Dentist
Berkeley /East Bay - Family Dental Practice
Tips for Healthier Teeth:
1.
Brush your teeth
after every meal.
2.
At the very least, brush
after breakfast and before bed.
3.
Floss your teeth every day.
4.
Young children should ask
their parents for assistance
5.
Eat healthy foods.
6.
Calcium and protein are
found in dairy products and meats. They help
make your teeth strong.
7.
Brush your teeth with a fluoride
toothpaste.
8.
Use a soft toothbrush.
9.
Toothbrushes that are too
hard can damage gums and wear down surfaces
of the teeth.
10.
Replace your toothbrush every
two or three months.
11.
Worn-down surfaces and
bacterial build-up on toothbrushes don't clean
properly and can spread germs.
12.
Chew sugarless gum.
13.
Avoid eating chewy candy such
as caramel and taffy.
14.
Visit your dentist every 6 months.
15.
Healthy teeth are worth millions.
16.
Remember,
when you lose a tooth, put it under our
pillow -- Dr. Happy Tooth will visit when
you are asleep and leave you something to
smile about.
Self
Care Tips for TMJ:
1.
Rest the muscles
and joints. This will allow healing. Rest
includes:
A
soft food diet– avoid crunchy
and chewy foods like hard nuts, chips,
carrots and hard breads.
Avoid chewing gum.
No clenching or
tensing– learn to say "teeth
apart, face and jaw relaxed".
2.
Avoid opening too wide.
This protects the joints and prevents them
from locking open.
Yawn
against pressure.
Eat small bites.
Avoid general anesthesia
when possible.
3.
Apply cold for 5-10 minutes
for severe pain, new injuries (less than 72
hours), and reinjury.
4.
Apply
moist heat for 20 minutes for mild to moderate
pain to increase circulation, and muscle
relaxation, this promotes healing.
5.
Use
heat and ice for quick relief from muscle
pain. Apply heat for 5 seconds then ice
for 5 seconds and repeat 4-5 times.
6.
Massage
the jaw and temple muscles. This stimulates
circulation, relaxes muscles, and decreases
soreness.
7.
Acupressure:
Massage the Hoku point, found between the
thumb and forefinger. This decreases jaw
pain and headaches.
8.
Maintain
good posture. Avoid a forward head posture
which may increase jaw and neck muscle activity
and soreness.
9.
Telephone use. Do not
cradle the phone, it irritates jaw and neck
muscles.
10.
Sleeping
position. Sleep on side lying with pillow
support between the neck and shoulders,
and soft support along the face and jaw,
or sleep on your back with the neck curve
supported.
11.
Exercise
20-30 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a week.
Choose low impact type exercises it minimizes
pressure on joints.
12.
Yoga and meditation are
excellent methods to reduce stress.
13.
Over
the counter medications are helpful for
pain and inflammation. Take 2 aspirin or
ibuprofen 4 times daily, according to directions.
