Understanding Bruxism: The Habitual Grinding of Teeth Bruxism is a condition that affects many people in this world and it is commonly called teeth grinding. It is the condition involuntary grinding your teeth while sleeping. Sometimes it can happen even when you are awake. Most of the people considered it as a minor issue. But it can affect your oral health very badly. Oral health is also an important aspect, so any problems related to teeth should deal with utmost care. Getting good treatment for bruxism can improve your life’s quality and it also gives you good sleep. In this blog we are going to learn more about bruxism including its causes and treatments. What Causes Bruxism? 1.Stress and AnxietyHigher levels of stress always affect the human body negatively. If a person holds a higher level of stress or anxiety then it may trigger teeth’s grinding as the body’s way of coping.  2.Sleep DisordersSome people are facing disorders related to sleeping. Conditions like sleep apnea or snoring may lead to bruxism. 3.Dental Problems The chance of teeth grinding can increase due to misaligned teeth or an abnormal bite. 4.Lifestyle ChoicesExcessive use of alcohol, smoking and use of recreational drugs can create conditions like bruxism. 5.MedicationsMedicines for health problems like stress can cause bruxism as a side effect. Symptoms of Bruxism We can’t identify symptoms of bruxism , because it is mostly happening at the time of sleeping. Following are the main symptoms of bruxism: ⦁ Continuous headaches or ear aches especially in the morning.⦁ Jaw pain or stiffness.⦁ Teeth may appear flat or chipped.⦁ Increases tooth sensitivity.⦁ Disrupting sleep of a person. Treatment Options for Bruxism 1.MouthguardsThese are the custom-made dental devices that protect your teeth from grinding during sleep. It is less costly . 2.Stress ManagementStress is one of the main reasons for teeth grinding.. Relaxation techniques, therapy or mindfulness practices can reduce your stress. 3.Dental CorrectionsOrthodontic treatments or bite adjustments can address alignment issues. It is helpful for reducing the chances of bruxism. 4.Lifestyle ChangesLimiting the use of alcohol, quitting smoking and maintaining good sleep hygiene will get you protection from bruxism. If a person wants to avoid bruxism then they should follow a healthy lifestyle. 5.MedicationsMuscle relaxants or other medications can be used in several cases. Consider a dentist to get recommendations and use only the medications which they prescribed. Preventing Bruxism Bruxism can’t be prevented always but certain practices can reduce its occurrence. They are: ⦁ Practice relaxation techniques before going to sleep.⦁ Avoid stimulants like caffeine or alcohol in the evening.⦁ Maintain regular dental check – ups to identify early signs of grinding. Conclusion Bruxism can make a person’s life miserable. This annoying habit of a person can lead to various health problems for a person. It makes your life full of oral health problems. Discomfort and stress are the other difficulties you may face due to bruxism. Almost every person doesn’t consider bruxism as an oral problem. But it affects your overall health badly more than you expected. Once you start to feel bruxism affecting your daily life, don’t hesitate to consult a trusted dental clinic like Share A Smile. Treatment on bruxism can give you a better sleep and it ultimately improves the quality of your life.

RDA VALUE IN TOOTHPASTE: WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS Toothpaste is an important element for protecting your oral health. People are looking to get more whitening power through toothpastes. But nobody thinks about Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) values in toothpastes. RDA value shows how much your toothpaste is abrasive which can impact on your enamel health over time. In this blog we are going to be looking about what RDA value is and why it matters. What is RDA Value? The Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) value is a measure in toothpaste showing how much it can wear down dentin- the layer beneath your enamel. Toothpaste should be mild abrasives to remove plaque. But if they are too abrasive, it can damage your enamel and can lead to sensitivity. The RDA scale is categorized as follows: ⦁ 0-70: Low abrasiveness (Ideal for sensitive teeth)⦁ 70-100: Medium abrasiveness (safe for daily use)⦁ 100-150: High abrasiveness (Ideal for stain removal but can damage enamel)⦁ 150-250: Very high abrasiveness (can damage teeth) Why RDA Value Matters for Your Teeth 1.Preventing enamel erosionEnamels are protecting your teeth from decay. But if it wears down, it doesn’t grow back. A high abrasive toothpaste can damage your enamel and it leads to tooth sensitivity. 2.Finding the right balanceMost people think that more abrasive toothpastes can give more cleaning. But it is wrong in most cases. A toothpaste which has an RDA value below 100 can effectively clean our teeth without causing any damage. 3. Whitening toothpaste and abrasivityToothpastes which have high RDA value can make your teeth whiter for a short term. But its daily use can damage your enamel and can make your teeth look yellow. How to Find The RDA Value of Your Toothpaste Toothpastes don’t always show RDA value on packaging, but we can find it through following ways: ⦁ Check the manufacturer’s website or contact customer support⦁ Looks for third party studies about similar toothpaste brands.⦁ Ask the dentist for their recommendations. Conclusion For protecting your oral health you should have proper knowledge about toothpaste which you are using.  Many persons don’t consider toothpaste as an important element in oral health protection. They treat toothpastes as a tool for whitening teeth. Measures like RDA value shows how much your toothpaste is good for protecting your teeth. So you should take utmost care while selecting a toothpaste and should check about its RDA value. A trusted dental clinic like Share A Smile can give recommendations in this type of situation and it gives better protection for your teeth.

