Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment

Oral hygiene is already important when it comes to a healthy mouth, but it’s even more important when the mouth is going through orthodontic treatment. There are more nooks and crannies when brackets are placed on the teeth, wherein food is trapped and turned into plaque. Dr. Roopi Kattaura at Ardas Family Dental in Parker, CO, takes pride in educating patients with braces about the importance of an at-home oral hygiene regimen. 

Patients with braces are at an increased risk for early stages of tooth decay and gingivitis if proper oral hygiene isn’t used. Dr. Kattaura recommends brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, as well as flossing, two to three times a day. You should be brushing in and around each bracket and wire, brushing in a circular motion where the gums and teeth meet, and brushing in a back and forth motion on the tops of molars.

Other things to consider during orthodontic treatment:

- Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Sugary foods and drinks erode enamel and make the teeth more susceptible to tooth decay, especially if you aren’t brushing properly or regularly.

- Certain foods can loosen, break, or bend wires. To limit stress on your braces, avoid eating hard or sticky foods.

Do you have a question or concern? We are happy to help! Ardas Family Dental is located at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, in Parker, CO 80134. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit ardasfamilydental.com or call the office at 720-459-8420.

 

Treatment for White Spots in Parker, CO

Would you know if you were developing a cavity? You might think you could tell from having a toothache, but that’s not actually the first sign of enamel infection. We provide regular cleanings to patients of all ages at Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado, but we want our patients to be able to recognize when they need specialized attention quickly. That’s why this week’s blog post is dedicated to the telltale sign of an incipient lesion: a white spot.

Enamel has a higher composition of inorganic tissues than any other tissue in the body. Although this makes it much harder, it can be damaged by the accumulation of acid. This can happen when a person consumes acidic things directly, when bacteria metabolize sugar on their teeth and produce acid as a waste product, or when they regurgitate acid from their stomach. The demineralization of enamel causes it to appear a chalky white color before it decays away, leaving behind a cavity.

White spots commonly occur around orthodontic brackets and in hard-to-brush places such as the sides of teeth and near the gum line. It may take as few as thirty days after one forms for it to become a cavity. The infection can usually be stopped through better hygiene, but there is a possibility the enamel will remain scarred. If that happens, we may discuss concealing it with with a veneer or bonding after we determine that the infection is no longer active.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Alzheimer's and Gum Disease

Preventing gum disease isn’t just important for keeping your teeth; it may be essential for the health of your brain. We at Ardas Family Dental are dedicated to helping our patients understand how serious oral health is. Scientists have already linked gum disease to a large number of ailments, including diabetes and rheumatism. Now, it appears that gum disease can also be a major factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a disease-causing species of oral bacteria that defends itself by producing toxic enzymes called gingipains. In animal testing, gingipains were found to produce the neural plaque that causes Alzheimer’s disease, and in a recent study, scientists found unusually high numbers of gingipains in the saliva, brains, and spinal fluid of people who displayed Alzheimer’s symptoms. It is also well-established that gingipains move from the mouth to the brain in other species.

In a recently published study, scientists announced that gingipains can also travel from the mouth to the brain in living humans. This is strong evidence that P. gingivalis is a driver of Alzheimer’s disease, and not just something that develops because people already suffering Alzheimer’s symptoms have difficulty brushing their teeth. Although it’s too early to say that gum disease is the primary contributor to Alzheimer’s, it’s certainly a good reason for people to brush and floss twice every day and to see us if they develop gingivitis.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

 

Gum Abscess Treatment at Ardas Family Dental

Although many people suffer from bleeding gums, they’re not something you should think of as normal. Bleeding, redness, and soreness are all potential signs of gum disease. We’ve helped a lot of people with their oral hygiene at Ardas Family Dental in Parker, but it’s much easier to eliminate gum disease when it’s caught early. Otherwise, a patient may form a gum abscess.

Pus is a liquid made up of dead tissue, bacteria, and bacterial waste. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms as a result of an infection. Gingival abscesses are those near the gum line. If a gum infection is allowed to grow, the walls of a gum pocket surrounding a tooth may become loose and form a pocket. A periodontal abscess is an abscess that forms within the infected gum pocket, and in addition to causing pain and a bad smell, it could also cause the patient to develop a fever and have difficulty working their jaw.

If the gums are badly infected, a patient should be prepared for the possibility that their dental pulp is, too. Regardless of whether we do a root canal to remove infected pulp, we’ll need to drain the pus out of the gum abscess. After removing infected gum tissue, we may do a process called planing to the tooth root, in which we smooth it. This will deprive bacteria of crevices to hide in, making it easier for hygienists to do deep cleanings on in the future.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Denture Stomatitis in Parker, Colorado

Dentures are vulnerable to somewhat different hygiene concerns than natural teeth and have to be cared for differently. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, Colorado, we want all of our patients to understand how to get the best value out of their oral appliances. Most people don’t find keeping their dentures clean to be a challenge, but there are some things we want you to know.

