The 5 Best Oral Care Products

Keeping your mouth healthy requires more than one cleaning every six months. Even if you regularly focus on your oral care, a good toothbrush and toothpaste along with a dedicated flossing routine is just the foundation of oral health. Here are five of the best oral care products you may not know you need.

Gum Therapy
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, depending on how you look at it), gum disease is often painless, so its advance can go undetected for some time. Your family dentist may offer a procedure called scaling and root planning to help reverse the damage done by gum - or periodontal - disease. During this procedure, your hygienist will clean between teeth and gums down to the root, so you may need anesthetic. Since it’s a non-surgical intervention, it’s a good step to try first.

Save a Tooth
Getting a tooth knocked out is hardly a run-of-the-mill occurrence, but should it happen to you, Save-A-Tooth gives it the best chance of being re-implanted successfully. Especially if you live with young children, who’s rough and tumble ways heighten the chances of this happening, having Save-A-Tooth on hand can reduce the dental costs associated with getting a false tooth by upping the chances that the real one survives.

Bridges
Missing a tooth can cause problems speaking and eating, as well as jaw strain when your mouth has to work too hard to compensate for the missing tooth. Bridges correct tooth gaps by attaching to the teeth on either side and filling them with sturdy, natural-looking teeth. Bridges improve the health of surrounding teeth and jaws, and since only a dentist can remove them, they won’t fall out.

Flouride Gel
Akin to the fluoride treatments you receive at the dentist’s office, brush-on fluoride gel allows you to give your teeth the same anti-cavity protection at home. It is intended for use after you brush your teeth, and not as a toothpaste replacement. Ask your hygienist for home fluoride options at your next visit.

Invisalign Braces
Straight teeth result in more than a pretty smile; they also reduce the chances of tooth decay and loss, gum disease and jaw problems, among others. When you’re older, however, few things sound less appealing than a mouth full of metal, especially if you work with professionals. Instead, try Invisalign, which straightens your teeth without people knowing. While targeted cleaning and flossing do help, dentists recommend straightening teeth when possible.

Dental Hygiene Month - Rinse!

This week in Dental Hygiene Month we are focusing on the third step in the Daily 4: Rinse!

Mouthwash is a great dental hygiene tool that can help to prevent oral health issues like gingivitis. When combined with the powers of flossing and brushing, mouthwash can help to effectively fight against tooth decay and to promote healthy teeth and gums. Using mouthwash with brushing and flossing, can also reduce bacteria, plaque, and prevent gingivitis. Read on to discover. Below are some of the best brands and additional benefits of using mouthwash on a regular basis.

Benefits of Using Mouthwash

• Freshens breath – Mouthwash is a great dental tool because it can help to temporarily reduce bad breath. This powerful rinsing aid helps to kill the bacteria that are associated with bad breath. 
• Prevents plaque build-up – Mouthwash has been known to help keep plaque from building up on your gums, the surface of your teeth, and in-between your teeth. 
• Removes particles – Did you know that mouthwash can be used after you've eaten to help remove food particles? That's right—using mouthwash as part of your daily dental hygiene program can help to ensure that loose food particles are thoroughly removed from your mouth.
• Aid in the prevention of cavities – One of mouthwash's best features is its ability to aid in the prevention of cavities. Mouthwashes that contain fluoride can also help to strengthen your enamel.

Best Brands of Mouthwash

There are several good brands of mouthwash that are available for public purchase. They all come in a variety of flavors and types such as alcohol-free. Below are a few: 

• Closys - is alcohol and flavor free and includes a flavor add in so you can control how intense the flavor is if it all. This brand is available for purchase in our office so you do not have to make a separate trip to the store.
• Listerine -  is one of the top recommended and dentist approved mouthwashes. It is a "total care" product that fights gum disease and tooth decay.
• Rembrandt - is an alcohol-free mouthwash. It contains hydrogen peroxide to help fight plaque bacteria that can cause gingivitis.
• Scope - is a popular basic mouthwash that can greatly reduce bacterial growth. Unlike some of its competitors, it doesn't contain fluoride.
• Crest Pro-health - is a good dental mouthwash that can be used to fight bacteria for overall dental health.

It is important to remember that mouthwash is an addition to your daily oral health routine and is not a substitute for brushing and flossing. However, it is a good idea to keep a travel mouthwash with you if you are out and about and need a quick fix!

Through regular brushing, flossing, and the use of a proven mouthwash, you can help to keep your mouth, gums, and teeth healthy and beautiful. If you are interested in learning more about good dental hygiene practices call your local Katy, Texas dental experts today at (281)646-8888. We would be happy to answer any of your questions, make an appointment for a regular dental check-up, or schedule you for a whitening consultation today. 

