Creative Smiles

It’s time for your Spring cleaning, especially for children who haven’t had their teeth cleaned since the beginning of the school year.

Dr. Camuccio recommends dental cleanings every six months for most patients.

Good oral hygiene is important, not only for the health of your teeth, but also for your general health. And don’t forget how bright and white that smile can improve your looks.

Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of medical problems, including gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease and strokes, among other maladies.

Each cleaning appointment includes an examination by Dr. Camuccio to screen for a variety of diseases, including oral cancer, which is highly curable when detected early.

Here are just a a few more of the benefits of your biannual cleaning and examination:

• BAD BREATH: Studies have found that about 85 perscent of people with persistent bad breath have a dental problem that is to blame.
• GUM DISEASE PREVENTION: Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place, and it is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. If diagnosed early, it can be treated and reversed.
• CAVITIES: Cavities are small holes that eat away at tooth enamel, causing decay, pain and even tooth loss. Early detection by your hygienist can avert a host of expensive problems later.
• BRIGHTER SMILE: Your dental hygienist can remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains. During your cleaning, your dental hygienist will also polish your teeth to a beautiful shine. Some patients go a step further with our teeth whitening programs, which are far more effective than over-the-counter treatments.

Dental insurance plans usually pay for all or most of the cost of dental cleanings and check-ups every six months. If you don’t have dental insurance, the importance of cleanings and your examination are even greater because you save money in the long run by avoiding costly dental procedures that can result from poor oral hygiene.

Trident with xylitol

Sugary Gum Creates Plaque – Gum that contains sugar, as with any food that contains sugar, affects dental health adversely. Sugar is a primary component of plaque, the nasty build-up that can create cavities and cause gum disease. If you are chewing gum that is made with sugar, you’re simply compounding any dental health problems you may already have. Brush your teeth as soon as you can.

Sugar-Free Gum Removes Food Particles – Sugar-free gum can be helpful in dental health. The surface of the gum can actually help to remove trapped food particles from between the teeth and can also help remove built-up sugar from the teeth.

Sugar-Free Gum Prevents Plaque Build Up – Because sugar-free gum helps to remove food particles and sugar from the surface of the teeth, it helps to prevent plaque from forming. Preventing plaque build-up is of huge benefit to general dental health.

Sugar-Free Gum Freshens Breath – Finally, chewing some sort of mint-flavored, sugar-free gum also helps to freshen the breath. Hard mints have the same breath-freshening effect, but they do not help to remove food particles from the teeth.

Information for this post was originally written by Annie Mueller for eHow.com and is republished under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

Toothaches are not fun.  So we’ll spare the lecture and get on with the cure.

• Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out.
• Gently use dental floss or an interdental cleaner to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth.
• You may take aspirin or another painkiller (such as Advil), but never place the pill against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue.
• If the pain persists, call Dr. Camuccio at Creative Smiles in Pompano Beach: (954) 781-6170

There is probably nothing more painful than a toothache, at least it seems so when you have one.   So prevention is the best cure, and prevention is accomplished by taking care of your teeth.  It’s as simple as:

• Brush your teeth regularly, using small circular motions, gently brushing the gums as well.  Doing this twice a day will prevent toothaches, and can help relieve milder toothaches.
• Floss when you can:  We know many of you avoid flossing, but it does help remove hard-to-reach, bacteria-spawning plaque that lead to toothaches.  If you can’t (or won’t) floss daily, at least try to floss a few times per week.
• Visit Creative Smiles for routine cleanings and checkups, and share any concerns you have about your oral health with Dr. Camuccio.  It’s his job to listen.

Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, it’s an unpleasant condition that’s cause for embarrassment. Some people with bad breath aren’t even aware there’s a problem. If you’re concerned about bad breath, call Dr. Camuccio.  He can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled.  Brushing, flossing and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. Dieters may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Bad breath can also be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, Dr. Camuccio may prescribe anartificial saliva, or suggest using sugarless candy and increasing your fluid intake.

Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If Dr. Camuccio determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. If you think you have constant bad breath, keep a log of the foods you eat and make a list of medications you take. Some medications may play a role in creating mouth odors. Let Dr. Camuccio know if you’ve had any surgery or illness since your last appointment.

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth.

Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, call Dr. Camuccio.  If you need extra help in controlling plaque, he may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse.  A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.

Article courtesy American Dental Association

Proper brushing takes at least two minutes — that’s right, 120 seconds! Most adults do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:

• Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
• Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
• Clean the chewing surfaces
• For fresher breath, be sure to brush your tongue, too

What Type of Toothbrush Should I Use?
Most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled brush is best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth. Small-headed brushes are also preferable, since they can better reach all areas of the mouth, including hard-to-reach back teeth. For many, a powered toothbrush is a good alternative. It can do a better job of cleaning teeth, particularly for those who have difficulty brushing or who have limited manual dexterity.

How Important is the Toothpaste I Use?
It is important that you use a toothpaste that’s right for you. Today there is a wide variety of toothpaste designed for many conditions, including cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity.

How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?
You should replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months, whichever comes first. It is also very important to change toothbrushes after you’ve had a cold, since the bristles can collect germs that can lead to reinfection.