At Home Dental Care

Oral Health Dentist for Healthy Teeth and Gums

mold of teeth and a toothbrush

The Purpose of Prevention

Regular exams help to detect if there are any dental problems needing to be addressed. If any problems go undetected for long periods of time, the consequences could be severe. Possible complications include root canals, gum surgery, tooth removal, or even oral cancer. Avoid these problems with bi-annual visits to Fixari Family Dental.

How Can I Prevent Dental Problems?

Prevention begins at home with a good oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing. It continues throughout the day with a nutritious diet that is low in sugar. The cycle is completed with your regular visits to our office for cleanings, exams, and x-rays. Dental care is a team effort, which results in healthy, beautiful teeth.

Brushingoral hygiene products Fixari Family Dental - Columbus, OH & Canal Winchester, OH

Daily brushing is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth. Ideally, you should thoroughly brush your teeth after each meal and snack. Using a soft bristled brush and toothpaste, carefully clean each side of the tooth using circular motions. You should be able to remove all of the food particles from your teeth without brushing too vigorously. Brushing your teeth too hard or with a tough-bristled toothbrush can irritate and even damage your gums.

Children in particular should use fluoride toothpaste. This will protect your child’s teeth. You should avoid brushing your teeth after eating highly acidic foods. The acid in certain foods and beverages can soften the enamel of your teeth. If you are worried about the acid of your food damaging your teeth, rinse your mouth with water after eating acidic foods or drinking beverages like lemonade or wine. Then, in fifteen minutes, you can brush your teeth without damaging the enamel.

Rinsing

Although we encourage you to brush your teeth after each meal, we understand that sometimes this is not possible. If you are away from home and do not have a toothbrush on hand, a simple rinse with water can remove some of the larger food particles from your teeth. Rinsing your teeth is not as effective as brushing, of course, but it can help prevent cavities by removing particles that would otherwise cling to your teeth all day.

Flossing

Flossing ensures that your teeth are fully clean. Proper daily flossing can prevent both cavities and gum disease. If you have been neglecting your flossing, the first few days that you floss you might notice some blood in your saliva. This is a sign that your gums have been irritated by the trapped food particles that brushing has missed. If your gums continue to bleed after a few days of flossing, contact our office to schedule an appointment to make sure there is not a more serious issue.

Establish good dental hygiene habits. Floss once a day, whenever it is most convenient for you. Once you start flossing every day, it will become as automatic as brushing your teeth. If you are unsure how to properly floss your teeth, one of our doctors or dental hygienists can advise you on the proper technique