Category Archives: Blog

Identifying a Mucocele

Do you have a small, round bump in your mouth? This might be something called a mucocele. These will typically come in the form of a painless, pearly white or light blue blemish of between two and ten millimeters in diameter. They develop anywhere on your gums, the roof or floor of your mouth, or the inside of your bottom lip.

If you have a mucocele, it’s generally nothing to worry about. They are indicative of a salivary duct becoming blocked or damaged, possibly as the result of trauma to the face. You might simply be biting or sucking on your lip or cheek too much. You can expect them to go away by themselves without any treatment. If they start to become irritated or bothersome, though, you can call upon our International District dentist for help.

How to Brush Your Teeth

The most basic skill you can learn for the sake of your oral health is properly brushing your teeth. As simple as it may seem, it takes more to keep your mouth clean than to rub a little toothpaste over your teeth for a couple minutes. Consider the following brushing tips to see what you might be doing wrong with your own routine:

  • Brush at least twice a day, two minutes at a time. It’s best to do this after you wake up and before you go to sleep at night.
  • Don’t brush for at least twenty minutes after you eat! The bacteria in your mouth is feeding off of your food and producing acid, which weakens your enamel. You want to let your teeth recover before brushing, or else you can strip this enamel away.
  • Moisten your toothbrush and apply a thin layer of toothpaste.
  • Hold your brush at a forty-five degree angle with your teeth, brushing in a circular motion instead of a sawing motion. When you brush behind your front teeth, try holding the brush vertically and pulling down against the tooth surface.
  • Be gentle! Remember, if you’re brushing with a proper circular motion, you’re massaging your delicate gums as you go. Brushing too hard can erode your gums and leave you vulnerable to decay.

If you require any additional help with your brushing, contact our International District dentist.

Be Good to Your Brush!

No matter how good your brushing habits may be, you can’t taking proper care of your teeth if you aren’t taking proper care of your brush. A bad or faulty brush can do a lot more harm than good, so consider the following advice on how to make sure that you’re always sticking a clean and functional brush in your mouth.

First of all, remember to change your brush regularly. The common wisdom is to get a new brush at least every three months. If you see noticeable wear on the bristles, like if they begin to splay out at odd angles, you may need to change it earlier. You should also replace your brush more frequently if you suffer from gum disease, or a similar condition that may cause your brush to become infected with germs.

When you store your brush, stand it upright in a glass or similar vessel so that it can air dry between uses. Make sure that it doesn’t touch the head of any other brush. You might consider periodically dipping your bristles in hot water or an antibacterial mouthwash to clean it, but don’t try to microwave it or put it in your dishwasher. For more advice on toothbrushes, consult Sixth Avenue’s International District dentist.

Beat Your Stress for Better Dental Health

Your body doesn’t like stress. Too much anxiety has very real consequences on your health, and your oral health is no exception. This is why our International District dentistry clinic advises that, for the sake of your teeth and gums, you make room in your life for a little rest and relaxation. The possible impacts of stress on your oral health include the following:

  • Bruxism (Tooth-grinding)
  • Canker sores, cold sores, and other oral sores
  • Aggravation of gum disease
  • Nervous habits like chewing your nails, ice, or other objects which can damage your teeth or gums
  • Overeating sugary comfort foods that encourage tooth decay
  • Depression, which frequently causes you to neglect your dental care

Rotate Your Mouthwash for Better Health

Do you have a preferred mouthwash? Regularly rinsing with a proper dose of Listerine, Crest Pro-Health, or some other antiseptic wash is a good way to get better visits at our International District dentistry clinic. The bad news is that, if you favor one and only one kind of rinse, you might not be getting the full effect after a while.

This is according to the findings of a study conducted by Clinical Research Associates. Researchers found that the bacteria inside your mouth will gradually develop a resistance to a mouthwash. You can avoid this by switching to an alternate mouthwash every two or three months. Identify a second product that makes use of a different active ingredient than your primary rinse, and rotate periodically.