Salivaomics: the future of dental diagnostics

Did you know your saliva might have potential oral health benefits?  One emerging area is salivaomics, which is the overall study of the biological molecules present in saliva, using various omics technologies. This is a diagnostic tool, and was round because many researchers were discovering so many new components. 

It’s a promising area to monitor various diseases, and even as a cancer screening too.

We all have saliva, and it’s a bodily fluid with so many biometrics too, with many researchers using these biomarkers to better understand various systemic diseases. 

Here, we’ll go over how saliva is the future of the world of dental diagnostics, and also treatment of various systemic problems. 

Saliva and Diagnostics 

Saliva is used for diagnosis because of the different makers that are inside. In your saliva there are RNAs, genes, metabolites, and proteins.   When looked at through different technologies, these biomarkers can tell you so much about this.  Yes, you can look at bulk samples of saliva, and also look to figure out different issues in the oral cavity that are adding to the biological noise within saliva samples.

Think about it.   you get a saliva sample, and you notice there’s an increased amount of different proteins. This could lead to various possibilities on immune issues that are going on, and also help with better understanding these diseases, both autoimmune and bacterial in the mouth.   

Right now, the field is growing, and the studies from this can provide valuable information. 

Saliva for treating other Systemic Diseases 

Cancers, diabetes, and other systemic conditions are hard to properly monitor.   When doing diagnostic tests, sometimes they’re not incredibly accurate.

But your saliva contains your genetics, and in turn, it can give you everything that you need to know about what’s really going on.   getting a feel for the impact your saliva has on your bodily systems is important.

Some people find out they have diabetes through these screenings, and the information netted from this is invaluable to say the least. 

It may be used in the future to find out more diseases, but if you think about it this way, with salivaomics, you’ll be able to get a feel for the current situation, and in turn, also look at the body.   Your saliva is attached to the rest of your body, so reading this can be a tell-all to better understand the current health concerns. 

The future of This Technology 

Right now, this is a growing field.   There’s not a ton of different subpopulations in the biomarkers yet that can be identified.   This creates some issues, and limits just how much you can do with this.

Bear in mind that, like many emerging technologies, it’s not perfect, and it will in turn be a problem if you take it only at face value. When paired with other tests, it provides more accuracy.

There are also other elements that may impact the samples. Bacteria, especially gum disease, can impact the noise in these samples, which in turn, affects the overall accuracy of said samples.

Again, there’s a lot of different things to bear in mind when working with this technology. It is a good place to start, but keep in mind there is still much we should learn.

While we still have a lot to learn, the saliva we produce is a valuable tool in order to create preventative, personalized healthcare that will really step up the overall impact that our health and wellness has, and allows us to as well create better dental plans that will bring personalized, real touches to our mouths. 

Providing Immediate Oral Care At Home

You may have a medical first aid kit at home in order to deal with the medical emergencies. However, have you ever wondered about arranging a kit to deal with the dental emergencies?

Dental emergencies are common among children and adults. Good thing that is that you can get quick relief from a painful situation with the help of just a few items which you will need to purchase from the nearby drugstore.

It is worth mentioning here that this first aid dental kit is not aimed at providing permanent relief from the situation. This kit is going to contain the situation until you arrive at the dental office to get the treatment started.

In this article, we are going to discuss what you need to do in different situations of dental emergency.

Toothache

In case of toothache, you need to rinse your mouth with warm water. If there is anything trapped between your teeth, you need to get it out with the help of dental floss. If there is the swelling in the area, you need to place an ice pack on the cheek area right above the aching tooth. However, you have to make sure that you are not using heat to treat the pain. You can use aspirin or any other alternate of aspirin to contain the pain. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gums because it can burn the soft tissues of gums.

Object wedged between the teeth

If there an object wedged between the tooth, you need to get it out with the help of dental floss. After getting it out, you need to rinse your mouth with water vigorously. Make sure that you are not using any sharp or pointing object to remove the object. If you are not able to remove it, see the dentist.

Mouth sores

Mouth sores can be irritating and painful. These sores are developed due to biting on the cheeks, abrasive brushing of teeth, burns from hot and sour foods, and irritation due to braces or dentures. You can remove food particles and other irritants from the sores with the help of oxygenating cleanser. To soothe the area, you can also use oral gels.

Knocked out tooth

A knocked out tooth is a severer and more complicated injury which can happen to your teeth. When you tooth gets knocked out, you need to make sure that you do not touch the tooth’s root area. If possible, place the tooth back into the slot and visit your dentist. If you find it risky putting the tooth back, place it in a small container full of milk and take it to your dentist. You may be able to save the tooth this way.

