Cleaning a Night Guard

Night Guards are crucial oral appliance for people who suffer from bruxism, or night time teeth grinding. Not only to they prevent the teeth from grinding each other down and reduce incidences of obstructive sleep apnea, they also prevent the patient from developing pain in their temporomandibular joints and necks. Different models of night guards will have different rules about cleanliness, but we at Bridge Smiles Dental Group wanted to remind our patients of their importance. Proper hygiene will extend the night guard’s life.

Most night guards should be kept dry when not in use, but there are a few that should be kept wet, according to their manufacturer. These manufacturers will often sell cleaning solution to submerge them in. Regardless of model, a night guard needs to be cleaned on a daily basis and so does the case that contains it. As with all oral appliances, they should be brushed with soft-bristled toothbrushes and with antibacterial soap or gentle toothpaste. Minerals such as fluoride may scratch their plastic, allowing bacteria to colonize them and create a foul odor. Night guards are also vulnerable to warping if they are subjected to extreme heat. Patients should only have them repaired by professionals and should have them updated if their teeth are changing position. They should also always brush and floss their teeth before inserting an oral appliance.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Gum disease is common, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to it. While this is expected, it is still a potential threat to a woman’s oral health. We at Bridge Smiles Dental Group care for whole families and want our patients to be as comfortable as possible during pregnancy, so we thought we’d explain a bit more about what causes gingivitis.

Plaque contains acid produced by bacteria in the gum pockets. It is sticky and hardens into tartar. When gum tissue is irritated by acid and tartar, it triggers the body’s inflammatory response. Swelling makes it harder for infectious materials to flow to the rest of the body and easier for antibodies to move through membranes, but the gum tissue also becomes painful and red. When a woman is pregnant, her body will produce large amounts of the hormone progesterone, which triggers the growth of new blood vessels. Progesterone will make the gums particularly responsive to irritants.

Pregnancy gingivitis usually ends with the pregnancy, but it may develop into a more serious infection. As always, brushing and flossing are a patient’s best defense, although she may also want to try non-alcoholic mouthwash. If a woman is snacking more, she’ll also need to clean her teeth more frequently, or at least chew on sugar-free gum after meals. We can provide patients with deep cleanings to remove tartar from their gum pockets and give them refreshers on oral hygiene.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Electric and Manual Toothbrushes

The most important part of oral preventive care is regular teeth brushing. At Bridge Smiles Dental Group in Somerset County, we try to help all our patients understand their oral health needs. Whether a patient needs an electric toothbrush will depend on a few factors.

When using a manual toothbrush, it is recommended that people brush for two minutes per session, twice a day. This should allow them to make hundreds of brush strokes and, along with flossing and tongue scrapers, be sufficient oral hygiene. Electric toothbrushes can make tens of thousands of brush strokes per minute, but studies have not found them to be more effective than properly used manual toothbrushes at preventing decay.

The key question is whether a patient is able to use a manual toothbrush properly. There are grips that can be put on manual toothbrushes to help people with dexterity issues, but electric toothbrushes now often come with Bluetooth technology and apps that can help remind a patient to improve their technique. Apps for kids even include mobile games that reward them for making progress. Electric toothbrushes are a big investment, but they may be worthwhile to someone who has a history of decay using manual toothbrushes and needs instant feedback, reminders, or something that doesn’t require them to use their hands as much.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

How to Clean Retainers

When the first phase of your orthodontic work is done, you’ll find oral hygiene much easier. But you’ll also have to learn how to take care of your retainer. At Bridge Smiles Dental Group, we understand that our patients have questions about this, which is why we’ve provided this guide.

Always make sure your mouth is as clean of food debris as possible before putting your retainer in. Rinse it off before reinserting it, and rinse it when you take it out, as well. But be careful to only use water that is cool or room-temperature; hot water can permanently warp a retainer’s shape, requiring it to be replaced. Once a day, you should thoroughly, but gently brush your retainer with a soft-bristled toothbrush (not the same one you use for your teeth). Be careful when deciding which toothpaste you use, as fluoridated toothpaste contains minerals which can scratch the retainer, allowing bacteria to colonize the crevices. It is better to use soft toothpaste, such as the kinds made for dentures.

Also be sure to regularly clean the retainer’s protective case. People need to use retainers for a long time, but if one becomes damaged, don’t hesitate to get it replaced.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.

 

Hygiene with Fixed Bridges

You could probably guess that at the Bridges Smiles Dental Group, we make a point of ensuring our patients are satisfied with their bridge restorations. Bridges can last a lifetime, but they need to be cared for. Getting used to them will require patients to make a few changes to their oral hygiene habits, but the process is simple.

The biggest change is that patients have to keep the gap beneath the bridge clean. Flossing is crucial to this, so patients should know there are a few tools available to help them. Some companies manufacture specialty floss which has a stiffened tip, allowing it to be pushed beneath the bridge and drawn back out. More often, patients use a threader, which is like a flexible sewing needle for floss. People who have worn braces are already familiar with this device, which allows normal floss to be looped around a horizontal structure.

Another hygienic device common to orthodontics is the proxy brush, or Christmas tree brush. Fixed bridges supported by implants may have more space between them and the gum line, allowing this device to be used to dislodge debris. In order to clean this space better, electric toothbrush and water pick manufacturers are now providing tips for their devices to be used with implants.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.