Back to School!

Its that time of year again! If your children dread dental care both at home and at the family dentist, there are a few tricks to keep them interested in maintaining clean teeth.

Establish An Oral Health Routine

One of the best ways to encourage kids to fit in brushing and flossing after the return to school is to develop a teeth cleaning routine. Designate specific times in the morning and evening for your children to brush and floss. Make them aware that failing to brush and floss on a regular basis will leave deposits of plaque and a sticky film of bacteria and food particles on and around the teeth that can cause cavities and gingivitis. Twenty-five percent of children under the age of five already have cavities.

Oftentimes, it helps for the parent to participate in these activities with his or her children. Kids will be much more enthusiastic about oral health care if their parents are brushing and flossing right alongside them. Cleaning your teeth in the presence of your children will also reinforce proper brushing and flossing techniques. You'll be able to spot their inefficiencies and teach them how to properly clean their teeth instead of waiting for them to be told by the family dentist.

Proper Flossing Technique

Focus on showing your children the proper steps in maintaining oral care. Each evening, your children should thoroughly floss with a very long string of floss. You might even want to encourage them to use two pieces of floss, one for the bottom teeth and one for the top teeth. This way, they won't run the risk of transferring bits of food and plaque from one tooth or gum area to another. Always reinforce that they should never use the same part of the floss to clean between their teeth.

Rinsing and Brushing

After flossing, kids should clean their mouths with mouthwash or water to remove even more food particles. Rinsing after flossing also helps the teeth retain fluoride that is necessary for dental health. After rinsing, the kids should then move on to brushing. Teach them to brush all the way to where the teeth meet the gums. This should be performed in small circular motions and at a 45-degree angle.

Cleaning the Tongue

The final part of the daily oral care process is the scraping of the tongue with a tongue scraper or with their toothbrush. Don't just tell your kids to do it. Explain to them how important a tongue scraper is. It will remove bacteria on the tongue and will also help to prevent bad breath.

These guidelines have been suggested in different order from different people. In the end, all that matters is that each step is done in whatever order recommended for your child's optimal dental health. For more personal instructions for your child's oral care routine or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 281-646-8888 or request an appointment online!

The Ins & Outs of Fluoride

The Importance of Fluoride

What can fluoride do for your dental health? Fluoride is an important part of preventative dental maintenance. It wards off dental cavities by allowing your teeth to become stronger against acids in the mouth. These mouth acids are caused by plaque bacteria which become mixed with sugar. When this happens, vital minerals that the teeth need to stay strong are diminished. This process, called demineralization, leads to tooth decay if the minerals are not replenished.

Fluoride for Children

Fluoride not only repairs the surface damage of the enamel, it strengthens developing teeth as well. According to Web MD, when fluoride is given to children younger than six, the fluoride actually becomes a part of the healthy development of their permanent teeth. They explain further by saying that it is important for children to receive topical fluoride treatments from 6 months to 16 years of age.

 

Fluoride Treatments

There are several groups of patients which may benefit the most from fluoride treatments performed at their family dentist. Oral care specialists have fluoride treatments in their offices with much higher concentrations than are available over the counter. If you or someone you know has the following conditions, it may be especially beneficial getting fluoride treatments from the family dentist:

• Those who already have gum disease,
• Individuals who have had cavities before,
• People suffering from dry mouth conditions,
• Dental patients who have braces, bridges, or crowns.

Fluoride treatments are typically covered by insurance for children 1 or 2 times a year and are an affordable addition to adult cleanings as well.

Fluoride and Safety

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is found in water and different types of foods. Many people wonder about the safety of fluoride in their water supply. City drinking water generally is not at risk of having too much fluoride. Higher levels of natural fluoride are found more often in well water. Is fluoride completely safe? According to Web MD, fluoride is safe when used at the dose intended. However, fluoride can be toxic when ingested in high doses. For this reason, keeping fluoride products out of the reach of little hands is an important precaution. However, used responsibly as an appropriate part of an oral care regimen, fluoride can be both beneficial and safe.

Ready for Fluoride?

Ask your dentist or dental hygienist what options are right for you! They might recommend that you have a fluoride treatment in the office or they might suggest a few brands of tooth pastes that contain fluoride for daily use. The perfect time to ask is at your next dental cleaning. Give your teeth some TLC and request an appointment or give us a call at 281-646-8888.

Sources: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/fluoride-treatment