Dr. G.W. Schamback, D.D.S., runs Perfect Smile Dental in Stuart, Florida, which is between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. With over 30 years as a tooth care professional under his belt, Dr. Schamback is still continually educating himself and his staff on the newest techniques and technological advances in order to offer you state-of-the-art, comfortable, and personalized dental care. He has completed thousands of hours of continuing education courses in all phases of dentistry. In this series of articles, Dr. Schamback focuses on all things dental hygiene in order to help you achieve that perfect smile.
How to Brush Your Teeth
Thoroughly brushing on a regular basis is the best way to remove cavity-causing plaque and other debris from your teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth three times a day, preferably after meals and before bedtime.
Types of Floss
Dental floss comes in a variety of materials, colors, and even flavors. The waxed variety is more slippery, allowing people with extremely tight spaces between their teeth to floss more easily. This type of dental floss does, however, tend to fray more than unwaxed floss. Popular flavors of dental floss include wintergreen and cinnamon.
Alternatives to Dental Floss
There are several alternative instruments to dental floss for those who find it too difficult, painful (due to sensitive gums or gum disease), or ineffective (due to braces or delicate bridge work).
Best Techniques For Flossing Your Teeth
Flossing is a proven method for loosening debris from the hard-to-reach surfaces of your teeth and gum lines. Next to brushing, flossing is a highly effective method for removing plaque on tooth surfaces that your toothbrush cannot reach well.
What Is the Difference Between Cold Sores and Canker Sores?
People sometimes confuse cold sores and canker sores, but they are completely unrelated. Both can be painful, but knowing the differences can help you keep them in check.
What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
Advanced gum disease sometimes requires the dentist to clean below the gum line to remove stubborn, crusty deposits called dental plaque, tartar, or sub-gingival calculus, and to remove damage near the tooth root. The procedures are called scaling and root planing, also known as deep cleaning.
What Are Sealants?
Sealants only became standard care procedure in the 1970s, but they are now widespread. The liquid coatings, which harden when applied to the tooth’s surface, prevent cavities by blocking out the pits and grooves which let in 90% of decay.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. They are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge.
What Is Dental Fluorosis?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children sometimes face a condition called dental fluorosis (also known as enamel fluorosis) if they get too much fluoride during their early years of tooth development. Too much fluoride can result in defects in tooth enamel.
What Is a Latex Allergy?
In recent years, naturally occurring latex has been linked to allergic reactions in people who use such products as latex gloves. The proteins in the latex, which can also become airborne, can cause problems such as trouble breathing and a full-body rash. Some resulting allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been more severe.
What Are Gum Lifts and Ridge Augmentations?
A gum lift corrects a problem known as excessive or uneven gums. Ridge augmentation is a procedure that can shore up dents and other abnormalities in your gum line.
How to Take Care of Your Teeth When You’re Pregnant
Women have special needs when it comes to their oral health, especially during periods such as pregnancy. That’s because the physical and hormonal transformations they undergo throughout their lives cause many changes in the body, some of which are harmful to teeth and gums.
Why You Shouldn’t Pierce Your Tongue
Many people fail to realize that even precautions taken during the installation of a piece of piercing jewelry are not enough to stave off harmful, long-term consequences such as cracked or chipped teeth, swelling, problems with swallowing and taste, and scars.
Why You Shouldn’t Smoke With Dental Implants
People with dental implants are strongly discouraged from lighting up because it can be a factor in acute tissue inflammation near the place where the implant is anchored to the jaw, which can eventually cause the implant to fall out. This condition, caused by poor oral hygiene but often by smoking, is called “peri-implantitis.”
How Eating Disorders Can Lead to Tooth Decay
People with eating disorders suffer from severe oral health problems. This is because many behaviors associated with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa – such as binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and use of diuretics or laxatives – cause changes in the mouth.
How Dentists’ Offices Stay Clean
All dental offices today require their staff to wear gloves, gowns, and masks — a far cry from just a few decades ago, when fewer than one-third of all dentists wore this type of personal protective equipment.
Oral Health Risks For Seniors
Seniors often have to deal with more dental problems than young and middle-aged adults. For starters, they have a lot of wear on their teeth, as the teeth have been rubbing together for seven, eight, or more decades. Also, as people get older, their salivary glands don’t function as well, their mouth gets dryer, and their tooth decay index goes up.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
