Overview

Regular checkups and professional teeth cleaning (officially known as dental prophylaxis) are crucial for both your oral health and your overall wellbeing. After treatment for periodontitis (gum disease), implant placement, or gum surgery, the professional “cleanings” are more detailed and involve more diagnostic monitoring for the rest of your life and are called “maintenance recare” visits. How you care for your mouth at home is every bit, if not more, as important as keeping regular visits with the dentist as recommended.

Protecting your teeth from decay and to protect your overall health from the ravages of gum disease is a continual battle. The sugar from the food you eat in combination with the bacteria in your mouth leads to the formation of plaque. Plaque produces acids that gradually damage your teeth and poisons that cause your gums to become infected, which can lead to bone destruction around your teeth and eventual tooth loss. Your teeth are robbed of minerals by acid attack, which makes them weaker and prone to cavity formation and decay. When your gums are inflamed and infected, your overall health is compromised.

Plaque is a gummy slime that the bacteria in your mouth create to protect themselves. This is the soft “slime” that forms around the gumline of your teeth if you forget to brush. It must be cleared away mechanically with something like a toothbrush, because it is too sticky to be rinsed away. Over time, the plaque hardens as it accumulates minerals from the saliva and forms tartar, which dentists and hygienists call calculus, a hard substance that can only be removed by a professional. When it hardens, the roughness encourages more plaque accumulation, and it is an irritant to the gum tissues.

Did you know that it actually takes 14 days for plaque to be on teeth before the gums begin to bleed? This means that if your gums are bleeding in a particular area, plaque has not been thoroughly removed from that area for at least two weeks! This is why it’s tough to fool a dentist or hygienist by trying to convince them that you brush properly when you brush “really well” just before your dental appointment.

Prevention of plaque build-up is essential to the protection against cavity and gum disease, which is why your home care routine is vital.

To care for your teeth at home…

• Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day, making sure to brush each accessible surface of each tooth thoroughly using a fluoride-containing toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth each day to remove plaque from the spaces between your teeth and in the areas below your gumline, where your toothbrush can’t reach. Don’t skip flossing; it’s your best defense against gum disease!
• Rinsing with a mouthwash can help reduce plaque that is left after brushing.
• A healthy diet is important for a healthy mouth. Try to either rinse your mouth thoroughly with water or brush after eating or snacking.
• Avoid tobacco use for a variety of harmful reasons.
• Be sure to let us know if you have any concerns such as sensitivity, bleeding, or oral pain.

It’s important to note that, while brushing and flossing are necessary, they may not be as effective as they could be if you’re using improper technique. In fact, it’s possible to damage your teeth if you use the wrong toothbrush or brush with too much force.

Please see our guides to brushing and flossing to make sure you’re doing it correctly.

Tooth Brushing

What’s the Best Way to Brush My Teeth?

Brush at least twice a day, for about 2 minutes each time.

To brush properly:

• Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
• Move the brush gently back and forth in short strokes with a slight circular rotation.
• Be sure to brush the entire surfaces of your teeth—the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, the chewing surfaces, and even the backs of those hard-to-reach molars.
• For the inside surfaces of your front teeth, tilt your brush vertically and brush with up-and-down strokes.
• Don’t brush too hard! Plaque only needs to be brushed gently to be removed, and too much force can hurt your enamel.

Some other important factors:

• Be sure to use a brush with soft bristles—they clean much better than medium or hard bristles and are kinder to the teeth and gums!
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or whenever the brushes become bent.
• Use a toothpaste with fluoride.

Here’s a video from the American Dental Association to show you how it’s done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm9c5HAUBpY

Caring for Your Toothbrush

Brushing and flossing properly is crucial to good oral health, but caring for your toothbrush is something that often goes overlooked, even though it’s important as well. If your toothbrush is not properly taken care of it can spread more germs into your mouth and not clean your teeth properly. For proper toothbrush care, be sure to keep the following in mind:

Rinse off the toothbrush
After you brush your teeth, make sure you rinse off your toothbrush completely with water and allow it to air-dry. If you store your toothbrush in a container, the moisture can create an environment that allows microorganisms to grow.

