What is Interdental Brushing?

When it comes to keeping gum disease at bay, nothing beats an interdental brush! These tiny brushes clear away any food debris and plaque hiding between the teeth, which will keep your gum tissue healthy.  

If plaque and bacteria are allowed to build up between the teeth, the gums will become irritated and swollen. Interdental brushes are great for everyone, but we recommend them especially those who have a history of problems with their gums.

What are interdental brushes?  

Interdental brushes are very small and have handles similar to a toothbrush. They have a small, conical head with bristles, meant to clean between the teeth. Interdental brushes come in different sizes depending on the spacing between your teeth; for example, you will need one size for the gap between the front teeth, and another for the gaps between the molars.

Tips on using an interdental brush  

You should always make sure to follow the advice of your dentist when using your interdental brush. Below are a few tips that may also help:

• Make sure you’re using the right-sized brush for the gaps between each tooth. Don’t force the brush between the teeth.
• Brush gently between each tooth. Brushing too vigorously may do damage to your gum tissue.
• Brush in a pattern around your entire mouth. Having a starting and ending point ensures that you won’t miss any spaces between the teeth.

When you first begin to incorporate interdental brushing into your routine, it’s common for your gums to become tender or bleed a bit. Continue using the brushes as normal, and the bleeding and tenderness will reduce as the tissue becomes healthier.

If you have questions or concerns about interdental brushing, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment here at Jennifer Lopez Dental. We’re happy to give advice about interdental brushing at our Miami, Florida dentist’s office!

Stress is inescapable, especially with everything going on in our world right now. It’s widely known that stress harms our health, but it’s less widely known that this also extends to dental health.

Our bodies were built to withstand short, temporary bursts of stress. However, when stress levels are continuously elevated, it will eventually become very damaging to emotional, physical, and dental health.

5 Dental Problems Caused or Exacerbated by Stress 

Below are 5 of the ways that stress may manifest in your dental health:

• Cold Sores – If you’re already susceptible to cold sores, higher-than-average stress can lead to an outbreak. Stress weakens your immune system, which allows the virus that causes cold sores (herpes simplex virus or HSV) to sneak past your defenses. Cold sores can be painful, but they usually go away on their own after a week or two.
• Gum Disease – As stated above, stress weakens your immune system. It can also decrease the body’s ability to rid the mouth of harmful bacteria. If these bacteria are allowed to build upon the teeth, you become vulnerable to gum disease and gingivitis.
• Canker Sores – Similar to cold sores, canker sores are also a common result of stress. Canker sores shouldn’t last more than a week or so, but if you’re looking for a way to ease the pain of canker sores while they heal, there are over-the-counter rinses and gels found next to the toothpaste in most drugstores.
• Neglect of Oral Hygiene – Most of us got in some unhealthy habits during quarantine! This may have included neglecting your dental hygiene routine. Once you let your guard down, it doesn’t take long for plaque and bacteria to build up and begin wreaking havoc on your tooth enamel. Set a reminder on your phone and make sure to stay on top of your routine!
• Bruxism – Lastly, bruxism is a common result of stress. But it’s tricky, because you may not even know you have it! Bruxism is the term for the nighttime clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth. This condition will put a lot of stress on the jaw and teeth, causing headaches, pain, or chipping and cracking of the teeth.

If you’re concerned about how your stress could be impacting your dental health, or if you need to make an appointment for a cleaning and a checkup, please call Jennifer Lopez Dental in beautiful Miami, Florida. Dr. Lopez looks forward to seeing you!

To make the most out of your next trip to the dentist for a dental cleaning and a checkup, there are a couple of questions you can ask to maximize your time spent in the dental chair! The more educated you are about your dental health, the better able you are to care for your teeth and your family’s teeth!

3 Questions to Maximize Your Dental Health

• How is my oral health overall? 
  Asking about your overall dental health will allow you to get a more comprehensive view of what you’re doing well and what you can work on. This is also a great way to determine if your habits or lifestyle contribute to your oral health or hygiene.  

• How can I improve my dental health? 
  Pay close attention to any treatments or procedures that your dentist recommends. Your dentist can also help you ensure that you’re using the right kind of toothpaste and floss, whether you’re brushing correctly, or if there’s anything else you need to incorporate into your dental hygiene routine.

• Is there anything I should talk to my family doctor about? 
  Lastly, dental health is closely linked to overall health. Your dentist will be able to spot signs of a non-dental health problem during your dental exam. Asking this question will allow you to make sure that the right medical professionals have all the relevant information.

Part of making sure you have a healthy smile is by ensuring a daily oral routine. Pain, tenderness, bleeding, or loose teeth can all be signs of dental problems, gum disease, or gingivitis. If you the symptoms mentioned above, please call Jennifer Lopez Dental. Our Miami Dentist, Jennifer Lopez, is here to help! We also see dental patients in South Miami, Kendall, Doral, Sweetwater, and the surrounding area. Find a dentist near you today.

 Schedule Appointment