Oral Health

Getting braces  when you are an adult is a particularly difficult decision for many reasons, and then there's the confusion of whether to go with traditional or lingual braces! In order to make the right choice, it is important that you first understand what the differences between these two are and that's exactly what I am going to discuss next. Privacy Privacy is the biggest advantage which lingual braces have over traditional braces. While a metal bracket in front of the teeth is what we usually expect after getting braces, that's not what happens when you decide to opt for lingual. Lingual braces are placed behind the teeth, therefore making them totally invisible to anyone and everyone except your orthodontist. There are also braces available which are only placed over the front six teeth - the teeth that are predominantly on show when you smile. These, again, are placed behind the teeth so they are invisible to anyone looking at your teeth. They are extremely...

Tooth brushing plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. Appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are also important considerations for sound oral hygiene. Thanks to constant reminders from dentists (and nagging parents), we know the golden rule when it comes to keeping our pearly whites in tip-top shape: Brush twice a day for two minutes and floss once. But all of that time spent brushing might be a waste if you’re using an old toothbrush. If the bristles are splayed or frayed, they won’t be pointing in the same direction, and they’re not as effective at cleaning your teeth. Worn bristles mean that even a good brush could miss plaque and debris, so most dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months or before wear and tear becomes noticeable. And yes, these guidelines also apply to replacing the heads of electric toothbrushes (sorry, wallet!) Remembering to replace your toothbrush is easy, e...

If you have been told you have periodontal (gum) disease, you’re not alone. Many adults in the U.S. currently have some form of the disease. Periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In the worst cases, teeth are lost. Whether your gum disease is stopped, slowed, or gets worse depends a great deal on how well you care for your teeth and gums every day, from this point forward. What causes gum disease? Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colorless “plaque” on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque. Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing doesn’t clean. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar. The longer plaque and tartar are on teeth, the more harmful they become. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums tha...

Hi everyone! My name is Ashley Hoffmann and I am a junior at EIU. I am a health administration major and business administration minor. I am from Plainfield, Illinois which is about thirty minutes from Chicago. I have a younger brother who will be a freshman in college next year, and two puppies that I love very much. I am apart of Alpha Gamma Delta here on campus, where I have served as President and Vice President, and am currently serving as VP Recruitment for the upcoming school year. I picked the topic of oral health because I came to Eastern wanting to be a Pre-Dentistry major. Although it did not work out, I still have a fondness for this topic and want to be able to share more information with all of you and also expand more of my own knowledge. I hope everyone enjoys my future posts!