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Inflamed gums are a fairly common dental issue, but unfortunately, many people don't take the problem seriously enough. If you ignore inflamed gums and continue your usual routine, you could be encouraging a much more severe inflammation problem, and the pain that goes along with that. Fortunately, it is quite easy to relieve inflamed gums if you use the tips below.

Use Soft Bristles

A soft-bristle toothbrush - the softest you can buy - is a must for anyone with inflamed gums. Anything that makes contact with your gums can cause you pain, so fine and soft bristles are always the best choice.

Use Sensitive Formula Toothpaste

The toothpaste marketed as “Sensitive Teeth Formula” contain special ingredients to help relieve sensitivity. When your gums are inflamed, even light brushing can cause some pain. Using a special toothpaste will help reduce that pain and make it easier to brush your teeth effectively. The effect becomes stronger as you use the toothpaste more, so use it for each brushing.

Visit Our Office

If your gums remain swollen for more than a few days or a week, set up an appointment with Dr. Osuala. There is a long list of conditions that could be causing your swollen gums, everything from gum disease to pregnancy, so you need to find out where your issue is coming from. Most of the time, Dr. Osuala can easily treat the swollen gum issue at our Maplewood & West Orange office, or can give you an effective treatment to take home.

You’re an old pro at brushing and flossing by now—after all, you’ve devoted years to looking after your dental health, carefully brushing for two minutes twice each day and flossing daily.

But now, you’ve entered unfamiliar territory—orthodontic treatment. It’s time to level up your brushing game to protect your teeth and gums while you create a more attractive, healthier smile.

Why make changes in your dental routine? Because of plaque. Brackets and wires can make brushing more difficult, allowing plaque to build up around your braces. And plaque which sticks around leads to:

• Demineralization—The bacteria in plaque produce acids, which strip away minerals from tooth enamel. This creates a weak spot in the enamel and can leave a noticeable white stain on your tooth when your braces come off—especially around the places your brackets used to be, because that’s often where plaque accumulates.
• Cavities—Over time, as bacteria continue to attack enamel, a weak spot in the tooth’s surface becomes larger and deeper until it forms a cavity.
• Gingivitis—It only takes a few days for plaque to build up enough to irritate gum tissue and cause tender, inflamed, puffy, or bleeding gums.

Some new skills and new tools will help you keep teeth and gums healthy while you’re wearing braces.

Adapt Your Brushing Strategy

Wearing braces means adapting your brushing and flossing habits. You might need to spend a bit more time cleaning your teeth, but the results will be worth it!

• Brush More Often

Brushing after you eat is generally recommended to remove any food particles and plaque sticking around your brackets and wires. This might mean brushing in the morning, after meals and snacks, and before you go to bed. If you’re unable to brush after eating, be sure to rinse and swish with water to help remove food particles.

• Brush and Floss More Carefully

Brush each tooth surface, outside, inside, and the tops of molars. Angle your brush to clean around brackets and under wires. And while flossing might be more challenging, it’s still essential. Dr. Osuala can show you how to floss when wires get in your way.

Upgrade Your Tools

The right tools make any task easier:

• Toothbrushes— Your teeth and gums might be more sensitive now that you have braces. This is a good time to remember that you never need to scrub your teeth, gums, or braces, and that a soft-bristled brush is the only kind of brush to buy.

There are brushes designed especially for braces which have angled bristles to clean around brackets or smaller heads to fit more comfortably in your mouth. Some people find electric toothbrushes are more effective.

• Interproximal brushes and dental picks—Small cone-shaped brushes and soft picks can clean between your teeth and around your brackets and wires when a brush head is too bulky.
• Floss threaders and braces-friendly floss—Floss threaders are flexible hoops which allow you to maneuver floss under the arch wire and between your teeth. Or try pre-cut floss, which comes with one stiff end to thread easily through your braces and between your teeth.
• Water flossers—A water flosser is a gentle and effective way to help wash away food particles.
• Over the counter or prescription rinses—Dr. Osuala can recommend special rinses which can help prevent cavities.
• Cleaning kit—Put together a kit with toothbrush, travel-size toothpaste, floss or picks, and a small mirror for cleanup on the go.

Because there are so many options, experiment with different tools until you find the best, most efficient way to keep your teeth and braces their cleanest.

Learn from the Experts

Finally, optimize your brushing strategies with help from the experts. The dental team at Supreme Dental Associates in Maplewood & West Orange can teach you new brushing and flossing techniques and suggest the best tools to get the best results. And keep up with your regular dental appointments and cleanings! Regular exams will catch any signs of demineralization before they can lead to stains or cavities, and your hygienist can work around your braces to remove plaque you might have missed.

