ORAL HYGIENE
At Ascot Family Dental, we partner with our patients to help them keep their teeth for a lifetime. Yes, it is a partnership! We provide great dental care while coaching our patients on great oral hygiene.
What does good oral hygiene mean to you?
- A pearly-white smile?
- Fresh smelling breath?
- Feeling that squeaky-clean sensation all around your teeth and tongue?
All of these can be indicators about the state of your oral health — and they’re often the first thing people notice when they meet you. But getting your teeth, gums and mouth really clean, and maintaining that healthy state throughout the day (and in the months between professional dental cleanings) can be challenging.
Of course, there’s much more to oral hygiene than just a bright smile. Take tooth decay, for example: Despite all our efforts, it’s still the single most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting two-thirds of U.S. kids aged 12-19. It is five times more common than asthma, seven times more common than hay fever — and it’s almost totally preventable. Several other diseases commonly affect the mouth, including periodontitis (gum disease), which, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss and possibly systemic (whole-body) inflammation.
In many ways, the health of the mouth mirrors the health of the body. Diseases in other parts of the body often cause symptoms we can observe in the mouth; likewise, oral maladies (like tooth loss) not only reduce an individual’s quality of life, but may also lead to problems in other areas. That’s another reason why maintaining good oral hygiene is so important.
MAINTAINING YOUR ORAL HEALTH
Regular dental visits play a critical role in maintaining your oral health — not only to find and correct any problems with teeth or gums, but also to assess the general condition of your oral health, point out potential trouble spots, and offer suggestions for preventive care. Between visits, the best way to keep your teeth clean and free of disease, your gums pink and healthy, and your breath fresh, is a program of daily oral hygiene. Your regular routine must remove the bacteria which cause the most common dental issues, primarily cavities and gum disease. It is all about removing the bacteria!
BUSHING AND FLOSSING
It is said that you should brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. When a dental professional refers to flossing, we really mean removing bacterial plaque that forms between your teeth. Brushing and rinsing doesn’t clean those areas. Bacteria thrives, untouched, causing inflammation and decay. The surface area of the tissue between your teeth is larger than you probably imagine. It is about the size of the palm of your hand. Imagine never washing the palm of your hand! Yikes!
So, what do you do? Our Hygienists are Preventive Dentistry Specialists who will prescribe appropriate tools to help you clean between your teeth. A WaterPik, AirFlosser, SoftPiks, Interdental Brushes, SuperFloss, Floss Threaders…. Are some of the options. Let the dental professionals at Ascot Family Dental coach you to excellent Oral Hygiene.
FLOURIDE
Make sure you’re getting the proper amount of fluoride. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel — it’s essential for children’s developing teeth, and helps prevent decay in both kids and adults. Even if your municipal water is fluoridated, you should always use fluoride toothpaste. If more fluoride is needed, it can be applied directly to your teeth here at the dental office.
DIET
Limit between-meal snacks. Sugary snacks are the perfect fuel for decay-causing bacteria — and when eaten throughout the day, they keep the acid constantly on the attack. So, give your mouth a break, and limit sugary treats to mealtime. Also, don’t sip on those sugary drinks. They can be very harmful to your teeth.
MOUTH RINSES
Use an appropriate Mouth Rinse — especially if you’re at increased risk. Therapeutic Mouth Rinses do more than temporarily mask bad smells or tastes in your mouth — they can improve your overall oral hygiene. While some over-the counter products offer primarily “cosmetic” benefits, therapeutic rinses contain anti-bacterial and anti-cariogenic (cavity-fighting) ingredients. Using a therapeutic Mouth Rinses has been proven to control plaque bacteria and prevent cavities better than brushing and flossing alone.
QUIT TOBACCO
Whether smoked or smokeless, tobacco use greatly increases your risk of oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay (not to mention heart disease and lung cancer … but you already knew that).
Examine your mouth regularly. Once you’ve established a regular routine, you’ll quickly recognize any changes in your mouth — like chipped teeth, red or swollen gums, or unusual sores. If you find something of concern, let us know. Early treatment offers the best chance to remedy many problems.
A major goal of modern dentistry is to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. By following a conscientious program of oral hygiene, you have the best chance at making this goal a reality.
At Ascot Family Dental, what sets us apart is our commitment to you, our valued patients. Dr. Parikh and Dr. Reddy focus on delivering the kind of outstanding experience that exceeds your expectations. We strive to make every phone call and every office visit an exceptional experience.
Whether it is greeting you by name with a warm, friendly smile, doing our very best to remain on schedule to minimize or eliminate your wait time, or taking that extra few minutes to make sure you fully understand your treatment, financial arrangements, or post-operative instructions, we promise that you will be treated in the manner that we would like to be treated if we were you.
At Ascot Family Dental, our focus is to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. Our patients benefit from the quality, long-term dental health care they receive in our office. We hope that you agree and will join our family of very satisfied patients.
If you’re interested in learning more about our practice or scheduling an appointment, we’re here to help. Call or contact us or schedule an appointment online!
Going to the Dentist During the Coronavirus Outbreak
In the midst of Coronavirus spreading, we at Ascot Family Dental have been monitoring this situation very closely for the past two months. As health care providers during a pandemic, we will continue with the relief of pain and management of infection with our patients in order to keep them out of hospitals and emergency departments. For more information on what to expect during your visit with us and the measures we are taking in accordance with the CDC, please visit our our website.
