Since I was a child I had bad teeth. Going to the dentist and hearing that I have cavities was nothing unusual. I already was scared weeks in advance. As I grow up the beginning of the early seventies in Germany, nobody told you to floss your teeth. You brushed your teeth fast in few minutes twice a day (sometimes only once :-) when you were tired in the evening or late in the morning). I know it sounds bad but that was nothing unusual.
Oral health was something they taught you once or twice a year in school. Then you had to brush your teeth and they gave you a tooth brush and tooth paste for home and that's it.
For years and years my dentist found cavities whenever I visited him. It was horrible. But he never really spoke about how I properly should brush my teeth. After I was around in my end twenties the cavities stopped. Then in the beginning of my thirties I could see the first little signs of gum disease but I really wasn't concerned. At the end of my thirties I moved to the United States of America and my dental hygienist recommended to start flossing my teeth. I did this successfully up to two years ago as my gum disease increased a lot. Within few weeks my gums developed from a gingivitis with very little signs to a horrible periodontal disease that became unstoppable and ended up in a soft gum tissue grafting operation.
After this operation I found out that flossing immense influences tooth cavity and gum disease. My periodontist educated me that when you start as a young child and get used to floss your teeth properly twice a day, you can prevent having cavities or gum disease. Because bacteria doesn't have the chance to build up and you have beautiful teeth and gums your whole life. And don't have to spend thousands of dollars for tooth and gum treatments.
One of my friends told me that her six year old daughter already has several cavities and her dentist recommended to floss her little baby teeth. My friend sees it as a waste of time, especially because the real teeth will still come in. Bacteria developed in baby teeth is no different than the bacteria developed in adult teeth. Flossing not only can prevent more cavities but future gum diseases.
There are several floss types available in the dental market. The ones I have the best experience with are the ones without wax (the wax ones glide too fast and could hurt the gums) and the thicker types (if the type is too thin it also can hurt the gums if your flesh is very sensitive and could start bleeding).
So flossing your and your kids teeth is not only a great prevention for cavities but also for gum diseases and heart diseases.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Ever Used A Rubber Tip Gum Stimulator For Better Oral Health?
Did you ever heard about a rubber tip gum stimulator? Then you really missed out. It is a great tool to improve your oral health.
For years I used it before everything else, then flossed my teeth and brushed them. Then, as my gums started receding I was scared that the rubber tip gum stimulator heard them and would stimulate them negatively to recede faster.
After I found a local periodontist I realize now that my rubber tip gum stimular is the best tool to avoid more gum loss.
Against to my old belief that I have to floss first and then brush my teeth I learned that I have to clean my teeth with the brush first so the bigger food parts are washed out. Then I use the rubber tip to remove the sticky tartar and last but not least I use the dental floss for the "fine tuning" between the teeth.
I have to brush and clean my teeth after every meal so I try to eat only three times a day. At the beginning after having my "new gums" I brushed, flossed and used the rubber tip three times a day. Then I got a little bit lazy and only used the rubber tip once a day. This comes now back to me. If I don't clean the tartar three times a day, my gums start bleeding.
After my painful periodontal disease odyssey I can't risk anything anymore. So I can really only share my experience with you to use the gum stimulator after every meal, at least three times a day, to hold the periodontal disease in control.
For years I used it before everything else, then flossed my teeth and brushed them. Then, as my gums started receding I was scared that the rubber tip gum stimulator heard them and would stimulate them negatively to recede faster.
After I found a local periodontist I realize now that my rubber tip gum stimular is the best tool to avoid more gum loss.
Against to my old belief that I have to floss first and then brush my teeth I learned that I have to clean my teeth with the brush first so the bigger food parts are washed out. Then I use the rubber tip to remove the sticky tartar and last but not least I use the dental floss for the "fine tuning" between the teeth.
