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Flossing is one of the more overlooked (and frequently skipped) steps to good dental hygiene. Dentists agree it’s an essential part of dental care. But if it seems like your floss is getting stuck between your teeth more often than your food does, it’s tempting just to brush your teeth and skip flossing. Don’t do it!

The Academy of General Dentistry cites flossing as the most important line of defense in fighting plaque. Flossing removes plaque and food particles that a toothbrush can’t reach, which leads to fresher breath and a reduced risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth for two minutes twice a day as well as flossing (or using another interdental tool) to clean between the teeth once a day. If your floss keeps getting stuck, there are solutions to help you floss with ease.

Reasons why floss may be getting stuck between your teeth  

Dental floss is thin, but it can still get wedged in between teeth. This happens more often when you are experiencing one or more of the following:

• Your teeth are set too close together.
• There is plaque build-up between teeth.
• Tooth enamel or restorative dental work has started to break down and creates uneven surfaces between the teeth.
• You use an improper flossing technique. Are you making one of these common flossing mistakes?

How to prevent floss from getting stuck

Not all dental floss is created equal. Sometimes, switching types of floss can aid in preventing it from getting stuck in between your teeth.

Unwaxed dental floss, made of nylon fibers, is more likely to get stuck, shred, or break while flossing. Waxed dental floss is sometimes thicker because of the wax coating, but the wax also enables it to glide more smoothly between teeth.

Polytetrafluorethylene floss is another synthetic floss that is stronger than most conventional waxed or unwaxed varieties. It is also slick, which allows it to slide easily through the tight spaces in between your teeth.

Proper flossing technique 

If your dental floss routinely gets stuck between your teeth, you might need to adjust your flossing technique to make flossing easier and more effective.

No matter what type of dental floss you choose, start with a strand about 18 inches long. Wind most of the length around your two middle fingers, leaving just a couple inches between your hands. Pull the floss tight, holding it taut with your index fingers and thumbs.

Use a gentle sawing motion to guide the floss between your teeth, moving it up and down. When the floss reaches the gum line, bend the floss into a C-shape around the tooth, allowing the floss to reach all the way to the base of the tooth.

Still working gently, scrape the floss against the base of the tooth, working on one side of one tooth and then moving to the side of the adjacent tooth.

Continue to use the up and down sawing motion, as you move, and be gentle! Keep the floss taut against the surface of your teeth to remove plaque, and avoid letting the floss dig into the gums, which can cause irritation, redness, and bruising.

After each tooth, unwind a clean section of floss from your fingers. Make sure to get into each crevice between the teeth, including the hard-to-reach teeth in the back of your mouth! When you're finished flossing your entire mouth, remember to rinse well to remove any leftover bits of plaque or debris.

If you're going to make an effort to floss, follow proper flossing technique to prevent your floss from getting stuck in the tight spaces in your mouth. Your teeth will thank you!

If you continue to experience problems flossing, visit Water Tower Dental Care! We can take a look at your teeth to see if there are any serious issues causing flossing to be difficult for you and teach you the proper way to floss in person.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops during sleep. Snoring loudly is a common symptom, but it's not the only sign – and snoring doesn't necessarily indicate sleep apnea. Dentists tend to be the first doctors to identify a sleep apnea problem in their patients, since people tend to visit dentists more frequently than physicians.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common but potentially serious disorder that occurs when your breathing repeatedly pauses during sleep. Sleep cycles are disrupted when breathing stops and then restarts normally, leading to poor quality of sleep and excessive tiredness during the day.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. It occurs when the airway is blocked as the muscles in the back of the throat relax. Breathing pauses when the airway is blocked and resumes once the brain senses the lack of breath and quickly, briefly interrupts sleep to resume normal breathing.

Central sleep apnea is rarer; it occurs when the brain doesn't signal the body to breathe for a period of time.

If You Don't Snore, Can You Still Have It?

Snoring is one of the leading indicators of sleep apnea. But people who snore don't always have sleep apnea, and individuals who don’t snore could still be affected.

People with central sleep apnea often do not snore. Their bodies simply do not attempt to breathe for a period of time during sleep. Those suffering from central sleep apnea often struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, or wake up short of breath.

If you’re not sure if you snore but you frequently wake up during the night, experience shortness of breath after sleep, or suffer from extreme tiredness throughout the day, you may have sleep apnea.

