How To Keep Dentures In Top Shape

How To Keep Dentures In Top Shape
(Tips from OralB.com)

"Clean dentures daily. Brush your dentures each day the same way that you would brush your teeth, with one key difference: Skip the toothpaste. Many commercial types of toothpaste can damage dentures. Instead, use a soft-bristle denture brush, designed specifically for cleaning dentures, and water to brush all surfaces of the dentures, but be careful not to bend any attachments.

Rinse your dentures with water after each meal. You can buy specialized denture cleaners for soaking dentures, but soaking is not a substitute for brushing—you need to brush the dentures to remove plaque.

Fill the sink with water or place a folded towel in it when handling your dentures, so you don’t break them if they should fall into the sink. When you aren’t wearing your dentures, let them soak in cool water or a 8 cleaning solution to keep them from drying out. Be careful of cleaning solutions if your dentures have mental attachments—the solutions could cause the metal to tarnish. And don’t soak dentures in hot water—they could warp.

Remove your dentures (full or partial) every night. This allows the gum tissue beneath them a chance to rest.
If you take care of your dentures, you should be able to use them for five to seven years before you need to replace them. It’s important to see your dentist every six months to check the condition and fit of your dentures and to look for any signs of irritation or gum disease so they can be treated immediately."

If you have any questions about denture or appliance care, please contact our office at www.brittenperio.com.  

Toothbrushes: Anything harder than soft is TOO HARD!

Use a powerbrush for 2 minutes at least twice a day or a soft bristle brush 4 minutes twice a day. Ask your dental hygienist what type of brush and brushing technique is best for you! ‪#‎brush‬ ‪#‎floss‬ ‪#‎dentaltips‬‪#‎healthysmiles‬ ‪#‎brittenperio‬ ‪#‎clearwaterperiodontist‬

Brush Your Tongue!

Do you know what this is?! That's right, it's a tongue under magnification! Don't forget to brush it!

"All those bumps and grooves on your tongue are a haven for bacteria and could be contributing to your bad breath because of the gases they give off, says Dr. Matthew Messina, a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. It's important to take care of the tongue in addition to regular brushing and flossing."-from Colgate.com

The front portion of the tongue is pretty self-cleansing, however, the back portion can often collect more bacteria. You can use a toothbrush or a special tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers come in various designs.

Some tips:

1-Clean any area where there is a coating. This is usually found on the back portion of your tongue.

2- Be gentle. Don't go too far back and stick to the center of the tongue and not the sides which are more delicate and prone to injury. If you have a sensitive gag reflex a tongue scraper will probably work better for you.

3- Do it daily. Just like brushing and flossing, frequency is key. Oral bacteria are constantly reproducing. Once you start doing it daily, you may find that your mouth just doesn't seem as clean without doing it!

#brittenperio #clearwaterperiodontist #dentaltips

Avoid Oral Cancer

The Oral Cancer Foundation states: "Close to 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,650 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day."

While smoking and smokeless tobacco use is certainly a major risk factor for Oral Cancer, there are other lifestyle, genetic and even viral causes that contribute this often disfiguring and sometimes deadly disease.

Your dentist, dental specialist and dental hygienist are your first line of defense for early detection of Oral Cancer. Dr. Britten routinely performs systematic examination of all the soft tissues of the mouth, including the tongue, floor of the mouth, as well thorough examination of the borders of the tongue, and the lymph nodes surrounding the oral cavity and in the neck.

If you have any questions about Oral Cancer, please feel free to contact us via email at healthysmiles@brittenperio.com or visit our website at www.brittenperio.com.

Clearwater, FL Periodontist, Dr. Todd Britten, Now Provides Bone Loss Patients With The Strength For Dental Implants Through Bone Grafting Procedures

Todd Britten, DMD, M.S. , a board-certified periodontist,  places bone grafts for patients suffering from bone loss in the jawbone, which occurs when teeth are missing and are no longer stimulating the bone. Dental implants are often used to replace teeth and can stimulate the jawbone, but when there is not enough jaw bone to hold the implants, the dental procedure of bone grafting may be done first to provide security for the implants.

Dr. Todd Britten recommends bone grafting procedures for patients with missing teeth who need additional jaw bone support for the placement of dental implants. Bone grafting is recommended when bone loss is extreme. 

