Archive for January, 2009

Having apprehension about the Dentist

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Being afraid to visit the dentist, especially if such visits are rare, is an affliction many individuals have. A lot of people get so worried that their oral health declines, causing gum infections, gum disease, tooth cavities and abscesses.

To-day there are many methods and techniques to help overcome anxiety so that going to the dentist becomes more comfortable. The British Dental Association conducted a study which determined that one-quarter of people harbored a fear of going to the dentist.

Fear of the dentist can vary from mild to extreme. Fearing what you don’t know is the most common fear. Following this is dental fear, an actual reaction to a known or presumed danger. For instance you may have had a bad time at the dentists when you were younger, and you worry about it happening again, will it hurt, will I vomit? The highest level is dental phobia which is similar to dental fear but much worse, and it is also the result of unpleasant past experiences, which usually caused you pain.

So what may you be frightened of?

A fear of needles
A fear of dental instruments in your mouth
The worry you might vomit
Unsympathetic dentists
Bad childhood experiences
Fear of the drill
Fear of anaesthetic
Feeling vulnerable

There are three factors that tend to keep your fear of the dentist going.

Sensitisation (you find it difficult going to the dentist)
Avoidance (you stop going to the dentist)
Negative, distorted self talk (which terrifies you)

A dental phobia develops when you become sensitized to the dentist, in other words, when anxiety becomes conditioned or associated with that situation. All it takes at times, is to just pick up the phone to call or be on your way to a dentist appointment to experience anxiety. Being sensitized means that simply thinking about going to the dentist is able to trigger anxiety in you.

If the sensitive feeling subsides your natural reaction may be to forget that it ever happened. Avoiding the issue is great,it saves you from being stressed out. Avoidance is the most powerful way to hold on to a phobia or fear, because it prevents you from ever learning that you can handle it.

she still feel fear of dentist because her last experience with thah dentist.
dentist fear when look accident happen infront of their clinic The greater the anxiety you feel in anticipation of the object of your fear, the greater the likelihood that you will have an unproductive inner conversation about it. Realize you may experience fear or other negative ideas  about going to the dentists. If you are trying to deal with dentists fears just keep in mind that self talk and negative images only help fuel your fears keeping you afaraid. You can never get over your fear because your confidence is undermined. By not talking yourself out of it and having a fearful imagination you would be more apt to conquer your evasion and go to the dentists confidently.
Hypnotherapy can assist you with this. You will find that Hypnotherapy relieves a wide variety of fears and phobias by implementing peaceful influences.

First you must locate a considerate dentist, and you’ll discover with regular appointments you’ll begin to experience confidence, which will increase with every visit.  The icing on the cake is that you’ll gain a pearly white smile and fresher breath.

I can truly say that for many years I suffered from a dental phobia, that is until I found both a good dentist and a good hypnotherapist who helped to cure me of my fear.

If you can find a dentist who has good listening skills, it can really help you start getting over your fears – try asking your friends or co-workers if they know of a dentist who is good with people who have anxiety. It is important that you be able to feel at ease while discussing your fears with your dentist. There are many things a person can do to release anxiety.

Sedation

You might also say to yourself, how can hypnosis help me to get rid of my phobia?

This is only one of many issues which hypnotherapy can help a person to deal with.

Hypnotherapists utilize various techniques to banish phobias and often also include NLP. The session will generally be begun with relaxation and breathing techniques, and then therapy regarding changing negative self talk to more positive and settled thinking.

You will also picture the process of telephoning in an appointment, imagining your own calm and confidence as you perform the act, as well as your composure in the time directly before the appointment. You’ll envision visiting the dentist’s office feeling confident and secure, seeing the dentist and still feeling in control, and finally exiting the building full of pride and newfound confidence.

You will feel wonderful, knowing you won’t have to avoid the issue ever again, and you will smile, knowing that when you smile you will have lovely white teeth and sweet smelling breath.

 

Flouride Drinking Water – Helpful or Harmful?

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Obviously, dental hygiene is a priority to conscientious parents. Yet, in spite of the advancements in dental care, more than one fourth of two to five year-olds and half of kids 12 to 15 have one or more cavities. Many feel that adding fluoride to public water is one way to curb the problem of tooth decay. Others strongly disagree.