Do not share your toothbrush
Sharing a toothbrush can lead to an increased risk of infection.

Replace your toothbrush
It is recommended that you replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. The bristles become worn and less effective over time.

What Kind of Toothbrush Should I Use?

There are a lot of choices out there when it comes to toothbrushes, but the big question may come down to whether you should use an electric or a traditional toothbrush.

The short answer is that either type, when used with proper technique for the appropriate amount of time, can effectively clean your teeth. However, electric toothbrushes tend to make doing it properly a lot easier.

So, the real divider is ease.

With a manual brush, diligence is key. It is recommended that in order to maintain a healthy smile, brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day is key. Regular toothbrushes have the benefits of being inexpensive, travel-friendly, and don’t require batteries or to be charged before use.

Electric toothbrushes have gained popularity for their ability to do all of the work for the user. With the option of different style brush heads and modes, like whitening, sensitivity, and deep cleaning, it makes a thorough teeth cleaning simple. Some electric options are even equipped to time how long the user is spending brushing one area and alerts the user to move to a different quadrant through vibrations.

Additionally, electronic toothbrushes are ideal for those for whom brushing can be troublesome. For people with issues such as coordination problems, arthritis, orthodontic brackets, or gum disease, electric toothbrushes can make it easier for them to reach every area of their teeth. Children can benefit from electric toothbrushes as well, as kids find them more interesting and they help do some of the brushing for them.

The ADA suggests that the real deciding factor is the person doing the brushing (and how they brush) more than the toothbrush itself. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but for most people, an electric toothbrush can help make cleaning your teeth a little bit easier. However, before purchasing an electric toothbrush, please discuss this with us—not every electric toothbrush on the market is appropriate for everyone.

Flossing

How Do I Floss Properly?

Flossing once a day helps prevent cavities in places where your toothbrush can’t reach and helps ward off gum disease.

To floss properly:

• Use a piece of floss that’s about 18″ long. Wind most of the floss around one of your middle fingers and the remaining floss around the same finger on the opposite hand.
• When flossing, you will be gradually unwinding clean floss from the one finger, while wrapping the dirty floss around the finger of the other hand.
• Tightly hold the floss between your forefingers and thumbs.
• Use a gentle rubbing motion to guide the floss between your teeth. Be sure not to use too much force or to snap the floss into your gums.
• When the floss reaches the gumline, wrap it into a “C” shape around one tooth and slide it gently into the space between the gum and tooth.
• While holding the floss tightly against the side of the tooth, move the floss away from your gums with an up-and-down motion.
• Complete this process until you have rubbed the floss along the side of each of your teeth.
• Don’t forget to floss the back of your last molar!

The American Dental Association has a video to help show you this process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhdoPXNKNm4

Why Is It Important to Floss?

Most people will brush their teeth, but many are reluctant to floss as instructed. Some feel that brushing alone is sufficient, while others were influenced by a 2016 news article citing the lack of studies done on the effectiveness of flossing. Others are concerned when flossing causes discomfort or makes their gums bleed.

The truth of the matter is that toothbrushes are incapable of reaching all surfaces of the tooth. There are spaces between teeth where tiny food particles and bacteria can cause plaque formation. While mouthwash can reach these areas and kill the bacteria, it’s not capable of removing the plaque. This plaque will eventually become tartar, a hard substance that can only be removed by a dentist.

Plaque in areas between teeth can result in cavities that are difficult to spot, and beneath the gumline, it can cause irritation and eventually lead to gingivitis and gum disease. This is typically the real reason why gums bleed when flossing. Flossing helps keep these areas clean and allows the gums to heal and return to normal.

A study performed at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences found that flossing increases the effectiveness of brushing, allowing higher concentrations of fluoride to remain in the mouth for longer periods of time. While the study found evidence leading us to believe that flossing before brushing may be more effective, the most important thing is that we DO floss!

Tongue

Should I Brush My Tongue?

When you brush and floss your teeth, are you cleaning your tongue as well?

The germs in your mouth that cause tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease tend to form together in groups known as colonies. Colonies of bacteria are less destructive when they are broken up during your oral hygiene routine. However, they don’t just live on your teeth; bacteria can be found on your tongue as well.

