Life gets busy. Sometimes it seems impossible to keep up with everything you “gotta do”. At Floor Dental Group, we understand that. But we encourage you to think twice before you cancel or postpone a dental checkup because you think it’s less important than the other twenty things on your to-do list.
Twice-yearly dental exams are indispensable for keeping your smile in optimal shape!
“But my teeth feel fine.”
We’ve heard this excuse. The fact is that no news isn’t necessarily good news. Dental dilemmas can be progressing without you being aware of it.
1. Your Gums May Be Receding
Gum recession doesn’t happen all at once. Gum tissue can move back almost imperceptibly until teeth and bone are in jeopardy.
2. Decay May Be Lurking
When the acids in plaque start drilling into a tooth, we usually don’t feel it until it has passed through the enamel and dentin and hits the nerve. Ouch! By that time, there is a crater in the tooth. Regular cleanings remove plaque before it can do any deterioration.
3. Prevent Oral Cancer
About 50,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year.1 Doctor Floor will screen for oral cancer during your exam. As with all types of cancer, early diagnosis is essential.
After your entire mouth has been examined, doctor Floor will detail what is required moving forward. Whether that’s flossing more often or discussing major fixes such as braces, we will make certain that you get all the information you need to ensure your smile is bright and beautiful! Scheduling twice-yearly exams with Ted Floor at Floor Dental Group will ensure you avoid severe dental problems.
The oral bacteria in question is Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis for short). The “gingivalis” in its name gives you a clue to what type of bacteria it is. As you may have imagined, P. gingivalis is the bacteria that causes gingivitis and the more advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis.
Your Mouth Produces Natural Viral Protection
Interferon lambdas are a family of proteins created by cells in the mouth. These proteins safeguard us from all types of bacterial and viral infections in addition to the coronavirus. The danger of P. gingivalis is that it makes Interferon lambdas less effective at protecting us.
This is how one of the researchers explained it:
“Our studies identified certain pathogenic bacterial species, P. gingivalis, which cause periodontal disease, can completely suppress interferon production and severely enhance susceptibility to viral infection. These resident oral plaque bacteria play a key role in regulating antiviral responses.” Juhi Bagaitkar, assistant professor, University of Louisville Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Disease.
Oral Health and Physical Health Go Hand in Hand
As if you needed one more reason to prevent gum disease! Not only does gum disease put you tooth loss, it makes you more susceptible to the potential problems of viruses. To recap: if you protect against gum disease, you protect your mouth from P. gingivalis. This lets you benefit from Interferon lambdas and the virus protection they provide.
Let’s explore basic oral hygiene practices that can prevent periodontitis and keep your smile healthy:
Brush at least twice daily using the correct brushing techniques
Use a fluoride toothpaste
Floss daily using the correct flossing technique
Get a professional dental cleaning twice a year
Schedule twice-yearly dental exams
Take care of dental issues in their early stages so they don’t progress
Has it been a while since you’ve had a dental exam and cleaning? Call today to schedule a visit. We are located in Cupertino and serve the San Jose area. Our friendly team of dental professionals is here for you and your family.
There are many different types of mouthwash on the market. Some tout germ-killing abilities, others emphasize fluoride content, and some claim to whiten teeth while freshening the breath. These are all great benefits, but at Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA we ask: will they meet your oral care needs?
Many people wonder if mouthwash should be part of their dental routine. Brushing and flossing have the greatest impact on dental health, so is mouthwash necessary?
As long as you follow the instructions on the bottle, mouthwash may slightly benefit dental health. Rinsing with a mouthwash with fluoride can’t hurt your teeth, but allowing a bit of diluted toothpaste to stay on tooth surfaces after brushing probably has the same effect.
People coping with bad breath often believe that mouthwash can solve the issue. Actually, mouthwash that contain alcohol can make it worse because by causing dry mouth. Mouthwash without alcohol – fluoride rinses – are usually better for freshening breath.
Bottom line? Never substitute mouthwash for proper brushing and flossing. If you use mouthwash, choose one with fluoride and no alcohol. At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, we offer general dentistry. People throughout Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale trust us with their teeth! Contact us today!
Everyone wants nice, pearly white teeth. It makes sense, then, to brush our teeth more often to get them ñ right? Well, no. As we explain in this post from Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, brushing too aggressively can result in receding gums.
Gum recession is when your gum line exposes more of your teeth, or in severe cases, your tooth root. It creates a pocket of space between your teeth and gum line.† Decay-causing bacteria can grow and fester in that pocket. This leads to serious issues down the line. Even tooth loss.
Longer or Harder?
A common misconception is the idea that if you want to lighten your teeth, you should scrub them really hard. The best way to get white teeth is to brush longer, not harder. The key, though, is to use a very light touch. Gently brush your teeth until they’re squeaky clean. Run your tongue over them. Doesn’t that feel great?
Why?
When you brush your teeth too quickly, you may not remove all the food particles. You don’t want this debris turning into plaque. If you truly want whiter teeth, brush in a slow, circular motion for about five minutes. Methodically go over each tooth surface.
Use a whitening toothpaste with fluoride. That way, you get all the recent gunk off and your teeth get a little bit whiter each time you brush. The fluoride helps your enamel re-harden.
Let’s Review
Brushing too aggressively can lead to gum recession. Gum recession can – and most likely will – cause a space to form between your teeth and gum line. This pocket collects bacteria. Bacteria causes cavities. Plus, if the gums continue to recede, the tooth can become loose. The best approach is to brush longer, and with a light gentle touch. Don’t forget to floss!
