How Important Is Dental Floss for My Oral Health?

According to a recent survey by the American Academy of Periodontology and published through National Public Radio, a whopping 27 percent of Americans lie to their dentists about flossing their teeth. Amazingly, this figure is lower than many dentists expect because of the high number of patients who seem to fib about regularly using floss. The American Dental Association’s data shows that only four in every ten of us actually floss our teeth daily. This makes one wonder, how important is dental floss for oral health?

Is Flossing Your Teeth Really Important?

Love it or hate it, flossing is a critical part of your daily oral health routine. Dental floss cleans between teeth and under the gumline where bacteria and plaque build up. In these small crevices, your toothbrush does not effectively work on its own. If you neglect to floss, food debris and other matter lingers even after brushing your teeth. This leftover bacteria and plaque lead to tartar build-up, tooth decay and gum disease.

Using dental floss is a significant part of interdental cleaning. You can also use proxabrushes, tiny dental brushes designed to fit between teeth. Other options include Stim-U-Dent plaque removal picks or plastic floss picks that make flossing easier. Regardless of which type of interdental cleaning tool you choose, you should perform this oral hygiene step every day. It is important to prevent tartar build-up, bad breath, tooth decay and periodontal disease.

When you skip flossing, you leave bacteria and plaque on your teeth and under your gumline to harden. Once it hardens into tartar, his yellow calcified plaque can only be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist. The process requires specially designed tools like ultrasonic scaling devices or other dental instruments. If you are like most people and prefer more comfortable dental visits, fewer cavities to fill and healthy gums, dental floss simply must be part of your daily routine.

Making Dental Floss Part of Your Daily Oral Hygiene

A great way to establish a healthy oral hygiene routine is to seek your dentist’s recommendations for which tools to use. You can talk openly with your dentist or dental hygienist about which types of toothbrushes, toothpastes and dental floss to use. Ask whether regular dental floss, proxabrushes or floss picks are best suited to your individual needs. Your dental professionals can also show you the ideal methods for using each of these types of floss or interdental cleaning tools.

Choose one time of day to establish your flossing routine. According to the American Dental Association and Colgate, you can floss before you brush or after. It is your choice. But most dentists recommend flossing before brushing in the morning or at bedtime. Flossing first loosens debris between your teeth and under the gumline. Then, brushing and rinsing after flossing cleans away this debris, instead of just moving it around your mouth.

Correct Use of Dental Floss

Of course, it is very important that you properly floss your teeth. Below are some steps to ensure you get the most out of your flossing routine.

1. Wrap about 18 inches of floss around your index fingers and grasp it firmly between your thumbs and forefingers. This holds the dental floss securely and keeps it from slipping as you clean between teeth.

2. Gently insert the dental floss between each of your teeth.

3. When the floss reaches the gumline between your teeth, curve it around one tooth at a time to form a C-shape.

4. Gently rock the floss in an up and down, back and forth motion.

5. After removing the floss from between each set of two teeth, use a clean section of the thread for the next set.

6. Never reuse dental floss or dental picks.

If you have not flossed your teeth in awhile, you may experience some light gum bleeding. This improves as you continue following your daily flossing routine. But if it does not stop with continued flossing or becomes severe, schedule a visit with your dentist.

Flossing Is a Critical Part of Your Daily Oral Hygiene

Most people put off flossing because they believe toothbrushing is enough, on its own. This is simply not true. Using dental floss each day helps improve your oral health and keeps your teeth and gums healthy. Of course, you also need to visit your dentist at least twice yearly to maintain your beautiful smile and treat problems early. Schedule your next visit at your Carolina Dental Arts dentist in Raleigh, Durham or Goldsboro now.

Stain Teeth vs Brighten Teeth

Every day of the year, we all make choices about the foods we eat and how we take care of our teeth. But during the fall and winter holidays, some of these choices make a bigger oral health impact than at other times of the year. Many people do not realize that what they eat can stain teeth. Even fewer know that there are actually some foods that naturally brighten teeth. The best advice for the holiday season is to make healthy choices from a balance of these groups.

If your teeth are yellowing or stained, your Carolina Dental Arts dentist can help you achieve a whiter and brighter smile. A more radiant smile starts with regular check-ups for professional teeth cleaning. To brighten teeth even more, you can request teeth whitening service. Talk about your options with your dentist at your next visit in our Raleigh, Durham or Goldsboro offices.

Why Some Foods Stain Teeth

What causes foods to stain teeth? These stains start with your tooth structure and composition. Teeth are protected by a hard coating called enamel. But enamel is quite porous, making it possible for staining agents from foods to seep beyond this barrier.

Intensely Colored Foods

An easy way to know which foods stain teeth more than others is to first look at the food’s color. The more intense the food’s color throughout, the more likely it is to affect the color of your teeth. Specific food compounds in plants, known as tannins, bind to proteins and also cause the color in these foods to bind to your tooth enamel.

The foods that stain teeth also tend to stain other surfaces. For example, red wine proves a nightmare when spilled on white upholstery, light-colored carpet, clothing and other soft materials. Red wine also stains teeth.

