'The Best offense is a great Defense'... When it comes to your mouth, the best thing is creating a great defense. This includes everything from routine checkups to practicing proper dental hygiene.
Dental Exams & Cleanings
This is the first step toward long-term oral health. We cannot stress enough how important it is to have a checkup once every six months. These can be simply to clean your teeth, but it is also done to make sure that there are no periodontal issues or tooth decay. This also allows you time to ask your dentist about any concerns you may have and learn proper techniques of dental hygiene.
Dental X-rays
Dental radiographs (x-rays) are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during cleanings or exams. The dentists and hygienist use these to make accurate treatment plans. Without x-rays, problem areas may not be detected and treated appropriately. Detecting problems such as cysts, bone loss, decay, abnormalities, root issues and problems within the tooth or below the gum line can save you time, money, and unnecessary discomfort. We recommend you get dental x-rays at least once a year.
Sealants
Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surface of the tooth typically used on molars, premolars and any deep grooves of teeth. A sealant is a non-descript way to protect the tooth from decay for many years by sealing deep grooves, creating a smooth, easy to clean surface.
The application of sealants is a painless process that only takes a couple of minutes per tooth. First the tooth is cleaned, and prepared with a special solution to help the sealant bond, rinsed and dried, and then the sealant is carefully painted onto the enamel surface of the tooth. Proper home care and regular dental visits will increase the life of your new sealants.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is one of the most curable oral diseases when it's caught early. A simple exam has been developed using technology that has been proven successful in discovering types of precancerous abnormalities. If caught early treatment is much quicker and less invasive. The American Cancer Society recommends that you have this exam at least once a year. For patients at risk for oral cancer a comprehensive oral screening with regular exams is recommended.
Home Care
Again, practicing proper dental hygiene and having a balanced diet will prevent most dental issues. Two things that you can do to ensure that your teeth will stay healthy are brushing and flossing.
Brushing - We recommend brushing at least two times daily for a minimum of two minutes. We also recommend using a Sonicare Toothbrush. Use non-abrasive toothpaste with fluoride and whiteners. Good ones are Britesmile and Rembrant toothpaste. If you have any questions regarding what types of toothbrushes or toothpaste to use, you can always refer to our FAQ section.
Flossing - Of all the problems we see on a daily basis, flossing (or the lack of it) is the biggest problem we see with our patients. It is imperative that you floss at least once daily. There are many different types of floss on the market, and we recommend that you find one that is comfortable to you and stick with it. If you cannot floss daily, we suggest that you do it 4 times per week at a minimum.
Cleaning in this manner helps clean 'dark triangles' between the teeth as well as your best prevention against Periodontal disease. Be sure to floss around all the teeth you want to keep.
