How often should I visit the dentist for check-ups?
My patients often ask me, how often should I visit my dentist for check-ups. The answer is, it depends on you. If you have pretty healthy teeth, twice a year should suffice. That allows us to catch any problems before they become big problems. If you're someone who's prone to more cavities or have gum disease, then four times a year is probably a better option.
What are the benefits of fluoride treatments?
Fluoride is one of the few chemicals that we know of that can actually prevent cavities. It will, in fact, reinforce your tooth enamel. So if you want to have good, healthy, strong teeth for the rest of your life, a little fluoride goes a long way. Often my patients also wonder or have read that fluoride can be toxic. Yes, if it is in the wrong quantity, it can be toxic. Other examples of too much of a good thing being bad for you include food and water—too much is not good. So everything in its proper amount is just right. Same thing with fluoride. Just the right amount is perfect. Too much, not so good.
How can I protect my teeth from decay?
It's very simple. You must brush and floss. And the actual truth is you must only do that once in a 24-hour period. The best time to do that is at night before bed. Why? Because that is when most people have more time. And believe it or not, your saliva stops flowing when you go to sleep. So in order to protect your teeth, you must have good oral hygiene at night before bed when your saliva is not there to protect you.
Why do I need dental x-rays and are they safe?
You need dental x-rays because I do not have x-ray vision. How am I going to see in between your teeth? A dental x-ray is the perfect way to find out if, in fact, you have cavities before I have to do any dental work. Are x-rays safe? They are very safe. As a matter of fact, with digital x-rays, a whole set of x-rays is less than a few days of naturally occurring sunlight. So don't worry about modern-day dental x-rays. They have come a long way.
What causes gum disease and how can I prevent it?
If you ever wonder what causes gum disease and how you can prevent it, gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. Like everything else in your body, checks and balances exist. If you do not brush and floss, the bad bacteria can grow. And when they grow, you get gum disease. You just need to remove this bacteria by simple brushing, flossing, and regular checkups. If you don't see your dentist very often, that bacteria crusts on your teeth and becomes what is known as calculus. Calculus is impossible for you to remove at home. We must use specialized tools to get your teeth nice and clean. So remember, if you want to prevent gum disease, go see your dentist and brush and floss at night before bed.