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Erosion of Teeth April 21 2018

Erosion is the progressive chemical wear of the teeth caused by excessive dietary or stomach acids. It is an important and potentially destructive cause of tooth wear, ranging from the thinning of the inside surfaces of the upper front teeth to total loss of the biting surfaces of the back teeth.

(Source : Kois Center)

Top 5 Tips for Healthy Teeth August 10 2017

1. Visit Your Dentist every 6 months

Your dentist can find decay earlier before it becomes deep. Dentist can find if you have gum disease and prevent it from getting worse.

2. Brush Twice daily for at least 2 minutes

When we eat , food adheres to teeth. If we do not clean food from teeth, it becomes plaque which is full of bacteria. These bacteria cause Decay and Gum disease.

3. Floss daily.

Brushing cleans 66% of tooth surface, rest 34 % of teeth surface between your teeth can be cleaned with floss. Most of decay starts between teeth and you will feel pain only after the decay is big and close to nerve. By doing flossing , you will remove the plaque between your teeth and prevent decay and gum disease.

4. cut down frequency of sugar intake throughout day

Sugar drops pH of mouth for 1 hour. If you keep sipping sugar , the pH of your mouth remain dropped. Bacteria likes acidic environment and they multiple faster in low pH. They eat away more tooth structure and cause decay. By cutting down frequency of sugar intake, You allow the saliva to restore pH back to normal and reduce bacterial activity.

5. Stop smoking and eat healthy

Smoking dries mouth and increases risk of having cancer. Nicotine changes structure of tissue and prevents healing. Fibrous food cleans out teeth and does not stick to the teeth that much.

Do I Need Antibiotic Before My Dental Procedure May 23 2017

You may be wondering that Do You need antibiotic before dental procedure because you have heart condition or artificial joint.

Historically Heart surgeons and Orthopeditians recommended antibiotics before dental procedures for their patient with certain medical conditions. The guidlines have been revised several times based on new scientific studies.

• Patients with certain heart conditions may be predisposed to infective endocarditis
• Patients with artificial joint may have chance of joint infection surrounding prosthesis

Guidelines for Prostheic Joint

The recent article published in February 2017 edition of Journal of American Dental Association written by experts appointed by ADA. In that article , the new guidline clearly states there is no indication of antibiotics to prevent joint infection. For some patients who have previous medical condition or complications associated with their joint replacement surgery may need antibiotic before dental procedures. Those patient should consult their orthopedic Surgeon regarding prescription for antibiotic before dental procedure.

Guilelines for Heart Condition

In 2017 American Heart Association and American college of Cardiology published an update of their 2014 guidline to prevent infective endocarditis in patients with certain hear conditions. Patients with following heart condition require antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedure

• prosthetic heart valves
• a history of infective endocarditis
• a cardiac transplant with valve regurgitation
• the following congenital (present from birth) heart disease:
  • unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including palliative shunts and conduits
  • any repaired congenital heart defect with residual shunts or valvular regurgitation at the site of or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device

Conclusion

Risk of adverse reaction to antibiotics generally outweigh the benefits of prophylaxis for many patients and There is a chance of development of drug resistant bacteria, you should consult your dentist and your orthopedician or heart surgeon regarding taking antibiotic before dental procedure.

(Source: ada.org)