Fluoride exists naturally in water and is the 13th most common element in the Earth’s crust.
Some water has sufficient natural quantities. What should be done when it is not naturally present? Should water systems add fluoride to the supply? The debate has been going on for decades and won’t end here. Many factors are involved in this discussion. The purpose here is to consider a few of these, and to give you some options. You need to know whether you need a fluoride water filter for your drinking water.

The pro side says, “For over 60 years, water fluoridation has proved to be a safe and cost-effective way to reduce dental caries.” “It is well known that fluoride helps prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay.” “Today, water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20-40%.” These quotes come from an MD.

The pro side says that fluoride decreases tooth decay in two ways. It works when it comes in contact with the surface of the teeth by preventing the acid made by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving, or demineralizing, tooth enamel. Second, it becomes part of the structure of developing teeth in children. Fluoride also encourages teeth damaged by acid to remineralize themselves. It can’t fix decayed teeth but can prevent new decay from occurring.

On the other hand we have quotes like this: “. . . there is no difference in the tooth decay rates of the fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas surveyed.” Indeed, some studies, they say, show that the more fluoride children ingest, the higher their risk of dental decay.

Too much fluoride during the years the teeth are developing can cause enamel fluorosis, a mottling or discoloration of the permanent teeth. To add fluoride to water, along with toothpaste and treatments can exceed the maximum level that is safe.

At times the studies have not considered the long range effects of fluoride. The con side says it has been directly linked to cancer, changes in bone structure and strength, has caused birth defects and perinatal deaths, has impaired the immune system, caused initial stages of skeletal fluorosis, caused osteoarthritis, inhibits key enzymes, suppresses thyroid function and several other adverse problems.

What about the studies mentioned above proving that fluoride is good for dental hygiene? Opponents point out the studies had several flaws. First, they did not consider other minerals in the water that could have been the cause of decreased instances of tooth decay. Second, they did not consider the differences between “natural fluoride” (like CaF) and added fluoride (like NaF). Third, the conclusion had little or no statistical analysis. Fourth, it included no safety experiments except for dental fluorosis.

If you conclude that fluoride should not be in your drinking water, what can you do about it? You could buy bottled water but this is expensive. A better choice is to purchase a water filter that removes fluoride. The Berkey Filters, for example, has available an additional filter that can be attached to the regular charcoal filters and will remove fluoride from the water. You don’t have to ingest it if you don’t want to.

What is the Best At Home Teeth Whitening System

Monday, January 19th, 2009

In the oral healthcare marketplace of today, home teeth whitening systems have become a leading industry. Whitening chewing gum alone is estimated to bring in an astounding seventeen million dollars per annum in sales, and that is just for one brand name. When you include additional products like brushed on bleaching gels, whitening toothpastes and whitening strips, it is easy to see just how big and lucrative the market has grown into. Oral care as we know it today, has not always been that way though and is far removed from its rather humble beginnings. The lengths which some folks would go to in the past just to get a natural smile can make you very grateful for the modern conveniences that we take for granted nowadays.

Without the invention of the toothbrush, in home teeth whitening would not be where it is now. Early teeth cleaning implements, from hundreds of years ago, bore very little resemblance to what we refer to as a toothbrush nowadays. The first one was fashioned out of a twig with a frayed end to scrape the tooth. Everybody from royalty to peasants all used a bit of yard debris as a way to rid their mouth and teeth of excess food and buildup. This crude type of toothbrush eventually evolved into something resembling the implement we use now. Instead of a frayed twig, a piece of shaped wood with boar bristles attached to one end, became the in thing to brush your pearly whites with. Nothing beats the taste of a mouthful of pig hair first thing in the morning.

The need to have whiter teeth is by no means the latest fashion craze since it has been around for many years. Hundreds of years ago, the local barbers shop would also be the place to go if you needed anything doing to your teeth. To give you the dazzling white teeth that you desired, the barber come tooth doctor would file the tooth surface down and then apply a Nitric Acid solution. While this process would certainly work in the short term, the teeth would begin crumbling rapidly because of the lack of tooth enamel protection that would be destroyed by the process.

Think of that fresh minty taste sensation of your toothpaste. Most whitening toothpastes nowadays contain baking soda as an active component. It is still a popular practice to brush the teeth with bicarbonate of soda right out of the Arm & Hammer packet. If you do not want that baking soda taste, then you may want to stick with toothpaste. At least it no longer includes urine, which was a popular ingredient in the 1800’s.

