All YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FAMILY DENTALCARE -- Page 1

Dental Prophylaxis

Why A Professional Cleaning?

"Why should I have a professional cleaning? I brush and floss regularly. My teeth feel clean and they look fine." It sounds as though this person understands the importance of a clean mouth.

 

But in additional to faithful home care, it's necessary to include regular professional cleanings. Our hygienist is able to get to those hard-to-reach places where tartar has built up. Your mouth is left thoroughly clean. We also conduct an overall examination. We can usually spot a loose filling and/or the need for repair work. And we check for oral cancer and take a good look at your gums. We also check for symptoms of gum disease (bleeding gums, constant stale breath, puffy or red gums, receding gums, itching gums, and/or teeth that move).

 

We play an important role in keeping your mouth healthy, and so do you! It's up to you to keep your mouth as free of plaque as possible. Plaque is a thin, sticky bacterial deposit that adheres to the teeth and gums. When it combines with sugar in the mouth, an acid is formed that can eat into the enamel of the teeth, thus causing decay. Plaque must be removed from all surfaces of our teeth as well as below the gum line. If not removed regularly, it can harden and build up.

 

Hardened plaque is called tartar (or calculus). Plaque hardens quickly. In just two days it is fifty percent mineralized and after only twelve days it is ninety percent mineralized, or "rock-hard". Because of its very hard state, tartar should only be removed by a dental professional. Our hygienist has the training and experience to remove it without damaging your teeth. Plaque and tartar are major causes of gum disease. And gum disease, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.

Plaque's Destructive Path You don't see it, yet it's there. Plaque is a colorless film of bacteria which forms on your teeth. It mixes with sugars and starches from our diets. If plaque remains on the teeth it irritates the gums and can lead to periodontitis (gum disease). This unremoved plaque soon hardens and becomes tartar (calculus) which can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist. Taking a destructive path, tartar gives teeth a rough surface, making any further accumulation of plaque even harder to remove. Therefore, the tartar build up intensifies. So what kind of damage does tartar cause? It destroys the underlying bone that holds the teeth in place. Gums recede and expose root surfaces of teeth. This causes an uncomfortable sensitivity to hot, cold, sweets and sometimes chewing in general. With bone loss and loose receded gums, teeth become unstable which can lead to actual tooth loss. Obviously, this is a destructive chain of events. Fortunately, proper oral hygiene can usually prevent these problems. Remember, by removing plaque and debris you prevent tartar build up. Regular professional cleanings will help to achieve this. But your job comes first. Brush after eating and floss daily.

Good Oral Hygiene

Why Floss Every Day?

You know all about the importance of flossing. How it gets to those areas between teeth and below the gum line where a toothbrush can't reach. You're also aware of how important it is to floss under your bridge(s). But you may have one nagging question: Why every day?

Your daily oral hygiene is aimed at disrupting bacteria which surround teeth. (Amazingly, one cubic centimeter of saliva contains about 750 million bacteria!) Bacteria require about 24 hours to organize and produce the byproducts which are responsible for decay and/or gum disease. By flossing and brushing every day, the bacteria on your teeth have to start all over again in order to organize and cause problems. That's why, in addition to brushing after meals, flossing will help keep you one step (or one day) ahead of damaging bacteria.

Remember to: Floss gently. Floss to the gumline but don't saw back and forth against the gum. Keep the floss wrapped snugly against the tooth without pressure on the gum. Floss evenly.

Dental Irrigators

You've probably seen advertisements advocating the use of a dental irrigator (water-spray device) as part of your daily oral care. Should you use one? If you wear braces, have caps or bridgework, one of these instruments will prove helpful by flushing out food debris from hard-to-reach areas. For best results, this device should be used immediately after eating.

 

However, the all-important aim of daily oral care is the removal of plaque. Because it is sticky, plaque must be removed with a toothbrush. The very nature of a water spray does not allow it to do the job of a toothbrush. And when it comes to the removal of food trapped between teeth, floss is an excellent tool.

Brush Gently

Exerting excessive pressure while brushing can eventually cause wear on the surface of your teeth. For this reason we stress the importance of brushing gently. Next time you brush, make an effort to notice whether or not you are applying too much pressure. If you are, try holding your toothbrush closer to the end of the handle. By holding it further away from the bristles, you'll apply less harmful pressure. Another method aimed at decreasing pressure is to brush with your opposite hand. If you normally use your right hand, try brushing with your left hand. Usually the hand you use least is a bit weaker and will automatically diminish the amount of pressure on your teeth.

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Copyright Norman H. Hui, D.D.S. and Associates
2975 Telegraph Avenue (at corner of Ashby), Berkeley, CA 94705
Tel: (510) 845-3704, Fax: (510) 845-3775, Email: info@ddshui.com