Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums
- How often should I visit the dentist?
- How often should I brush and floss my teeth?
- What is the proper way to brush my teeth?
- What is the proper way to floss?
- What is plaque?
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
- What is periodontal (gum) disease?
- What is the difference between periodontal maintenance and a “regular cleaning”?
- What are the signs of periodontal disease?
- How can I prevent periodontal disease?
Teeth Whitening
- Why do our teeth turn yellow?
- What are the different types of teeth whitening options?
- How long does teeth whitening last?
Other Common Questions
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums
How often should I visit the dentist?
You should visit the dentist at least twice a year. A dental exam can reveal early signs of decay and disease that you may not see or feel. Catching these conditions early can help control them before they get worse and harder to treat. Additionally, getting a cleaning by a trained professional will remove plaque in areas you may have missed or cannot reach.
How often should I brush and floss my teeth?
You should brush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed. You should floss once a day as well.
What is the proper way to brush my teeth?
The following guidelines are important to brushing correctly.
- Firstly, make sure to use a soft-bristled brush. Hard-bristled brushes can wear down the enamel of your teeth.
- Place your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gumline. Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline.
- Use short back-and-forth strokes or tiny circular movements to brush your teeth. Each movement should be no bigger than the size of each tooth.
- Make sure to use gentle strokes while brushing. Gentle strokes are effective in removing plaque, while too much pressure can wear down the enamel of your teeth.
- Brush all surfaces of each tooth, including the outer, inner, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Finally, don’t cut your brushing short! Make sure to brush for at least 2 minutes.
What is the proper way to floss?
The following guidelines are important to flossing correctly.
- Take 18″ of floss and wind it around the middle finger of each hand. You can use these fingers to take up floss as it becomes dirty. Using your thumb and forefinger, pinch the floss, leaving 1–2 inches in between for cleaning.
- Gently move the floss up and down the spaces of your teeth. Never snap the floss down onto your gums, as it can cause damage.
- As you move the floss down into the space between two teeth, slide it up and down against the surface of one tooth. Gently clean at the gumline as well. Repeat this for the other tooth.
- Repeat this process for all of your teeth.
What is plaque?
Plaque is a sticky, clear film which forms every day on teeth from food debris and bacteria. If plaque is not removed, it can lead to gum disease and cavities. Regular dental checkups, along with brushing and flossing every day, can help prevent plaque buildup on teeth. In addition, avoiding sugary snacks and eating a balanced diet can help control plaque.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
What is periodontal (gum) disease?
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the gums and bone that hold your teeth in place. Typically, periodontal disease occurs when plaque builds up on the teeth and hardens, often due to poor brushing habits. The gums can become swollen and red in the early stage of the disease, called gingivitis. As the disease advances, periodontal disease can lead to sore and bleeding gums, pain while chewing, as well as tooth loss.
What is the difference between periodontal maintenance and a “regular cleaning”?
A prophylaxis or “regular cleaning” appointment is generally recommended every 6 months for patients with healthy gums and bone. This patient displays good home care, has healthy gum tissue, does not bleed upon light probing, and has no pockets over 4mm. During this appointment, we remove stain, soft plaque deposits, and hard tartar mainly above the gum tissue on the crown of the tooth. Pocket depth measurements are generally recorded once per year. This procedure is prophylactic and superficial in nature.
A periodontal maintenance appointment is performed to control the progression of periodontal disease. This patient has previously undergone a “deep cleaning,” or root planing and curettage, to clean and disinfect the roots of the teeth. They have pocketing of 4mm or above and recession; bone loss/bone changes are evident by X-ray. The frequency of these appointments is generally every 3-4 months and includes scaling below the gumline to disinfect and control disease progression. Pocket depth measurements are generally recorded more than once per year, depending on clinical signs, which may indicate active disease progression, such as bleeding and inflammation. This procedure is therapeutic and requires more skill and expertise than prophylactic procedures, as most of the work is done below the gumline. As in the case of diabetes, periodontal disease cannot be cured. It is a chronic condition requiring lifelong monitoring and can be controlled. Given this, once an individual is classified as a perio maintenance patient, they should not be classified as a prophy patient again.
The majority of dental insurances cover/partially cover 2 prophy appointments per year. Insurance may cover/partially cover up to 4 perio maintenance appointments per year. Each insurance policy is different and negotiated by your employer or yourself when you enter into the insurance plan. Our recommendations are based upon keeping our patients healthy, not upon what your insurance may or may not cover.
What are the signs of periodontal disease?
The following are signs of periodontal (gum) disease, and you should contact your dentist if you experience any of these:
- gums that bleed while brushing
- red, swollen, or tender gums
- gums that have pulled away from the teeth
- bad breath that doesn’t go away
- pus between your teeth and gums
- loose teeth
- a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
How can I prevent periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly.
Also, make sure to eat a healthy diet to get the required vitamins and minerals necessary for your teeth.
Teeth Whitening
Why do our teeth turn yellow?
While our teeth start out pearly white, they can discolor through the years as our enamel wears down. The wearing down of enamel allows dentin, a yellow-colored substance that makes the core of our teeth, to show through. This is what gives our teeth a yellowish tint.
What are the different types of teeth whitening options?
Below are the three most popular teeth whitening options available today.
In-office teeth whitening
In-office teeth whitening works by producing a significant color change in your teeth in a short amount of time, usually within an hour. The procedure is done at the dentist’s office, applying a high-concentration peroxide gel on the teeth after they have been protected with a special shield.
Professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits
These whitening kits are purchased from your doctor for use at home. The strength of the gel used in these kits is lower than that used in in-office bleaching; thus, the gel can be applied for longer periods. Usually, the trays are worn for a couple of hours a day or overnight for a few days or weeks, depending on the product.
Over-the-counter whitening
Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits are store-bought and use a lower concentration gel than both in-office bleaching and take-home kits purchased from your doctor. While they are cheaper, they typically are less effective than methods that can be performed by your dentist because of the low-concentration gel. Additionally, over-the-counter trays are not custom-fit for your teeth, which can result in irritation to your gums while wearing the trays.
How long does teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening usually lasts from one to three years before darkening of the teeth is noticed. Additionally, once your teeth have been initially whitened, typically only “touch-ups” are required to maintain the whiteness.
Other Common Questions
What can I do about bad breath?
Bad breath is caused by a variety of factors, including the types of food you ingest, periodontal disease, dry mouth, and other causes. Going to your dentist will help you determine the cause of your bad breath, so that you can take steps to eliminate it.
Regardless of the cause of your bad breath, good oral hygiene and regular checkups with the dentist will help reduce it. Brushing and flossing will eliminate particles of food stuck between your teeth, which emit odors. It will also help prevent or treat periodontal disease (gum disease), caused by plaque buildup on your teeth, which can lead to bad breath.
