How Often do I Really Need to Visit the Dentist for a Teeth Cleaning?

How long has it been since you visited your dentist for a teeth cleaning? Was it several weeks ago? Several months ago? Several years ago? You may be surprised to learn of how many teeth cleanings are recommended each year by dentists. 

Nearly all dentists recommend a teeth cleaning of twice a year- or every six months- for the average person. However, if you’re a very good brusher, floss regularly, and have very little recent history of dental issues, you could extend this to a longer time- such as every nine months, or even a year. However, to be safe, stick to six months for the maximum clean. On the other side of the spectrum, if you know that you need some work on brushing, and that flossing every day hasn’t been part of routine, you may want to visit the dentist for a cleaning every three or four months. If you have dental insurance, check to see how often they cover teeth cleanings- many insurances cover some or all of the costs of cleanings twice a year. 

When you visit the dentist for a cleaning, you not only get an expertly cleaned, refreshed mouth, but you also have the opportunity for your mouth to be seen by someone who has an expertise in dentistry. Keep your mouth healthy, clean, and always remember to smile!

Top 5 Reasons for Dentures

When you hear the word “dentures”- what comes to mind? Do you have any friends or family with dentures? If so, what has their experience been? Or perhaps you know someone from your past that had dentures. Dentistry has evolved greatly each decade and along with these developments, dentures have also evolved. Today, with the newest denture technology and the expertise of your restorative dentist, you can find the dentures that can make improvements in your life. Here are some reasons to consider dentures:

1- Aesthetics and Appearance: According to the American Dental Association, dentures can help improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth, jaw, and mouth. Missing, misshapen, or misplaced teeth may be difficult to deal with in day-to-day life. Dentures can give your smile a more natural-looking appearance.

2- Speaking: Your teeth and mouth affect talking, and teeth that are not functioning correctly can also make it more difficult to speak. Dentures can make it easier to speak.

3- Chewing: Along with speaking, the mouth is used to chew frequently throughout the day. Missing teeth makes it a challenge to chew, but dentures can provide a replacement to what is missing and make chewing a more pleasurable experience.

4- Breathing: Does exercise, or taking a walk around the block, present a challenge? Or how about just normal activities? Though various body parts and organs affect how we breathe, like our lungs and throat, our mouth also helps to regulate our breathing. The correct dentures can make breathing more natural, and often easier.

5- Health: The removal of unhealthy teeth, and replacement with dentures can help give your mouth a fresh, clean start. The combination of being able to speak, chew, and breathe more easily should combine to help you maintain a healthier lifestyle.

If you would like to further discuss dentures and find the right dentures for your life, contact your restorative dentist. The difference that dentures can make is often significant. Have you ever thought about dentures?

How Often do You Really Need to Brush?

Brushing is a technique that we learn at a young age, and the habits we pick up early in life often carry into adulthood. We’ve likely all heard the recommendation, “brush twice a day”, but is this really true? And is there anything else we should know about brushing besides simply brushing twice a day? The short answer to brushing twice a day is: Yes. Both the American Dental Association and world-renown Mayo Clinic recommend to brush at least twice a day. 

Brushing in the morning helps eliminate the bacteria that has accumulated overnight. Brushing in the evening helps eliminate the bacteria that has accumulated throughout the day due to all the food and drink that has been consumed. Some people even brush after every meal, or in the middle of the day, and this can easily be accomplished with a mini toothbrush and toothpaste at hand. 

In addition to brushing twice a day, you may want to take particular note when you have just eaten or are about to eat acidic foods. Acidity weakens tooth enamel, which protects our teeth. Foods higher in acidity than others contain a relatively low pH, to include lemons and lemon juice, apples, berries, pineapple, grapefruit, cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches, pears, pimentos, tomatoes, and vinegar. 

Brushing before eating the foods above

helps add a protective coating to your teeth. However, immediately after eating these foods, hold off on the toothbrush. It is recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after eating acidic foods to brush so your teeth have some time to recover after the acidity.

When you do brush, be sure to make it count and do it well. If you’re a little bored, hum or sing a song in your head, or listen to music. Try doing squats! And don’t forget to floss at least once a day as well. Flossing not only removes debris, but also stimulates gums which helps protect teeth and fights off gum disease. What are your favorite times to brush during the day? Any favorite toothpastes or floss?