The bone grafting procedure takes bone from non-essential areas of the patient's body and transplants it into the area of the jaw where the dental implants will be located. In most cases, allografts are used.  Allografts are taken from a bone bank where human bone from cadavers has been donated and xenografts are taken from animal bone. Autogenous grafts come from the patient.  The new bone is surgically placed in the jaw area where it is required and may be supplemented by the patient's bone marrow mixed with a grafting material. The incision is closed using sutures, and the area is allowed to heal.  Local anesthesia is all that is needed in most cases, however, Dr. Britten offers different forms of sedation dentistry, including IV conscious sedation.  

The dental bone graft then heals completely prior to proceeding with other procedures, such as the placement of dental implants. This will generally take about four to six months. Once the area completely heals, the patient can be evaluated for the placement of dental implants.  This often can be done with an examination and radiograph and sometimes a ConeBeam CT scan can be performed.  The implants are made of titanium (the same material used in many replacement hips and knees), a metal that is well suited to pairing with human bone.  Patients interested in these procedures should locate additional information at http://www.clearwater-periodontist.com or www.brittenperio.com.

Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten received his Bachelor of Science & Doctorate of Dental Surgery from University of Florida, a Master’s Degree and Certificate in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry; and completed extensive training at the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry. He is one of the only board-certified periodontists in Pinellas County. He is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, American Dental Association, Florida Association of Periodontists, Upper Pinellas County Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Research Association and Florida West Coast Dental Association.  

Help! My gums hurt when I floss!

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Help! My gums hurt when I floss!

July 17th, 2015

By no stretch is it rare for your gums to hurt during and after flossing. Even some bleeding is to be expected. This is especially true if you have not flossed in a long time. However, if your gums do indeed hurt when you floss, and unbearably so, there are some things you can do.

Be Gentle

Perhaps the most obvious way to combat gum soreness and bleeding is to be gentle. One of the most common occurrences of these gum problems is over-aggressive flossing. In other words, if you are too rough on your gums while flossing, either because you are out of practice or because you are in a hurry, soreness and hurting is to be expected. Instead, try taking your time and be gentle. Also, if you are just starting out, be patient and consistent, your gums will become more conditioned over time.

Use an Alternative Method

If being consistent and gentle does not work, there are other alternative methods of flossing that you can try. You can also try a water floss machine, or what is sometimes called a water pick. The device essentially shoots water into the crevasses between your teeth, and in other areas of your mouth, in order to dislodge food and plaque. These oral instruments also come with different attachments that allow you to reach many of the hard to see and reach areas of your mouth. And lastly, you can always buy floss that is not as abrasive to your gums. There is floss that comes with soft and gentle coatings that will do less harm to your gums while they are adjusting to the good oral hygiene habit you are creating.

Flossing is one of the easiest parts of oral hygiene to overlook. When you first start out, it is common that you may want to stop because of the pain it can initially cause. However, if you try one, or all, of the above mentioned methods, you will give yourself the best chance of being success with your flossing, and it won't hurt as much.

For more flossing tips, schedule an appointment at our Clearwater, FL office and askDr. Todd Britten or a member of our team!

Best Ways to Prevent Bad Breath

Fun Facts for the Fourth

Nobody likes bad breath, and although it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you have it, it is always better to practice good oral health than risk having a smelly mouth. There are many ways to reduce or eliminate bad breath, some are definitely more effective and longer lasting than others. Check out ways to do so below.

Floss Regularly

As difficult as it can be to remember to floss regularly, when it comes to bad breath, flossing is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to freshen your mouth. See, flossing reduces the plaque and bacteria found in areas of your mouth that a toothbrush simply can't reach, and in turn, it rids your mouth of the smell associated with that bacteria. While flossing may not eliminate bad breath on its own, if you do it along with other health oral hygiene habits like brushing, then you may just develop a fresher smelling mouth.

Use Mouthwash

Using some sort of mouthwash can really freshen up your breath, especially if you find it still smells after brushing and flossing. There is a wide variety of mouthwash products on the market, however, you can also create your own by simply using baking soda mixed with water.

Always Brush after You Sleep

Whether after taking a nap, or having a full night of sleep, you will want to brush your teeth in order to reduce bad breath. The truth is, bacteria accumulates in your mouth while you are sleeping (even during a short nap) and that is ultimately the source of bad breath. So next time you wake from a good slumber, give your mouth some brushing and you will find it makes a big difference in the freshness of your breath.

There are many ways to freshen your breath beyond just using gum or mints, the above mentioned are just a few for you to try. Test them out and you will likely find your bad breath problem is solved, or at least considerably reduced. Of course, you can always ask Dr. Todd Britten at your next visit to our Clearwater, FL office.

www.brittenperio.com