When dentures are not cleaned regularly, the areas they cover are vulnerable to stomatitis, or yeast growth. Fungus is naturally present in the mouth, but its growth is controlled by antimicrobial enzymes in saliva. When a person wears dentures, saliva may not be able to reach the roof of their mouth or the gum ridge, allowing yeast to grow out of control and for red sores to develop. This can also happen when the corners of the mouth become chapped as a result of poorly-fitted dentures interfering with saliva flow.

Regular brushing is usually sufficient to prevent stomatitis, but because people do not always feel the sores, they have to inspect themselves for them. Patients should brush their gums prior to inserting the denture in the morning and should brush the entire denture twice a day. Specialty toothpaste is made for dentures that won’t scratch their plastic.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Choosing a Toothbrush

At Ardas Family Dental, we advise our patients to brush twice a day to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It is important that you use a toothbrush that you’re comfortable using and that is cleaning your teeth effectively. Choosing the right toothbrush can be difficult, which is why we encourage our patients to ask us for advice.  

Our dentists encourage our patients to use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small-headed brush. Most dental professionals agree that soft-bristled toothbrushes clean your teeth the best and remove bacteria and plaque. The small-headed toothbrushes are more versatile and can reach every part of your teeth and gums.

Regardless of the type of toothbrush you use, as long you’re cleaning for a full two minutes with fluoride toothpaste any toothbrush will do. We recommend to our patients to use an electric toothbrush if they have trouble reaching certain areas of their mouth as they clean more thoroughly.

Don’t forget to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months or when the bristles begin to harden to maximize your brushing.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

National Dental Hygiene Month Observance in Parker, CO

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing are essential, but could your technique use work? October is National Dental Hygiene Month. In honor of it, we at Ardas Family Dental in Parker want to remind our patients of the basics of good oral care.

While people can get good results from electric or manual toothbrushes, a manual toothbrush is only safe if it has soft bristles. Smaller electric toothbrush heads can be used on difficult-to-reach places. Brushing should be done twice a day, in two-minute sessions if using a manual toothbrush. The user should move the brush in horizontal ovals while brushing the outward-facing sides of their teeth and should make vertical strokes on the inward-facing sides. It is important to remember to brush near the gum line; that’s where plaque tends to accumulate. Parents should start brushing their babies’ teeth as soon as the first one erupts.

There are lots of American Dental Association-approved products for cleaning between the teeth. People should never attempt to pick their teeth with improvised devices. When using traditional floss, pull it along the side of each tooth, not just down the gap between them. Remember to floss the backs of your back teeth. You can improve your breath using mouthwash, but daily use of a tongue scraper is also a reliable way of cleaning out bacteria.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Choosing between Electric and Manual Toothbrushes at Adras Family Dental

People have a bigger collection of dental hygiene products to choose from than ever before. This is good news for people with highly specific oral health needs, but the toiletries section of the store can also get confusing. This week, we at Ardas Family Dental in Parker are devoting our blog to the differences between manual and electric toothbrushes.

Electric toothbrushes make tens of thousands of brush strokes per minute, in contrast to manually operated toothbrushes, which can only make a few dozen. This creates a risk of overbrushing, but could also cut down on time. Studies have found that when a manual toothbrush is used properly, it is just as good at preventing tooth decay as an electric brush. But manual toothbrushes have to be used for at least two minutes per session, which can especially be a problem for people with motor neuron issues.

Electric toothbrushes are a bigger investment, but some are equipped with Bluetooth technology and apps that can help people with other problems. Besides warning the user if they are overbrushing, they can also point out if the user consistently misses a spot. Some are also designed to teach good hygiene habits to kids through mobile games. If a person frequently needs dental care for tooth decay, an electric toothbrush may save them money in the long run.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Defend against White Spot Lesions at Ardas Family Dental

Without looking it up, can you name the first sign of tooth decay? It’s not pain; at that point, decay has already progressed enough to form a cavity. The first sign of tooth decay is a white spot lesion, which is why white spots are also known as incipient lesions.

Tooth decay is the result of acid being trapped in tartar. When bacteria have a lot to feed on, they produce acid as a result of their metabolism and rapidly multiply. Tooth enamel that has been exposed to acid turns white and chalky as it loses minerals. This can be seen in people with acid reflux as well as tooth decay. But while acid reflux first affects the upper back teeth, tooth decay is likelier to occur near the gum line, on the sides of teeth, and around orthodontic brackets.

White spots form very quickly and can lead to more serious decay in as few as thirty days. Patients should keep a close watch for them and change their brushing habits to remove them before they become permanent. However, if a white spot does develop, it may be possible to remineralize or simply cover up with a veneer once the infection is stopped.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. To learn more about dental hygiene, call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

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