Important Things to Know About Root Canal

There can be many problems which can happen with a tooth. If you are facing a severe one, you may wonder if you need a root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is also known as endodontic therapy. This therapy is performed when a tooth’s pulp gets infected due to cavity, decay, chip, or anything which may have the capability to result in inflammation and infection in the tooth pulp. The procedure mainly involves use of a drill after which the infected pulp or nerve in the tooth is removed. After this removal, the tooth is sealed to prevent any further infection. An important thing that you need to know in this regard is that only a dentist or endodontist can tell you whether or not the root canal treatment can solve your case. Having that said, it would be worth mentioning some symptoms for which you can get root canal treatment.

Possible symptoms

Pain is one of the most important symptoms which can prompt you to think about getting root canal treatment. The important factor to mention is the intensity of pain. This intensity can range from mild to severe. The intensity can keep shifting between mild and severe throughout the day. Sometimes, it can get worse for you if you bite on anything a bit hard. Additional and abnormal sensitivity in the tooth is also the reason you may need a root canal treatment. All of these issues may involve swelling in the gums as common factor.

What you need to do?

When you feel any of the symptoms getting prominent in your teeth, you need to call your dentist immediately. You can contact your dentist over the phone or you can visit the dentist personally. You will need to explain everything happening to your oral cavity in order to let the dentist know fully about your case. Your dentist may recommend root canal treatment but he/she will immediately instruct you about getting relief from the pain until you will get your root canal treatment started. Generally, you can get relief from pain by applying ice pack on the cheek area right above the aching tooth.

What your dentist will do

When you discuss your problem with the dentist, your dentist will run necessary tests to examine your case. The most common way of examining a case requiring root canal treatment is the x-ray exam. After examination, your dentist will tell you whether you can get your problem solved with the help of medication or you are going to need to visit an endodontist. The dentists refer patients to endodontists when they find nerve damage in the tooth pulp.

How to Properly Brush your Teeth

 Brushing your teeth, like washing and combing your hair, may feel a bit mineral, but the thing is, it’s actually something that you want to do right, and if you’re not using the correct techniques, you won’t have a smile that looks good, and you won’t be happy with this.

The correct Way 

When you brush your teeth, you’re eliminating bacteria and plaque  that’s there. when it’s not removed, it leads to dental decay, cavities, and also gum disease.

The correct brushing technique can prevent this, and you’ll want to make sure that you get this right.

The steps to do this are the following: 

1. Work on the outer surfaces of where the teeth are, and then brush the teeth that are upper, followed by lower. Going with each tooth will slow this, so you’re not missing much. 

2. Take the brush, and then tilt this at around a 45 degree angle, brushing against this to eliminate debris and plaque. Move this in a backwards and forwards motion using short strokes that are as wide as the tooth.

3. Brush the inner parts of the teeth. Due to the insides not being as visible, you might feel tempted to skip this, but the inside is just as important as the outside. Using the same 45 degree angle to brush these parts on the inside, will help you eliminate the plaque 

4. Clean up those surfaces that you chew on, suing the same backwards and forwards strokes, and you’ll want to also get the top, where the teeth gets food usually

5. Brush out the tongue, as it helps freshen out the breath, and also removes bacteria that’s usually going to create odors for people.

Some Tips 

If you’re curious about how you can get this better, then you’re in luck. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your brushing experience.

• You should brush for at least two minutes twice a day. Utilize a timer to ensure that you get the attention properly on the teeth.

• You should use a toothbrush that’s soft bristled. A smaller head might be better for smaller mouths, as it reaches different areas.

• Electric toothbrushes are good for those who want to limit using their hands or have bad dexterity. For those who struggle with brushing, this is also a good idea.

• You should try to get a toothpaste that’s fitting for the needs that you have. No two people need the same usually, and depending on issues, you may go for a type of toothpaste.

• You should replace the toothbrush every few months, or when you start to see some wearing and tearing on the toothbrush that’s there. Whatever comes first, make sure to change this regularly.

• Another thing to do, is that after you get sick, replace your toothbrush, so that you’re not worrying about any sorts of nasty bugs and decay left on there 

• See a dentist regularly and ask them about your brushing habits and what you can do better, especially if you need it.

Most people brush their teeth, but they don’t pay a ton of attention to how they do it, creating an issue. If you’re someone who is curious about brushing your teeth, or who has a little bit of trouble with doing it, look at this handy how-to article, and see for yourself the difference it makes. Prevent tooth decay and save some money and pain by not letting decay set in, and instead, make sure that you have proper oral care in place, and optimized as well too.

Breath-Friendly Foods for Freshness

 Mouth freshness is important. The last thing you want to do is go in and have some food that just makes your breath reek right before an interview, right? Having the right foods for your oral health and freshness is not only good for your breath, but also your body.

Our diet does impact our freshness. Not just in the short-term with onions and the pungent scent. If you have bad foods, it causes your breath to get stinky and smelly. The solution? Breath-friendly foods that will make your breath smell good, and bring you confidence.

The Foods for Bad Breath Fighting 

Fighting bad breath is not just through brushing and flossing frequently, but also eating foods that are good for preventing such.

