The Colorado Springs Cosmetic Dentist Tell Us 8 Fascinating Facts About the Germs That Live in Your Mouth! PART 4

This four-part article series presents some pretty interesting and, at times, disturbing facts about the tiny critters that call your mouth “home”!

Welcome back to the fourth and final installment of this article series on the tiny critters that live in your mouth and the various interesting facts there are to be learned about them. In our previous article post, we spoke to a Colorado Springs cosmetic dentist who revealed that (1) gum disease is not contagious and can successfully be avoided with good oral hygiene and regular professional attention, and (2) that it isn’t advisable to share a toothbrush with someone else as it increases your risk of contracting germs, viruses and infection from them.

In this, the final installment of our four-part article series, we shall be looking at the last two of our eight interesting facts.

Fascinating Fact # 7…

Toothbrush containers aren’t hygienic

There are all sorts of fancy toothbrush storage devices designed to “keep your toothbrush free from bacteria.” Here’s the irony… keeping your toothbrush in a closed airtight container actually fosters a favorable environment for bacterial growth! Bacteria love dark, warm and moist places. By preventing your toothbrush from drying naturally, these containers encourage bacteria to proliferate, rendering your cleaning implement not so very clean itself.

According to the specialists of dental implant in Colorado Springs, you should rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after use and then leave it to air dry. An aired bathroom cabinet is best because it also protects your toothbrush from the spray sent up by a flushing toilet. Other useful toothbrush tips include:

• Soaking your toothbrush in an anti-bacterial mouthwash is a waste of time and mouthwash. You’re better off letting it air dry.

• You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles start looking frayed.

• Opt for a toothbrush with a comfortable grip. If you find yourself struggling to use it properly, you’ll be less inclined to brush for the recommended two minutes.

• When buying a toothbrush, choose one that will actually fit in your mouth! “Many people make the mistake of investing in toothbrushes that are too long or too wide to comfortably reach the back of their mouths,” says the Colorado Springs cosmetic dentist. “If you have a small mouth, buy a toothbrush with a small head.”

Fascinating Fact # 8 … 

Green tea is actually very good for the health of your teeth and gums.

So it’s not just for hippies and hipsters then? Nope! Green tea is lauded for its many health benefits amongst which are healthy teeth and gums.

A Final Note from Dental Implant Professionals in Colorado Springs

There really is little doubt about just how beneficial it is to have a beautiful smile. This is true of both the social and professional working environment. The great thing about this physical asset is that it’s totally in your hands. With the right habits, good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, you can maintain a beautiful smile for life. Arm yourself with the interesting facts and tips presented in this four-part article series and go forth and smile with confidence!

The Colorado Springs Family Dentist Tell Us 8 Fascinating Facts About the Germs That Live in Your Mouth! PART 3

This four-part article series presents some pretty interesting and, at times, disturbing facts about the tiny critters that call your mouth “home”!

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the tiny critters that live in your mouth and the various risks they come with. In our previous article post, we spoke to a Colorado Springs family dentist who revealed that (1) contrary to popular opinion; a dog’s mouth is no cleaner than yours, so remember that the next time you let your pooch lick you all over your face. (2) There really is no such thing as the “five second rule”. If you drop food on the floor, it’s going to pick up bacteria. This might not be such a bad thing if the floor in question is your living room, but the streets outside? Just walk away from that burrito, buddy. Let it go.

In this, the third installment of our four-part article series, we shall be looking at two more interesting facts, starting with...

Fascinating Fact # 5

Gum disease isn't actually contagious

And isn’t that a relief considering that creepy uncle of yours who loves to plant big wet ones on your face? You know... the one with the dodgy teeth and permanently bad breath?

“Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums,” explains the Colorado Springs family dentist. “It begins as gingivitis, which is usually a result of poor oral hygiene and habits such as smoking. Left untreated, bacteria work their way deep down into the tiny spaces between your teeth and your gums, forming pockets that gradually fill with their expanding populations and wastes. This naturally irritates the gums, causing them to become red, inflamed, swollen and infected.”

While the germs that cause gum disease can be passed between you and someone else, the disease itself requires a strict dedication to NOT looking after your teeth and gums to develop. If you keep your mouth healthy with regular brushing and flossing and seek regular professional attention from your Colorado Springs dentist and oral hygienist, your uncle’s ardor should not cause any problems for you. Well, other than the obvious.

Fascinating Fact # 6

You’ve had a late night and ended up staying over at a friend’s house. Is it safe to use their toothbrush? According to the Centers for Disease Control, it isn’t!

Sharing a toothbrush with someone encourages an exchange of bodily fluids and bacteria that can increase your risk of infection.

Having said that, brushing your teeth after a night of eating and drinking - even if it is someone else’s toothbrush - can be seen as the lesser of two evils. Unless, they’ve recently suffered from a serious viral infection, in which case your finger and a blob of toothpaste will have to do.

“It’s not only toothbrushes that can increase your risk of getting sick from someone else,” says the Colorado Springs family dentist. “Research indicates that drinking glasses, lipsticks, lip balm and band instruments are also great transmitters of bacteria. If you want to avoid contracting viruses, bacteria and other potentially dangerous pathogens from other people, don’t share personal items with them.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more fascinating facts about the health of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of Colorado Springs dentist!

The Dentist in Colorado Springs Tell Us 8 Fascinating Facts About the Germs That Live in Your Mouth! PART 2

This four-part article series presents some pretty interesting and, at time, disturbing facts about the tiny critters that call your mouth “home”!

