Hygiene Information

Why is it important to maintain good oral hygiene?

Oral hygiene, both home and the care you receive at the dental office is extremely important to both your dental health as well as your overall well being. The condition of your teeth and gums can have a direct influence on your overall health. Current research demonstrates the mouth-body connection, with heart disease, diabetes, stroke , copd and many inflammatory response diseases being linked to oral health. This makes promoting and maintaining a high level of oral hygiene critical to avoiding health complications resulting from periodontal or gum disease.

How often should I brush?

Because brushing helps to remove the bacteria in plaque that causes tooth decay, it is vital to brush your teeth properly and on a regular basis. This bacteria creates acids that cause tooth decay by interacting with sugars in your mouth. Brushing helps to prevent periodontal disease by preventing the inflammation of gums and bone through the conversion of this plaque to calculus, or tartar.

By brushing your teeth at least twice a day with an ADA-approved flouride toothpaste and flossing regularly, you can maintain healthy gums and teeth.

Some tips for brushing properly:^*

Using a small, circular motion, brush at a 45 degree angle, making sure to maintain contact with your gums.
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
For the front teeth, use the tip of the toothbrush to clean the inside surfaces with a gentle up-and-down stroke.
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or when the bristles start to become frayed.

Electric toothbrushes are more efficient than manual brushes at removing plaque, and are easy to use. Making sure to cover the same areas as you would using a manual brush, place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and move around your mouth after the required time had passed (usually about 20 seconds per tooth). Many of these brushes have the added benefit of helping you to brush your teeth for an optimal amount of time (usually two minutes- the length of a song on the radio!), and can be fun to use for adults and children alike.

Why is it so important to floss?

While regular brushing removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria from all tooth surfaces, flossing is the best way to clean the areas between our teeth and under the gumline that your toothbrush can't reach. Because these areas are highly susceptible to decay and periodontal (gum) disease, flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up. This prevents damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

Tips for proper flossing: ^*

Take about 18 inches of dental floss and wrap most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining length around the middle finger of your other hand, which will take up the used floss. You should have about 2 inches of floss visible between your hands.
Holding the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers, gently insert the gloss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.
When the floss reaches your gumline, curve the floss into a C shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth
Holding the floss tightly against the tooth, gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions
Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remainder of your teeth, making sure to remember the back side of the farthest teeth.

Researchers have found that daily flossing can increase your life expectancy and can make you look and feel younger (by up to 6.4 years!).^* Flossing has very real health benefits, and is a simple and effective way to improve your health as part of a daily health routine.

How often should I go to the dentist and will my Insurance Cover it?

Typically, you should have your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year. This time interval is generally sufficient to catch dental problems before they become too serious. Patients who have periodontal disease, are at high risk for cavities or with health complications may be scheduled for more frequent visits. Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential in preventing dental problems and maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.

While an insurance plan often limits the number of examinations a patient may have in a coverage year, they understand the role of preventative visits and allocate a set number of scaling or cleaning time units per coverage year. Typically this coverage is sufficient for a patient to have the required number of cleaning and examination appointments.

It is useful to be familiar with the terms of any dental insurance coverage you may have. Depending on your plan, you will be covered for a certain number of specific dental treatments per year. For more information, consult your insurance provider or contact our office, where our insurance experts can help you to understand your coverage and get the most out of your dental benefits.

What causes bad breath, and how can it be treated?

Also known as halitosis, bad breath is an unpleasant condition that causes embarrassment for many people. Often, we may not even be aware of it when we experience bad breath. In approximately 80% of all cases, halitosis is caused by the breakdown of organic substances in the mouth, present in saliva, oral soft tissues and food particles.^* In many cases, bad breath can be managed through brushing the tongue on a regular basis when brushing your teeth.^* It is important to see your dentist if you are concerned about this, as he or she can help identify the cause and develop a specific treatment plan to help you to eliminate this condition if it is caused by an oral issue.

