Oral Health

What toothpaste is right for me?

2019-02-01T10:45:05-05:00Oral Health|

Selecting the right toothpaste has become a challenge nowadays as there are so many out there on the shelves of grocery stores and pharmacies.

Most consumers and patient are not sure what to use and that is a common question we hear everyday in our practice. Shall we trust the commercials, go by the cost of it or are they all the same and it really doesn`t matter what kind we use.

Here are some helpful tips when selecting the most appropriate toothpaste for yourself.

  1.  Fluorides are very important to increase and maintain resistance of the tooth to decay. Ideally, over the counter toothpastes should have at least 1000 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride in every tube. Finding American Dental Association stamp of approval on the package is another valuable, but not essential characteristic. Per recommendation from your dentist and dental hygienist you can utilize toothpastes with 5000 ppm of fluoride […]

Use of Ultrasonic Scalers for Periodontal Maintenance

2018-10-04T21:02:10-04:00Oral Health, Periodontal|

There are two techniques for removing dental plaque and tartar during your dental cleaning appointment: manual or ultrasonic.  Manual cleaning is done with hand instruments – scalers and currettes where the plaque and tartar are scraped from the teeth. The second technique uses ultrasonic scalers. Ultrasonic tooth scalers generate up to 50,000 vibrations per second which produce the formation of bubbles filled with water vapor. The vibration stretches and compresses these tiny bubbles until they implode and release a burst of pressure.  When the bubbles implode, they produce energy that tear apart the cell walls of oral pathogens. Ultrasonic scalers also produce a steady flow of water which will flush out the gingival pockets to help remove bacteria from around the teeth and gums.

Patients can benefit in many ways from using the ultrasonic scalers. The ultrasonic scalers tend to be much quicker in removal of calculus than hand instruments, they […]

Changing Your Breath From Bad To Good

2018-10-04T21:02:47-04:00Oral Health|

Nobody likes to admit it, but many people suffer with bad breath or the medical term, halitosis. Bad breath can be embarrassing and tough on those around you. Luckily, this problem is often easy to fix. Solutions include good hygiene, regular dentist visits, and ruling out other factors or underlying medical problems.

Potential causes of bad breath include:

  • Tobacco use
  • Poor Dental hygiene
  • Gum disease, cracked teeth/fillings, and decay
  • Dry mouth
  • Tonsil stones
  • Medications
  • Diabetes, Liver disease, respiratory tract infection, chronic bronchitis, and acid reflux
  • Diet

In order to keep halitosis at a minimum, it is important to practice good oral hygiene and brush twice per day, floss and scrape/clean the tongue. An electric brush is recommended as well as an antibacterial mouth rinse. It is also important to visit the dentist every 6 months to check for broken teeth, cavities and gum disease which all harbor bacteria. Other things that can […]

Premedication Before Dental Appointments

2018-10-04T21:03:24-04:00General, Oral Health|

Many patients are advised that they should taking antibiotics prior to undergoing certain dental appointments – to premedicate themselves. What is premedication? Premedication is a preventative step of taking antibiotics before dental procedures that can cause gum or bone bleeding such as a cleaning, extraction, root canal, deep cleaning, etc. Why do medical and dental professionals suggest this extra step?

We all have bacteria in our mouths which can enter the bloodstream through exposed areas of our oral mucosa during dental procedures. Our bodies are mostly a bacteria-free zone, although there are certain areas within the body that contain bacteria such as the mouth, intestines and surface of the skin. These areas are all protected by a layer of epithelial cells which form a protective barrier to keep the bacteria from entering the bloodstream. During a dental cleaning or other dental procedure, the protective lining may be disturbed and can provide […]

Go to Top