If you’re gums have already begun to recede, don’t despair! It’s a treatable condition. At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, we offer a full range of general and restorative dentistry procedures, and specialties like dental implants. We serve satisfied patients in Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale. Contact us today!
At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, the dental health of our patients is our number one priority each and every day. We hope that goes without saying! How do you measure dental success? A check-up with no cavities? A perfect smile? A crown that looks as natural as the surrounding teeth?
It could mean all those things and many more.
For a child, dental success could be defined as a childhood free of cavities where they learn the importance of preventative dentistry.
For a young adult woman with tetracycline stains but otherwise healthy teeth, dental success may be as simple as in-office teeth whitening.
For a middle-aged man who always neglected his teeth, dental success could be defined as restorative dentistry that stabilizes his condition and improves his oral health.
Consider someone with several missing teeth who can only eat soft foods. Dental success might mean dental implants that make it possible to eat things like steak.
What are your goals for your smile? What is the current state of your oral health? At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, our goal is complete patient satisfaction. We’ve improved the dental health of people in Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale, who come to our practice for general and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us today!
Most people know that flossing is an important part of oral health. As we like to remind our patients at Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, its value has been proven time and time again. Flossing is your chance to remove the food debris that a toothbrush can’t reach.
Which Kind Is Best?
When it comes to what dental floss to use, there is a lot to choose from. Flavored or unflavored? Waxed or unwaxed? Wide or thin? No single type of floss is right for everyone. You might even benefit from having more than one kind in your medicine chest. With a little trial and error, you can narrow down your choices to find what works best for you.
A study showed there really isn’t much difference in the effectiveness of the different types of dental floss. Here are some things to consider:
Waxed floss fits more easily into tight spaces
Unwaxed floss tends to squeak against clean teeth, an indicator that plaque is gone
Wider dental tape may work better in gaps between teeth, and on bridgework
One word of caution: we recommend traditional string floss that you can pull out in a long strand, as opposed to a flossing pick. Those little picks are handy, but not as effective as string floss. They’re okay when you’re on the go, but be sure to use regular floss as part of your dental hygiene routine before bedtime. Whatever your preference may be, the important thing is to floss at least once each day.
At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA we like to see you for a checkup every six months. People from Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
Most people brush their teeth every day- at least we hope so! However, there are many who brush incorrectly, not realizing it may be contributing to oral problems. Here are some smart brushing tips from Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA:
One of the most important things to remember is to use a gentle touch when you brush. Brushing too aggressively can actually damage your gums, especially if you’re using a hard-bristle toothbrush.
Other important things to remember:
Plaque is soft and loose, so you don’t have to scrub very hard to remove it. Think of it not so much as brushing, but massaging your teeth. With that in mind you should you be able to keep that light, gentle touch.
Be sure to get all over your teeth; the front and the sides, inside and out, and the tops. When you to the sides, be sure you brush along the gum-line. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle.
Use a pea-sized blob of fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure†the head of the toothbrush isn’t too big, especially if you have a smaller mouth. It needs to fit easily between your cheeks and gums.
Last but not least, brush for at least two minutes. Some people find it useful to use a stopwatch to make sure they brush long enough. There’s an app for that, and you probably already have it on your smart phone.
At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, we want the best possible dental health for all of our patients. Patients from Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale come to our office for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today.
Cavities can be filled, but it is better to prevent them in the first place. If your dentist seems to conjure up cavities at every visit, then it’s up to you to break the cycle. At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, we are here to help you do that!
How can you lift the cavity curse? Call our office to schedule a checkup! Along with daily brushing and flossing, regular cleanings and checkups are the best way to ensure you have good dental health. That means clean teeth with no cavities, and pink healthy gums.
A cleaning removes any built-up plaque. Plaque is that sticky, filmy stuff that forms on teeth. It is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease.
After the cleaning, it’s time for the checkup itself. We’ll look for any new cavities that may have appeared since your last visit. We might take X-rays, although this is not done at every visit. We’ll examine your gums, too, for any signs of gum disease.
Finally, we’ll look at your tongue, throat, face and and head, and your neck. We’re checking for swelling or redness, or any signs of cancer.
Dentists never conjure up cavities, but we take care of any that might be there. The reason for this misconception is simple: our advanced dental technology makes us able to identify and analyze minuscule cavities that you may not be able to see with your naked eye. So, when you show up to the cleaning, it seems they have only just appeared. In truth, you are right on time to fill them and avoid more uncomfortable procedures like a root canal!
At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, prevention is always the best medicine. People from Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, we deliver dental miracles every day. Regardless of the number of teeth affected, we use cosmetic dentistry to re-design smiles and correct problems.
In order to achieve an attractive, yet natural looking result, we do more than recommend specific procedures. We consider the shape, alignment, color and condition of your teeth. The shape and coloring of your face is also taken into account. So are you age, health condition and lifestyle.
In other words, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Even one procedure, such as teeth whitening, can make a big difference in how you see yourself, and how the world sees you.
Your teeth take a lot of wear and tear over the years. But cosmetic dentistry from Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA can restore your smile. Patients from Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale also come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!
Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA is staffed by committed health care professionals who want the best possible dental health for every one of our patients. With daily home care and regular checkups in our office, your teeth can last a lifetime.
As you may know, the link between dental health and overall health is well-established. That means good dental health has benefits that last.
Regular Checkups
Twice-yearly dental appointments allow us to keep track of the overall health of your teeth and gums. We’ll also do regular screenings for oral cancer.
We promote preventative dental care and education, and view them as the keys to good dental health. That is why we encourage all our patients to see us for a cleaning and checkup every six months.
At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, our entire staff wants each one of our patients to have a positive experience in our office. Patients from Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale come to us for general and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us today!
