1. What are dental implants

Dental implants are finally the right therapy for lost teeth. Before implants, the only way to compensate for missing teeth was dentures that the patient would take out for cleaning or bridges where it was necessary to grind healthy teeth. The tooth on the implant usually consists of three parts. The implant itself is located in the jaw and represents the root of the tooth. The substructure is a visible part of the system and consists of an abutment and a ceramic crown. The abutment is the connection between the implant and the crown. The material from which implants are made is usually titanium, which is magnetically and electrically neutral, so there is no risk of magnetic resonance for a patient with dental implants.

2. Is implant placement painful?

In our office, implants are most often installed under local anesthesia, the same that we use for tooth repair. The procedure itself is not painful, and the duration depends on the number of implants. For example, after preparing the patient, it takes about twenty minutes to install one implant. Our patients sometimes decide to install implants under sedation, which is a type of general anesthesia and is led by an experienced anesthesiologist. Postoperative pain is rare during implant placement. The appearance of swelling is a normal phenomenon after all surgical interventions, but it is possible to relieve both swelling and pain with supportive therapy.

3. What is the appropriate age for implant placement?

A major discussion in scientific circles is when we can install implants in young people if they have lost a permanent tooth. The rule was that skeletal growth had to end, but it was later proven that the skeleton never really stops developing and is constantly changing. Some accepted rule is that it is safe for women to start therapy at the age of eighteen and for men at the age of nineteen. There is no upper age limit, assuming that the patient is healthy, i.e. taking appropriate therapy that regulates the underlying disease. Absolute contraindications for the installation of implants are very rare today.

4. Can an implant be installed immediately after tooth extraction?

The simple answer is yes! Of course, for that, the appropriate conditions must be met. After examination and analysis of the CBCT scan (3D orthopan), a decision is made on the possibility of immediate implant placement. There is always a clear agreement with the patient on the course of the intervention on a possible backup solution. Inserting an implant immediately after tooth extraction is never a simple procedure, but with good planning, the correct choice of implant and close cooperation with the patient, it is often the method of choice today. It is possible for patients to come with a tooth that is to be extracted, and leave the office the same day with a new tooth on the implant. In rare cases, with larger bone defects after tooth extraction, the installation of the implant is postponed until the conditions for smooth healing and safe installation are ensured.

5. Which implants are used by Smile Esthetics

In our practice, STRAUMANN® implants of Swiss production are exclusively made. STRAUMANN ® is a company that has many years of experience both in the production of implants and in the research of new technologies that enable the durability and health of implants, teeth, and surrounding bone. Unlike the competition, they have the largest number of clinical studies and the results are known after 10, even 20 years. Of course, some failures include the loss of the implant. It has been documented that 2 to 5% of implants are lost in the first ten years after installation, but STRAUMANN® gives its patients a lifetime guarantee on the implant itself! This means that you will only pay for an implant in the place of the missing tooth once in your life, and if it is lost, STRAUMANN® and our office will provide a new implant in the place of the lost one at its own expense. With other companies and some cheaper implant systems, the long-term success is not very clear and transparent.

6. Am I a candidate for dental implants?

Most likely you are. It is rare that prior intervention is required to provide the necessary space for implant placement, but with patience and dedication, anything is possible.

7. Dental cyst

Jaw cysts are pathological cavities in bone or soft tissues. Most often, they are related to a tooth that has an infection in the root, but there are also cysts that were formed during development. The size of the cysts is different, and therefore their therapy, but it is almost always surgical. The best prevention is frequent check-ups, in order not to allow infection of the teeth and the surrounding tissue.

8. The impacted tooth

An impacted tooth is a tooth that has encountered an obstacle in its emergence and definitive placement in the correct dental row, regardless of whether it is visible in the mouth or not. The most common impacted teeth are wisdom teeth and canines, but other teeth as well. Surgical therapy is almost always indicated, whether it is to remove them or allow them to fit properly into the dental row. Routine oral surgical therapy. Failure to undertake treatment puts the patient at risk for serious infection.

