Jill Schaps DDS - Blog

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha

date posted: 9-14-11     posted by: Jil

I have a lot of patients ask me which toothbrush is better: manual or electric?  The truth is, it depends.  A manual toothbrush can be just as effective as electric, but only if you are using it correctly.  As it turns out, most people don’t use their manual toothbrushes correctly, and truthfully, I didn’t learn until I was in dental school, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

When compared to improper use with a manual toothbrush, electric toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque and reducing gingivitis.  They not only move bristles at a much faster speed than you could possibly achieve manually, but they also remove plaque more evenly in hard-to-reach places, such as between teeth and on back molars.  But despite my personal inclination for electric toothbrushes, the truth of the matter is that you can use either, so long as you brush your teeth correctly.

How to Brush Your Teeth

The most accepted brushing technique amongst dentists is called “The Bass Method”.  Here’s how it goes:

  • Always use a soft bristled toothbrush – hard bristles damage your gums and may lead to gingival recession.
  • Wet your toothbrush and take only a pea-size amount of toothpaste.
  • Hold the toothbrush tilted at an angle of 45 degrees towards your gums – the bristles should reach the junction of where tooth meets gum.
  • Press lightly so the bristles enter the gums ever so slightly without bending them, while using small, circular strokes.
  • Be methodical – move around the mouth in quadrants, starting at the outside surfaces of the upper right, moving around to the left, then the inside surfaces of the upper left, moving around to the right, and repeat on the lower teeth.
  • Brush for a total of 2 minutes (30 seconds each quadrant).

An extra tip: gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Happy Brushing!!

Posted in Oral Hygiene

What Every Expectant Mother Should Know

date posted: 6-7-11     posted by: Jil

How Your Oral Health 
May Affect Your Pregnancy

A healthy mouth is essential for a healthy pregnancy.  The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy – especially the increased level of progesterone – may make it easier for certain gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow, as well as make gum tissue more sensitive to plaque and exaggerate the body’s response to toxins that result from plaque.  In fact, if you already have significant gum disease, being pregnant may make it worse.

Even more alarming is that emerging science suggests that advanced gum disease may be associated with premature, low birth weight, and may also increase your risk for diabetes or preeclampsia (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.

The good news is that with excellent oral hygiene and a visit to the dentist, this condition can almost entirely be avoided.  After all, it is the bacteria, not the hormones, which is causing the gingivitis.

How Can I Tell If I Have Gum Disease?

During pregnancy, about half of all women experience a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. It is caused by an increase in hormone levels, which can exaggerate a woman’s response to dental plaque in the mouth. This extra plaque may cause swelling, bleeding, redness and/or tenderness in the gums. Changes in the gums are most noticeable from the second month of pregnancy, reaching a maximum in the eighth month.

How Can My Oral Health Affect My Baby?

After your baby is born, germs that cause tooth decay can easily pass from your mouth to your baby’s mouth.  These germs can be passed through kissing, sharing utensils, or putting your baby’s pacifier or hands in your mouth.

What Can I Do?

Excellent oral hygiene starts at home:

  • Brush your teeth, especially along the gumline, at least twice a day
  • Use a small, soft toothbrush
  • Use toothpaste with fluoride
  • Floss at least once daily to clean between teeth and under your gums

Don’t skip your professional cleaning simply because you are pregnant.  All pregnant women should visit the dentist at least once during pregnancy for a thorough cleaning.  This procedure is safe during any part of your pregnancy, but may be more comfortable during your second trimester.  After delivery, you should return to your dentist for a check up and cleaning to reduce the risk of transferring infectious bacteria to your baby’s mouth.

Talk to Your Dentist

If you are pregnant or are considering pregnancy, discuss any concerns you may have with your dentist.  Women who are thinking about becoming pregnant may want to consider their oral health before becoming pregnant.  And for women who are pregnant, it is important to maintain stellar oral health care throughout your pregnancy.

Posted in Dental Health, Oral Hygiene

Should Major League Baseball be Tobacco Free?

date posted: 4-5-11     posted by: Jil

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Oral cancer is the sixth deadliest form of cancer – deadlier then cervical, brain, ovarian or skin cancer.  It can first appear as a tiny sore or spot anywhere in your mouth, and often without any associated symptoms in its early stages.  Oral cancer screening is a routine part of a dental examination and is key to early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions.  Risk factors include smoking, alcohol, family history and excessive sun exposure, but one risk factor has been getting particular attention as of late – smokeless tobacco.

With baseball season in high gear, the American Dental Association, along with 9 other organizations, is urging Major League Baseball to go tobacco free beginning in 2012.  The Knock Tobacco Out of the Park campaign is calling on Commissioner Selig and the MLB Players Association to curb their bad habits and start making a positive influence on the millions of children who watch America’s pastime.

“Kids idolize these players and imitate their every move,” says Danny McGoldrick, vice president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “This is one we don’t want them imitating.”   Among high school males, there has been a 36 percent rise in use from 2003 to 2009.  Just how much of that increase can be attributed to modeling MLB players remains unknown, says McGoldrick.

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who recently underwent treatment for cancer of the salivary gland, attributes his cancer to years of smokeless tobacco use. He is one of several major league ballplayers who have recently aired their health problems and addiction struggles due to smokeless tobacco in the media and before Congress.

Professional baseball has made some efforts to curtail the use of chewing tobacco.  The Minor Leagues banned it from ballparks in 1993, with fines ranging from $100 to $1,000.  As of yet, there is no ban in the Majors.  The only way to effect a ban would be during the round of collective bargaining that occurs every five years.  The latest session is set to finish at the end of this year.

It stands to reason that if Major League Baseball could successfully bar players from smoking cigarettes while in uniform, they should have no problem ditching the dip.  But short of that, at the very least, they can do more to make the health risks of chewing tobacco obvious to the generations of younger players who look up to these guys with packed lips whenever they turn on a game.

National Children’s Dental Health Month

date posted: 2-16-11     posted by: Jil

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, reminding us to sharpen our focus on the importance of good oral hygiene as part of a child’s overall health.  Tooth decay affects more than 25% of U.S. children 2-5 years old and 50% of U.S. children
12-15 years old, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  It is therefore especially important to develop good habits at an early age and schedule regular dental visits to help children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Here are some tips to help your kids maintain a great, healthy smile:

  1. Brush at least twice a day to remove plaque. Plaque left on tooth surfaces can result in cavities.
  2. Floss daily. Flossing helps to remove food debris from in between the teeth and under the gums that a toothbrush can’t reach.
  3. Eat healthy and nutritious foods and limit the intake of sugary carbonated drinks.
  4. Visit your dentist for regular check ups and cleanings.
  5. Fluoride treatments twice a year are very beneficial in preventing tooth decay in children.
  6. Sealants can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and premolars to help prevent tooth decay.
  7. Wear a mouth guard during sports to reduce injuries to the mouth and teeth.

Good oral hygiene starts in the home, so educate your child today and help pave the way for a healthy future!

Posted in Dental Health