Month: September 2019

We all know that brushing and flossing is extremely important for your overall oral health. It is therefore important to keep practicing these habits daily to maintain healthy smile in the years to come. Visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleaning at least twice a year is an important habit one should incorporate. This helps you in creating an optimal oral environment for lifetime.

Dentists near me recommend typical cleanings twice a year. However, patients suffering from gum disease or any other kind of dental illness should visit more frequently. Dental cleanings are just one part, oral examination is another. Professional dentists also recommend an oral examination that includes taking dental x rays to evaluate the condition of teeth, jaw and gums. They look for signs of decay, gum disease and oral cancer. On the first visit, you will be interrogated about your health history, medications you take and allergies or adverse reactions in the past. If you had any dental anxiety that kept you away from seeing a dentist before, you should immediately tell your dentist. This will help to minimize the discomfort and help you feel more relaxed.

Professional Dental Cleaning
By taking regular professional dental cleanings, you will be able to get rid of plaque, tartar that accumulates the areas of the mouth that are difficult to clean. These areas are not easily accessible by your daily brushing and flossing habits. Our dentist in Elgin may use a special instrument that removes tartar from around or below the gumline. Once this has been removed, your teeth will be polished with abrasive paste that helps in clearing away tooth stains. After the final evaluation, you can resume.

You shall be able to feel the clean and smooth surface of enamel if you run your tongue along the surface. Plaque does not gets attached on a surface that is smooth. To make sure that you are taking better care of your teeth, our dentist will also review any kind of hygiene issues that you may face.

To know more about dental checkups, feel free to give us a call. We will be more than happy to help you attain the best smile and have a great dental experience. So, call us today to set up an appointment.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Brushing your teeth is an ideal way to maintain healthy gums and teeth. It is something we do everyday. However, there are most of the people who will commit mistakes at least once. Listed below are some common brushing mistakes you should avoid for an improved oral health in the long run.

Brushing Only for a While
The average person’s brushing time is ONLY 45 seconds. Not brushing your teeth for an extended duration means inviting cavities, tooth decay and other oral health issues. Therefore, it is recommended to brush teeth for at least 2 minutes. This is when fluoride acts on your teeth effectively. Initially, you can start by setting a timer when you start to brush. Another option is using electric toothbrushes that comes with timer.

Brushing Too Rough
The quality of cleaning teeth is independent of the strength, however, it is strictly dependent on the movements made. So, horizontal, vertical and circular movements are the most picked angles to take into account.

Not Changing Your Toothbrush for a While
It is ideal to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. So, as soon as your toothbrush starts degrading, you need to replace it immediately. A worn brush not only damages your gums but also quite inefficient.

Using Wrong Toothbrush
It is better to choose a toothbrush that ideally suits your needs and preferences. With different types of handles, filaments, size and head available, choose the one that fits your needs.

Our dentists at Elgin Dental Office TX recommends using an easy-to-hold, flexible toothbrush that is the right size for you.

Wrong Choice of Bristles
Angled bristles are considered the best as they clean the teeth irrespective of the position. Hard and stiff bristles could damage the gums. So, it is advisable to use soft ones. Frayed or broken bristles won’t clean your mouth properly. Change your toothbrush once the bristles lose their flexibility.

Rinsing Your Mouth With Water After Brushing Your Teeth
The moment water mixes with the toothpaste, it cuts down the efficiency of fluoride from your toothpaste. Instead use a mouth rinse that contains fluoride. Rinse, gargle and spit the mouthwash and that is sufficient. But don’t use water.

If you still have any queries, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

According to a recent study, athletes have higher rates of oral disease despite brushing their teeth frequently. As per the British Dental Journal, 94% of athletes report brushing their teeth at least twice a day whereas 44% reported regular flossing.

Comparatively 75% of population brush their teeth daily and 21% of them just floss. The reasons identified were regular intake of sports drinks, energy bars and gels, all of which are known to damage teeth. The sugar in these products increases the risk of tooth decay and acid erosion. This could be contributing to the high levels of tooth decay and acid erosion observed during dental check-ups.

Studies in the past have also confirmed that athletes may have a higher risk of oral disease because of having a dry mouth. Other explanations include the mouth becoming dry due to breathing heavily during exercise so there is less protection from saliva in the mouth.

The researchers surveyed data from 352 Olympics and professional male and female athletes across 11 different sports including swimming, cycling, soccer, rowing, hockey and sailing.

Even after practicing good oral hygiene, the researchers reported that the athletes had substantial amount of dental problems. One of the problems is diet. Athletes often rely on heavy carbohydrate intake to boost their energy when training or competing. They intake carbs in the form of sugars mixed with acidic sports drinks or slick gels. This gives oral bacteria a boost the same way it boosts the athlete.

However, in an attempt to improve oral health, athletes are willing to adopt behaviour change like additional fluoride use from mouthwash, reduction in the intake of sports drinks and frequent dental visits.

Therefore, it is not only important to brush and floss regularly. There are other factors like diet, lifestyle and psychology to make sure your teeth are healthy and free from gum disease.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.