When you look at dental floss, you’ll notice there are two types -
nylon and single filament. You can get nylon either waxed or un-waxed,
in several different flavors. Nylon floss is made up of several
strands of nylon material, meaning that it can shred, tear, or snag
between the teeth if it gets caught on a sharp spot. Even though the
single filament floss is more expensive than nylon, it will slide
easily between teeth, even tight areas and spaces. Unlike nylon,
single filament is impossible to shred or tear.

No matter which type of floss you choose, as long you floss regularly,
it will remove debris from your teeth and gums. If you’ve never tried
flossing before, it will amaze you just how much debris and food
particles it removes. Dentists everywhere recommend flossing; it
cleans places that even the smallest toothbrushes can’t reach. Food
and debris build up between your teeth, which makes dental flossing
very important.

The main problem many people have against flossing is the fact that it
can result in bleeding of the gums. Anytime you floss and get between
your teeth and around your gums, the floss will rub against your gums,
resulting in bleeding. Many people take this the wrong way, and
immediately stop flossing, usually for good. Bleeding is very common
and is part and parcel with flossing.

When you brush your teeth, you miss a lot of food particles and
debris. These continue to build up in your mouth. No toothbrush
reaches every area of your mouth; all of them miss hard to reach
places. In the areas missed by the toothbrush, the debris and plaque
continue to build up until they eventually result in a cavity or
decay. To get this debris and plaque before it builds up into
something more serious, you’ll need to floss.

If you’ve been afraid to try flossing due to the bleeding, you should
really get over that fear and floss after you brush. To keep your
teeth and gums healthy, you need to brush and floss your teeth.
Regular checkups with your dentist will help as well, although it is
up to you to continue your regular maintenance at home with flossing
and brushing. If you floss on a daily basis – you’ll quickly see the
difference.

Some of the main causes of toothaches include decay, a fracture in the
teeth, and cavities. A crack in the tooth is also a cause, although it
can be difficult to diagnose, as cracks will normally appear to be
invisible to the naked eye and x-rays. Cracks can make your tooth feel
as if it is exploding, as they expose the dentin and nerves to the air
and anything else you put in your mouth. If you don’t get them fixed,
they will get worse, possibly leading to your tooth breaking off at
the gums.

Pulp irritation is another cause of toothaches, as it occurs after
dental treatment. No matter how well your filling or crown was done,
the materials that were used to fix the tooth can end up causing pain
later on down the road. There really is nothing you can do, as crowns
can sometimes come off or the filling can sometimes come out. If this
happens, all you can really do is go back to the dentist to get the
problem fixed.

If you have an exposed root or nerve, it can also be the cause of your
toothache. This normally happens due to rough brushing, receding gums,
and exposing the root. If the root is exposed, the air or liquid you
drink can trigger a toothache. To prevent this from happening, use
care when you brush and never try to tear your gums apart thinking it
will get your teeth cleaner.

If you use tobacco products, you’ll more than likely get toothaches on
a frequent basis. Chewing tobacco is a common contributor to
toothaches and tooth pain, as the tobacco will eat away at your teeth
until there is nothing left. It doesn’t take long for it to happen
either, especially if you have been chewing for a long time. Smoking
can trigger toothaches as well, as the smoke is bad for your teeth and
eats away at them as well.

Even though there are many causes to toothaches, there are things you
can do to stop the pain and prevent toothaches. You should always
brush your teeth on a daily basis, and go to the dentist for your
regular checkups. If you get a toothache you should always go to the
dentist and get the tooth fixed. The dentist may be able to catch it
early enough to save the tooth – which will prevent you from having to
get it pulled and save you a lot of money – and pain in the long run.

Fillings close out the area where the bacteria enter into teeth,
helping to prevent any type of decay in the future. The materials used
for fillings include porcelain, gold, composite resin, and amalgam.
There is really no best type of filling material, as several factors
come into play. Your reaction to different materials, the shape of the
tooth, extent of repair, and placement of the filling are determining
factors as to what material your dentist uses for your filling.

A laboratory makes gold fillings, and then the dentist cements them
into place. Gold material fits well with the gums, and can last you
for many years. Many consider gold to be the best, although it is also
the most expensive and will require you to visit the dentist several
times before the filling is complete.

Silver fillings on the other hand, are less expensive than gold
materials, and they can be quite resistant to wear. With their color
being dark, they are easier to notice than composite or porcelain
fillings, and aren’t recommended for visible areas of the mouth,
especially the front teeth. Composite fillings are a common type of
material, as they match the color of your teeth. The material that
makes up the composite filling is mixed then placed directly in the
cavity, where it hardens. They last several years, although composite
isn’t recommended for large cavities, or areas where they may chip.

