Need to change your toothbrush?

If you have recently had a cold, flu or a viral infection it is recommended that you change your toothbrush. Microbes can implant themselves onto the bristles of your toothbrush which can then lead to re-infection.

With the battle to get your cash, the large pharmaceutical companies spend millions of pounds marketing their products aimed at keeping your breath fresh and free of decay and gum disease.

Examples of when you should use mouthwash -

• If you have bad breath ✔
• If you have sensitivity ✔
• If your gums bleed ✔

Here at Muaks we do not recommend the use of mouthwash without taking advise from your dentist first.  The type of mouthwash we would prescribe will depend on the underlying factors but will be in conjunction with a personal treatment plan.

Cleaning your Tongue - How and Why

Do you notice that you may sometimes have bad breath, even though you brush and floss your teeth twice a day? The problem isn’t necessarily your brushing technique, but may in fact be that you aren’t cleaning your tongue properly.

Here’s what you need to know about why you should be paying more attention to the cleanliness of your tongue and how to do just that.

Why is my tongue so important?

The tongue is a major feature of the mouth and makes it possible for us to eat and articulate our speech. Without it, we would not be able to taste anything, whistle a happy tune, tell someone about our day, or chew and swallow efficiently. It is such an integral part of our lives, used constantly every day, and yet most of the time we fail to give it a second thought.

You may have heard that the tongue is a muscle, but that is only partly true. The tongue is actually a group of muscles with each one having a specific job. At the tip of the tongue is a small muscle that can move quickly and uses the surface of the teeth to create certain sounds of speech, such as when pronouncing the letter ‘L’. This muscle also moves food from the front of the mouth to the back where it can mix with saliva and break down into swallowable bits.

Other muscle groups in the tongue help to change the shape of the tongue and move it up, down, side-to-side, in, and out. The muscles at the back of the tongue make it possible for us to articulate what are known as hard sounds of speech, such as the letter ‘K’ and ‘G’. They also move food that’s ready to swallow into the esophagus in small and controlled amounts so we don’t choke.

Why do I need to clean my tongue?

Just like bacteria builds up on and in between your teeth, hardening into plaque and tartar if not removed, bacteria also builds up on your tongue. The surface of your tongue is covered in tiny bumps called papillae, and within the grooves of these bumps collect bacteria, dead skin cells, and food particles. This is then covered by a thin layer of mucus which coats the fleshy parts of the mouth. The bacteria and other debris trapped on the tongue can cause bad breath, or halitosis, and a white discolouration of the tongue. In addition, the bacteria on the tongue can redeposit onto teeth and gums, even after they’ve been cleaned, increasing the likelihood of plaque and tartar buildup.

So how do I clean my tongue properly?

There are two main ways to properly clean your tongue: brushing and scraping. Brushing your tongue involves gently scrubbing your tongue from back to tip with a moistened toothbrush. You can do this most effectively while brushing your teeth by spitting out excess toothpaste after cleaning your teeth so that your mouth and toothbrush still have toothpaste residue on them. Then gently scrub your tongue, cheeks, and the roof of your mouth.

If you’d prefer a different or additional tongue cleaning method, try out a tongue scraper. These devices can be found inexpensively at most drug stores. They’re designed to glide along the surface of your tongue, taking off the tongue’s layer of mucus, as well as the bacteria and debris it traps.

To use most effectively, place the scraper at the back of the tongue while sticking your tongue out and, with even pressure, slide the scraper down along the tongue’s surface towards the tip. Rinse the scraper and repeat, making sure to move from the back of the tongue to the tip so as to not to accidentally ingest the bacteria being removed. Once the whole surface of the tongue has been scraped, thoroughly clean and dry the tongue scraper, and brush and floss your teeth as normal.

How often should I clean my tongue?

Cleaning your tongue should be a part of your daily oral health routine. Bacteria begins to build up on the surface of teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue very soon after brushing, so a daily tongue cleaning, just like regular brushing and flossing, is an important step in warding off oral health issues.

What if it hurts or I gag when I clean my tongue?

