Preventive Dentistry Archives

Why Dental Checkups Are Essential

When it comes to healthy teeth, an ounce of prevention can go a long way. Regular checkups can help identify oral health issues early on before they become major problems later. These checkups help protect not only your oral health but your overall health as well. Visiting your dentist every six months may not be an appointment you are looking forward to, but it is one of the most important to keep. If you are thinking about skipping a dental checkup because of time or dental anxiety, make sure to consider all the risks. What you might end up paying in the long run for not visiting your dentist will likely be much higher, both for your wallet and your peace of mind. Here are some of the most important reasons you should see your dentist on a regular basis.

Dental Basics

At each dental checkup, your dentist first looks at the basics – do you have plaque, tartar or even cavities? What about signs of gum disease? In addition, regular checkups can discover early problems like chipped or cracked teeth, uneven wear or thinning enamel that if not treated early will get worse. A professional cleaning also helps keep your teeth and gums healthier.

Screening For Oral Cancer

An overlooked benefit of dental checkups gives your dentist the opportunity to screen for oral cancer and abnormalities in the mouth. In addition to doing a visual scan, your dentist can use a special tool that highlights areas of oral tissue that are more suspicious. This can be a real life saver.

Detecting Health Issues Early On

Tooth pain and gum disease are two conditions that can be caught and dealt with when you go in for regular checkups. Pain isn’t always caused by a cavity; in fact, cavities rarely hurt unless left untreated for a long time. But pain could be a sign you’re grinding your teeth or have a broken tooth or abscess. Gum disease can affect your whole body as well as your mouth. So checking for gum disease is one of our priorities.

Keeping Bad Habits in Check

There are many bad habits that can have a negative impact on your oral health. These include chewing ice, biting your nails, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, eating particularly sticky or hard sweets, brushing your teeth too hard, drinking coffee and red wine, and of course smoking. When you go for regular dental checkups, your dentist can check for any oral damage caused by these or other habits which you may otherwise not have noticed.

Being Preventive

Oral health education is an important part of preventive dentistry. At Northgate Dental we show you and your family ways to keep your teeth and gums healthier while at home, helping you avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, gingivitis, and even periodontitis. Building and maintaining healthy smiles is our mission and the key to keeping a bright, healthy smile throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene and make regular visits to your dentist. By following the practice of Preventive Dentistry, we care for your teeth to keep them healthy before, during, and after your appointment.

Visit The Dentist Every Six Months

It’s standard to visit the dentist twice a year because brushing and flossing will only get rid of so much of the bacteria. At a certain point, bacterial growth becomes resistant, clinging to surfaces on and between the teeth, even after the most vigorous brushing and flossing. This is when it’s time to call in the professionals and go see your dentist who has specialized tools to manually remove this caked on tartar, making your teeth healthy and clean again.

There’s no time like the present to take control and ensure that your teeth will be beautiful, healthy and strong for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your family’s oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be happy to help you with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request a dental appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. As always, our practice is built around your smile.

The Foundation to a Healthy Smile in 7 Simple Steps

What’s the one thing you remember most about a person when you first meet them? It’s their smile. This is one of the reasons we see so many people requesting a teeth whitening. But there is much more to a healthy smile than white teeth. You can follow designer whitening techniques, or you can try orthodontic treatments to straighten teeth or veneers to repair damaged or discolored teeth. But the real truth to ensuring a healthy and beautiful smile is to simply take control of your oral health. Here are 7 simple steps you can take from the comfort of your home to improve the health and look of your smile.

Step 1 – Brushing

Sure brushing is obviously the first step to strong oral health. But could you be brushing incorrectly? Dentists recommend a thorough brushing at least twice a day for 2 to 3 minutes. Brushing your teeth on the outside, inside, top and bottom is the only way to insure a complete cleaning. This takes a little longer but don’t sweat it. Work your way up by adding 30 seconds every week until you’ve finally reached that sweet spot of 2 to 3 minutes daily. Brushing the tongue helps improve breath and removes additional bacteria too.

