At the moment, your Ankeny, IA, dentist is only offering emergency treatment to address serious issues like tooth decay, infection, or damaged teeth. Which means that maintaining preventive care from home is more important than ever. With proper brushing and flossing, you can help safeguard your smile against the onset of serious problems like cavities!
The Factors Behind Cavities and Gum Disease
Often, common oral health problems begin with plaque buildup. This occurs when bacteria break down the particles of sugars and starch left on and between our teeth. The levels of oral acidity in our mouth increase, and our teeth are coated in a sticky layer of plaque, which hardens into tartar over time. Unless removed, this buildup will weaken and erode the outer layers of tooth enamel, and could also inflame the gums, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Typically, we remove plaque completely with a dental cleaning every six months or so, but with the stay at home measures in place to protect our community from COVID-19, you need to make take control of your smile care and plaque management until we can see you again!
Cleaning Your Teeth
First, take steps to remove trapped food particles before bacteria has the chance to break them down. To do this, brush your teeth twice a day for about two minutes each time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid inadvertent damage to enamel, and make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride, which strengthens the outer enamel. You also need to floss every night before going to bed. You should floss up and down each side of every tooth, dipping below the gum line when you do to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach.
Choosing Better Snacks
Along with daily cleaning, you should also make sure you limit how much sugar and starch could become trapped on or between the teeth. Cut back on sugary items, like candies or sweets, or starchy foods, like chips. Instead, try to snack more on fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat yogurts, sugar-free gum, cheeses, nuts, and whole grain crackers and pretzels. Instead of drinking sodas, energy drinks, or sports drinks, which could weaken enamel, try to enjoy more water! If you have any questions, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Maintaining Healthy Smiles?
Our team wants to make sure you have the information necessary to safeguard your teeth and gums from home. To learn more about our approach to preventive and emergency dentistry, then please schedule an appointment by calling Peddicord Family Dentistry in Ankeny, IA, today at (515) 963-3339. We also proudly serve patients of all ages who live in Bondurant, Polk City, Elkhart, Alleman, Cambridge, and all surrounding communities.