Education for Optimal Oral Health
What Is Dental Hygiene?
At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we help patients throughout Pompano Beach to stay in excellent oral health. With a focus on preventative care, we take the time to get to know each of our patients, creating a plan for lifelong oral health. With only one set of permanent adult teeth, it is important to care for them and be proactive in taking the steps to prevent cavities, infections, and gum disease. We recommend that you visit our dental office for a teeth cleaning twice a year so that we can remove plaque buildup and tartar, keeping your mouth healthy and clean. To schedule an appointment, call (954) 785-1100. In the meantime, here are steps that you can take at home to keep your mouth healthy.
Why Trust Dr. Nicole M. Berger?
In our dental office, we believe in the importance of patient education. We take the time to speak with each patient and discuss ways that they can improve their oral health. This may involve us demonstrating how to brush teeth correctly, floss or discuss dietary changes that can strengthen teeth. For example, many people do not know that acidic foods are bad for teeth and can directly lead to erosion and a loss of enamel. Simultaneously, dairy products, nuts and crunchy vegetables can actually help to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. These are the types of things that we discuss in our dental office so that patients can improve their oral health between visits. If you live in or around the Pompano Beach area, we recommend that you schedule teeth cleanings twice a year. When you do, feel free to discuss any concerns that you have and ask for tips for keeping your teeth and gums oral healthier.
How To Brush Your Teeth Properly
As a Pompano Beach dentist, we know that how you brush your teeth is just as important as how often you brush them. It is important that you use a soft toothbrush that will not irritate your gums or cause the enamel on your teeth to erode. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a hard toothbrush is necessary for keeping teeth clean, but this is not the case. As long as you brush correctly a soft toothbrush will work equally well without damaging your teeth. Be sure to brush your teeth in a circular pattern, starting at the gum line and working your way toward the center of your mouth. This will move food particles, bacteria, and plaque away from your gum line. Brush your teeth in quadrants and be sure to brush each section for at least thirty seconds. While brushing you should apply even pressure but not be too aggressive. You should also use fluoride toothpaste since this will provide additional protection from cavities. We recommend that you brush three times a day – morning, after lunch, and before bed. This will keep your mouth clean without causing irritation from over-brushing. Additionally, be sure to buy a new toothbrush every three months or sooner if your bristles are frayed or your toothbrush is stained or smelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is flossing really important for my teeth?
At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we remind our patients that it is critical to floss on a daily basis. If you live in the Pompano Beach area and have not been to the dentist lately, we invite you to schedule an appointment so that we can clean your teeth and remove the plaque and bacteria from hard to reach places. Afterward, it is up to you to floss on a daily basis to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth. If they remain in place, you can develop gum disease which is both uncomfortable and dangerous to your oral and overall oral health. Gum disease occurs when plaque forms underneath the gum line and not flossing can lead to this. If you do not particularly enjoy flossing, buy a plastic flossing tool that you can hold and throw away once done. This makes it easier to get the job done.
How can I prevent tooth decay?
Our team prevents tooth decay every day by helping our patients to have clean and healthy teeth. Tooth decay starts when plaque is left on the teeth, and the acid inside of it starts to eat away at the enamel. Keeping teeth clean by removing plaque, therefore, prevents tooth decay. Simultaneously, at home you can continue to brush your teeth and floss after meals. If you do not have anything with you, rinse your mouth with water. This will help to remove some of the loose food particles that may be in your mouth or to remove some of the sugar from your teeth. You should also eat a healthy diet since everything that you eat is directly placed on your teeth.
Very often, it is due to the enamel on the outside of the teeth wearing away. Enamel can wear away due to age, what you eat, and improper oral health care. While brushing with desensitizing toothpaste can help, you need to continue visiting the dentist to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy. Otherwise, the sensitivity can increase. During your dental exam, let us know about the discomfort you are feeling so that we can discuss ways to reduce it by using methods such as a fluoride treatment or sealant.
What is the best toothbrush and mouthwash for my teeth?
Patients of our general dentist office are given a toothbrush at each visit. We recommend that you use it for three months and then replace it. When purchasing a toothbrush, look for a soft one that will not irritate your gums or erode your enamel. Otherwise, we suggest a battery operated or electric toothbrush since they can give you the best clean. The toothbrush head rotates while you are moving the brush around, helping you to break up more plaque for the cleanest possible teeth.
When you use mouthwash, it is important to be sure that it is sugar-free. We also recommend using mouthwash that contains fluoride since this will help to kill any lingering bacteria while strengthening your teeth. Carry a bottle of mouthwash with you and rinse your mouth with it after meals, drinking a soda, or consuming coffee. As a Pompano Beach, FL dentist office, we understand that it is difficult to brush more than a couple of times per day. Rinsing your mouth, however, is relatively easy, and everyone has time for it. Taking this simple step can help to reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease.
Should I avoid any food or drinks?
As a family dentist office, we recommend that you avoid drinking too much soda, juice, coffee, or anything that contains a lot of sugar. You should also stay away from candy, desserts, and particularly sour candy. Additionally, acidic fruit is bad for your teeth. Any time that you have a diet that is high in sugar and starch it is bad for your teeth because the bacteria on your teeth will thrive in this environment. Simultaneously, when you eat foods that are highly acidic, it can lead to enamel erosion. At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we recommend that you eat a diet high in green leafy vegetables, lean protein, dairy, and nuts since they can help to remineralize and strengthen your teeth. For more tips on how to eat a mouth-healthy diet, call (954) 785-1100 and schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Nicole M. Berger.
What should I know about Fluoride Treatment?
At South Florida Smile Spa, Nicole M. Berger, DDS, we are a family dentist office that uses fluoride on a regular basis. We recommend that all of our youth patients under the age of eighteen have a fluoride treatment, at least once a year. Statistically, these treatments reduce the risk of getting cavities by 30 percent. This is significant considering that tooth decay is one of the primary reasons children miss days from school. Adults can also benefit from receiving a fluoride treatment and if you would like to find out if it is right for you, call (954) 785-1100 to schedule an appointment. The treatment itself only takes a couple of minutes. The fluoride is applied directly to the teeth. It has no odor or smell and after a few minutes, patients are free to leave. It is one of the easiest ways to prevent cavities.
