Author: DentalKraft Editor

Is Herbal Toothpaste Better Than Top Consumer Branded Toothpastes? An Expert Verdict

There are several brands to choose from if you were to be looking for toothpaste. There would be a whole aisle dedicated to this in your usual supermarkets, and choosing the right one might be hard. What do you look for, and what do you avoid?

What are Herbal Toothpastes?

Herbal or natural toothpastes are the toothpastes that are mostly non-branded and are advertised as natural, organic and chemical-free. These toothpastes mostly don’t contain any usual ingredient in your regular toothpaste and are natural. Because of this, they might not be as effective as your regular toothpaste when it comes to cleaning and whitening your teeth.

Toothpastes are imperative in the process of controlling harmful bacteria in your teeth, as well as regulating any plaque build-up. Toothpastes don’t just make us feel fresh and clean, but also battle any oral infections that might pop up along the way.

When enquired about the necessity of toothpaste in the process of dental care, Dr. Latha Balachandar of Dr. Latha’s DentalKraft says, “Usually, the removal of plaque that is already present is mostly the work of your toothbrush and floss, and they are enough if regularly done. But then again, you cannot ensure that they will not form again. That is where toothpastes come in. Toothpastes can kill the harmful bacteria that are responsible for excess plaque build-up”.

Why Natural Toothpastes?

There have been several studies around the world that have compared conventional toothpastes with natural toothpastes and have highlighted the importance of both.

One of the studies held that natural toothpastes can be almost as effective as your regular branded toothpastes in controlling plaque build-up, and bacteria in your mouth. More studies stated that natural toothpastes improve your saliva’s pH levels so that the glucose levels in your saliva remain low. This helps maintain proper dental hygiene.

Although that is the case, it is hard to say if it is the effect of the toothpaste itself or the mere mechanical process of brushing the teeth.

How are they different from conventional toothpastes?

The major and notable difference between your conventional toothpastes and natural toothpastes is the fluoride content. Fluoride content in toothpaste is ideal when it comes to any toothpaste as it helps in teeth development and nourishment. It also makes the teeth healthy enough to withstand any acidity issues that might result in teeth decay.

“Fluoride is a powerful abrasive that is not too intrusive, hence is an ideal addition to toothpastes. Fluoride doesn’t just clean up your teeth but also reduces the risk of any dental decay that might form in the future. A natural toothpaste might be good enough, but it surely isn’t as effective as a fluoride toothpaste in the elimination of any risk of infection”, says Dr. Latha.

Natural Toothpaste and Oral Hygiene

Make sure that before you make the switch to natural toothpaste, you have the advice of a skilled dentist. They can give you the risks involved in making the switch, such as the possibility of contracting dental diseases. That way, you wouldn’t be caught blindsided by these issues if they pop up.

More importantly, if you are making the switch not just for you but your whole family, keep in mind that your children’s teeth are still under development. Therefore, they risk more decay if not treated with proper fluoride toothpaste.

While at first sight, natural toothpastes might seem like a safe bet, there are a plethora of things that must be taken into consideration. Making the switch from using natural substances to treat your teeth rather than resorting to a toothpaste filled with chemicals is all well and good, but provided that the herbal toothpaste has a bit of fluoride in it, you would be a lot safer.

Just changing the toothpastes wouldn’t do anything to improve your teeth. You would have to follow a proper routine when it comes to brushing and oral care. Any toothpaste, be it chemical or herbal, wouldn’t make much of a difference if you are not brushing twice every day and flossing regularly.

You should devote 2 minutes minimum to brushing, and use proper technique instead of brushing for the sake of it. This is an assured way to reduce plaque build-up and make your teeth clean and free of bacteria for the rest of your day.

In conclusion, choosing the right toothpaste ultimately depends on what you want. Although you should consider every factor, and choose something well-rounded, i.e., providing optimal tooth and gum care, while being mostly organic and non-intrusive or non-damaging.

Why Does My Tooth Ache?

Tooth pain in any way, shape, or form can denote several problems, ranging from infection, injury, cavities or breakage, or tooth loss. Based on the severity of the problem, you can treat it by yourself or seek emergency dental care as well.

Your usual problems can be dealt with by flossing regularly, brushing with a toothpaste that contains fluoride, and seeking a dentist to get your teeth cleaned twice a year. Let’s take a look at all the different causes and remedies associated with toothaches.

Sensitive Teeth

Throughout your life, your oral enamel that protects your nerves stands the risk of wearing out. This would expose your nerve endings, and nerve endings are highly receptive by nature. In turn, you are going to feel the sensitivity in your teeth.

This can happen faster if you contract any gum disease, as your gums would shrink, exposing the nerve endings. You also stand the risk of exposing these nerve endings if you brush too hard.

Any procedure that you undergo related to the cleaning of the teeth can also make it sensitive.

Popular remedies for this issue include avoiding any peroxide-based cleaning agent and avoiding brushing too hard. Also, you can resort to using sensitivity-toothpaste, which blocks your exposed nerve endings.

Damaged Tooth

Broken or damaged teeth can also cause toothaches. You might not experience any pain until the chip gets large enough to expose your nerve ending. This might result in pain when you chew something or drink sweet beverages.

Cracked teeth can affect the root area of the tooth, and this too can be felt only when eating something.

The ideal remedy to the damaged tooth is to visit a dentist at your earliest convenience. Dr. Latha’s DentalKraft is a dental clinic in Pondicherry that offers the most affordable dental treatments, and you can get the help of some of the most accomplished dentists with skills on par with the international standards.

Teeth Grinding

Grinding your teeth or jaw-clenching can also result in toothaches, as that tends to wear your enamel down, exposing your nerve endings. Grinding is common nowadays, and it is often caused by an irregular sleep schedule and stress.

Work on alleviating your stress and regulating your sleep, and that would help in controlling yourself from grinding your teeth.

Referred Pain

Toothache can be attributed to a lot more problems than plainly teeth-related problems. It can even be a sinus infection, migraines, or jaw-muscle contraction issues.

Symptoms

Toothache is a common issue, largely related to underlying sensitivity problems or damaged tooth mostly. Some symptoms for toothache include:

•         Chewing-related pain in your tooth and jaw
•         Migraines and headaches
•         Sensitive teeth upon sudden change of temperature of your mouth. Eating something extremely hot or cold. Sweet foods or acidity-related issues may be an issue as well.
•         Gum-bleeding or bleeding around a tooth.
•         Jaw swelling up.
•         Any injury near the mouth area.

These are the signs that show that you have tooth decay, cracked teeth, or even gum disease in some severe cases.

Appropriate Medical Care

If the toothache persists, you should be looking for a dentist near you. When should you be visiting a dentist upon toothache?

If the pain doesn’t get relieved even after using over-the-counter medication, make sure that you visit a dentist.

You could have just been done with a dental procedure, and that might be causing the pain as well. If you just had a tooth pulled, and the pain becomes severe after 3 days, you should be visiting a dentist pronto. This might be due to the bone being exposed in the interval between a clot being removed and a new clot forming. This condition is known as dry socket syndrome, and if you develop this, you should be visiting a dentist within 24 hours.

If the pain is paired with gum swelling or bleeding, it might be a symptom of gum disease. It might also cause a fever, as simple toothache wouldn’t cause fever. These are tell-tale symptoms of disease or infection, and you should visit a dentist as soon as possible.

If you had any injury that resulted in broken teeth, and it is severe, you should visit a dentist for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Toothache is not the only pain that occurs in your mouth. Any pain in your jaw and difficulty in opening your mouth might also call for a dentist visit. Upon any such issue, make sure that you get a proper diagnosis from a dentist.

