Mouthwash is not a suitable replacement for proper oral hygiene. To keep your teeth healthy, you must brush them twice a day and floss at least once. However, mouthwash can add many benefits to your regular oral hygiene routine. Rinsing with mouthwash in addition to brushing and flossing can help keep your teeth white and healthy.

Cavity Prevention

Mouthwash can help you prevent cavities. Most mouthwashes contain fluoride, which can help strengthen your teeth. Regular use of mouthwash can go a long way toward helping you prevent cavities from forming in the first place.

Remove Food Particles

As previously stated, mouthwash is not an alternative to brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth is important and necessary. Mouthwash can, however, help loosen and remove food particles from the teeth. This can make it easier to remove remaining food particles through brushing.

Freshen Your Breath

Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwash can help kill the bacteria in the mouth, eliminating bad breath as well as preventing problems caused by excessive bacteria.

Prevent Gum Disease

Mouthwash does not remove plaque after it is formed, but it can help prevent plaque from forming in the first place. Plaque buildup houses bacteria and can lead to gum disease among other problems. Mouthwash can prevent plaque from building up and helps fight periodontal disease.

Help Canker Sores

Rinsing with mouthwash can help soothe canker sores by detoxing the surrounding area. Make sure that the mouthwash has low alcohol content, because high alcohol content can further irritate the canker sore.

Important During Pregnancy

Using mouthwash is especially important during pregnancy. There is a significant link between periodontal disease and pre-mature births, so preventing gum disease during this time is very important.

Different kinds of mouthwash can be targeted for different purposes, such as cavity prevention or teeth whitening. Another important aspect of dental health is having your teeth cleaned regularly. To schedule your dental cleaning, contact us at Mills River Family Dental today!

Water flossing is commonly marketed as an alternative to traditional flossing. This kind of flossing is a method that uses a handheld device that emits a steady stream of water to remove plaque from the teeth. It helps remove food particles and plaque from your mouth, even below the gumline. This can help reduce the likelihood of developing gum disease and tooth decay.

Benefits of Water Flossing

Water flossing can help remove extra food particles and plaque from your teeth. It can reduce the risk of gingivitis and other oral-based diseases. Water flossing is extremely useful for people with limited dexterity or difficult to reach places. These places can be caused by braces or other orthodontic devices. Braces can make it hard to reach places underneath them, which is where water flossing comes in handy.

Water Flossing vs Traditional Flossing

Water flossing goes a long way toward removing particles from your teeth. However, traditional flossing is still the more effective flossing method. It is more capable of removing food particles from between your teeth. A water flossing device can be used in conjunction with typical flossing, but it is not usually used to completely replace it.

Water flossing is ideal for those who don’t floss regularly, those with limited dexterity, and those with braces. Though it isn’t supposed to be a replacement, it is certainly more beneficial than not flossing at all. Flossing daily is important in keeping your smile healthy!

The best way to keep your smile healthy is through proper oral hygiene. It is necessary to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once. Water flossing can definitely help prevent gingivitis, but traditional flossing is still important. To learn more about the ideal oral hygiene practices for you, contact us at Mills River Family Dental today!

The unknown can cause a significant amount of stress. Many people avoid going to the dentist due to the fear, stress, or anxiety that it produces. Knowing exactly what to expect during your routine dental exam can help you reduce any feelings of stress and take proper care of your teeth.

Check In

The very first thing you will do is check in with the receptionist. Try to arrive 15 minutes early to your appointment to fill out any necessary paperwork. If you are a new patient, they will need your medical history, as well.

Examination

A dental hygienist or Certified Dental Assistant will perform a physical examination of your mouth. They will check for swelling of the gums, mouth sores, redness, tooth decay, and more. This process involves using a metal prodding tool and an angled mirror.

Professional Cleaning

After the physical exam, the hygienist will perform a thorough cleaning of your teeth. They will begin by scraping off plaque and tartar build up on your teeth. Once tartar has formed, the only way to get it off is through a dental visit, so this step is particularly important. They will then floss around each individual tooth. After flossing, the hygienist will polish the teeth with an electric toothbrush. Finally, they may perform a fluoride treatment to help strengthen your teeth.

X-rays

Dental x-rays are usually taken once a year. They allow your dentist to find internal problems that may not be visible through a physical exam.

Dental Examination

Another examination will be done by the dentist. They will use your x-rays, as well as look for issues with jaw alignment, teeth grinding, and oral cancer.

Results

Finally, your dentist will provide the results of your exam. They will give advice pertaining to the following procedures. You may be required to schedule additional appointments, or they may advise you on how to improve your oral hygiene practices.

Future Appointments

If you need another appointment to fix a dental issue, you’ll schedule the appointment after you finish with the dentist. Otherwise, you’ll schedule your next routine appointment in 6 months!

Regular dental appointments are vital in keeping your mouth healthy. To schedule your routine dental exam, contact us at Mills River Family Dental today.

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Benefits of Mouthwash