When it comes to the body, there are many parts that must receive constant care to function properly. We must consistently eat and drink to sustain life. We must exercise to have a healthier and stronger body. We see the doctor when something ails us. What about when it comes to the teeth? Much like seeing the doctor, you must see your dentist often to maintain good oral health. One comprehensive exam in your life just doesn’t cut it, as the teeth are constantly changing. Straightening your smile—such as through our Invisalign service—does not mean there’s no more work to be done once that straight smile is achieved. The same goes for any dental procedure. Keeping the mouth healthy and free of tooth decay and gum disease is a lifelong pursuit. At Mountain Aire Dentistry, we have many treatments and recommendations when it comes to achieving healthy teeth for many years to come. Find out why today!

How You Can Have Healthy Teeth

Much of your oral health can be determined by the decisions you make on a day-to-day basis and what oral hygiene recommendations you choose to follow or not. Here are some of our top suggestions when it comes to keeping healthy teeth at home:

• Brush, Brush, Brush! – Brush at least twice a day. We say “at least” because proper oral care may require more than that. After every meal would be ideal and a worthy goal to shoot for when it comes to healthy teeth. This will greatly diminish plaque’s ability to build up on your tooth enamel and cause tooth decay or gum disease.
• Floss Those Pearly Whites – You wouldn’t clean just certain areas of your body and skip others when bathing, right? So why would you when it comes to your teeth? Brushing is made complete when flossing tags along, getting all that trapped food out from between your teeth where cavities love to form. Even flossing before brushing can help loosen trapped food before you brush it away. See what works best for you!
• Fluoride – Use an approved fluoride mouthwash or toothpaste to help strengthen your smile daily.
• Mouthwash – Use a gentle mouthwash that can kill germs and get in between your teeth better than flossing and brushing alone.
• Healthy Diet – Decay happens when plaque mixes with bacteria to form an acidic substance that erodes the tooth enamel and irritates the gums. Cut back on sugary foods (sodas, energy drinks, hard and chewy candies, suckers, etc.) that feed the plaque in your mouth. Be mindful of citrus fruits, drinks and acidic foods that can eat away at your tooth enamel. Wait a little bit before brushing your teeth after consuming these foods or you could take off part of your tooth enamel. Eat plenty of nutrient-dense foods that will give your teeth (and body) what it needs to stay strong.
• See the Dentist – Of course, you must come in to see the dentist for exams and cleanings to check up on your health. Sometimes problems do arise and treatment is much easier when problems are caught early.

When Problems Arise

Sometimes you can put all of our recommendations into effect and still have cavities form, fractures and cracks in the teeth arise and problems develop that necessitate night or mouth guards.  Teeth composition varies from person to person, and in different stages of your life. You may just have weak tooth enamel as well, which does happen with some patients.  You’ll have fewer problems with your oral health when you take good care of it. When problems do arise, we have many treatments to help get you back on track including:

• Diagnostic and preventative care through comprehensive exams
• Oral cancer screenings
• Regular dental cleanings and x-rays
• Invisalign straightening treatment
• Crowns and bridges
• Root canals and tooth extractions
• Dentures and partials
• Implant replacement and restoration
• Nightguards and mouth guards
• Root Planing and Scaling
• Early and emergency dental care
• TMJ/TMD treatment
• Cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening, white fillings/bonding, porcelain veneers, etc.

Practice Makes Perfect

Perform all of our recommendations as often as possible—daily if you can. Practice makes perfect when it comes to most things, and proper oral hygiene is no different. If you want a healthy mouth that is free of cavities and gum problems, you have to work at it. That means every single day, week, month, year, etc.

All of our services are designed to give you healthy teeth and gums throughout life. Your role is essential. Together we will succeed. Each time you come to Mountain Aire Dentistry, you can be sure that you are getting the best quality care to keep your mouth healthy for a lifetime. To schedule your comprehensive exam or a cleaning today, call our office at (303) 731-7755.