Blog

Here’s a question, followed by commentary, from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo: Are floss picks as good as regular floss?

While it’s better to use a floss pick than to not floss at all, it’s important to note that floss picks can only clean a part of the tooth’s surface. We recommend using traditional string floss or dental tape. Here’s why:

A floss pick holds just a small piece of floss stretched in a straight line. A straight piece of floss just doesn’t make sense because it can’t wrap around a tooth as well as traditional floss. By wrapping floss completely around a tooth, you clean it more thoroughly and efficiently.

Here is a refresher course on appropriate flossing:

• Cut a section of floss about 18 inches long and securely wind each end around your middle fingers.
• Take hold of the floss with your forefinger and thumb leaving about two inches to work with. Thread the floss between two teeth.
• Hold the floss securely against the side of the tooth and move it up and away from the gumline. You want to clean the space between the tooth and gum without pulling more gum tissue away, so it’s important to scrape up and out of the pocket.
• Move the floss around the tooth to clean every surface—especially those that your brush can’t reach. You can use a “shoeshine” method if you like. As you use a section of floss, unwind from one hand to access a clean piece. With 18 inches, you should have enough to provide a clean piece for each tooth. If you run out, that’s okay. Just toss the used piece and cut a new piece.
• Some people find it smoother to start on one end of the upper teeth and clean each gap one by one until they reach the end on the opposite side, and then repeat for the lower arch. Whatever method you decide on, make sure you clean around every tooth, including the back surfaces of the rear molars.
• If you have never flossed before, your gums might bleed the first few times. The bleeding may be due to gum inflammation, the beginnings of gum disease. Keep flossing gently and the bleeding generally stops within a week or two.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, we want all our patients to enjoy clean teeth and good dental health. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry, including clear braces from Invisalign. Call for an appointment today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

Most people know that vitamin D is important for healthy teeth and bones, but many of us fail to get adequate amounts. This article from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Orem is a friendly reminder to our patients – especially expectant mothers – about the importance of vitamin D.

Here is a sampling of vitamin D findings from around the web:

• Several recent reports demonstrate a significant association between periodontal health and the intake of vitamin D.
• Researchers who took a second look at a series of clinical trials conducted on 2,000 children in several countries between the 1920s and 1980s determined vitamin D — which we often garner from sunlight — was associated with around a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of tooth decay.
• Inadequate vitamin D levels in pregnant women may be associated with dental caries in their children during the first year of life.
• The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D, but it is hard to quantify how much vitamin D you get from time in the sun and the risk of skin cancer may outweigh the benefits. Food first, says Baylor College of Medicine dietitian Keli Hawthorne. “Supplements can fill in the gaps but it is always better to try to meet your nutritional needs with foods that contain fiber, phytonutrients, and so much more.”

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Orem we want all our patients to enjoy excellent dental health and a beautiful smile. Our wide range of services include dental implants and porcelain veneers. Call for your next checkup today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

In this post from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, we concentrate on critical behaviors that impact dental health. Brushing and flossing are two essential habits, but there are many more things we can do to maintain a healthy smile.

Diet Do’s

• Do eat a nutritious diet with a variety of foods. This is necessary for overall physical health and a strong immune system.
• Do consume calcium-rich dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt to neutralize acids that are harmful to enamel.

Diet Don’ts

• Don’t eat sugary foods. Sugar leads to the production of detrimental cavity-causing acids that weaken enamel and lead to cavities.
• Don’t snack throughout the day. This accelerates plaque production and subjects the teeth to continual contact with acids.
• Don’t chew on ice. (It really can chip teeth.)
• Don’t drink energy drinks. They have many substances that are detrimental to teeth.

Other Important Tips

• Don’t use your teeth as tools. It is smarter to cut that knotted shoelace than to gnaw at it to try to untangle it.
• Don’t get piercings in or around your mouth.
• Don’t ignore tooth pain or sensitivity.
• If you have children, talk to Dr. Hammond about water fluoridation. If your municipal water supply is not fluoridated, you may want to give your little ones fluoride supplements.
• Don’t use a medium or hard bristle toothbrush. It can damage gums.
• If you have an eating disorder – seek professional help immediately. Bulimia and anorexia are extremely damaging to teeth. (Not to mention the toll they take on the heart and other organs.)

We encourage all of our patients to maintain a lifestyle that supports dental health as well as overall physical health. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we offer family and cosmetic dentistry, and specialties like dental implants. Schedule an appointment today.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604