As your Fort Collins pediatric dentist I thought it important to discuss the current topic of Chlorhexidine in mouthwash. With the recent interest in oral health during pregnancy and infant oral health, Chlorhexidine Mouthwash has received a lot of interest in the dental and medical communities. So what is this stuff and should my family be using it?

Chlorhexidine, or more specifically, 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate is a very large aromatic salt that has antimicrobial properties. In other words it kills bacteria and other microorganisms. It is found in soap, water line cleaners and a host of other products, but it is also available in a prescription mouth wash. The mouthwash contains Chlorhexidine, 11% alcohol, and a sweetener and goes by the brand names of Peridex, Periogard or DentiCare. The rinse is somewhat unique in that about 30% of the rinse sticks to the soft tissues of the mouth and is released slowly into the saliva over time. This “substantivity” makes the rinse very effective at killing bacteria in the mouth and reducing counts for long periods of time. Studies show that rinsing with Chlorhexidine twice daily for two weeks will reduce bacteria counts in the mouth for 3 to 6 months!

A recent study of pregnant women showed that twice a day rinsing with good oral hygiene, reduced bacteria and carried over to show reduced cavity rates in their children. Chlorhexidine has some side effects but only with long term use; those may be staining of calculus and a metallic taste alteration that is temporary. It is best to use this product after a good dental cleaning, and since it is a prescription your dentist will need to write for it or sell you a bottle. Also, since Chlorhexidine is positively charged and fluoride toothpaste is negatively charged, you should use the rinse at least 30 min before or after brushing.

Who should use a Chlorhexidine rinse? For adults, especially expectant mothers, a short two week course can make a huge difference on caries control and gum inflammation. Of course, using the rinse after a discussion with your dentist is essential. For children, Chlorhexidine use is still off label, meaning its use has not been approved for pediatrics, but a large number of practitioners have used it for children as young as two years old. The latest research out of UCLA recommends a regimen of swabbing the rinse onto baby teeth once a day for a week and repeating every month for six months. After fillings, this is a great way to suppress bacterial growth and give the fluoride toothpaste a chance to remineralize weakened enamel. That’s the latest on Chlorhexidine.

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Appropriate dental care will not only be good for a person’s mouth, it will be beneficial to his or her entire physical body and emotional well-being. Many senior citizens have lost some or all of their teeth by the time they’re old enough to collect social security. With proper oral hygiene and preventative treatments, there’s no reason to lose your pearly whites. Here are some things to think about:

• Daily oral hygiene: Each person should brush and floss their teeth a couple of times each day. After every snack or meal is the ideal but once in the morning and once in the evening before bedtime is adequate. Even very young children should be taught these habits for their young mouths and to establish healthy patterns that will last for their entire lifetime.
• Toothbrush and paste: A high quality toothbrush is important for properly cleaning one’s tooth enamel. The bristles should be not-too-hard and not-too-soft but “just right.” Toothbrushes should be replaced every couple of months because they begin to breed bacteria. This couple of bucks for a new toothbrush is money well spent. Toothpaste can be nearly any type and only a small pea-sized dot is required. Youngsters must be taught the appropriate amount so that they don’t get sick from eating all the minty freshness that they may perceive to be candy.
• Preventative maintenance: A visit to a dentist should occur every six months to make sure everything’s going well. The dentist will check every tooth as well as all the nooks and crannies in order to look for decay, plaque and signs of trouble. He or she will also inspect the tongue, gums and inside of the mouth for any signs of oral cancer or other problematic red flags.
• Dental hygienist: A hygienist is another professional that works in a dentistry practice. He or she is not a full-fledged doc but is highly skilled in cleaning teeth and removing plaque and bacteria which may lead to decay. Cavities will occur more often without proper cleaning.
• Treatments: Some typical treatments offered in a dentistry practice include fillings, root canals, caps, crowns, extractions, installing dental implants, curing infections, whitening, brightening, straightening and more. There are general oral health care practitioners and those that focus on a specific concentration. Specialties may include orthodontia, endodontics, pediatric and cosmetic dentistry.
• Body and mind issues: Ills of the body may show up first in the mouth or may be directly attributed to dental ills. Some examples include premature birth, heart disease, diabetes complications and clogged arteries. Emotional turmoil can occur from unsightly teeth that need the attention of a cosmetic dentist or orthodontist. The smile is a very public and important component of a person’s appearance; if it’s nice looking, a person has a better chance for success and emotional peace.