Understanding Open Bite: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options Healthy bites are essential for proper chewing and speaking. This improves our overall oral health condition. But due to some problems every person can’t make healthy bites. Open bite is one of the main problems which prevents us from making healthy bites. Open bite is a type of malocclusion(misalignment of teeth) where the upper and lower teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed. In this blog we are going to learn more about open bite including its causes and treatment options. What is an Open Bite? Open bite is the misalignment of teeth where the upper and lower teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed. This will affect front teeth or the back teeth. This dental problem affects our oral health through acting as a barrier for proper chewing and speaking. Causes of Open Bite 1.Genetic factors Some people inherit a jaw structure which is the reason for getting the oral condition of open bite. If our parents have misaligned teeth, then we also have the chance to get misaligned teeth. 2.Childhood habits Prolonged childhood habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting and pacifier use can become the reason for open bite conditions. 3.Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders Disorders related to jaw joints can become the reason for open bite conditions. 4.Improper jaw growth Some people have the problem of improper jaw growth. This leads to the condition of open bite. Symptoms of an Open Bite ⦁ Problems with biting or chewing food⦁ Speech issues⦁ Mouth breathing⦁ Excessive wear on back teeth⦁ Aesthetic concerns  Treatment Options for Open Bite 1.Orthodontic treatment⦁ Braces – Traditional metal which helps teeth to move in proper alignment.⦁ Invisalign- A discrete option which gradually shifts teeth into position. 2.Behaviour modificationSome of the behaviour like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting should be prevented before it worsens. Exercises for tongue and facial muscles may correct tongue posture. 3.Dental appliances⦁ Tongue cribs- It is a device used for preventing tongue thrusting.⦁ High-pull headgear- It helps to correct jaw growth in children with skeletal open bites. 4.SurgeryIf skeletal issue is the reason for open bite, then orthognathic surgery may become a necessary treatment option. Only in severe cases this treatment option is used. Conclusion Some people may get a unique dental condition which affects entire oral health. Open bite is that type of condition which negatively affects our health. It creates problems for proper chewing and speaking. A correct treatment for an open bite can give your healthy smile back. If you face issues related to open bite, then immediately consult a trusted dental clinic like Share A Smile. Taking the correct treatment at the right time can avoid long-term complications.

Understanding Pigmented Gums: Causes, Treatments and Myths Pink colored gums are considered as the sign of a healthy person. But sometimes it becomes darker gum for some people. In this case the color of the gum may black or brown. These darker gums are called pigmented gums. Sometimes these darker gums may create concerns for people. It may also act as a sign of future health problems. Here you are going to understand more about pigmented gums including its causes, treatments and myths. What Are Pigmented Gums? Gum pigmentation refers to the natural or acquired darkening of the gum issue. Color of these types of gums may change from person to person depending on genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Pink colored gum is associated with healthy people and dark or pigmented gum is associated with unhealthy people. Causes of Pigmented Gums 1.GeneticsJust like skin tone gum color is also influenced by melanin. People with darker skin have more chances to get pigmented gums. 2.SmokingUse of tobacco may lead to a condition called “smoker’s melanosis”. In this condition the gum becomes due to increased melanin production in response to smoking. 3.MedicationsUse of medications like antimalarial drugs or minocycline can lead to gum pigmentation. 4.Health ConditionsSystemic diseases or hormone imbalance can also cause pigmentation in gums. Normally it is very rare. 5.Amalgam Tattoos Tiny particles from old dental fillings can become embedded in the gums. This may cause localized dark spots. Are Pigmented Gums a Cause for Concern? Usually in most cases , pigmented gums are not harmful and don’t require treatment. But if gum discoloration is accompanied by pain, swelling or bleeding then it may signal a problem like gum disease. In this situation you should consult a dentist. Treatment Options for Pigmented Gums 1.Laser Gum DepigmentationIn this treatment laser technology is used for removing the top layer of pigmented gums. This is a minimally invasive procedure. 2.Gum SurgerySometimes pigmented gums can become a severe issue. At this time the dentist performs a surgical procedure to remove pigmented gums. 3.Chemical PeelsSome dental clinics use chemical treatments to reduce gum pigmentations. This is not a common treatment option. 4.Lifestyle ChangesFor pigmentation caused by smoking or using some medications, then gum pigmentation can be reduced through controlling these triggering factors. Dispelling Myths About Pigmented Gums 1.Myth : Dark Gums mean poor oral healthFact  :  Pigmented gums are often just a natural variation. Only in some cases it acts as a sign of poor oral health. 2.Myth  : Whitening toothpastes can cause lightning gums.Fact : Whitening products are designed for teeth and it doesn’t have any effect on pigmented    gums. 3.Myth: Only lasers can treat pigmented gums.Fact : Lasers are the popular treatment option for pigmented gums. But surgery and chemical peels are also used as effective treatment options. Conclusion Pigmented gums often appeared as a natural part of many people’s appearance. In most cases you don’t have to worry about pigmented gums. But sometimes it appears as a warning related to health problems. Oral health is also an important part of our health so take any change related to your teeth as serious. Consider a trusted dental clinic like Share A Smile if you have any problem related with pigmented gums. Taking treatments for pigmented gums can give you a younger appearance.

