People have lots questions about maintaining good dental hygiene, but some of the common questions come up over and over again. Here 10 of our most 10 Common Dental FAQs:
1. How Long Should I Brush For?
About two minutes, which is how long it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Make sure to use different angles and give equal attention to the top and the bottom teeth.
2. What can I do about a damaged tooth?
It entirely depends on the condition of the tooth. If there are small damages that can not be repaired but the tooth is structurally sound, a simple veneer can be placed over it or it could be bonded to fill in any gaps. If the damage is more severe, it could be replaced with a dental implant or bridge. It really depends on what the circumstances are, but under no condition should anyone have to tolerate living with a damaged tooth.
3. What are Wisdom Teeth?
In olden times, oral medicine was primitive and it was common for people to lose teeth. The body kept several spare molars sunken below the gumline that tends to push forward to the surface years after all baby teeth have been lost. Today, people don’t lose teeth nearly as often and when the wisdom teeth attempt to appear there are other teeth in the way, causing problems. That’s why modern dentists typically remove the wisdom teeth to prevent them from becoming impacted.
4. Why Are Dentists Concerned About Sugar?
At any given moment, you have naturally-occurring bacteria in your mouth. When you put sugar in your mouth, this creates an acid that begins to dissolve tooth enamel and allows the bacteria to reproduce and form plaque. Your body fights back against the acid, but if enough acid is present it will create cavities that can penetrate the tooth enamel. This is a serious threat to tooth health.
5. Are Dental X-Rays Safe?
In a word, yes.
The earth is naturally bathed in background radiation all the time, and dental X-rays are simply one additional source of mild exposure. It takes a much higher dosage of radiation to cause health problems, and dental patients receive additional protection like lead aprons to make sure the X-rays are targeted to the minimal amount of the body.
If you’ve ever from Boston to California, you’ve been exposed to the same amount of radiation on that trip as you would if you had your entire mouth X-rayed.
6. If I Get Dentures, Am I Done With Brushing?
Not even close. If someone loses some or all of their teeth and get fitted with dentures, they still need to brush inside of their mouth to maintain their oral hygiene. In addition, they also need to brush their dentures to keep them clean and robust.
7. Why Should I Make an Appointment Every Six Months?
Because frequent check-ups will keep your teeth cleaner and healthier, and help us spot any problems before they get to be too big.
9. Where Does Bad Breath Come From
There are numerous health conditions that can cause bad breath, but the most common by far is oral bacteria that emit sulfur. Brushing and mouthwash both keep this bacteria in check and can help neutralize the sulfur compounds.
10. How Should I Whiten My Teeth?
That’s an especially complex question. Good dental hygiene helps keep teeth white, but if you’ve allowed your teeth to gain color there are numerous factors to consider: How quickly do you want to improve your smile? What is your budget? Do you have artificial teeth that will stand out if the rest of the teeth are whitened? From strips and trays to ZOOM! UV light treatment we perform in the office, we have a lot of options to discuss. Give us a call or ask us in the office.
Questions?
Did we miss your question, you can reach our Friendly Dental of Worcester office at (508) 340-4611, our Unique Dental of Worcester office at (508) 556-6241, our Taunton Dental Center office at (508) 386-9018, and our Uxbridge Family Dental office at (508) 714-7046.
