Scaling And Root Planing: Professional Plaque Removal

Perhaps you’ve been neglecting a good oral health routine. Or, you’ve done your best, but you’ve developed plaque and tartar buildup. A regular routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing is an important part of regular plaque removal for everyone. But if you have risk factors that have caused a buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums to harden into tartar, your dentist or dental hygienist may suggest scaling or root planing your teeth to remove the buildup. If left untreated, severe tartar buildup along and under the gum line can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, which may increase the risk of gum disease.

Scaling and root planing are common nonsurgical techniques that may prevent the need for more serious procedures, such as periodontal surgery or a root canal.

Here’s what to expect if your dentist or dental hygienist recommends these techniques:

• You won’t feel it. You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area.
• Scaling: Your dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the areas both above and below the gum line.
• Root Planing: Your dentist or dental hygienist uses special tools to smooth rough spots on the tooth roots. This process not only removes bacteria and helps reduce plaque buildup, but it provides a smooth surface for gums to reattach to the teeth.

After a scaling and root planing procedure, be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions and maintain an oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. If your gums are sensitive after the procedure, try a spongy floss, such as Oral-BÆ Ultra FlossÆ, to help prevent painful flossing.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Dental Plaque

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about dental plaque.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Children's Dentistry

Choose Your Child's Dentist with Care

Children's teeth are more prone to cavities than adults. We start teaching children proper dental hygiene at an early age and encourage them to maintain these habits every day so they have their natural teeth for a lifetime. 

There are reasons for their susceptibility to cavities. One is that they often do not brush well during their formative years. They may miss the contours of back teeth, allowing plaque to build up and cause cavities. It is important for parents to oversee proper brushing. Kids also eat more often during the day. Any time you eat, acid is created in the mouth, which erodes tooth enamel and leads to decay. If a tooth is not cleaned properly to begin with, additional acids from eating and drinking will increase the rate at which decay develops. 

The good news is that improving dietary choices and better hygiene habits in combination with an application of a mineralizing fluoride varnish will reduce the chances of a cavity forming.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Parts of the Tooth

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about about what makes up the tooth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Clear Dental Braces Dentist

Straight Teeth in Months, Not Years!

Are you an adult who would love to have straight, beautiful teeth, but are hesitant to undergo corrective treatment because of the length of time wearing traditional braces? Does the idea of wearing braces make you want to hide your smile behind your hands?

With Fastbraces, we can provide the right solution for both objections. This revolutionary technique changes only the teeth that show when you smile. It gently corrects gaps, crowding, and overlapping teeth in just six months or less!

You won't have to worry about the appearance of your smile with Fastbraces, as they are not easily noticed. They are tooth-colored ceramic brackets that use white or clear wires. It is a quick process using low force to make changes to your smile, so you are comfortable throughout treatment. Such a short time makes for better hygiene and a clean, healthy look when you are done.

What could top all this off? Fastbraces are less expensive than veneers, aligners, or metal braces. So stop dreaming and let us tell you how you can have a gorgeous smile in only months!

For more information about Fastbraces, visit www.fastbraces.com.

We also feature Propel™, which allows orthodontic treatment to be faster. Propel treatment takes just minutes and is done in the beginning or middle of orthodontic treatment.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Flossing - Bad Breath Killer

Flossing As Prevention For Bad Breath
Need another reason to floss your teeth at least once a day? Flossing daily helps improve bad breath by effectively removing the food particles and bacteria that contribute to it. That makes flossing one of the easiest ways to prevent and banish bad breath.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is more common than many people realize. You may joke about bad breath, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, but it’s an important oral health issue. Bad breath can be more than an embarrassing social problem-it can be a sign of disease or illness.

Saliva is Your Friend
Less saliva means that your mouth is more susceptible to plaque buildup, which can create an unpleasant smell on your breath. Pay extra attention to any of the following circumstances that can reduce the saliva in your mouth and promote bad breath:

• Drinking alcohol. Alcohol-containing beverages may promote a dry mouth and cause bad breath. So don’t forget to floss after an evening out on the town, no matter how much you’re tempted to hop into bed and forget about it.
• Early morning. Saliva stops flowing while you sleep, so you may be prone to bad breath in the morning. If so, mornings may be the best time for your daily dental flossing.
• Being hungry or thirsty. When you’re dehydrated, there’s not as much saliva in your mouth, so you’re prone to bad breath and increased bacterial buildup. Drink enough fluids and remember to floss. Also, remember that chewing food increases the saliva in your mouth, so if you’re skipping meals or dieting, you may develop bad breath.

If you’re dieting and eating less frequently, a mint floss can not only help bad breath by removing bacteria, it may help you with your diet by providing a fresh taste in your mouth that makes you less tempted to snack. People who are following extremely low carbohydrate diets also sometimes report bad breath, but these reports are anecdotal. If you’re on a low-carb diet, or any restrictive diet, you may be promoting bad breath. If you must restrict your food intake and eat infrequently, drink plenty of water to help maintain the level of saliva in your mouth to help prevent bad breath in addition to following a good oral care routine.

To read the entire article please visit: OralB.com

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Dental Gum Disease

Gum Disease Can Have Even More Serious Consequences

New medical research has turned up, concluding evidence that gum disease and serious life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke are linked. Doctors are now regarding gum infection as a serious health matter. Previously, it was thought that the worst result from periodontal (gum) disease was losing your teeth. But now it has been demonstrated that this type of infection increases the risks and problems of potentially fatal diseases. The American Dental Association has further identified that 80% of Americans have gum infection at some stage. Most dentists consider this to be an epidemic and as serious as any affliction that prevents a person from having good health. 

As reported by the American Academy of Periodontology, "studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases." Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria travel throughout the bloodstream, affecting major organs like the heart.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Tongue Scrapers Offer An Option For Halitosis

How Tongue Scrapers Work
If you suffer from halitosis, or chronic bad breath, you’re probably looking for ways to help manage the problem. If so, consider a tongue scraper. They’re relatively inexpensive and available at most pharmacies. Tongue scrapers are often touted as the way to improve bad breath, but there is very little research to show that they are any more effective than simply brushing the tongue with your toothbrush as part of your toothbrushing routine.

Trying a tongue scraper can’t hurt, and they’re easy to use. Simply hold the scraper at the back of your tongue, and bring it forward, scraping gently but firmly along the tongue as you go.

Although tongue scrapers are harmless, you can probably prevent halitosis just as well by following a consistent oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. And keep these points in mind as part of your daily oral hygiene plan:

• Keep your toothbrush fresh. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, even if you don’t have bad breath, but especially if you do.
• Keep an extra brush at work. Keep a spare toothbrush and toothpaste at work so you can brush your teeth after lunch.
• Drink plenty of water. Keeping your mouth moist helps minimize the amount of bacteria in your mouth that can cause bad breath.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Dental Visits are Important

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the importance in visiting the dentist.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com

Gum Health

Gum Disease and Lost Teeth

The most common assumption about tooth loss is that it occurs from decay. But the main reason for tooth loss is gum disease. Often times, it can go unnoticed right up to the point of losing your teeth.

Symptoms are gums that bleed when flossing or brushing, and loose or shifting teeth. If treated in the early stages, you have options that can help you avoid surgery. There are a variety of nonsurgical methods that work well to control this infection.

Carolinas Dental Center  
428 North Trade Street, Suite 101  
Matthews, NC 28015  
(704) 278-8008  
CarolinasDentalCenterMatthews.com