How often should I visit the dentist for checkups?
Did you know that most patients think that they should be coming to the dentist once a year, like they do with their doctors? That's actually wrong. You should be coming twice a year for us to check you, take x-rays, check your gums, and make sure there's no dental problems, disease, cavities, or gum issues going on.
What are the benefits of fluoride treatment?
Did you know that if you drink tap water, you are getting fluoride in your body and exposing your teeth to fluoride? It's not the same amount as you would get if you come to the dental office and get a dental cleaning with fluoride treatment, but it still benefits you. If you get fluoride at the office at your twice-a-year visits, that can greatly reduce your chances of cavities and sensitivity of your teeth.
How can I protect my teeth from decay?
Here are some tips to avoid tooth decay. Nobody likes coming to the dentist, nobody likes the drilling, and we like to make sure our patients are healthy, and when they come in, they get a clean bill of health. Tip number one, make sure you're brushing with a fluoride toothpaste morning and night to help protect your teeth against cavities and sensitivity. Number two, make sure you come into your dental office twice a year so we can check you and make sure there's nothing going on, no cavities, disease. We can catch that ahead of time. Number three, make sure you're flossing at home as well to clean between your teeth to prevent any gum issues or cavities. And number four, make sure you have a well-balanced, healthy meal at every mealtime to reduce your chance of cavities.
Why do I need dental x-rays and are they safe?
Did you know your dentist does not have x-ray vision? They can't see through your teeth. So we need the aid and tools of dental x-rays at least once a year, or if you're having a dental problem. X-rays are totally safe. If you're standing outside, you're exposed to more x-rays than you would get here getting an x-ray at a dental office.
What causes gum disease and how can I prevent it?
Did you know that we all have bacteria in our mouth that's there all the time? And some people have more bad bacteria that have parties and eat away at the support of your teeth and gums. That's called gum disease. So in order to control that, or make sure you don't have it, you need to come into the dental office so we can take x-rays, examine you, and if you do have gum disease, give you a good plan of how to treat that and maintain your gum health.