9. Residual root

Most often, after unprofessional or difficult extraction, the root or part of the root remains. They need to be removed. It does not represent a difficult surgical intervention. The exception is the residual parts of the roots of healthy wisdom teeth, which are very small in size (a few millimeters) and can be localized deep in the bone and very inaccessible. Then they are usually not removed, because they do not pose a danger to the health of the patients and the risk of the intervention itself is greater than if they ever cause a problem.

10. The periapical cyst

Vrsta ciste koja je uvek vezana za vrh korena zuba. Vrlo često i nisu prave ciste i moguće je ih rešiti konzervativnom terapijom, lečenjem kanala korena, tzv. endodoncijom. Samo kada su veće ili nema mogućnosti konzervativnog pristupa, indikovana je hirurška terapija. Ali, uvek se moraju lečiti.

11. Artificial bone, bone loss and replacement

A part of the jaw bone is reserved for the accommodation of teeth. That dental bone has stimulation that originates from the tooth and when a tooth is lost, the meaning of that bone's existence is lost. Thus, over the years, that bone is lost and gradually disappears. Wearing dental prostheses further accelerates its resorption to such an extent that sometimes it is very difficult to install an implant, and sometimes it is impossible. Very often, there are patients who have worn a total prosthesis for years, but it no longer performs its function, it moves, it falls off, even though they made a new one. In those cases, bone replacement methods are used. The bottom line is to provide healthy and sufficient bone to accommodate the implant and ensure normal function. That is why implants are the real therapy for missing teeth, because only the implant manages to deceive the bone and there is no rapid resorption, i.e. loss.

12. Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is most often used in dental practice, as well as in oral surgery and implantology. The modern local anesthetic Articaine is the anesthetic of choice because it is very powerful and has low toxicity. It is possible to cover all interventions in our surgery with local anesthesia. At the request of the patient, intravenous sedation, a type of general anesthesia, is organized, where the patient is freed from pain, and fear.

13. How to maintain hygiene after installing dental implants, postoperative care

In the postoperative period, the patient receives clear written instructions on how to maintain oral hygiene and behavior. All our interventions are treated as a day hospital, so the patient does not need to lie down. Heavy physical activity is usually forbidden for a few weeks after the intervention. Long-term maintenance of implants and prosthetics is not complicated and does not differ significantly from regular maintenance of hygiene in people with healthy teeth. A couple of differences are that for patients with implants, the use of the Waterpik device (water jet) and regular check-ups for a minimum of 6 months are advised.

14. Neuralgia

Neuralgias represent painful conditions related to a certain nerve from which they originate. They can have a very sharp, stinging character with a burning sensation. There are several types of neuralgia, where Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common in the region of the mouth and face, because it affects the nerves in charge of sensitization of the upper and lower jaw. Correct diagnosis, finding the cause and, of course, therapy, which can be drugs or nerve blocks, are very important. Surgical treatment of neuralgia is a last resort and usually in the domain of a neurosurgeon.

15. Joint

The temporomandibular joint is a single joint in the head. TMJ diseases occur most often due to missing teeth that have not been repaired in a timely manner or injuries. Therapy is always, first and foremost, to establish proper occlusion.

16. The swell

Tissue swelling that occurs in the facial area can be a consequence of an infection or after some surgical intervention. Extremely rarely, it is the result of some tumors. Proper and timely diagnosis is key.

17. How and whether to change the shape of the teeth

Ukoliko je pacijent nezadovoljan oblikom ili veličinom zuba, moguće su minimalno invazivne korekcije koje će doprineti estetici osmeha. Poslednjih godina aktuelne su fasete – veniri, čija je indikacija upravo promena oblika i boje zuba. Intervencije koje podrazumevaju ovakvu vrstu korekcija su bezbolne i predstavljaju svakodnevnu rutinsku proceduru u stomatološkoj ordinaciji.

18. Dental crowns metal-ceramic vs metal-free

With the development of technology, materials for making crowns have become available to us, which can imitate the natural characteristics of teeth and transmit light just like a natural tooth.

Bezmetalne krune izrađene su od cirkona ili litijum-disilikatne keramike. Ovakva vrsta kruna predstavlja visoko estetsku nadoknadu, znatno lakše se uklapaju u prirodan zubni niz od metalo keramičkih nadoknada.