The Best Chewing Gums for Your Teeth

Chewing gum is tasty and helps freshen breath. And, the right chewy snack may also help assist with cavity-fighting. In order to find a chewing gum that will also help keep teeth healthy, it is important to be familiar with the types of sugars and/or sweeteners that are in them, and how they affect our teeth. 

            Bacteria in our month typically reside in dental plaque, which is the deposit that naturally forms on all our teeth. Bacteria love food —especially sugar. When we consume sugar, the bacteria eat it, then produce an acid which creates cavities. The saliva in our mouth skillfully fights these cavities as it washes away the acid and bacteria. When we chew, our mouths produce more saliva.When we produce extra saliva, we help our mouths clean a little more effectively and stay healthier. 

            Sugar-free chewing gums are the most effective with cavity elimination because they do not have the sugars that bacteria use to stay alive. Chewing gums with sugar may indeed help produce saliva, but then they also help feed bacteria. So, their use defeats the purpose of cavity-fighting. 

            The next time you need to decide what type of chewing gum to buy, you may want to try a sugar-free one and see if you feel and see a difference- some chewing gums help whiten teeth as well! Most sugar-free gums contain sweeteners such as mannitol, maltitol, or even xylitol. Xylitol is considered the best sweetener because it actually helps kill bacteria. Unfortunately, xylitol is the most expensive sweetener. Experiment with different chewing gums and tell us which one is your favorite!

Oral Cancer Prevention

Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, affects nearly 35,000 Americans each year and kills around 8,000. While oral cancer may occur at any age and affects both men and women, it is most common in men over 40. Oral cancer can begin almost anywhere in the mouth- this includes the teeth, tongue, gums, top of the mouth, bottom of the mouth, inside and outside linings of the lips, inside linings of the cheeks, and sometimes even near the top of the throat. It is important to prevent oral cancer as a healthy mouth and oral cavity are essential for a healthy, functioning body. Below are some ideas to help reduce the risk of oral cancer. You may already be incorporating some of the ideas into you own life. Read on for our thoughts:

Tobacco use is the primary cause of oral cancer in both men and women and should be avoided. Tobacco use not only includes smoking cigarretes, but also cigars and pipes. Chewing tobacco may also cause cancer. It is best to not start using tobacco, but if you are a user, consult with your dentist or doctor to determine the best treatment plan available to help lessen or eliminate your use of tobacco.

Your risk for oral cancer increases with the amount of beer, liquor, or wine consumed per day. Someone that drinks three to four alcoholic beverages per day has an oral cancer risk that is twice that of someone that does not consume alcohol. To reduce your alcohol use, consult with a doctor or review treatment centers or groups in your area.

Sunlight exposure may increase the risk of mouth or lip cancer. Make sure you wear a protective chapstick or lotion when in the sun, especially for extended periods. And, Prevent the growth of bacteria and diseases in your mouth by brushing at least two times a day and floss regularly. Make sure to incorporate healthy foods into your diet and start or maintain an exercise routine. With the right mindset and determination, you can equip your body with the best tools possible to help prevent oral cancer.

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When Should You Call a Dentist

More often than not, people wait till it’s too late to call and make an appointment to see the dentist, yet if they have a cold, they do not hesitate to see their doctor. Proper dental care is just as important as your overall health. With that in mind, we’d like to take a few minutes and break down what falls under dental care versus dental emergency. Just as pneumonia symptoms should be taken seriously, so should some dental issues.

It is highly recommended by most dentists, including AffleckDental, to visit a dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and overall exam. This is similar to preventive checkups you regularly schedule with a physician and should be given similar priority. There are of course other reasons to make an appointment with your dentist:

1)      If your gums bleed when you touch them or while brushing your teeth;
2)      If your teeth are loose or don’t seem to fit together anymore;
3)      If your gums are red, swollen or tender;
4)      If your gums pull or shrink away from the teeth;
5)      Bad breath that does not go away;
6)      Sores that last more than 2 weeks;
7)      Or for a general toothache.

These are all symptoms that when diagnosed soon enough can most likely be treated. There are also times when a person should seek emergency services, such as when a filling or crown is lost or if there as been an injury to the face, jaws or teeth. Irreparable damage can occur if any nerves are exposed for a long period of time. If you have any questions about whether or not you should make an appointment to see a dentist, give us a call and the staff at Affleck Dental will be more than happy to help you out.