And don’t forget that trusty device the electric toothbrush. It can cover a larger area faster, so you clean more surfaces in the same amount of time. When you brush by hand, you make about 300 strokes per minute. Compare that with the thousands — in some cases tens of thousands — of strokes per minute an electric toothbrush can make. Think about it.

Step 2 – Flossing

So now you’re a tooth-brushing master either manually or by electric. But research shows that brushing your teeth only removes about 50% of the bacteria in your mouth. Shocking, we know. The alternative? Flossing. It’s the only other dental tool you have in your arsenal to fully protect your teeth from the damaging effects of oral bacteria and plaque. Try to floss every day it’s important to remove that unwanted bacteria, plaque and tartar that gathers between those tiny crevices in you teeth. Having a hard time getting motivated? Think about it like this. Every time you floss and brush correctly your breath smells great and your teeth look beautiful. So try to follow-up brushing with flossing you’ll love the results.
Man Flossing Lower Teeth

Step 3 – Products

Not all dental products are created equal. It’s proven that toothpastes and mouthwashes are both helpful in preventing cavities and keeping your mouth healthy between dentist visits. Look for products whose ingredients you trust and are recommended by your dentist. But if you struggle to brush and floss on a regular basis, no toothpaste will save your smile. For those who stick to their dentist’s directives, the right toothpaste can help prevent gingivitis which is caused by harmful bacteria in plaque that can irritate and infect your gums. Using picks to get those tough areas between your teeth is also helpful but not the only answer.

Step 4 – Whitening

Sure, we all want our pearly whites to be at their whitest, but did you know that not all shades of white are the same for everyone? Each person has a unique and specific color to their teeth, meaning one person’s white might not even be achievable for someone else. Teeth range from off-white to yellow to gray to even brown, no matter how much you take care of them. If you’re determined to whiten your teeth, look for products with safe ingredients first.

Step 5 – See Your Dentist

It is standard to visit the dentist twice a year because brushing and flossing will only get rid of so much bacteria. At a certain point, bacterial growth becomes resistant, clinging to surfaces on and between the teeth, even after the most vigorous brushing and flossing. This is when it’s time to call the professionals and go see your dentist who has specialized tools to manually remove this caked on build-up, making your teeth healthy and clean again.

Step 6 – Watch Your Diet

Girl Eating a Donut - Preventive Dentistry Helps Prevent Cavities You can help control the bacterial growth in your mouth by eating better. Oral bacteria feasts on sugar, creating acid as a byproduct that erodes the surface of teeth. Foods that are high in acids, like citrus, tomatoes, and vinegar, directly impact the enamel, making teeth more susceptible to damage. Foods high in starch, like potato chips, breads, and pastas, break down into tiny particles, lodging themselves in the hardest to reach places and feed the bacteria. Maintaining your oral health on a regular basis keeps the growth of bacteria under control. Drinks like sugary soda’s and coffee can also stain, discolor and cause cavities.

Step 7 – Get Your Nutrients

Finally, oral health isn’t just about avoiding bad foods. It’s also about making sure you get enough of the right ones too! Many nutrients impact the strength and longevity of your teeth and gums, like calcium, vitamins A, B, C, and D, phosphorous, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Be sure to get a diet rich in whole foods and supplement with top-notch vitamin and mineral products to ensure you’re getting enough of the good stuff.

Follow these seven steps and a healthier smile is just around the corner. Questionable oral health history? There’s no time like the present to take control and ensure that your teeth will be beautiful, healthy and strong for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your family’s oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be more than glad to help with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request an appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. Our practice is built around your smile.

10 Signs You Should See A Dentist

Going to the dentist for most kids happens every six months. But as we grew older many of us failed to follow through with regular visits. Blame it on a busy work schedule, a demanding social schedule or lifestyle. Oral health professionals agree you should make time to see your dentist at least once a year or you might regret it later in life. Even if you brush your teeth twice a day and floss a few times a week, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make regular visits to your dentist. A professional teeth cleaning helps avoid the risk of serious health issues like gum disease, dementia and coronary artery disease. And your dentist and team of hygienists do a whole lot more than just clean teeth and fill cavities. They look for other issues that could develop later.