The surface of the tongue is covered with many little tissue projections, called papillae, which serve various functions such as detecting taste. These papillae also make great hiding places for bacteria. In addition to being the type of bacteria that can result in tooth decay, they are also typically the source of bad breath.

Just using mouthwash isn’t enough to eliminate this bacteria; it needs to be manually dislodged with a toothbrush.

How to clean your tongue
Cleaning your tongue is relatively simple. Use your toothbrush first to go back-and-forth, then switch to side-to-side. Be sure you don’t overdo it, as you don’t want to damage your tongue. When done, rinse out your mouth with water.

A tongue-scraper may also be used but isn’t necessary. The ADA explains that, so far, there is no evidence that they work any better than using a toothbrush.

Plaque

What are Plaque and Tartar?

Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that naturally forms on our teeth each day. The bacteria in plaque can react with the sugars and starches in the food we eat, resulting in an acid that gradually dissolves tooth enamel. This process, if not stopped, will result in tooth decay and the eventual destruction of the tooth.

While plaque can be removed with proper brushing and flossing, any plaque that is missed will harden into tartar. Tartar, or dental calculus, cannot be removed by brushing; it requires special tools used by dentists in order to be safely eliminated.

The acids produced by plaque and tartar can do more than just damage teeth enamel. They can irritate gums, resulting in redness and bleeding. As this progresses into gum disease, the gums will begin to pull away from the teeth, and the tissue and bones holding the teeth in place will begin to break down.

This is why good home care and regular professional dental cleanings are needed in order to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Diet can also help slow down the development of plaque by avoiding sticky and sugary foods that may result in sugar staying on your teeth for long periods of time.

Sensitive Teeth

It is estimated that approximately half the population experiences tooth sensitivity.

The sensitivity you experience can come in many forms or situations. It may be mild and momentary, or extreme and last for hours. It can come and go over time. It can happen when you bite down on something, eat something sweet, drink something cold, or even when you drink something hot.

Why do your teeth react to hot, cold, sweet, or sour, and sometimes even to pressure? What’s actually going on?

If you are having issues with sensitive teeth, it’s typically an indication of a dental problem that needs treatment. The type of treatment can vary depending on the cause, however, as there are many things that can cause sensitive teeth.

Common causes of sensitive teeth

Six of the most common causes of sensitive teeth are:

1. Dental Trauma – A tooth can be sensitive to even slight pressure if it has been traumatized in any way, “bruised” or even cracked (by biting down on something). Sometimes even having your teeth cleaned or a filling done can cause sensitivity. Sensitivity to trauma can take weeks or even months to go away.
2. Uneven Bite – If a tooth or teeth are hitting too soon or too hard because the teeth have shifted, and your bite has changed, it can cause sensitivity. These shifts can be due to things such as thumb sucking, loss of bone structure, a tooth being extracted and the other teeth shifting into the empty space, etc. Again a bite adjustment usually corrects the problem.
3. Tooth Decay – The tooth often becomes sensitive to hot or cold, sweets, or acidic food if a tooth is decayed because bacteria have access to the nerve of the tooth. Removal of the decay and a filling is required to resolve this issue.
4. Dental Infection – The sensitivity can be extreme if there is infection in the tooth. Treatment is needed to clear up the infection or it can not only lead to extreme pain, but serious health issues.
5. Muscle pain – Pain from the muscles involved in chewing can cause dental hypersensitivity and even toothaches.
6. Dentinal Sensitivity – Exposed dentin is by far the most common cause of tooth sensitivity. This occurs when the dentin (the inner layer of a tooth) is exposed. People with a healthy, thick layer of enamel on their teeth don’t usually suffer from tooth sensitivity. The enamel can be eroded by various things, as the thickness of the enamel varies from person to person. Dentin is a sponge-like material containing small tubes that connect the root canal space pulp to the outside of the dentin. If the enamel on the tooth is compromised the dentin can be exposed, resulting in sensitivity.

