Establishing good dental hygiene habits should start as soon as the very first baby tooth pops out of a child's gums. Babies' first teeth can be brushed with a soft "baby" toothbrush and water or simply wiped with cotton swabs - at this age they don't need to use toothpaste. As soon as there are two adjacent teeth in the mouth, a nightly flossing ritual needs to be introduced to the dental routine too. Good dental habits are easier to maintain if they are established early, as part of a normal daily routine.

When a child's first permanent molars erupt into the mouth at about 6 years of age, you will want to talk to us about applying a plastic coating, or "sealant" on those back teeth. We simply paint the sealant on the chewing surfaces of the molars to provide a safe and effective barrier to food getting trapped in the grooves of the teeth, which could eventually lead to the formation of cavities. A second application of sealant should be applied at about 12 years, when the second permanent molars arrive.

The teenaged years sometimes bring with them eating disorders, including bulimia (self-induced vomiting). Patients suffering from this disorder will experience erosion on the back of their upper front teeth due to the acid in the vomit, and may also develop sores at the corners of their mouth. Tongue and mouth piercings are popular with the teenage set, but they have their own set of problems, from oral hygiene issues and infections to fractured, cracked or chipped teeth. As the adult years approach, some gender differences start to emerge. While both men and women need to be vigilant with their dental hygiene, studies show that men are less likely to seek preventive dental care and often neglect their oral health until a problem arises. Problems can range from bad breath to gum disease and tooth loss to oral cancer - all problems that are treatable if identified early.

Women's oral health can be linked to different stages of life, and fluctuating levels of hormones. For example, pregnant women have a risk of increased inflammation of the gums because of a surge in estrogen and progesterone. Rigid attention to dental hygiene and regular cleanings at the dentist are a must in order to keep teeth and gums clean, and to prevent plaque from forming, If plaque isn't removed, it may lead to gingivitis and subsequently to more serious periodontal diseases, which have been linked to pre-term, low-weight babies.

Menopause brings its own set of dental concerns. During this time some women can experience dry mouth, burning sensations and changes in taste. Hormone replacement therapy may cause gums to bleed, swell and become red.

As your dental professional, we're here to help you and your family through each life stage. Regular visits and open communication about health or medication changes will allow us to monitor any changes in your oral health, and make each stage as healthy and comfortable as possible.  

There's an intruder in your mouth that, if ignored, could make all the difference between a great grin and a miserable mouth. That invader is plaque, an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day and is the main cause of periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease.

The easiest way to keep plaque under control is to brush at least twice a day, and to floss between your teeth daily to remove the plaque and bacteria that can't be reached with your toothbrush. If you floss faithfully every day, brush your teeth properly and maintain a regular dental visit schedule, plaque never gets a chance to harden into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove and is the first step to the development of gum disease.

There are a number of flosses available today to suit any mouth makeup. For example, are your teeth regularly spaced? Try unwaxed floss, which tends to cover more surface as the fibers separate. If you find the unwaxed version difficult to maneuver between your teeth, try waxed or Teflon-coated floss. Perhaps your teeth are close together? Try narrow, waxed floss - it'll slide more easily between the teeth. And people with widely spaced teeth may want to give the wider dental tape a go.

Once you find a floss that works for you, make sure you're flossing effectively:

1. Break off about 18 inches of flossand wrap it around the middle fingers of your hands.
2. Using your thumbs and forefingers, guide the floss between your teeth and wrap it into a "C" shape around the base of the tooth, as deep in the gum as you can, and slide the floss up and down the tooth two or three times using a gentle rubbing motion.
3. Move to a clean area of flossand repeat with each tooth, including the backside of the last tooth.

By the way, if your gums bleed a bit after you first begin to floss, don't worry! The bleeding will usually stop after a few days. (Call us if it doesn't.)

If you have limited finger dexterity or are simply having trouble getting the hang of conventional flossing, you may want to try the preloaded dental floss that comes on disposable plastic handles. It may be easier to manage, and works as well as conventional floss does. Other options include:

• Interdental brushes: This is a type of toothbrush that has a very small tapered or cylindrical head with fine bristles. It is excellent for getting in and around braces and bridges, and is also beneficial for those with widely spaced teeth or implants.
• Interdental woodsticks: These wooden sticks help clean between your teeth while massaging your gums.
• Irrigation devices: An oral irrigator is a machine that blasts a precise, pressurized stream of water to clean around the gum line. It can be used with water alone, or with a mouth rinse. Note that this is not a replacement for flossing, but can be a helpful tool to clean around braces, bridges and implants, and aid those who may find flossing difficult due to compromised medical states.

Your choice of floss isn't as important as the fact that you're doing it at all. Ask us to explain more about these interdental aids, and about tips or tools that may make flossing a more efficient process for you.  

The simple act of eating and drinking can trigger an invasion of plaque into the most unsuspecting mouth, as a result of the chemical reaction between the food and the naturally occurring bacteria in our mouths. Dental plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the surface of your teeth, that if not removed daily by brushing and flossing can harden into tartar and lead to an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. If unattended, this could lead to periodontitis - an advanced stage of gum disease resulting in serious damage to the gums and bone that support the teeth.

The problem with gum disease (or "periodontal disease") is that it usually develops without any warning signs and without causing any pain, so you may not notice anything until the disease is serious and you are in danger of losing teeth. The good news is that with proper care, gum disease can almost always be prevented, and even if it does start, it can usually be treated or even reversed if we catch it in the early stages.

The first stage of gum disease is called "gingivitis", and it presents itself initially as red, swollen gums. As the disease progresses, you may experience tenderness and bleeding in your gums when you brush your teeth.

If not treated, gingivitis can lead to the more advanced stage of gum disease, "periodontitis". Symptoms of periodontitis include red, swollen or tender gums, gums that have pulled away from the teeth, loose teeth, persistent bad breath and a change in the way your teeth or partial dentures fit together when you bite.

Call us at 734-425-4530 for an appointment immediately if you notice any of the symptoms above. Remember that gum disease is preventable with good dental habits, including brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly to remove the bacteria that initiate the decay process, eating healthy foods and visiting the dentist for regular, professional cleanings. 

Here's a mystery - if we floss and brush before we go to bed and settle down to sleep with a fresh mouth every night, why is it that just mere hours later, we wake up with dreaded "morning breath"?

The simple answer is that during the day, saliva works as nature's mouthwash by washing away bacteria and the volatile sulfur particles that cause bad breath. When we go to sleep, saliva production decreases and our mouth dries out, providing the perfect environment for odor-causing bacteria to thrive.

Bad breath (or "halitosis", as it's officially known) can come from a number of different sources such as a dry mouth, bacterial decomposition of food particles in and around your teeth, and foods (such as garlic and cabbage) that contain certain sulfur compounds. Halitosis may also reflect medical conditions, from chronic infections in the lungs to kidney and liver failure. Even dieting and fasting can slow down the stimulation of saliva flow and result in offensive breath, while talking for long periods of time will dry out your mouth with the same result. Most everyday bad breath, however, can be controlled by following these four simple steps:

1. Floss between your teeth to remove any hidden food particles;
2. Brush your teeth after every meal, and brush your tongue too - up to 50% of the bacteria   in your mouth can be found hiding on the surface of your tongue;
3. Keep your mouth moist with frequent sips of water;
4. Maintain regular dental checkups so that your dentist can check for periodontal disease - a treatable cause of bad breath - during your routine gum exam.

Talk to us if your concerns go beyond morning breath. We'd be happy to give you some "fresh" oral hygiene tips.