If you find that cleaning your tongue daily is resulting in discomfort, you may be scrubbing or scraping too vigorously. The pressure needed to clean the tongue is no more than the amount needed to lightly hold your toothbrush or tongue scraper in place on your tongue. Your tongue is made up of delicate skin which can become inflamed or painful when irritated, so if you are feeling discomfort, hold off on cleaning your tongue for a day or two until the skin of your tongue can restore itself and then try again with a much more gentle approach.

If the discomfort is due to a wound or sore, refrain from cleaning your tongue until the issue has healed as scrubbing or scraping the area will irritate it and may even cause more damage. Also, if this is the case for you, be sure to visit your dentist for further advice and to ensure that what’s hurting you is not part of a larger health issue.

Cleaning your tongue can be a challenge for those who have a very sensitive gag reflex as touching the back of the tongue can sometimes trigger involuntary gag responses. If this sounds familiar to you, try out tongue cleaning slowly to get yourself used to the sensation. A trick of the dental trade is to stick out your tongue and, when you are about to touch a sensitive part, relax the tongue completely while exhaling fully. Exhaling generally overrides the gag reflex and allows you to go about your business without having to worry about unpleasant and involuntary gag responses.

What if I still have questions?

If you still have questions, that’s okay! Make an appointment to have a chat with us!

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Causes and Prevention of Plaque

Keeping your teeth and gums clean is very important. Oral health has a significant role to play in your overall well-being. Poor dental hygiene can reflect in your physical health. To have healthy teeth and gums, you need to keep it away from bacterial infection. The root cause of such infections is plaque and tartar. Indeed, it is crucial to know about these harmful substances and the ways to prevent them successfully.


This blog is all about causes, prevention and treatment of plaque and tartar

About Plaque:
It is a colorless, sticky and thin film of bacteria which keeps forming on the tooth surface and gumline. You need to remove it by proper flossing and brushing to keep your mouth clean and fresh. Plaque, if not removed, can turn into another thicker and harder substance – tartar. It is a form of plaque that sticks to the enamel and below the gum line.

Causes of Plaque:
After you have your meal, a lot of food particles remain stuck in between the teeth for a long time. There are bacteria in the mouth that attack on the food remains, especially carbohydrates and sugars producing harmful acids. The acids then target the tooth surface hampering the enamel. If these bacteria and acids are not removed on time, it results in the formation of more plaque and tartar. Tartar is an advanced form of plaque which makes it thicker and sticky adhering the tooth surface strongly.

The unremoved plaque can cause oral problems like periodontal disease and tooth decay which ultimately leads to more serious issues. To avoid these problems, you should go for a regular checkup with your dentist.

Common symptoms:
Formation of plaque is normal for everyone as the bacteria growing in the mouth are almost invisible. The unremoved plaque from the gum line results in irritation and inflammation of gums. This if left untreated, may lead to gingivitis which further progresses into a periodontal disease. Beyond these oral issues, lies another severe problem, tooth loss. You can ultimately lose a tooth as a result of untreated gum disease.

To the contrary, tartar can be easily noticed with its thick build-up above the gum line. Its most peculiar symptom is a brown or yellow deposit around the gumline or the front teeth of the lower jaw. An effective way of getting away with it is professional cleaning.

Its prevention - All you need to do is follow some oral care tips like:

• Brushing daily at least for two minutes both in the morning and night. It helps in regular removal of plaque 
• Daily flossing to clean between the teeth and under the gum line 
• Reduce intake of sugars and carbohydrates, especially sticky sweets 
• Book regular appointments with a good dentist for profesional cleaning and check-ups

Signs You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Most of the time, there are no noticeable signs that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted. Rather it’s your dentist who decides that your wisdom teeth may cause future health problems.

When you visit your dentist, he or she will take an X-ray of your teeth to look for possible signs of decay and check how your wisdom teeth are developing.  If a wisdom tooth is misaligned or is only partially erupted through the gums, it may need to be extracted. A misaligned tooth could crowd or damage adjacent teeth.  Partial eruption, meanwhile, leaves your mouth vulnerable to infection and tooth decay.

If you haven’t had an X-ray in a while, it’s probably time to schedule an appointment. The most common sympton is pain/swelling, swollen gum, pain/ulcers and moving teeth.  Other signs that your wisdom teeth are not growing in properly include:

·   If you’re concerned about your wisdom teeth, make an appointment with us today to receive an X-ray and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Happy 2017!!!

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January News