toothbrushing

Save your Heart by Brushing your Teeth

March 12th, 2020

According to a recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, toothbrushing multiple times a day can lower one's risk of heart disease.

Let's Dig Deeper

This study involved one hundred sixty thousand participants between the ages of 40-79 years, who were tracked over a ten year span.  These individuals had no history of atrial fibrillation or heart failure at the the beginning of the study.

The study results were independent of factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, exercise frequency, alcohol consumption, and other behaviors that could damage the heart.

At the ten year followup evaluation, they there 4,911 participants who had developed atrial fibrillation and 7,971 developed heart failure.

Back to Basics

Anatomy of the Heart:

The heart has 4 chambers.  The two upper chambers are called the atria.  The two lower chambers are called ventricles.  Oxygen-poor blood returns from the body and flows first into the right atrium then into the right ventricle.  From here the blood gets oxygen from lungs. Now oxygen rich blood flows into the left atrium and then into the left ventricle.  Now the blood is pumped out of the heart to the rest of the body. The atria and ventricles contract or "pump" blood in a coordinated way.  Click here to see an animation by the American Heart Association.

What is Atrial fibrillation?

According to the American Heart Association, atrial fibrillation is noted by a quivering heart beat or irregular heart beat.  This can lead to blood clots, stroke or heart failure.  Click here to see an animation of Atrial fibrillation.

What is Heart Failure?

According to the American Heart Association, heart failure occurs when the heart is not pumping as effectively as it could be.  The heart cannot keep up with its workload.  Therefore, the body is not getting enough oxygen that it needs. This condition is a chronic continuous degradation of heart muscle that leads to worsening performance of the heart without medical intervention.  Therefore, one common term that is associated with the ineffective heart, is congestive heart failure. Click here to seen an animation of heart failure.

Toothbrushing Benefits

According to this study, toothbrushing at least three times a day reduces one's risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Researchers from this study believe that the mechanical action of the toothbrush against teeth help lower bacterial levels that are below the gum level before they enter the bloodstream.

Put this Concept into Practice

Brush your teeth after mealtimes.  Parents, do this for your own health and then model this habit to your children.  Children often will follow a parent's lead.  Children who are too young to brush their own teeth should be assisted by a parent or guardian. Often I hear from parents that say that their child doesn't like to have their teeth brushed or won't tolerate it.  When I ask the parent how often they brush their teeth, it is often less than two times a day.  Please note that you are the parent. It is your responsibility to take care of your child.  A child will protest all day long to avoid anything he or she doesn't like.  Toothbrushing is one battle that you have to win, parents.  For a toothbrushing refresher, head to our page on preventive care.

Toothbrushing is an effective way to not only help your teeth, but it can also reduce your risk for some heart diseases like atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Start today!

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention. For more than a decade, served as assistant professor for the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (LLUSD). He is currently an instructor at LLUSD.

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Steps Series: Choosing the Right Toothpaste

June 13th, 2018

[caption id="attachment_602" align="alignleft" width="640"]Baby Steps Series: Choosing the Right Toothpaste Baby Steps Series: Choosing the Right Toothpaste[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question: Doctor, what toothpaste do you recommend for my children?

Answer: Any fluoride toothpaste that will help you maintain a good oral health routine!

Question: What's the big deal about fluoride? What does it do?

Answer: Fluoride helps by reducing the risk of dental decay (or dental cavities) in several ways.

First, it helps to remineralizes (or harden) the enamel.  Every time you eat your teeth get bathed in an acidic environment.  This acid is important to breakdown food, but it can also breakdown the enamel on your teeth.  This is the reason why you should not constantly snack throughout the day...the acid will eventually breakdown the enamel.  If the enamel has a break, it causes a pit to form, which is now considered a cavity.  Using a fluoride toothpaste after meals and snacks will reduce the acid attack but remineralizing the enamel.

Second, fluoride can strengthen weakened enamel in surface cavities.  Proper use can prevent a surface cavity from growing, therefore possibly eliminating the need for a dental filling.

Finally, fluoride has antibacterial properties. It helps to prevent acid production from plaque producing bacteria.

Question: I have a toddler, is a fluoride toothpaste safe for him? If it is, when should I start using it to brush his teeth?

Answer: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a fluoride toothpaste as soon as first teeth erupt. This means starting to brush with a fluoride toothpaste from an early age. Normally teeth start to erupt around 6 months of age.

Question: How much toothpaste should I use for my toddler? I'm afraid he will swallow it and get a tummy ache.

Answer: Great question. For children who are not able to spit out on their own, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a "dry rice grain" amount of flouridated toothpaste.  This amount will give your child the proper benefits of flouride without causing them to have a tummy ache, if they swallow any of the paste.