Metal-ceramic crowns have a metal alloy in their base, which can, over time, affect the discoloration of the gingiva as well as the appearance of a gray half-moon edge at the junction of the crown and the tooth.

In addition to the biological and aesthetic advantages of metal-free crowns, it is also important that the production of this type of crowns requires the removal of less tooth substance compared to the preparations for metal-ceramic crowns.

19. Hollywood smile

A perfect "Hollywood smile" implies the creation of veneers, with which it is possible to change the shape, color, and size of the teeth, close diastemas, and correct minor tooth malpositions. Facets are individually made for each patient depending on the physiognomy and values of the facial parameters. Veneers represent a thin flake made of porcelain that is glued to the front teeth and thus compensates for the desired part of the tooth or changes the color of the tooth.

20. Closing the diastema

There is a popular belief that people who have a gap between their teeth are happy, however, practice has shown that not all patients are truly happy because of their diastema. Previously, diastemas/spaces between teeth were closed with composite fillings, while today veneers or veneers are considered the therapy of choice.

21. Veneers

Tooth preparation for placing veneers involves minimal or no removal of tooth substance ( NONPREP ). After the preparation of the teeth, the dentist will take an impression, according to which the technician will make a model and veneer on it. Veneers are made of porcelain and can be of different thicknesses depending on the need to change the color or to replace the tooth substance. Afterwards, the veneer is fixed with a special adhesive (composite cement). The duration of the veneer can be up to 15 years.

22. Prosthetics on implants

When it comes to missing one or more teeth, implants represent the best functional and aesthetic solution. Making crowns and bridges on implants is a simple and painless procedure. Transfers are positioned in the implant itself, with which an impression is taken. Based on the obtained impression, the technician creates a model in which the positions of the implants are precisely determined and crowns are made on them. From the installation of the implant to the placement of the definitive one

23. When should you start maintaining hygiene for children

The generally accepted opinion among parents with young children is that maintenance begins with the emergence of a full set of teeth, although the correct answer is that hygiene begins with the birth of a child. In addition to all the difficulties of parenthood in the first months, it seems the least important, but it is recommended to clean the baby's oral cavity with sterile gauze. However, with the emergence of the first teeth, the familiarization with a brush adapted to babies and the gentle cleaning of each individual tooth begins. At first, no paste is used. Pastes are introduced only when the child acquires the skill of ejecting the contents from the mouth. Those pastes are specialized exclusively for children.

24. How to prevent cavities from breastfeeding and bottles

Mother's milk is the most ideal food for children and there is no adequate substitute for the same. Breastfeeding is recommended for all women who can do it and is not responsible for causing tooth decay as is using a bottle. The first problems are created by the introduction of sweetened drinks and food. Their use, which in babies is almost all day long, leads to the constant presence of sugar in the saliva because the digestion of food under the action of salivary enzymes begins in it. That is why it is recommended to maintain oral hygiene even in small children because by changing the pH of saliva, the conditions for caries are created as soon as the tooth appears in the oral cavity. Using water for washing food and gentle brushing with a brush is a prerequisite for preventing the development of caries.

25. Should you worry if a child sucks a thumb or a finger?

Of course, sucking is a concern of every parent at some point, in terms of the development of possible jaw anomalies. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Sucking is one of the primary reflexes in babies and they use it not only for feeding but also for soothing and sleeping. It is very important for the development of the lower third of the face and jaws. Sucking while the child is fed exclusively by breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle does not pose any problem, but its continuation even after the introduction of food and the elimination of breastfeeding can cause anomalies of the jaws, which can then only be corrected with orthodontics.

26. Fissure sealants

Filling of fissures is a preventive measure that is carried out on both deciduous and permanent teeth, i.e. their biting surfaces. Fissure fillers continuously release fluoride and act to strengthen tooth enamel. They are carried out by the eruption of either the milk lateral or permanent lateral teeth.

27. Circular cavity

Ring cavities are typical for a young age of children due to the mentioned constant presence of sugar in the mouths of children. It affects the tooth to its total extent and in the worst cases, it leads to a pathological tooth fracture. It is treated like any caries in children.