Acidic Foods

Some foods also stain teeth more easily because they are highly acidic. Acids in some of the foods and beverages we consume weaken surface enamel. Weakened enamel is easier for staining agents to penetrate than healthier enamel.

Heated Foods

Temperature variations in cooked foods can also prove damaging to your smile’s brightness. They make it easier for stains to penetrate the enamel.

What to Avoid: Foods that Stain Teeth

Here is a quick list of the foods and beverages most likely to stain teeth:

• Sodas
• Coffee
• Tea
• Red wine
• Fruit juices
• Sports drinks
• Popsicles
• Slushies
• Colored candies and sweets
• Soy sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Pickles
• Berries
• Tomato sauce
• Curry
• Beets

You do not need to avoid these foods, altogether, because they stain teeth. Instead, just eat them in moderation. Also follow the tips below to make your favorite foods and drinks less likely to stain teeth and dim your smile.

Tips to Brighten Teeth and Keep them Bright

To counteract the foods that stain teeth and even help brighten teeth for a more vibrant smile, follow these tips:

• Use a straw in all of your beverages to avoid contact between dyes, acids and colors with your teeth
• Brush your teeth 30 minutes after consuming staining foods or drinks
• Use whitening toothpaste to fight stains daily
• Rinse your mouth with water when you are unable to brush your teeth after eating
• Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups

Foods that Brighten Teeth

There are actually some foods that brighten teeth, making your smile appear healthier through natural whitening. Consider eating more of these and less of the choices more likely to stain teeth.

Foods that naturally brighten teeth include:

• Cheese
• Apples
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Celery
• Pineapple
• Strawberries

For a more effective way to brighten teeth and counteract the effects of foods that stain teeth, visit your Carolina Dental Arts dentist at least twice yearly. Schedule your next visit today.

When Do You Need an Emergency Tooth Extraction?

Dental emergencies can be difficult to deal with. And it can be hard to tell what does and doesn’t qualify as an emergency. If you’ve broken or cracked a tooth, you might be wondering: When do you need an emergency tooth extraction?

An emergency tooth extraction occurs when your tooth must be removed within 24 or 48 hours. Basically, if the tooth isn’t removed, you could be at risk for oral health complications.

Some of the most common reasons for an emergency tooth extraction include:

• Serious, unexplained pain
• Huge breaks in the tooth
• Big cracks in the tooth

An emergency dentist will usually try to save the tooth, often by putting a crown on it. If the tooth can’t be saved, the tooth will be extracted. Then you’ll have a variety of options to replace it.

At Carolina Dental Arts, we offer services including emergency tooth extraction. We’re also open nights and weekends. These are some key signs that you should give us a call.

1. You have severe pain in your tooth.

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that there’s a problem. Pain in your teeth should never be ignored. In many cases, the issue won’t necessitate an emergency tooth extraction. But it could lead to complications if left untreated.

You might experience ongoing throbbing or ringing pain. Your teeth might also be extremely sensitive to cold and heat. The painful feeling of cold and heat may linger long past the actual touch.

This is nerve pain that indicates something is wrong. You might have worn down your enamel until the root of your tooth is exposed. Or you might have an infection in the root of the tooth. In both cases, this will require a root canal.

Usually the tooth can be saved, but if things progress too far, an emergency tooth extraction might be necessary. Make sure you see an emergency dentist if the pain doesn’t go away with OTC painkillers and ice.

2. You have swelling that isn’t getting better by itself.

Swelling can be a major sign of infection. When an abscess fills with pus, it creates a bulging pocket in the gums. Abscesses are serious infections that don’t get better by themselves.

This is another case in which the dentist will do their best to save the tooth. If you catch the infection early, you should be fine. You’ll drain the abscess and potentially take antibiotics to keep the infection from recurring. You may also need a root canal.

This is a medical emergency. If you wait too long, the infection could spread to other areas of the body. An emergency tooth extraction might be necessary if the tooth is badly decayed and infected.

3. Your tooth has been badly damaged.

In some cases, you might feel a minor chipping of your tooth. This isn’t necessarily an emergency. Your dentist can fill or smooth the chip when you go for a regular visit.

But sometimes there are serious cracks in your tooth. The tooth might split in half, or a large piece might chip off. If the interior of the tooth is exposed, you need to see a dentist right away.

Severe tooth damage leaves you vulnerable to infections. It can also cause other teeth to become damaged due to friction from the broken pieces. The interior tissue may be damaged or wear down more quickly. On top of that, cracked teeth can be very painful, making it hard to chew on the affected side.

Though the best case scenario involves saving your tooth, an emergency tooth extraction is a good thing. This procedure will protect the rest of your teeth from further damage. It will also allow your dentist to clean any abscesses or infections.

There are also many options available to replace an extracted tooth. Permanent dental implants are an option if you’re only missing one tooth.

If you think you need an emergency tooth extraction, contact Carolina Dental Arts. Our practice on New Bern Ave is open every day of the week, including nights and weekends. We are a Spanish-speaking practice offering a wide variety of emergency dental services.