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PREVENTION AND GOOD ORAL CARE 

PROPHYLAXIS FACTS

Oral prophylaxis, or "prophy" as it is sometimes called, is simply the process of having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dental health care specialist---either a dentist or dental hygienist.

Although regular home care cleaning is necessary for maintaining a clean, healthy mouth, only prophylaxis can remove stains and calculus from your teeth.


TOOTH WHITENING AND BLEACHING

The ADA recommends that patients receive a thorough oral examination, performed by a licensed dentist, to determine the most appropriate whitening treatment. This allows the dentist to determine if the patient has any contraindications to the procedure and to supervise the use of bleaching agents within the context of a comprehensive, appropriately sequenced treatment plan.

CALCULUS OR PLAQUE?

Calculus, or tartar, is a tough, crusty deposit of hardened plaque.

Sticky plaque is constantly forming on your teeth. When plaque is not completely removed from your teeth by home care techniques, it hardens into calculus, and is particularly harmful when it forms at and near the gumline. When this happens, your gums can become irritated and begin to pull away from the teeth.

This causes a pocket to form between the teeth and gums, allowing even more plaque to accumulate on top of the calculus. After a while, irritated gums can become red and puffy and may bleed. This is the way periodontal, or gum, disease begins. Without proper treatment, it can result in the loosening and loss of teeth!


NUTRITION AND YOUR TEETH

To plaque, your mouth is just like a candy store. When you eat sweets, germs have all the sugar they want. You don't have to stop eating sweets entirely. But you can be smart about what you eat and when you eat it.

The more often you eat sweets between meals, the more often the acid will eat away the enamel and dentin protecting the soft center of the tooth. The best time to east sweets is at mealtime and then brush your teeth if you can. Another way to be smart is by not eating sticky, chewy candy that will stick to your teeth. You don't want to turn your mouth into a hotel for unwanted guests (germs).

Be smart -- don't eat sweets too often; don't eat sweets between meals.


ARE STAINS HARMFUL?

The stains which may appear on your teeth are not harmful. However, having stains removed from your teeth by prophylaxis will make your mouth look more attractive and feel clean and fresh. And when your teeth have been made smooth and clean, your dentist is better able to perform a good visual exam of them.


HOW OFTEN IS A PROPHYLAXIS NECESSARY?

The frequency with which a prophylxis is necessary to keep your teeth clean is best determined by your dentist or dental hygienist.


IS HOME CARE CLEANING REALLY NECESSARY?

Absolutely! The benefits of a prophylaxis are greatly reduced if you neglect to floss and brush daily, eat healthful foods, and keep snacking to a minimum.

WHY FLOSS?

Millions of bacteria live in our mouths and feed off of food left on our teeth. Food particles lodged between teeth and caught in the gums surrounding teeth are not removed completely by brushing alone. As bacteria flourish, they produce an acid that eats into tooth enamel and a sulfur compound that creates bad breath. Left alone, bacteria grows in a sticky mesh of mucus and debris called "plaque. This plaque not only fosters enamel decay but also irritates the gums.

Flossing breaks up the colonies of bacteria sticking to your teeth. Following with a dental rinse is a good way to swish and spit bacteria away. Flossing helps keep your teeth clean and breath fresh between visits to your dental hygienist for " professional plaque removal."


The ADA RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING FOR GOOD ORAL HYGIENE

  •  The American Cancer Society recommends that patients have a complete oral soft tissue examination that screens for oral cancer at least once a year. Every hour of every day, one American dies of oral cancer. To learn more about oral cancer and how to prevent it click on http://www.vizilite.com/
  • Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste and tooth brush.

  • Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

  • Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.

    Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Eight Steps To Good Dental Health 

EIGHT STEPS TO DENTAL HEALTH

1. Understand your own oral health needs.

2. Commit to a daily oral health routine.

3. Use fluoride.

4. Brush and floss to remove plaque.

5. Limit snacks, particularly those high in simple sugars, and eat a balanced diet.

6. If you use tobacco in any form, quit.

7. Examine your mouth regularly.

8. Visit the dental office regularly.

It takes more than just brushing.