If it is said once, it will be said a hundred times over your life-time. Home teeth whitening all starts out with following a proper oral hygiene routine. Keeping away from tobacco products, red wine and beverages like coffee and tea are also good ideas if your goal is to have pearly whites. Do not take for granted how simple it is for modern man to have brighter teeth. At least you do not have to brush with a toothbrush made of pig hair.

How Safe Is Teeth Whitening Procedures?

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

The danger in teeth whitening procedures?

Most people are concerned about making their teeth white but how many of those are ever thought about the potential danger in teeth whitening procedures. Your mouth tissue and teeth could potentially be at risk.

By and large the potential risk can be minimized and nothing to be worried about but worth looking into.

3 Potential Dangers in Whitening Your Teeth

1) For those people who have sensitive gums and soft mouth tissue, they could respond negatively to the chemicals solutions such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide that are normally used in tooth whitening procedures.

Warning! Be very careful if you want to try using these chemicals at home. Be sure that the chemicals are only in contact with your teeth but not other mouth tissue.

Normally if the procedures is done at the dentist office the risk could be greatly minimized. The dentist using the professional tools and equipment could prevent your mouth tissue from the chemicals used in the procedure.

Some teeth whitening home kits do provide some protection tools such as mouth guard. Mouth guard does not work very well since it doesn't fit everyone. It may work with some people but not with everyone.

2) People with sensitive teeth could be affected by the chemical used during the treatment. This reaction is normally very noticeable when eating food while they too are hot or too cold such as ice cream.

3) The chemicals used (carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide) in the whitening procedures could also be potentially dangerous if swallowed. Some people will have a reaction of stomach upset, nausea and vomiting.

Some case studies have shown that the use of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening has been associated with the development of tongue cancer. There is no statistical data to quantify the claims but it is always wise to be on the safe side.

Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry – Effective Treatments For Oral Health Care

Monday, January 12th, 2009

Choosing Dentistry Alternatives

It is essential to know how dentistry works for oral health care. Being a wide branch of medicine, dentistry revolves around diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of any type of disease regarding teeth, oral cavity, and associated structures. cosmetic dentistry and implant dentistry both in these days and have gained wider acceptance for their advanced methods for improving and maintaining oral health .

Most of the people have become cautious about their teeth and smile. And therefore the branch of dentistry has flourished to meet the need of the people. Thanks to modern techniques of dentistry which can help you regain your loss of your teeth. A range of methods are available for replacing teeth, for example implants, removable appliances and fixed bridges. A visit to an efficient dentist can help you in deciding which method will suit you.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry brings an opportunity for you to make your smile brighter than ever. Along this line, it is possible for you to get your decayed or discolored teeth replaced with the help of modern technique of cosmetic dentistry, which is painless as well as affordable. There are various cosmetic dental procedure can be helpful to you, which involves bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers and bridges. Choosing an experienced cosmetic dentist in Dublin can meet your expectations regarding dental and oral care.

Dental Implants: What Are They?

Dental implants, an effective method often used for dental and oral care which involves implants. It is successful method of treatment for replacing missing or discolored teeth. This implant dentistry offers to have artificial teeth which can give a natural look of your teeth. This treatment procedure can help you regain your loss of teeth and smile!

You can note that Implants, compared to removable dentures , are more beneficial and suitable . Dentures on the contrary, are not get fixed permanently and therefore can move when you eat or speak . Also the bone supporting the denture may shrink as the time goes which creates difficulty in supporting a denture.

Advantages are certainly there behind choosing implants which are more beneficial compared to fixed bridges. It can be a good sign for implants of the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth are healthy . Really speaking, implants are very much successful if done by an efficient implant dentist in Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin. The entire success of implants depends on the patient’s health, if he smokes or not, or the amount of bone supporting the implant.

You may confront a confusion of choosing a convenient dental treatment method is always theere as there are different choices for different methods . Reliable dentists can only advice you better what will be best. The condition of your teeth will play a major role in deciding which treatment to choose. Maintaining of teeth can also be deciding factor for choosing a treatment for dental health care. Different modern dentistry methods for your oral health and can give you a reason to have smile on your face!