Tag Archive for: hygiene

A Simple Refresher

“It looks like you’ve had more plaque building up lately. Are you flossing every day?” Oops, I haven’t even thought about it since my last visit. “Be sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Just five minutes each morning, and five minutes before you go to bed will make a huge difference in the health of your teeth and gums.” I know, I know, you’ve been telling me the same thing for years.

People often do not realize the value of every cleaning appointment made with their dentist. You walk in, browse through a magazine or newsletter as you wait to be called in, take a seat in the operatory, and open wide as the hygienist’s tools whirr and buzz away. Then, when the cleaning is over and your teeth are sparkling, you are told once again that you must keep on brushing and flossing daily.

But are you really convinced that the instructions given you are as important as they say? Or do you nonchalantly drive home, disregarding — even forgetting — the advice given to you, and returning to your hit-and-miss brushing or flossing routine? Well, there is hope! Your next session could open many doors to discover the wonderful benefits associated with the basic instructions your dentist gives you! And that’s the best part: it’s easy!

A very important attribute that people often overlook is the fact that cleanings are more centered on educating you than the actual cleaning itself. The dentist’s office and staff are resources, so take advantage! Maybe the habits you have settled into are incorrect, or perhaps you have been too embarrassed to ask about a particular problem. Don’t ever hesitate to ask questions. They are there to help you and teach you valuable lessons on caring for your oral health. Be diligent in applying the information, and commit to transforming these better habits into YOUR habits!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

My Brushing Routine

Well I can’t believe I am doing this, but it seems like a good idea to lead by example and share with you how I brush my teeth. Please bear with me.

My routine is preformed 2 times daily, once in the morning and once before bed. I am consistent six days a week, although it may vary depending on how tired I am.

The sequence is floss, then brush, then hydrofloss. Not very exciting, but very practical.

Flossing needs to be taught to you by a dental professional. I use the “wrap around the middle finger technique” that leaves the other fingers free to direct and control the floss. I will floss each side of a tooth ten times. Any floss will do, but I prefer the non-waxed floss because it gives me satisfaction when I hear it start to squeak. I like to floss first because I then use the brushing to remove the dislodged bacteria .

Brushing should take at least four minutes by the clock. How much day dreaming can you do looking at yourself for four minutes twice a day? I find an electric toothbrush to be more efficient and I can very effectively brush in 2 minutes. I use a Rotadent because I think it is the best on the market.

Next is a tongue scraper. This helps with odor control.

Lastly I use a waterpik called a Hydrofloss, also the best on the market. I add a couple cap-fulls of BreathRX to help me with odor control.

Total time: 4 minutes.

Best wishes,
Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Should Cavities in Baby Teeth Be Filled?

This question was posted by one of our readers, Jess:

I have a question about dentistry. My son is almost six years old and was recently taken to the dentist. He has ten cavities. 7 of which you can hardly see, like tiny brown ‘pin’ dots. One is a hole and hurts him. The dentist wants to get them all filled even though the ones in front would fall out soon.. I want to tell the dentist to only fill in the bigger cavities and wait a while for the tiny pin hole ones. Is that okay to do? What are the dangers of keeping a tiny cavity like that, especially the ones closer to the front which he will lose soon? Also, can I tell his dentist which ones I want filled? Or will the dentist only fill all or nothing?? Thank you so much for your answer in advance.

Dear Jess,

For the most part, teeth should be fixed as soon as possible. Cavities have a tendency to grow quickly in children, however baby teeth (sometimes called primary teeth) will most likely fall out. Baby teeth are lost over a 5- or so year time frame. The question for the ones with cavities is: will they be lost first or will they abscess? Your dentist should be able to give you an idea as to which ones are at a higher risk for abscess and help you decide a good time frame to follow for treatment.

This situation begs another question as to why your son has so many cavities. This should be addressed so he does not have a repeat experience with the permanent teeth. I encourage you to work with your son in developing good oral hygiene habits as well as good eating habits to help him enjoy a a healthy mouth for the rest of his life.

I hope this answers the questions.

Respectfully,