Looking For Teeth Grinding Solution ? Then Read This

August 29, 2010 by AMA  
Filed under Dental Care

Fingernails scratching a blackboard, a pneumatic drill and a rat gnawing through timbers. these are just some of the noises that have been used to explain teeth grinding. No wonder it can disrupt your sleep.

This habit, which can be as loud and disruptive as snoring, not only keeps your bed partner up half the night, it can mean you wake up with jaw ache or a splitting headache.

Teeth grinding – or bruxism if you want to get technical – is a condition where you either press, clench, or physically grind your teeth against each other. If you’re one of the 10% of adults who suffer this at night, there’s a chance you’re doing it in the day, too, but you’re not aware of it. Each episode of grinding lasts four to five seconds and happens about 25 times per night. If you or your partner are light sleepers, that’s a lot of potential awakenings.

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WHAT CAUSES IT?
No one really knows why people get it. It might simply be a habit like biting your nails, drumming fingers or sucking the inside of your cheeks – in fact, many teeth grinders also have these quirks. The most likely trigger, however, is stress. You may well be stressed if you’re having difficulty concentrating, feeling more irritable than usual, you need a drink to relax or rely on comfort food. Because of this you could be finding it difficult to get to sleep or having fitful sleep.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
You may wake up with a headache, jaw ache or earache that goes away as the day wears on. These are all caused by joint and muscle strain in your upper and lower jaws. And if left untreated, the surface of your upper and lower teeth can be worn down so much it creates an imbalance in closure between the left and right sides of your mouth. Left untreated this can lead to serious gum disease and you may even lose some of your teeth.

WHO SPOTS IT?
Normally your long suffering partner or your dentist who should detect the characteristic wear on the teeth. Wear associated with grinding is proven to be most evident on the molars in the back of your mouth. Have a look yourself by opening your mouth and checking your teeth in the mirror. You’re a teeth grinder if your teeth are worn down on one side of your mouth or if the enamel that covers your teeth has worn down to reveal the slightly darker dentine beneath it.

HOW’S IT TREATED?
You need to tackle the cause – that means reducing stress – as well as stop the situation getting any worse – that means proper tooth care.

* Cut down on caffeine and alcohol – which make stress worse.
* Try out various relaxation therapies and see which one works for you. Meditation and body-calming activities like yoga seem to help reduce the stress that aggravates habitual grinding~Some meditation and body-calming activities such as yoga seem to help reduce the stress that aggravates habitual grinding}.
* To relax clenched muscles before you go to bed or in the morning, apply a warm face cloth to the side of your face.
* Visit your dentist who will suggest either a single treatment or combination of treatments. This might include muscle relaxants to relax your jaw muscles. If that doesn’t help you can be fitted with a special mouth guard which can fits on to the lower or upper jaw and is worn at night. This removable plastic device prevents teeth from getting close together, stopping further damage to your teeth. It may also stop the urge to grind. The idea is that it reprogrammes the part of your brain that controls movement, so that your jaw doesn’t receive the signal to start grinding. To treat the damage caused by more serious cases of grinding, your dentist may reshape your biting surfaces with crowns or inlays.

Orthodontist Washington DC Is It Possible To Treat Plaque?

August 24, 2010 by AMA  
Filed under Dental Care

Many people are under the impression that as you get older, you will naturally start to lose your teeth. However, newer skills have revealed that this is not the case, but you must follow precise steps for maintaining the health of your teeth and gums, including normal dentist visits. This will ensure that your oral health is protected so that you have your teeth for your entire lifetime.

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Keep reading for numerous constructive tips.

Plaque is actually one of the main hazards to your teeth that are produced by damaging bacteria that exists in the mouth and clings to the exterior of the teeth.  Some types of this plaque will generate tooth decay, and others may theoretically leave you at risk for gum disease. If you have bleeding, inflamed, or red gums, those are the first stages of gum disease.  If this problem is not fixed, the tissues that keep the teeth in place will be obliterated completely so that all of the teeth will fall out. Dental plaque is hard to notice unless it begins to stay in the exterior of the teeth.  You can see the stains by eating red tablets found at the grocery store, or you can also rub green food coloring with a cotton swab on the exterior of the teeth.  The red or green color will make the plaque on the teeth visible, and it will show you what places to brush so that it can be removed. Staining your teeth normally will help you to view plaque immediately so that it can all be brushed away to guard the exterior of your teeth.

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An essential stage in the process is brushing and flossing every single day.  It is important to hold a long string of floss with both ends wound around your index fingers. You can then use these floss to remove debris along the upper and lower teeth, but it is important to floss as gently as possible so that you do not harm your gums. After flossing, you must brush your teeth every day. It is essential to brush gently and not too hard, and you can maneuver your toothbrush in small circular motions back and forth to take out debris.  To stop tooth decay, it is necessary to brush with a fluoride toothpaste, which will guard the teeth from detriment. To prevent tooth decay, it is important to use fluoride toothpaste, which will protect the teeth from damage.

Last of all, make it a priority to brush the surface of the tongue to remove the bacteria that can cause bad breath. Any type of food particles can adhere on the tongue to generate halitosis and tooth decay, and this is also the cause of gum disease.  This is why you must remove all residue from the teeth, especially plaque. Make it your goal to brush and floss twice times daily for the best outcome in plaque removal, which will stop the buildup on the exterior of your teeth that can generate long-term decay and discolorations. As a last resort, you may also want to think about using a dental device to further remove plaque, which can be bought in a supermarket as a quick plaque removal tool.

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