Is the Future of Dentistry Silver?

Feb 26th, 2018
Easton Dentists Feb 26th, 2018

A recent scientific discovery could have big implications for dental practices around the world. This discovery was made by Dr. Carla Meledandri of the University of Otago’s Chemistry department. In fact, the discovery was so significant that Dr. Meledandri received the 2017 Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize.

Dr. Meledandri’s discovery was that silver nanoparticles can be used to prevent and treat dental disease without staining the teeth. Nanoparticles are incredibly small parts of a substance. On the nanoscale, these particles look, react, and act differently than they do on a larger scale. Dr. Meledandri has been studying these nanoparticles to better understand how they interact with their surroundings and how they can be used to benefit the world. In addition to discovering their ability to treat and prevent dental disease, Dr. Meledandri found that these nanoparticles may be able to help to mitigate global warming by capturing carbon dioxide and removing it from the atmosphere. These small particles really can make a big impact on the world!

If silver nanoparticles become largely used to treat the bacterial source of tooth decay and infection, the prevalence of antibiotics used to treat this bacteria could be decreased. This could be a great step forward because, although antibiotic treatment often works quite well, it does pose the risk of creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The silver nanoparticles, however, use a different mechanism to treat bacteria. This mechanism makes it impossible for bacteria to ever grow resistant to it.

At The Dental Center, we’re looking forward to seeing how these silver nanoparticles can benefit dental patients in our office and around the world. We’re always inspired to see the innovations that come from exploring our world and investigating new avenues of treatment. We can’t wait to see what new discoveries will improve dental treatment soon!

How to Brush your Teeth

Feb 26th, 2018
Easton Dentists Feb 26th, 2018

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been brushing your teeth for many years. The question is, have you been brushing them the right way? Below, you’ll find some of the most important pointers for keeping your pearly whites healthy and looking good for the long term.

1. Take your time

Brushing your teeth should take at least two full minutes. This might not seem like a very long time, but, when you’re brushing, it will likely feel quite long. The best way to make sure you are brushing for long enough is to set a timer on your phone or listen to about half of an average-length song.

2. Use the right brush

Not all toothbrushes are created equally. The best choice in brush is a round-headed electric brush. If electric brushes aren’t for you, we recommend using a manual brush with soft bristles and a small head. The soft bristles are plenty strong enough to remove debris and plaque from your teeth without causing too much wear and tear on your enamel and the small head allows you to better clean hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

3. Brush everywhere

We tend to brush our teeth where it shows. So, the fronts of our teeth often receive the bulk of our attention. In addition to brushing the fronts of our top and back teeth, however, it is also important to brush the inner surfaces of the teeth, the chewing surfaces, and the tongue. Brushing thoroughly can keep your teeth healthy and, as an added perk, your breath smelling minty fresh.

4. Use the right technique

Although it may make you feel that you’ve cleaned your teeth well, there is no need to furiously saw away at your teeth. Instead, the best approach is to tilt your brush at a 45-degree angle from the gumline and gently roll the brush away from the gumline. Then, gently brush every surface of each tooth using short back-and-forth strokes and, finally, brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

We hope these toothbrushing tips will help you to keep your smile healthy and bright. In addition to brushing your teeth properly, it is important to visit your dentist for regular checkups. We’re looking forward to seeing you in our office soon!