DENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Practicing excellent oral hygiene is the key to maintaining good overall health — for patients of all ages! Parents must introduce proper oral care early in a child's life, as early as infancy. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children brush and floss every day, and we encourage them to lead by example.

In recent years, bacterial inflammation associated with gum disease has been linked to chronic health problems, such as stroke, coronary artery disease and premature, low birth-weight babies. Yet there are a number of things you can do to help protect your teeth and your overall health. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year allows us to thoroughly clean your teeth, and dental exams give us the ability to evaluate any potential problems (i.e. cavities, gingivitis, etc.) before they become more serious. We are also able to recognize whether a patient is getting proper nutrition, maintaining a proper oral hygiene regimen and whether there are any growth or development problems.

To ensure you and your family are practicing good oral hygiene at home, be sure to:

Brush at least three times a day using a fluoridated toothpaste Floss daily
Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
Stop smoking
Discontinue the use of smokeless tobacco products

By following these steps, you can help prevent common problems, such as cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, oral cancer, as well as prohibit the development of more serious diseases that affect your overall health, including heart disease and diabetes.

COMMON PROBLEMS

Frequently Asked Questions

TOOTH DECAY

Tooth decay, also known as caries or cavities, is preventable. Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as candy, cookies, soft drinks and even fruit juices, leave deposits on your teeth. Those deposits bond with the bacteria that normally survive in your mouth and form plaque. The combination of deposits and plaque forms acids that can damage the mineral structure of teeth and eat away at tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

SENSITIVE TEETH

Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Hot and cold foods and beverages can cause pain or irritation to people with sensitive teeth. Over time, tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating nerve endings. Simply breathing cold air can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth.

GUM DISEASE

Gum, or periodontal, disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss and bone damage, and common indicators are consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Gums in the early stage of disease, known as gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth may fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Gum disease is highly preventable and can usually be avoided through daily brushing and flossing.

BAD BREATH (HALITOSIS)

Daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent the build-up of food particles, plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth deteriorate and cause bad breath. While certain foods, such as garlic or anchovies, may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem.

CANKER SORES

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often recur. They have a white or gray base surrounded by a red border, Generally lasting one or two weeks, the duration of canker sores can be reduced by the use of antimicrobial mouthwashes or topical agents.

ORTHODONTIC PROBLEMS

A bite that does not meet properly (a malocclusion) can be inherited, or some types of improper bites may be acquired. Common causes of malocclusion include missing or extra teeth, crowded teeth, misaligned jaws, injuries/trauma or developmental issues, such as finger or thumb sucking.