Wisdom teeth might also be a reason for any pain in your teeth. The eruption of wisdom teeth also might be the reason for toothaches, and upon a visit to the dentist, they can alleviate this pain through proper procedures, be it removal of the teeth or treatment without removal.

To conclude, a toothache is a common issue prevalent in most of the patients that visit the dentist. Make sure that you visit a dentist to get the proper treatment so that it doesn’t persist or worse, change into something severe.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Your smile is the best asset you could have, and it doesn’t take much work too! If you are looking to get the perfect smile, you can get treated by the miracle that is cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry or aesthetic dentistry is the process of treating your teeth in ways that make your smile more effortless and perfect.

There are several aesthetic improvements that you can give your teeth to make them look more and more alluring, and cosmetic dentistry is the way to go. Expert dentists in Pondicherry are well equipped and trained in all these methods to ensure that the procedure goes on without a hitch and you get your best smile.

So what are these different types of cosmetic dentistry that you can avail to get a perfect, flawless smile?

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is the procedure of cleaning your teeth to remove all the stains and discoloration and bleaching it to look perfectly white and pearly. You can do this either in your home or in the dental clinic.

It might entail certain issues, so it is advisable to ask for diagnosis and help from a dentist before undergoing the procedure.

Dental Veneers

To treat your crooked tooth, veneers are an ideal option. They are nothing but custom-made thin shells that cover your tooth to make it look perfectly aligned with the other teeth or to cover any gaps that might have formed between teeth. They are made out of porcelain in the exact color of your teeth to make them look perfectly in place. Veneers are also called “Hollywood teeth” as most actors resort to this procedure for perfect smiles.

Dental Implants

Replacing the roots of your tooth with titanium for the replacement tooth to fit in perfectly is known as the process of dental implantation. They make your replacement tooth look perfectly natural, as they fuse with your bones and become a permanent part of your teeth.

In addition to that, they also significantly improve your comfort, which removable dentures often fail to provide. Furthermore, they also improve your oral health as compared to your regular dentures and bridges. They are also extremely durable and any further procedure, and usually once it is done, there is no need to take it out and maintain it for a lifetime.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns or dental caps are a procedure that is done to replace damaged or decayed teeth. You can restore your tooth to its former shape or appearance by installing a dental crown. They get installed above your broken or damaged tooth to prevent any further damage, and practically blend into the rest of your tooth.

Teeth Shaping

Also known as enamel shaping, this procedure is carried out by removing some of the enamel so that the dentist can reshape a tooth. This is not a painful process, and it also guarantees immediate results.

Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic dental bonding is the process of bonding your decayed or cracked teeth to a resin-like material that is hardened by ultraviolet light. This is an alternative to amalgam filling procedures, and they make your fillings look better.

Orthodontics

You might be familiar with orthodontics as it is a process that was largely undergone by most people at a young age. But it is not exclusive to kids, as it can be used on adults as well. For cosmetic reasons, you can seek the help of a dentist for orthodontic treatment so that you can correct your buck teeth or crooked teeth.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are fillings made out of gold, silver, or porcelain among other composite materials to fill your dental damage. They are created in a lab to bond in the place with damage to give you a makeover that is not just a filling, but a fashion choice, like a tattoo. You wouldn’t need procedures such as dental crowns as inlays can get the job done and look fabulous in the process.

Teeth Jewellery

You can also add a bit of glamour to your teeth with teeth jewelry. Powered by modern tech, teeth jewelry is the addition of fashionable jewelry to your teeth with the help of a dentist. 

More procedures include bridges, dentures, and invisible braces among others. Bridges are placed on one of the sides of a gap in a way that the crowns in the bridge can fill the gap and make it look perfect. Dentures are used as removable stand-ins for your missing teeth, and invisible braces are braces that don’t look out of place in your mouth, blending with your teeth perfectly.

In conclusion, cosmetic dentistry is the next big thing in today’s world, and with the best and most well-equipped dentists in Kalapet, Auroville, and Pondicherry, get your procedure done as soon as possible, and get that perfect smile to win over the world.