28. Anodonty

Anodontia and hypodontia are anomalies in the number of teeth.

Totalna anodoncija -to je potpuni nedostatak zuba. Veoma je retka i zabeležena u literaturi u sklopu najčešce veoma teških sindroma. Najčešca anodoncija u dece je nedostatak stalnih lateralnih sekutića. Najčešce je simetrična. Zbrinjava se udruženo, ortodontsko – hirurško – protetskim merama.

29. Hypodontia

Hiperdoncija je povećan broj zuba. Takođe deo je nekih razvojnih anomalija i sindroma. Najčešće ne predstavlja problem sem u ortodontskom smislu kada se rešava hirurški – vađenjem.

30. Primary teeth Trauma

Trauma mlečnih zuba je najčešća posledica dečje nespretnosti i odrastanja. Najčešce je najdramatičnije dožive roditelji, jer je praćena šesto traumom deteta, krvarenjem i pomeranjem zuba. Ono sto treba naglasiti je da je u najvećem broju slučaja to zaista samo dramatično pri nastajanju. Traume su najčešce samo u vidu pomeranja- ekstruzije ili intruzije zuba, i kada su mlečni zubići u pitanju rešava ih vreme i smena sa stalnim zubima. Podrazumeva da se zbrine eventualna povreda mekih tkiva – usne, i smirivanje deteta a i roditelja. Neretko se traži od roditelja da se napravi snimak ukoliko je vremenski blizu nicanje stalnog zamenika da bi se eventualno uočila blizina stalnog zuba i mogućnost povrede istog. Tada se pristupa hirurškom rešavanju problema- vadjenje iako je to veoma retko u praksi. Stalni zamenik najčešce nice bez problema i bez posledica. Nešto značajnije su traume koje dovode do povređivanja zametaka ali se one najčešce i rešavaju po nicanju istih. To podrazumeva udruženi rad sa ortodontom. Nešto bitnije su povrede stalnih zuba, jer naravno oni zamenike nemaju pa zahtevaju angažovanost stomatologa po pitanju ispitivanja vitaliteta zuba, njegovog splintiranja i zadržavanja u vilici kao i nadoknade eventualno izgubljenog dela zuba. Ponavljamo, telo je kod dece izuzetno sposobno da se bori i ako nije narušen integritet pulpe. Povredom takav zub se lepo oporavi ali traži da se u vremenskim intervalima koje odredi stomatolog proverava da li zub živ. Da bi se eventualno njegovim traumatskim odumiranjem pravovremeno sprečilo prebojavanje i razvitak dodatnih komplikacija.

31. Dental interventions during pregnancy

All interventions that we carry out in dentistry are allowed in pregnancy as well. Dental x-ray is avoided in the first trimester due to the teratogenic effect of x-rays, although it is advised to avoid it throughout pregnancy if it is not necessary. Due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy and changes in the composition of saliva, it is recommended to maintain more rigorous oral hygiene and visit the dentist more often, as well as repair all defects in the jaw. Anesthesia during the intervention can be received in agreement with the gynecologist, i.e. if there is no danger that the adrenaline from the anesthetic may trigger uterine contractions. For this reason, it is avoided in the last month of pregnancy so as not to trigger premature labor.

It should be noted that this amount is negligible. Anesthesia can be given without danger because the amount of adrenaline that is released due to pain is significantly higher. Good oral hygiene training is definitely recommended, which the new mother will later pass on to her offspring.

32. Diastema

A diastema is a space between the teeth. It can exist between all the teeth (so the teeth seem tiny), or, more often, it occurs between the two upper central incisors (two upper units). Its resolution also depends on the cause of diastema.

The most common cause is a low attachment of the villi of the upper lip. The fibers of the villi stretch between the teeth and do not allow them to come together. The diastema can be closed with various therapeutic methods: mobile children's device, myobrace, fixed prosthesis, veneers, etc. Therapy depends on the size of the diastema, the cause of its occurrence and the ratio of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw (fold). The most common companion to diastema closure is a surgical procedure called frenectomy (removal of the villi). It is a short intervention (10-15 min) performed under local anesthesia, which guarantees that the closed space remains stable.