I have to brush and clean my teeth after every meal so I try to eat only three times a day. At the beginning after having my "new gums" I brushed, flossed and used the rubber tip three times a day. Then I got a little bit lazy and only used the rubber tip once a day. This comes now back to me. If I don't clean the tartar three times a day, my gums start bleeding.
After my painful periodontal disease odyssey I can't risk anything anymore. So I can really only share my experience with you to use the gum stimulator after every meal, at least three times a day, to hold the periodontal disease in control.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Periodontitis and Heart Disease
Did you know that periodontitis and heart disease are connected? I didn't know either. I heart about that the bacteria that effect and infect your gums is the same that is located in your heart and develops a heart disease.
But not only the Western Medicine talks about that. One time I went to an acupuncturist and she connected a "lazy spleen" to my gum problems.
It is hard to explain. Imagine that your blood can't clean itself properly and it carries the toxins into your gums with the hope to get rid of them (detox).
But your gums don't detox properly and get infected. Because you don't treat your "lazy spleen" the gums never get rid of their infection and stay red and swollen.
After a while the infected gums create pockets and then starting to "shrink".
I didn't have any clue at this time what was going on but today, I have a pretty good knowledge now what I can do to "spoil" my gums and help them stay healthy.
But not only the Western Medicine talks about that. One time I went to an acupuncturist and she connected a "lazy spleen" to my gum problems.
It is hard to explain. Imagine that your blood can't clean itself properly and it carries the toxins into your gums with the hope to get rid of them (detox).
But your gums don't detox properly and get infected. Because you don't treat your "lazy spleen" the gums never get rid of their infection and stay red and swollen.
After a while the infected gums create pockets and then starting to "shrink".
I didn't have any clue at this time what was going on but today, I have a pretty good knowledge now what I can do to "spoil" my gums and help them stay healthy.
Soft Gum Tissue Grafting
How did I find my soft gum tissue grafting professional? I went online and looked for the Florida Association of Periodontists. Only few doctors in our area had websites available. I found one that had a website with seventeen testimonials, all positive. Can you imagine that? I was really excited about that.
I went to this local periodontist and after two hours of x-rays, checking, taking pictures and examination the end result was that my periodontal gum disease and gum recession already was at a stage that I needed gum surgery. Secretly feared, now reality, I needed "new gums".
My soft gum tissue grafting was scheduled for two months later. I was pretty naive and not prepared for what would follow at all. I only knew I wanted to get rid of my receding gums. It was pretty scary to see the exposed roots and to fear my teeth could get loos and fell out.
Want to know what gum tissue grafting is?
Gum tissue grafts are normally used to build over and improve the weak and chronically infected and inflamed gum tissue that are the reason for the exposed roots. After the operation, all root surfaces should be covered. As gum tissue grafts can be used tissue from the own mouth or donor material.
Causes of gum recession in the first place can be bad oral health, gum disease, or stress to only name a few.
Gum Grafting Before and After
Before the gum grafting operation I only knew that I would have an operation and my roots should be covered and look like before. I really wasn't prepared what would come.
The operation took four hours and went pretty well. I didn't have any pain during the operation and after. I followed the periodontist's instructions, took holistic pills to prevent the gums from swelling and pain killers after the operation.
What I didn't realize was that I couldn't eat anything for at least a week, only drink smoothies and shakes. I could only open my mouth a little bit and not brush my teeth at all. I am sure you can imagine how hard this was. Especially if you have gum disease and already struggling with cleaning your teeth, your fear of decaying teeth grows.
After a week I went back to the periodontist who checked my gums and cleaned my teeth. Because of the stitches I couldn't open my mouse a lot so I had another week where I couldn't eat anything. Two weeks only drinking and not eating at all was pretty tough and made me a little frustrated and depressed.
But seeing my "new gums" after four weeks was amazing! The gum grafting was done very well and I am pretty happy I did it.