The final type of filling is porcelain. Porcelain is very common, and
produced in a lab where it will be matched to your teeth then bonded
to the affected tooth. Porcelain fillings match the color of your
teeth, and are resistant to any type of staining. The costs for
porcelain fillings can be very expensive, some cost as much as gold
fillings.

If a cavity, decay, or even a crack has managed to damage a large area
of the tooth, you may need a crown or a cap. If the decay reached the
nerve, you may end up needing a root canal to get rid of the dead
pulp. When the dentist decides he can fill your tooth, he will remove
the cavity then fill the hole with one of the materials listed above.
Depending on your insurance and what you can afford, you can choose
which one you want or take his recommendation. In most cases,
porcelain or composite fillings will work. Gold fillings are popular,
although most people want a filling that will match the natural color
of their teeth.

Keep in mind, only a dentist can make the decision regarding fillings.
When you visit for your routine checkup, the dentist will look in your
mouth and use instruments that will let him examine the surfaces of
your teeth. If he finds any cavities, he will usually recommend a
filling. You won’t feel anything, as he will numb the area he fills.
It normally takes less than an hour, and you’ll be up and at ‘em
before you know it. A filling is great for cavities, as most look
natural, and they won’t result in the loss of your tooth.

In order for tooth decay to develop in a tooth, that tooth must have
acid producing bacteria around it, along with food for the bacteria to
feed upon. Teeth susceptible to decay will have little to no fluoride
in the enamel to fight the plaque. Fluoride can destroy decay,
although it won’t be able to do much once the decay has started to eat
the teeth.

Poor hygiene habits allow the plaque and tartar to build up around
teeth and speed up the process of decay. Even though your mouth always
has a lot of bacteria present, only one type will generate the acid
that results in tooth decay. Some people have active decay present in
their mouths. Parents with active decay can easily pass the decay on
to a child or loved one through eating, drinking from the same glass,
or even kissing.

Once the decay settles in the tooth’s enamel, it progresses slowly.
Once it has made it through to the second layer of the enamel, it will
spread faster as it heads towards the pulp. The pulp is a vital area
of the tooth, as it contains the nerves and blood supply. This is
where the pain will be the most intense, as the decay will start to
eat at the nerves.

Although decay can take 2 – 3 years to get through the enamel, it can
make it from the dentin to the pulp in less than a year. Once it makes
it to the dentin, the decay can destroy most of the tooth structure in
a matter of weeks – or months. The most preventable type of tooth
decay, known as smooth decay, also grows the slowest. It starts out as
a white spot in the tooth, where the bacteria dissolve the enamel.
Smooth decay is very common with those 20 – 30 years of age.

Pit or fissure decay is a bit more serious, forming along the narrow
grooves in the chewing surface of the molars. It progresses more
rapidly, and can eat your teeth a lot faster than smooth decay. Due to
the grooves being so narrow, it can be hard to clean them with regular
bushing. Even though you may brush on a regular basis, this type of
decay is hard to prevent without going to the dentist for your regular
checkups and cleaning.

The last type of decay, known as root decay, begins on the surface of
the root. Root decay is common with middle aged individuals. It is
normally the result of dry mouth, a lot of sugar, or not taking care
of your teeth. Root decay is the most difficult to prevent, and the
most serious type of tooth decay. It can eat teeth fast, leaving you
no choice but to get the affected teeth removed.

Tooth decay is no laughing matter and treatment is vital before it has
time to spread and affect more of your teeth. If you visit your
dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning, you can normally
prevent it from starting. You should always brush on a daily basis,
and use mouthwash such as Scope or Listerine to kill bacteria.
Bacteria are always present in your mouth, although you can use
mouthwash to kill it. If you take care of your teeth and follow the
advice of your dentist, you can normally prevent tooth decay before it
has a chance to damage your teeth.

Interviews with: Denise Muesch Helm, Dental Hygiene Program Chair Ellen Grabarek, Project Director Amber Edmoston. Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com Learn more about NAU Extended Campuses at budurl.com To see more of the Inside NAU series, check us out online at budurl.com or watch the television show daily on Universityhouse, Dish Network Channel 9411.

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My Dental Hygienist, Elina Solomon RDH is a highly qualified and experienced hygienist. She performs gentle yet thorough dental scaling, cleaning and polishing of your teeth using the latest technology in periodontal diagnosis and treatment. She has been with the practice, for several years and works hard to teach and motivate our patients in proper oral hygiene and preventative care. In my practice, I feel it is most important to prevent dental disease and to diagnose problems when they are …