5 Dental Tips Every Patient Should Know
Whether you’re getting prepared for the next routine dental visit to your Newberg family dental care provider, recovering from a recent dental procedure, or trying to maintain and improve your daily oral hygiene, making sure to receive high marks from Dr. McLeod during your next exam is oral health priority number one. More than that, a great looking smile means a happier and healthier you.
While the majority of Dr. McLeod’s patients understand the benefits of brushing and flossing daily, monitoring their oral health for the signs of disease, and limiting sugar in their diets, there are a few facts that every patient should know but commonly don’t. With that in mind, here are a few tips from your friendly Newberg family dental care provider.
Lemonade Causes Just as Many Problems as Drinking Wine and Coffee
While you’re probably aware that your morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine can cause problems staining your teeth, beverages that contain citrus fruits like lemon and lime are also problematic to your oral health when consumed daily. That includes lemonade, flavored sodas and waters, and fruit juice.
Citrus acid can do serious damage to your tooth enamel if you drink a lot daily. While cutting back on the amount of citrus you consume daily will help protect tooth enamel from decay, sipping your favorite fruit beverages through a straw will also help.
Gum Disease is Real, and it Causes Major Problems
Dr. McLeod will know if you have a habit of skipping brushing and failing to floss. The telltale sign of neglecting your oral health is poor gum health. That means experiencing super sensitive gums that bleed when touched, flossed or brushed, gums that have receded, and gums that are swollen or red. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and using mouthwash daily can all help to prevent gum disease.
Wisdom Teeth Can Be Removed At Any Age
Despite what many patients may assume, having your wisdom teeth removed isn’t just for kids.
Adults who don’t have their wisdom teeth removed when younger can still make for excellent candidates to have them removed when older, even if the teeth don’t cause any problems or discomfort. Unfortunately, due to the hard to reach areas of the mouth wisdom teeth develop food can often become stuck, making these teeth susceptible to decay. If decay becomes really bad, it can progress into a cavity that’s not easy to repair and could result in the need for a root canal.
Talk with Dr. McLeod about whether removing your wisdom teeth is right for you.
Don’t Stress Out Over Overlapping Teeth
If your smile features a few overlapping teeth, or even a slight overbite, don’t get stressed. These types of features are simply cosmetic issues, and if the crowded teeth don’t show when you smile or talk then you have even less reason to worry. Just make sure you’re brushing and flossing really well between crowded teeth to prevent gum disease and cavities.
Every Patient Should Own a Water Pick
You won’t believe how much debris you’ll be able to remove from your teeth using a high-powered water pick. Many dentists consider the use of a water pick even more effective than flossing. While flossing daily is a vital part of your oral hygiene, it’s easy to miss food particles. Additionally, if you don’t use a clean section of floss between each tooth, you can actually end up transferring bacteria and food from one area to another.