Q. Does the hardness of toothbrush bristles matter? I may as well buy the best kind.
A. Yes, this is an important matter. It is important to use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Otherwise, you can wear away both gum tissue and tooth structure at the gum line. Soft bristles are the way to go.
Q. Which is better - waxed or unwaxed floss? Do flavors matter? I would think a sweet taste (like the mint) on floss would not be good for teeth.
A. Generally, plain unwaxed floss is ideal. There are several nice varieties now that are easy to slip in between the teeth.
Flavor is a matter of preference and does not contribute to tooth decay.
Q. What about Water Pik and similar devices - are they good or not necessary? It might be easier for me to hold onto the Pik then to go through the brushing motion (arthritis).
A.
Electric and sonic toothbrushes can be very helpful for people with arthritis and for people who have some memory problems. In the latter case, the devices should be used with good supervision so not to cause damage to one area of the teeth and gums.
I would try the toothbrush idea over a Water Pik. I think you will get greater benefit from the toothbrush.
Q. We have a trip scheduled for the day after I will be having some dental work done. A friend said I shouldn't fly within 12 hours of dental work because the atmospheric pressure causes pain. Is this true?
A. Unless you have an infected tooth, a sinus infection or are having major oral surgery that would affect your sinuses, it should not be a problem.
Q.Over the past year or so, i have noticed that some of my teeth have started to become clear/see-through. I thought this might have been due to lack of calcium, and started to drink more milk. This has seemed to have no effect.
Do you have any ideas what my problem could be, and maybe a solution to it? I would really appreciate a reply.
There are a number of reasons why teeth change in appearance (color): the health of the tooth, stains from foods are among the most common.
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