Appropriate dental care will contribute greatly to a person’s quality of life. Daily oral hygiene habits, the proper toothbrush and paste, regular cleanings and checkups will go a long way in allowing a patient to keep his or her own mouth full of teeth for life.

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It is recommended that we visit the dentist at least two times a year, which means every six months. This way we can get our teeth cleaned, gums checked, and locate any concerns before they become a bigger problem. If we realize any concerns before they become a bigger problem, this can save you time, money, worry, and sometimes even pain in the long run. A regular cleaning also helps prevent plaque buildup, tooth decay, tooth sensitivity concerns, and they also help give us a fluoride treatment if necessary to help prevent tooth decay.

At a regular dental visit, we also may get x-rays done of our teeth to help the dentist see cavities, and other tooth or jaw concerns. If a cavity is spotted, they can fill the cavity and save you the time and money for more tooth problems later on, such as having to get a crown, dental implant, root canal, or other procedure to help restore the health of your teeth. Also, the dentists are friendly, helpful, and supportive.

Going to see the dentist may be scary for many, and embarrassing or shameful for others, but it should not be. The family dentist is there to help and protect your teeth and save you time and money on other oral health problems in the future. There are many dentists that also often to sedate people while cleaning their teeth these days, so it will be less scary and painful. Finally, dentists are there to answer any questions or concerns you may have. They are also trained to be professional and gentle. So, it is important to do the right thing for your teeth and go see your family dentist. You may see that the benefits are better than you once thought.

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Do you have enough information about paradontosis? It is one of the most common dental problems. This article is related to prevention and treatment of paradontosis. If you want to know about prevention and treatment of paradontosis then it will be interesting for you to know more about the disease. Paradontosis means inflammation of gums as well as deeper structures like dentine and bone. The main cause of this disease is poor dental hygiene or improper methods of brushing teeth.

It is a misconception that cause of the inflammation is wrong composition of saliva or inheritance.

Are you aware of common symptoms of this disease? The first symptom of the inflammation is minor bleeding from the gums. After some time periodontal pockets are seen. The gums recede and become swollen. The result of all these symptoms is loosening of teeth. If you or your loved is suffering from above symptoms then it is a good idea to visit a dentist.

If the inflammation is not so severe the dentist teaches proper hygienic principles to the patient. The patient should learn effective method of cleaning the teeth. It is a good idea to clean the teeth after every meal. Sometimes a well formed tooth plaque is seen. In this case the plaque is removed with the help of special instruments. Sometimes dentist have to clean the places under the gums. There are some special instruments which are specially meant for this purpose. Nowadays doctors are cleaning the teeth and the area under the gum with the help of laser.

After cleaning the teeth dentist should prescribe some antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria from the oral cavity.

Always remember that proper dental hygiene can prevent many diseases. I would recommend you to go through some articles which teach proper brushing techniques. There are many websites and blogs which are devoted to this topic.

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Smile is the most appealing part of human expression. You can easily make that first big impression with a beautiful smile. Everyone wants to flaunt his or her smile with grace. In order to clean and whiten your dentures, you should preferably take up natural products and remedies. Hydrogen peroxide is the most effective tooth-bleaching agent. Most of the products contain this ingredient.

Home based whitening kits and cleaning tips

* In order to maintain the luster of your dentures, you should preferably brush them thrice a day in a circular motion. Yellow stains are mostly formed due to red wine, smoking, tea and coffee intake. Regular brushing helps in inhibiting the formation of stains and plaque. After cleaning them properly, you should dip them in glass of water. Water hydrates and rejuvenates your dentures. It also removes germs and odors.

* Baking soda is considered to be an extremely important ingredient for tooth whitening. You can easily form a paste of baking soda and peroxide for whitening your dentures. You can also whiten your dentures by treating them with strawberries and baking soda.

* Dentures can also be cleaned and whitened through white vinegar. It is a nature based bleaching agent, which can easily diminish plaque and odor. Brushing is extremely important before this treatment.

* You can apply Hydrogen Peroxide gel in your dentures for enhancing the luster. It can be easily applied through a pen applicator from the comfort of your home. Dazzle white bleaching kit is the only whitening product, which includes a pen applicator. The process is extremely user friendly unlike other messy techniques such as awkward strips, lights and trays.

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