May 1, 2012

As a dental hygienist, I have asked that question many times to my patients. But the question that really matters is, “do you know the benefits of flossing?”

Dental floss is a tool you should use daily to remove food and bacteria build-up from in-between your teeth. Dental flossing is essential to maintain healthy teeth and helps prevent many dental problems such as bad breath, dental cavities, periodontal gum disease and tooth decay.

Benefits of Using Dental Floss:

Brushing alone doesn’t clean your entire mouth; it only cleans the surface of your teeth. You need to floss in order to clean out the gaps between your teeth.

If you don’t floss, you’re more likely to have biofilm (dental plaque) build-up that can lead to gum disease.

One of the most common excuses people give for not flossing their teeth daily is that they find flossing uncomfortable and even painful.

The truth is, even if you have sensitive gums, you can enjoy pain-free flossing. Try a dental tape, such as Dr Sharp’s Dental Tape, which is wider than standard floss and also brings the benefits of green tea. Visit www.drfluoridefree.com for more information on the Dr. Sharp Dental Tape.

By Estela Muñoz, R.D.H.

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Dental floss and its importance in improving your oral health

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that aside from brushing after every meal every day and visiting your dentist regularly, that everyone should floss once (or more) each and everyday.

Dental floss was invented by a dentist in New Orleans in 1815. He recommended that his patients use silk floss. Consumers were not able to purchase dental floss until much later when companies began mass-producing floss in the late 1800s.

Here are some guidelines on how (and why) to properly use dental floss:

• Pull the floss snugly against the side of each tooth when curving it into the letter ‘c’ shape. This will scrub off the dental plaque (as known as biofilm) most effectively.
• Keep the pressure of the floss on the tooth, never up onto the gum line.
• Floss daily. Biofilm forms on the teeth after 24 hours, so using dental floss at least once daily maintains good oral health.
• Without daily flossing, biofilm can and will turn into dental tartar (calculus/build ups)—which cannot be brushed or flossed away.
• Using dental floss only occasionally can lead to bleeding gums, gingivitis, and halitosis (bad breath).

 By: Dr Luciana Ravazzi

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April 1, 2012

By: Dr. Bruno Sharp and Dr. Luciana Ravazzi 

Dental phobia, or dental fear, refers to the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. It is most commonly denominated dental anxiety, which is usually fear of the unknown.  It can also be triggered by previous unsuccessful experiences in the dental chair.

It starts when a comment from a parent like: “If you don’t brush your teeth, you’ll have to go to the dentist”, or “If you don’t behave well, I will take you to the dentist and he/she is going to give you an injection.” These comments can leave a negative impression and the child will carry this anxiety over into adulthood.

Over the past few decades, the dental industry has come a long way in developing dental materials and instruments that have helped patients suffering from dental phobia. Examples are: use of topical dental anesthetics, thin gauged needles for local anesthesia, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), intravenous conscious sedation, and even the dental office ambiance, decoration and music can influence the patient behavior.

Tips to avoid dental anxiety:

- Ask questions. A caring dentist will always be compassionate and answer your questions in an open and relaxed way.

- Be prepared. A helpful dentist will always inform you about the dental procedure and sequence and therefore reduce the anxiety with the “unknown”.

- Establish a cue. One, such as raising your hand, to let your dentist know if you’re uncomfortable and need him/her to stop working immediately.

- Think positively. Laughing and using humor when interacting with the dental staff and maintaining an optimistic outlook helps a person deal with the treatment better.

People with dental phobia have a higher risk of gum disease, early tooth loss and may suffer from poorer health. It can even lead to a lower life expectancy because poor oral health has been linked to conditions such as heart disease and lung infections.

If you would like a personable, kind and compassionate consultation to lower your dental anxiety, call Dr. Sharp and Dr. Ravazzi for an appointment at (305) 857-0990.

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