EDUCATION

---

The best way to maintain your beautiful smile is to make sure your teeth are healthy, your oral environment is clean, and intake of harmful foods is limited. Our staff is committed to helping you prevent dental cavities, preserving teeth that have been restored, keeping your teeth from fracturing, and making sure your gums are healthy. At your initial visit we review oral hygiene instructions and reinforce them at each subsequent visit.  

The following recommendations are helpful:    

• Brush your teeth twice a day in a circular motion with a soft bristled toothbrush aimed at a 45-degree angle to the gum   
• Floss every night   
• Avoid smoking   
• Stay away from sticky, sugary foods   
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet   
• Use antimicrobial and fluoride rinses if directed   
• Have sealants placed on young permanent teeth 

Keep in mind that dental decay is caused by dental plaque—a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on teeth. When any sugars (or carbohydrates that become sugars as they break down) are eaten, the bacteria in the plaque produce acids that break down the enamel of the tooth. After prolonged exposure to these acids the enamel breaks down and a cavity is formed. In order to prevent this process, it is essential to thoroughly remove dental plaque once every 24 hours. 

The following are factors that increase a person’s risk of developing cavities:     

• Frequent intake of sugars and sugary foods   
• Elevated oral bacteria count   
• Recent history of dental decay   
• Inadequate exposure to fluoride   
• Exposed roots due to receded gums   
• Poor or inadequate oral hygiene   
• Deep pits and fissures on chewing surfaces of teeth (see section entitled “Sealants” below)   
• Decreased flow of saliva (often medication related)

Brushing your teeth is the most effective way to remove plaque and harmful bacteria from your teeth and gums and prevent cavities.  

General recommendations for brushing include:    

• Brush your teeth twice a day using a soft bristle brush. 
• Place your tooth brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums, brushing 1-2 teeth at a time using a circular motion. Don’t forget to cover all surfaces of each individual tooth of the entire mouth. In addition, you should brush your tongue as well as the roof and floor of the mouth. This will help you keep your breath fresh and pleasant. It takes about three minutes to effectively remove plaque from the surfaces of all teeth. Studies have shown that people usually rush and generally spend only around 1.5 minutes brushing.   
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or earlier if the bristles look worn. Your toothbrush will no longer be effectively removing plaque if the bristles are frayed.   
• Talk to your dentist to determine what kind of brush and brushing technique would be best for your mouth. Even some brushes labeled “soft” are not truly soft, and coupled with an aggressive brushing style, may lead to gum recession and root wear.

Flossing is essential for removing plaque between your teeth where your tooth brush cannot reach. If plaque is not removed by brushing and flossing it can eventually turn into harmful tartar, also known as calculus. Not only is flossing an essential complement to brushing to prevent your teeth from developing cavities between your teeth, but it also helps prevent halitosis (bad breath). It increases blood circulation in your gums, keeping them healthy and strong. Studies have shown no difference between flossing before or after brushing. It is simply important that it happens, and is done properly.  

Children need to floss too. Adult caregivers should assist them until they are 10 or 11 years old and develop dextral maturity to floss on their own.  

Flossing is not supposed to be painful. If you are new to flossing (or have not flossed regularly for some time), you will likely feel some initial discomfort and possibly mild bleeding of the gums. But if a proper flossing regimen is maintained and plaque is removed, the pain will stop within a short period of time (5-10 days).  

How to floss:  

• Wrap each end of a 12-inch piece of floss around your middle fingers. 
• Hold a small amount (about an inch) of the floss between your thumbs and index fingers. 
• Hugging the floss tightly to the side of each tooth, rub the floss gently up and down. 
• Keep the floss pressing tightly against your tooth, forming a C or U shape that hugs as much surface area of your tooth as possible. 
• Each side of each tooth should be covered. Don’t forget to floss the back side of your last tooth (molar) in the mouth.

Dental x-rays help dentists to identify diseases associated with teeth and their surrounding structures which cannot be seen with a simple clinical oral evaluation. In addition, they help dentists to find and treat compromised teeth early in disease development. These early findings can prevent patients from unnecessary discomfort, lead to a conservative procedure rather than tooth loss, and can even help save a life.  

In adults dental x-rays can be used to:    

• Show decay that is starting between the teeth or under an existing filling   
• Reveal bone loss due periodontal disease   
• Show build up (calculus) underneath the gums   
• Reveal an abscess (an infection around or at the tip of the root)   
• Show possible developmental abnormalities such as cysts and some tumors   
• Assist in preparation for dental implants, braces, dentures, or other dental procedures 

In children dental x-rays are used to:    

• Detect decay   
• Analyze and determine if a child has enough space in his or her mouth for all developing teeth   
• Determine if tooth development and loss (loss of baby teeth) is appropriate and on time 

When X-rays pass through the mouth, more x-rays are absorbed by the denser parts (such as teeth and bone) than by soft tissues (gums and cheeks). These differences are exposed on film or a digital sensor to create an image. Teeth appear lighter because fewer x-rays penetrate to reach the sensor, while cavities and gums appear dark because more x-rays pass through. The reading and interpretation of these x-rays allows dentists to accurately and safely detect dental decay and abnormalities.  

The frequency of dental x-rays depends on the patient’s individual health needs. Some people may need x-rays as often as every six months, while others who are free of dental decay and come for regular dental visits may only need them once every few years. The schedule for needing x-rays varies according to your age, risk factors, and signs and symptoms of disease. If you are a new patient, your dentist will need to take a full set of x-rays of your entire mouth to establish your baseline record.