Category: Dentist’s Tips

Dental Information · Dentist's Tips · Oral Health

5 Top Tips For Healthy Teeth & Gums And The Top Consequences Of Neglect

Posted on by Marty

Female dentist with patient

The gums and your teeth are essential body parts, as they keep bacteria and other harmful elements away from your blood and other important organs. Knowing how to take good care of your teeth and gums is important, as maintaining optimal oral health can actually help prevent heart disease or even cancer.

Read and learn more about the top 5 tips to healthy teeth and gums and the top consequences of neglecting this area.

5 Top Tips For Healthy Teeth & Gums

1. Eat a Healthy Diet

The first tip for healthy teeth and gums is to eat a healthy diet. The food you eat affects the state of your teeth and gums. Consider adding more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are important for your oral health, as they contain vitamins and minerals that help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Avoid eating too much sugar and processed foods, as they can destroy your teeth and gums. It is also important to choose the right type of food. For example, avoid drinking sodas or using a straw, as it can damage your teeth.

Also, chew chewing gum and don’t chew on ice.

2. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

The second tip is to brush your teeth regularly. Brushing your teeth with a good quality toothbrush is an essential part of your oral health care. In order to have healthy teeth and gums, you must brush your teeth at least twice a day for no less than two minutes.

Also, use toothpaste that contains fluoride as it has been proven that fluoride also helps to prevent tooth decay.

3. Floss

The third tip is to floss your teeth. Flossing is a part of the most important oral hygiene habits. It is highly important to floss your teeth because it can prevent gum disease and cavities.

You should also do it the right way. In order to floss, you must use a flosser and wrap it around your fingers, not your hands. Pull the floss gently from one tooth to another, as you move from one tooth to another. Don’t forget to floss your back teeth as well.

You can also go to a professional dental clinic and ask for a flossing demo. This is a great way to learn how to floss properly.

4. See Your Dentist Regularly

The fourth tip is to see your dentist regularly. You should schedule a dental appointment at least twice a year. Your dentist will help you to maintain your oral health. In addition, a dentist can help you to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

It is recommended to go to a dental clinic at least twice a year. or if you begin to experience any oral pain.

5. Use a Mouthwash For Oral Health

The last tip is to use a mouthwash for oral health. Mouthwash helps to keep your mouth clean and fight bacteria. You should use a mouthwash that contains fluoride.

To use it the right way, you must rinse your mouth with at least one mouthful of mouthwash after you eat. It is also important to rinse your mouth with mouthwash right after you brush your teeth.

Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash helps to strengthen your teeth and gums and fight bacteria and infection.

Woman smiling

4 Consequences Of Ignoring Your Oral Health

1. Tooth Loss

The first consequence of neglecting your oral health is tooth loss. If you don’t take care of your teeth and gums, you risk losing your teeth. The first step is to eat a healthy diet. You must avoid sugar and other harmful foods as much as possible. Also, you must brush your teeth regularly and floss your teeth.

Flossing is highly important because it can prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Also, you must go to a dental clinic and maintain your oral health.

In conclusion, be sure to take good care of your teeth and gums and the consequences will be far less severe than losing your teeth.

2. Gum Disease

The second consequence is gum disease. When you neglect your oral health, you risk developing gum disease. Gum disease is a serious illness and it can lead to tooth loss and other serious complications. It is important to go to a dental clinic and ask for a regular dental appointment.

Also, you must brush your teeth regularly and floss your teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

3. Tooth Discoloration

The third consequence is tooth discoloration. If you don’t take care of your teeth and gums, they can become discolored. This can happen because of the different food you eat and the drinks you drink, such as coffee and tea.

You should avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. If you smoke, quit smoking as soon as possible to prevent tooth discoloration.

4. Oral Cancer

The last consequence is oral cancer. If you don’t take care of your mouth, you can develop oral cancer. You can develop this terrible disease if you don’t floss your teeth regularly. You shouldn’t smoke, as it can cause oral cancer.

In order to prevent oral cancer, you must floss your teeth regularly and maintain a healthy diet. Consult with a dentist and ask for a dental appointment.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, the five tips for healthy teeth and gums and the top consequences of neglecting this area are:

  1. Eat a healthy diet
  2. Brush your teeth regularly
  3. Floss your teeth
  4. See your dentist regularly
  5. Use a mouthwash for oral health

4 Consequences of ignoring your oral health are:

  1. Tooth loss
  2. Gum disease
  3. Tooth discoloration
  4. Oral cancer

If you follow the five tips for healthy teeth and gums you will help avoid the top consequences of oral neglect and you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Dental Information · Dentist's Tips

What Are The Different Types Of Dentists in Jacksonville And What Do They Do?

