Frequently Asked Questions /Patient Education

 

Q: How common is gum disease?

A: It is the most common dental problem, and it can progress quite painlessly until you have a serious problem. The end result is bone loss and the loss of teeth. Even though you may brush and floss regularly, regular visits to the dentist will help detect gum disease in the early stages.

Q: What if I am already in the early stages of gum disease?

A: If you already have gum disease, getting rid of plaque and tartar gives your gums a chance to get better. That's why in the early stages of gum disease, the best treatment is:
•Regular cleanings in our practice
•Brushing twice a day
•Flossing once a day

Q: Does Sugar cause cavities?

A: Plaque forms on your teeth daily. When sugar combines with the bacteria in plaque it produces acids that damages the enamel on your teeth. Although decreasing sugar intake will help, it is impossible to avoid sugar completely as it is naturally in many of our foods, including fruits and vegetables. In order to maintain healthy teeth and gums you must brush and floss daily using good techniques to ensure the best results.

Q: How does fluoride help my teeth?

A: Tooth enamel is hard but also has microscopic pores in it. Sugar combines with the bacteria in plaque, which forms on your teeth daily, to produces acids, which seeps into the enamel's pores. This causes the enamel to demineralize and become weak contributing to the formation of cavities. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the natural remineralization process. This keeps your teeth strong and healthy. Fluoride also fights cavities by reducing the amount of acids that are produced by plaque.

Q: Why do my teeth feel sensitive?

A: Tooth sensitivity is often experienced because the surface of the tooth has been worn down. One of the most common reasons for adults is that the roots of the teeth are exposed because the gums are receding away. This allows the effect of heat and cold to penetrate to the pulp where the nerves are located. The problem gets worse as you tend not to brush your teeth properly if it is causing you pain. If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity, let us know so we can assess your situation and recommend the best treatment to take care of your discomfort.

Q: Why do I have bad breath?

A: Some reasons for bad breath may be:
· Poor dental hygiene,
· eating certain foods like garlic or onions,
· smoking,
· chewing tobacco,
· diseases like cancer or diabetes, and
· dry mouth (often called morning breath)
You can help reduce the bad breath by brushing and flossing each day to remove plaque. Also by avoiding certain foods you can eliminate a lot of bad breath problems. If you wear a denture or removable partial denture, it is important to clean them thoroughly everyday and to remove them at night so your mouth tissues can restore themselves daily. If a bad breath problem persists then let us know and we will try to discover what the problem is and present you with a treatment.