A beautiful smile begins with a healthy smile. Whether your teeth are the ones you were born with or the ones that have been replaced or enhanced, taking care of your gums, teeth and mouth is critical to your oral and overall health.
Periodic exams are a must to maintain your good health and prevent any problems that may be forming from getting out of hand. A minimum of two visits and cleanings should be scheduled to include an annual set of x-rays. Some patients opt for cleanings every three to four months depending on their history and recommendations by Dr. Mohr or if they’ve had periodontal or other work that warrants it.
To stay healthy between visits, always be sure to brush at least twice daily but optimally after every meal. Replace your toothbrush every three months. A soft bristle brush is usually best. And
Flossing gets into the 40% or so of your tooth surface your toothbrush can’t reach. Leaving those spots untouched leads to plaque, irritated gums and bacterial growth. By using floss twice daily you’ll benefit from measurably cleaner teeth and gums and fresher breath too! Gently brush your tongue can also help prevent bad breath. Water flossers (right) come in corded or rechargeable models and are excellent ways of cleaning in addition to flossing.
If you can’t floss or brush after a meal, chewing some sugar-free gum will help dislodge food particles. Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash kills germs that cause plaque, gingivitis and bad breath.
A dental prophylaxis is a cleaning treatment performed to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. Prophylaxis is an important dental treatment for stopping the progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Prophylaxis is an effective procedure in keeping the oral cavity in proper health and halting the progression of gum disease. The benefits include:
- Plaque removal. Tartar (also referred to as calculus) and plaque buildup, both above and below the gum line, can result in serious periodontal problems. Unfortunately, even with a proper home brushing and flossing routine, it can be impossible to remove all debris, bacteria and deposits from gum pockets. The experienced eye of a dentist or hygienist using specialized dental equipment is necessary to catch potentially damaging buildup.
- A healthier looking smile. Stained and yellowed teeth can dramatically decrease the esthetics of a smile. Prophylaxis is an effective treatment in ridding the teeth of these unsightly stains.
- Fresher breath. Bad breath (or halitosis) is generally indicative of advancing periodontal disease. A combination of rotting food particles (possibly below the gum line) and potential gangrene stemming from gum infection, results in bad breath. The routine removal of plaque, calculus and bacteria at our facility can noticeably improve halitosis and reduce infection.
Prophylaxis can be performed at our Pompano Beach dental office. We recommend that our patients schedule their teeth cleaning twice annually as a preventative measure, but should it should be completed every 3-4 months for periodontitis sufferers. It should also be noted that gum disease cannot be completely reversed, but prophylaxis is one of the tools to effectively halt its progression.
And to keep your teeth white, minimize consumption of drinks and food that can stain such as coffee, tea, curry, soda and red wine. Smoking is one of the quickest ways to turn your teeth from white to yellow (and your lungs from pink to black!). For an even brighter smile, consider teeth bleaching with the Zoom! whitener process.
If you need to find a dentist after years of skipping cleanings and exams, Dr. Mohr and the entire staff will make you feel at ease. Not only will you be given a comprehensive dental check-up, but any fears about dentistry you might have will be taken into account to make you comfortable.