Food Impaction and the Importance of a Good Quality Natural Toothpaste

What is Food Impaction?

Food impaction is the wedging of food into the interproximal periodontal tissue by occlusal force. The high incidence of caries and periodontal diseases in the interproximal area is partially the result of this histological and anatomic make-up and the great accumulation of bacterial plaque. Food impaction is a clinical situation that arises from a complex interaction process involving age, periodontal disease, caries and excessive attrition and so on. It will cause halitosis, gingivitis, periodontitis, gingival abscess, alveolar bone absorption, root caries, or teeth deletion.

It is classified in to vertical and horizontal. It may occur interproximally or in relation the facial or lingual tooth surfaces. Horizontal food impaction is caused as a result of lateral pressure from cheek, lips and tongue. In cases of gingival recession, food dregs and fibers are forced in to the enlarged gingival embrasures worsening the periodontal condition of the teeth. Food impaction is a very common cause of gingival and periodontal disease. Failure to identify and eliminate food impaction results in unsuccessful periodontal therapy and can result in progression of disease. Food impaction is distinct from food lodgment, the latter being only a mere lodgment of food particles, which get flushed away just by routine mouth rinsing.

Horizontal food impaction is relatively more tolerable compared with vertical food impaction because the food debris can be easily removed using a dental floss or a tooth pick in gingiva-occlusal direction, providing momentary relief. Vertical food impaction often results in acute papillary gingivitis and gingival abscess, which is often difficult to endure and usually requires a visit to the dentist.

SYMPTOMS

• Discomfort due to food impactions underneath the surrounding gingival tissue
• Pain
• Halitosis/ bad breath
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth 

 TREATMENT

Acute phase treatment:

• Periodontal Treatment Scaling and root planing, curettage, should be performed as one of the preliminary steps in the prevention.

• Instruct the patient to improve brushing technique and clean between the interdental spaces. Use a good quality anti cavity, fluoride tooth paste. Floss and use anti-bacterial mouthwash to keep mouth bacteria free

Creating proper proximal contact area

• Reproduce the anatomic contact area and contours interproximally to create tight contacts.

Special wedging techniques for direct restorations

• Piggy back wedging: used in the case of gingival recession
• Double wedging: used in the case of wide proximal box on buccolingual dimensions
• Wedge wedging: this can be used when there is a concave area in the root close to the gingival margin. 

Benefits of a Good Quality Natural Toothpaste

There are many brands of tooth pastes available in the market, here are the points required to attain the ADA seal of Acceptance for a toothpaste.

• All toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Acceptance must contain fluoride.
• In addition to fluoride, toothpastes may contain active ingredients to help in ways such as lessening tooth sensitivity, whitening teeth, reducing gingivitis or tartar build-up, or preventing enamel erosion or bad breath.
• Flavoring agents that cause or contribute to tooth decay (e.g., sugar) may not be contained in any ADA-Accepted toothpaste.
• A product earns the ADA Seal of Acceptance by providing scientific evidence that demonstrates the safety and efficacy, which the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs carefully
• Evaluates according to objective requirements.

1. Fluoride is a must.

The ADA will not approve any toothpaste that does not contain fluoride. This is an essential mineral that helps strengthen the enamel of teeth. This protects the enamel from erosion in the presence of bacteria and acid production and without it teeth are prone to developing cavities. SprinJene Natural Cavity Protection Toothpaste has fluoride and hence has enamel strengthening properties.

2. There must be other active ingredients that support oral health.

• Fluoride remains front and center, but ADA-approved toothpastes must also contain other beneficial ingredients that either whiten teeth, reduce gingivitis, help with tooth sensitivity, prevent bad breath, or have enhance cavity protection. These ingredients will be listed as active ingredients on the box of toothpaste, and often there will be an explanation as to what each ingredient may do. SprinJene Natural Toothpaste has a range of specialty tooth pastes that are made especially to aid in each of these areas:
• Cavity protection
• Original white boost
• Sensitivity relief
• Fresh boost
• Health boost

All toothpastes contain a specialized patented black seed extract formulation. This is the magic ingredient which possesses excellent health and immune boosting properties and what’s more is that it is completely safe and natural! 

3. Sugar is an outlaw.

• Any flavoring agent that is known to lead to tooth decay is banned from ADA-approved toothpastes. Sugar is the biggest flavor enhancer on that list, and any toothpaste that uses sugar will never be approved by the American Dental Association. SprinJene Natural Toothpastes use Xylitol and Stevia as natural sweeteners for flavor and for their anti-cariogenic properties. 

4. Science is the backbone.

• Any brand hoping to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance has to show rigorous scientific research that supports their claims. There must be scientific evidence to prove the safety and efficacy of each approved toothpaste, and the analysis must be objective. All of the ingredients present in SprinJene are complete safe and natural, without any side effects. They have undergone various research studies which have proven their innumerable benefits in being:

• Anti-cavity
• Anti-plaque
• Anti-bacterial
• Immune boosting 

Picking the right toothpaste can be difficult, but it’s an important first step in your oral hygiene routine. While there are many different benefits available by each brand, make sure that whatever you pick has all the above properties and is preferably chemical free and natural.

References:

1. Jernberg G, Bakdash B, Keekan K: Relation between proximal tooth open contact and periodontal diseases. J periodontal 1983; 54:529.
2. Hirschfeld I: Food Impaction. J Am Dent Asso. 1930; 17:1504.
3. Jung JH, Oh SC, Dong JK: A Clinical Study on the Occurrence of Food Impaction. J Korean Acad Prosthodont. 2000; 38:50-58.
4. Newell DH, John V, Kim SJ.: A technique of occlusal adjustment for food impaction in the presence of tight proximal contacts. Oper Dent. 2002; 27:95-110.
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