5 Points Advanced Dentistry Blog

Common Mistakes Dental Patients Make

Dental care is one of the most important parts of your general health and wellbeing. The condition of your teeth can say a lot about your health, which is why it is so important that you brush, floss, and see a dentist regularly. However, even if you do follow these steps, you may find that your teeth still aren’t up to par. While it is possible that an underlying condition is causing your dental problems, more often than not, it’s because of simple mistakes that nearly everyone makes. 

Most of the common mistakes dental patients make are, thankfully, easy to fix with just a few lifestyle changes. The top three most common mistakes are incorrect flossing, a lack of regular check-ups, and even smoking during the dental implant process. 

Flossing

Flossing is one of those parts of dental care that almost everybody forgets, even though it is so important. Every dentist recommends flossing due to its abundance of benefits. 

Why Should I Floss?

It’s easy to think that just brushing and using mouth wash is enough to keep your mouth clean, but flossing does more than just make your teeth shine and prevent bad breath.  Regular flossing removes plaque and prevents tartar build up. In doing so, you reduce your risk for periodontal – or gum – disease, and it’s even theorized that it can reduce your risk of heart disease. 

How Do I Floss Correctly?

Flossing incorrectly most definitely earned its place as one of the most common dental mistakes. While you should floss at least once a day, most people who do follow this rule don’t know how to floss correctly.

First, cut a large piece of floss, around 18 inches, and wrap each end around your middle finger. Next, hold it between your forefingers and thumb tightly; this is what you will use to floss. Guide the floss between your teeth and, using a C-shape, rub. Repeat for every tooth.

The most important thing to remember is to be gentle. While bleeding is common, especially in people who don’t floss regularly, you shouldn’t injure yourself.

Regular Check-Ups

Much like with any other doctor, it’s important to visit the dentist regularly. Your teeth may look okay, but only a trained professional will know what to look for when it comes to dental health and disease. 

Why Should I Have Regular Check-Ups?

Regular check-ups will help keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Not only does this give you the opportunity for a regular cleaning that will help reduce plaque and tartar build-up, but it will allow your dentist to stay updated on your dental health and to catch any issues before they become complications that are costly and risky to fix. Regular check-ups can improve your overall dental health, which, like with flossing, will improve your general health and lower your risk of disease in the future. 

How Often Should I Have a Check-Up?

While it varies for each person, and your dentist may require more appointments during the year if you have specific issues, the average person should visit the dentist for a check-up and cleaning at least twice a year – every six months. 

If you happen to miss an appointment, then you may find that your dentist will have to do more work in order to catch up. This can include extra X-rays, more appointments, and even dental procedures to teeth that have decayed or been damaged since your last visit. 

What Should I Expect?

During a general check-up, your dentist may renew X-rays, perform a cleaning, and, if needed, schedule you for more procedures such as fillings, root canals, and even dental implants. 

Dental Procedures Aftercare

After dental procedures, it is important to follow the instructions for aftercare carefully to prevent any complications. You can contact our practice to learn more about our dental procedures.

What Should I Avoid After Dental Procedures?

The main thing to remember after any dental procedure is to avoid disturbing the wound. This includes everything from rinsing your mouth to spitting and even to smoking. 

Why Should Smoking be Avoided?

Smoking during the healing process of dental implants is one of the biggest mistakes that patients make. Often times, though, it can be hard for a patient to avoid smoking. Smoking during the healing process can cause an abundance of complications, including an increased failure rate. 

How Long Should I Wait to Resume Smoking?

The longer you can wait the better, but to allow enough time for the implants to settle – a process known as osseointegration – you should wait at least two to three months. You should also try to stop smoking at least a week before your procedure. 

Contact us at 5 Points Advanced Dentistry today at 614-451-5435 to schedule your routine check-up, or if you have any questions or concerns about proper dental care. 

Our Favorite Tips for Dental Hygiene Month

As you probably know, October is Dental Hygiene Month! The purpose of this month is to raise awareness about the importance of good oral hygiene. In honor of this month, here are our favorite hygiene tips to keep your mouth healthy and your smile bright:

1) Are You Brushing Properly?

You should be brushing your mouth, not just your teeth, but you know that, right? Hopefully! When you brush, you should be hitting your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. All of these areas are prone to the buildup of bacteria and infection, and brushing them helps cut down on this risk.

Make sure your brush is at a 45-degree angle when brushing near the gum line. You should brush in a small circular motion. Be gentle and use a soft-bristled toothbrush: being too aggressive can cause issues for your gums!

2) Remember the Number “2”

What does “2” have to do with your dental health? Simple! Remember to brush your mouth twice a day for two minutes each time. Two minutes may be longer than you think, so set a timer on your phone to make sure you are hitting your target. When teaching your children good dental habits, invest in an hourglass or timer so that they have a visual illustration of how long two minutes actually is. Studies have shown that how long you brush is the most important part and that two minutes is the optimal amount of time!

3) Floss Floss Floss

Flossing is one of the main aspects of oral health care that often gets skipped over. This is unfortunate because flossing is important, if not crucial, for your teeth and gums. Dental floss can get the areas in between your teeth that brushing simply cannot do alone. Although it may be uncomfortable at first and your gums may feel tender, getting into the habit of flossing daily will pay off in the long run.

4) You Are What You Eat

There’s more to oral health than just brushing and flossing. In fact, your diet can greatly impact the appearance and health of your teeth. Drinks like wine and coffee can stain your teeth. Excessive sugary foods like candy and soda can be the beginning of cavity development. We know that some sugar is unavoidable, so rinse your mouth out with water if possible after ingesting sugary foods.

5) Invest in Fluoride Treatment

Many people know that fluoride is part of the dental cleaning process and that it is infused into our water supply, but aren’t entirely clear on what fluoride actually does. Fluoride helps to strengthen the surfaces of your teeth. It also helps prevent cavities from developing months after the treatment has been administered.

6) Come See Us!

What’s the best form of dentistry? Preventative, of course! Good oral practices and care can prevent lots of pain, time, and money in the future. The better your dental habits are now, the better off you will be in the future. One way of keeping your mouth happy and healthy is by coming to the dentist regularly. When you come to see us, we will give you a thorough tooth cleaning and look for any signs of dental issues. By catching things early, we are able to treat you quickly and efficiently.

Dental Hygiene Month is a fun reminder to take care of your teeth and gums, but you should be practicing good oral habits every month! If you have any questions about your oral care or if you are due for a check-up, come see us. We, here at 5Points Advanced Dentistry, want to keep your dental health on track.