Patient Education / Dental Education Library
When X-rays pass through your mouth during a dental exam, more X-rays are absorbed by the denser parts such as teeth and bone than by soft tissues. This creates an image that allows the dentist to safely and accurately detect hidden abnormalities not visible to the naked eye.
Women have special needs when it comes to their oral health. The physical changes they undergo through life — menstruation, pregnancy, breast-feeding and menopause — cause many changes in the body, some of which can be harmful to teeth and gums.
Plaque is a colorless, sticky film that blankets your teeth and creates an environment in which bacteria erode tooth enamel. Foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates are among the biggest culprits, and plaque is the main cause of both tooth decay and gum disease.
More and more people are avoiding the need for dentures as they grow older. There is usually no reason you cannot keep your teeth your entire life, providing you maintain a healthy balanced diet and practice good oral hygiene throughout the years.
Sealants are liquid coatings that harden on the chewing surfaces of teeth and are showing a great deal of effectiveness in preventing cavities — even on teeth where decay has begun. Young children are great candidates for this preventative measure, especially on molars.
Infants should be seen by our office after the first six months of age and at least by the child's first birthday. Early visits help spot problems like gum irritation, thumb-sucking habits, and baby bottle tooth decay before they become serious concerns.
Periodontal exams are vital in the maintenance of your oral health as they are used to assess the health of your gums and teeth. They can help your dentist diagnose gum diseases, gingivitis and periodontitis. These exams can also reveal receding gums, exposed roots, tooth grinding and other problems, making periodontal exams vital to maintaining proper oral health.
Good nutrition and a well-balanced diet is one of the best defenses for your oral health. Providing your body with the right amounts of vitamins and minerals helps your teeth and gums — as well as your immune system — stay strong and ward off infection and decay.
The FDA classifies mouth rinses into two categories — therapeutic and cosmetic. Therapeutic rinses with fluoride have been shown to fight cavities, plaque and gingivitis, while cosmetic rinses merely treat breath odor and remove food particles without treating gum disease.
For decades, fluoride has been held in high regard by the dental community as an important mineral that strengthens tooth enamel, thereby helping to prevent decay. In nearly every U.S. community, public drinking supplies are supplemented with sodium fluoride.
