Learn About - Tooth Pain

Self-Care Toothbrush Tips for Special Needs

Maintaining good oral hygiene can be a challenge, especially if you have developed a health condition that makes brushing and flossing more difficult, or have been in an accident that created new limitations. Dental professionals want to help all dental patients keep their mouths healthy, and they offer these suggestions about oral hygiene.

Dental Brushing Tips

Problems in hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders can hinder a person's ability to brush and floss. While each situation is different, there are some suggestions that have been effective in making dental care easier:

• Use a wide elastic band to attach the toothbrush to your hand for extra gripping power.
• Attach a small rubber ball, a sponge, or a rubber grip to the toothbrush handle with strong tape. This enhances gripping power and is often useful when hand or arm movement is weakened or limited.
• Use a longer wooden dowel, a ruler, or plastic rod to lengthen the toothbrush handle, wrapping it securely with strong tape. This longer length may help in more easily reaching your mouth.
• Use an electric or sonic toothbrush.

Dental Flossing Tips

If limitations make brushing and oral hygiene harder, flossing may be an even bigger challenge. Depending on your limitations, try these techniques:

• Use a piece of floss, about 18" long, and wind one end of floss around each finger instead of holding it. This will increase your grip and prevent the floss from dropping out of your fingers with each tooth you floss.
• Hold the floss tightly and seesaw it back and forth between the teeth, instead of pushing the floss right through.
• Tie the floss into a long circle instead of using one long piece, which may make it easier to hold and less likely to drop from your hands.
• Try using a floss holder, available wherever oral hygiene products are sold.

By Danine M. Fresch, DDS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Drink and Be Merry: Study Says Red Wine is Good for Your Smile

If you were looking for an excuse to drink more red wine, it's your lucky day.

A study released by scientists from Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, reports that compounds known as polyphenols in red wine have been found to stave off periodontal diseases. Periodontal diseases are those that affect the gums and bone around the teeth, often leading to permanent tooth loss. The research shows that the polyphenols, derived from red grape seeds, neutralize one of the major tissue-destroying compounds associated with periodontitis, which affects a significant number of adults.

Red wine boasts a number of additional oral health advantages as well, such as having anti-tumor properties and preventing heart disease. Along with green tea, fresh fruits and green vegetables, it has been known to reduce the risk of cancer and mortality. Still, it's important to err on the side of caution and drink only in moderation - no more than a glass or two a day. Needless to say, if you're prone to heavy drinking, it's best to steer clear of alcohol.

While red wine is preserving smiles across the globe, other sugary drinks are destroying them. U.S. schools have begun to restrict the types of sodas to prevent child obesity and tooth decay. Acidic drinks like coffee, a crutch for millions of groggy Americans each day, can have a negative affect on teeth as well. Even good old fashioned juice has come under fire as of late, often noted for having a high sugar content but very few of the nutritional qualities attributed to whole fruit, such as fiber. Your best bet for good dental hygiene? Drink plenty of water. If you must have a sugary or acidic beverage, be sure to either brush your teeth rinse your mouth out with warm water afterwards.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.