U izvesnom broju slučajeva, uglavnom kod odraslih pacijenata, može se predložiti izrada keramičkih faseta.

33. Canines

Canines are the last teeth to erupt in the upper jaw, most often between the ages of 11 and 13. If the space for their emergence is reduced, they emerge on the palate or are pushed towards the lip. In the most severe cases, the canines remain trapped in the jawbone without the ability to erupt. Therapeutic options are varied and always include orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances (with or without extraction of first premolars). In cases of "trapped" canines, therapy includes surgically freeing the canines from the surrounding bone and placing the teeth in the correct position in the dental row with a fixed appliance.

children's prostheses

Mobile devices are often called "children's prostheses" because they are designed for ages 6 to 12 when their effect is most effective. The indication for wearing them is primarily to correct the bite and widen the jaws. They can set the teeth in proper alignment when used at the time of the eruption. In cases where we correct the bite, both upper and lower dentures are used at the same time. The minimum wearing time during the day is 16h. You can sleep, speak and eat with a prosthesis. It is not worn during sports. Each patient can choose the color or combination of colors of his prosthesis, as well as the pictures that are "embedded" in it. Controls are performed every 4 to 6 weeks.

35. Myobrace (rubber)

This appliance is part of my functional orthodontic therapy, in which the patient, in addition to correcting the bite, also corrects some improper muscle function and bad habits, such as mouth breathing, finger sucking, improper swallowing, tongue pressing, incompetence of the lips (parted lips at rest ). Myobrace can be an alternative to children's braces. It is worn continuously for 2 hours a day and throughout the night. Exercising the muscles of the lips, cheeks, and tongue is also a mandatory part of the therapy. Controls are at 4 to 6 weeks. You can read more about this device at www.myobrace.com

36. Invisalign

Invisalign is an alternative to wearing fixed braces.

It represents a system of transparent foils made precisely for each patient individually. Foils are changed every two weeks, and the teeth are gradually moved to the desired results. Foils are worn 24 hours a day, except when eating. This type of therapy is suitable for patients who have a mild or moderate anomaly and who cannot or do not want to wear fixed appliances. It is also suitable for patients who wore fixed braces a long time ago, but over time the teeth moved again.

37. Types of fixed appliances

The most common question our patients ask is which type of fixed appliance is best for them. There are several different locks on the market. The basic division is into "conventional" ie. locks around which rubber bands (in color) are placed and "self-ligating" i.e. locks that have built-in doors, so rubbers are not needed, and both can be metal and aesthetic (transparent).

The metal brackets that we use in the practice are:

• Mini Equilibrium (Dentaurum)
• Mini 2000 (Ormco)
• OrthoClassic
• InovatioR (GAC)
• Empower (American Orhodontics)
• Damon (Ormco)

The aesthetic braces we use in the office are:

• InovationC (GAC)
• Ice Inspire (Ormco)
• Radiance (American Orthodontics)
• Evrclear (Ortho Classic)
• Damon Clear (Ormco)

38. What is periodontal disease?

Periodontitis is a disease that does not hurt. The first symptoms are usually bleeding gums and slight swelling around the crowns of the teeth. This is the stage of Gingivitis, which is the first stage and the easiest to solve. If not treated at this stage, the disease progresses, and pockets form around the teeth that are most at risk. Those pathological areas are extremely difficult to clean and it is often impossible for the patient to successfully maintain daily hygiene. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the pockets with appropriate instruments and treat them with medications to remove the bacterial content, which becomes more and more voluminous over time, resulting in the deepening of the pocket.

39. Pocket

If the pocket is in the initial phase, it is resolved during a regular dental appointment. If the deepening progresses and there is a risk for the survival of the tooth, the pocket must be treated surgically. For this purpose, the most up-to-date materials and medications are used, which aim to regenerate healthy tissue around the pocket and replace the bone that has disappeared.

40. Gum inflammation

An aesthetic indicator of gingivitis (although it may not always be present) is receding gums. The treatment of pocket remediation is the same, meaning either conservative cleaning or surgical remediation of the pathological areas around the teeth, and then special aesthetic-surgical procedures aimed at restoring the gums to their previous level.

