When Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?
Dec 01, 2020
How often do you replace your toothbrush? It isn’t uncommon to throw away outdated food or replace old clothing. So it stands to reason that you should replace your toothbrush, as well. Unfortunately, dental hygiene doesn’t get near the attention that it should.

To ensure that you are practicing the best dental care, let’s explore some tips that will help you give your teeth the attention they deserve.
Every Three Months
According to the American Dental Association and most dentists, everyone should replace their toothbrush every three months. This is important to follow, as your toothbrush becomes less effective the longer you use it.
The three-month mark is typically when your toothbrush’s bristles become worn down and unable to adequately remove plaque and buildup. Furthermore, if you have brushed your teeth when you’ve had a cold or the flu, you should replace your toothbrush right away to avoid becoming infected all over again.
If you can’t remember how long you’ve been using your current toothbrush, inspect its bristles to look for signs of wear. If they appear to be flattened, frayed, or darkened, it’s time to get a new one. Dark bristles are a sign of mold, and you certainly don’t want that in your mouth.
Using an Old Toothbrush
Failure to change out your toothbrush every three months can lead to fungus and bacteria accumulation. Continually putting such things in your mouth is a recipe for disaster, and one that’s best avoided altogether.
Not only that, but you could risk damaging your gums. If your toothbrush is no longer capable of removing plaque, you could develop gum disease and, eventually, gingivitis. If you develop gingivitis and leave it untreated, an infection could set in and result in tooth loss.
Furthermore, an old toothbrush can make you really sick. Depending on where you store it, your toothbrush can absorb particles in your bathroom, such as from the toilet. This can lead to all kinds of medical concerns, so be diligent in caring for your toothbrush.
With proper care and regular replacements, you can look forward to happier, healthier teeth.
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Missing your real teeth is never a pleasing experience. You may have lost them to tooth decay, periodontal disease, root canal failure, congenital disabilities, and trauma to the mouth. However, the lost teeth leave you with one consequence, with gaps in your mouth impacting your smile. Other effects of tooth loss also affect you making life miserable and leaving you wondering how you must replace your natural teeth. Replacing natural teeth is not a challenge if you consider options like dentures and dental bridges. However, if you want a replacement resembling and feeling like your natural teeth, the only option available is dental implants. Implants are fake tooth roots used for sustaining a rehabilitation for a missing tooth or teeth, helping to prevent jawbone resorption. The implant placement procedure is categorized as a form of artificial replacement and also as cosmetic dentistry. When you lose your natural teeth, you become self-conscious about smiling or talking. Tooth loss also has a negative effect on your eating habits resulting in secondary health problems like malnutrition. How Can You Get Dental Implants for Yourself? First of all, you must visit the dentist near you for a consultation to determine whether implant placements are suitable for you. During the appointment, the dentist professionally examines your teeth and gums and evaluates bone density and quantity. The dentist takes x-rays, and CT scans to ensure sufficient jawbone structure for implant placement is present and determine the implant’s exact location. The dentist advises you on the most appropriate treatment plan based on the condition of your oral tissues, dental hygiene, lifestyle habits, and commitment to follow after-care instructions. If you have insufficient bone or gum tissue, you may require bone grafts or use mini implants to replace your natural teeth. You also receive information on how much time the treatment process requires from the dentist. Undergoing implant placement requires multiple appointments with dental implants near you. The dentist will discuss all options, including anesthesia and the costs of the dental implants, during the initial consultation. Before Implant Placement Procedure If you have any underlying oral health issues, they require management before considering implant placement. Common problems like tooth decay and gum disease make the treatment less effective. Your dentist asks you to quit smoking if you are one because the risk of implant failure is higher among smokers. Your therapy for implant placement can begin only after your dentist confirms your mouth is healthy. The Implant Placement Procedure The implant placement procedure is performed by an oral surgeon in a single appointment but requires time for healing called osseointegration. Osseointegration is the process where the implant post anchors to the jawbone. You may complete osseointegration in as little as six weeks or require six months or more—failure of osseointegration results in implant placement failure. After placing the implant, the surrounding gum tissue is secured over the implant. A protective cover screw is placed on top to allow osseointegration to occur. After six months of healing, the oral surgeon uncovers the implant to attach an abutment to hold your artificial tooth in place. Sometimes abutments are placed on the same day as implant placement. You receive a temporary crown over the abutment to serve as a template around which the gums grow and shape themselves naturally. The process is completed when a permanent restoration replaces the temporary crown. Do You Still Want to Have a Natural Smile Back? Reading about the procedure for implant placement can make you wonder how painful are dental implants? Instead of considering the temporary pain, you experience during the implant placement procedure, it would help if you feel the permanent discomfort you are currently exposed to by the adverse consequences of tooth loss. You will soon realize getting your natural smile back is not kid’s play and requires some effort from you if you wish to have natural-looking and feeling artificial teeth as replacements for your lost teeth. Think about how dental implants last you for a lifetime with proper dental hygiene, and the realization will make you forget any discomfort you may experience when having the implants inserted in your mouth. Suppose you are concerned about the pain during implant placement. In that case, you are likely not to feel anything because the dentist ensures you receive adequate anesthesia and sufficient painkillers after that to make you comfortable. Consider the benefits of having natural-looking and feeling teeth in your mouth again instead of the pain or discomfort. You will undoubtedly decide in favor of having dental implants in your mouth without delay.
