Parts of the Tooth

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about about what makes up the tooth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.


Raman Orthodontics  
Jim Raman, DMD  
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard  
Columbia, SC 29212  
(803) 212-0996  
RamanOrtho.com

Flossing - Bad Breath Killer

Flossing As Prevention For Bad Breath

Need another reason to floss your teeth at least once a day? Flossing daily helps improve bad breath by effectively removing the food particles and bacteria that contribute to it. That makes flossing one of the easiest ways to prevent and banish bad breath.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is more common than many people realize. You may joke about bad breath, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, but it’s an important oral health issue. Bad breath can be more than an embarrassing social problem—it can be a sign of disease or illness.

Saliva is Your Friend
Less saliva means that your mouth is more susceptible to plaque buildup, which can create an unpleasant smell on your breath. Pay extra attention to any of the following circumstances that can reduce the saliva in your mouth and promote bad breath:

• Drinking alcohol. Alcohol-containing beverages may promote a dry mouth and cause bad breath. So don’t forget to floss after an evening out on the town, no matter how much you’re tempted to hop into bed and forget about it. 
• Early morning. Saliva stops flowing while you sleep, so you may be prone to bad breath in the morning. If so, mornings may be the best time for your daily dental flossing.
• Being hungry or thirsty. When you’re dehydrated, there’s not as much saliva in your mouth, so you’re prone to bad breath and increased bacterial buildup. Drink enough fluids and remember to floss. Also, remember that chewing food increases the saliva in your mouth, so if you’re skipping meals or dieting, you may develop bad breath.

If you’re dieting and eating less frequently, a mint floss can not only help bad breath by removing bacteria, it may help you with your diet by providing a fresh taste in your mouth that makes you less tempted to snack. People who are following extremely low carbohydrate diets also sometimes report bad breath, but these reports are anecdotal. If you’re on a low-carb diet, or any restrictive diet, you may be promoting bad breath. If you must restrict your food intake and eat infrequently, drink plenty of water to help maintain the level of saliva in your mouth to help prevent bad breath in addition to following a good oral care routine.

To read the entire article please visit: OralB.com

Raman Orthodontics 
Jim Raman, DMD 
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard 
Columbia, SC 29212 
(803) 212-0996 
RamanOrtho.com

Tongue Scrapers Offer An Option For Halitosis

How Tongue Scrapers Work
If you suffer from halitosis, or chronic bad breath, you’re probably looking for ways to help manage the problem. If so, consider a tongue scraper. They’re relatively inexpensive and available at most pharmacies. Tongue scrapers are often touted as the way to improve bad breath, but there is very little research to show that they are any more effective than simply brushing the tongue with your toothbrush as part of your toothbrushing routine.

Trying a tongue scraper can’t hurt, and they’re easy to use. Simply hold the scraper at the back of your tongue, and bring it forward, scraping gently but firmly along the tongue as you go.

Although tongue scrapers are harmless, you can probably prevent halitosis just as well by following a consistent oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. And keep these points in mind as part of your daily oral hygiene plan:

• Keep your toothbrush fresh. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, even if you don’t have bad breath, but especially if you do. 
• Keep an extra brush at work. Keep a spare toothbrush and toothpaste at work so you can brush your teeth after lunch.
• Drink plenty of water. Keeping your mouth moist helps minimize the amount of bacteria in your mouth that can cause bad breath.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Raman Orthodontics 
Jim Raman, DMD 
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard 
Columbia, SC 29212 
(803) 212-0996 
RamanOrtho.com

Beat Your Bad Breath

What are Common Bad Breath Causes?

If you suffer from chronic, severe bad breath, also known as halitosis, it's important to identify the cause so you can determine an effective treatment.

