Preventive Dental Care Romeoville IL

Healthy Teeth and Gums

What small, easy steps can I take to have healthy teeth and gums?

1. Brush your teeth at least twice each day with fluoride toothpaste.
Aim for first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food your toothbrush missed. Make sure you:

Drink water that contains added fluoride if you can. Fluoride protects against dental decay. Most public water systems in the United States have added fluoride. Check with your community's water or health department to find out if there is fluoride in your water. You also may want to use a fluoride mouth rinse, along with brushing and flossing, to help prevent tooth decay.

Gently brush all sides of your teeth with a soft-bristled brush. Round and short back-and-forth strokes work best.

Take time to brush along the gum line, and lightly brush your tongue to help remove plaque and food.

Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you the best way to floss your teeth.

Change your toothbrush every three months, or earlier if the toothbrush looks worn or the bristles spread out. A new toothbrush removes more plaque.

If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them before putting them back in the next morning.

2. Have a healthy lifestyle.

Eat healthy meals. Cut down on tooth decay by brushing after meals. Avoid snacking on sugary or starchy foods between meals.
Don't smoke. It raises your risk of gum disease, oral and throat cancers, and oral fungal infections. It also affects the color of your teeth and the smell of your breath.
Limit alcohol use to one drink per day for women. Heavy alcohol use raises your risk of oral and throat cancers. Using alcohol and tobacco together raises your risk of oral cancers more than using one alone.
Limit how much soda you drink. Even diet soda contains acids that can erode tooth enamel.

3. Get regular checkups.

Have an oral exam once or twice a year. Your dentist may recommend more or fewer visits depending on your oral health. At most routine visits, the dentist and a dental hygienist will treat you. During regular checkups, dentists look for signs of diseases, infections, problems, injuries, and oral cancer.
See your dentist right away if:
Your gums bleed often
You see any red or white patches on the gums, tongue, or floor of the mouth
You have mouth or jaw pain that won't go away
You have sores that do not heal within two weeks
You have problems swallowing or chewing
Besides your dentist, there are other types of dental providers. Your dentist may send you to a specialist if you need extra care. Other providers include:
Dental hygienists: Members of the dental staff who clean gums and teeth and teach patients how to maintain good oral health.
Periodontists: Dentists who treat gum disease and place dental implants.
Oral surgeons: Dentists who operate on your mouth and supporting tissues.
Orthodontists: Dentists who straighten teeth and align jaws.
Endodontists: Dentists who perform root canals.
Prosthodontists: Dentists trained in restoring and replacing teeth.

4. Follow your dentist's advice.
Your dentist may suggest ways to keep your mouth healthy. He or she can teach you how to properly floss or brush. Follow any recommended steps or treatments to keep your mouth healthy.

5. If you have another health problem, think about how it may affect your oral health.
For instance, if you take medicines that give you a dry mouth, ask your doctor or nurse if there are other drugs you can use. Have an oral exam before starting cancer treatment. And if you have diabetes, practice good oral hygiene to prevent gum disease.

Above article from www.womenshealth.gov

Dentist Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Dental Care Romeoville IL

Dental cavities
Cavities are holes, or structural damage, in the teeth.

Tooth decay is one of the most common of all disorders, second only to the common cold. It usually occurs in children and young adults but can affect any person. It is a common cause of tooth loss in younger people.

Bacteria are normally present in the mouth. The bacteria convert all foods -- especially sugar and starch -- into acids. Bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine in the mouth to form a sticky substance called plaque that adheres to the teeth. It is most prominent on the back molars, just above the gum line on all teeth, and at the edges of fillings. Plaque that is not removed from the teeth mineralizes into tartar. Plaque and tartar irritate the gums, resulting in gingivitis and ultimately periodontitis.

Plaque begins to build up on teeth within 20 minutes after eating (the time when most bacterial activity occurs). If this plaque is not removed thoroughly and routinely, tooth decay will not only begin, but flourish.

The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the tooth and create holes in the tooth (cavities). Cavities are usually painless until they grow very large and affect nerves or cause a tooth fracture. If left untreated, a tooth abscess can develop. Untreated tooth decay also destroys the internal structures of the tooth (pulp) and ultimately causes the loss of the tooth.

