Learn More About Oral Health From Our Dentist Office

When patients visit our dentist office, they are typically coming in to treat a problem or for a regularly scheduled appointment. We have learned that many of our patients have taken to educating themselves about what we do, and this is a very pleasing development. We enjoy having conversations with our patients, discussing procedures, and helping patients to make educated decisions about dental care. We have found that our patients are looking for information in greater numbers than ever before with the help of the internet. In fact, millions of searches take place each day with people looking for everything from teeth whitening to how to improve their breath. This explosion in the availability of knowledge is both good and bad. There is never anything wrong with being an educated patient. However, there is a flip side. Sometimes the information presented is confusing and may even cause you to be misinformed. This is why you should always follow up with an appointment, rather than relying on a self-diagnosis.

In our dentist office, we have one priority. We want to work with you, keeping you healthy by using the best solutions available. One thing that we have learned over many years of practice is that some of our patients are uncomfortable visiting the dentist. However, taking great care of your teeth and having them professionally cleaned is the best way to avoid having to spend any more time in the dentist chair than you want to. Our goal is to provide you with the tools and more importantly the information, on how to do so. Our website and blog are also a reflection of this philosophy. We spend a lot of time talking about cleaning, oral hygiene, when to replace your toothbrush, and how to recognize plaque buildup. Naturally, when you come in with a very specific problem, we will treat this first and then help you to understand the nature of the problem and how you can take steps to avoid it in future. Some of these are things you may already know, and our resources can serve as a reminder.

For example, most people already know how to prevent cavities. You need to have good oral hygiene, which involves brushing your teeth at least twice per day, flossing on a regular basis, rinsing after meals, and making an appointment for a professional teeth cleaning at our dentist office at least twice per year. The question is why? Cavities are caused by oral bacteria. This bacteria thrives inside of the mouth and is typically harmless. However, bacteria can colonize on the teeth. When it accumulates, you will see a thin yellowish film develop on your teeth. We call this plaque. The oral bacteria secrete acid, which in turn eats away at the enamel of your teeth. Eventually, the enamel gives way, and a cavity is formed. When you clean properly, this bacteria has no chance to accumulate, plaque cannot form, and you can avoid cavities.  For more information on this or other oral health problems, visit our dentist office.