Halitosis has many causes, including the following:

• Tobacco use. If you smoke, quit. Your bad breath may be due to other causes, too, but tobacco use is a guarantee of bad breath. If you are ready to quit, ask your doctor or dentist for advice and support. 
• What you eat, or don't eat. Certain foods, such as garlic, contribute to bad breath, but only temporarily. Once they are absorbed into the bloodstream, the smell is expelled through the breath, but the odors remain until the body processes the food, so there’s no quick fix.
• Dry mouth. If your mouth is extremely dry, there is not enough saliva to wash away excess food particles and bacteria, which can cause an unpleasant smell if they build up on the teeth.
• Infections. Bad breath that seems to have no other cause may indicate an infection elsewhere in the body. If you have chronic bad breath and your dentist rules out any oral problems, see your doctor for an evaluation. Bad breath can be a sign of a range of conditions including respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis or bronchitis, diabetes, or liver and kidney problems, so it's important not to ignore the problem.

The best way to improve bad breath is to follow a thorough oral care routine including twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing to remove the food particles and bacteria that can cause bad breath. Mouthwashes only improve bad breath for the short term, and if you have a chronic problem, your dentist may suggest an antimicrobial rinse to help keep bacteria at bay.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Raman Orthodontics  
Jim Raman, DMD  
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard  
Columbia, SC 29212  
(803) 212-0996  
RamanOrtho.com

Sleep Apnea Dental Treatment

Always Tired? Sleep Loss Can Kill You
Sufficient rest and sleep are fundamental to your overall health. You need air. You need water. You need food. You need sleep. It is essential that your brain and body have the time they require to re-boot every single day.

Your body, particularly your heart, gathers stress throughout the day. When you finally rest at night, your heart slows itself down and begins to decompress, relieving the stresses it has gathered. Your body needs time to recoup and collect enough energy to tackle another day. In sleep, your brain and body revitalize themselves. Your blood pressure declines, and the pace of age-related diseases slows down. You can curb illnesses such as obesity, hypertension, memory loss, and diabetes.

Lack of sleep can burden your heart by placing excessive strain and stress on the muscle. Heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular diseases, and — in severe circumstances — death have all been connected to sleep disorders.

Raman Orthodontics
Jim Raman, DMD
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 212-0996
RamanOrtho.com

Accelerated Orthodontics

Nobody Wants to be in Braces for a Long Time!
A straight smile is not only a more beautiful smile, but a healthier one. Orthodontics are designed not only to fix crooked teeth, but also to provide overall alignment for proper chewing and jaw movement. Straight, uncrowded teeth are easier to clean, which helps prevent decay and gum disease.

But many patients are deterred by the length of time often recommended for treatment. Wearing braces for years, and having to be seen for repeated adjustments and examinations, can be daunting. That’s why we’re happy to offer our patients the AcceleDent™ System, an FDA-approved complement to traditional braces or aligners that brings fast, excellent results.

Braces work by moving teeth in specific directions. AcceleDent applies microvibrations to the teeth and the underlying bone to enhance the movements directed by the braces. This accelerates “bone remodeling,” which is the replacement of old bone with new bone tissue. The result is faster tooth movement and achievement of your goals much earlier than without AcceleDent. There are no negative side effects, and for some patients, it even makes their braces more comfortable! 

The AcceleDent device is very similar to a mouth guard. The patient simply slips the device into the mouth for just 20 minutes per day. This enhances the gentle force applied by braces or aligners, which speeds the rate of tooth movement. It’s very comfortable and simple to use and has been clinically proven to shorten treatment time. Research has demonstrated an initial acceleration in tooth movement by 106% in the initial treatment phase, and up to 50% in the subsequent phase.

AcceleDent provides a “Smart Display” so you can record and track your usage. The device is easy to use and simple to clean.

If you’ve been putting off having straight teeth because you don’t want it to take forever – now you don’t have to. You can have beautiful, straight teeth in about half the time of traditional methods.

Raman Orthodontics
Jim Raman, DMD
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29212
(803) 212-0996
RamanOrtho.com

Traditional Braces Treatment Time

How Long Will it Take?
Using the latest in modern techniques, Dr. Raman can now make braces more comfortable and attractive than ever. It used to be that you might spend 3 - 5 years in treatment. It’s not that way any more! The time needed for treatment will vary from person to person but usually can be completed in 6 - 24 months or less. For cost-effective and time-tested results, traditional metal braces may be the way to go.

Raman Orthodontics 
Jim Raman, DMD 
1600 Lake Murray Boulevard 
Columbia, SC 29212 
(803) 212-0996 
RamanOrtho.com