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Caring for Children’s Oral Hygiene

Your child’s overall health depends on healthy teeth. Your child receives the help they need when eating or talking when their teeth are healthy. Potent oral care helps to set excellent dental habits when the child is growing, but poor dental hygiene results in infection, disease, and other problems with the teeth.

The responsibility of making dental hygiene fun rests on your shoulders. Therefore using some tips can prove beneficial for the child. What are the dental tips to follow to make dental hygiene fun?

  • Let your child choose his or her toothbrush with their favorite character and color.
  • You can allow your child to choose the toothpaste they want and the flavor.
  • Make sure that a child brushes for at least two minutes by using a timer.
  • Reward children for good dental hygiene without giving them sugary foods or treats.
  • Plan fun activities after a child’s dental visit.

Setting the Path to Excellent Dental Health

Fluoride Treatments

Your child’s dental health benefits from fluoride treatments that help to reduce cavities in the primary and permanent teeth. Fluoride strengthens the teeth by hardening the enamel. If the tap water in your area of residence does not contain fluoride, the child may need fluoride treatments from the dentist in Colombia, SC.

Brushing and Flossing

The best time to begin excellent dental hygiene is when your child is a baby. You can start by using a child-sized toothbrush with soft bristles from the age of one of two. The child’s teeth must be brushed twice a day with water. A small dab of toothpaste without fluoride can be added when brushing.

You can switch to fluoride toothpaste once the child is old enough to spit it out. Have your pediatrician or dentist show you the proper way to brush your child’s teeth. Children need help with brushing until they are seven or eight years old. They can use a larger toothbrush around this time. Just make sure you replace the toothbrush every three months and teach the child to floss their teeth after brushing at least once a day. Children must also be introduced to brush their tongue to reduce the number of bacteria in their mouths.

Nutrition And Diet

Children must be offered healthy food choices to prevent the risks of cavities. They must be encouraged to avoid too much sugar both in foods and beverages.

Dental Caries

The problem with dental caries can occur when bacteria buildup in the mouth of the child. Sugars in the foods and beverages they have to interact with the bacteria to convert into acids. Dental caries is a chronic problem among children because their teeth are challenging to brush. Children born prematurely with low birth weight are prone to dental caries.

Visiting a Pediatric Dentist

Children must be taken to a pediatric dentist by the age of one recommends the American Academy of pediatric dentistry. It allows the dentist to identify problems with your child’s teeth. Pediatric dentists like Drs Ellis, Green, and Jenkins, specialize in treating the child’s dental health. The dental professionals will also guide you about proper oral care for the child.

Visiting Dr. Ellis from an early age will help the child become comfortable with the dental office while also establishing the habit of regular dental checkups. The dentist must be contacted whenever your child has tooth pain or mouth infection.

Questions You Must Ask the Pediatric Dentist?

Children’s mouths are in the developing stages, making it essential for you to regularly adapt to the variations. You can educate yourselves about the changes by asking the following questions with the pediatric dentist:

  • Does your child require oral fluoride supplements?
  • Can your child use mouthwash?
  • Is your child at a high risk of dental caries?
  • What type of toothbrush is best suited for your child?
  • How often should the child’s dental visits be scheduled?
  • Is it okay for your child to chew gum?

The answers provided by the pediatric dentist will prepare you to care for children’s dental health and ensure the child does not have to deal with any dental issues at an early age. It will also set them on the path to excellent oral hygiene, providing them with an opportunity to enjoy better overall health.

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Understand How to Handle Emergency Dental Appointments on Friendship Day?

Friendship Day is just around the corner, and you could be wondering how you can handle emergency dental appointments on that particular day. Your concerns would be aggravated because friendship day is arriving on a Sunday when most dentists are expected not to work. However, if you plan ahead of time, you will be able to overcome your concerns without encountering any problems.We are not indicating you may not encounter any emergency on the first Sunday of August. Still, just attempting to make you understand, you can prepare for a dental emergency ahead of time in some cases. Let us look at how you can prevent the need for emergency dentistry when friendship day makes its appearance.

How to Manage Dental Emergencies on a Sunday?

Pain and discomfort will be a significant concern whenever you are affected by a dental emergency. If, for any reason, any issue affects you on Sunday, you may wonder how to deal with dental pain in an emergency? However, if you have the contact details of emergency dentistry in your possession, you can rest assured it will not be challenging to find the treatment required even on the last day of the week.

