Are You Fighting For Your Teeth?

Your teeth are under attack. Your family’s teeth are under attack, too.
But you can protect your teeth in less than five minutes every day … and with a little help from the dental team at Beaumont Family Dentistry.
Bacteria live inside your mouth, and every day, they are trying to get through your defense. If the bacteria finds a way to “score,” you could end up with tooth decay or periodontal disease.
You don’t want that, and we don’t either. That why we encourage you, your family, and all our patients throughout Central Kentucky to brush, floss, and visit one of our dentist offices in Lexington twice a year for professional cleanings and examinations.
The Attack Is Underway
Your teeth do a lot for you.
Every time you eat, they help you bite and chew your food. Whether you know it or not, they also help you speak. (Trust us, you will sound different if you lose a tooth or two.)
With your help, you can keep your teeth and your gums as healthy as they can be.
By practicing preventive care, you can avoid a lot of problems, like:
◼︎ Plaque buildup — This is how other problems begin. The bacteria in your mouth use the foods that you eat to form a sticky film that we call plaque. This can build on your teeth if you don’t remove it.
If plaque hangs around, it can harden into tartar, which is more difficult to remove and opens the door for …
◼︎ Tooth decay — As plaque and tartar grow, bacteria can eat away at the protective enamel on your teeth. Enamel protects your teeth from infections that can cause tooth decay.
◼︎ Gum disease — This is another risk if you let plaque and tartar build. In the early stages you may notice that your gums bleed easily and that they look red and swollen.
If your problem persists, you can develop periodontitis, which can cause your teeth to feel loose and even fall out.
◼︎ Bad breath — Have you ever been around someone with bad breath? It can be uncomfortable. If you have bad breath, other people may feel the same way. They might even avoid you.
It’s also important to remember that constant bad breath could be a symptom of tooth decay or periodontal disease (gum disease).
Defend Your Pearly Whites
Protecting your oral health starts at home.
First, remember to brush your teeth two times each day. You should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste with fluoride.
Then, scrub your teeth for two minutes each time you brush. Do your best to clean your teeth on all sides. This will remove a lot of the bacteria and plaque that has been growing in your mouth.
Second, you should clean between your teeth and gums every day. This means flossing.
Get some dental floss. It doesn’t matter which kind — waxed or unwaxed, flavored or not, thin or thick — whichever works best for you is what you should use.
Break off 18 inches of floss, and wrap the ends around your middle fingers. Hold the floss with your index fingers and thumbs. Work it between your teeth and “hug” the floss under your gums to remove bacteria, plaque, and any food particles that may be stuck there.
If dental floss is too difficult for you to use, ask us about other interdental devices, like water flossers, that could help you clean the places that you can’t reach with your toothbrush.
Call Your Friends For Help
At Beaumont Family Dentistry, we are friends of our patients and their teeth. We want to see you (and all your teeth) twice a year for professional cleanings and exams.
During your visit, we will remove any plaque or tartar that you may have missed. We will examine your teeth for signs of tooth decay, and we will check your gums for signs of periodontal disease.
If we find anything, we can treat it to keep your mouth as healthy as it can be.
Take Care Of Your Teeth
Your smile looks nicer when you have a full set of teeth. By brushing and flossing daily and by visiting our dentist offices in Lexington twice a year, you can keep a smile that looks happy and healthy.
If you are new to the area or you are a regular patient who hasn’t scheduled your next visit, call the Beaumont Family Dentistry location closest to you or follow the link for that location to make an appointment with our online form.