Happening Destinations for Dental Tourism

Dental tourism is when you choose to undergo a dental procedure in another country, therefore giving you time to integrate your vacation with the time you take to complete the procedure.

Several countries are apt for such a practice, and a lot of them can save a pretty penny for you if you were looking to spend less money and more time on vacation destinations.

Which countries would be ideal for such a tour that covers both your vacation and dental expenses? Some of them are listed below:

Turkey

Turkey is a country that prides itself on amazing equipment in addition to expert dentists, ultimately making your dental trip an absolute delight. Furthermore, the country has some of the most aesthetic tourist destinations including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and several others.

The Turkey dental clinics are known for their expertise in procedures such as cosmic dentistry, implants, veneers, and many more. The beauty is that it doesn’t cost as much as countries such as the US, UK, Canada, and Germany. Costs in Turkey for these procedures are said to be a minimum of 40% lesser than the usual costs you would incur in these other countries.

Hungary

Hungary becomes an instant candidate for dental tourism because of the support that they give their dental patients. For starters, Hungary offers free transport from the airport to the clinic for every dental patient who enters the country.

The dentists are equipped with modern equipment and they also have adequate expertise in procedures such as dental surgery, implantation, and several other procedures. Plus, Hungary has no shortage of tourist destinations to visit.

Poland

The west of Europe is known for a lot of great things, and one of them is their government health support. Poland is no stranger to this. Although this is the case, people in countries such as UK, Germany, and France prefer private healthcare owing to the low-grade equipment in the government clinics. Poland on the other hand has an amazing standard when it comes to dental support.

Not just that, the country is also very welcoming to tourists from other countries and is extremely affordable in terms of both dental procedures and tourism destinations.

Mexico

If you are looking for dental treatments at affordable costs, Mexico is just the place for you. You stand to save up to a whopping 70% of the cost that you would incur in the United States.

What’s more is that you don’t have to worry about the quality, or the language barrier either. The country is filled with experts, and they are capable of communicating with you in clear English so that you wouldn’t feel misunderstood.

In addition to all this, there are also several tourist spots that you can visit in Mexico, including Cancun, Tijuana, and La Paz among other hot and happening tourist destinations.

Thailand

Thailand is another ideal country for dental tourism. You can get dental work done of decent quality for just half the price of what that procedure would incur in the US or Australia.

Thailand is full of internationally trained dentists ready to take care of any issue that you might have with state-of-the-art equipment and technical expertise. Furthermore, the Thai are hospitable, so you wouldn’t have to worry about your safety or the reception that you might get.

India

Last but far from least, India is one of the most happening dental tourism destinations in the whole wide world right now. Cities such as Chennai and Mumbai offer dental health support with utmost dedication and skill. The quality of dental work in India is on par with that of the quality that you would get in the US or the UK. When such quality is given at costs that are this low, why would you look any further?

The dental procedures in India would be just a quarter of what you would be spending in countries such as the US or the UK. Furthermore, you can use your dental procedure budget to get a lot more than just your dental procedure.

India flaunts a plethora of aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual destinations that you can visit and lose yourself in the beauty of. One of these destinations is Pondicherry. While the dentists in Pondicherry are highly skilled and friendly, in addition to operating with top-of-the-line technology, the city is also known for its beautiful beaches and spiritual destinations such as ashrams and temples that would connect you to a greater existence.

Ultimately, India is a destination that should take the top of your list if you are considering destinations to take a dental tour in. The procedures themselves are done a lot quicker than most other countries, and the waiting time and recovery time are also largely cut down on. Therefore, look no further, India is just the spot for you if you were looking for a country that would satisfy both your oral health needs as well as your vacation needs.