Emergency dentists are aware many dental emergencies do not pre-warn you before they affect. In many cases would be injured by a sporting activity or become involved in accidents that may have left you with a severe injury in your oral cavity. The damage could be a knocked-out tooth or severe bleeding from the soft tissues to need attention only from a dental professional and none other. Many professionals like the dentist in Colombia are prepared and willing to help you even on Sundays and provide appropriate treatment either to preserve the knocked out tooth or to stop the bleeding from your soft tissues. Therefore there is no reason for you to worry about how you can handle dental emergencies on the weekend.

Why Are Dental Emergencies Considered Distressing?

A broken or knocked-out tooth leaves gaps between your teeth to impact your appearance and the ability to smile and eat the foods you love. When the issue is not treated promptly, you can expect to be burdened by significant expenditure for tooth replacement solutions. Besides the expenses, you also need to hide your smile to conceal the unsightly gaps between your teeth. Multiple visits to the dentist’s office are also concerning because they keep you away from your productive activities while affecting you with considerable pain.

If the dental issue bothering you is an infection in the mouth, it will impact not just your oral health but also your overall health. The bacteria from the infection can enter your bloodstream to cause problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions. The disease in your mouth also causes considerable pain, fever, and swelling in your facial area, prompting you to seek immediate attention from Dr. Julie Wehman for relief. The dental professional will probably recommend root canal therapy to get rid of the infection and might scare you even further. However, it is the best way to boot the infection out of your mouth and to continue leading a healthy life.

Emergency Dentistry on Friendship Day

Despite Friendship Day being on a Sunday, you can rest assured that emergency dental professionals will make arrangements to ensure you do not encounter any difficulties contacting them if you need treatment in a hurry. If you are unable to meet the dentist personally, you can call the dental office and follow the prompts on the answering machine to understand how the issue affecting you can be managed. Alternatively, the dental professional may have in place a call back service where a qualified dentist contacts you and arranges an appointment to see you promptly.

Drs. Ellis, Green, and Jenkins recommend methods to prevent dental emergencies from occurring by maintaining proper oral hygiene and having yourselves examined every six months for dental issues in your mouth. Maintaining excellent oral health requires brushing twice a day, flossing, approaching your diet with caution, and visiting your dentist for six-monthly examinations and checkups. If you are following the suggestions recommended, you can rest assured you are well on our way to handle emergency dental appointments even on Friendship Day because you are unlikely to be affected by any issue.

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Treating Emergencies When You Have Dental Pain

Rushing to the emergency room for treating dental pain is a practice that is common among Americans. Every year over 100,000 Americans visit emergency rooms for a dental emergency rather than visit emergency dentistry spending a fortune.

Americans will do well to understand they are spending millions of dollars visiting an emergency room simply because they are forgoing preventive dental care in favor of problem-focused visits to the dentist’s office. For unknown reasons, Americans fail to realize when they are experiencing dental emergencies; they will be served better by Dr. Amy Ellis Green rather than emergency room doctors.

Why Must Americans Prefer Treating Dental Emergencies from Dentists?

In most states within America, it is illegal for any professional from the medical fraternity to provide dental treatments other than a dentist. Emergency room doctors aren’t even allowed to perform any restorative care that is needed by patients. Locating an emergency room with a dentist on staff or on-call is practically impossible.

Professionals at emergency rooms can only provide antibiotics or painkillers to offer temporary relief. Dental issues don’t fix themselves unless you are prepared to visit a dentist to have the problem fixed.

How to Avoid Painful Dental Emergencies?

Many suggestions are available over the Internet about how to care for dental emergencies. Depending on the specific problem, some tips may work better than others. However, if you are determined to avoid dental emergencies, we recommend the following:

  • You must brush and floss your teeth to remove any food particles on or between your teeth. Rinse with warm water.
  • Aspirin is helpful to relieve pain, but the pain killer should not be put against the gums near an aching tooth. The gums can burn, and the painkillers may cause damages to the gum tissue.
  • Contact your dentist’s office for an appointment as soon as possible.

