Frequently Asked Questions
Tooth decay happens when plaque or bacteria come in contact with the tooth and is allowed to sit. The bacteria, once fed with sugars, will begin eroding the enamel.
Causes for tooth decay include:
- Poor oral hygiene (brushing / flossing)
- Poor diet
- Stress
- Smoking
- Genetics
Adults tend to get cavities around old fillings, which may be cracked, rough around the edges or loose in the tooth. Another common form of tooth decay in adults is root cavities. These are likely to occur in adults who have receding gums due to age or periodontal disease. As the gum line recedes, the tooth root becomes exposed. Since root tissue is softer than enamel, it decays more easily.
Generally speaking, a soft bristled toothbrush is best. Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric, anything harder than soft, is too hard. Stiff bristles may give you that clean feeling, but they can also abrade your teeth and cause gum recession.
Floss is cheap, so don't be stingy! Tear off about a forearm's length to start. Wrap one end around the middle finger of one hand to "anchor" it and pick up the other end about 4-6 inches away with the middle finger of the other hand. This allows you to manipulate the floss with your thumb and fore finger. As you soil a section of floss, "reel" in another 4-6 inches of clean floss with the anchor finger as you release the floss with the other finger.
Once you get the floss past the tooth contact, move the floss up and down, perpendicular to the tooth. Never shoe-shine the teeth in a back-and-forth motion! You will either notch your teeth or cut your gums, or both!
For people without any periodontal disease, a check up and cleaning every six months is standard protocol. People who have active periodontal disease or who have been treated, should have a check up and cleaning every three months.
For most people, a complete radiographic survey should be done every 3 years, and a "check up" or "recall" set every 6 to 12 months. A complete set of x-rays is estimated to expose you to the same amount of radiation you get on a flight from San Francisco to Seattle.
Doctors use x-rays as an aid in diagnosing problems. Without x-rays, "seeing" the problem will be difficult if not impossible.
The Internet is a treasure-trove of interesting and useful information on dental topics. Meadowbrook Dental Laser Clinic is committed to educating our dental patients about all aspects of oral health. Therefore, we are providing the following collection of links to helpful and fascinating websites related to oral healthcare.
- The AGD (Academy of General Dentistry)
- American Dental Association
- American Dental Association: Public Information on dental care topics
- American Dental Association: Public resources, dental care topics, oral health, ADA for Kids and Educators
- Academy of General Dentistry
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- American Association of Endodontists
- Sports Dentistry
- American Dental Hygienists Association
- American Academy of Periodontology
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Association of Dental Schools
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- American Association of Orthodontists
- American College of Prosthodontics
- American Dental Society of Anesthesiologists
- International Association For Dental Research
- National Institute of Dental Research
- Academy of Osseointegration
- Orthodontic Cyberjournal
- Academy of Oral Medicine
- Dental Phobia Treatment Center
- Give Kids A Smile
- The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides free or low-cost health coverage for more than 7 million children up to age 19. CHIP covers U.S. citizens and eligible immigrants.
- Dental health, dental hygiene, dental health information, oral health
