Floss Dental, Las Vegas Family Dentist

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Deep Cleaning Your Way To Great Oral Hygiene At Home


Effective dental hygiene is all about managing the build-up of plaque. Routine brushing and flossing should be a given by now, but there are products on the consumer market that can enhance the removal of plaque and improve your oral health. These dental products are known as deep cleaning water flossers marketed under various different names. Who knew deep cleaning could be done at home!

Deep Cleaning Water Flossers Make Up For The Slack

Water flossers are perfect for adding a little spark into your dental routine. An example of one is the Waterpik® Water Flosser that has been around for a while. Traditional flossing methods are not as effective in cleaning under your gum line, and water flossers are a great way to make up for the slack.

You should always floss every day!
The space under your gum line is known as a periodontal pocket and a good pocket will not be any more than 3mm deep. When your dentist or hygienist is checking your pocket space, they will read off numbers that are written down. These numbers are referring to the amount of space between the many different pockets of your teeth. Spaces that are more than 6mm deep point to periodontal disease that is often treated with gum irrigation and deep cleaning methods within your dentist’s office.

Water flossers shoot a steady, pressurized stream of water under your gum line in an effort to remove any plaque, tiny food particles, or other gunk that exists there. Most water flossers offer different speeds for a gentle experience that does not result in pain. Find a speed that works for you and stick with it.

Water flossers do not have to be used everyday, but if you have one around then you will only benefit from daily use. Don’t be alarmed if your gums bleed at first, they will have to adjust to the new pressure.

They Are Also Great For Orthodontics!

Aside from a deep cleaning experience, water flossers serve as a great way to floss with orthodontic appliances. Many children – and adults – struggle with special flossing tools that are used to clean out food particles stuck between your braces. Water flossers excel in removing anything stuck in between your braces or teeth.

Even with a deep cleaning tool, you are still absolutely recommended to visit a dentist because they possess the knowledge to see exactly how your teeth and gums are faring. They can also remove any plaque and tartar that you may have missed. Tartar is a very hard substance that water flossers are not strong enough to remove, making it essential to visit your Las Vegas family dentist who has the necessary tools to rid your mouth of this strong build-up.

Disclaimer: We are not endorsing the Waterpik® Water Flosser in any way, we are just merely using it as an example to explain the effectiveness in the removal of plaque in areas of our mouth that traditional methods do not perform as well in.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

What Do Dentists Look For in a Checkup


When most of us visit our dentist for a routine checkup, we often just think of a dental cleaning and x-rays. However, there’s another important feature of a dental checkup that is overlooked: an oral examination. Oral examinations give your dentist the chance to view what’s taking place inside of your mouth.
Are you familiar with your dentist revealing the fact that you should be brushing and/or flossing more often? This is because your dentist saw signs of decay not only on your teeth, but your gums as well. Or perhaps you’ve been brushing too hard, resulting in receded gums. These are typical oral-related problems, but excellent oral exams go beyond just oral health.

Checkups Are Not Just About Oral Health

Oral examinations may also result in learning various conditions that your body is facing. There are certain symptoms of a wide variety of ailments and health conditions that have the possibility of showing up in our mouths during a dental checkup.

Pink or White Gums – if you are experiencing gums that do not appear to be their usual red color and are looking a bit paler, then your body may be facing a deficiency in iron. You should consult your medical doctor if this is the case.

Abscess – if you are suffering from abscesses at the root of any teeth or on your gums, then you could be diabetic. Those with diabetes have a higher risk of developing these types of abscesses because they cannot manage their blood sugar levels as well as those without diabetes.

Spots – red spots or even white spots may point to a possible autoimmune disorder such as Crohn’s disease or lupus. If the spots are accompanied by tenderness and pain, then you should consult your doctor for further accurate testing. Often times these sores respond to treatment.

Heart Issues – no conclusive results have been found, but many researchers have theorized that periodontal disease in associated with an increased risk of heart problems. Work with your dentist to help restore your gumsto a healthy state.

Growths – if you or your dentist ever spots small red growths on your gums and even between teeth, then you may be pregnant. These growths are called pregnancy tumors, are rare, and are actually NOT dangerous.

As we can see, oral examinations can be an alternative, indirect way to receive more information not just about the state of your oral health, but also your body’s overall health as well. Developing a good relationship with both your dentist and your medical doctor can keep you poised for the future.

Your family dentist in Las Vegas encourages everyone to follow the American Dental Association’s advice and visit his or her dentist twice per year, once every 6 months.

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