‘oral hygiene’ Tagged Posts

Using An Electric Toothbrush Can Be An Easy Method To Teach Children Good Hygiene

Children always want to do the same thing an adult or sibling is doing. This is the perfect way to teach children the way to have proper oral hygien...

 

Children always want to do the same thing an adult or sibling is doing. This is the perfect way to teach children the way to have proper oral hygiene. If you use electric toothbrushes to brush your teeth your child will want to brush theirs the same way. Their too little for an electric one but there are many models that are battery operated for children.

Children as young as toddler age that are taught to take care of their teeth will have a better chance of preventing decay late on. The baby teeth should be brushed and taken care of the same as their permanent teeth. If your child does not have their teeth yet, rinsing their gums with water will help to prevent bacteria buildup. When the child gets their first teeth, use only a soft brush with water to brush their teeth and gums.

When toddlers begin to mimic and want to brush their own teeth they should use toothpaste made for toddlers. This type of toothpaste does not contain excessive amounts of fluoride and is safe to swallow. There are battery operated toothbrushes made for toddlers with very soft bristles or you could let them use a manual one.

According to dentists the brushing time should be two minutes for optimum effectiveness. A toddler may have difficulties focusing long enough to brush for this long so using something with a timer will keep them brushing out of anxiousness for the timer to stop. They also like the toothbrushes that play music while they brush, these songs will play for two minutes so the child will brush the recommended time.

If your child has a manual toothbrush the same concept can be applied with a timer or playing a song for two minutes. Let the child hear how the timer sounds and explain that it will not go off until time for them to stop brushing. Use the same concept if you are using a CD for music.

Making a game out of hygiene chores is a great way to get children to bath and brush their teeth. Have the child make up a song that includes all of their hygiene chores and sing them through the process. Also if an adult or sibling is brushing their teeth the child will want to brush theirs as well.

Part of the oral hygiene process includes brushing the tongue and gums, but children may find this difficult. Teach the child by demonstrating the correct way. The teeth need to be flossed as well. Try using one of the children’s flavored flosses to start them off with regular flossing.

Correctly brushing the teeth is the number one way of preventing cavities so it is important to teach children early on the importance of taking care of their teeth. Remember children will mimic adults and while using electric toothbrushes are great for adults, children will do better with one of the smaller battery operated ones.

If you use electric toothbrushes, let your child use a child size battery operated one. Teaching kids as soon as toddler years to use an electric toothbrush will help to prevent bad teeth and gums later in life.

Find A Good Dentist In West Hollywood

 

If you live in the west hollywood area and you’re looking for a good dentist, then here are a few tips for you to help in your search for the best dentist in your area.

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, whether it be – teeth whitening, a general dentist, a cosmetic dentist, a pediatric dentist, or an orthopedic surgeon, the following are three solid steps you should take to find a good dentist in your area:

1) Looking for a dentist can be a hard job if you are new to the neighborhood and don’t know anyone who can recommend you a good dentist, in such a case talk to the local healthcare facilities and hospitals which employ dentists. If you are shifting to a new house in a new locality, then you can try to ask your own dentist if he knows about any good dentist in the area where you are shifting to. This is greatly helpful if you are moving to some far off place.

2) The next step you can take is to check with the local dental colleges and schools. Many dental colleges provide services at cheaper rates and may even offer checkups and cleaning sessions free of cost. If you want to find your dentist through this method, then you should grab your local phone book and find the schools which are nearest or most convenient to you.

3) Word of mouth is most probably the best way to find a dentist near your house. You can start by asking your relatives, friends and co-workers about the dentist they regularly visit. You can ask some common questions. Is he good or not, how much he charges and how to get appointments. A dentist should be friendly to the children and most importantly ask whether he accepts insurance. This is one of the easiest and best methods to find out a good dentist in your area.

At the end of the day, the decision is yours when it comes to choosing the dentist that is best for you. Take your time and review the dentist and his credentials carefully.

Want to find out more about West Hollywood Dentist, then visit Jimmy Jones’s site on how to choose the best Dentist In West Hollywood for your needs.

How to Avoid Root Canal Therapy

 

Root canal therapy can be particularly painful. No doubt you’ve heard people talking about them at some point or another, and though you might not know much about them, you want to know how to avoid ever having need of one.

Probably the best way to avoid root canal therapy of course, is by taking care of your teeth. The first rule is to brush them thoroughly every night. Of course that isn’t all there is to it. You need to make sure that you have chosen a decent toothpaste. In order to obtain a list of the best candidates for your teeth, you should speak to your dentist. Remember that not all toothpaste is equal!

Flossing is yet another important part of avoiding root canal therapy. The point of flossing is to remove plaque from your teeth. Remember that plaque does a great job of eating through enamel, and eventually reaches the inside of your teeth.

Nothing can replace for a good diet. This means that you should cut back on sweets such as chocolate, hard candy, ice cream, among other things. This isn’t going to be easy for some people, but there are many who will gladly give these things up in order to obtain those pearly white teeth. Not only is it healthy, it also provides a boost of self confidence that they might not have otherwise had. There really is no substitute for being able to hold your head up high in public.

On the subject of food, vitamin C supplements will be great for getting rid of plaque. Those who take vitamin C have been noted to have far less bacteria in their mouth. It will also help to prevent infection, which will go a long way in preventing the need for root canal therapy.

Green tea is a substance that will definitely help you to avoid the root canal. It contains bioflavnoids which will help to fight off gum disease. Of course this isn’t anything new. The Japanese have been using it for many years! Now you know why they drink so much tea.

No one wants to go through the pain of a root canal. Not only is it inconvenient, it is painful. Even though it is such, if you need root canal therapy it would be unwise to let the problem fester. A little pain now is not as bad as having rotting teeth later, and being afraid to go out in public. So make sure that you take good care of your teeth for the foreseeable future. That way you do not have to worry about undergoing the horrendous pain of root canal therapy any time soon.

Want to learn more about the proper dental treatment? Visit www.thedentists.com.au today.

All The Best Teeth Whitening Reviewed

 

When you are going to whiten your teeth there will be a few teeth whitening tips that will be very helpful in helping you to decide on the right products for you. First, you will want to consider whether you have sensitive teeth and gums. If you do, it will be important to explore products that are made specifically for this sensitivity. There are many affordable products available for whitening teeth.

Talking to your dental professional before starting any treatment will be very beneficial. Your dentist will be familiar with your teeth and the causes of staining. They have the details and information on different types of products and treatments available to whiten teeth and will be able to advise you on the best treatment for you.

Some people choose to have their teeth whitened in a dental office. This can be an expensive way to whiten teeth and often involves more than one visit to the dentist. Other people find that a home treatment is a more convenient way to achieve their goals quickly.

The at-home whitening treatments available will have different effects on staining. Some whiteners have Hydrogen Peroxide as their primary ingredient. These whiteners are more effective on surface stains that have not “set” in the enamel of the teeth. Other whiteners have Carbamide Perioxide as their main ingredient and are very effective on staining that is caused by medications such as Tetracycline.

Over the counter whiteners vary greatly. You may want to get a treatment that is used at night. These treatments usually have a thick gel that is poured into a tray with a syringe. The tray fits snugly on the teeth and do not slip out when you are sleeping. The same type of tray system may also be used for the day time treatments that are applied twice a day for thirty minutes.

Whitening strips are also a popular choice for many people. The strips are applied directly to the teeth for up to thirty minutes. When applied twice a day, the teeth will become substantially whites after ten days. Most of the strips are made to be used on a yearly basis.

There are a few things that you will need to be aware of when you are comparing whiteners. If you have sensitive teeth it will be important to get a whitener that is made for sensitive teeth. After using the whitener it is important to avoid colored foods and liquids for at least three days while the teeth harden.

Keeping your smile bright will also be easier when you use a soft bristle toothbrush regularly. By brushing and flossing on a daily basis you will keep any foods from attaching to and staining the teeth. Replacing your toothbrush every two to three months will also help you to keep your smile bright.

When you are deciding on the teeth whitening tips to follow it is important to consider your own teeth and talk to a professional who is knowledgeable in the teeth whitening process. By discussing the kind of teeth that you have, the reason for the staining, and the sensitivity of your teeth, the professional will be able to recommend the treatment that will be best suited to meet your needs.

You don’t need expensive oral cosmetic procedures for whiter teeth – these top teeth whitening tips can show you how to brighten your smile using some of the best teeth whiteners over the counter.

Nurturing Good Teeth With Electric Toothbrushes

 

Battery operated electric toothbrushes came on the market a few years ago. They were a great improvement over ones previously used. They eliminated the need to spend a certain amount of time each day brushing one’s teeth with an up and down motion by integrating dental technology into a brushing system that would be effective at home.