Apples are a great one, and they are good as well for a lot of antibacterial reasons.

Parsley is another. Chew a sprig, and you’ll be able to keep the bad breath away.

Yogurt is another. Because it is strong in calcium and other nutrients, it’s good for fighting even the worst of the bad breath that’s out there, making it even better for you as well.

Finally, green tea. It’s good for natural detoxification, and also is good as well for clearing out impurities. Just be mindful that if you do have this, there is a risk that it might stain teeth, so make sure to have some water on hand. 

Probiotics for Bacteria 

If you’re having all of these and would like to make your breath even stronger, consider a probiotic.

This is a healthy culture of bacteria, and when you consume this bacteria, it helps to create a stronger gut. It ousts out the bad bacteria, leaving the good bacteria in its wake. Overall, it’s a great addition for your own healthcare. While it doesn’t totally prevent this bacteria, having some probiotic foods, including yogurt and such, will really make this good for you to have.

Foods to Avoid 

Now, let’s go over foods to avoid. These are the foods that are healthy to have, but will make your breath reek.

Some of these are short-term. Others may consistently happen if you’re eating them a lot.

First, is garlic. Due to the allicin in it, it will create a pungent scent, especially in your mouth. It’s a scent that’s hard to get rid of. Now, garlic is great as an antibacterial, but it’s almost too good at its job, so it should be avoided if short-term breath is what you want to keep fresh.

Then there are onions. Onions again, are good for you, but they contain a sulfur compound that releases gases when they are mashed or cut together. When the gases mix with bacteria, it creates further gases, exacerbating bad breath.   It can linger for hours, and sometimes last overnight.

To get rid of it, lemon water works, or you can rinse with baking soda.  

Finally, there’s sugary snacks. Again, these are tasty, but they are basically food for the teeth, so if they continue to consume this, it releases more bacteria, and causes it to smell. Either way, it’s not good, and you should avoid this.   try to, if you have sugars, afterwards have something healthy or drink some water or milk to flush it out.

Diet is not only important for the here and now, but also for long-term results. Having the freshest breath that you can is important. Fresh breath isn’t always an indication, but there’s a lot of great benefits to making your breath smell good, so make sure that you take care of your oral health today!

Innovations in Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are something that a lot of kids are getting. This is because they're essentially caps that get put on the teeth, in order to prevent decay from getting in the pits of sensitive teeth.   This is good for kids because their oral habits are not fully developed, and it can protect those adult teeth while the others come in. 

However, did you know that there are now new advancements in sealants and materials? Here, we’ll go over sealants, and why they’re so effective. 

New innovations? 

Dental sealants aren’t just plastic caps on the teeth, but they’re a way to offer lifelong protection for your mouth. 

One example of this is fluoride-infused sealants. This is for delivering fluoride to the enamel of the tooth, and it’s something that’s a self-bonding polymer gel technology that doesn’t require mixing or curing. 

Another is longer-lasting resin for the sealants, which means that they’ll last longer. 

Then there are ceramic based sealants too, which means that they are stronger and will last longer. They also tend to look more like natural teeth. 

Finally, you’ve got hydrophilic resin sealants. These are far less sensitive to the moisture that’s there when applied, which enhances the bonding to each surface. All of these work together to improve the protection against tooth decay. 

How effective Are sealants 

Sealants are effective as can be for cavity prevention in the mouth.   While mostly for kids, some of them are good for adults. This is especially true when a dentist puts these on the back molars, where food can get stuck in the keep particles that are there.   

Some studies have found that sealants work mostly in groups that are ages 6 to 11 years old. This is because they’re at that age where cavities are effective, and in turn, it can keep the teeth protective for a long time. 

In general, adults that have deeper fissures tend to benefit the most from these sealants, so keep that in mind when choosing a sealant and whether or not it’s worth using. 

Why do they Work? 

Well, dental sealants create a sort of protective layer against bacteria and various food particles that might get on these surfaces. When you’re young, it’s harder to clean up these parts, so when you’re able to clear all of them, you’ll benefit from it, so it’s worth looking at, especially if you’re interested in getting your teeth nice and protected. 

It leads to long-term better oral health, prevents tooth decay, and also stops the cavities that would otherwise be there. 

They are recommended for children because of the age that’ it’s effective, some people put them on kids sooner, and some a bit later. It usually happens when the first teeth are lost, and the back molars are starting to form.  

The dentist will clean where they are, apply to composite resin, dry it as needed, and from there, you’re free to go. It’s against a very simple procedure, but if you’re looking to take care of your teeth for the long run, then you’re in luck. 

Dental sealants are the premier way to protect your teeth, and create long-term comprehensive dental care. There's a reason why dentists will recommend these, since they offer levels of protection you might not get otherwise. If you're looking to improve yourself or your child’s oral health, or are looking to further understand the benefits of dental sealants, then you’re going to want to make sure you get them, for they will provide long-term oral health and care in ways never thought possible.