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the tiny microorganisms that live in your mouth. In our previous article post, the dentists we spoke to in Colorado Springs revealed that (1) there are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people living on the plant (that’s a number in excess of 7 billion!) and (2) that over 700 different species of oral bacteria have been identified. Thankfully, most of them are incapable of making you sick, but they all contribute to the formation of plaque and acidic wastes that cause cavities and tooth decay.

Let’s continue with some more fascinating facts about the critters that call your mouth “home”!

Fascinating Fact # 3

Everyone has that annoying friend or family member who has no qualms about letting their pet cat or dog lick their fingers and face. They tend to say things like: “Oh a dog has far less germs in its mouth than humans.”

Well, that may be the case, but as much as you love your dog, you don’t want its saliva all over you! If you don’t let other people lick your face, why would you let an animal that doesn’t even brush its teeth drool on you?

A dog’s mouth isn’t any “cleaner” than a human’s.

The reality is there is no scientific foundation for the claims of that kooky aunt or friend of yours. “A cat or dog’s mouth is just as full of germs as yours is,” says a dentist in Colorado Springs. In fact, there are more than 100 different kinds of germs in dog spit that can make you sick, so think twice the next time you cuddle with Fido. Letting your dog lick your face and (ugh) mouth is NOT the most hygienic of habits and certainly won’t endear you to your girlfriend who is now expected to kiss you.

Fascinating Fact # 4

You’ve spent a good ten minutes stacking the perfect sandwich: pastrami, American cheese, pickles, avocado, tomato, mayonnaise, yellow mustard and two beautiful slices of wheat bread. You grab the plate in your right hand and your giant glass of soda in your left. Spying the TV remote on the counter you try to pick that up with your right hand as well and end up dropping your gorgeous sandwich all over the kitchen floor.

Oh well! 5 Second rule!

Hastily scooping it together, you reassemble your now decidedly less regal-looking food tower and throw caution to the wind… hello lunch! But wait...

There is no such thing as the 5-second rule.

“The five, ten or whatever second rule we all recite when we drop something we were adamant about eating is really quite arbitrary,” say dentists in Colorado Springs. “If your food hits the floor, it’s going to collect bacteria. Obviously, the longer you leave it there, the more bacteria it’ll gather. But even after one second on the floor, you’re food won’t be pristine.”

The best approach to this kind of problem is to decide, based upon your environment, just how much of a risk you’re going to take. If you drop your sandwich at home, are good about keeping your floors clean and you don’t own any pets, you’re probably not going to contract hemorrhagic fever from your kitchen floor. The streets outside your home are entirely a different matter.

No matter which way you spin it, that sandwich of yours is not worth spending a few months in the sickly death grip of Hepatitis A.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more fascinating facts about the health of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of the Colorado Springs dentist!

Colorado Springs Dentist Tells Us 8 Fascinating Facts About the Germs That Live in Your Mouth! PART 1

This four-part article series presents some pretty interesting and, at times, disturbing facts about the tiny critters that call your mouth “home”!

Fascinating Fact # 1

The population of which of the following is closest to the number of bacteria that dwell in your mouth at any given time?

(a) New York City

(b) USA

(c) North and South America

(d) The entire world

If you’ve ever been to Times Square in New York City, it can be hard to imagine that there are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people crammed onto its plaza. But the reality is, there are billions of bacteria inhabiting the surfaces, cracks, crevasses, nooks and crannies of your mouth.

That’s right, there are probably more bacteria in your mouth than there are people on the planet!

“Your teeth, tongue, gums, cheeks and palate are covered with microscopic organisms, most of which are not directly harmless, but all of which contribute to the formation of cavity-causing plaque,” explain Colorado Springs dentists. “This is why it is so important that you brush, floss and rinse frequently and see your dentist and oral hygienist at least once a year.”

When it comes to the population of bacteria in your mouth, a Big Apple a day won’t keep the tooth loss at bay!

Fascinating Fact # 2

More than 700 different species of oral bacteria have been identified in the human mouth.

“Thankfully, most of them are harmless and won’t actually make you sick,” says the dentist in Colorado Springs. “However, the sloppier you are about maintaining good oral health and hygiene, the more at risk you put yourself of the nasty pathogens that can!”

Oral bacteria are actually visible to us as plaque, which consists of living and dead bacteria and their waste products. Plaque accumulates on the teeth, gums and tongue between brushing and flossing. If you don’t clean your teeth and gums regularly, plaque can irritate the gums, causing them to become red, inflamed and to tear and bleed easily when brushed. With time, this sticky white substance can harden to form tartar, which not only causes cavities and tooth decay, but also chronic bad breath, gum disease and tooth loss.

“Just remember how many bacteria you have swarming in your mouth at any given time and that these legions could consist of up to 700 different species. That should compel you to brush your teeth more frequently!” say Colorado Springs dentists.

Other advice includes:

• Brush two to three times a day for two minutes at a time,
• Floss every day before you go to bed at night,
• Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash as an added defense measure,
• Avoid bad habits, such as smoking, eating too much sugar and excessive alcohol intake,
• Drink plenty of water,
• Chew sugar-free gum,
• See your dentist and oral hygienist at least once a year for preventative cleanings and check-ups,
• Never ignore an oral problem or complaint.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more fascinating facts about your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of the dentist in Colorado Springs!