-Keep up on oral hygiene: You need to brush your teeth twice a day, floss your teeth once a day, and rinse your mouth daily. As you do these things, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, floss that is easier to use, and antibacterial mouthwash. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing can help you remove plaque from the surfaces of and cracks between your teeth as well as along the gumline.

-Visit your dentist: This is very important because the cleaning treatment provided removes the plaque and tartar that your oral hygiene routine could not eliminate. Our special techniques will save your smile and help you have the clean and healthy teeth and gums you need.

For more information and details about how to prevent gum disease in Royse City, Texas, please contact Royse City Dental Care today at 972-636-2417. Our dental team will be happy to give you the help and answers you need, and we look forward to your phone call!

The post How to Keep Your Smile Free From Gum Disease first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.

How does this happen?
No. 1 Gum disease (or periodontitis) can result from improper brushing and daily flossing.
No. 2 Gum tissue can be affected by nighttime grinding and clenching of teeth as it wears down the enamel.
No. 3 An injury to the mouth can cause gum tissue to recede from the tooth.
No. 4 You may be at higher risk for gum disease if one or both of your parents have receding gums.
No. 6 Brushing your teeth harshly can wear down tooth enamel and gum tissue.
No. 7 If your bite is misaligned (it doesn’t match up), the constant pressure on individual teeth can create gum recession.

4 Steps to Prevent Gum Disease:
No. 1 Use a soft-bristled tooth brush and brush gently but thoroughly. Don’t forget to floss!
No. 2 Use an antimicrobial toothpaste and mouth rinse to reduce the amount of harmful in the mouth.
No. 3 Wearing a night guard can help to prevent clenching and grinding of your pearly whites while you sleep.
No 4 Six month dental cleanings will remove calculus to prevent periodontitis.

You don’t have to let gum disease keep your smile at bay. If you think you are experiencing gum disease, see one of our dentists for an evaluation and begin any necessary treatment. Untreated gum disease can eventually result in tooth loss. We invite you to call our Royse City Dental Care staff at 972-636-2417 today!

The post How Gum Disease Impacts You first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.

Streptococcus is a type of bacteria which lives in your mouth, and every time you eat a piece of food, or drink something, it feeds on the sugars and starches left behind. Then it reacts with the sugars and starches and creates acid. Eventually this acid turns into a sticky film—plaque—that coats your teeth and if left untreated, hardens into tartar.

Tooth decay happens in stages. As the bacterial acid breaks down your tooth enamel, it exposes the softer, sensitive dentin layer underneath. As it strips the minerals from your enamel it causes holes. The dentin, because it is soft, is even more vulnerable to acid erosion. If it is allowed to continue unchecked, it wears down the tooth’s structure until it reaches the pulp, which houses the nerves and blood vessels. Here the bacteria irritate the pulp until is swells, which means you can experience severe toothache and sensitivity, and pain when you chew. If your becomes abscessed, you will have an infection, which is the creation of a pocket of pus as your body sends white blood cells to fight the infection.

To avoid the damaging effects of plaque and the resulting cavities, there are some things you can do:

–Brush and floss at least twice a day.
–Drink water to stay well hydrated by maintaining saliva production to protect your teeth and gums.
–Eat a healthy balanced diet, avoiding excess sugars and starches.
–Visit your dentist at least once a year to remove hardened plaque.

Our dental team at Royse City Dental Care is here to help you keep cavities at bay. Call us at 972-636-2417 if you have any questions or to schedule your next appointment!

The post Plaque and Your Oral Health first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.

Question: How do I floss?
Answer: Start with 18 inches of floss and wrap most of the floss around each pointer finger. Leave about an inch or two available between your two fingers. Then, use your thumbs and index fingers and slide the floss between your teeth, gently moving it up and down along the sides of your teeth. Next, gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth and move it back and forth. Make sure you do so beneath the gumline but be gentle while you work under and around the gums. Repeat this process between each tooth and remember to use a new section of floss as you proceed from tooth to tooth.

Question: Why is flossing important?
Answer: Flossing is very important because it helps deeply clean your smile and it removes the plaque from your teeth, which essentially saves your smile from gum disease and tooth loss.

Question: What can I use to floss?
Answer: There are many options to consider when flossing. Dental floss, dental picks, pre-threaded flossers, small brushes that successfully clean between teeth, water flossers, or wooden plaque removers are all great choices. There are two common types of floss, which are nylon and PTFE. Nylon floss is available waxed and unwaxed and it is known to come in a variety of flavors. Because the floss is made of nylon, it tends to tear or shred while you floss. PTFE is a more expensive type of floss that slides easily between your teeth without shredding.

Question: What time should I floss?
Answer: As long as you floss at least once a day, it does not matter what time you floss. Many people like to floss right before they go to bed because they like to sleep with a clean mouth, but your preference is all that matters. If you want to floss after lunch or before breakfast, go right ahead!

To learn more about flossing and deeply cleaning your smile, call our office today. We are here to help you reach your smile goals, and we are happy to do so by teaching you all about flossing!

The post Learn How to Clean Your Smile with These Flossing Fundamentals first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.