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Archive for January, 2012

Removing tonsil stones in a safer way

25 Jan

A tonsil stone, also medically termed as tonsillolith, are white lumps caused by a calcification of food particles that get stuck on the tonsil areas.  When the tonsils undergo a process of filtering, there are by products that are left and eventually these particles attach themselves to the tonsils.  With the accumulation of food particles and other debris, bacteria can grow and cause tonsil stones to develop.  For this type of problem, there are treatments available for the affected individual. Treatments may range from the basic non-invasive procedure to the advanced surgical procedure.

For home treatments, it would be quite hard to manually remove tonsil stones if you do it all by yourself.  This may be a bit dangerous because if you do not have the proper device, you might hurt your throat.  To resolve this issue, it is advised that a device called a Q-tip should be used.  When treatment is done under the supervision of a medical professional like a dentist, a pressurized dental irrigator is normally used to remove and wash out tonsil stones.  This process simply rinses and cleanses the throat and mouth in order to remove any particles that can cause tonsil stones to recur.

As a home remedy, gargling can be a simple and safe way to remove tonsil stones.  To wash away the particles, an antiseptic gargle can be used.  This can be bought in any drug store and is an effective means to be used in order to cleanse and disinfect the mouth and throat.  As an alternative to antiseptic gargle, lukewarm water added with salt can also be used.  This can be a cheap yet helpful way to cleanse the areas in the throat and mouth.

Taking Vitamin C and Sulfur is also a good way to remove tonsil stones. The tonsils’ functions greatly rely on both Vitamin C and Sulfur therefore it is really very important to be able to take in sufficient amount of these two substances.  If the tonsils lack either one of these substances, tonsil stones may possibly develop.  As a natural means of taking in these substances, there are fruits and vegetables that can be eaten in order to make sure that our body, as well as the tonsils, is getting the appropriate amount.

To be free from tonsil stones or any other forms of oral health problems, prevention is always better than cure.  Having the proper dental hygiene can be a great way to avoid tonsil stones from occurring.  With the correct practice of brushing, flossing or rinsing with mouthwash, we can be assured that any harmful bacteria that reside in the mouth and throat areas can be effectively neutralized.

 

Let Your Dentist be the Best Judge for Your Periodontitis

03 Jan

Gum disease may not necessarily be painful.  For all we know we may be infected with one without being aware of it.  However when our gums become painful to the touch and bleed easily, these are sure signs that we are infected with gum infections.  Left untreated it could lead to a more destructive advance stage commonly referred to as periodontitis.  This condition leaves us with recurring gum swelling, bad breath and generally a bad taste in the mouth.  Teeth may appear longer because the gum tissues are being eaten away by the bacteria.

Further development of the disease could result to loss of teeth.  The risk of atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attacks are higher.  Some medical conditions may also trigger gum infections and among these are hormonal change, diabetes and decreased immunity in patients with HIV/AIDS and leukemia.  These conditions may not be avoided however one can minimize attack of gum infections by properly nourishing one’s self and doing a rigorous oral hygiene.

Proper oral sanitation starts with choosing the right toothbrush.  Electric brushes are more recommended however a soft bristled manual brush should be sufficient.  Gently brush teeth as well as flossing it carefully to remove food particles and plaque that may have been missed by the toothbrush.  A mouth rinse that does not have alcohol content is the best rinse you should use.  Alcohol has a drying quality that makes it not suitable for use.  Thus alcoholic beverages must also be avoided.

Periodontal disease can be treated with surgical and non-surgical procedures, based on the extent of damage it has caused.  Antibiotics prescribed by the dentist may be popped to clear the infection and rid yourself of the bacterial invasion.  Advanced cleaning of the surface of the teeth may also be necessary to prevent bacteria from growing back out of proportion.  Smooth teeth make it hard for bacteria to cling to the surface.  Root planing and scaling are the procedures for this.

Surgical periodontitis treatment will be recommended by your dentist for advanced stages of the gum disease.   There is a need to reduce gum pockets or flap surgery to expose root of teeth for scaling and planing.  This will prevent further recurrence of bacterial overgrowth.  Soft tissue grafts may also be employed to replace the tissues that have been eaten away by the bacteria.  Or bone grafting to prevent loss of teeth as it holds the teeth firmly in place.  There are other surgical procedures that may be deemed necessary and it is your dentist you will be the most appropriate person to propose it to bring back periodontal health.