Signs You May Have Sleep Apnea

Snoring is the most obvious sign of sleep apnea. If you snore loudly, particularly with recurrent episodes of snorting or choking, you may have sleep apnea. The snorting or choking is an indicator that your breathing was stopped and then restarted.

If you think you sleep through the night yet you remain tired throughout the day, if you frequently wake up during the night or struggle to get to sleep, or if you are frequently irritable and unable to focus due to lack of sleep, sleep apnea could be the culprit.

Headaches, sore throats, and dry mouth first thing in the morning upon waking are also potential indicators of sleep apnea.

People who are overweight or who have large neck circumferences, men, older adults, smokers, those with a family history of sleep apnea, and those who use alcohol or tranquilizers are all more likely to suffer from the condition.

With new technology, you can find out if you have sleep apnea from the comfort of your own home! You can now use home sleep apnea tests that cost less than other tests, are covered by most major medical plans, and track your sleeping data while you’re in your own bed. Your physician or sleep specialist can then review the data to determine if you have sleep apnea and recommend next steps. Contact us to learn more!

Most dentists are trained to treat sleep apnea with the treatment methods identified above. However, a sleep medicine specialist needs to confirm that the patient has sleep apnea before the patient can be treated. 

Treatment Options

There is a range of treatment options for cases of sleep apnea ranging from mild to life-threatening.

For mild cases, doctors typically recommend simple lifestyle changes as the first line of defense. If a person is overweight and suffering from sleep apnea, weight loss is recommended to alleviate symptoms. Those who smoke are advised to quit, and those who drink alcohol or take certain medications are recommended to refrain from using those substances near bedtime.

If nasal congestion is a symptom, nasal sprays, and allergy or congestion medications can be beneficial. Sometimes adjusting sleep position – sleeping on one's side, instead of flat on the back – can make a big difference.

If the sleep apnea is more severe, a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure device, may be helpful. The CPAP device is a mask worn during sleep that blows constant air into the airway to keep it open.

Another option for more severe cases is SomnoDent G2 therapy. This next-generation treatment is much less invasive than the CPAP device. All you have to do is place it over your teeth when you sleep and it will prevent the collapse of the upper airway. Best of all, it works. 91% of patients reported improvement in sleep quality while using SomnoDent. We can make your own customized SomnoDent device that fits your bite here at Water Tower Dental Care! Many of our patients’ insurance companies help cover this treatment. Contact us to learn more!

In more severe cases, or if CPAP is unsuccessful, surgery can help remove excess tissue or widen the airway.

If you think you may suffer with sleep apnea, don’t be afraid to bring it up at your next dentist appointment. Request an appointment with our dentists today!

Everyone wants to maintain a healthy mouth with minty fresh breath. But if you use too much mouthwash, you might not get the intended results. Studies have shown that when it comes to mouthwash, there can be too much of a good thing.

How Much is Too Much?

Dentists often recommend mouthwash as part of a healthy oral hygiene routine. A study of 4,000 people conducted by the University of Glasgow in Scotland found that people who used antibacterial mouthwash more than three times a day had an increased risk of developing mouth and throat cancers. Some dentists also feel that certain types of mouthwash are too harsh and should never be used.

The Consequences of Using Too Much Mouthwash

The Glasgow study showed that excessive use of mouthwash – three or more times a day – correlated with an increased risk of certain oral cancers; that doesn't necessarily mean, however, that using too much mouthwash automatically causes cancer.

People who frequently use mouthwash to clean their mouths and teeth may be at a higher risk for some oral cancers because of poor overall oral hygiene. Some may rely on mouthwash to cover up odors from unhealthy habits such as smoking, chewing tobacco or drinking alcohol, behaviors that are already damaging to the teeth and gums as well as the overall mouth health.

Others may use mouthwash or an oral rinse as a substitute for routine brushing, flossing, and dental visits. While mouthwash can be an occasional “quick fix” to kill bacteria and freshen breath, everyone – particularly those who smoke or drink alcohol – still needs to follow a routine of daily brushing and flossing.

Mouthwashes that are alcohol-based can be dangerous in any quantity because the alcohol destroys the natural mucous in the mouth that should shield and protect the mouth from cancer-causing irritants. Without the natural mucous barrier, a person’s risk of developing oral cancer rises.

A smoker, for example, is already at an increased risk of certain types of cancer. If that person also regularly uses an alcohol-based mouthwash to rinse after smoking, he is repeatedly rinsing out the protective mucous, eliminating the body’s natural defense mechanism and further increasing the risk of developing cancer.