Emergency Treatment For Dental Pain

Dental emergencies are problems involving the teeth, gums, or jaw needing prompt treatment from a qualified dentist. Different types and levels of dental emergencies exist. Bleeding, swelling, pain, broken, or loose tooth are all dental emergencies. The causes of dental emergencies are accidents or trauma, but on other occasions, the symptoms are subtle and can aggravate themselves with time.

Dental emergencies are stressful, and it would help if you understood Drs Ellis, Green, and Jenkins especially consider patients calling in with dental pain or cosmetic emergencies. People are stressed because they have put off dental treatment for as long as they could and only contacted the dentist’s office because they no longer can. They understand and prioritize relieving your pain and returning you to comfort promptly.

Common Dental Emergencies Needing Prompt Treatment

Toothaches, cracked teeth, abscessed teeth, and knocked out teeth must be treated promptly by emergency dentists, and we recommend not to visit the emergency room with such problems. Traumatic dental injuries may occur in accidents or contact sports. Most of these injuries are minor, and the treatment will depend on the severity and type of damage. However, treatment is needed from an emergency dentist who will examine the tooth by performing a thorough dental exam.

Treating traumatic dental injuries is a specialty of endodontists who have advanced skills, technologies, and techniques that can often preserve injured teeth. These dental professionals are also flexible when accommodating emergency cases and even work on weekends in many instances. However, you must act quickly if you want to find relief from the pain and possibly save yourselves from tooth loss.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies from Occurring

The dentist in Colombia, SC, recommends everyone to maintain excellent oral hygiene and visit their dentists for routine examinations and cleanings every six months. The reviews assist the dentists in identifying problems in the mouth that may aggravate and create a treatment plan that can avoid a dental emergency.

If you follow the advice provided by the dentists, you will not have to encounter stressful situations because you have put a preventive measure in place. If unfortunately, you do experience a dental emergency of any kind, you can contact the dentists mentioned in this blog to find relief from the pain you are experiencing.

Dental emergencies can occur regardless of whether you have preventive measures in place or not. You must have the information of experienced dentists in your possession who are treating dental emergencies regularly without believing that an emergency room will serve you in a stressful situation.

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Benefits of Visiting Our Dental Clinic this Father’s Day

Did you know children are more prone to dental cavities than adults? That is why it is important to have proper pediatric dental care. Visiting the pediatric dentist will help maintain your child’s dental health. This father’s day, visit Dr. Ellis, Green, and Jenkins Pediatric Dentistry and General Dentistry with your child and enjoy great benefits.

1. Get Comprehensive Dental Exam

On your first visit to our dental clinic, the dentist will perform a comprehensive dental exam. Using modern dental tools and technology, we will examine your dental structure, teeth, and gums. The dentist will assess and check for any decay and cavities. Our child exam also involves assessing the root structure for any abnormalities and the development of the jaw and teeth.

As part of your dental assessment, we also perform professional teeth cleaning. Yes, brushing and flossing help to keep your teeth free of plaques, but deep cleaning removes any food particles and plaques that have formed on and under the gums. Deep cleaning also helps to prevent cavities and gum disease.

2. We Focus on Education and Share Valuable Information

We take time to teach your child the proper brushing skills and the importance of cleaning their teeth every day. Our dentist will also share information on proper nutrition, teething, developmental milestones, and fluoride treatment.

3. Saves Time and Money

At We Care Dental we offer both general and pediatric dentistry services to cater to you and your child. We perform the dental exams and cleaning all in one visit, which saves you time and money. Plus, we offer discounts and plans that can benefit you and your family.

4. Sets a Good Example

Vising the dentist with your children will create the importance of dental care. It sets a good example and a strong foundation that will help them form good dental practices later in life.

5. Prevents Dental Problems

With regular dental checkups and cleaning, the dentist will clean your gums and teeth, thus preventing dental problems such as decay. This also means you will avoid the expensive dental treatments such as root canal, orthodontic and cosmetic dentistry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is It Important to Visit a Pediatric Dentist?

Although having family dentistry is beneficial, with children it is better to have a pediatric dentist. Child dental specialists receive the required dental program, plus two additional training where they gain knowledge on dental conditions affecting children and adolescents.

They are also trained in child psychology and can communicate with children in a simple and easy to understand manner. Our dental team is experienced to deal with different children’s personalities and can help them relax.

A pediatric dentist deals with dental problems from infancy to adolescence, meaning you don’t need to change a dentist until they turn 21 years.

