General Maintenance

The best way to reduce the stress and discomfort that you may feel at the dentist is to always treat your teeth and gums as a health priority! By taking good care of your teeth, and scheduling bi-annual cleanings and checkups, you can reduce or even eliminate the need for complex procedures.

Some answers to common questions:

What kind of toothbrush should I use?

Your dentist is an expert, and can tell you many of the things that you'll need to know - like how using a soft bristled brush can help keep your teeth cleaner, and prevent your gums from receding. Although it might seem that a stiff-bristled brush would be more effective for cleaning, it can actually damage your delicate gums especially if you brush vigorously. Also, try brushing using warm water, instead of cold. Warm water helps to soften toothbrush bristles enough to make brushing gentler on your gums. Check out our Toothbrush Page!

I can never remember to floss regularly. What about using a Waterpik or similar device that uses a water pressure stream to clean between teeth and at the gum line?

Since a toothbrush cannot reach beneath the gum line (where food particles can contribute to bacteria growth, decay and bad breath), flossing should be a very important part of your dental hygiene regimen. For those people who find flossing extremely difficult, a device that issues a water pressure stream can help supplement your brushing. If you have or decide to purchase such a device, keep it on the counter where you brush so that it serves as a reminder - if it's put away under the sink after use, you may forget to use it regularly. Check out our Floss Page!

I've been very self-conscious about my bad breath. Is there anything I can do about it?

Persistent bad breath which does not go away after brushing your teeth is often a sign of infection or excessive bacteria in the mouth. Even though you may not be experiencing any discomfort, your gums can be harboring bacteria that feed on tiny pieces of food that remain beneath the gum line after eating. The bad smell comes from the gases that bacteria emit. Nasty, right? You should schedule a visit to your dentist if your breath problem appears to be severe. He or she will be able to determine if there are more serious causes for your condition, and can help you treat them accordingly.

In the meantime, be sure to brush thoroughly after every meal. Try to stay away from mints or mouthwashes that just cover up odors - the ingredients in them can actually contribute to the bacteria problem. Since your tongue is a textured surface, it can also harbor bacteria. After brushing your teeth and gums, rinse your brush completely (to remove any food particles that were left over from your teeth) and brush your tongue gently. Not only will your mouth feel fresher, but you will be removing buildup that can contribute to bad breath. Check out our Fresh Breath Page!

Can other health conditions affect the health of my teeth and gums?

Most definitely. Pregnant women should always be sure to keep their calcium levels high, since the body is in the process of building a new baby. If ample nutrients are not available, the body will begin "robbing" what it needs from different areas - in the case of calcium, the mother's teeth can suffer. In addition to weakening bone structure, osteoporosis can affect the supporting structure of the teeth - the bone in the upper and lower jaws. Other conditions can often be determined by how they affect the mouth; bleeding gums can be a sign of nutritional or homonal imbalance, as well as infection. Check out our Pregnancy Information Page!

Why does my dentist recommend warm salt water rinses? Isn't there something more powerful for treating my mild toothache?

Sophisticated treatments have become today's norm, and many people overlook the usefulness of simple ingredients. Salt mixed with warm water and used as a rinse can have a significant affect on infected tissues, and can help speed healing after dental procedures. The salt acts as a poultice, drawing infection from tissue to the surface where the body can dispose of it. Salt water can also have a pain-relieving affect, and when used with over-the-counter pain relievers can often make you more comfortable while you're waiting to get treatment. Mix 2 tablespoons of table salt with a glass of warm water, and rinse with it several times a day, particularly after brushing.

Will an abrasive or smoker's toothpaste keep my teeth cleaner and whiter?

Toothpastes that promise to "whiten" your teeth are almost always too harsh for your tooth enamel (the outside white coating) to handle. Your teeth may appear whiter when you first use an abrasive paste because you're gradually wearing away that stained outside layer - however you'll ultimately expose too much of the tooth's dentin or inner layer, and this will make your teeth even more vulnerable to decay. Always use a fluoride toothpaste and if you're interested in a whiter smile, ask your dentist about whitening treatments. Check out our Toothpaste Page!

Do I really need a whitening treatment from my dentist? Can't I just buy a whitening kit from one of those home shopping channels?

If you want consistent results, you'll have to get them from your dentist. The whitening process is usually done gradually, using a bleaching compound that is kept snuggly against each of your teeth with a form fitting mouth guard. Unless the guard is custom made for you, there will be gaps where the bleaching fluid is not kept consistently against your teeth - the result is blotchiness that can make your smile look worse than it did before. And although there are some processes that can have an immediate effect, they can often cause tooth sensitivity.

Although the results can be dramatic, you shouldn't expect your teeth to go beyond about 1 - 2 shades lighter than when you started. And in some cases, bleaching is not effective at all. Tetracycline stains (which are seen in the children of women who took tetracycline during pregnancy) and fluoride stains (caused by an excess of fluoride from a variety of sources, most often fluoridated water combined with the frequent use of flouride toothpaste) are not removed by traditional bleaching processes. Your dentist can explain more about the whitening process, and recommend alternatives. Check out our White Teeth Page!

If I decide to not take better care of my teeth I can always get dentures, right?

You can, but they are by no means the solution of choice for most people. If you have the chance to save your teeth, take it. Dentures can be compared to prosthetic limbs - although they can make life much more satisfying for those that have no choice regarding a lost limb, they are never as versatile and effective as the real thing. A natural tooth can generate over 200 lbs. of chewing pressure - dentures can only generate 50 lbs. of chewing pressure. As a result, people may not enjoy eating as much due to the loss of efficient chewing. Dentures are in essence glued to the gums, where fit problems are common. Sores from dentures rubbing the gums can be very uncomfortable, and dentures often require adjustments by the dentist. Check out our Denture Page!

So there's not much that can be done if I lose a tooth or several teeth, in an accident for example?

On the contrary. Major advancements have been made in the last several years in the area of dental implants, which can be used to replace one or more (and in some cases all) of your teeth. An implant is anchored in the mouth just as a tooth with a natural root would be: a replacement tooth made of porcelain is attached to a post which has been implanted in the bone beneath the gums. It is much better than a denture or bridge (a removable aparatus that can hold one or more replacement teeth) in that it is anchored directly to the bone, thus providing similar chewing efficiency to a natural tooth. Implants are usually indistinquishable from your natural teeth, making them an ideal cosmetic solution. The drawback to implants are the cost: they can be expensive, and the time it takes to complete the implant process - which can be many months. Although implants are not usually initiated by the patient for basic cosmetic improvements, they will likely be suggested by your dentist if he or she feels that they are an option. Check out our Dental Implant Page!

So would it be a good idea to visit a dentist to establish a benchmark for myself before I launch my new oral hygiene routine?

Most definitely. If you're overdue, schedule a cleaning with a dentist that you feel comfortable with. Your dentist will be able todetermine if you have any cavities that need to be filled, and basically determine your overall oral health. Remember to brush after meals, floss or use a water pressure stream device to clean under your gum line, and make regular follow-up visits to your dentist. Check out our First Visit Page!

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