Causes of dentinal sensitivity
As it’s the most common source of sensitive teeth, it may help to know some of the reasons why it may happen. These include, but are not limited to:

• Over-brushing or aggressive brushing – If you brush too forcefully, with a side-to-side technique, or with too hard of a brush, the enamel may be thinned and the area around the gum-line is most often affected.
• Gum recession/gum disease – This can occur naturally over time, whereby the gums shrink back, exposing root dentin which is not protected by enamel.
• Poor oral hygiene – This can lead to cavities, and/or plaque and tartar build-up, resulting in gum recession.
• Grinding – This may also cause “aching” teeth, due to constant pressure on them. Similar to erosion, regular teeth grinding (also called bruxism) can wear away the enamel by physically grinding it away.
• Medical conditions – Bulimia and acid reflux (GERD) can cause acid to collect in the mouth and erode enamel, resulting in sensitive teeth.
• Acidic food – Food with high acid content, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, and tea, can cause enamel erosion with regular consumption.
• Bad habits – Using teeth as tools or chewing on objects (e.g., pens) can wear away tooth enamel as well.

Teeth can become sensitive for many different reasons ranging from trauma to dental disease. The first step in treating sensitive teeth is to determine the cause. If you suffer from sensitive teeth, getting in touch with our office to make an appointment is the first step in finding relief.

Bad Breath

80 million people in the US are affected every day by chronic bad breath, also known as Halitosis. Bad breath is an important oral health issue; whether it’s your own or someone else’s, and it may be more than an embarrassing social problem—it can be a sign of disease or illness.

Common Causes of Bad Breath

Poor oral hygiene

Bad breath is typically caused by a sulfur compound that is left by bacteria created from decaying food particles and other leftover debris that are trapped between teeth. This is why you should be flossing once a day. In addition to proper brushing, flossing daily helps remove the food particles and bacteria that contribute to bad breath, making it one of the easiest ways to prevent and banish bad breath. Brushing your tongue, cheeks and the roof of your mouth can help remove food particles, too, and of course, regular visits to the dentist are recommended as well.

Dry mouth

Saliva is important for more reasons than you might think, one of which is that your mouth is more susceptible to plaque buildup if less saliva is present. As we’ve established, this building may result in an unpleasant smell.

If you deal with bad breath due to a lack of saliva, you can avoid the following circumstances:

Alcohol – Beverages containing alcohol may promote a dry mouth and cause bad breath, so before you hop into bed and forget after a night of drinking, be sure to floss, no matter how tired you may seem to be.

Early morning – You may be prone to bad breath in the morning because saliva stops flowing when you sleep. Mornings may be the best time for your daily dental flossing.

Being hungry or thirsty – Since there is not much saliva in your mouth when you are dehydrated, you’re prone to increased bacterial buildup and bad breath at these times. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and are eating right. Chewing food also increases the saliva in your mouth, so if you’re skipping meals or dieting, you may develop bad breath. If you must restrict your food intake and eat infrequently, drink plenty of water to help maintain the level of saliva in your mouth to help prevent bad breath.

Causes of Chronic Bad Breath

Having good oral hygiene and a healthy diet are good ways to be sure you avoid bad breath. But, if you’re doing all of these things and are still having problems, there may be another cause, including some serious health conditions.

Some serious oral health conditions associated with bad breath to include:

• Throat problems such as strep throat
• Gum disease
• Dental Cavities
• Throat or oral cancer
• Tonsils that contain trapped food particles.
• A root canal that is infected

Bad breath can also be a symptom of a variety of serious non-oral health problems including:

• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• HIV
• Digestive system ailments such as:
• Acid reflux
• Lung infections
• Lung disease.

Mouthwash – Should You Be Using a Mouthwash?

Brushing and flossing are the most crucial elements of a home oral hygiene routine and should be your main focus. There are some cases where a mouthwash/mouthrinse can be helpful, however, and mouthwash has the benefit of reaching areas that might be missed by a toothbrush.

Types of mouthwash

The best type of mouthwash for you will depend on your needs. You should be aware that there are two main types of mouthwash: therapeutic and cosmetic. The latter type may be used to control bad breath and leave a pleasant taste behind, but as they don’t kill bacteria, they offer no health benefits.

