snacks during the day.

Teeth yellowing – Regular use of coffee and smoking are among the most well-known causes of teeth yellowing. Some toothpastes,which help to teeth whitening, reduce and even remove these effects. But these toothpastes can cause discomfort if your teeth are sensitive.

Dental doctor – It is recommended a professional dental consultation once every 6 months. Your dentist can make recommendations regarding the oral hygene, prevent some dental affections, and discover problems that patients have not noticed.

Toothaches

To understand the causes of teeth pain, it is important to have a basic understanding of a tooth structure: root implanted in the socket, followed by the neck of a tooth in relation to the gums, and the visible white crown, at the exterior.

Toothache can be caused by an infection, caries, sensitive teeth, gums or even by the tooth nerve. Pharmacies offer a various range of medicines for these affections, medicins that can be obtained without prescription.

It is recommended to contact a dental doctor for a consultation if the pain is strong, persists for more than 36 hours, or is accompanied by other health problems.