National Dental Hygiene Month

We know that patients at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental practice understand the importance of oral hygiene. But are you sure you’re up to speed on your technique? Since October is National Dental Hygiene Month, we thought it would be a good idea to remind patients of brushing and flossing protocol so they will be less likely to develop tooth decay during the holiday season.

Parents should begin brushing their babies’ teeth from the moment the first tooth emerges. With proper care, teeth can last a lifetime, and dentures need to be brushed twice a day, as well. Both manual and electric toothbrushes can be used to prevent tooth decay, but hard bristled toothbrushes are likely to damage the gums and should be avoided. Brushing sessions with a manual toothbrush should last for two minutes each. It is of vital importance to cover every tooth surface and to get close to the gum lines, where calculus accumulates.

Flossing has to be done properly to have any effect. Slide the strand all the way along the side of each tooth and use it to catch plaque with a shoeshine motion. Simply moving floss through the gap between teeth won’t accomplish anything. Another mistake is to not floss the backs of the back molars. Mouthwash can be used in combination with other hygiene products to combat bad breath, but people should brush their tongues and use a tongue scraper every day.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit Fullerton Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Fluoride Toothpaste

As part of our patient education program, we at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental office want our patients to understand how to use fluoride toothpaste. A proper tooth brushing is an especially important skill for children to master because it is often one of the first things they do to maintain their own health.

Tooth decay is caused by acidic secretions from bacteria that eat food debris. Fluoride is a mineral that makes tooth enamel more resistant to acid. It is commonly applied to the tops of teeth by dentists and government health initiatives supply it in many places through the drinking water. Fluoride toothpaste also helps to reinforce teeth but works best when the teeth are brushed properly. A session of brushing should last for two full minutes and cover every dental surface.

Toothpaste should be spat instead of swallowed because excessive intake of fluoride can cause enamel discoloration. It should also not be used on oral appliances such as dentures because fluoride can scratch plastic.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit Fullerton Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Proper Use of Mouthguards

An athlete’s mouth can take quite a battering during a match. When properly used, a mouthguard can make save someone’s teeth from traumatic injury, but many athletes opt not to use one. Their reasons for doing so are usually based on misconceptions which, at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental office, we want to correct.

A common complaint about mouthguards is that they are excessively large, covering interior parts of the mouth that don’t need protection at the cost of gagging and difficulty speaking and breathing. This can happen if a mouthguard is not fitted properly, but a custom-fitted mouthguard would not cause these problems. Boil-and-bite mouthguards available at sports stores and through online vendors work alright, but the best option is a mouthguard made from a scan or impression of the athlete’s teeth.

Some people also avoid mouthguards because they consider them unhygienic. This depends on how often a mouthguard is cleaned. Ideally, it would be brushed after every use (with a different toothbrush than the wearer uses on their teeth). Like retainers and dentures, mouthguards should only be rinsed with cool or room-temperature water, for fear of warping them, and should be replaced by a professional if they lose their shape. Unlike dentures, mouthguards should be allowed to dry when not in use.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Proper Use of Mouthguards

An athlete’s mouth can take quite a battering during a match. When properly used, a mouthguard can make save someone’s teeth from traumatic injury, but many athletes opt not to use one. Their reasons for doing so are usually based on misconceptions which, at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental office, we want to correct.

A common complaint about mouthguards is that they are excessively large, covering interior parts of the mouth that don’t need protection at the cost of gagging and difficulty speaking and breathing. This can happen if a mouthguard is not fitted properly, but a custom-fitted mouthguard would not cause these problems. Boil-and-bite mouthguards available at sports stores and through online vendors work alright, but the best option is a mouthguard made from a scan or impression of the athlete’s teeth.

Some people also avoid mouthguards because they consider them unhygienic. This depends on how often a mouthguard is cleaned. Ideally, it would be brushed after every use (with a different toothbrush than the wearer uses on their teeth). Like retainers and dentures, mouthguards should only be rinsed with cool or room-temperature water, for fear of warping them, and should be replaced by a professional if they lose their shape. Unlike dentures, mouthguards should be allowed to dry when not in use.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Oral Hygiene with Bridges

Getting a fixed bridge does wonders for a patient’s bite and smile, but it requires a few changes to their hygiene routine. Since we value preventive care so highly at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton practice, we want to ensure that our patients with bridges know about all the tools available to them.

The gap between the bridge and the gum needs to be flossed. One way to get floss under the gap and loop it back around is with a threader, which is like a soft sewing needle and a familiar tool to anyone who has worn braces. There are also specialty brands of floss which have stiffened ends for sliding under bridges

Implant-supported bridges tend to have larger spaces beneath them due to implants being narrower than tooth roots. This may allow patients to remove debris with a proxy brush, which is also known as a Christmas tree brush. Proxy brushes can be mounted on normal-sized toothbrush handles. Some manufacturers of electric toothbrushes and water picks are now making adjustable heads for their products, as well, which are designed to be used on implants and the structures they support.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

How to Care for Dentures

Dentures need to be cared for differently than normal teeth, and we want to ensure that our patients understand how to make the most of them. The trick to maintaining them is that they have to be kept moist at all times, but must also be kept clean to prevent plaque or fungus build-up. Below are some helpful rules.

Each night, patients should remove their dentures and brush them with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste made specifically for dentures. (Soft-bristled toothbrushes are the only kind anybody should use for oral hygiene, but the special toothpaste is necessary because dentures don’t have a biological covering to protect them from grit.) Dentures should be left overnight in room-temperature water or cleaning solution unless they have exposed metal which could rust. Hot water will melt and reshape the plastic.

Before putting their dentures back in, patients should brush their gums and tongue. This will stimulate blood flow, which will preserve the mouth’s health and feeling. Patients with implant-supported dentures should brush in between their abutments. Any damage to the denture should be reported immediately to a professional. Some refitting over the patient’s life is expected, but patients should not attempt to manipulate the shape of the denture on their own.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.