PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT
Hygiene and Cleanings, Home care Instructions, Fluoride Treatment, Pit and Fissure Sealants.
HYGIENE.
Dental hygiene is the practice of maintaining a clean, healthy mouth free of diseases and other problems including bad breath and infections. Hygiene involves regular brushing and flossing, it is important that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to prevent dental disease. Some of the most common types of dental disease include tooth decay, cavities or dental caries, gum disease including gingivitis, periodontitis.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums involve regular cleanings at the dental office every 6 months. Often times all you need is a prophylaxis which is the removal of plaque build up and calculus ( tartar) from all tooth surface. This sticky bacterial film aka Plaque is the foundation for all bacterial toxins that inflame the gums and must be professionally removed to avoid disease.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS.
A Beautiful, Healthy Smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal when treating our dental patients. Your personal home care starts by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat, and correctly using the various dental aides that help control the Bacterial Plaque that cause dental disease.
Tooth brushing – Brush your teeth at least two times a day (especially before going to bed at night) with a soft bristle brush and small amount of toothpaste.
Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using 6 small circular motions, and then rolling down 3 times. Start on the upper right and do one tooth at a time and progress to the upper left. Then go to the tongue side of the upper left and return to the upper right side. Then go to the cheek side of the lower right and proceed to the lower left. Then move to the tongue side of the lower left and proceed to the lower right.
Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
Brush your tongue and roof of your mouth 6 times to remove Bacteria Plaque and freshen your breath.
Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gum line. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts bacterial plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.
Our office provides a tooth brush, toothpaste and floss after hygiene visits.
SEALANTS.
A sealant is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental material) that adheres to the chewing surface of your teeth. Sealants are no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity. Sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars.
FLUORIDE.
Fluoride treatment helps prevent tooth decay by making a tooth more resistant to acids produced by bacteria.
Fluoride varnish when applied to a tooth strengthens the enamel, acts as anti bacterial component of the tooth and can even reverse early tooth decay.