Posted on by Marty

When you are looking to choose a dentist, you want to be familiar with the different types that you have to choose from. Knowing the different types of dentists available on the market to choose from will put you in a much better position to identify the right one for your family. In this article, we will talk about some of the different types of dentists and what they do.

Different Types Of Dentists:

1. General Dentist.

This is a dentist that, much like a general practitioner, focuses on the overall comprehensive outlook of you and your family’s dental health. This is the most common type of dentist that you will find available on the marketplace.

A lot of their work revolves around preventative oral care which includes everything from dental cleanings, repairing damaged teeth, and keeping your gums healthy.

A general dentist Jacksonville is someone that you would regularly see every 6 months or so in order to get check-ups and regular cleanings. Seeing a general dentist is something that you will want to do on a regular basis. The only time you should need to go more than every 6 months, is if you or your family have special oral care needs.

A general dentist is going to be fully capable of providing you with proper analysis of your dental health and more. While general dentists are going to be fully capable of treating a lot of common conditions, if you are suffering from specific dental issues that might require the help of a specialist, they will generally refer you to the appropriate specialist that has additional education, training, and experience dealing with it.

2. Periodontist.

A periodontist is going to be someone that specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating a variety of gum diseases and issues that you might be faced with.

If you are someone and/or you have someone in your family dealing with significant gum issues or your general doctor refers you to a periodontist to get specialized care, you will be referred to a periodontist. They are going to be much more capable of providing you with the right preventative care and necessary grafting, procedures, and more to treat your gum disease. This is especially true if you are a much more advanced case.

Seeing a periodontist is something that you really want to do if you are dealing with serious gum issues because they will have the necessary training and specialization to ensure that you get the best care for your specific situation.

3. Orthodontics.

You will also find orthodontics in the same field. Orthodontists are those that are specialized in keeping your teeth and bite in the optimal position. They are fully trained and capable of providing you with the appropriate treatment needed to maintain healthy looking and feeling smiles in terms of the overall function of your mouth.

They will be able to install braces, help improve the composition of your bite, correct deformities, and more. You will want to see an orthodontist if you are dealing with crooked teeth or any serious issues that are negatively impacting your bite. They are going to be much more experienced and trained to help provide you with the best guidance.

4. Endodontist.

This is a doctor that specializes in the inner part of your teeth. Therefore, if you are dealing with issues that relate to the inner portion of your teeth, you are going to want to consider seeing an endodontist.

They will be much more capable of offering you the right treatment options and more for those that are dealing with anything ranging from trauma to decay that might be negatively impacting the inner portion of the tooth.

Overall, there are so many different kinds of dentists that you are going to want to consider seeing depending on what you are dealing with.

If you are simply looking for a dentist that can look after you and your family’s dental health, you are going to want to consider looking for a general dentist.

However, if your general dentist deems that you have specific issues associated with your teeth that need specialized care, you are going to want to seek out professional help. Therefore, it is ultimately going to come down to whether or not you have issues that you need to be handled by specialists or if you are able to go to a general dentist instead.

A general dentist should be fully capable of referring you to any specialist that you might need to seek treatment from because they will be trained to spot issues that you might have. Therefore, you generally want to go to a general dentist beforehand. That way, they can tell you whether or not you are going to need to seek treatment from someone that specializes in a specific field.

Dental Information · Dentist's Tips

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Getting Braces?

Posted on by Marty

Keeping your mouth completely healthy is one of the most important things that you will want to do in order to minimize complications that could result. Your mouth is said to be the gateway to your overall health. Because of this, it is even more important to remain on top of all of the important things you should be doing to sustain optimal dental hygiene.

That being said, if your teeth are far too crowded or you have other dental issues causing increased plaque buildup, food to get stuck in between your teeth, or something else, you might be climbing uphill as far as your dental hygiene is concerned.

For those with these issues, braces can be a complete ‘game changer.’ Below, we will be going over some of the most significant benefits of getting braces.

Benefits Of Getting Braces:

1. Prevent Gum Disease.

Perhaps the greatest benefit you will be able to get from getting braces when you need it would be the ability to prevent gum disease.

Those that have issues such as overcrowding or those that have crooked teeth might be dealing with significant barriers to effective dental hygiene. This alone can cause plaque buildup and issues that can result in increased complications with things like gum disease.

If you are looking to minimize the issues that you might be experiencing with gum bleeding and progressive gum disease, braces can help you get your teeth straightened out which can really improve your ability to clean your gumline well.

2. Prevent Cavities.

Another major benefit that you are going to be able to get from getting braces for your hygiene would be the ability to prevent cavities from forming.

Because you will be able to minimize the issues that you might be experiencing with overcrowding and other problems that can cause inefficiencies with your dental hygiene, you can really help to prevent cavities in the end.

