WHAT CAUSES TOOTH DECAY?

Tooth decay is caused by acids which are produced by bacteria in the presence of sugar. To prevent decay these bacteria, sugar and acids must be periodically removed by the means of brushing and flossing.

WHAT IS THE BEST KIND OF TOOTHBRUSH?

Commonly, a soft bristled toothbrush is the best. Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric, anything harder than soft, is too hard. Stiff bristles may give you that clean feeling, but they can also abrade your teeth and cause gum recession.

HOW DO I USE DENTAL FLOSS?

Floss is cheap, so don't be stingy! Tear off about a forearm's length to start. Wrap one end around the middle finger of one hand to "anchor" it, and pick up the other end about 4-6 inches away with the middle finger of the other hand. This allows you to manipulate the floss with your thumb and index finger. As you soil a section of floss, "reel" in another 4-6 inches of clean floss with the anchor finger as you release the floss with the other finger. Once you get the floss past the tooth contact, move the floss up and down, perpendicular to the tooth. Never shoe-shine the teeth in a back-and-forth motion! You will either notch your teeth or cut your gums, or even both!

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET DENTAL CHECKUPS?

For most people, a checkup and cleaning every 6 months is a standard protocol. However, depending on a person's dental health, a dental cleaning may be recommended every 3-4 months.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET X-RAYS?

For most people, a complete radiographic survey should be done every 3 years, and a "check up" or "recall" should be set every 6 to 12 months. A complete set of x-rays is estimated to expose you to the same amount of radiation you get on a flight from San Francisco to Seattle.