Another problem with using too much mouthwash is that many of the “bad” bacteria are found beneath the gum line, and a quick rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash will usually only kill the “good” bacteria in the mouth without affecting the potentially dangerous bacteria below. When the good bacteria are gone, the mouth becomes even more susceptible to infections as the harmful elements are allowed to grow unchecked.

Rinsing with an alcohol-based mouthwash eliminates the protective properties of the mouth’s natural mucous production and can also cause the mouth to feel dry. Dry mouth can lead to more bad breath, causing people to reach for more mouthwash. It’s a cycle that, combined with other poor hygiene habits, can put people at a high risk for oral cancers.

How to Properly Use Mouthwash

Dentist recommendations on the use of mouthwash vary based on the dentist and the patient. Those who choose to use mouthwash as part of their oral hygiene regimen should choose a gentler rinse that does not contain alcohol and follow the instructions on the label.

A general rule of thumb for safe use is to limit the use of mouthwash to one time per day, in conjunction with brushing the teeth and flossing two to three times per day and visiting the dentist one to two times per year for routine oral health exams and screenings for oral cancers.

Worried your mouthwash is doing more harm than good? Make an appointment to visit Water Tower Dental Care today! We can take a look at your mouth and recommend a safe mouthwash based on your needs, whether you have a sensitive mouth or need more aggressive care.

With water making up close to 60% of the average human body, there’s no better choice when it’s time to rehydrate. Experts tout plain water as the healthiest option – it’s calorie-free, caffeine-free, sugar-free – but if that tastes too boring, why not just add bubbles?

Sparkling water shares the same healthful characteristics as plain water, but if it’s all you drink, the extra carbonation could be bad news for your teeth.

Why Can Sparkling Water Bad for Your Teeth?

To make sparkling water, carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in regular water, creating carbonic acid. The acid gives the water its fizz and makes it more appealing than plain water, but the higher acidity can cause problems for the teeth. Beverages like soda and citrus juices are known for their higher acidity and potential for acid erosion, and while sparkling water is healthier than many options, it also carries the risk of damaging tooth enamel.

Pure water has a level of 7, or neutral, on the pH scale, the measurement of how acidic or basic a substance is. A measurement below 7 means more acidity. Sparkling water generally measures between 5 and 7 depending on the brand, mineral levels, and other added ingredients. For comparison, the pH of soda is between 2 and 4, while fruit juices are usually between 3 and 5.

When frequently consumed over time, the carbonic acid in carbonated beverages like sparkling water can cause the tooth enamel to begin to erode.

The enamel is the hard, protective outer layer of the tooth, and it can start to dissolve in conditions where the pH level is below 5.5.

If the enamel becomes too worn by repeated exposure to high acidity over time, the next layer – known as dentin – could become exposed. This can cause the appearance of discoloration because dentin isn't shiny and white like the enamel. It can also lead to an increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages.

How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy While Drinking Sparkling Water

While regular water is still the overwhelming best choice, sparkling water is still a healthier choice than soda or juice when consumed in moderation, and there are ways you can prevent damage to your teeth while you indulge.

• Use a straw! Drinking sparkling water and other carbonated beverages through a straw helps keep teeth strong by minimizing the contact between the carbonic acid and tooth enamel.
• Drink it plain. Flavored sparkling water often has added sugars, which can compound the damage to weak enamel. Adding a wedge of fresh lemon or lime is a sure way to add flavor without calories, but it’s not any better for the teeth. Lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits have a higher acidity, which can increase the potential for enamel erosion.
• Indulge with a meal. Instead of sipping sparkling water throughout the day, save it to enjoy during mealtimes. Chewing increases the production of saliva, helping to neutralize the effect of acid on tooth enamel.
• Chase it with plain water. Drinking regular water after drinking sparkling water will help rinse the teeth and prevent wear to the enamel.
• Wait 30-40 minutes before brushing. It might seem like a good idea to get rid of any acidic residue by brushing your teeth immediately after drinking a fizzy beverage, but it could make things worse. Right after drinking a carbonated drink, the tooth surface is slightly weakened. Sipping regular water and allowing saliva to help rinse the enamel will protect the teeth before it’s time to brush.

If you’ve been sipping on carbonated water all day, every day for a while now, you may want to schedule a dentist appointment to see if there’s been any damage has been done to your teeth. As Chicago’s number one dentistry, Water Tower Dental Care can put you on a path to a strong, vibrant and beautiful smile.