If you think you’ve waited too long to visit your dentist, you probably have. And, chances are, you’ve probably recognized at least one of the following symptoms of poor oral health. If you’re experiencing any of the signs below, you need to make a dentist appointment right away!

1) You Have Tooth Pain and Swelling

It’s incredibly hard to ignore tooth pain. Persistent pain or swelling in your teeth or gums could be a sign that one of many different things is wrong, and you should have your dentist check for infection or gum disease. Lingering pain isn’t normal, and you don’t have to just live with it. Even if the pain does go away at some point, the core problem could still remain.

2) You Have Bleeding Gums

In general, healthy gums do not bleed and need just as much attention as your teeth. Your dentist will check for gum disease and possible pockets that are formed by plaque. See your dentist immediately if your gums are experiencing any of the following :

Your gums are puffy or inflamed
Your gums are swollen with a spongy texture
Your gums are turning bluish-red rather than normal pink
Your gums have pus or an odor
Your gums are beginning to recede

3) You’ve Had Work Done

Even given the sturdiness of fillings, crowns, dental Implants, or bridges, with everything we chew, it’s possible to loosen the restorations in our mouths. If any of your dental work feels loose, crooked, or in any way off, let your dentist fix the problem quickly to prevent additional issues, and expenses, down the road.

4) You Are Pregnant

Hormonal changes during pregnancy and the postpartum state can make the gums more reactive to plaque and more susceptible to inflammation. Pregnancy Gingivitis is a common condition that can be controlled or avoided with more frequent cleanings. Additionally, periodontal and gum problems during pregnancy have been associated with low birth weight. So along with regular visits to your obstetrician, don’t forget to see your dentist for the health of you and your baby.

5) You Have Increased Sensitivity to Hot and Cold

A tooth sensitive to hot food or a cold drink can be more than a minor inconvenience. A change in the way your teeth react to hot and cold often means there’s a much more advanced problem happening in your mouth. And identifying the cause of this sudden pain can go a long way to treating the issue. New sensitivity to certain foods or temperatures can occur when decay moves through the enamel to the center of the tooth, and the earlier you treat a cavity the better. Sensitivity could also be a sign of a different problem, such as teeth grinding, a filling that needs to be replaced, or a fractured tooth.

6) You Have Dry Mouth

Always feeling thirsty could be the sign of a medical issue. Dry mouth results from an inadequate flow of saliva. Saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay and maintains the health of the soft and hard tissues in the mouth. Without saliva, extensive tooth decay can also occur. Your dentist can recommend various methods to restore moisture. Sugar-free candy or gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial saliva and oral rinses.

7) You Have Difficulty Chewing or Swallowing

Chewing and swallowing difficulties can occur in people of any age, but they are more common in older people. These difficulties can start because of normal aging, medications, dental problems, or medical treatments like surgery. Problems with chewing and swallowing (dysphagia) can increase the risk of food or other items getting stuck in the upper airway (causing choking) and/or entering the lungs (causing aspiration). A blockage of the airway can be life-threatening. This is not normal, and you should be sure to only eat soft foods or liquid until you see your dentist or M.D. in order to avoid aggravating the problem.

8) You Have Persistent Bad Breath (Halitosis)

If brushing and flossing daily isn’t improving your breath, you may have a bigger problem. This can be caused by a number of conditions including diet, acid reflux, chronic sinus infection, dry mouth, medication, uncontrolled diabetes and of course gum or periodontal disease. Mouthwashes and breath mints are helpful, but may serve to mask the problem. Whether bad breath is a symptom or just something you personally face, your dentist will have personalized suggestions that will help.

