Category Archives: Blog

The Importance of Scraping Your Tongue

Proper brushing and flossing habits are a good start for a healthy mouth, but the story doesn’t end there. Don’t forget that the bacteria in your mouth is growing on more than your teeth and gums. This is why our International District Seattle dentistry recommends that you remember to scrape your tongue as a daily part of your oral hygiene routine.

You may be surprised by how much plaque and bacteria is on your tongue. Fortunately, cleaning your tongue is fairly easy to do. You can brush away bacteria and plaque by gently brushing the surface of your tongue with a toothbrush. Most people find the brush uncomfortable, particularly when trying to reach back towards the throat, so you may wish to get yourself a tongue scraper. Such scrapers can be found in most dental care sections, and are designed specially to clean your tongue in a way that you can’t get with your normal brush. An antibacterial mouthwash can also be a good way to kill off bacteria on the tongue, but a tongue scraping is the only way to clear off the detritus, plaque, and dead cells that are gathering on your tongue’s surface.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Many patients come to our International District dentist office with concerns about sensitivity in their teeth. It’s a tricky problem, as your sensitivity could just as easily come from too much dental care as it can from insufficient dental care.

Tooth decay and receding gums are both negative factors that can cause sensitivity in your teeth. Brushing too little invites decay and infection, but brushing too much strips away your delicate gum tissues. Unfortunately, you can also expect some sensitivity from antibacterial mouthwashes, tooth whiteners, whitening toothpastes, and other products that are actually helping your teeth. You can even expect some short-term sensitivity after a routine dentist appointment.

If you want to conquer tooth sensitivity without sacrificing your oral hygiene, talk to our dentist at Sixth Avenue Dentistry. There may be some way to change your dental routine to be less harsh to your gums.

Who is at Risk of Oral Cancer?

Our International District dentist is about more than just cleaning your teeth and giving you a bright smile. We can also help protect you from the ravages of oral cancer. Though this cancer accounts for a small percentage of cancers in the US, it has a disproportionately large death rate compared to many of the more common cancers. Take a look at this list of oral cancer risk factors to see what kind of threat you might be facing:

  • 70% of oral cancer cases occur in men, with men over fifty being at the greatest risk.
  • Tobacco increases your oral cancer risk by a huge degree, whether it is smoked or enjoyed in a smokeless form, like chewing tobacco or snuff.
  • Smoking marijuana puts you at a high risk of oral cancer.
  • Unguarded exposure to the sun can bring about oral cancer in the exposed regions of your lips.
  • Excessive alcohol is linked to oral cancer, particularly if the drinker is also a smoker.
  • A diet deficient in vitamin A, and other poor dietary habits, can increase your oral cancer risk.
  • Since cancer can be linked to the HPV virus, engaging in oral sex can raise your risk factor.
  • A family history of cancer is always a sign of an increased cancer risk.

The most important key to surviving oral cancer is detecting it at an early stage. If you’re a high risk for oral cancer, be sure to get your regular cancer screenings with your dentist.