Oral Health Tips from Your Local Dentist

Avenue of the Arts Dental is a Philadelphia dentist office that treats patients of all ages and helps them stay in excellent oral health.  Preventative dental care is essential for staying healthy and being able to enjoy life without tooth pain or the complications created by an oral infection.  Fortunately, by working with an expert provider and practicing good oral hygiene at home you can stay in good health for years to come.

Here are some of our best oral health tips:

• Brush after meals.  Most people brush their teeth once or twice a day.  This is simply not enough because it allows bacteria and sugar from meals and snacks to build up your teeth throughout the day.  It is better to carry a small soft toothbrush and use it after meals to clean your teeth.  Even a quick brush is better than nothing.  Make sure that the brush is soft so that it doesn’t irritate your gums.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste.  As people age, teeth naturally start a process of demineralization.  The food that we eat and drink can strip the enamel and other minerals from the teeth to make them weaker. This in turn increases the risk of them breaking or getting an infection.  We provide children with fluoride treatments in our dentist office in order to help strengthen teeth.  Adults can receive a similar benefit by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Drink more water.  Staying hydrated is essential for the health of your mouth and body.  By drinking water the body has an increased ability to create saliva which is how the body naturally washes away bacteria that forms in the mouth.  Saliva also helps prevent bad breath.
• Floss daily.  Food and bacteria can become stuck in between your teeth and along your gums.  Flossing is a way to remove it and prevent cavities along with bad breath.
• Visit the dentist.  Having your teeth cleaned twice a year is an important step in preventing oral health problems.  No matter how good your at home routine is, there are areas of your mouth that are difficult to reach without the help of a professional.  Our dental hygienist will clean your teeth and remove bacteria and plaque that have built up.

Early detection is extremely important in keeping your mouth healthy.  During routine dental exams we will look for signs of cavities and gum disease.  If we identify either one we will make a treatment recommendation and get started immediately.  Removing the infection and the bacteria causing it will help to prevent any further oral health complications.  For example, when a cavity is left untreated an infection can spread into the center of the tooth and the roots, creating the need for a root canal.  However, if a cavity is treated immediately, the infection can be removed in less than thirty minutes. Treating health conditions early is also important for your gums.  Gingivitis can be treated by performing a deep cleaning.  However, if gum disease is allowed to spread a gum graft may eventually be needed.

Follow these tips to stay in good oral health and visit our dentist office at the first sign of pain so that we can provide prompt treatment.