9) Lingering Sores

From biting your tongue or cheek to eating a fruit that doesn’t agree with you, mouth sores happen. But if they last in your mouth for a week or longer, it’s time to see your dentist. Canker sores, cold sores, leukoplakia, and candidiasis are some possible signs of a bigger problem, all varying in severity and cause, and can be traced to either a virus, an infection, or cancer.

10) You Have Jaw Problems

If you have an uneven bite or your jaw sometimes pops painfully when you chew or when opening and closing your mouth it could become a more serious issue if allowed to continue. Your dentist will be able to help, or recommend an orthodontist who can assist you. Possible causes of jaw pain include:

Periodontal disease
Toothache
Infections
Arthritis
Injury
Tooth grinding
Sinus problems

Our Practice Is Built Around Your Smile

A beautiful and healthy smile is just around the corner at Northgate Dental. Your oral health is an important part of your overall health. You wouldn’t let a persistent problem go untreated in the rest of your body, so contact us for an expert’s opinion if you have any questions. Go here to request an appointment and receive a free consultation about your oral health status. We look forward to improving your smile and your health.

5 Secrets To Healthier Teeth For Young Children

When the first teeth begin to show up in your child’s mouth, you might feel concerned about giving them the right dental care, ensuring that their teeth remain white, clean and cavity-free. But proper dental care for kids involves more than just brushing their teeth every day. Here are 5 secrets to help improve the health of your child’s teeth.

Secret #1 – No fruit juice for kids under one year Due to dental decay, among other health-related concerns, the American Academy of Pediatrics now is recommending no fruit juice for children under one year. Excessive use of fruit juice can lead to extra weight gain and tooth decay. The AAP also recommend that toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime or from bottles or easily transportable, covered cups that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day. Did you know that fruit juice has as much sugar as many soda sugar drinks? Bacteria inside the mouth feasts on sugar, creating acid as a byproduct that can erode the surface of teeth. You can help control this bacterial growth by serving nutritious fresh fruit and other healthy snacks instead of juice until they reach age one.

Secret #2 – Teach Your Kids How to Brush Begin by learning the right way to brush your child’s teeth. Babies and toddlers should use a very soft toothbrush and gel toothpaste designed for younger children. As children get older, you can encourage them to keep their teeth clean by giving them exciting products that make brushing more fun including child themed toothbrushes and toothpaste. Show your child how to brush using small, circular motions along the gumline, and make sure to encourage proper dental hygiene by having them brush and floss twice a day.

Secret #3 – Use Natural Sweeteners Xylitol has been proven to be a sweet way to beat the bacteria that can cause dental disease. Xylitol is a natural sugar that prevents tooth decay and gum disease by making the bacteria slippery instead of sticky. Bacteria usually make acid from sugar that helps them stick to each other and to your teeth. The acid also breaks down tooth enamel, causing cavities. Bacteria can’t make acid from xylitol, so they simply slide off the teeth and tooth decay is prevented. It’s a win-win for young children with a sweet tooth. Many new snacks and candies contain this non-sugar sweetener so try some sugar-free sweetened gum or mints. You could start with xylitol toothpaste in the morning, oral rinse next, chewing gum after meals, or mints or candy after snacks. You could finish up the day the way you started it with a xylitol toothpaste and oral rinse.

Secret #3 – Dry Tooth Brushing It has been proven that brushing your kids teeth with a fluoride toothpaste is necessary for optimal dental health. But did you know that dry brushing your kids teeth as well as wet brushing them can also make a big difference in their oral health? Dentists suggest dry tooth brushing for a few reasons; you can actually see the area of the teeth you’ve brushed without your vision being hampered by foaming toothpaste; you can see where areas of the gum may be reddened or irritated by brushing; and it’s easy to see if your kids gums are bleeding after they’ve brushed; dry brushing also reduces the amount of plaque buildup on teeth; and dry brushing also massages the gums for better oral health. Yes toothpastes provide bacteria-fighting properties that help protect against decay and cavities, but dry tooth brushing offers a number of benefits for oral health as well.