Therapeutic mouthwashes can be available over-the-counter or by prescription, and can be used to treat a number of different conditions.

Mouthwashes containing fluoride can be helpful for those who struggle with tooth decay, or who have braces and have a hard time reaching every part of their tooth with their toothbrush.

Antibacterial mouthwash can help disrupt bacteria, and help those with chronic gingivitis, but shouldn’t be used as a substitute for brushing and flossing—the bacteria will begin to return within 20 minutes. (For disturbing bacteria in hard-to-reach areas when your toothbrush isn’t available, sugar-free chewing gum (such as those with sorbitol) may be more effective.)

For those who suffer from dry mouth (xerostomia)—which can make teeth more prone to decay—some types of mouthrinse are specially formulated to help with this problem.

Some other conditions different kinds of therapeutic mouthwash has been created for include:

• Plaque control
• Bad breath
• Dry socket
• Topical pain relief
• Teeth whitening

Is mouthwash right for you?

Before deciding to use a mouthwash, consult Dr. Huff to see if one is recommended for your specific needs. An ADA-approved, over-the-counter mouthwash may be suggested, or in some cases, the dentist may suggest a prescription mouthrinse.

Whether to use the mouthwash before or after brushing, or if you should rinse with water between the two, can depend on the type of mouthwash; some can react to the chemicals in the toothpaste, making them less effective. Be sure to check before starting with a new mouthwash.

Fluoride

How does fluoride help teeth?

Your tooth enamel is made up of minerals, and each day your tooth enamel goes through the processes of demineralization and remineralization <link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5034904/>. Demineralization takes place when minerals in your tooth enamel dissolve due to acids, and remineralization is when minerals are deposited back to your enamel. When your body takes in minerals such as calcium, phosphate, and fluoride, your tooth enamel begins to replenish.

This is a daily occurrence, but sometimes more demineralization occurs than remineralization. If your tooth enamel is not being restored faster than it is being depleted, your teeth can begin to decay. This is why fluoride is important to the health of your teeth. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that is resistant to acid. When tooth enamel is remineralized using fluoride, it not only restores strength to the enamel but helps protect it from future exposure to acid.

Different Ways We Get Fluoride

We use and consume things every day that have small amounts of Fluoride, including water, certain foods <link: http://www.livestrong.com/article/532986-foods-containing-fluoride/>, and toothpaste.

Fluoride treatments are also available from Dr. Huff. These fluoride treatments can be directly applied to your teeth as a foam, gel, or varnish. It is typically left on the teeth for a short time and then any excess that has not been absorbed can be removed. You will most likely be instructed not to eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after the treatment, to make sure the fluoride is able to do its work.

Some adults who are struggling with tooth decay or root sensitivity can benefit from fluoride treatments, and they can be especially helpful for children. Children tend to need time to build good oral hygiene habits, so fluoride treatments can give their teeth a little extra protection as they learn to brush and floss properly.

Diet & Your Teeth

A healthy diet is important for a healthy body. Obviously, no one believes that junk food is good for them, but it’s important to remind ourselves why these kinds of foods should only be eaten occasionally. Eaten too frequently, junk food can have significant impacts on our overall health.

Foods that are high in sugar

Over-consumption of foods that are high in sugar, can put us at risk for obesity and diabetes. When looking specifically at the mouth, we see that food and drinks with large amounts of sugar can mix with the bacteria in the mouth, resulting in acid which damages teeth enamel and increases the chances of the development of gum disease. Gum disease has links to other conditions including heart disease and stroke, as is best avoided entirely.

Foods with high acidic content

Many foods, such as soft drinks or sports drinks, can damage tooth enamel due to their acidic content, in addition to the sugar. It may not be noticeable, but acid softens the enamel, making it susceptible to being worn away.

Foods that can damage teeth

Here are some foods that may pose harm to your teeth.

