DO YOU KNOW THE BASICS?

Recently the American Dental Association did a survey to see if typical Americans knew some basic facts about dental health.  here are some of the questions - play along and see how you do!

1)  What type of bristles should you have on your toothbrush - soft, medium or hard?

Most people chose either medium or hard, but the fact is soft bristles are best!  Medium or hard can actually damage your sensitive gum tissue and wear your teeth!

2)  Sugar causes cavities - True or False?

Practically everyone answered "true" to this one, but the answer is actually "false!"  But you may feel it's a trick question.  Cavities are caused by bacteria, but the problem causing organisms feed on sugar that is stuck to your teeth!  We recommend limiting sweets and soft drinks, especially the sticky kind!

3)  Does The American Dental Association recommend brushing your teeth for sixty seconds after every meal, or for two minutes twice per day?

Again, most people got this one wrong!  The ADA suggests twice per day for two minutes.  Of course, if you want to throw in a few extra brushing sessions each day we won't object - especially before you come to visit us!

4)  True or False - It is normal for your gums to bleed while brushing and flossing.

Okay - this one is a little scary.  35% of respondents answered "true" - but the answer is definitely false!  Think about it - what would you do if your nose bled every time you sneezed, or your arm bled when you scratched it?  Well, the same goes for your gums!  Bleeding is a sign of gum disease and infection, and is certainly not normal or healthy!

So how did you do?  Hopefully this little quiz was fun, and maybe you even learned something!

At DeLand Smiles, we are here to answer any questions you may have, no matter how basic!  Give us a call at 386-736-7121 and we will be glad to help you - or to set up an appointment for a dental examination, cleaning, or to look at any dental problem you may be having, or even to brighten up your smile.  Whatever it is - we can help!

To BP or not BP?

As the oil continues to wash closer & closer, encroaching upon the livelihood of surrounding towns, the anticipation of devastation has Gulf Coast cities low on both tourism & optimism. Military response efforts have helped defray some time & expense, helping to streamline the claims process on land & stave off the oil at sea. So how does this relate to dentistry?

Bacteria, like gushing oil, continues to multiply until something stops it or removes it. Small amounts of bacteria can be removed by a toothbrush and can die with the use of a Fluoride mouthrinse; however, small amounts of bacteria quickly multiply into large amounts of bacteria if not stopped or removed on a daily basis. The only way for bacteria to survive is to eat something nutritious—and in the mouth, nutrition comes from healthy teeth & gums.

The livelihood of a tooth is its nerve and bone. The nerve is in the middle of the tooth and it is joined to the bone at the base of the tooth. Bacteria begins eating on the outside of the tooth and migrates toward the most delicious part—the nerve. It has a great blood supply with many nutrients that keep bacteria strong & multiplying. At this point, the bacteria have eaten a hole in the tooth, are sucking the life out of the tooth by eating the nerve, and are working their way to the bone. Like the Gulf Coast communities feel the affects of the oil spill via a decrease in tourism & trade, a person’s livelihood will be affected by pain & swelling.

Dentists to the rescue! Although there is still no cure for the BP gusher, there is a cure for a person in such a condition. A dentist has the skills and tools to remove and kill the bacteria causing the acute problem so your mouth doesn’t become a “BP Situation.” The key is to see your dentist regularly so that gushers don’t continue to erupt all over your mouth.

I don’t know if BP had any foresight into the effects of their actions, but as responsible adults, we know the consequences of our own actions. If a dental professional informs you about a cavity-- in relation to BP, it means the oil is bubbling and if you don’t have it treated, it will become a gusher. If he/she suggests anything larger, (ie crown, root canal, etc), it means you already have a “BP Situation” and there is a system in place to resolve the problem. If you are told there are multiple issues throughout your mouth that need to be addressed…it means you definitely have a “BP Situation” –and in order to resolve the problem, we, as engineers will devise a plan for treatment & you, the patient, will have to join the clean-up crew.

If only BP could make it so easy…