Secret #5 – See Your Dentist It is standard to visit the dentist twice a year because brushing and flossing will only get rid of so much bacteria. At a certain point, bacterial growth becomes resistant, clinging to surfaces on and between the teeth, even after the most vigorous brushing and flossing. This is when it’s time to call in the big guns and go see your dentist who has specialized tools to manually remove this caked on build-up, keeping your teeth healthy and clean.

By following these 5 secrets healthier teeth are just around the corner for your children. There’s no time like the present to take control of your kids oral health and to ensure that their teeth will be beautiful, healthy and strong for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your family’s oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be more than glad to help with any advice we can offer. Or if you prefer, request an appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. Our practice is built around your smile.

Stop Cavities In Their Tracks

How to Prevent Cavities If You Like Sweets

The good news is that cavities are preventable. Thanks to years of education from parents, teachers, and dentists, we know that eating candy and drinking sugary drinks can contribute to cavities. For those who enjoy the taste of sugar, (and who doesn’t), satisfying a sweet tooth can lead not only to cavities, but also more serious health issues like gingivitis, and the feelings of guilt you feel every time from indulging. At Northgate Dental we believe that by following a few common sense practices, those who like sugar can maintain healthy teeth. Here are seven tips that can help prevent cavities if you have a sweet tooth.

Brush with fluoride twice a day
Floss your teeth daily
Visit your dentist every six months
Avoid sugary snacks
Eat tooth-healthy foods
Consider dental sealants for kids
Apply fluoride treatments after teeth cleaning

Stopping Gingivitis and the Development of Plaque

Gingivitis — an inflammation of the gums — is the initial stage of gum disease and the easiest to treat. The direct cause of gingivitis is plaque – the soft, sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms constantly on the teeth and gums. If the plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, it produces toxins (poisons) that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. At this early stage in gum disease, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected. Left untreated, however, gingivitis can become periodontitis and cause permanent damage to your gums and the bone supporting the teeth.

What Toothpastes Should I use to Fight Cavities?

The most important ingredient to look for when choosing toothpaste is fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Its use has been instrumental in the dramatic drop in tooth decay and cavity occurrence that has taken place over the past 50 years. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starches that remain on your teeth after eating. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acid that is released when this happens. It does this in two ways. First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it reverses the early stages of acid damage by solidifying areas that have started to decay. Frequent brushing can make a big difference in the fight against tooth decay.

Dental Sealants For Kids Can Help

The American Dental Association recommends that kids receive dental sealants as soon as their adult teeth erupt. Dental sealants are a quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive solution for preventing cavities. They are thin coatings applied to the biting surfaces that help prevent bacteria and other debris from getting into the deep crevices on the teeth. Young children are great candidates for preventative measures like sealants because in many cases, decay has not set in and kids are notoriously bad brushers and tend to ignore the problem areas in the back of the mouth that lead to cavities and decay.

Let us know how we can help keep your family smiling.

How Preventive Dentistry Builds Healthy Smiles

B uilding and maintaining healthy smiles is our mission at Northgate Dental. And the key to keeping a bright, healthy smile throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene and make regular visits to your dentist. By following the practice of Preventive Dentistry, we care for your teeth to keep them healthy before, during, and after your appointment.

Getting to Know You and Your Teeth is Important

One of the main purposes of our regular hygiene appointments is to screen for any dental problems that may be developing, such as cavities, and to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. We believe that oral health education is an important part of preventive dentistry, so we show you and your family ways to keep your teeth and gums healthier while at home, helping you avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, gingivitis, and even periodontitis.

Preventive Dentistry Starts at Home

At Northgate Dental we want to help you keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible while at home and between appointments. Children, teens and adults can get cavities as well as gum disease that can lead to serious dental problems like periodontitis. We recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily or at least 4 times a week to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gum line, before it can harden into tartar. We also recommend limiting sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks. And of course, visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups is a must. Waiting to see your dentist until you have a tooth ache or another issue is not a good long term strategy for your family’s oral health. Let us know how we can help keep your family smiling.