Getting Past Your Dental Fears And Learning About Technology

Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.

Four Ways To Prevent Bleeding Gums

Dentist Articles

If you are starting to see a little red in your saliva when you are brushing your teeth, it normally means that your gums are bleeding somewhere. This is normally around the base of one or more of your teeth. If this bleeding gets to be too bad, it could actually interfere with you being able to properly care for your teeth. Starting to see a little bit of red does not always mean that you have severe gum disease, but it does usually mean that something is wrong. Fortunately, there are ways that you can address this before it does become a major problem.

Take Your Time

Did you know that to properly brush your teeth you should be spending at least two full minutes on the task? The average person only brushes for less than a minute. Brushing for two minutes or more allows you to take the time to not only focus on your teeth, but to also focus on your gums and clean your tongue. To ensure you get your mouth as clean as you can, in addition to brushing, you should also factor in enough time to floss. Do you think that you are taking enough time? Set a stopwatch on your mobile phone and time your next brushing routine.

Don't Brush So Hard

Although plaque is a soft and sticky, if you are brushing and flossing twice a day, it is not all that difficult to remove. You do not have to apply a lot of pressure when you are brushing your teeth to get the job done. When you brush too hard, you could actually be breaking the skin on your gums, which could be causing the bleeding. Use soft, smooth, up-and-down or small circular strokes to brush your teeth. Focus on the main areas of your mouth. These include:  

  • The outside of your upper and lower teeth
  • The inside of your upper and lower teeth
  • The bite surfaces of your teeth
  • Your gums
  • Your tongue

Use The Right Toothbrush

Sometimes you could be seeing blood in your saliva because you are actually causing irritation and injury to your gums by using a toothbrush that is too hard for the task of brushing your teeth. Although there are various hardness levels of toothbrushes on the market, most dentists recommend a soft-bristled brush to do the job.  

Choose a toothbrush with a small head; this allows you to have greater access to all areas of your mouth. The shape and style of your bristles are not as important. Choose the one that gives you the most comfort. 

Consider using one of the powered toothbrushes on the market. These can be a great addition to your tooth-brushing routine. Although a manual brush can get the job done, a powered toothbrush will provide you with more brush strokes per minute. No matter which one you use, it is recommended that your toothbrush, or brush-head in the case of a powered brush, be replaced when it starts to show signs of wear, every three months, or after you have had a cold, flu, or other a similar type of infection.

Schedule Regular Dental Cleanings

One of the best ways to prevent bleeding gums is to ensure that there is no medical reason for them to be bleeding. By scheduling regular dental cleanings at least twice per year, you will give your dentist and/or dental hygienist the ability to check your oral health. Not only will they clean your teeth, but they will perform a full oral exam to look for any other potential problems. By identifying and addressing these problems early, you have the best bet in maintaining your best oral health. If you do not already have an appointment scheduled, call your dentist and schedule one today.

For more information on dental health, contact a dental office like TLC Dental Center.

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11 May 2016