Toothbrushes come in many different styles and colors. The price ranges from as low as one dollar up to one hundred. There has been many arguments as to whether the electric toothpaste does a better job than the manual one as far as reducing plaque and keeping the teeth in good condition. A mutual agreement on this matter has not been reached.

The advantage of an electric toothbrush over a manual one is that the electric one can cover more area in a faster and more efficient amount of time. This eliminates the need to brush longer when using a manual one. In addition, with the various shaped detachable heads, it reaches a great deal more area.

In searching for a toothbrush one will see many models and designs. One of the things that has been very helpful are the models with several differently shaped heads. These heads are interchangeable and perform various functions to clean the teeth. Sometimes there are too many choices, however, so doing a little research in advance is often the best recommendation.

One of the worse things that can happen to a person’s teeth is the formation of plaque. If left untreated this will not only become very hard and difficult to remove, but can lead to gum disease as well. The good thing about the regular use of a toothbrush is that it removes this plaque before it hardens. This, of course, requires brushing daily, preferably twice a day.

It has been agreed among professionals that a person should brush their teeth a minimum of 2 minutes twice daily. In brushing all areas of the top and bottom, teeth should be covered thoroughly especially behind the back molars. It is also helpful if dental floss is used to remove any food lodged between the teeth before brushing.

One of the new developments in the toothbrush industry is a visual screen which tells the person brushing their teeth just exactly how long they have brushed. It is reported that a smiley face usually comes up when they have brushed long enough. It would appear that, with the exception of small children, this would not have any more impact than the brushes with automatic timers.

The buildup of plaque under the gums causes bleeding and a great deal of pain. When the mouth gets in this condition the patient has to have what is called ‘deep cleaning’. This means that the technician must go under the gums to scrape out the plaque. This is not a pleasant experience. With electric toothbrushes, or other types of brushes, but this problem can be avoided if careful brushing is done daily.

There is just something about those electric toothbrushes. The electric toothbrush we use each night gets in between those hard to reach places. It definitely helps maintain good oral hygiene for that bright smile.

Maintaining Proper Oral Hygiene

 

How do you know if you are maintaining proper daily oral hygiene? A lot of people aren’t, and over 75% of the people in America have either gingivitis, or some other kind of peritonitis. Millions of dollars are spent annually on tooth repair, braces, dentures, and other forms of dental work. There is a constant demand for dentists, so the majority of people in this country must be doing something wrong.

For one thing, bad habits contribute to poor overall daily oral hygiene. One of the major contributors is the consumption of sugary drinks like soda, and even juices contain sugars and other contaminates that are harmful to dental health. Even so called diet drinks contain a certain amount of sugar, as well as other acidic properties that wear away tooth enamel. There are many other drinks that are highly acidic, like oranges, and grapefruit, and coffee is especially harmful. Many people can’t just stop drinking coffee, but they are not buying toothpaste that is appropriate to remove the acid and undo the staining that these kinds of drinks cause.There are other factors and habits that contribute to tooth decay, such as smoking. Not only does smoking stain and darken your teeth, the chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause a number of diseases of the mouth, including cancer, as well as give a smoker very bad breath. In order to maintain adequate daily oral hygiene as well as many other health concerns, smoking should really stop.

Having a daily oral hygiene properly is just as important to overall dental health. Not only does proper oral routines have to be done right, but it has to start at an early age. Children look to their parents as a role model, and even if you and the teachers at school teach kids about brushing and flossing, if the parents aren’t doing it, their kids will eventually pick up these bad habits as well. Many people don’t brush their teeth correctly, or enough, and the same goes for flossing and brushing the tongue as well.

One of the things about maintaining proper daily oral hygiene is brushing your teeth enough daily. However, you should be brushing your teeth every morning, and every evening before bed. We are all really busy throughout the day, both kids as well as adults. It used to be a rule that you should brush your teeth three times a day, and after snacks or meals. While this is great in the ‘perfect’ world, it just isn’t possible in reality.

It is also a good idea if you can, to rinse your mouth out with some kind of wash after meals, to get any left over food particles out. You need to floss at least once a day, ideally in the evening, when there is the most build up. Two minutes and just the front is not enough to prevent tooth decay. Not only that, but you need to brush your teeth for a longer period of time than most people do. You need to spend at least five minutes, and brush all of your teeth, top, bottom, front and back, as well as your tongue.

Learn more about the proper dental treatment for you. Visit www.thedentists.com.au today for all your dental health needs.

