Dental implants are considered the best possible replacement for missing teeth. The implants are permanently affixed to the jaw bone.

Key takeaways:

- Dental implants are one way of replacing missing teeth and getting back your smile.

- The single most important requirement for dental implants is to have a healthy jaw bone.

- Implants will benefit people of all ages and especially people who can no longer wear removable dentures.

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, an implant acts as an anchor for a crown or a set of replacement teeth.

Read the full story here

https://consumer.healthday.com/dental-and-oral-information-9/misc-dental-problem-news-174/health-tip-do-you-need-a-dental-implant-521755.html

Steer clear of e-cigarettes as they are now believed to cause oral health problems. More and more studies are revealing the real extent of health problems linked to e-cigarettes.

Key takeaways:

- E-cigarettes are not a healthier alternative to conventional cigarette smoking.

- Vapors from e-cigarettes cause the cells to release inflammatory proteins and may lead to oral diseases.

- The frequency and the amount of e-cigarettes smoked directly determine the level of damage to the gums and oral cavity.

The researchers also found that the flavoring chemicals used in e-cigarettes play a role in damaging cells in the mouth.

Read the full story here

https://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/electronic-cigarettes-970/e-cigarettes-not-good-to-gums-study-finds-716974.html

You may be flossing your teeth the wrong way. Follow these instructions to ensure you are flossing teeth properly.

Key takeaways:

- Always use a piece of dental floss that is 18 inches long wrapped around a finger on each hand.

- The floss is then rubbed between teeth by moving it back and forth.

- The floss should be pressed firmly against each tooth making sure to slide it up and down against all sides of the tooth before proceeding to the next.

Carefully shape the floss into a C at the gum line, and slide it between the gum and tooth.

Read the full story here

https://consumer.healthday.com/dental-and-oral-information-9/misc-dental-problem-news-174/health-tip-floss-properly-718246.html

Recent scientific breakthrough will leave people smiling. People can save their teeth through use of a drug meant for Alzheimer?s disease.

Key takeaways:

- The researchers have found that a drug used to treat Alzheimer?s is able to stimulate the tooth to generate new dentine.

- The drug works by stimulating the growth of stem cells already in the pulp to grow into new dentine.

- The simplicity of the treatment and the drug having been tested for Alzheimer?s makes it ideal clinical treatment for large cavities.

The novel, biological approach could see teeth use their natural ability to repair large cavities rather than using cements or fillings, which are prone to infections and often need replacing a number of times.

Read the full story here

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/damaged-teeth-regrow-alzheimers-drug-naturally-dentist-kings-college-london-a7517366.html

You can prevent the damage caused by alcohol to the teeth by brushing your teeth. Brushing should only be done after 30 minutes or so after drinking to protect tooth enamel.

Key takeaways:

- White wine sipped over a long period will affect the pH in the mouth and lead to enamel erosion due to its acidity.

- High alcohol drinks such as vodka and whiskey dry up the mouth by reducing the production of saliva leading to bad breath and bacteria growth.

- You should sip water as you consume alcohol to wash away the alcohol from the teeth and the mouth.

Red wine is rough on your teeth. "On top of being acidic, it also has chromogens ? dark pigments," explains Dr. Banker. "Plus, it contains tannins, an astringent from the peel of the grape that has a binding effect."

Read the full story here

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a32961/alcohol-effects-teeth/

Jaw clenching and teeth grinding are habits that cause chipped and fractured teeth. You can get rid of teeth grinding by eliminating or managing stress.

Key takeaways:

- Get help breaking bad habits like teeth clenching and teeth grinding.

- Stop biting nails and using teeth to open bottles

- Brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice every day.

Dentists say another habit to break for both your dental health as well as your overall health is to stop snacking all day long, especially on sugary foods and drinks. Dentists say it can increase the chances of cavities.

Read the full story here

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/01/02/why-breaking-bad-teeth-habits-should-be-your-resolution/

Jaw clenching is the cause of a sore jaw and may even lead to the dislocation of the temporomandibular joint. You may also experience clicking and locking of the jaw.

Key takeaways:

- Bruxism originates from the central nervous system and can be triggered by stress, anxiety, alcohol consumption, smoking, and medications.

- Symptoms include worn tooth enamel, chipped or fractured teeth, earaches, headaches and tooth sensitivity.

- Your dentist will help to reduce the effects of grinding or clenching and minimize the symptoms.

Dental fabricated nightguards are designed to provide a stable bite that does not interfere with a healthy, comfortable jaw closure. Adjustment of the device by a dentist can help reduce contraction of jaw muscles during bruxism, which may minimize jaw joint stress and protect tooth enamel.

Read the full story here

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/12/waking-up-with-a-sore-jaw-you-may-grind-your-teeth-at-night/

Cracks that extend below the gum line into the root of the tooth necessitate extraction of the tooth. Emphasis is placed on detecting cracks early to save teeth from extraction.

Key takeaways:

- Small cracks can become large cracks within no time -- meaning that you should seek dental treatment at the earliest possible moment.

- Early diagnosis and treatment of cracked teeth will prevent spreading of the crack and adverse outcomes.

- People can cut the risk of cracked teeth by avoiding chewing on hard things, clenching or grinding, and wearing a mouth guard when playing sport.

One major contributor to the observed uptick in cracked teeth cases is the increasing lifespan of the American population, which according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has reached 78.8 years.

Read the full story here

https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/saving-cracked-teeth-begins-with-early-diagnosis/

As rule, you should not eat food while wearing the grills. After all, grills were not meant to worn at all times.

Key takeaways:

- Grills made from non-precious metal may cause irritation and allergy.

- People who wear grills should observe good oral healthcare since food particles may stick between teeth and the grills.

- To prevent dental problems, you should limit the frequency and duration of wearing your grills.

Food and other debris may become trapped between the teeth and the grill allowing bacteria to collect and produce acids. The acids can cause tooth decay and harm gum tissue.

Read the full story here

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/grills

Dental professionals differ in their opinions about flossing. Their differing opinions rest on whether flossing should come before or after brushing teeth.

Key takeaways:

- Practicing good oral hygiene is of utmost importance in keeping your teeth in good health.

- Flossing before brushing is recommended since it will ensure that people don't forget this tedious task.

- Another school of thought recommends flossing AFTER brushing to make sure that fluoride gets into the spaces between the teeth.

The bacteria around the teeth organize themselves as colonies and [flossing] stirs them up. If we get in there and stir them up every 24 hours we render them less dangerous.

Read the full story here

http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/wellness/a50762/floss-before-or-after-brushing/