Brushing and flossing your teeth isn’t hard to do. And doing both properly can help prevent gum disease and tooth loss. Gum disease is caused by bacteria found in plaque and tartar.
Everyone loves a beautiful straight smile, but as we grow older our teeth grow old as well. Here are 5 Tips to help keep your teeth for life!
2 Minutes.
Yes, two minutes. Brushing your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day. You might thinking, “Two minutes is a long time!” It might be for the impatient, but we promise it will save you a headache of natural tooth decay. Understanding the proper brushing technique is key and making sure you have the right tooth brush, floss and mouthwash.
Proper Brushing Technique
The American Dental Association suggests to start with your tooth brush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and use short back and forth strokes. Finally hold the brush vertically and make several shorter strokes to scrub the back of your teeth.
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body with a 5 ranking on the Mohs scale. It measures 2.5mm at the cusps and gets thinner, toward the roots. (cementoenamel junction) Why is this substance with 96% mineral (hydroxyappetite), so vulnerable to decay?
The answer is the bacteria left behind poor oral hygiene secrete an invasive acid byproduct that dissolves tooth structure.
It is my goal to equip your child with the tools to maintain good oral hygiene and ensure that they enjoy visiting the dentist. We utilize nitrous oxide sedation to help children and adults relax in the dental chair. The technique of “Tell, Show, Do” is used for kids. This puts their minds at ease about the procedures and allows them advanced information to know what is happening and why the treatment is beneficial for them. It makes a procedure go much more smoothly when patients know in advance what is going to be done and why.
As the summer is winding down and kids are returning to school, moms and dads need to focus on themselves. Your teeth need to be high on your priority list. Just because nothing hurts, does not mean there is nothing wrong. Be sure to call our office for a routine dental examination, x-rays to check for tooth decay and get your teeth cleaned. Procrastinate no longer.
Cavities are black or dark brown colored pits or holes that develop on the surface of the teeth especially at the back molars and other molars that are involve in chewing and grinding foods. Cavities are common dental problems among children as well as young adults. Though cavities can be effectively prevented with proper oral measures and hygiene, it can rot away or decay the entire tooth if left unattended
Call Dr. Adam Smooke at 713-974-0900 for an appointment.
But what IS oil pulling? Good question. Basically, you take a big tablespoon of oil, usually coconut (sesame works too) and swish it around your mouth for around 20 minutes, and then spit it back out. But why, you ask?
Your body stores toxins in your salivary glands. When you oil pull, you increase the production of saliva and the toxins in your saliva get trapped in the oil, which you end up spitting back out. Easy!