Whiten My Teeth – How to Get Whiter Teeth

 

More and more people want to have whiter teeth. This is a requirement partly because of the celebrity culture of white teeth but also because people want to look their best for their career and life. There are many methods to whiten teeth; the trick is to find the one that works best for your teeth.

To start to assess the requirements for your own teeth for teeth whitening it is important to understand the current state of your teeth. If your teeth are quite bad or you haven’t visited a dental care professional in a few years then it is highly recommended that this is where you start. You should get a professional assessment on the state of your teeth as a starting point to your teeth whitening journey.

Starting with the dental assessment will give you a good foundation to then look at the other things you need to consider when looking at teeth whitening. The main thing that will limit the options available to you will be how much money you are able to spend. Some treatments can be cheap, but there are also some very expensive options out there that may give you better results.

The best thing you can do is to start using a whitening toothpaste. This will ensure that your teeth are on a good foundation to start any other treatment. Make sure that you brush at least twice a day and you will be on a good footing for any other teeth whitening treatment that you choose.

You may find that a simple visit to a dental professional for a check up combined with a regular brushing routine is all you needed to get your teeth looking how you want them too. If these important first steps don’t give you the results that you want then it is time to start looking at other methods to whiten your teeth.

The most popular, and one of the most cost effective ways to whiten teeth is to do it from home. There are lots of over the counter teeth whitening kits available. The main way that these kits work is that they use a gel to bleach the teeth gradually over a period of a few weeks or months.

The home teeth whitening kits are not as potent as those used by dentists. You can get good results from the home kits and everyone’s results will be different. You will find that professional, and therefore expensive options are more effective.

With so many ways out there to whitening your teeth, it is important to find the best one for your teeth, time and money available. Make sure you have regular check ups and brush your teeth properly. Sample different products and find the ones that work the best for you.

If you are interested in finding out about teeth whitening gel then be sure to check out Shelley’s About Teeth Whitening Products site for loads more useful FREE information.

Causes Of Bad Breath and How To Avoid Them

 

If for some reason every time you start talking to people they immediately turn there head away from you, that could be a strong sign that you have bad breath. This is not something that you can just let go, unless you like having people avoid you and not engage in conversation, or if you want to remain single the rest of your life.

So why does bad breath occur?

The most common cause of bad breath is a condition that is called halitosis. This is where food particles, get stuck in your teeth and under your tongue. If you are someone that does not clean their mouth that often, the food will sit there getting the attention of bad bacteria, eventually causing a foul smell.

A dry mouth, this is a campground for bad bacteria that causes foul odors. The simplest way that you can avoid this is to drink plenty of water. Water is the best thing to keep your mouth nice and moist and prevent odor building bacteria in your mouth.

If you are a smoker, then you should not even be wondering why you have bad breath. Even if you brush after every cigarette or cigar you smoke, you cannot get rid of the smell completely. Not only does smoking contribute to bad breath, it also makes your teeth yellow and builds up plaque.

There are also types of infections that can cause bad breath. Some of the main ones are sinusitis and tonsillitis, along with other similar conditions. These infections vary from person to person, some will be able to prevent them through good hygiene while others will have to do more than that.

Ways to avoid falling victim to bad breath

If you want to get rid of bad breath, then one of the best ways is to practice good hygiene. Good hygiene I am sure most dentists will say to brush your teeth and floss about twice a day. Using mouth wash and scraping your tongue with a tooth brush are some other ways that you can increase your dental hygiene and get rid of bad breath.

Routine check ups with the dentist are always a good thing also. If you still have bad breath and you keep excellent oral hygiene, let your dentist or a doctor know immediately, as you have a condition that will require a dentist or oral specialist to get rid of.

Are you one of those people that asking yourself “how can I get rid of bad breath?”, then there is light at the end of the tunnel for you after all as the author has stumbled upon an excellent guide that will teach you how to get rid of bad breath.

Chipped or Missing Teeth? Smile!

 

Dreading to face the world gaps in your teeth? Consult a restorative dentist and smile your way to the world without reference to being toothless. Restorative dentistry has come a great distance since its inception and nowadays any kind of tooth defects can be corrected with the advancement of technology. Dental challenges are getting more frequent nowadays.

In today’s world of looking smart and respectable it’s become much more crucial to have healthy teeth and gums to look good. Tooth injury can happen to anyone at anytime. Growing older is one of the main reasons for teeth loss. As a person starts aging teeth becomes puny and starts showing indicators of rot and damage. Tooth loss can also happen due to certain mishaps.

