Oral Hygiene Instruction and Education
In addition to regular dental exams and hygiene visits, good oral hygiene and proper nutrition play a significant role in your oral health. Brushing should be done at least two (2) times a day, with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste, and flossing at least once a day. This keeps the bacteria off of the teeth and helps to prevent dental decay (cavities) and periodontal (gum) disease. Proper brushing and flossing technique will be reviewed with you during your visit at Thompson Dentistry.
Sealants
A sealant is a protective coating that is placed in deep grooves and pits of a tooth to help prevent cavities from forming in these cavity-prone areas. They are typically placed on the permanent back teeth-molars and sometimes premolars of children, however some cavity-prone adults can benefit from sealants as well. The sealant is “painted” on the tooth and the tooth does not need to be numb for its application.
Flouride
Some patients come with reservations about flouride. Dr. Thompson will never force flouride, but is happy to discuss the benefits and saftey of using flouride to help re-build the teeth. Flouride has been proven to be highly effective in preventing, and in some cases reversing, dental decay. Using toothpaste with fluoride at home and drinking fluoridated water is essential in keeping your teeth healthy and strong. In addition, fluoride treatments can be professionally applied at higher concentrations in the dental office to help prevent tooth decay in children and in adult patients at risk for tooth decay. Studies have shown that professionally applied fluoride treatments are effective in helping to prevent cavities in school aged children and adult patients at risk for decay. In addition, in some circumstances, very early decay that is contained in the outer layer of the tooth, can heal itself, or remineralize, with the help of fluoride. In this case, Dr. Thompson may prescribe a high fluoride toothpaste in order to help the chances of the tooth healing itself on its own before performing a filling.
For more information on fluoride and its safety and efficacy, please see www.ADA.org.