Some non-dental factors that can cause you to have bad breath are: ^*

Diet: The absorption of certain foods, especially garlic and onions, into the bloodstream transfers molecules from the food to the lungs, where these are exhaled. People who are dieting may also develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating, from the ketones the body produces as fat is metabolized.
Oral hygiene: Inadequate or infrequent brushing and flossing can leave food particles in the mouth, which collect bacteria that causes bad breath.
Dry mouth: Also referred to as xerostomia, dry mouth is due to a lack of adequate saliva and may be caused by various medications. This is a common reason for malodorous breath in the morning, as saliva flow slows down during sleep and allows bacteria to remain in the mouth.
Tobacco: Smoking or using chewing tobacco causes bad breath in addition to increasing your risk of developing periodontal disease and oral cancer.
Medical disorders: A number of illnesses and afflictions can contribute to bad breath, such as respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis and bronchitis, diabetes, and liver or kidney diseases.

Keeping a log of the foods you eat and your medications may help you identify probable causes of your bad breath. Because an accurate diagnoses depends on the providing your dentist with this relevant information, you should also share this record with your dentist. He or she can advise you on the oral side effects of these medications and can recommend certain dietary changes to help freshen your breath.

What is plaque?

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums. This bacteria attacks tooth enamel after you eat a meal or snack, with certain foods causing plaque to produce acid that causes cavities and irritates the gums. Red, inflamed, or bleeding gums can result from these toxins produced by plaque.

There are many negative consequences of having plaque on the gums and teeth for an extended period of time. As it gradually converts to calculus (tartar), plaque may cause gums to pull away from the teeth, forming what are called 'pockets.' These pockets expose sensitive tissues that surround your teeth to pus and bacteria, which fill these pockets. If left untreated, the bone around the teeth can be slowly destroyed. ^*

One way to prevent plaque formation and build-up is to eat a balanced diet while avoiding constant snacking. If you do choose to have between-meal snacks, opt for nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, cheese, plain yogurt, or fruit. When you come in for a cleaning and checkup, your hygienist can recommend certain changes to your diet that will help you to reduce the plaque that forms in your mouth as well as help you to lead a healthier lifestyle.

What are the warning signs for periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Although there is a common misconception that your tum tissue is attached to your teeth, a very shallow, v-shaped crevice called a sulcus exists between the gum tissue and the teeth and serves to hold them in place. Periodontal diseases attacks just below the gum line in the sulcus, causing loss of tooth attachment and supporting tissues to break down.

Risk factors for periodontal disease:

Smoking/chewing tobacco: People who smoke or chew tobacco are more likely to have periodontal disease, and have a greater risk of severity than those who do not use any tobacco products.
Certain systemic diseases: Diabetes, for example, can lower your body's resistance to infection, making periodontal disease more severe
Multiple medications: Steroids, certain anti-epilepsy and cancer therapy drugs, calcium channel blockers, and oral contraceptives can affect the gums. Also, medications may result in a chronically dry mouth, which can irritate your oral soft tissues. For more information about the side effects of common medications, see the related section below.
Bridges, crooked teeth, or fillings: If your bridges no longer fit properly or your fillings have become defective, this can contribute to your plaque retention
Pregnancy/use of oral contraceptives: These increase hormone levels, causing gum tissue to be more sensitive to toxins and enzymes produced by plaque, allowing for the accelerated growth of some bacteria. For more information, see the related section below.

It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs, another reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal exams are very important. However, several signs that you may have or be at risk for periodontal disease include the following:

Red and puffy gums – Gums should never be red or swollen.
Bleeding gums – Gums should never bleed, even when you brush vigorously or use dental floss.
Persistent bad breath or bad taste – Caused by bacteria in the mouth.
New spacing between teeth – Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bits, caused by bone loss.
Loose/separating teeth – Also caused by bone loss or weakened periodontal fibers (fibers that support the tooth to the bone).
Pus around the teeth and gums – Sign that there is an infection present.
Receding gums – Loss of gum around a tooth.
Any changes in the fit of partial dentures
Tenderness or Discomfort – Plaque, calculus, and bacteria irritate the gums and teeth.

Good oral hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease.