THE HISTORY OF TOOTHBRUSHING

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Toothbrushing: Toothbrushing is the act of scrubbing teeth with a toothbrush equipped with      toothpaste. That is the dictionary definition.
It is also the mechanical removal of micro-organisms from the tooth surface, using a brush and toothpaste.

Toothbrushing forms a very important part of our daily Oral Hygiene routine.
And since today is Friday, I thought I'd write today's Blogpost as a fun history lesson...
So -welcome to class.

HISTORY

As long ago as 3000 B.C., the ancient Egyptians constructed crude toothbrushes from twigs and leaves to clean their teeth. Similarly, other cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Indians cleaned their teeth with twigs. Some would fray one end of the twig so that it could penetrate between the teeth more effectively.

The modern toothbrush was developed in England in 1780.
While languishing in jail, William Addis decided to drill holes into a sheep's tibia, and pulled the bristles of boar hair through this bone. So picture the handle as the sheep's bone and the brush portion as  made from swine bristles.
In 1844, the first 3-row bristle brush was designed.

Natural bristles were the only source of bristles until Du Pont invented nylon. The invention of nylon started the development of the truly modern toothbrush in 1938, and by the 1950s softer nylon bristles were being made, as people preferred these. The first electric toothbrush was made in 1939 and the first electric toothbrush in the US was the Broxodent in 1960.

Today, both manual and electric toothbrushes come in many shapes and sizes and are typically made of plastic molded handles and nylon bristles.

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DESENSITIZING TOOTHPASTES

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I trust that you enjoyed last week's Blog article on tooth sensitivity. 

And I hope that my readers found it informative. 

Well, this week I want to give you a little bit more information about how desensitizing works.  

In the post on tooth sensitivity, I recommended using a toothpaste specifically designed to relieve the condition. These toothpastes are actually desensitizing agents. And this is how they work:

How does desensitizing toothpaste work?

Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve channels at the centre of the tooth. The main compound ingredients that manufactures use are strontium chloride and potassium nitrate. These compounds help block the transmission of pain signals from the surface of your tooth to the exposed nerve channels.

These nerve channels get exposed as a result of the damaged tooth enamel.

It usually requires several applications before the sensitivity is reduced. So it is not something that happens overnight. 

Desensitizing toothpaste usually take a month of regular use to decrease pain. 

Remember to brush twice a day with your densiting toothpaste. 

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TOOTH SENSITIVITY

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Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common dental problems reported by patients globally.
Also known as dentin hypersensitivity, tooth sensitivity occurs when the root surfaces of teeth are exposed. This occurs when the enamel that protects our teeth gets thinner, or when there is gum recession.  The underlying surface, the dentin are then exposed. And this reduces  the protection the enamel and gums provide to the tooth and root.

Causes of tooth sensitivity

There are many causes of tooth sensitivity, including:

• Worn tooth enamel from using a hard toothbrush or brushing too aggressively
• Tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages
• Tooth erosion due to bulimia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Gum recession that leaves your root surface exposed

Prevention of tooth sensitivity

The following are some at-home treatments that are commonly advised by dental professionals:

• Desensitizing toothpaste. There are several brands of toothpaste for sensitive teeth available. Your dentist may recommend one or you may have to try different brands until you find the product that works for you. Be sure to use fluoridated toothpaste for sensitive teeth, not tartar-control toothpaste. Try spreading a thin layer of the desensitizing toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots before bed.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Avoid highly acidic foods.
• Use a fluoridated mouthwash daily.
• Avoid teeth grinding. Consider getting a mouth guard.

Treatment of tooth sensitivity

If you have sensitive teeth, don’t neglect your daily oral care routine. Just be sure to use a soft toothbrush and soft floss. You can also try a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth. Several brands are available, and you should notice some improvement with regular use of any of them. Also, try spreading some sensitizing toothpaste along the exposed cementum or dentin area before bed to help reduce sensitivity. Just use your fingertip or a cotton swab to rub the toothpaste directly onto the exposed spot.

  In addition there are some dental procedures that may reduce tooth sensitivity:

• Bonding, crowns or inlays. These may fix a tooth flaw or decay that is causing sensitivity.
• Fluoride gel or varnish.
• Surgical gum graft. This will protect the root and reduce sensitivity if the gum tissue has eroded from the root.
• Root canal. This is a last-resort treatment for severe tooth sensitivity that has not been helped by other methods.

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FLOURIDE ALLERGY

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Alright. So last week something interesting cropped up in my Blogpost -Flouride allergy
A lot of people informed me that they have not heard of it before. So here it is:

What is Flouride-allergy?

Studies have shown that some people are sensitve to Flouride. Although fluoride -allergy is rare, it can be very dangerous to people who have it.
These hypersensitivity reactions usually disappear promptly after discontinuation of the fluoride.

What are the symptoms of Flouride-allergy?

•  In hypersensitive individuals fluorides occasionally cause skin eruptions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema or urticaria.
•  Gastric distress, headache and weakness have also been reported. 

How is Flouride- allergy treated?

• Antihistamines are commonly prescribed by doctors,  and usually takes effect in 15 minutes.
• Prevention of foods with excess fluorides like sodas, bottled juices, processed cereals, chicken and fishes.
• Avoid tap water which is rich in fluoride, instead choose distilled or reverse-osmosis bottled water.

How to avoid Flouride-allergy

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction to fluoride is to avoid exposure altogether.

1. Know the sources.
2. Replace flouridated items with non-flouridated ones.
3. Choose a dental practice that understands the risks associated with flouride.

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TOOTHPASTE -Fluoride? or Fluoride-free?

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The most important step to healthy teeth and gums is to brush and floss properly daily.     Fluoride is added to toothpaste, mouthwash, community water supplies and prescribed in pills to help prevent tooth decay.  
However, there are instances when dental professionals would recommend the Fluoride- free toothpaste.
Patients who have dental fluorosis, do not need more fluoride and may prefer a toothpaste that does not contain fluoride.
Patients who are allergic to toothpaste should definitely opt for to a fluoride-free toothpaste.
Children under the age of two  can swallow too much fluoride; because at this age it is difficult to teach them to spit the toothpaste out. So a fluoride-free kiddies toothpaste would be ideal.

More natural toothpaste options are popping up in the market, and many of these are fluoride-free. 

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