Frequently Asked Questions
The development of cavities is usually in those hard to see and reach places in your mouth. These are the areas that usually floss can only reach. Cavities are formed when the bacteria in your mouth attaches to food particles and forms plaque. The acid produced by plaque begins to eat away at the tooth if it is left long enough. First the enamel is attacked then the dentin is next, which is where the tooth's nerve fibers are located. Once the decay makes its way to the dentin a filling is need to stop the cavities progress. If it is left untouched it will eventually reach the nerve and a root canal is then needed to repair the tooth.
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.
In general, the tongue, with its rough surface, is the most common source of bad breath. 'Tongue scrapers' are very effective in keeping the tongue clean.
Tooth decay, also know as dental caries, is caused by acids which are produced by bacteria in the presence of sugar. To prevent decay bacteria, sugar and acids must be periodically removed by way of brushing and flossing. Simple tips like, don't sip sugar drinks such as soda, drink the soda straight down as constant sipping is harmful. Ask Dr. Brown and Dr.Kardelis for other tips to prevent tooth decay.
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.