Choosing the Right Toothpaste

Which is the perfect toothpaste for you? What you want might vary from person to person. But there are certain points that you should keep in mind if you are about to choose a paste. A lot of words are thrown around in their labels, like cavity protection, recommended by dentists, and more, how exactly do you go about choosing the toothpaste that you want?

Ingredients

There are many kinds of toothpaste to choose from in the market right now, but ultimately, they are mostly made using the same methods and the same major ingredients

1.   Fluorides

Fluorides are the main ingredients in toothpaste, as they fight cavities. They also are a major help in preventing dental caries, strengthening your teeth’ enamel in the process. Some kinds of toothpaste ignore fluoride as an active ingredient, but it is advisable to go for fluoride toothpaste as it ensures optimal dental health

2.   Abrasives

Abrasives are a passive ingredient in your regular toothpaste, cleansing your teeth from any food debris or stains. These don’t do anything apart from that, such as treating your sensitivity or battling gum disease.

Popular abrasives include calcium carbonate, silica gel, and aluminum oxides among others. These particular ingredients are involved so that they provide a thorough enough cleaning without giving you any kind of enamel damage by scratching your teeth.

3.   Humectants

Humectants prevent your paste from drying out inside the tube. Without humectants, you wouldn’t get that smooth, watery texture that your toothpaste gives. Humectants do this by trapping water molecules inside the paste.

Popular examples of humectants are sorbitol, glycol, and glycerol.

4.   Detergents

Detergents provide foaming. These are used to form suds. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a popular example of a detergent used in toothpaste.

5.   Flavoring agents

To make the toothpaste taste pleasant in your mouth, flavoring agents are used. Your toothpaste acquires its taste from sweeteners such as saccharin and sorbitol. It is also important to note that these ingredients don’t include sugar, a popular component responsible for tooth decay.

Different Kinds of Pastes

Apart from these ingredients, you can look for more, based on the conditions that you might have, such as sensitivity or gum-related issues.

1.   Battling Sensitivity

Oral sensitivity is a common issue, prevalent almost everywhere. Oftentimes, people with sensitivity are discouraged from brushing twice a day as per the mandate to maintain oral health. In these trying times, you could resort to desensitizing toothpaste. Such kinds of toothpaste include strontium chloride or potassium nitrate in their ingredients list.

Sensitivity occurs because of the over-receptiveness of your oral nerves. These chemicals, potassium nitrate, and strontium chloride block these neural pathways, giving you a lot of leeways to enjoy your ice cream or hot coffee.

2.   Whitening your teeth

Teeth whitening toothpaste is helpful when you want your teeth to look white and bright. These pastes include a higher amount of abrasives and detergents so that they stick to the stains and remove them effectively as you rinse them off. They include carbamide peroxides and bleaching agents to give you such an effect.

Baking soda is also an effective abrasive that whitens your teeth better. But dentists in and around Pondicherry suggest that you should be gentle when brushing with this toothpaste as aggressiveness can result in loss of enamel health.

Although that is the case, exercise caution when you are using a whitening toothpaste, as it is not advisable for people with sensitivity issues. Also, it is advisable to go for this kind of toothpaste upon the dentist’s advice.

3.   Prevention of gum diseases

Anti-plaque toothpaste keeps plaque from forming in your teeth, thereby reducing the bacterial build-up in your mouth. This in turn can prevent gum diseases.

Plaque can accumulate to form tartar, making your teeth look bad, and weak as well. The anti-plaque toothpaste battles this plaque with ingredients that include pyrophosphates, zinc salts, and more. These effectively eliminate any bacteria.

4.   Kid-friendly toothpaste

This toothpaste contains a lesser amount of fluoride or no fluoride at all. This is because their milk teeth are much weaker than permanent teeth. Therefore, there is no need for many abrasives.

In addition to all that, children’s toothpaste is more about making them like the practice than they are about the practice itself.  

5.   Things you should be aware of

It is advisable to avoid any toothpaste that contains some ingredients, as they can also harm your teeth and mouth.

