Oral Health
Oral Health & Dental Hygiene
Dental Hygiene at Brite Dental
Preventative Dental Health
A healthy mouth goes hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. More and more research is showing the link between gum disease, heart disease and poor health.
At Brite Dental our goal is to help all of our patients have good dental health. This means no gum disease or tooth decay. To help you achieve this we have designed a health maintenance plan for each and every patient centered around specific needs and disease risks.
How to keep your teeth and gums healthy?
Regular teeth brushing and flossing between the teeth will help maintain healthy teeth and gums and will prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Dental plaque and tartar (calculus) are the main causes of tooth decay and gum disease. Mouthwashes, tongue cleaning, and avoiding sugary drinks and food will also help keep teeth and gums healthy. If you are a smoker you should attempt to quit as this is a major contributor of gum disease.
What is a dental plaque?
Dental plaque is a white coloured soft material that forms on a tooth's surface when bacteria combines with food and saliva. Plaque is easily removed by brushing and flossing and by maintaining good oral hygiene. Tartar is plaque that has hardened and it sticks firmly to teeth. It is very difficult to remove without a visit to the dentist. A dental check-up should be carried out at least once a year.
What is a tooth decay?
Tooth decay is also known as caries and occurs when holes form in parts of the enamel of a tooth. The primary cause of caries is the build-up of plaque. The bacteria in plaque react with the sugars and starches in food to form acids, which dissolves the tooth enamel. Tooth decay often leads to a visit to the dentist for fillings, crowns or inlays.
What is a gum disease and what can cause gum disease?
Gum disease inflames the tissues surround the teeth. In most cases, gum disease is caused by the plaque. Gum disease can be divided into two types - gingivitis and periodontitis: Gingivitis refers to the inflammation of the gums and periodontitis will occur if gingivitis worsens and progresses to the tissues that join the teeth to the gums. Gum disease causes the majority of tooth loss in adults, it can also cause bad breath (halitosis). Gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene dental health. Did you know that smoking is a serious contender to gum disease?
What is tooth erosion?
Tooth erosion is another common problem. The gradual erosion of tooth enamel from plaque affects the entire surface of teeth. Tooth erosion will expose the often dentine beneath the tooth making teeth more sensitive to sweet, as well as hot and cold food and drink.
How to prevent your smile from tooth decay and erosion?
All of these problems can easily be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene. Regular brushing and cleaning between the teeth (flossing) will keep teeth and gums healthy. Also, a healthy diet, avoiding smoking and eating less sugary foods will also help keep teeth and gums and healthy and reduce the need for dental treatments.
If you suffer from bleeding gums, unfresh breath or tartar build ups then our Brite Dental hygiene plan will help you to get your mouth back to full minty fresh health again.
Contact us today and find out more about the importance of good dental hygiene! Keep your smile healthy and bright all year round.