Q. When Should You Visit the Pediatric Dentist?

The best time to schedule an appointment with the pediatric dentist is as soon as the first tooth comes out or right before their first birthday. This first dental visit is important because the dentist can establish a rapport with the child. Plus, it is easy to detect any abnormalities with the jaw.

Q. How Often Should Your Child Visit the Dentist?

It is recommended to bring your child for a dental assessment every six months. But, the dentist may suggest you come for an assessment sooner depending on the dental problem.

Q. What Can You Expect During Your Dental Visit?

We examine your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues for any decay. Professional teeth cleaning is done to remove any plaque buildup on the gum line. Fluoride treatment may be done if you are at risk of dental cavities.

Based on the dental exam, the dentist may recommend further treatments such as dental sealants for children and teeth whitening if you have discoloration.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit We Care Dental and Dr. Amy Ellis Green will assess the dental health and recommend the appropriate dental treatment for you and your child.

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Five Ways to Prevent Dental Cavities in Children

Children are prone to dental cavities than adults and having the necessary preventive measures can help in maintaining healthy teeth and gums.Did you know that dental decay and cavities are the most prevalent dental condition in children? Yes. According to the CDC, around 42 percent of the kids aged between two and 11 years get cavities at some point. It is, therefore, essential to have preventive measures in place to maintain oral health.

Why is it essential to prevent cavities in children? After all, they will still lose their primary teeth? Yes, the baby teeth will off, but they are crucial to a child’s dental health as they are placeholders for the permanent teeth. Any premature loss will lead to overcrowding, overbites, crossbites, and other orthodontic problems. Preserving both their primary and permanent teeth is important, and here are five ways you can do so:

  1. Have Proper Dental Hygiene Practices

Dental hygiene does not begin when the child gets permanent teeth, but rather at infancy. The absence of teeth does not mean that the risk of cavities is not present. Remember, the baby’s teeth develop while they still in the womb but will erupt at six or seven months. Keeping the gums clean and free of buildup is vital to prevent bacterial growth.

Every day, clean the gums with a soft and damp cloth, especially after breastfeeding. After the first tooth erupts, you can buy a kid-friendly, soft-bristled toothbrush.

  1. Get Regular Pediatric Dental Checkups 

You should visit the pediatric dentist when the first baby tooth emerges or before their first birthday. The first pediatric dental visit lasts for a few minutes, but it is critical to creating a rapport with the dentist.

During this visit, our dentist will examine the gums and clean off any buildup. It is vital to visit the dentist every six months or as advised for proper dental assessment and cleaning.

  1. Use Enough Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral found in toothpaste and mouth rinses. The mineral helps to strengthen the enamel and promote mineral reabsorption. Furthermore, it can prevent mild dental cavities.

Fluoride is effective, but taken in large doses can cause fluorosis, which leads to teeth discoloration, among other problems. It is recommended to avoid using fluoride toothpaste on children below three years. Also, monitor the child as they brush to prevent them from swallowing the toothpaste.

  1. Watch the Sugar Intake

Children love sugary foods and snacks. Although they may be tasty, sugar is an enemy to the enamel. We have bacteria present in the mouth that breakdown the sugar and produces an acidic solution. The acid affects the enamel by making it softer and softer. Eventually, holes will develop and lead to cavities.

Supplement sugary foods with healthy snacks. Also, ensure the children rinse their mouth after consuming carbs. Breastmilk contains sugar and will have the same effect, so wipe the gums after breastfeeding to remove the buildup.

Do not allow the child to sleep or nap while bottle feeding as it can also lead to the tooth cavity.

  1. Consider Getting Dental Sealants and Crowns

Pediatric dental crowns and sealants address the same problem differently. Dental sealants are used on permanent teeth and act as a shield. According to the CDC, children who don’t have dental sealants are twice as likely to develop dental cavities than those who wear them. Dental sealants are used on the molars and premolars to protect against decay, and they last for nine years.

Pediatric dental crowns are used on the primary teeth to prevent dental caries. The crowns can also be used as a cavity filling. These dental fixtures fall off with the primary teeth.

It is crucial to have the sealants and crowns assessed by a dentist regularly for any cracks. Tiny chips on the crowns and sealants will provide an environment for bacteria to fester, increasing the risk of decay (the very problem you are trying to prevent).