41. Receding gums

There is receding of the gums of one tooth (most often the upper canines or lower incisors) which is not caused by inflammation of the gums and bacteria, but by the genetically thin support of the bone around them, which has been lost over time. This is not only an aesthetic defect, but it can also threaten the statics of the tooth and call its survival into question. The therapy is surgical, which restores the level of the gums to their old level. The most successful therapies are those that include special preparations that aim to accelerate the healing of this sensitive tissue and create a new gum attachment for the teeth. Then the results are much better and longer lasting.

42. Pressure Pain

Pressure pain usually refers to biting pain. There are numerous factors that can lead to this, in any case, a visit to your dentist, who will most likely refer you to x-ray diagnostics, testing the vitality of the teeth, checking the occlusion (bite) and, of course, an examination in terms of the diagnosis of caries, periodontal diseases or inadequate dental fillings and restorations . In accordance with the observations, he will make a decision on replacement, reocclusion of the filling, restoration or root canal treatment.

43. Purulent sac

Patients usually report a pus bag thinking of two problems, one is chronic apical periodontitis, which is related to a root canal infection and localized around the tip of the root in the bone, another problem that can also be called a pus bag is the presence of swelling on the gingiva in the projection of the tooth with infection and relationships to the already formed fistula of the above-mentioned process. Of course, this is an absolute reason to visit a dentist who will most likely decide on root canal treatment. The pus bag can also be lower, on the gums, next to the marginal gingiva, and this time it originates from the periodontal pocket, but in any case, the dentist is the one who makes the diagnosis and determines the exact localization and origin of the given change, and accordingly the therapy.

44. Cold pain

The tooth hurts when it's cold as a result of communication between exposed dentin and the transfer of stimuli to the pulp (chamber where the dental nerve is located) with the external environment. Dentin can be exposed as a result of caries, mechanical damage, trauma, or gum recession. The dentist determines the cause of the pain through an examination, anamnesis (conversation with the patient) and some auxiliary diagnostic tools and assesses what kind of therapy to undertake.

45. An avital tooth

Among patients, a vital tooth is known as a tooth from which the nerve has been removed (actually, the pulp: it includes, in addition to the dental nerve, vascular and connective tissue elements). However, a tooth can also be vital as a result of long-term caries that has progressed to the pulp, mechanical injury, trauma, and inadequate restoration... In all these cases, the dentist decides to enter the canal system (the space where the pulp was located) and treat it.

46. The fractured tooth

It is a tooth that has a certain fracture, visible (when the crown part is affected) or invisible to the patient (root of the tooth). The line of propagation of the crack dictates the prognosis of that tooth, as does the amount of remaining tooth substance. The dentist evaluates and makes a decision on how to solve the problem.

47. Bruxism

Bruksizam je problem koji se odnosi na škripanje zubima, najčešće noću. Obično je to posledica stresa, tj način na koji pojedinac menadžira taj stres. Obzirom da stomatolog nije u mogućnosti da tretira uzrok ovog problema, bavi se posledicama koje bruksizam donosi, a vezane su za pojedenost krunica zuba, napetost u žvačnim mišićima, bolovi u viličnom zglobu… Jedan od najčešćih i prvih terapijskih modaliteta je izrada zaštitne folije- bruksosplinta.

48. Amalgam and white fillers

Today, amalgam or gray fillings are increasingly being replaced by white, composite fillings, which are certainly the number one choice of modern aesthetic dentistry. They are biocompatible, in comparison to the views on the harmfulness of mercury from amalgam, they fit completely into the tooth and the surrounding teeth aesthetically, and in terms of mechanical properties they are not inferior to amalgam fillings. Nevertheless, the dentist should make an assessment whether to replace the amalgam filling with a composite one at all costs, or if it meets the functional requirements and the marginal sealing should be left and controlled as a function of time.

49. Does whitening damage the teeth

Teeth whitening, in general, does not damage the teeth, if it is followed properly according to the instructions given by the dentist. Very rarely, it is possible to heat up and thus damage the pulp of the tooth if laser teeth whitening or teeth whitening with the help of lamps is used. A laser or light of a certain wavelength has only the role of enhancing the gel effect, and a common problem is that their wavelength is not as precise as when the device is new.

