An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
We all know the old saying. While not to be taken quite so literally, the sentiment is the same – prevention is the best medicine – and a healthy diet can drastically reduce your risk of developing serious health problems. The same is true for dentistry. A healthy diet goes a long way, but good oral health also requires diligent home care including regular brushing and flossing and twice-yearly visits with your Pineville, LA dentist.
Let’s Get Healthy!
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Oral Hygiene
We know it sounds cliché, but oral hygiene really is the most important factor when it comes to your oral health. When your Pineville dentist asks if you’ve been brushing and flossing regularly, it’s not just a script they give dentists when they graduate from dental school. Regular brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and more serious problems down the road.
Here’s some advice straight from the oral health professionals at Today’s Dental on how to keep your smile clean and healthy between visits:
- Invest in an electric toothbrush. Sonicare® is the #1 recommended by dentists.
- Brush at least twice every day, ideally BEFORE eating, not after. The acidity left in your mouth after you eat or drink, combined with the forces of brushing can actually damage your enamel.
- Don’t forget to brush or scrape the tongue, which can harbor tons of disease-causing bacteria, not to mention bad breath.
- Floss every day or use a Soft-Pick® to clean between the teeth. If you use conventional string floss, make sure to gently curve the floss under the gums and around the teeth in a C-shape, rather than just snapping the floss up and down.
- Rinse with water after eating or drinking when brushing is not available to reduce acidity. Make sure to spit the water out, don’t swallow.
- Rinse with mouthwash at home after brushing and flossing to kill even more bacteria and freshen breath.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits and veggies. Reduce your sugar intake as much as possible, and be aware of highly acidic foods and beverages.
- See your Pineville dentist twice yearly for regular cleanings and exams.
At Today’s Dental, our exceptional hygiene team is friendly and knowledgeable, and won’t make you feel guilty if you haven’t been flossing. They are very gentle to make sure you don’t leave with sore gums, and thorough to take care of any plaque or tartar you’ve left behind.
Give us a call today and schedule a cleaning, your mouth will thank you!
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common, chronic infection of the gum tissue that is largely caused by poor oral hygiene. Plaque that is left along the gum line hardens into tartar, which irritates the gums to the point where they begin to pull away from the teeth, or recede. Deep pockets form between the gums and the teeth, giving bacteria a nice warm place to hide and multiply. Eventually, the gums are no longer able to support the teeth, resulting in tooth loss. Left untreated, the bacteria associated with gum disease have a direct pathway to enter the body and wreak havoc on your systemic health as well.
The good news is, gum disease is not only treatable but preventable! With diligent oral home care, combined with a healthy diet and regular visits with your Alexandria dentist, you can avoid the whole situation altogether.
If your gums bleed during regular brushing or flossing, guess what? You have gum disease. It may only be in the gingivitis stage, but you should seek treatment right away to keep the infection from progressing.
Depending on the severity of your case, Dr. Gauthier and our outstanding hygiene team can provide:
- Regular deep cleanings (periodontal cleanings)
- Scaling and root planing
- Antibiotics (Arestin®)
- Gum graft or gum surgery
If your gums are bleeding easily, or you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease and are seeking the skilled and compassionate care of a Pineville dentist, we would love to help you get your periodontal health back on track.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
In the past, having a cavity filled meant living with dark unsightly spots in your smile. Until fairly recently, fillings were made from silver amalgam (a mix of metals, including toxic mercury). Metal fillings are not only potentially toxic but also tend to expand and contract with temperature changes, causing them to crack and separate, leaving room for decay to enter.
Thankfully, today, we use a composite resin material that is more stable, non-toxic, and blends in seamlessly with your natural smile.
If you have a cavity that needs to be filled, or an old metal filling that needs to be replaced, we would love to help you restore your smile and prevent further decay with beautiful, modern, tooth-colored fillings.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
At Today’s Dental, we’re always looking for new and improved ways to treat dental problems without the need for invasive techniques. Enter silver diamine fluoride. Silver diamine fluoride is a great alternative to traditional fillings that doesn’t require drilling or filling. This clear antimicrobial liquid can be brushed on to cavities to stop decay in its tracks.
This is a wonderful alternative for children, special needs patients, patients who may be fearful or uncooperative, as well as for low income or elderly patients who otherwise have a hard time receiving dental care. It doesn’t require a drill or an injection, so it’s much more pleasant and more cost-effective than traditional fillings.
In many ways, this treatment is more effective than traditional fillings because it addresses the root cause of the cavities—the bacterial infection—rather than just treating the symptoms by filling the cavity. The only drawback of silver diamine fluoride is aesthetic—it will blacken the area of decay. For this reason, this is a great option for cavities in the back teeth, and baby teeth that are going to fall out anyway, but for visible front teeth, this should be a factor to consider.
Mouth Guards
If you or your teen is involved in any type of contact sports, we highly recommend a custom mouth guard. Stock mouth guards offer a small amount of protection, but they are not customized for your mouth. Only a custom mouth guard from Today’s Dental offers the best fit and the highest level of protection against oral injuries, tooth loss, and concussions.
If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching) or TMJ, we can provide a custom mouth guard for you to wear during sleep. Wearing a nightguard relieves the pressure from the constant clenching and grinding, allowing your jaw to rest and heal overnight, and protects your teeth from being worn down over time.
If you’d like to protect your greatest asset, your healthy smile, we would love to speak with you about a custom mouthguard from Today’s Dental.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about general dentistry or would like to schedule an appointment with your Pineville dentist, give us a call today or request an appointment online! We look forward to smiling with you.