• Ice – For cooling beverages, ice is fine, but you should not bite it as this can damage the enamel.
• Hard Candies – Much like ice, it can be dangerous to bite down on hard candy. They pose an additional problem, however: candies that take a long time to dissolve in the mouth result in a long period of exposure to sugar and the acid produced with it mixes with the bacteria of the mouth.
• Gummy/Sticky/Chewy Foods – Foods like gummy bears and starbursts stay on your teeth much longer than ordinary foods. Due to these foods staying on your longer, you are more subject to tooth decay and other ailments to your oral health. It is important to clean your teeth after eating these types of food.
• Crunchy Foods – Foods that are crunchy are usually full of starch. Starch has a tendency to get stuck in your teeth for long periods of time.
• Fruits and Juices with Citric Acids – Repeated exposure to the acids from foods like fruit and fruit juices can erode your teeth over time.
• Alcoholic Beverages – In excess, alcohol causes dehydration which leads to dry mouth. The presence of saliva in the mouth is important, as it helps to prevent cavities. Anything that leads to dry mouth can increase your risk of tooth decay. Caffeinated beverages, like coffee, can have this effect as well.
• Drinks High in Sugar: Drinks like colas and energy drinks tend to be extremely high in sugar. These sugars are used by bacterias which damage your tooth enamel.
• Sports Drinks: While these are great to drink while exercising to keep you hydrated and full of electrolytes they can be dangerous to consume on a regular basis. Due to the high sugar concentration, they can be dangerous to your teeth and cause oral health problems like cavities and much more.

Foods that can stain teeth

The food you consume can have an impact on how your teeth look, in addition to your oral health. There are microscopic ridges on teeth where residue from certain foods can get caught, resulting in a stain or discoloration. Darkly pigmented beverages such as coffee, tea, and cola can have this effect, as well as fruit juices, popsicles, and even tomato sauce.

A good rule of thumb to consider is that if it would stain your carpet, it will likely stain your teeth as well.

Foods that are good for your oral health

Just as some foods are harmful to your teeth, there are also some that can be beneficial to eat. Here are some healthy food choices that can be good for your smile.

Carrots – Carrots are a great snack that can appeal to both children and adults. These sweet and crunchy treats help to stimulate the saliva in your mouth which naturally helps to wash away plaque. They also are rich in Vitamin A, which is great for your eyesight. Carrots can help keep your vision strong and your enamel clear.

Celery – Although rather tasteless, celery is extremely low in calories and can be dipped in peanut butter or ranch dressing for added flavor. It requires a lot of chewing which helps to increase saliva in your mouth, which assists in removing plaque. The fibrous strands in celery also help to naturally clean your teeth.

Pineapple – Pineapple is delicious and full of vitamins and minerals. The enzyme bromelain, found in pineapple, can act as a natural stain-remover, helping to keep your teeth white.

Cheese – An excellent source of calcium, and low in both sugar and acid, this makes cheese a great choice for snacking. Additionally, cheese contains a protein called casein, which is found in milk and is very useful in fortifying the surface of teeth.

Yogurt – Just like cheese, yogurt is another excellent source of casein, calcium, and phosphates that help to remineralize teeth, just as fluoride does. This makes it another ideal candidate for fighting against cavities.

Pears – Pears help to stimulate saliva reproduction, like all fresh fruit that are high in fiber. They are a great option as they have a larger neutralizing effect on acid than other types of fruit, such as apples, bananas, mandarins, and pineapples.

Tap Water – While bottled water is popular, it’s a good idea to drink tap water. Tap water contains a tiny amount of fluoride which helps to prevent tooth decay when used regularly. The reason for this is simple; fluoride helps to remineralize teeth, reversing the harmful effects of acid, which works away enamel. Most bottled water doesn’t contain enough active fluoride to have any benefit.

Sugar-Free Gum – Sugar-free gum can be helpful for keeping teeth cleaner, particularly brands that include xylitol. Unlike other artificial sweeteners, xylitol actually prevents the bacteria in plaque from metabolizing sugar, acting more like an “anti-sugar” than a sugar substitute. Regular sucrose can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, while xylitol fights against them. Gum even helps to remove bacteria and plaque from your teeth.

Is Visiting the Dentist Twice a Year Necessary?

Prophylaxis is the term used for a professional tooth cleaning performed by a dental hygienist. Along with brushing for 2 minutes, twice a day, and flossing, routine visits for a cleaning and dental check-up are crucial to maintaining good oral health.