For example, triclosan is an ingredient in tartar-control toothpaste, which is used to kill bacteria. But, it also kills the good bacteria that break down your food and ensures proper intake.

Also, don’t resort to toothpaste that doesn’t have the approval of dental associations, as they might not be good for your oral health and hygiene.

Fantastic Teeth and How to Get Them

What is the first thing you can think of when someone says “take care of your health”? The first thing that you would think of, certainly wouldn’t be teeth. Leave alone the first, it is not going to be in your top-five; that much is for sure.

The point that we are trying to get across here, is that oral care should be given as much importance as general healthcare. Most tend to ignore oral care when the topic of healthcare comes on. Your oral hygiene can affect many things at once, including your food habits, your breathing, even the way you make first impressions as a person in society.

Our country has yet to see dental problems as an actual issue that needs attention, resulting in widespread neglect. Here’s an extensive guide on how you can take care of your teeth and in turn, be ahead of the curve.

Brush Regularly

Of course, this one’s a no-brainer. Brush your teeth twice a day. Choosing the right brush can be a daunting process, but don’t worry. This is something that can be achieved through trial and error. Try out different brushes to get your ideal brush.

It isn’t an exact science, choosing the right brush. Some people might need soft-bristled brushes for their delicate gums, and some might need sturdy bristles to ensure a deep and thorough cleanse. Choose according to your need.

Ensure that you reach every corner for a thorough cleaning. You can also resort to using an electric toothbrush, as it is widely considered to be more thorough in cleaning. You can switch it on, set the timer to two minutes, and just go through the motions. The toothbrush takes care of everything else.

Some of the ace Dentists in Pondicherry suggest the usage of fluoride toothpaste to get rid of plaque and other forms of bacteria. But they do form again, hence the advice to brush twice a day.

Floss

This is the lesser obvious advice when it comes to India and the Indian population. Flossing helps ensure there is nothing stuck between your teeth, be it food crumbs or miscellaneous debris. A brush may give you 60% clean teeth, but you have to floss to completely remove the plaque in between the teeth. Avoid flossing too hard, or you might damage your gums, and that can only warrant more oral issues.

In addition to flossing and brushing, don’t forget to clean your tongue! As it contains folds and taste buds, it is bound to attract a plaque build-up. So clean it regularly.

Dieting

Every coin has two sides. If brushing and flossing becomes a part of the proverbial dental care coin, your food habits naturally become the other.

You can ask any dentist in Kalapet, every single one would tell you that it is imperative to cut down on sugar and sugary snacks to maintain your dental hygiene.

Dentist Visits

There is no stressing on this enough. Visit a dentist as regularly as you can. It is imperative that you keep your visits regular to maintain a proper dental hygiene as they can give you any and all tips that you might require to make sure you don’t get cavities or decay in your teeth.

There might be some persistent issues that are not visible to you if you look at it all by yourself. A dentist is well equipped to diagnose any invisible issue that you might have, and curb it in the early stages.

Dental issues can typically be typed into two, and those are tooth decay and gum diseases.

Tooth decay is when your tooth’s enamel degrades, resulting in a general decay. Primary causes for tooth decay include the consumption of carbohydrate-rich food. Given the fact that our Indian cuisine consists majorly of carbohydrates, the type of bacteria that tend to grow because of carbohydrates enjoy an ideal atmosphere for multiplication. This in turn damages the enamel, leading to tooth decay. Contrary to popular belief, tooth decay doesn’t come with age, it can happen to anyone.

The second type, gum diseases, occur when some of the more harmful bacteria start propagating in your gums, resulting in these diseases.

Any dentist in Auroville worth their salt can prescribe you the proper medication and treatment that can treat these gum diseases.

Conclusion

Start maintaining a healthy oral routine, and you don’t have to spend a fortune on oral care. Cleaning, diet, and regular visits to the dentist – you are sure to have a healthy oral hygiene just by doing these three!