Visiting our general dentist blog is a great place to start if you have any questions about what a general dentist does or are just looking for information on oral health and hygiene. We tend to focus a lot of our attention on the healing side of dentistry, providing ways to understand what we do every day and how they can avoid some of the challenges our patients face.
Since much of our focus is on preventative medicine, we educate patients on topics such as oral health and hygiene, gum diseases, great brushing habits, tooth decay, cleaning, and more. There are a lot of places on the internet where patients can get false information that can mislead patients. Thus, we offer basic information in this blog and are happy to answer any other questions over the phone.
As a general dentist, we know that there are all kinds of oral health problems that people face. Some are rare while we see others virtually every day. Since the vast majority of what we deal with are similar challenges, we decided to talk about two of the most common reasons why people seek out the aid of a dentist. Cavities and bad breath.
A cavity is a small hole that forms in the enamel of the tooth due to decay. Bacteria, which resides perpetually in the mouth, colonize the teeth. Often one will see a thin film-like substance on the teeth (plaque). When the plaque builds up, the bacteria secrete an acid which starts to erode the enamel of the teeth.
Eventually, the acid will eat a small hole or a cavity into the tooth itself. Left unchecked, cavities can cause discomfort, spread, and can lead to conditions such as gum disease. The good news it is not difficult to avoid cavities. Simply brush twice a day, learn to rinse the mouth after eating a meal or a snack, floss regularly and have general dentist visits at least twice per year.
Bad breath is another problem that plagues many people. With someone who has bad breath, there is typically an underlying health cause that requires dental treatment. While it is natural for people to have bad breath after certain foods, think eating garlic, chronic bad breath can be much worse. This type of bad breath can include bacteria on the tongue, cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. If brushing frequently, using anti-microbial mouthwash, and having good eating habits does not get rid of the bad breath, then patients definitely need to call our general dentist office.
We can examine your teeth and gums to determine if you have a health condition that needs to be addressed or if you simply need a deep cleaning. Our dentist office in Sunnyvale can assist with both issues to restore you to good health and fresh breath.
Wondering whether it is OK to skip oral hygiene from time to time? Read on to learn from a general dentist why that is not a good idea. All general dentists preach the importance of good oral hygiene between dental cleaning visits for a reason. The long-term focus for general dentists is on helping their…
You might think that if you are diligent about brushing and flossing at home, you can visit a dentist's office less often. However, general dentistry professionals agree that regularly visiting a dentist is important for your dental and overall health, even with good oral hygiene. In addition, there are numerous reasons it is a good…
Your experienced general dentist can repair your cavities. Assessing your teeth will come first. Then, the dentist will discuss the treatment options with you. Knowing which option can help you the most can prepare you for the visit. Here are the details about the different cavity treatments that your general dentist can discuss with you.The…
Tooth extraction frequently occurs in the office of a general dentist for a variety of reasons, including:Bacterial decayAccidental breakageOvercrowdingImpactionMost patients are more concerned about the gap the tooth leaves behind than its fate outside their mouths. An extracted tooth usually takes one of the following paths, depending on whether the dentist or the patient claims…
Dental bridge placement will need two visits. The patient will go through a short process that will not be invasive at all. The result will improve the patient’s dental and general health. Knowing the placement process for this restoration can help prepare you for your next visit. Here is the placement process for a dental…
If you are self-conscious about your smile because of a damaged or chipped tooth, you should know that a dentist can use dental fillings to quickly correct these minor flaws and restore your smile's appearance.Dental filling application is an in-office technique in which dentists use a tooth-colored resin substance to fix minor flaws in the…
