Dental Health

Dental health begins and ends at home. Your dentist plays a large role in the health of your teeth and gums, but without a good oral hygiene program at home, the dentist can only attempt to fix whatever goes wrong.

An Ounce of Prevention...

Good oral hygiene is preventative care, this means that through brushing and flossing you can reduce the risk of not only cavities, but serious dental problems as well.

Bad Breath, Gingivitis (Gum Disease), Teeth Whitening, and Cavities

Good brushing and flossing habits are the foundation of good oral care. If you do not brush your teeth often enough and long enough, you could develop cavities. Cavities are formed by the bacteria in plaque eating away the enamel on your teeth.

Plaque is also the main contributor to gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease. Gingivitis occurs when plaque begins to build up along the gum-line. This plaque contains bacteria which releases toxins irritating the nearby gum tissue.

Gingivitis is totally reversible. You may have beginning of gum disease if you notice that your gums bleed and hurt when you brush normally. Should this be the case, you should begin brushing more frequently, following the tooth brushing techniques outlined in this section, and see your dentist soon.

Most people's teeth are not super white. However, teeth can lose their pearly appearance by not brushing, by drinking staining drinks (coffee, tea, and colas), and by smoking. Brushing your teeth correctly, and often, reduces this staining, especially if you brush immediately after consuming a staining beverage, or smoking. For those who don't brush often enough, or are smokers and tea drinkers, it's nice to have some options. Knowing the right options for teeth whitening is important, so check out our section on teeth whitening.

Proper brushing and flossing as well as using a antiseptic mouthwash can help bad breath (halitosis) immensely. If you follow the techniques in the brushing and flossing section and still notice chronic bad breath, see your dental specialist.