Zato se u našoj ordinaciji savetuje i primenjuje beljenje zuba samo uz pomoć gela bilo da je kućno ili ordinacijsko.

50. How long do whitening effects last

Teeth whitening using conservative methods is never permanent. Their effect depends on the teeth, whether they have been bleached before, and the patient's habits... For patients to have white teeth all the time, it is necessary to repeat the bleaching. That's why the most practical and long-lasting combination of home and office whitening, is where patients self-dose the whitening gel with the supervision and advice of a doctor.

51. How to choose the right toothpaste

Toothpaste is an aid in maintaining hygiene. Adequate selection of a toothbrush and proper brushing technique play a much more important role. So it doesn't really matter what type or brand of toothpaste you use. Of course, you can find different toothpastes on the market: with fluorine, without fluorine, for teeth whitening, organic (natural) pastes, pastes that reduce tooth sensitivity... depending on the condition of the gums and teeth and with consultation with a dentist or oral hygienist, you can choose suitable toothpaste.

52. Whether to use an electric brush

That. You can use an electric brush but in combination with an ordinary toothbrush. If you decide to use an electric brush and you are not sure how to use it, ask your dentist to train you.

53. Bad breath

Bad breath can be caused by many factors such as inadequate oral hygiene, gum disease, carious teeth, certain general diseases, use of certain drugs, and smoking cigarettes... How to prevent bad breath? Regular dental examinations can reveal the cause of bad breath in time. If it is related to a disease of the mouth or teeth, your dentist can help you discover the cause and determine the appropriate therapy. Certainly, good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist to remove tartar and polish teeth can play a significant role in preventing the occurrence of bad breath.

54. Care after tooth extraction

Adequate care after tooth extraction reduces the occurrence of possible complications. After tooth extraction, the most important thing is to form a blood clot, stop the bleeding and start the wound healing process. For this reason, it is recommended to brush your teeth carefully, and avoid rinsing your mouth with solutions, teas, and vigorous shaking. Avoid smoking, small, spicy food, and grains. Use painkillers according to the instructions and avoid drugs that thin the blood and thus lead to prolonged bleeding.

55. Waterpick

A water pick is a device for rinsing the oral cavity and the surface of the teeth and is a simple and safe tool for maintaining oral hygiene. It is intended for home use and is recommended for anyone who wants a clean oral cavity and fresh breath.

It is particularly suitable for:

• removal of dental plaque
• stimulation of circulation and maintenance of gum health
• users with dental implants, bridges, crowns and veneers
• users with fixed or other prostheses.

56. Mouthwash

Mouthwash solutions are aids in maintaining hygiene. There are different types and brands of rinsing solutions on the market. When choosing, the most important thing to pay attention to is that the mouthwash solution is for daily hygiene maintenance, that it contains fluorine, substances for caries prevention, and that it is alcohol-free. Some solutions contain chlorhexidine (CHX) and which are used for therapeutic purposes and on the recommendation of a dentist. These include curasept, periodontal, local... Their application is advised most often after the removal of calculus when there is inflammation of the gums, and depending on the condition in the mouth, a certain concentration and length of application of these solutions is recommended. It should be known that CHX from the solution binds to itself fluoride and neutralizes its effect, so it is not advisable to rinse your mouth immediately after brushing your teeth.

57. Dental floss

Dental floss is also an auxiliary but important tool for maintaining hygiene. Proper use of dental floss removes plaque and food residues from those tooth surfaces that are difficult or impossible to reach with a toothbrush. It is extremely important to floss daily, preferably in the evening after brushing your teeth, because this prevents the accumulation of plaque that leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

58. White spots

A white spot is a sign that the surface layer of the enamel has been damaged. Demineralization of tooth enamel occurs due to the action of acids that are products of bacteria. It is considered that the process can be stopped at this stage. By maintaining adequate hygiene and applying pastes and creams based on fluorine and casein, it is possible to remineralize tooth enamel and thus prevent the occurrence of caries.