Preventing Dental Problems- Help Yourself to Better Health

There is still nothing that a dentist can do that can equal the effect that good oral hygiene will have on your oral health. Brushing properly and flossing properly will remove the plaque bacteria that cause cavities and the infectious process of gum disease. What you do at home every day is by far the most important component of dental health maintenance.

The average healthy person requires two cleanings per year, along with routine examination and annual radiographs. People with lower levels of dental health require more frequent cleanings; in fact, we have many patients who come every six to ten weeks for recare visits. Your recare schedule must be dictated by your needs, and never by an insurance plan.

Your dental restorations must be of sufficient quality if you are to be able to maintain good dental health. Rough edges (margins)and bulky contours can create plaque traps that allow the bacteria to cause cavities and gum infections. In the Dental Leaders office, we routinely work to tolerances of 40 to 60 microns in the fit of our restorations! Quality decision making and laboratory techniques allow us to achieve this kind of precision in our work. This is also the reason why our cosmetic work is so visually appealing.

The fluoride you get from the water you drink, the foods that you eat, and the toothpaste you brush with has cut the prevalence of cavities in half over the past forty years. Fluoride, however, protects only the smooth surfaces of the
teeth, and not the biting as pictured here, are a type the crevices and grooves on		surfaces. Dental sealants, of bonding that flows into the biting surface of the
back teeth to protect them from the accumulation of bacteria and food debris that can cause cavities. The American Dental Association recommends applying sealants to children's back teeth as soon as they erupt (starting at about 6.5 years old), and we agree. We also strongly recommend sealants for adults who have deep grooves but have so far avoided cavities. Today there is no reason that a person with good habits , fluoride, and sealants should ever get a cavity. An ounce of prevention....

Yes, there is still a dietary component to preventing dental disease. Some people are more susceptible than others to cavities and gum infections, and the food that you inadvertently feed to your own bacteria can play a role in those processes.
We would be very sad to tell you that you or your children could never enjoy a treat; however, there is still a dental liability that goes along with eating any refined carbohydrates (sugars and starches). In fact, recent studies have shown that white bread and cookies and cakes can cause cavities as easily as pure sugars. If you must snack between meals, at least make sure that you vigorously rinse your mouth with some water. Take a toothbrush to work or school. Brush at least twice daily, and floss at least once.
Dr. Groh did two years of research at the National Institute of Dental Research at the National Institutes of Health in Washington DC. His research clearly showed that the worst damage to tooth structure occurs in the first fifteen minutes after eating. Therefore, that quick water rinse is very important.
There is also some compelling evidence that abrasive foods such as celery, and even chewing gum can remove some plaque bacteria that build up between brushing.
Finally, there are some foods that fight cavities. Sharp cheeses are especially good at neutralizing bacterial products that cause cavities, and real licorice can also. Don't depend on these for hygiene purposes, but they may be a hint for cautious snacking.