Posts Tagged ‘Dentistry’

Oral Care Beyond Brushing

August 30th, 2010

We all know that brushing our teeth after every meal is one of the best ways to prevent plaque and tooth decay. What a lot of us fail to realize is that brushing alone is not enough to keep your smile healthy and bright. There are a lot of important oral hygiene tips besides brushing that if followed will give you a bright and healthy smile. Below a santa clarita dentist shares a few tips beyond brushing to keep your teeth in top condition.

There is no way around it, you need to floss more. Too many people save flossing for late at night right before bed only to find themselves too tired to actually do it. So they fall asleep and leave dangerous decay causing debris in the gaps of their teeth. One of the best things you could do for your teeth is floss more. One thing that has shown to help people improve their flossing is to leave floss in the desk at hour and in their car so that it is conveniently located.

Start eating more “detergent” foods. Firm and crisp foods actually help to clean teeth while being eaten. Some of the best firm and crisp foods good for cleaning teeth are, apples, celery, and raw carrots. These detergent foods can come in very handy when you are unable to brush after lunch or a mid-day snack.

Gargle a glass of apple cider vinegar each morning before brushing. The vinegar can actually remove stains, whiten teeth, and kill bacteria.

Take your oral hygiene to new heights with these tips and proper brushing. It is important to remember that no matter how good your oral hygiene maybe you still need to have regular checkups with your dentist. Professional cleanings are the only way for your teeth to be completely free of plague and they also give your dentist the opportunity to check for any other serious health conditions. Visit my dentist in santa clarita for more tips on oral care.

Why Brushing Your Teeth Is Not Enough

August 26th, 2010

Since we were children we were taught to brush our teeth every single morning and every night before bed. Brushing is extremely important to maintaining good dental and oral health. Brushing alone is just not enough though. A local dentist in santa clarita explains some of the dangers not flossing.

Flossing provides some major benefits that brushing simply does not. For example, brushing can not reach the area in between teeth or remove trapped debris from the gum line. Flossing plays a crucial role in removing debris that can lead to plaque buildup which leads to serious dental decay. Food trapped between teeth if not removed by floss will lead to cavities and possible infections. Not matter how well you brush your teeth the brush simply can not remove all of the food particles in between the teeth.

Plaque build up is not only dangerous to your dental and oral health is is also considered unsightly. Removing plaque once it has built up requires a professional cleaning from a dentist. However, plaque can be prevented from forming in the first place with regular flossing.

Flossing is also important to the health of your gums. Trapped food particles in the gums leads to severe irritation and in many cases gums disease. Flossing has been proven to be an effective prevention method of most gum diseases.

Not only does flossing help prompt healthy teeth and gums it also helps freshen breath. Food particles trapped in teeth start decaying and produce nasty odors that only flossing can safely remove.

The bottom line is brushing your teeth is very important. Brushing helps to keep the teeth and gums free of plaque, but alone it will not do enough to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. Make sure you are flossing your teeth at least  once a day. With a little extra effort you will be able to keep your smile bright and healthy. Visit santaclaritadentistoffice.com to get more oral care tips.

4 Pillars of Clean Teeth

August 25th, 2010

Keeping your teeth clean and healthy is extremely important. While most adults think they know what to do and how to care for their teeth dentist are seeing more and more decay resulting from improper care. With the help of a Pasadena Dentist we have created these four pillar of great dental care. Make sure you are really taking good care of your smile.

Pillar 1: Brushing is one of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Brushing gives you the opportunity to remove any food particle build up before it has a chance to break down. Whenever possible brush after every meal. If you can not brush after a meal consider drinking a lot of water to help wash away anything that may be stuck on your teeth. It is also important to make sure that when you are brushing that you are actually cleaning your teeth and not just going through the motions. Every time you brush it should be for at least 2 minutes and using a circular motion you should cover all the areas of each tooth. Also be sure to replace your brush every six months.

Pillar 2: Flossing is just as important as brushing. A lot of people tend to think of flossing as optional and tend to simply not do it. This is a big mistake. The gaps in your teeth are notorious for collecting food particles and even with regular perfect brushing you will not be able to dislodge them. If not removed they will certainly cause decay. You need to floss between every tooth everyday. Always be sure to use plenty of floss so that you do not have to ever use a dirty segment of floss twice.

Pillar3: Chew xylitol gum. A lot of people still do not realize the benefit of xylitol enriched gum. Basically it neutralizes the acidic bacteria produces by plaque. Chewing this gum several times a day will eliminate cavities.

Pillar 4: Regular professional dental cleanings. Only with the help of a professional will you be able to remove all of the plaque build up on your teeth. It is recommended that you visit a dentist once every six months for a cleaning and an oral exam. The oral exam will allow your dentist to evaluate your personal oral hygiene and recommend changes as well as look for any other serious health concerns.

Take great care of your teeth and you can have beautiful white healthy smile.  Learn more about proper dental care here.