As we were growing up, mum always told us we should brush our teeth after every meal and go easy with sweets because they lead to cavities. When it comes to dental care, we all know the basic rules: brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash, going to the dentist every six month for a check-up. But some questions regarding dental care and hygiene still remain unanswered. Not anymore.
Here are the top frequently asked questions dental care and their answers.
A common dental condition, Periodontitis is referred to as inflammation of gums, which can also affect the supporting bone structure of the teeth. Build up of dental plaque around the teeth is the primary cause of periodontists. This leads to gingivitis, which, in turn, causes gum disease. Symptoms of periodontitis include red & swollen gums, bad breath, receding gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, among others.
One of the treatment methods for periodontitis includes professional cleaning of dental plaque, which will help improve your gum health. In some cases, a surgical procedure may also be required, and aftercare includes practising oral hygiene, which will prevent further problems as well as follow-up appointments with the dentist.
Tooth sensitivity means the appearance of mild pain and discomfort when eating something sweet or drinking hot or cold beverages, when you brush your teeth and floss. Several factors can cause tooth sensitivity such as: cavities, gum disease, dental fracture, enamel abrasion. The good news is that it can be treated.
Both types of toothbrushes have their advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing is to use a toothbrush and clean your teeth at least twice a day (morning and evening) for two-three minutes.
Additionally, compared to other toothpastes, those with whitening effect contain abrasive elements and various chemical agents that help them have a mild bleaching effect. They cannot however, whiten teeth like whitening is done in a professional dental office and are not effective against tartar build-up. These toothpastes are ideal for patients who smoke, drink coffee and tea, as they prevent the teeth surfaces from getting a yellow colour.
Dental cavities are a destructive substance at dental level. Cavities occur by decomposing bacteria from food that remains on the tooth surface. Decay can be prevented by cleaning your teeth twice a day for two minutes and by keeping professional hygiene appointments made by the dentist. If cavities do occur, you should go to the dentist for treatment because untreated, it can lead to tooth loss complications.
Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth surface and helps prevent cavities, so it is a necessary element in proper dental health care.
If dental cavities advanced to the pulp, causing inflammation or infection, then the pulp must be removed. Treatment consists of removal of root infected pulp, cleaning the root canal and filling it with special material. With modern technology, this is not a painful procedure and after two or three sessions, the tooth is fully restored.
The cavity is a hole in the tooth or a loss of substance. The causes are: lack of oral hygiene or failure to clean teeth at least two times a day, using floss and continuous consumption of sugar-based foods. Prevention is achieved through rigorous cleaning of all the surfaces and keeping dental hygiene appointments made by the dentist.
Among the frequently asked questions dental care is that concerning bad breath. Dental studies have shown that 85% of patients with bad breath, known as halitosis, have a dental cause. These are: gum disease, cavities, dry mouth (xerostomia), bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwash only covers bad breath for a limited time, but it does not treat the cause. You need to go to the dentist to treat the disease.
Tartar removal is necessary to get rid of buildup on the teeth. Tartar comes from saliva and plaque and has a yellow-white color. The darker color is given by extrinsic colorants (coffee, chocolate, wine, tobacco, dark colored beverages). If plaque remains on the teeth and gums are affected in the next stage, the bone that supports the teeth might seriously suffer. Tartar removal should be done on average every 6 months.
Half the population has crowded or crooked teeth or a prominent jaw or mandible and uneven bite. If there is no space, however small, between the teeth, or if they are crooked, the risk of plaque and cavities is high. The toothbrush cannot enter into all spaces between the teeth and therefore the patient is not getting adequate dental care. In addition, when the bite is uneven, muscles and jaw joints are overworked. In some cases, people with such problems suffer from headaches. Wearing braces right throughout a period recommended by the doctor can fix these flaws in teeth.
We hope these frequently asked questions dental care also include some of the questions you were looking to answer.
Make an Appointment
We are happy to answer any oral health related questions.