You may be trying your darndest, every day, to take the best possible care of your oral health. After all, who wants to end up with a cavity, a missing tooth, or worse?
It’s definitely disheartening to do all you can and still get less than stellar grades at the dentist.
The Modern Age Dentistry team not only takes superior care of you and your family’s dental care needs, but Dr. Ali Saeghi also ensures that you’re assessed, treated, heard, and truly valued. We offer diverse services to patients, from cosmetic solutions for a better smile to routine care and more, at our offices in Atwater Village, West Hills, and Ojai, California.
You may leave the dentist feeling like you’re “less than,” especially if you’re making every effort to take care of your mouth but still suffering from cavities, gum tenderness, and other problems.
We’ve compiled a practical list of the oral care mistakes and misconceptions that we see most frequently. Read on and avoid these pitfalls:
You may notice that brushes come in “soft,” “medium,” and “hard” bristle strengths. Soft is the best choice, as it has the flexibility and give needed to clean under your gumline and hard-to-reach places.
Hard-bristled brush use can result in your teeth being robbed of protective enamel, which can’t be restored. Couple the wrong brush with overzealous brushing, and enamel loss increases. Whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, brushing gently with a soft brush is the way to go.
Finally, don’t keep your toothbrush for too long. You should change it out about every three or four months. Some toothbrushes and brush heads even have colored bristles that fade as an indication that you need to replace your brush.
It’s important to make sure, when you buy toothpaste, floss, and whitening products, that they’ve earned the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval.
What does this endorsement mean? The seal signifies that the product has been properly tested, found safe, and has the ingredients you need to fight decay, so look for it on packaging.
Product advice is also a great thing to ask Dr. Saeghi about when you’re here for your checkup. He’s happy to advise you about the most reputable products, from toothbrushes to pastes, and more.
We’re all beyond busy, but don’t you think your teeth deserve just four minutes a day of brushing and another few for flossing? All it takes to thoroughly brush your teeth is two minutes, twice a day.
You put your teeth in harm’s way when you take shortcuts. Electric toothbrushes give you an indication about when you should shift to a different quadrant of your mouth while brushing, so that you can devote the proper time to each one.
If you use a manual toothbrush, why not just set your phone to tell you when two minutes is up? Some people even keep an oven timer in the bathroom. Whatever works, do it!
Throw in a couple of minutes devoted to flossing, and you’re all set.
Brushing your teeth thoroughly means everything. It’s critical that you brush up and down rather than side to side, that you remember to take care of brushing your gumline and a bit under your gum, as well as the back side of your teeth, and don’t forget to give your tongue a brush, because that can eradicate a good amount of bacteria.
We can’t overemphasize the importance of routine dental visits. When you see us, it's time for Dr. Saeghi to not just evaluate your oral health, but also to perform important screenings, such as those for oral cancer. These appointments are also a time when he can provide preventive care if he sees trouble of any kind brewing, like discoloration or early gum disease.
It’s also important for your teeth to get a “deep cleaning” by a pro. Getting rid of plaque and tartar buildup is key to preventing gingivitis, decay, and other problems.
Finally, this is the time you can ask Dr. Saeghi questions about anything that may be concerning you.
Being conscious of how you care for your teeth, what tools and products you use to do that, and allowing us to provide the expert routine care you need twice a year are key elements to maintaining your healthy, beautiful smile.
Call the Modern Age Dentistry office that’s most convenient to you to set up an appointment with Dr. Saeghi, or book one using our convenient online tool.
