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Good oral hygiene starts at home, though it needs to be supplemented by regular visits to Southwest Dental. Steps you can take to prevent tooth decay and gum disease include:

Thorough brushing

Brush at least twice daily using a soft-bristle toothbrush and an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. This helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and the need for costly cosmetic or restorative dentistry in the future. Replace your brush every two to three months.

Proper flossing

Flossing is crucial to the health of your teeth and gums and the prevention of gum disease. When flossing, use an 18-inch strand of floss. Ease the floss between each tooth, then sweep it up and down several times while curving around the tooth at the gum line. Don’t forget to floss behind your last tooth and to floss bridges and artificial teeth with the aid of a floss threader.

Regular dental visits

At every regularly scheduled dental appointment at Southwest Dental, Dr. Blalock will carefully check your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat. A checkup at our office includes:

• A head and neck examination: This includes a cancer exam, facial exam, palpation of chewing muscles, palpation of lymph nodes, and an exam of the temporomandibular (jaw) joint.
• A clinical dental examination: This includes a periodontal exam and examinations of the mobility of teeth, the mucous membranes, saliva, occlusion (bite), removable appliances, and contact between teeth. If we detect tooth decay or broken fillings, we will discuss appropriate action with you.
• A full set of digital X-rays.
• A dental cleaning (prophylaxis): This includes scaling plaque, polishing teeth, flossing, assessing your mouth’s cleanliness, and providing oral hygiene instructions. If you wish to learn more about proper brushing and flossing techniques, ask your dentist about it at this stage of the visit.
• Following the clinical dental exam, your dentist will discuss a detailed treatment plan, if necessary. One of our friendly receptionists will schedule a follow-up visit for you.

Regular dental visits, along with a thorough home care regimen, are key to a lifetime of good oral health. General dentistry of this type can prevent the need for cosmetic or restorative dentistry later in life.

Learn more about prevention.

Fluoride helps reverse and prevent tooth decay in five ways:

1. Promoting tooth remineralization: Acids can demineralize a tooth, creating a weak spot that develops into a cavity. Fluoride helps promote the opposite process, called remineralization, which can reverse the very early stages of tooth decay.
2. Helping teeth become more resistant to tooth decay.
3. Fluoride strengthens teeth, giving them natural protection against future tooth decay.
4. Inhibiting oral bacteria’s ability to create tooth-attacking acids.
5. Fluoride disrupts bacteria’s ability to metabolize sugars, the process that leads to the attack of tooth enamel.

Gum disease has several stages. The initial stage is called gingivitis and is an infection of the gingival (gum tissue). In this stage, gums become red, swollen, and prone to bleeding. The underlying bone is unaffected. In later stages, however, gum disease can lead to bone loss and loosening or even loss of teeth.

Gum disease treatment varies according to the stage of the disease. At its mildest stages, gingivitis can be treated by clearing plaque and tartar deposits from the gum pockets. Severe gum disease, on the other hand, might require treatment that includes bone and gum grafts.

Sensitive teeth can be caused by a range of factors. The porous part of the tooth, called dentin, is the region that registers pain, and dentin can become exposed due to:

• Fractured or chipped teeth.
• Teeth injured by clenching or grinding.
• Receding gums caused by gum disease or improper brushing.

Teeth grinding can be caused by a range of factors; often, both emotional and physical factors are involved. Causal factors can include stress, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and crooked or missing teeth.

Once the cause or causes of bruxism are determined, your dentist can develop a course of treatment. Treatment methods may include:

• Relaxation techniques if stress is at the root of the problem.
• Physical therapy.
• Muscle relaxants.
• A plastic tooth guard to wear at night during sleep.

Bruxism can cause serious pain and headaches, as well as dangerous wear on the teeth. In severe cases, restorative dentistry techniques such as inlays or porcelain crowns are needed to rebuild teeth damaged by bruxism. Therefore, it is crucial to seek treatment for bruxism early to avoid waking up with headaches or jaw pain.

Following a few simple guidelines can help keep your child’s teeth strong for life:

Start oral care early

Oral care should start soon after your child is born. After feeding, clean your child’s gums using gauze or a clean, damp cloth. As soon as your child’s teeth appear—as soon as four months after birth—they should be brushed. Each day, brush your child’s teeth with a soft, wet toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Prevent nursing-bottle mouth

Nursing-bottle mouth, also known as baby-bottle tooth decay or baby-bottle syndrome, can cause a baby’s front teeth to rapidly decay, which can lead to a lifetime of dental difficulties. Preventing nursing-bottle mouth is easy: If you give your baby a bottle at nap or bedtime, simply fill it with plain water rather than formula, milk, or juice. Never let your child fall asleep with a bottle filled with a liquid other than water. In addition, check your child for brown spots near the gums because they are a warning sign for tooth decay.

Take your child to the dentist

General, preventative dentistry should start early. A child’s first dental visit should take place at 6 to 12 months after birth. Regular fluoride treatments, administered by a dentist, are especially helpful in strengthening enamel and arresting tooth decay for children. Contact our general dentistry practice today to schedule an appointment for your child.

Take advantage of dental sealants

Dental sealants are a popular and effective way to protect your child’s teeth.

Dental sealants are a plastic coating painted on the grooved, hard-to-reach surfaces of the back teeth. Pits and fissures on these surfaces are particularly susceptible to tooth decay. Dental sealants can be used to seal out cavity-causing bacteria from damaging the teeth.

Teeth whitening is a conservative method for completely making over your smile.

In-office teeth whitening procedures are performed with a specially formulated peroxide gel that allows oxygen to permeate your tooth enamel, lifting stains. The structure of your tooth enamel is not affected. The most common side effect is temporary tooth sensitivity.

Composite bonding and the application of porcelain veneers are conservative cosmetic dentistry options that can help mask the appearance of some crooked teeth. Be aware that these cosmetic approaches cannot address bite concerns such as an overbite, underbite, or crossbite, and therefore are not suitable for every patient.

If you have crooked teeth and would like to achieve a more beautiful smile through cosmetic dentistry treatments, visit us for a consultation. At this meeting, one of our dentists will diagnose your specific issues and recommend a course of treatment.