Some folks can experience tooth loss due to neglect in their dental care. However the glorious news is that there’s help for you to address the condition. Restorative dentists can help patients in solving nearly any sort of dental defects today. There are a few restorative dentists who will help you in getting relief from any sort of dental condition. All you need to do is look round and find out a dentist who is correctly trained and experienced to help. The web is a wonderful source for you to discover the best restorative dentist in your city. You can consult folks who have lately undergone restorative dentistry procedures to get a concept about the hit rate of the dentist. Employing a dental bridge is one of the most efficient methods of getting relief from tooth loss. Bridge is a dental device which may be employed for replacing a number of of the natural teeth which are missing in a person.

Dental bridges can both be removable as well as fixed. Dental bridge is the best means to fill up the opening which happens due to missing teeth.

If you follow a good dental cleanliness, dental bridges can simply last you for approximately ten years. Tooth color fillings are another restorative dentistry system utilised by a restorative dentist to help patients that are suffering from dental issues. Somebody might have an amalgam of silver and mercury in his tooth filling. This makes the teeth look really gruesome when the person smiles broadly. In reality there are some countries which have totally banned the employment of this amalgam for teeth filling as it is claimed to be dangerous. To endure tooth color fillings restoration you will need simply a single trip to your restorative dentist. Dental implants are another means for replacing missing or rotten tooth with a new tooth or a collection of new teeth. Anyone having a good dental health is the final candidate for dental implants. Implants can be made depending on the size and the sort of the implant. Dental implants are ideally titanium root forms which can be placed in the jawbone in the place of missing tooth of a person.

Titanium roots can be employed by a restorative dentist to make either a single tooth or a collection of teeth as required by a patient. If you need your teeth to be in a good healthy condition for a very long time, try to follow some basic oral health rules. Cleaning your teeth 2 times a day and eating a healthy healthful diet goes a good distance in keeping your teeth in correct working condition for an especially long time.

Looking for a San Diego Dentist? Visit our website to find a great San Diego CA Dentist near you.

Ways To Get Through A Gum Infection

 

Many people have suffered from a gum infection, and it can cause them a lot of pain and suffering. Getting this checked is essential to getting rid of it as soon as possible, which will make the pain disappear as well.

When it comes to gum disease there are two forms that can be present. One is more severe than the other, so diagnosis is the key to getting to the root of the problem. Your dentist has the training and equipment that is necessary to get this done and should be done as soon as possible so that a treatment can be started.

Many people avoid the dentist, but this is not the thing to do no matter how much you dislike going to them. You need to get the infection under control if you are to feel any relief. The sooner that the problem is identified the sooner that the treatment can be started.

The milder type of an infection like this can be treated with antibiotics. You need to see the dentist in order to get a prescription for this medication that can help you feel better. They generally start working within a day or so of starting them, and once this happens the dentist can see what other treatment may be needed.

The other type of an infection like this is far worse for a person and can cause a lot of pain. This one can be so severe that the patient may require surgery to correct the situation. Many times people have teeth pulled to get the infection to go away. This can be prevented if you get to the dentist at the early stage of the infection.

This more sever form will also need to be treated with antibiotics. This can prevent any spreading of the infection to other areas of the mouth. You do not want this to spread as this will be extremely uncomfortable for you to deal with, and that is something that nobody wants to have happen.

Keeping your teeth brushed, and this means at least twice a day, can help prevent a situation like this from happening. You also should floss every day as this helps your overall gum health. These two simple steps can help prevent a situation like this from ever being your problem.

If you are having problems in your mouth, like gum infection, you may want gum infection treatment, so that you could smile with pride the next time you do.

How to Get Whiter Teeth With Whitening Products

 

There are plenty of things in life that can seemingly be overwhelming and with good reason but teeth whitening shouldn’t be one of them! Of course logically speaking, it can do you harm if utilized incorrectly, however, moderation is indicated with this practice as anything else.

There are several types of whitening products available for use at home, including teeth whitening pastes, bleaching solutions and “paint-on” whitening gels.

Your dentist is one because more than likely you will get a professional job done but coupled with pain and a large expense. Moreover, you could use the popular strips or trays you find amongst many a store you frequent however, you will be hard pressed to get any good value whatsoever. More than likely, this experience may have been intimidating but also not very worthwhile. Realizing this, may have turned you off to the entire concept altogether but don’t let this dismay you anymore.

