Manuel or Electric Toothbrush?

While we have been reeling from the impact of COVID-19, and dental offices have not seen patients, your dental health must be still taken care of. But with all the information on dental health, what is the best system?

A manual toothbrush can provide a tried and true clean you need. However, the electric toothbrush depending on which; one you go with might provide a timer, superior plaque removal, and the ability to ensure your teeth are clean. While the research is still out on whether an electric or manual toothbrush is better, one thing is for sure, brushing is essential to ensure your smile is healthy.

No matter the toothbrush you go choose, you want to brush in gentle circles for at least 2 minutes. You want to avoid brushing too hard and be sure that the toothbrush head fits comfortably in your mouth.

While it can be difficult to reach the inside of your molars or the side closest to your cheek, not allowing plaque to build up in these hard to reach spots is imperative to having a healthy smile.

For more information on your dental health, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team today.

Is Diver’s Mouth Syndrome Real?

When the summer comes almost four million individuals in the US will put on their wet suits and enjoy the journey of diving. Some die hards enjoy diving all year round in warmer parts of the world. No matter where you are diving you should be aware that you can experience jaw joint pain, gum tissue problems or what is called, “squeeze mouth.”

"Jaw joint pain and gum tissue problems are symptoms that when combined equal diver’s mouth,” says Dr. Judy Strutz. These problems occur when the air pressure changes or when a diver bites too hard on their mouthpiece for long periods of time.  Squeeze mouth usually occurs when the pressure changes and the diver has a periodontal abscess, incomplete root canal or fillings.

In order to avoid these problems make sure that you are not biting too hard on your mouthpiece. You want to apply enough pressure to be able to breath comfortably but you should not feel jaw pain. You also may want to meet with your dentist before you dive in order to make sure you do not have any fillings that need to be filled or any work that needs to be completed prior to diving. If you have dentures you’ll want to make sure that the pressure you apply is not going to impact them and that they are placed correctly and are secure.