Take Away

Children are prone to developing cavities because of ineffective brushing techniques and consumption of sugar. The good news is the cavities can be prevented when you work with your pediatric dentist. Visit Drs. Ellis, Green, and Jenkins in Columbia for more information on how to maintain your child’s oral health.

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Four Things to Consider for Your Child’s Dental Appointment

Four Things to Consider for Your Child’s

According to the American Pediatric Dental Association, babies should have their first dental visit when the tooth emerges or before they turn one. Most parents know the importance of the first pediatric dental visit, but only a fraction of them actively seek these dental services. Remember, the child’s teeth form during conception, but emerge at six or seven months. This means cavity and other dental problems can develop way before the teeth come out. Here are four things to consider before your first dental appointment:

1. Pay Attention to the Type of Dentist

Yes, you may have a family dentist, but the ADA advises you to take your child to a pediatric dentist. The family dentists are trained to treat and diagnoses dental problems regardless of age; however, they spend a majority of time with adult issues. Pediatric dentists are licensed to treat, prevent, and diagnose dental issues from infancy all through adolescence.

Furthermore, they are skilled in handling the behavioral and psychological needs of the children and keep them calm. Plus, the chosen décor is relaxing and kid-friendly. A pediatric dentist plays an important role and may serve your child until they are young adults. Therefore, take time to choose a kid’s dentist who is skilled and can create a relationship with your child.

2. What Dental Topics Can You Discuss with the Dentist?

Part of the first kid’s appointment is to discuss with the dentist the pressing issues about your child’s dental health. Some of the topics that Dr. Robert H Ellis will talk about include:

  • Teething is a time of significant discomfort for the child. Easing the pain and pressure off the gums is paramount, and you can do this using a wet cloth or a teething toy.
  • Fluoride treatments are essential as it replenishes the lost mineral and prevents dental cavities.
  • Developmental dental milestones such as teething and loss of baby teeth
  • Diet and hygiene practices to establish and maintain at home. The dentist will also teach the children the proper brushing techniques that can prevent plaque buildup.
  • The preventive dentistry such as dental crowns are suitable for primary teeth
  • Any other pediatric dental problem

3. Is Your Child Calm and Relaxed Before the Dental Appointment?

The initial pediatric dental visit is vital, and the child needs to be calm and relaxed. Ensure the child is fed and changed because discomfort can cause irritability and fussiness. Also, schedule an appointment when the child is awake and active. You can bring with you toys and relaxing games to keep them engaged and relaxed.

4. Are You Prepared for the Visit?

Have all the information relating to your child’s medical history, dental health development, and medical, dental insurance cover. Also, be honest with the dentist if you have any dental anxieties and phobia. Remember, children can sense if you are anxious, and it can make them fearful and uncomfortable.

What to Expect on the Pediatric Dental Visit?

The appointment will be short, lasting a couple of minutes, but it’s essential. The dentist will request you to stay outside the dental office for them to create a relationship. Next, the dentist checks the gums and clean them of any buildup.

It’s essential to bring your child for dental exams and evaluations every six months or as advised by the dentist.

How to Protect Your Child’s Teeth?

Primary teeth are critical in your child’s dental health. Not only do they preserve the dental structure, but they are placeholders for the permanent teeth. Any premature loss of teeth may lead to abnormal teeth development creating the need for orthodontic treatment later in life. Protecting these teeth is essential, and we have different preventive measures such as dental crowns and fluoride treatment. Also, give your child healthy foods that can boost the proper development of teeth and bones.

Call us or visit us at Drs. Ellis, Green, and Jenkins for your children’s dental appointment, and we will give you top-notch service.

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Important Brushing Techniques to Teach Your Child

Although brushing might seem an ordinary task, the way you brush your teeth has a significant impact on your oral hygiene. Brushing does not involve scrubbing your teeth with a brush and toothpaste, but the whole process is the primary mean of cleaning your teeth.

The children imitate the elders, and they have a knack to catching up with anything they watch or see in front of them, so you must brush in the correct technique and guide your children to adopt the right methods to improve oral health.

How to Brush Correctly?

The minimum time to brush your teeth properly is at least two minutes. Most of you might not spend this time brushing, and you can use a stopwatch to check the exact time you spend while cleaning your teeth. You may use short and gentle strokes while brushing with extra care to the gumline that is delicate. If you have crowns or dental fillings, extra attention should be given while you brush.