Carbohydrates (sugars and starches) increase the risk of tooth decay. Sticky foods are more harmful than nonsticky foods because they remain on the surface of the teeth. Frequent snacking increases the time that acids are in contact with the surface of the tooth.

Above article from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov

Dental Care Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Dental Implants Romeoville IL

Restore Your Smile!
Dental Implants Romeoville IL

To “restore” is to bring back to a former condition. This includes crowns, fixed bridges, dental implants, tooth-colored fillings, and custom life-like dentures and partials. Cosmetic procedures such as porcelain veneers and bonding help to restore and make your smile the way it was meant to be – beautiful!

Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875
Web: RomeovilleSmiles.com

Dental Laser Scanner - Detect Cavities Early

The Laser Scanner Finds Cavities Years Earlier
Romeoville IL Dentist

Have you ever had a dentist find a cavity and place a large filling, and wondered why the filling is so large if the cavity wasn’t there just six months before? The cavity was there six months before – it just wasn’t big enough to show on X-rays, and it wasn’t visible to the dentist yet. The laser scanner can find cavities years earlier, when the small cavity can be removed and repaired with a small invisible bonded filling. Sometimes patients complain of tooth sensitivity, or mild to severe pain, yet X-rays and examination cannot pinpoint the source. The laser scanner can detect previously undetected decay and, once identified, allow us to remove the discomfort and leave you with a healthy smile.

Visit our main web site to learn more about our preventive dental treatment in Romeoville IL.

Dental Care Tips

What are some tips for daily oral care?

The best way to remove decay-causing plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day. Brushing removes plaque from the tooth surfaces.

Brush your teeth twice a day, with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth, allowing you to reach all areas easily. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay. When choosing any dental product, look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, an important symbol of a dental product's safety and effectiveness.

Cleaning between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental cleaners removes plaque from between the teeth, areas where the toothbrush can't reach. It is essential in preventing periodontal (gum) disease.

By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile your entire life. Follow these tips to keep your teeth and mouth clean:

Above tip from www.ada.org

Visit Romeoville Dental Center to learn about our dental care services in Romeoville IL.

Children's Dentist Romeoville IL

Help Your Child Enjoy His First Visit to the Dentist

Specialists suggest making the first visit to the dentist before your child turns 3. By this age your child might have started eating the food that all your family members eat. Therefore, his teeth have started being affected by all dangerous bacteria and other factors that impact his dental health. This is the age to start teaching your child taking care about his teeth, developing good dental habits and doing regular check-ups. Many children are afraid of going to doctors or dentists because this profession is associated with pain. However, there are some recommendations for you on making your child’s first dental visit a good and positive experience:

• Create a special strategy of preparing you child for going to the dentist for the first time.
• Talk about visiting your dentist only from a positive perspective and make your child understand how important it is to see the dentist regularly.
• Make your child feel excited about going to his first dental appointment
• Never use such words or expressions like “it ain’t gonna hurt”, “you’ll feel no pain” or “be brave” when talking to your child about visiting the dentist.
• A visit to the dentist must never seem to be a threat to your child.
• Never share your negative experiences about visiting the dentist with your child.
• If your child feels frightened, try to reassure him. Be calm, patient and supportive.
• Read him a story about visiting a Teeth Doctor or play dentist with him by examining each other’s teeth.
• Ask people around your child to tell him optimistic things and not to make him feel scared about going to the dentist.
• Do not talk too much to your child about the work of dentists and what is waiting for him in the dentist’s room.
• Select a dentist who is good in getting along with children and can put kids at ease during the first visit.
• Talk to your dentist before bringing you child to him and let him know about the fears and weak points of your child.
• Try to come right in time and not to wait next to the dentist’s door for long.
• Ask the permission of the dentist to stay with your child during the examination.
• Make sure that your child got a good impression of the first visit to the dentist.

Article from Tips4DentalCare.com

Visit our web site to learn more about our general, family and childrens dental care services in Romeoville IL.