Question: How do I pick the right fluoride toothpaste for my child?

Answer: We know you have a million and one choices facing you in the toothpaste aisle, and it can be hard to figure out what’s best for you. Most people, however, can use any toothpaste that has the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval. This seal means that the toothpaste contains fluoride, has the right amount of abrasiveness (not too little and not too much), and has been shown to be both safe and effective for intended use. If you have any sensitivity to dyes, preservatives, or certain ingredients, opt for a toothpaste that is free of those, such as Tom's of Maine. Just make sure it has fluoride.

Question: What is the proper way to brush my child's teeth?

Answer: Here is a quick graphic that will illustrate the basic technique of toothbrushing. Note, most children cannot master toothbrushing on their own so continue to supervise their toothbrushing and then go in for a quick spot check after they are done. For more information, visit our preventive care page.

We can’t say it enough: fluoride is your best form of cavity prevention!

At All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we incorporate proven techniques to share with you and your child at each dental checkup visit. Dr. Allen Job and his team are committed to providing the latest in oral health care prevention. For more information about brushing and flossing check out our preventive care page. Still want more information? Check out our blog posts on prevention! Our practice is centrally located in San Diego, CA.

Scheduling an appointment for your child is easy! Start here to schedule an appointment. All of our forms are online. Fill them out securely from your smartphone or tablet and hit send. On appointment day, your child will be seen at their scheduled time. For example, if you have a 9:00 AM appointment, your child will be seen at 9:00 AM.

*This blog is part of the Baby Steps Series. Look for future blogs in this series.

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention. He is also an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

 

Proper Brushing FAQs

October 9th, 2017

Proper Brushing FAQsMouth open or mouth closed?

Before breakfast or after breakfast?

Flat or at an angle?

Manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush?

We brush our teeth every day (hopefully!), but who knew it was this complicated. Just grab a brush a get to work, right?

Not so fast, my friend! There are actually some best practices to be mindful of when brushing those pearly whites. The trick is cutting through the fat and finding out exactly what works.

We live in a world of alternate facts, truthiness, and lists of “7 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Clean Without Picking Up a Toothbrush.” What’s even correct these days?!

Fear not, because we’ve got you covered with this handy FAQ (frequently asked questions)
guide. We’ll keep it simple with some easy dos and don’ts of brushing. Let’s get to it!

Proper Brushing Habits:

1. Don’t: Keep your brush flat.

  • Do: Use a 45-degree angle when brushing.

2. Don’t: Use looooooooong strokes. No need to cover your whole mouth in one stroke!

  • Do: Use short, circular strokes.

3. Don’t: Brush with the force of a giant. This isn’t a strongman contest!

  • Do: Gently cover all areas. A gentle touch helps prevent wear and tear on your enamel.

4. Don’t: Go one and done.

  • Do: Brush at least twice a day, especially after eating or drinking something acidic (like citrus fruits or soda). If you have something acidic to eat or drink, remember to wait 30 minutes before you brush your teeth.

5. Don’t: Be sentimental and use the same toothbrush for life.

  • Do: Change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. A trick to remember: switch out on the first day of each season.

6. Don’t: Be average – the average person brushes their teeth for 45 seconds.

  • Do: Brush for a full 2 minutes. A helpful trick: say the alphabet while brushing a certain section, move to the next section after you hit Z.

7. Don’t: Keep your toothbrush in a closed container.

  • Do: All your toothbrush to air dry.

8. Don’t: Store your toothbrush on the sink counter where bathroom particles can get on it.

  • Do: Store your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet.

9. Don’t: Wield a tough-bristled brush.

  • Do: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, which is much better for your tooth enamel
    And there we have it! Some easy practices to keep that perfect smile.

10. Don't: Brush your teeth before meals or snacks.

  • Do: Brushing your teeth AFTER meals and snacks will remove more food debris and plaque off your teeth than brushing them before.

Remember: Brushing is only 4 minutes out of the day, so why not make it the best 4 minutes of the day!

At All Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we incorporate proven brushing techniques to share with you and your child at each dental checkup visit.  Dr. Allen Job and his team are committed to providing the latest in oral health care prevention.  For more information about brushing and flossing check out our preventive care page.  Still want more information? Check out our blog posts on prevention!  Our practice is centrally located in San Diego, CA.

Scheduling an appointment for your child is easy!  Start here. All of our forms are online.  Fill them out securely from your smartphone or tablet and hit send.  On appointment day, your child will be seen at their scheduled time.  For example, if you have a 9:00 AM appointment, your child will be seen at 9:00 AM.

Dr. Allen Job, DDS, MS, MPH, MS is a board certified pediatric dentist who practices in San Diego, California, where he specializes in prevention.  He is also an assistant professor at Loma Linda University Department of Pediatric Dentistry.