CORRECT YOUR SMILE, LAUGH FROM THE HEART Smiling is one of the first things which make you noticed among the public. It shows the confidence level of a person. But many people can’t make a smile from the heart due to their teeth structure. They hide smiles from people to avoid teasing from people. This makes smile correction a popular choice among people who are looking to enhance their confidence and appearance. Here, we are going to check the need for correcting your smile and its popular methods which make you laugh from the heart. What is smile correction? Smile correction is the part of cosmetic dentistry focused on improving a person’s smile appearance. It involves various dental procedures to solve aesthetic and functional issues like misaligned teeth, discoloration, gaps, chipped or broken teeth. This process gives confidence therefore correcting your smile ultimately leads to gain more confidence. Improving your smile by adapting several cosmetic dentistry procedures is its ultimate goal. Benefits of Correcting Your Smile 1.Improved appearanceStraightening and whitening of teeth gives a better smile to a person which ultimately leads to reshaping a person’s appearance. It gives a youthful look to a person. 2.Boosted confidenceA good smile always increases a person’s self esteem. If a person can give a smile from his heart without any restrictions then it shows their confidence. People who smile often are considered to be more approachable persons. 3.Better oral healthOral health protection is also an important aspect in a person’s life. Aligning teeth will reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. Correcting bite issues helps to prevent excessive strain on your jaw. Oral health protection helps to increase the quality of a person’s life. 4.Long term durabilityTreatments like dental implants, crowns and bridges restore the appearance of damaged teeth. These treatments avoid further oral problems in future and make your smile stronger. 5.Improved functionCorrecting your smile helps a person to bite with comfort and makes chewing easier. It makes your speech clear if teeth misalignment affects your pronunciation. Persons with good communication skills can achieve higher success in their life. Important Methods for Correcting Your Smile 1.Aligning : Straightening Your TeethMisaligned teeth not only affect your smile but it can also create problems on your oral health. Let’s check about several methods used for aligning your teeth:BracesBraces are the traditional metal braces which helps to correct severe alignment issues. It is the popular choice even though it is visible due to its affordability and reliability.Clear alignersInvisalign-like aligners are a more discreet option for aligning teeth. These  custom-made trays are removable and are used for moderate alignment issues.Lingual bracesThese are invisible because they are placed behind the teeth. It is a great option for people who are seeking discreet treatment. 2.Veneering: Enhancing Aesthetic AppearanceDental veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or composite resin that cover the front surface of teeth. They are a versatile solution for improving the appearance of discolored or broken teeth. The dentist removes small amounts of enamel from the teeth in this process. Veneers are long lasting. 3.Dental Implants : Replacing Missing TeethDental implants are a permanent and effective solution for missing teeth which make gaps. A titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone, acting as a tooth root. After the post integrates with the bone, a crown is attached, completing the replacement. It makes your teeth look like natural teeth. CONCLUSION Smile correction gives both aesthetic and functional benefits. It improves your smile as well as your oral health. Correcting your smile gives more confidence and a younger look. Any type of smile correction whether it is major or minor can make differences in both appearance and smile. Making a laugh from the heart without bothering anyone is the dream of many people. If a person has insecurity about their smile, consider a trusted dental clinic like Share A Smile to improve the quality of your life with more confidence.