Pick or Floss

Water picking is a relatively new trend that has recently hit the dental scene. The hope of the water pick is to replace ordinary, boring flossing with a technique that will expedite the flossing process. The idea is the same; getting particles and leftover food out between your teeth. So, how do flossing and water picking compare?

Well, water picking uses a special machine filled with water. The water is then released through a little tool that creates a strong stream of water. The stream of water is placed between teeth to then clean gums and remove excess food. This can also help remove plaque build up on the teeth.

The best part about water picking is it is easy to use. It is especially easy for people that would otherwise struggle with flossing. Patients with braces or permanent retainers often struggle with flossing because the string gets stuck in their dental work. With the water pick there is nothing to get stuck! The water can go right through or next to any braces or permanent work in the patient’s mouth. The gentle massage from the pressure of the water can also improve gum health. Gums will not bleed with continual use of the water pick. Most people think of it as a much more fun way to take care of their teeth. Flossing can even be tiring after a while, while the water pick is much quicker and much less manual labor for the user.

However, with anything, there are some issues with the water pick. The first issue many people have is the price. Good quality water picks can oftentimes be over $50, while most people are used to paying less than a dollar for an entire roll of floss. Yes, it is a large upfront cost, but I think the product eventually pays for itself. Another issue with the water pick is space. The machine is quite large and takes up way more space than traditional floss. There will need to be an area that the machine can live on the bathroom counter. Traveling with a water pick is also not the easiest thing to do, so I recommend having back up floss to take with you on a trip. Children would also need to be taught how to properly use the machine before using it without supervision.

No matter which you choose, both products are successful and useful. You should consider improving your dental health by removing plaque and food build up. This can be achieved either through flossing or water picking.

Dental Issues Associated With Oral Piercings

Oral piercings have become popular among both men and women. While you may think of these piercings as a wonderful addition to your appearance, they actually come with a lot of health risks.

In this article, we are going to discuss the risk of oral piercings to oral health.

Chipping and cracking of teeth

When you get a lip or tongue piercing, you need to know that it can actually lead to the risk of your teeth getting chipped or cracked. These chips and cracks can expose nerves in the tooth to oral bacteria, leading to the need of root canal treatment to save the tooth. This way, you may be able to use your tooth for normal chewing but you need to know the fact that a manmade replacement is not an ideal alternate of natural tooth.

Allergic reaction

Most of the oral piercings are made of nickel, which many people may be allergic to. It’s sad that they realize about this allergic reaction after the piercing has been placed.

Swallowing of parts

An oral piercing may be constituted of several parts combined together. Hence, it is possible for these parts to lose hold of each other. As a result, one may end up swallowing the parts of these piercings.

Infection

When you get your tongue pierced, you actually expose your tongue and other systems of body against the risk of infection. This is due to the fact that our mouths are filled with bacteria which tend to deliver harm to the oral and overall health. These bacteria can stick to the piercing and cause damage to the tissues through which the piercings run through. These piercings can also lead to a condition which is called Endocarditis. This condition is basically associated with the exposure of bloodstream to bacteria. This condition can result in several systematic infections throughout the body.

Changes in speech and eating

With your tongue and lips pierced, you may not be able to eat or speak properly. While you can surely improve the way you speak and eat, getting the oral parts pierced is not a risk worth taking.

Immediate swelling

Everyone reacts differently to piercings. If you have a problem of getting the swelling immediately, a piercing may result in blockage of airways and making it difficult for you to breathe and speak.

Split tongue

Oral piercing can cut the tongue half, causing a lengthwise cleft. This split of tongue can cause it to look like a snake tongue.

Trauma to gums

The lip piercings put your gums at the risk of getting trauma. The reason is that these piercings can cause scratches and cuts, leading to the infectious trauma on the gums.

Basics of Dental Infection Control

For dental procedures such as cleaning, filling of cavities and root canal, we trust our dentists. However, you may wonder sometimes about the role of environment in making dental procedures a success or failure. You may also wonder how those professionals keep the surfaces clean. A few things are worth mentioning in this regard.

Cleaning of instruments and equipment

There are complete instructions about how the instruments and equipment need to be cleaned in the dental offices. There are some categories in which the instruments can be classified, i.e. critical, semi-critical and non-critical.

Critical instruments are the ones which are used to penetrate soft tissues and bones. The instruments to talk about in this regard are scalers, scalpels, forceps and bone chisels. Since these are the critical instruments, they should be sterilized well before and after use.
Instruments which have to deal with mucous membranes or non-dry skin are the semi-critical instruments. These instruments mainly include mirrors, amalgam condensers and reusable impression trays. These instruments also need to be sterilized before and after use.
Non-critical instruments are the ones which come in contact with the skin. These instruments include pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters and X-ray heads. These instruments get ready to be reused between the patients after a mild treatment for disinfection. This disinfection mainly aims at the prevention of tuberculosis.

Hand washing

Hand washing is the critical process for the dental procedure to prevent germs from being transferred to the patients. The chemical-based hand sanitization solutions may be used for proper hand cleaning before the procedure is started. The dental professional with visibly soiled hands needs to ensure proper cleaning of hands with the help of soap and water.

Surface contamination

When it comes to cleanliness in the dental office, it is not just about the instruments. According to CDC, there are two types of surfaces in the dental office, i.e. clinical contact surfaces and housekeeping surfaces. Clinical contact surfaces include drawer handles, faucets handles, light handles, counter tops, chairs and other items which come in contact with the hands of patient or dentist.

Housekeeping surfaces include Floors, walls and sinks. According to survey, these surfaces have little to do with the contamination which can be harmful for the health of patients. So, normal cleaning on everyday basis is enough to ensure proper hygiene of these surfaces.

Education and training

For effective dental infection control, staffs at the dental offices need to learn about the ways to maintain proper cleanliness required to keep the dental office free for any contaminations.