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Can you brush too hard?  Yes you can.  Some adult patients, when they go to see their dentist at their regular six month check up, are sometimes surprised that they are informed they are brushing too hard.  Their family dentist will show them a place or multiple places where the gum tissue has started pulled away from their roots leaving their roots exposed.  This is called toothbrush abrasion.  Patients who have toothbrush abrasion like the feeling of brushing hard and they think they are getting their teeth really clean.  They may be doing more harm than good.

What is toothbrush abrasion?  Toothbrush abrasion is when the patient uses a stiff hard bristled toothbrush and moves the toothbrush is a wrong way to brush their teeth.  A patient should always use a soft bristled brush.  A hard bristle brush will cause toothbrush abrasion by scratching or wearing the gum tissue around the roots away.  The patient usually states that they have sensitivity when they eat hot or cold foods and that is because the uncovered roots are sensitive to temperature change.  If the patient continues to brush this way, the root will continue to erode and a notch is created in the roots.  In some cases the notch is so deep it exposes the pulp.

How can I avoid toothbrush abrasion?  First use a soft bristle brush and do not brush in a scrubbing back and forth motion.  Move your toothbrush in round circles or up and down.  This lessens the chance of damage to the gum tissue.

Can you get the gum tissue to cover the root again?  No.  Once the gum tissue has receded, it cannot be placed back to the original level.

How do you treat toothbrush abrasion?  Treatment of toothbrush abrasion is done by the following.  1) Patient education – use a soft bristled brush and move the toothbrush in round circles or up and down when brushing.  You may also want to use an electric toothbrush that moves in round circles.  2)  Notches that have developed in the roots can be repaired by your family dentist.  3)  Sensitivity of the roots can be diminished by toothpastes like Sensodyne.  When using Sensodyne, apply the toothpaste on your finger and lay it on the roots that are exposed.  It may take up to a month for the root to become desensitized.

So be careful when you brush your teeth.  Toothbrush abrasion can be a real problem when you are older and can cost you a lot of money to fix.

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Does it hurt?  Many patients talk to their friends and ask if it hurts when they have their braces removed.  Their friends, seizing an opportunity, will say, “Oh yes, it really hurts when they take your braces off”.  Tarah Ferguson, shown above, had her braces removed today.  She was apprehensive, but I told her it didn’t hurt.  I took Tarah’s braces off while I was talking to her mom.  Tarah thought the braces were still on her teeth.  She didn’t realize I had taken them off.  LOL  When she finally moved her lips and tongue across her teeth, she was shocked and placed a big grin on her face.  We all had a good laugh.  So if you want to know….”does it hurt to get my braces removed?”   Ask Tarah

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Congratulations goes to Andrew Phillips.  At the end of December, Andrew’s card was drawn and he won a $50 Marquee Cinema Gift card!  About every month, we select an appointment card from our famous purple fish bowl for a prize so don’t forget your card.

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Dr. Thompson and staff are  getting our supplies ready to go to the Elementary schools for the ADA’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. We have sent out numerous letters to local elementary schools.  Dr. Thompson will speak to over a thousand 2nd to 5th grade students about how to take care of their teeth.  If you want to know more about the National Children’s Dental Health Month click here.  We will post pictures of each class and place them on YourSmilingFaces.com and our FaceBook Page

Update:  So far we have scheduled to go to Cox’s Landing, Highlawn, Southside, Davis Creek and Hite Saunders Elementary Schools.  Dr. Thompson will be teaching upto 800 students during February.

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Guess who dressed up for “Decades Day”? Lauren Gaal is. Lauren is in 6th grade at Calvary Baptist Academy in Hurricane. Laura is all dressed up and ready to bust a move. I think she may have raided her Mom’s closet Tomorrow is “Famous Person Day” and Friday is “Spirit Day”.  We really like the shoe strings and socks combo.  Nice touch.  Have fun Lauren and check out John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever” sometime.

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Another promising college student, Brianna Barnes, job shadowed yesterday. Brianna had some very good questions about the dental field and I believe she will obtain all her goals. She said she just thought working as a dentist would be very enjoyable and fun. Good luck Brianna. Come back and visit soon. If you want to know more about the dental field as an occupation, please contact the office. Dr. Thompson does allow job shadowing by appointment. It’s good that young people find out as much as possible about the occupational field they desire.

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We have been going crazy around here putting Christmas Braces on patients.  If you don’t know what Christmas braces are, then look at Olivia Roberts.  She has some