Brushing your teeth before or after eating?
The normal acidity (pH value) of the mouth is around 7. When we eat or drink, acid is produced in the mouth which will lower the pH value and soften the dental enamel. The critical value is 5.5. Some researchers, therefore, believe that brushing your teeth less than 30 minutes after a meal is inappropriate because it will wear out the softened enamel too much.
Bleeding gums
Can be caused by tartar or gingivitis.
Oral galvanism
Also known as tooth currents. This phenomenon occurs as a result of having metals in your mouth, e.g. amalgam fillings in your teeth, gold crowns, or steel dentures. Amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury plus copper, tin, silver, and zinc. The various metals have the effect of a galvanic battery in your mouth and can sometimes provoke quite strong tensions, especially where there are also gold crowns or -fillings. The strength of this tension is probably dependent on the amount and the distribution of metals, the oral acidity (the lower the pH, the stronger the tooth currents), and possibly other factors in the body. The degree of oral galvanism is related to how much metal - especially mercury - is liberated in the body. Measurements of tooth currents can be used to estimate in which order the metal fillings should be replaced.
One of the symptoms of oral galvanism is a metallic taste in your mouth. It can also result in an unpleasant electrical discharge if you happen to bite on a piece of tinfoil.
Gnashing of teeth
Violent biting and rubbing your teeth against each other. Gnashing of teeth is most often observed in children and youngsters. It mostly occurs during the night while dreaming and can be so loud that both you and your partner weak up. It can cause tenderness, problems with the jaw-joint, tension headache, loose teeth, and wear and tear of your teeth.
The cause can be a poor biting function, too high fillings, wrong jaw position, stress, and mental problems, e.g. anger and worries, but also side effects from medicine or results of drug abuse. To a large extent, nutritional deficits can be involved. Gnashing of teeth can be caused by a lack of magnesium, calcium, and B-vitamins, especially B5.
Toothache
Can be caused by dental cavities. See "Caries."
Can also be caused by gingivitis (see "Parodontal disease") or inflammation in or around the root of a tooth. Moreover, the teething in small children or tooth eruption of wisdom teeth can cause tootache.
