Perfecting Smiles

Thanks to Kay and Mya, my Perfecting Smiles Team, we had dress up fun before Halloween.

Here are some dental tips to keep in mind while you are enjoying your Halloween sweets: There are foods that your oral bacteria will not use to form acid that causes tooth decay. And they are raw vegetables, meats, plain dairy, nuts and plain water. But I don't expect that these foods will be in your trick or treat bags this year.

So, the best thing to do after enjoying your sticky candies and sugary snacks is to brush and floss thoroughly to remove the food and plaque. You can also use any product that will strengthen tooth enamel for example: fluoride and calcium phosphate.

And remember it takes weeks to months before a dental cavity forms, therefore consistent good oral hygiene habits can help prevent tooth decay.

Enjoy your Halloween weekend!
Dr. Bolen and the Perfecting Smiles Team

Perfecting Smiles with Gentle Hands personally thank Adriane for sharing her video to encourage others to take the advice of your dentist for the betterment of your gum health which is the foundation or your oral health. Brushing alone is not enough to remove plaque and debris from around your teeth and gums. Your dentist may suggest more than flossing in addition to your daily brushing. Using other dental aids throughout the week may be necessary to promote optimal gum health for you. Dental aids such as: a waterpik, interdental brushes, an electric toothbrush with a timer, gum stimulator and antibiotic mouth rinses(this is not an exhausted list).

Basic oral health regimen for the average person: Brush 2/day, floss 1/day, use a waterpik a few times per week, swish with an antibacterial rinse a few times per week, get your professional dental cleaning 2/year.

Gingival inflammation and bleeding can be hormonally induced. If you notice gingival changes when you are experiencing a change in your hormonal level the bleeding should stop once your hormones regulate.

Foods can irritate your gums. If you notice inflammation and bleeding gums after eating certain foods you may refrain from eating those foods. Ideally if you remove the food immediately from around your gums you will not notice bleeding.