To start with, you can clean the outer surface of the upper teeth and then the lower teeth. On completing, you can pay attention to the inner surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. You should not miss the chewing teeth and clean the tongue too for cleaner and fresher breath.

The type of toothbrush you use is also essential. Most dentists would prescribe using a soft-bristle brush that can remove the plaque from your teeth. The small-headed brushes are preferable as they can easily reach each part of your teeth quickly and complete the cleaning.

With the advancement of technology, the introduction of a power toothbrush can do a better cleaning of the oral cavity. You have the option of choosing from a wide variety of toothpaste for different dental conditions as cavities, gingivitis, or stained teeth. You can choose a mild toothpaste with low fluoride content.

Changing the toothbrush for your child every three months is mandatory. You can also use a fluoride-less toothpaste for your child. Once the child suffers from any infectious disease as cold or influenzas, the toothbrush might be changed to reduce the chances of further infection.

How to Fight with Cavities?

Cavities are common, and poor dental health only instigates cavities. The food that is stuck between the teeth leads to the growth of various microorganisms that can degrade the teeth. Cavities are common among children. Sugary food or beverages can increase the chances of cavities. Drinking more water and brushing or rinsing the mouth after a meal can reduce the chances of cavities.

Since the child might not be capable of flossing the teeth, you can assist them. Visiting the dentist at regular intervals also reduces the chances of cavities. You can limit the intake of snacks between the meals. Fruit juices and candies should be avoided, or at least the frequency of consumption of such foods be reduced.

Brushing the teeth twice a day and cleaning the teeth can also reduce the growth of bacteria and improve dental health.

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

When you are aware of the symptoms, you can take the necessary steps to minimize the risk of cavities. The first visual symptoms are the appearance of visible white spots on the affected teeth. Such spots are signs of weakening enamel and might also lead to sensitivity.

Once the cavities turn deeper, the color changes to light brown, the pits are accompanied by intense pain, and your child might be a severe discomfort. It is time that you can visit Dr. Amy Ellis Green, DMD, for such dental emergencies.

Your Dental Home

Particular food rich in Vitamin D as fatty fish oil, avocado, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, or carrot can improve your teeth strength and the dentine of the teeth. Aloe vera and licorice root can also minimize the chances of cavities. You can treat Dr. Amy Ellis Green, DMD, as your dental home too. with bilingual staffs and game room, our child can relax as our experienced and American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certified dentists treat your child.

Apart from general dentistry, the in-house emergency dentistry makes us able to serve you in times of need. Our new introduction is the hospital dentistry that involves sedation while treating your child to ensure they do not bear the pain.

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The Importance of Regular Teeth Cleaning

Here are a few interesting statistics from the American Dental Association (ADA) about brushing and flossing practices:

  • Approximately 31 percent of Americans floss their teeth less than once a day
  • Approximately 46 percent of American women do not brush their teeth twice a day
  • Approximately 51 percent of American men do not brush their teeth twice a day

If you’re not a part of those numbers because you practice the ADA guidelines to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day, then congratulations – you’re on your way to excellent preventive oral health.

What These Numbers May Mean for Your Oral Health

We’re not going to bury you in numbers, but there is one more statistic that may explain why regular teeth cleaning, including professional teeth cleaning from a dentist near you in Columbia such as We Care Dental, is important to your health: about half of all Americans – both men and women – between the ages of 35 and 44 have a condition known as gingivitis. That means that there is a percentage of the population who do practice diligent oral health care at home who are still prone to gum disease.

Stay Ahead of Gum Disease

Gum disease is the number one cause of many conditions that most people want to steer clear of. These include chronic bad breath, tender, and bleeding gums, painful chewing, loose or sensitive teeth, and receding gum lines.

The surest way to stay ahead of the condition is to not only adhere to the guidelines set forth by the ADA to brush twice a day for at least two minutes each time, but to also follow their recommendation to have a professional teeth cleaning from a dentist at least once a year – and twice a year if you’re already experiencing any of the above symptoms.

A Final Note

We can’t close this article without making a final note about one of the first signs that you may detect at home that it’s time for a dental exam and professional teeth cleaning appointment. That red flag is bleeding from your gums. If you experience any bleeding from your mouth when you brush or floss, your body is sending you a signal that your gums need attention.