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.

 

Tooth Decay in Seniors

Patients can count on us for lifelong dental care at Dr. Lis Bradley’s Brentwood office. According to the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control, tooth decay in seniors is far too common. Estimates for the number of people over sixty-five with untreated caries are as high as one in five. We believe that education is one of the best means of combatting this scourge.

Many seniors with tooth decay are people who had healthy teeth earlier in life. While their lack of access to fluoridated water during their formative years makes them more vulnerable to decay, the fact that their health worsened implies something changed in their oral hygiene practice. Some common problems are limited dexterity, which makes brushing and flossing difficult, as well as switching to foods that are sticky and high in sugar. Many seniors also take medications which cause dry mouth as a side effect. This makes them more vulnerable to oral infections because saliva is one of the most important means by which the body removes food debris.

With the expertise of Dr. Bradley’s team, all of these problems are fixable. There are many home dental products designed for people with limited dexterity we can recommend, as well as means of keeping the mouth moisturized. We also accept CareCredit health care financing, providing seniors with another way of covering their 6-month check-ups.

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

 

Dangers of DIY Orthodontics

Dr. Lis Bradley is proud to be a certified ClearCorrect provider. In recent years, dentists have been alarmed by a rise in so-called DIY orthodontics. These dangerous practices, advertised as time and money savers, actually pose a severe risk to peoples’ oral health.

Many orthodontists consider their work a form of art. Guiding the movement of living tissue such as teeth through the jaw is a complicated process which requires careful judgment. The jawbone must dissolve and rebuild itself as the teeth migrate across it, which takes time. Unfortunately, stories are circulating on the internet of people who 3D-print their own invisible aligners, allowing them to move their teeth at a faster pace. Doing this prevents the jaw bone from rebuilding, allowing the teeth to shift back to their original position or to become loose and fall out.

If you are suffering from a misaligned bite or unsatisfied with your smile, our office will work with you to provide the best care possible. 

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.

 

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is one of the most common contributory factors to tooth decay and other oral health problems. We at Dr. Lis Bradly’s office want our patients to understand how this condition puts them at risk for infections as well as some steps they can take to prevent it.

Scientifically known as xerostomia, dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva. This is a problem because saliva helps clean the mouth of food debris and makes it easier to swallow. Without it, bacteria are able to multiply more quickly. Saliva also helps to prevent acid from eroding tooth enamel and allows patients to get more comfortable sleep, improving their immune function.

Usually, dry mouth occurs in older people, but this is because it is a common medication side-effect. Sjögren’s disease, which is most common in older women, is another common cause. Some ways of ameliorating dry mouth are to artificially stimulate additional saliva and to avoid consuming things which dry the mouth out further. Sugary and caffeinated drinks are taxing on the salivary glands, as are alcohol and spicy food. Sugar-free gum is a good way of getting saliva flowing, and fluoride treatments bolster teeth’s resistance to decay.

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