The Right Way to Care for Teeth

The Right Way to Care for Teeth

We all brush our teeth when we get ready in the morning, but some people have developed a habit of neglecting their teeth at night. It’s especially important to follow a good oral hygiene routine at night, because bacteria increases in our mouths overnight. In order to prevent cavities, we need to go to bed with clean teeth so that the bacteria don’t have any food particles to break down and feed off of. Basically, before going to sleep at night you should take care of your teeth by following a basic oral hygiene routine: brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

Brushing

A good brushing before bed will help protect your teeth from the buildup of plaque that leads to tooth decay.  Select a brush that has soft bristles and is dentist-approved.  Brush gently back and forth at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Dentists are now finding that certain people are genetically predisposed to be at a greater risk for developing dental and gum diseases. Patients who are not at an especially high risk are fine to wait until bedtime to brush, but patients who are at a higher risk should brush after dinner and before bed, as well.

Flossing

Flossing is the element of oral hygiene that is most neglected, and it’s especially important to floss before bed to remove any food particles that may have become lodged between the teeth during the day. To floss correctly, use an 18-inch long strand of floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers so that only about an inch or two is exposed between the fingers. Gently rub the floss between your teeth, and curve it against each tooth to make sure you get any debris that may be at the gum line in the front and back of the tooth. Repeat this for all of your teeth. Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from between the teeth and the gum line before it hardens to form tartar, which is only removable with a professional cleaning.

Rinsing

Rinsing with mouthwash is a great way to end your nighttime oral hygiene routine.  Rinsing not only freshens the breath, but it can also help remove any plaque or food that has been missed during brushing and flossing.

Guard and Protect

Custom Fit Sports Mouth guards

Did you know that approximately 5 million teeth will be knocked out this year due to sports related injuries? With school getting ready to start back, now is the time to think about getting a new mouth-guard made for your child. Although some sports are not considered contact sports, that does not mean you or your child may not get hit in the mouth. To ensure safety, you should consider a custom fitted sports mouth guard to protect your or your child’s smile. Custom mouth guards are a great way to protect your mouth in any sport, whether it be martial arts, kickboxing, baseball, volleyball, football, or soccer. Trauma to the mouth may happen at any level of participation, from children to college level athletes and also adults. Wearing a mouth guard during these events can help avoid teeth becoming knocked out and help eliminate oral surgery to repair any damage and also help avoid the possibility of replacing any teeth. According to the Academy of Sports Dentistry, “the lifetime dental rehabilitation costs can approach several thousand dollars per tooth, for the child or an athlete who loses a tooth (or teeth) in a sporting injury.” Although over-the-counter products can cost less, they are designed to fit several sizes of mouths. Sometimes this can mean that they are not effective and may not be a comfortable fit. Custom mouth guards help ensure a custom fit for you or your child’s teeth. They can also be made in school or team colors, making it more appealing to wear.

Visit with your hygienist or dentist at your next appointment to discuss the options of a custom mouth guard and how it can help you avoid dental traumas.

For a Bright White Smile ...

Are You Using a Whitening Toothpaste?

Whitening mania is especially obvious in the toothpaste aisle. Just about every major brand now comes in special whitening formulas. There’s no doubt that whitening toothpastes can clean stains off teeth and give them a little extra gleam. But the term “whitening” is misleading. Whitening toothpastes have “polishers” as referred to by manufacturers. They often times leave the patient with slight to extreme sensitivity. These “polishers” that are in the toothpastes are very abrasive. It is the abrasiveness that aids in removing surface stains but also cause discomfort to some patients after continual use. Unlike in-office dental whitening systems and strips that can bleach deep within a tooth, toothpastes can reach only the surface. Also, bleaches in toothpastes are not very effective. They get rinsed away before they have time to make any effect on the tooth surface.

Power Washing, Anyone?

Who are they suited for? What makes them stand out?

While many patients have their preference of which type of brush they prefer, power or electric brushes can be suited for all types of patients. Power brushes or electric toothbrushes as they are often called can be easily adapted by those who have difficulty with motor skills, i.e. arthritis, carpal tunnel, small children, and the like. The brush also helps aid in the correct pattern of which to brush as well as helping the patient to brush for the recommended two minutes. Power brushes assist in reaching areas that are sometimes missed in patients who have challenging mouths and the design of the brush handle can be more comfortable for most patients to use over a manual brush. While not all patients have tried and liked power brushes they are of personal preference from patient to patient.

Check with Your Dentist before You Head Back to School

The end of the summer ushers in the beginning of the new school year for an estimated 56 million students this fall and Dr. Kaseff wants everyone to start the season off right. This month is designated as National Immunization Awareness month and healthcare providers around the country are supporting the healthy back-to-school initiative.

Every year the American Dental Association and Dr. Kaseff join together to remind parents and caregivers to include a dental examination as part of their children’s back-to-school health routines. We are advocating that these appointments include immunizations and an all-over health check-up, as well as a dental check-up with our office.

"What some people are not aware of is that many issues involving overall health can be detected, monitored and treated in the mouth," explains Dr. Kaseff. Poor oral health and tooth decay can affect a child’s physical health and even bring down their performance in school.

The American Heart Association sites that harmful decay-causing bacteria can enter the bloodstream from the mouth and cause serious health concerns. Proper nutrition, oral home care and dental examinations are the best defense against harmful bacteria and decay.

Tooth decay is the most chronic disease affecting children and, unfortunately, it is not treated with immunizations or by physicians. Dr Kaseff says, "We are reaching out to our community to create the awareness that back-to-school check-ups are essential to ensure our children are getting a healthy start to their education this year.”  By staying on top of the latest in preventative care and dental technology, Dr. Kaseff is able to provide complete evaluations and education with a proactive approach for long-lasting oral and overall health.

Our First Post!

Did you know that Dr. Kaseff has been practicing dentistry for almost twenty years?

2017 will mark two decades that Dr Ben Kaseff has been providing outstanding and gentle dental care for his patients in Loveland, Ohio and surrounding communities. In leading up to such a monumental event, we at Kaseff Gentle Dentistry hope to offer a way for our patients to communicate with us - both in the office and outside of it.

If you haven't already, check out our office Facebook page and our new website. You'll find an updated look with our cheerful and gentle dentistry theme, complete with new slideshows, photos, and even more information about our practice and the exciting field of dentistry.

On our new website, you'll find all sorts of useful information! Read about our practice, take a tour of the office and learn about our great staff. Have a question or want to schedule an appointment? Our new website offers that function too! Simply click on the Contact Us tab and fill out the easy to use form.

We hope to offer you useful information on this blog with a variety of topics ranging from what to do to form healthy dental habits to understanding particular dental procedures. Check back often!