Breaking Down Flossing: A 3 Part Series #2

Breaking Down Flossing: a 3 Part Series #2 By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/30/2015 In the dental office of Mina Levi, DDS, we highly recommend brushing twice per day and flossing at least once per day. We recommend a variety of products, including Listerine’s woven or “Gum Care” floss and the Waterpik water flosser. It can be unclear to many people what exactly each type of flossing is and the pros and cons of all of them, so in this 3-series article,Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS breaks down three flossing options: traditional dental floss, the Waterpik water flosser, and the Phillip’s airfloss flosser. Week 2: Waterpik What is it? A Waterpik is a device that shoots pulses of water in between the teeth and below the gum line to remove plaque and bacteria. How do I use it? Fill container with warm water and place at the setting desired. Aim the tip of the waterpik between the teeth. Start with the back teeth and work your way forward, making sure the water pulses are reaching the pockets between the tooth and the gum as well as the spaces between the teeth. Pros: 1.  Gentle on the gums 2.  Ideal for people who wear braces because it can penetrate the gums under the wires 3.  Effective in flushing bacteria out of deep pockets 4.  Can be used by those with limited hand mobility Cons: 1. More expensive than floss 2. Can be messy 3. It has to be plugged in Next week we will profile the Phillips Air Floss. If you have questions about flossing or water flossing, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066. Topics: Dentist San Francisco, water flosser, waterpik, flossing, floss, dental floss, dental waterpik, water between the teeth, periodontitis, gingivitis, regular flossing, regular water flossing,gum disease, using water to floss, water, oral health, floss replacement, supplemental flossing, healthy gums, recommend waterpik, dental recommendations, brushing, toothbrushing

Breaking Down Flossing: a 3 Part Series

Breaking Down Flossing: a 3 Part Series

By Mina Levi, DDS, 04/23/2015

In the dental office of Mina Levi, DDS, we highly recommend brushing twice per day and flossing at least once per day. We recommend a variety of products, including Listerine’s woven or “Gum Care” floss and the Waterpik water flosser. It can be unclear to many people what exactly each type of flossing is and the pros and cons of all of them, so in this 3-series article, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS breaks down three flossing options: traditional dental floss, the Waterpik water flosser, and the Phillip’s airfloss flosser.

Week 1: Traditional Floss

What is it?

Dental floss is a thin cord that is used to remove food, plaque and bacteria from in between the teeth, where the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach.

How do I use it?

Remove a good length of floss from floss holder. When flossing correctly, the floss needs to be pushed through the teeth and pressure put on one side (pressing against one of the teeth) and into the gums, then to the other side (pressing against the other tooth) and into the gums. It is very important when you are flossing to make sure that your floss reaches down below the gum line. There is plaque and bacteria that can accumulate in the periodontal pocket (space between the tooth and gum) and can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis if it is not removed.

Pros:

1.  Inexpensive

2.  Effective in cleaning tight spaces between teeth

3.  Effective in removing plaque from teeth due to scraping up and down the sides of each tooth

Cons:

1.  Can be irritating for people with sensitive gums

2.  Can’t be used by people who have braces without a threader

3.  Inconvenient to use, takes a “long” time to correctly clean between each tooth

Next week we will profile the Waterpik waterflosser. If you have questions about flossing or a water flosser, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: San Francisco Dentist, dental floss, floss, flosser, flossing, what is flossing, what is floss, waterflosser, waterpik, airfloss

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Snoring has always been associated as more of an annoyance rather than a medical concern for most people. However, frequent and loud snoring can be a sign of a disorder called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing stops periodically throughout sleep. Sleep apnea is treatable, but can easily go without being identified or diagnosed. In this article, we discuss symptoms, causes, and treatment of sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder in which breathing periodically pauses for about 10-20 seconds throughout the night and can occur hundreds of times while you sleep. This irregular breathing pattern interrupts your natural sleeping pattern, even if you do not fully “wake up” from the breathing pauses. This causes you to spend more time in a lighter stage of sleep and less time in the deeper stages of sleep such as REM sleep, depriving you of energy and mental acuity. This chronic deep sleep deprivation can cause daytime sleepiness, slowed reflexes and poor concentration. Over time, sleep apnea can cause serious health issues including heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, weight gain, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type, and occurs when the tissues in the back of your throat relax as you sleep and block the airway. This usually causes loud snoring. Central sleep apnea is much less common and involves the central nervous system. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the respiratory muscles that control breathing and so breathing ceases until other systems notice a decrease in oxygen. People with central sleep apnea do not usually snore, but have longer periods in which they are completely silent and breathing does not occur. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apneas.