I went to this local periodontist and after two hours of x-rays, checking, taking pictures and examination the end result was that my periodontal gum disease and gum recession already was at a stage that I needed gum surgery. Secretly feared, now reality, I needed "new gums".
My soft gum tissue grafting was scheduled for two months later. I was pretty naive and not prepared for what would follow at all. I only knew I wanted to get rid of my receding gums. It was pretty scary to see the exposed roots and to fear my teeth could get loos and fell out.
Want to know what gum tissue grafting is?
Gum tissue grafts are normally used to build over and improve the weak and chronically infected and inflamed gum tissue that are the reason for the exposed roots. After the operation, all root surfaces should be covered. As gum tissue grafts can be used tissue from the own mouth or donor material.
Causes of gum recession in the first place can be bad oral health, gum disease, or stress to only name a few.
Gum Grafting Before and After
Before the gum grafting operation I only knew that I would have an operation and my roots should be covered and look like before. I really wasn't prepared what would come.
The operation took four hours and went pretty well. I didn't have any pain during the operation and after. I followed the periodontist's instructions, took holistic pills to prevent the gums from swelling and pain killers after the operation.
What I didn't realize was that I couldn't eat anything for at least a week, only drink smoothies and shakes. I could only open my mouth a little bit and not brush my teeth at all. I am sure you can imagine how hard this was. Especially if you have gum disease and already struggling with cleaning your teeth, your fear of decaying teeth grows.
After a week I went back to the periodontist who checked my gums and cleaned my teeth. Because of the stitches I couldn't open my mouse a lot so I had another week where I couldn't eat anything. Two weeks only drinking and not eating at all was pretty tough and made me a little frustrated and depressed.
But seeing my "new gums" after four weeks was amazing! The gum grafting was done very well and I am pretty happy I did it.
Sluggish Spleen
Sluggish Spleen? Try tapping. I went to my acupuncturist before I went to the dentist who recommended an oral appliance to treat my receding gums. She diagnosed a "sluggish spleen" that would effect the bad blood flow in my legs and my infected gums.
By working with heated up herbs and acupuncture needles, treating the blood flow from the legs up, she tried to increase my sluggish spleen. My acupuncturist also recommended to start tapping. Tapping is kind of an acupuncture treatment without needles, known as acupressure. You tap with your fingers from your forehead down to your chest to stimulate the acupressure points and to stimulate the "flow" for improving the spleen.
After few weeks with treatments, I got impatient. My infected gums receded more and more. I really got scared. So I finally agreed to try the oral appliance to stop my gum disease.
It became a pretty pricing dental treatment what didn't help at all at the end. But I shouldn't say that. Wearing an oral appliance evened out my bit and balanced my jaw so that I don't have migraines, back pain or neck pain anymore.
Unfortunately, it took 6 months to finish it and it didn't help at all with my receding gums either.
At no point so far any dentist I met recommended to go to a periodontist. I guess everybody wanted to treat my gum disease in their own way.
I finally decided to look for a local periodontist.
By working with heated up herbs and acupuncture needles, treating the blood flow from the legs up, she tried to increase my sluggish spleen. My acupuncturist also recommended to start tapping. Tapping is kind of an acupuncture treatment without needles, known as acupressure. You tap with your fingers from your forehead down to your chest to stimulate the acupressure points and to stimulate the "flow" for improving the spleen.
After few weeks with treatments, I got impatient. My infected gums receded more and more. I really got scared. So I finally agreed to try the oral appliance to stop my gum disease.
It became a pretty pricing dental treatment what didn't help at all at the end. But I shouldn't say that. Wearing an oral appliance evened out my bit and balanced my jaw so that I don't have migraines, back pain or neck pain anymore.
Unfortunately, it took 6 months to finish it and it didn't help at all with my receding gums either.
At no point so far any dentist I met recommended to go to a periodontist. I guess everybody wanted to treat my gum disease in their own way.
I finally decided to look for a local periodontist.
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