There are a ton of different products on the market that promise to whiten your teeth. The most common ones include things like Whitestrips and baking soda toothpastes. Now, if your teeth are a stained, chances are you’ve tried one or more of these items. There is also a good chance that you’ve been disappointed with the results. You see, these cheap whitening solutions can work but it takes a lot of time.

If you are scared of teeth whitening it is because your experiences or notions are negative towards this act and it could all change with one positive experience. Tethering yourself to a system that will have the proper whitening concentrations, right price, and creates a seamless finish and not uneven is precisely what you need.

The real key to the entire process is utilization of the right product and make sure you get it right the first time. You may ask, well then who has the proper product for me from the outset?

Additional articles by me can be found at my sites on bright smile whitening and teeth whitening kits

The Value Of Great Dental Care

 

Looking after your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth, including correcting ill-formed teeth is what outlines dental care. It’s common to see someone affected by dental sicknesses due to carelessness and lack of info of good oral cleanliness. It is frequently declared that healthy gums and teeth are important to keep your entire body system healthy and sound. Lack of correct care and a regular check up with your dentist can lead to many diseases like tooth rot, gingivitis, dental plaque, periodontal illness, mouth odor, etc.

Causes & Cures

Cavities – The genuine reason for cavities is an acid base chemistry in the mouth. This is related to lots of sugar, those that often eat sweets without brushing straight after. First, a blemish shows on the tooth, that may lead to an early cavity if not dealt with. Cavities will start with a light brown color on the tooth, and steadily become darker.

To prevent cavities: be certain to brush 2-times daily, morning and before bedtime as well as after each meal. Floss daily (one or more times), I know it’s a chore but it is your grin we are talking about here. Visit your local dentist for a regular cleaning and exam. Try to follow their ideas. Make sure retainers, dentures and other appliances are clean and do not skip their suggestd cleaning processes.

Gingivitis is infection of the gums, while periodontal illness is the difficult stage of gum sickness, which attacks the gums, bone and round the teeth. Symptoms: Distended gums, open sores, swollen gums and bleeding gums. Best prevention practice: is to brush your gnashers twice daily. Softly floss the teeth once every day.

See your dentist for the best products for your present condition. Kids are way more subject to dental issues. They are at the mercy of eating chocolates, candies and candy and thus get simply influenced and suffer with tooth rot and other issues. So it’s important for parents to understand the basics of good dental care and guide your kids reasonably. These few easy steps can keep you and your folks from awful discomfort, health dangers and will help us to keep smiling all thru out the day.

Hugh Reilly writes articles for our San Diego Dentist Office. Visit our website to find a Dentist in San Diego.

categories: San Diego dentist,San Diego dental,dentist,dental,oral hygiene,disease,illness

Know What to Expect from a Good Dentist

 

We all know that dentists tell us to get our teeth checked and cleaned twice a year. Sometimes more.

Of course the dentist will check for cavities and clean your teeth. And it is necessary that you attend to the health of your teeth and gums by having regular cleanings and exams. But there are other things that a good dentist will do at a check up to prevent future problems with teeth and gums and to maintain current health.

A dentist should discuss with you your medical history including current medical conditions, new medications, and any illnesses. This gives a dentist insight into your overall health and also your dental health.

A dentist will do x-rays to find cavities. But additionally, he should check x-rays for bone and teeth position, and for cysts, tumors and any loss of bone.

A good dentist will know how to check for signs of oral cancer – and an examination of your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat and gums will be done.

Periodontal disease should be evaluated by an examination of gums and bone around the teeth. Periodontal disease is gum disease.

Specialized dental tools should be used to check every surface of every tooth for cavities.

Calculus should be removed. Calculus is hardened plaque which has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can only be removed with special dental instruments.

Plaque is actually a colony of bacteria, mixed up with saliva and food. This sticky substance forms on teeth and much of it can be removed with brushing. It can inflame gums and thus begins periodontal disease. A dentist will ensure that all plaque is cleaned off the teeth.

Removing stains and plaque on the teeth by polishing is definitely to be expected at any dental check up and cleaning.

A dentist can and should recommend whatever is needed for you to maintain good oral health, such as special cleaning appliances, electric toothbrushes and various mouth rinses.

A dentist should discuss diet with you and recommend whatever is needed to improve dental health.

Now you know – there’s more to good dentistry than twice a year checks for cavities and a cleaning. Pick your dentist by using this checklist.

Steven H. Poulos, DDS ~ In The Business of Creating great smiles since 1979.