Electric Toothbrushes

Whenever you’re at the supermarket, you see a dizzying variety of oral hygiene products. At Dr. Lis Bradley’s Brentwood dental office, we help our patients to determine which tools best suit their needs. One of the most important decisions to make is whether to use a manual or electric toothbrush, and there are arguments to make for both.

Electric toothbrushes can make tens of thousands of brush strokes per minute. This means that any tooth surface a user puts the toothbrush on gets scrubbed thoroughly, but the user is still responsible for reaching every part of each tooth. Studies have not found that people who use electric toothbrushes have lower rates of decay than people who use manual toothbrushes properly, but to use a manual toothbrush properly, a person must brush for at least two minutes per session.

The obvious advantage of an electric toothbrush is for people who have difficulty moving their hands. Many electric toothbrushes also come with apps that can inform the user if they’ve missed a spot or are overbrushing. Some are kid-friendly to teach them good hygiene habits. Electric toothbrushes are expensive, but they’re a useful option for people who have been unsuccessful with the non-motorized kind.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit Lis Bradley or call 615-778-0810.

 

Bleeding Gums

Gingivitis, or gum inflammation, is a common condition, but one that can be avoided. Many people think that it’s normal or not a big deal if their gums bleed when they brush their teeth, but this is actually a sign of disease and a warning about their oral hygiene.

People should only use soft-bristled toothbrushes to brush their teeth. Hard bristles can bruise their gums. However, gingivitis is caused by excessive bacterial growth in the gum pockets. In the space between the gum and the tooth root, bacteria grow naturally as part of the oral ecosystem, but their numbers can increase too much when they have large amounts of food debris available. Bacteria produce acid, which sticks to plaque and irritates the surrounding gum tissue. As plaque builds up, tartar forms at the gum line around the tooth.

Patients can reduce plaque and tartar build-up by brushing regularly, but they cannot remove material from their gum pockets. Regular deep cleanings are necessary for preventing gingivitis. Even then, some people are particularly at risk. Those groups include pregnant women, people with dry mouth or who are on blood thinner medications, and smokers.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit LisBradleyDDS.com or call 615-778-0810.

 

How to Clean Dentures

Getting dentures is a step in patients’ lifelong journey of oral care which requires them to make some changes in their hygiene habits. The changes are not difficult, but they are important, so we wanted to provide some guidance.

Any denture that is removable needs to be taken out on a nightly basis, regardless of whether it is supported by implants. But the denture must not be allowed to dry out, either. Because heat can warp it, a denture needs to be kept in room-temperature water or cleaning solution. It is wise to hold the denture over a towel while transferring it between the mouth and its container because if it does break or bend, it should only be fixed by a professional.

Dentures do not have the protective membranes of natural teeth and can be scratched by the minerals in ordinary toothpaste. The American Dental Association recommends specialty toothpastes for use on dentures, and patients should only brush them with a brush that has soft bristles (although this is true of their natural teeth, as well). The entire denture should be brushed, not just the parts which look like teeth. Patients should also brush their gums before putting their dentures back in to stimulate blood flow and prevent oral infections.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit LisBradleyDDS.com or call 615-778-0810.