Tips and Recommendations for Proper Teeth and Gum Care
Marina Family Dental Center offers tips and recommendations for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Healthy teeth and gums make it easy for you to eat well and enjoy good food. Several problems can affect the health of your mouth, but good care should keep your teeth and gums strong as you age.
Teeth and Gum Issues
Tooth Decay
Teeth are covered in a hard, outer coating called enamel. Every day, a thin film of bacteria called dental plaque builds up on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that can harm enamel and cause cavities. Brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent decay, but once a cavity forms, to avoid further damage, a dentist must fix it with a filling. Marina Family Dental Center recommends using fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth from decay. We also offer fluoride treatment during your office visit.
Gum Disease
Gum disease begins when plaque builds up along and under your gum line. Plaque causes an infection that hurts the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place. A mild form of gum disease may make your gums red, tender, and more likely to bleed. This problem, called gingivitis, can often be fixed by brushing and flossing every day.
To Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease, We Recommend:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss regularly.
- Visit your dentist routinely for a checkup and cleaning. Tell the dentist about any medical conditions you have and medications you take.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Avoid sweets and sweetened drinks.
- Do not smoke. Smoking increases your risk for gum disease.
How to Clean Your Teeth and Gums
- Gently brush your teeth on all sides with a soft-bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.
- Use small circular motions and short back-and-forth strokes.
- Brush carefully and gently along your gum line.
- Lightly brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to help keep your mouth clean.
- Clean between your teeth with dental floss. This removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush can't reach.
- Rinse after you floss.
Bad Breath
Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be embarrassing and in some cases may even cause anxiety. It's no wonder that store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath. But many of these products are only temporary measures because they don't address the cause of the problem.
Certain foods, health conditions, and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with consistent proper dental hygiene. If simple self-care techniques don't solve the problem, see your dentist or physician to be sure a more serious condition isn't causing your bad breath.
Possible Causes of Bad Breath
Most bad breath starts in your mouth, and there are many possible causes. They include:
- Food
- Tobacco products
- Poor dental hygiene
- Dry mouth
- Medications
- Infections in your mouth
- Other mouth, nose, and throat conditions
- Other causes such as cancer, metabolic disorders, chronic reflux of stomach acids (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)
If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits. Try making lifestyle changes, such as brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water. If your bad breath persists after making such changes, make an appointment with Marina Family Dental Center.
Schedule your appointment today! Call us at 831-384-6333.