Take some time each day to level up your brushing game, and, when those braces come off, you’ll celebrate with a winning smile!

YES! X-rays have been used in dentistry for a long time, and the amount of radiation has significantly decreased with advances in technology. While there is risk in every health diagnostic procedure at Supreme Dental Associates, the benefits must outweigh the risks. Dental X-rays do indeed fall into this category.

X-rays are exposed to a type of film to produce an image. The amount of X-rays required to produce this image differs with film speeds. Speed E or F is highly recommended, and digital X-rays require up to 50% less than speed E or F film. The digital X-ray software can adjust the exposure to produce a quality image. Digital X-rays are becoming a new standard and are most common.

Lead aprons have been used to reduce the amount of scatter radiation. All X-ray units have a cone to focus the X-ray beam so the exposure is highly localized. Lead aprons continue to be worn as a precaution for pregnant women, and a thyroid collar should also be worn. In most cases, this is sewn into the lead apron.

We get radiation exposure from environmental factors as well as healthcare diagnostic and treatment tools. To place this in perspective, in one year a person is expected to have 360mRem per year from the sun, air etc. By comparison, a single set of bitewing X-rays is 0.3mRem. Radiation can accumulate in our body over a lifetime, and additional exposure should be avoided whenever possible.

Need some gift ideas for family members and friends who seem to have absolutely everything? Who are impossible to shop for? Who tell you not to worry, it’s the thought that counts? Well, we have a few suggestions which will show the people on your gift list that you’ve put a lot of thought into their gifts this holiday season. 

You love to see your friends and family smile, so we’ve come up with some smile-worthy ideas designed for their specific interests. 

Environmental Ally

The world is becoming a more eco-conscious place, and happily this transformation includes products designed for personal care. Put together a spa basket which is good for your friend’s comfort, dental health, and the planet!

A recycled gift box filled with environmentally friendly bath products and organic cotton face cloths becomes even more mindful with the addition of bamboo or recycled plastic toothbrushes, zero-waste fluoride toothpaste tablets, and biodegradable picks and floss. 

Don’t forget to include a colorful, insulated water bottle for sustainable hydration—and washing away food particles when there’s no handy place to brush after eating. Healthy planet/healthy smile.

Talented Techie

If your friend or relative is cutting edge high-tech, maybe it’s time for a dental upgrade. 

Modern electric toothbrushes offer plenty of options for the tech-savvy. They come with different settings for brushing and massaging. They can let brushers know if they’ve brushed long enough, if they’re brushing too hard, or when the brush head needs to be retired. Smart models even link to apps, which can, among other things, map out any missed spots in brushing coverage or suggest more effective brushing angles. 

And for an extra thoughtful touch, include a packet of plaque disclosing tablets. Chew one of these helpful little tablets and they will reveal any plaque that’s still on the teeth.

Adventure Seeker

How about a new backpack or carry-all for outdoor or travel adventures? A travel first aid kit is always a welcome addition for the person on the go.

Go the extra step and help a friend be prepared for anything with an emergency dental kit. You can find these lightweight kits in stores or online, or you can assemble one yourself with a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, a travel mirror, cotton rolls, pain relievers, and even temporary fillings. Include a pack of sugar-free gum—it helps with altitude changes and hydration. Ask Dr. Osuala or the team at Supreme Dental Associates for suggestions!

Timeless Trendsetter

Older relatives might love a selection of modern gifts designed with old-fashioned comfort in mind, such as an automatic jar opener and a selection of jams, trekking poles for easier hiking, or wireless earbuds for enjoying music or an audio book.

For a lifetime of healthy smiles, consider adding a water flosser to your gift basket. Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss for older Americans. Water flossers are a great way to eliminate stubborn plaque, especially when mobility issues make manual flossing difficult. Adjustable water pressure applies just the right amount of cleaning power, and the flow can be directed to the gumline, between teeth, or anywhere necessary. 

Film Buff

If your bestie likes nothing better than an evening spent in front of the home screen, consider a subscription or gift card for a streaming service tailored to his or her favorites, whether it’s classic films, sci-fi, action, rom-coms, or epic adventures. 

And don’t forget the binge-watch treats! Fill a basket with dental-friendly goodies like fresh fruits, nuts, and dark chocolate. Include a collection of simple sparkling waters or a gift card for vitamin-rich smoothies. Who needs sugary candies and sodas with options like these?

No matter who’s on your shopping list, tailoring your gifts to their interests and their well-being is a great way to share happy, healthy holiday smiles with family and friends in Maplewood & West Orange.