Left untreated, dental infections and periodontal disease will not only affect the appearance of your smile but, can destroy your oral health. Neglecting routine at-home oral and professional care places you at greater risk of losing teeth and bone density. At some point when you finally do try to “catch up” you may face painful complications that require extensive cosmetic procedures in order to restore the appearance of your smile.

Prevention is the key to maintaining a beautiful healthy smile. By making your dental care a priority you can save you the future cost and embarrassment of dental disease. At Provo, UT General Dentist Provo, UT General Dentist office one of our goals is to educate our patients on effective ways to prevent cavities and gum disease. Even the most consistent routine of brushing and flossing is not enough to maintain a healthy smile. Practicing good at-home oral hygiene is vital, but it must be paired with professional dental cleanings to be really effective.
 
Many of our patients understand the importance of following good oral health by following proper oral hygiene routines and avoiding damaging food and drinks. As we eat, drink, and speak a sticky bacterial film called plaque coats tooth enamel and oral tissue. Flossing and brushing help to remove some plaque build-up but cannot eliminate it completely. The plaque that is not removed hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar continues to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss unless it is removed through regular professional cleanings.

You can take control of your dental health in two easy steps by:

1. Maintaining a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build-up)
2. Seeing your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings (to remove tartar and give you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing).

It is never too late to get back on track with your dental health routine. Start by scheduling a visit to the Provo Family Dentist Office to give yourself and your family the best possible chance for optimal oral health.

A number of my patients have come to me asking for more information about the benefits of Xylitol and Xylitol gum for maintaining healthy teeth. Today I’d like to address some of their questions and provide more facts about Xylitol.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener first discovered in birch tree bark and also found in many fruits and vegetables. Xylitol is actually good for your teeth, unlike many other natural or synthetic sweeteners. Numerous clinical studies have shown that Xylitol does indeed prevent the growth of bacteria that causes decay. It also helps to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce plaque. Products sweetened with xylitol create an unwelcome environment for bacteria; they simply cannot stick to teeth in a xylitol-rich environment.

What are other benefits of Xylitol?

In addition, it not only has fewer calories and less effect on blood sugar than sucrose, but xylitol also inhibits the creation of acid in the mouth. This minimizes the damage done to your teeth, as well as allowing your teeth to heal at a faster rate. Xylitol has a low glycemic index of 7, compared to sugar's level of 83.

Because Xylitol is low on the glycemic index, many diabetic patients can enjoy it as a healthy alternative to sugar. When patients at my Provo Dentist Office complain about frequent dry mouth, I can confidently recommend Xylitol gum or mints to stimulate saliva production without promoting tooth decay.

Is using Xylitol gum a substitute for brushing and dental exams?
The answer to this question is a resounding “No!” If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chewing Xylitol gum for five or ten minutes is probably a good idea. However, you should still brush your teeth thoroughly after meals and get routine exams and dental cleanings at your Provo, UT Dentist Office.
 

Periodontal disease is a serious problem because of the devastating effects it can have on your oral as well as your general health. In addition to regular check-ups and cleanings for your family, proper at-home oral hygiene can go a long way toward minimizing or preventing the onset of Periodontal Disease. With that in mind, I’d like to review the basics of proper brushing and flossing techniques.

Brushing:

1. Brush at least twice a day; in the morning and before bed.  Unsure of which brush is right for you? Provo Dental will be happy to help you select the one that suits your needs.
2. Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet.
3. Use small circular motions to gently brush gumline and teeth.
4. Don’t apply too much pressure to the teeth - this can damage gums and tooth enamel.
5. Brush every surface of every tooth, cheek-side, tongue-side, and chewing surfaces. Pay special attention to the surfaces of the back teeth.
6. Use back and forth strokes to brush the chewing surfaces.
7. Brush the tongue to remove fungi, food and debris.

Flossing:

Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from between teeth, preventing periodontal disease. The flavor and type of floss are unimportant; choose floss that will be easy and pleasant to use.

1. Cut a piece of floss about 18” long.
2. Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are 2-3 inches apart.
3. Work the floss gently between the teeth toward the gum line.
4. Curve the floss in a U-shape around each tooth, carefully sliding it beneath the gum line.
5. Carefully move the floss up and down several times to remove interdental plaque and debris.

If you still have questions, your Provo, UT Family Dentist will be more than happy to answer them for you.