Is visiting the dentist twice a year still necessary?

Oral health care has seen many advances, as we have many new tools and products to help us keep our teeth clean better than ever before. We have toothpaste that fights cavities and remineralizes tooth enamel, and high-tech toothbrushes that utilize phone apps to determine how well we are brushing our teeth.

With all of this, are two visits a year still needed?

The answer to this question is that IT DEPENDS. The concept of 6-month dental visits is not based on science but on a marketing campaign in the 1950’s that the insurance industry adopted to establish reimbursement parameters. For many people who have active disease or are in need of tight professional maintenance, seeing the dentist every 3-4 months may be more appropriate. For others who are in great shape, going every 9 months may be appropriate. By and large, the majority of people should see the dentist every 6 months. The reason for regular dental visits is that your dental visits do more than just clean your teeth.

Your dental visits also do the following:

• Gives your dentist the ability to check for any health issues that you may not feel or see (remember that gum disease is typically “silent”).
• Gives your dentist the ability to identify tooth decay in early stages. Tooth decay is not visible or painful until it becomes more advanced.
• Gives your dentist the ability to identify other potential health issues like oral cancer, gum disease, and more! Remember, the earlier a problem is identified, the easier it is to treat!

If you have any questions about your schedule, get in touch with us to find out what best fits your health needs.

Preventing Tooth Damage

Protect your tooth enamel

You may be surprised to learn that tooth enamel is actually the hardest substance in the human body. That doesn’t mean it can’t be damaged, as cracked, chipped, or broken teeth are quite common. To prevent this sort of damage, it’s very important to take care of our teeth; and this goes beyond good oral hygiene. There are many kinds of techniques, habits, and foods that can do damage to tooth enamel.

Be careful what you bite down on

Chewing on ice cubes or popcorn kernels are common examples of things people do that can cause damage to tooth enamel. Eating or drinking things with high acidic content can also weaken tooth enamel, making it more susceptible to damage.

It isn’t just food, either, as biting fingernails, chewing on pens or pencils, and opening packages with your teeth can result in damage as well.

Teeth clenching and grinding

A very common way people damage their tooth enamel is through bruxism. Bruxism is the term for jaw clenching your jaw or teeth grinding, whether done when a person is awake or asleep. When you continue to do this, your teeth become worn down, which is what we call attrition. Root dentin can become exposed if your attrition becomes serious enough. When dentin is exposed, your teeth become very sensitive to hot and cold. Not only does clenching and grinding damage teeth, it can also cause damage to the ligaments in your jaw and alveolar bone. The damage can lead to periodontal disease.

The cause and management of bruxism is complex. Nightguards and, sometimes, bite correction can balance forces applied to the teeth by bruxism. However, treating bruxism may involve evaluating for sleep disorders, medication management, and evaluation of psychosocial factors. Fortunately, Dr. Huff is an orofacial pain specialist who is trained to investigate these causes of bruxism.

Oral Piercings

Oral piercings deserve special mention, as they pose a number of oral health risks.

Some of these health risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infections
• Swelling
• Chipped teeth
• Airway Obstruction
• Hypersalivation
• Gum Recession
• Scarring

Some of these issues are fairly common among people who have oral piercings. One study found that gum recession occurred in 50% of people who had a lip piercing and 44% who had a tongue piercing. In the same study, 26% of the individuals with a tongue piercing had some form of tooth damage.

Because there are no regulations over body piercings, caution must be taken when getting one. In addition to the health concerns above, there is also a risk of contracting hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases due to unclean piercing needles.

How to care for oral piercings

If you have any kind of oral piercing already, there are some ways to make sure you limit the risk of issues. Practicing good oral hygiene, like brushing and flossing twice per day, using toothpaste with fluoride, and using a mouthwash that is alcohol-free.

It is important to keep the piercing site clean and be sure to notice any signs of potential issues. These include any pain, tenderness, swelling or unusual discharges from the piercing site.

Besides choosing not to get an oral piercing, the best way to keep a healthy mouth is through good oral hygiene and routine trips to the dentist. If you do have an oral piercing, Dr. Huff will be able to give you tips on how to best care for it.