By getting your teeth in a better position for proper brushing and flossing, you are going to be able to achieve a healthier overall mouth with fewer cavities.

3. Assist In Improving Digestion.

One of the benefits that braces can bring you that not many people even think about is the ability to help with digestion. Chewing your food is one of the first things that has to be done in order to get your food digested.

The issue is, those that do not have properly straight teeth or a functional bite might be unable to properly chew their food. Thus, they are forced to consume food that hasn’t been properly chewed which can really put a strain on the entire digestive system as a direct result.

By getting your teeth straightened out and by being able to properly chew your food, you are going to be able to digest your food much easier.

4. Help Your Bite.

Another major benefit that you will be able to get from getting braces that can correct issues with your teeth would be the ability to help optimize your bite. Having a bad bite is something that can really cause a lot of issues with the health of your teeth. Not only can it cause your teeth to improperly hit against one another which can lead to the grinding of your teeth, but it can also cause issues with your eating as mentioned above.

The problem is, by grinding your teeth against one another, you will cause enamel erosion. Along with this, you will cause bone loss, as well.

By correcting your bite, it is going to make your jaw sit much better and to be much more relaxed which can cause less grinding at night.

5. Improve Speach Abilities.

Believe it or not, but your bite or even your teeth being improperly positioned can cause issues with your ability to speak properly. If you are suffering from an open-bite, closed-bite, or crooked teeth, it might be causing you to be unable to speak as well as you should. This alone might be reason enough to consider braces for some.

Overall, there are so many different ways that getting braces can end up helping you. Whether you are someone that is dealing with bruxism and night time grinding due to having a bad bite or you are someone that has a lot of gum problems due to having improper teeth positioning, you will want to get the issues resolved by getting yourself braces because it will make it much easier to remedy the problems altogether.

Braces can really help you improve your smile and the overall health of your mouth in general. Because of this, you might want to consider braces for a variety of reasons as it can really make significant improvements to your dental health and hygiene.

Speak to your orthodontist in order to figure out if braces is something that you should be considering.

Dental Information · Dentist's Tips · Oral Health

What You Should Expect At A Dental Check Up

Posted on by Marty

Going to the dentist is very important. Everyone should be making it a priority to go to the dentist a minimum of two times per year. For those with issues, more visits might be necessary depending on your dental condition.

Getting the proper checkups throughout the year can really help you keep your dental health in check. Below, we will be going over some of the things that you should be expecting at a dental check-up.

What To Expect At A Dental Check-Up:

1. X-Rays.

One of the things that you are going to be expecting at a dental checkup would be x rays. Getting x rays completed during a checkup is typically recommended especially if you haven’t had one in a while. During these x rays, they will be checking for everything from jaw or bone problems, decay, cysts, and even tumors.

An x-ray will tell the dentist a lot about your dental health and it can help to spot issues that wouldn’t normally be able to be detected with the naked eye.

2. Full Examination.

Another thing that you should expect at a dental check-up would be a complete examination of the mouth. Your dentist will look through your entire mouth checking for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and other common issues. They will be checking to see whether or not there are specific issues that might be cropping up that they could treat to prevent the issue from becoming an actual problem. This allows them to offer preventative measures and care for their patients.

They will typically come in at the end of your cleaning to see what the hygienist has to say about your teeth and the condition they were in. Also, they will ask you all kinds of questions and whether or not you are dealing with any pain or issues with your teeth.

3. Thorough Cleaning.

Most of all, you are going to be getting your teeth thoroughly cleansed. Checkups are a time at which you will have a dental hygienist or even your dentist perform thorough teeth cleaning.

During this, the hygienist will be using various state of the art instruments in order to scrape hardened plaque off of your teeth, below your gum-line, and more. They will likely polish your teeth and even floss your teeth to remove anything stuck between your teeth.

This is a necessary aspect of a dental checkup because you want to get any buildup that cannot be removed with your own toothbrush and flossing routine. Otherwise, the plaque buildup could lead to issues like tooth decay and even gum disease because it will provide food for bacteria to thrive.

Overall, there is a lot that you should be expecting from a dental checkup.

You want to be sure that you are investing in a checkup a minimum of twice per year. That way, you will be able to get your teeth thoroughly cleaned and avoid issues that can stem from having major plaque and tartar buildup.

By getting your teeth looked at twice per year and by getting the proper x rays, your dentist should be able to tell you whether or not you have to make changes to your oral health care routine and whether or not there are certain things that can be done to protect your oral health.

You want to go to the dentist to get a dental checkup anywhere from 3 to 6 months at a time if your teeth are healthy.

However, if you need to go back for further treatment due to having a cavity or for another reason, you will be making an additional appointment to handle it.