OK, so you know about brushing and flossing. But there are other steps you should take if you want to keep your teeth for a lifetime. Some people assume they will lose their teeth as they age, but that doesn't have to happen. David A. Albert, D.D.S., M.P.H., assistant professor of clinical dentistry at the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, suggests these steps to keep your teeth and your mouth healthy.

 

STEP 1     Understand your own oral health needs.

"Your oral health depends on many factors, including your diet [what you eat], the type and amount of saliva in your mouth, habits, your overall health and your oral hygiene routine," Dr. Albert said.

Changes in your overall health status often result in changes in your oral health. "For example, many medications, including more than 300 common drugs, can reduce the amount of saliva in your mouth, resulting in dry mouth," he said. "They also can make your saliva ropy or thicker in consistency. Women who are pregnant experience oral changes. This often includes inflammation of the gums, which is called pregnancy gingivitis. Patients with asthma often breathe through their mouths, particularly when sleeping, which can result in dry mouth and increased plaque formation and gingivitis."

STEP 2   Commit to a daily oral health routine.

"Your oral health depends on many factors, including your diet [what you eat], the type and amount of saliva in your mouth, habits, your overall health and your oral hygiene routine," Dr. Albert said.

Changes in your overall health status often result in changes in your oral health. "For example, many medications, including more than 300 common drugs, can reduce the amount of saliva in your mouth, resulting in dry mouth," he said. "They also can make your saliva ropy or thicker in consistency. Women who are pregnant experience oral changes. This often includes inflammation of the gums, which is called pregnancy gingivitis. Patients with asthma often breathe through their mouths, particularly when sleeping, which can result in dry mouth and increased plaque formation and gingivitis."

STEP 3   Use fluoride.

Everyone can benefit from fluoride, not just children. Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and helps prevent decay in adults and children. Toothpastes and mouthwashes are good sources of fluoride. Your dentist can prescribe stronger concentrations of fluoride through gels or rinses if you need it.

STEP 4   Brush and floss to remove plaque.

Everyone should brush at least twice a day, preferably three times or after every meal. In addition, you should floss at least twice a day. These activities remove plaque, which is a complex mass of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. If plaque isn't removed every day, it can process sugars found in most foods and drinks to form acids that lead to decay. Bacterial plaque also causes gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. It's important to brush and floss correctly and thoroughly, removing plaque from all tooth surfaces and where the tooth meets the gums. If plaque is not removed, it can lead to gum problems and cavities.

STEP 5   Limit snacks, particularly those high in simple sugars, and eat a balanced diet.

Every time you eat, particles of food become lodged in and around your teeth, providing fuel for bacteria. The bacteria in the plaque produce acid every time you eat. The more often you eat and the longer food stays in your mouth, the more time bacteria have to break down sugars and produce acids that begin the decay process. Each time you eat food containing sugars or starches (complex sugars), your teeth are exposed to bacterial acids for 20 minutes or more. These repeated acid attacks can break down the enamel surface of your teeth, leading to a cavity. If you must snack, brush your teeth or chew sugarless gum afterward.

A balanced diet is also important. Deficiencies in minerals and vitamins can also affect your oral health, as well as your general health.

STEP 6   If you use tobacco in any form, quit.

Smoking or using smokeless tobacco increases your risk of oral cancer, gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth decay. Using tobacco also contributes to bad breath and stains on your teeth.

STEP 7   Examine your mouth regularly.

Even if you visit your dentist regularly, you are in the best position to notice changes in your mouth. Your dentist sees you only a few times a year, but you can examine your mouth weekly to look for changes that might be of concern. These changes could include swollen gums, chipped teeth, discolored teeth or sores or lesions on your gums, cheeks or tongue. A regular examination is particularly important for tobacco users, who are at increased risk of developing oral cancer. If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, your dentist or dental hygienist can show you where lesions are most likely to appear.

STEP 8   Visit the dental office regularly.

You and your dentist should talk about the frequency of regular visits.
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YOUR DOWNTOWN EVANSTON DENTIST

Arnold K. Chernoff DDS
636 Church Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201
Phone: 847-475-4080
Email: chernoffdentist@gmail.com

 

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