Dr. Michael B. Kimble, D.M.D.

Short answer? Possibly. But to see any potential benefit, you would have to swish it around in your mouth for at least 20 minutes, and the impact would be minimal in regard to the actual amount of bacteria that would be affected. The essential oils in Listerine have more of an antibacterial effect, and you only have to swish it for approximately 60 seconds. Whichever method you choose, the best method of removing the largest amount of bacteria still remains the mechanical removal of plaque and bacteria (i.e. toothbrush, flossing, etc).

Short answer - possibly. But to see any potential benefit, you would have to swish it around in your mouth for at least 20 minutes, and the impact would be minimal in regard to the actual amount of bacteria that would be affected. The essential oils in Listerine have more of an antibacterial effect, and you only have to swish it for approximately 60 seconds. Whichever method you choose, the best method of removing the largest amount of bacteria still remains the mechanical removal of plaque and bacteria (i.e. toothbrush, flossing, etc).

Chlorhexidine mouth rinse is intended purely for short-term use; typically, for as long as the bottle lasts, or 6 weeks, whichever may come first. Overuse of chlorhexidine can cause staining of the teeth, and even damage to the taste bud cells on your tongue resulting in permanent loss of some taste sensation. Recent studies have found that long-term use can potentially be toxic to your gum tissue, so it is most certainly to be used sparingly. If you believe that you need more of the medication, speak with the dentist who prescribed it to voice your concerns as to why, and find out what their recommendation is.

That is actually a good thing - it is a sign of healing. Normal wound healing has several stages, one of them being "scab" formation - the collection of platelets and fibrin and other cells that eventually give way to new skin. Normally a scab is brown-ish in appearance when it is on the outside of your body. Your gums go through the same process, but because the tissue stays moist the whole time from your saliva, the fibrin is white in appearance. This indicates that your body is making new skin cells, and is healing properly. So although it may look funny, the white appearance is just a normal part of the healing process.

Dental insurance companies will pay for a new crown on a tooth approximately every 7-10 years; that is their estimated life-span for a crown. In my experience, however, with proper home care and regular dental visits, I have seen crowns last up to 30 years. There are obviously factors that can impact this, such as whether you grind your teeth together, the type of material used (porcelain vs. metal), etc, but as long as you take care of it, you should have years of service from your crown.

In a perfect world, they would last as long as you do! They are made from titanium, which is incredibly durable; the material itself will not degrade nor is it susceptible to developing decay, and is bio-compatible (hypoallergenic). With that being said, an implant can still fail for different reasons. The ones that you have the most influence over are the level of cleanliness that you keep with it, and your overall level of health. That means you have to clean it just like the rest of your teeth - brushing and flossing, and regular dental cleanings. Also, eliminating smoking/nicotine, if you use it; that can cause the implant to fail prematurely. And a healthy diet to support bone and soft tissue health is important. There are other things that can impact it, such as diabetes, bone density/osteoporosis and tooth grinding, but you may not have as much influence over them. Success rates according to dental studies is anywhere between 92 to 98% over the long term. I would stress again that, while an implant can fail just like any other tooth, with proper care they should last you a lifetime.

You just described the exact function of a toothbrush. The best way to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth is the mechanical removal with a toothbrush (or other implement) - however, you should make sure that it is designed for use in the mouth; any sharp edges could potentially damage the gum tissue, and certain materials can retain bacteria on the surface for extended periods.

If you are looking for a more permanent option, you should consider a porcelain veneer or crown. The advantage to this is the durability - whereas a filling will need to be replaced every few years, a crown/veneer can last 25 years or more. You will pay for this benefit, though; a veneer or crown can cost $800 or more.

Short answer? No. But it does have its uses. There is nothing better than the actual mechanical removal of plaque by flossing, and water-piks and other devices just do not have the ability to remove all of that material. They do have some useful applications, however; most notably as you mentioned, with braces or other appliances in place where the physical removal of plaque is compromised. They are also useful in delivering medication such as Listerine or prescription mouthrinses to the gum tissue. So while actual flossing is the best, a water-pik is better than nothing at all.

Baking soda can provide very limited whitening of surface stains on your teeth. This effect can be somewhat improved when mixed with hydrogen peroxide to form a paste to apply to the teeth, but this should only be used for a few days at a time. The risk of doing this is that baking soda can be abrasive to the enamel on your teeth. You will achieve more whitening effect (and in a safer manner to your teeth) from an over-the-counter product such as Crest whitening strips or Rembrant whitening trays. In addition, there are other options for whitening available in a dental office, such as Zoom or Kor. I would suggest visiting your local dental office to discuss these options.

The first question I would ask you is "when is the last time you had your teeth cleaned at a dentist's office"? The most common cause for bleeding gums is the accumulation of plaque and tartar above or below the gums. These materials harbor bacteria, which have harmful effects to the gums. The good news is that a thorough, deep cleaning can remove these irritants and restore the gums to a healthy state. It is possible that there may be another cause as well, such as trauma or a systemic health issue, but these are much more rare. I would recommend visiting your local dentist's office for an evaluation of the root cause. Best of luck.