Have you received information from dentists that you need to undergo root canal therapy? The information would likely have scared you setting you thinking you must endure immense pain when the dentist performs root canal therapy . Your thinking is not unjustified because many myths surround this treatment helping to relieve pain in your tooth. H Hearing about root canal treatment shouldn’t scare you because millions of teeth are treated every year with endodontic treatment. This blog explains the benefits of root canal treatment because it helps relieve your tooth pain and preserves your smile. Understanding Root Canal Treatment If you want to understand root canal therapy, it helps to have some information about your tooth’s anatomy. Your tooth has an outer layer called enamel, and beneath it exists a hard layer called dentin. Beneath the dentin is a soft layer called pulp containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, creating the tooth’s surrounding hard tissues in the developmental stages. The pulp extends from the top of the tooth to the roots’ tip connecting to the tissues surrounding the core. The pulp is essential during the developmental stages of the tooth. However, after a tooth matures, it survives without the pulp because it receives nourishment from the surrounding tissues. If you are recommended root canal therapy, it is apparent that the pulp inside the root canal is infected or inflamed. Various reasons are responsible for the infection or inflammation. You may have deep decay on the tooth or a chip or crack. Additionally, damages to the pulp are caused by injuries even though the tooth does not display any chips or cracks. When you leave the pulp infection untreated, it causes pain and an abscess eventually. Will the Treated Tooth Need Special Attention after Root Canal Treatment? You must avoid chewing or biting with the treated tooth until it is restored by your dentist. The treated tooth without restoration is susceptible to fractures. It is why you must see your regular dentist for a full repair as soon as you can. Until you can visit your dentist, you must practice good oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, and having regular dental checkups and cleanings. Most teeth undergoing root canal treatments last for as long as other natural teeth. Occasionally the treated tooth does not heal or continues to remain painful. The occurrence can happen months or years later. In such cases, root canal therapy becomes essential again and helps to preserve the tooth.
Severely damaged teeth might not be treatable through restorative dental procedures. Therefore, your dentist might recommend a tooth extraction. Also, if you have impacted wisdom teeth that are causing oral health issues, removal might be the suitable treatment option. Reasons You Need a Tooth Extraction Although your permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime, you might need to get them removed. Some of the reasons that your dentist might recommend tooth removal include: Crowded Mouth Your dentist might recommend a tooth extraction procedure before orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatments aim to align your teeth. Therefore, if some teeth disrupt the goals of orthodontia, the dentist will recommend removal. Also, a tooth might erupt, lacking space to develop. In such a case, removing the tooth might be a suitable treatment. Infections If a tooth develops an infection, especially in the root canal, it might cause complications. When the root canal infection spreads to the gums and jaws, it might affect other teeth. Therefore, your dentist will recommend a tooth extraction. Gum Disease When you have a periodontal disease your gums recede, making your teeth loose. In such a scenario, your dentist might recommend tooth removal if the gums can’t hold it in place. Tooth Extraction Procedure Before considering a tooth extraction, your dentist checks your teeth to ensure it is the suitable treatment. Next, the dentist will check the condition of the gums and the extent of decay since the adjacent teeth might be affected. Since the tooth removal procedure is surgical, the dentist will ask about your medical history. Reviewing your medical history will help the dentist make adjustments to prevent the risk of complications during the procedure. After examining your teeth, the dentist will proceed to prepare you for the dental procedure. The dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the area, preventing pain. When you require a tooth extraction, the treatment plan depends on the type of teeth that need removal. If the tooth that requires removal is visible, the dentist will use a tool known as an elevator to loosen the tooth and use forceps to remove the teeth as a whole. When you are getting tooth extractions for impacted teeth, the dentist will make an incision on your gums. Next, the dentist will cut the tooth into small pieces and use forceps to remove them. Once the site of extraction is clear of debris, the dentist will recommend you bite down a gauze to prevent excessive blood loss. You might experience swelling and little discomfort after the tooth extraction, which subsides after some time. What to Eat After Teeth Extractions and Recovery After tooth extraction, you might feel a little discomfort around the site of treatment. Therefore, you should consider eating soft foods. Eating hard foods might hinder recovery on the socket. After tooth extraction, it takes a few days to recover. You can consider the following tips for fast recovery: Apply a cold compress directly on the cheek over the site of treatments to reduce swelling Leave the gauze pad in place for three hours to prevent excessive bleeding You can bite down to prevent blood loss if you don’t have a gauze pad Take medications as prescribed by the dentist, including over-the-counter drugs Avoid smoking since it hinders recovery Rest for the first 24 hours after tooth extraction to promote healing Don’t use a straw for the first 24 hours Rinse your mouth using warm saline teeth after the tooth extraction As your gums heal, you can introduce other foods, and you can enjoy all your favorite foods when you are completely healed. In case you experienced any complications after tooth removal, please contact our office . Risks of a Tooth Extraction A tooth removal procedure is a safe procedure. However, there are risks associated with tooth extraction, although rare. Sometimes, a blood clot may not form in the socket, a condition known as dry socket. In such a scenario, our dentist at NorthPark Family Dentistry will apply a sedative dressing on the socket that should remain for a few days. The other risks associated with tooth extraction include: Nausea and vomiting Severe fever and chills that might be a sign of an infection Excessive bleeding