Sleep apnea symptoms

It is relatively difficult to identify sleep apnea alone, since the most prominent symptoms occur during sleep. A solution is to record yourself during sleep, ask a bed partner to monitor your sleep, or participate in a sleep study at a local hospital. The major symptoms of sleep apnea are as follows:

• Pausing when snoring followed by choking or gasping after the pauses
• Consistent sleepiness throughout the day
• Headaches or dry mouth upon waking up
• Inability to concentrate, including learning and memory issues
• Waking up frequently to urinate
• Mood swings, irritability, or depression

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores during the night. The biggest sign to test if you have sleep apnea or you just snore is how you feel throughout the day. Normal snoring should not interfere with sleeping patterns, so you shouldn’t feel exhausted during the daytime.

Sleep apnea causes and risk factors

Any person can have sleep apnea, but there are certain risk factors that are associated with sleep apnea that put people at a higher risk. You have a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea if you are:

• Overweight
• Male
• Over 65 years old
• A smoker
• Related to someone with sleep apnea

You have a higher risk for central sleep apnea if you are:

• Male
• Over 65 years old

Central sleep apnea is often associated with serious illness such as heart disease, stroke, neurological disorder or brainstem injury.

Treatments for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a treatable condition and there are multiple treatments that can be done at home such as lifestyle changes or medically. Treatment options include:

• Lose weight. People who are overweight have extra tissue in the back of their throat, which can block the airway.
• Quit smoking. Smoking contributes to sleep apnea by increasing inflammation in the throat and airway.
• Avoid alcohol and sedatives. These drugs will relax the muscles of the throat and can cause difficulty breathing or worsen sleep apnea symptoms.
• Sleep on your side. Avoid sleeping on your back where gravity is working against you.
• Use a nasal dilator. Nasal dilators are helpful to open up nasal passages during sleep.
• Medical treatment with CPAP. A Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) is used commonly for moderate to severe sleep apnea. The CPAP device has a mask that provides a constant stream of air that keeps your airway passages open when you sleep.
• Medical treatment with BPAP. Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BPAP) devices are used for those who cannot adapt to using CPAP. This device automatically adjusts pressure while you’re sleeping, providing more on the inhale and less on the exhale.
• Mandibular repositioning or tongue retaining device. These two common oral devices open the airway by bringing the jaw lower or moving the tongue forward during sleep.
• Surgical options. Surgery to increase the size of the airway can reduce sleep apnea episodes.

 

If you suffer from symptoms of sleep apnea or have more questions regarding sleep apnea symptoms or treatment, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Sleep apnea, sleep apnea treatments, snoring, sleep apnea symptoms, San Francisco dentist

 

Don't Forget to Floss!

Don’t Forget to Floss!

By Mina Levi DDS, 01/23/2014

Flossing should always be a part of your daily oral hygiene routine. However, as most of us are told when we visit the dentist, many people are not flossing enough or correctly. Even just by flossing once per day, the risk of gum disease decreases dramatically. Below we discuss flossing techniques, routines, and types.

Why is flossing necessary?

When you brush your teeth, you are cleaning the side and top surfaces of the teeth, which is wonderful and necessary. However, your toothbrush cannot reach in between your teeth. Flossing removes the plaque and buildup that stick to the teeth and gums in the crevices where the toothbrush cannot reach. Also, flossing helps to polish the surfaces of the teeth so they look shiny and healthy.

How often do I need to floss?

Flossing should occur for about two to three minutes at least once per day, but twice per day is even better. The best time to floss your teeth is during your night time oral hygiene regimen to ensure that the teeth are cleaned from a day’s worth of eating and chewing.

What is the best way to floss?

When flossing, make sure that you aren’t rubbing the floss from side to side. This technique is not able to lift the plaque and buildup out from the spaces between the teeth. Instead, use an up and down motion that forms a “C” pattern on the side of the tooth. Also, make sure to floss below the gum-line to get the plaque from the periodontal pockets. Flossing should not cause you any pain, but if you have not flossed in a while you may experience some bleeding. If these effects do not subside in about one to two weeks, contact the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS.

What kind of floss should I be using?

Wide floss or woven floss is the best for patients who have not very tight teeth contacts. Waxed floss is the best for patients with tight spaces between the teeth or crowding of the teeth. Un-waxed or woven floss is thicker than waxed, and makes a squeaking noise when the plaque has been cleaned from the teeth. There are also pre-

threaded flossers or floss holders that are good for people who have

limited mobility of the hands and arms, or for people just learning

how to floss. Floss threaders are good for patients who have retainer

bars attached to their teeth or patients that have a dental bridge or braces. Children should begin flossing as soon as they have two teeth that touch each other. A waterpick is often used in addition to flossing, but should not be used as a substitute because it does not remove plaque; it is just helpful for removing food from the teeth.

If you have any questions about your flossing routine, visit the Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dental Floss, Dentist San Francisco, Flossing Techniques, Toothbrush, Waterpick, Floss Threader, Pre-Threaded Floss