Dental Cleaning and Prevention

What would be your reply if some asked you how much you cared for your appearance and health? Most people would reply something like “Above Everything Else”. Most likely you would give a similar reply. But do you really put that sentiment in practice in a scientific way? Is your lifestyle really in accordance with principles of good health and wellbeing? Specifically, do you care for your oral health? The fact is that your physical health and wellbeing is directly dependent on your oral health status.

Dental Cleaning and Prevention

What would be your reply if some asked you how much you cared for your appearance and health? Most people would reply something like “Above Everything Else”. Most likely you would give a similar reply. But do you really put that sentiment in practice in a scientific way? Is your lifestyle really in accordance with principles of good health and wellbeing? Specifically, do you care for your oral health? The fact is that your physical health and wellbeing is directly dependent on your oral health status.

When was your last dental cleaning?
Schedule your appointment now.

The first Line of defense: Home Care

Good oral hygiene, or home care, is the first, and the foremost line of defense against oral disease and discomfort. Good oral hygiene demands three simple habits:

  • Regular brushing – You must brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day. And it helps to develop a pattern in brushing, like an algorithm in a computer program. One routine preferred by wise people is to start brushing with the outer side of the teeth of the top right jaw. Starting from the last molar move to the front and go on brushing all teeth up to the last molar in the top left of the upper jaw. Now shift your brush to the inside and clean all teeth moving from the left to the last molar on the right. You have cleaned your upper teeth. Now do the same with the lower jaw: cleaning the outer surfaces from right to left and inner surfaces from the left to right. While on the molars do clean their biting surfaces also. Spend about two minutes evenly on all teeth. Use a soft brush, applying a pea-sized blob of an American Dental Association (ADA) recommended toothpaste.
  • Flossing – You can easily imagine that brushing will not be very effective on the surfaces between adjacent teeth. You need to floss to clean these surfaces. Flosses are available as threads or tapes in dispensers. These may be simple or pre-waxed. Your dentist can help choose.
  • Rinsing – If it is not possible to brush / floss your teeth after a meal or a snack, say a lunch in the office, it is useful to use water to rinse your mouth vigorously. In addition, rinsing with antiseptic mouth rinses at bed-time will also help prevent gum infection.

Teeth Cleaning
Before and After

The first Line of defense: Home Care

Edge Dental Dr Lai Work

Good oral hygiene, or home care, is the first, and the foremost line of defense against oral disease and discomfort. Good oral hygiene demands three simple habits:

  • Regular brushing – You must brush your teeth regularly, at least twice a day. And it helps to develop a pattern in brushing, like an algorithm in a computer program. One routine preferred by wise people is to start brushing with the outer side of the teeth of the top right jaw. Starting from the last molar move to the front and go on brushing all teeth up to the last molar in the top left of the upper jaw. Now shift your brush to the inside and clean all teeth moving from the left to the last molar on the right. You have cleaned your upper teeth. Now do the same with the lower jaw: cleaning the outer surfaces from right to left and inner surfaces from the left to right. While on the molars do clean their biting surfaces also. Spend about two minutes evenly on all teeth. Use a soft brush, applying a pea-sized blob of an American Dental Association (ADA) recommended toothpaste.
  • Flossing – You can easily imagine that brushing will not be very effective on the surfaces between adjacent teeth. You need to floss to clean these surfaces. Flosses are available as threads or tapes in dispensers. These may be simple or pre-waxed. Your dentist can help choose.
  • Rinsing – If it is not possible to brush / floss your teeth after a meal or a snack, say a lunch in the office, it is useful to use water to rinse your mouth vigorously. In addition, rinsing with antiseptic mouth rinses at bed-time will also help prevent gum infection.

Dentists recommend getting dental cleanings every six months or twice a year.
Book your appointment now.

Preventive Dental Treatment; Second Line of Treatment

At Edge Dental, we want to make sure that all our patients enjoy perfect oral and physical health. That is why our dentists focus on providing high-quality preventive treatment. Some of the preventive treatments offered at Edge Dental are:

  • Checkups – at each visit, our dentists will thoroughly assess your dental health. We will perform a detailed clinical examination of your teeth,gums, jaws, jaw joints, face, the head and neck. In addition, we will also look at the x-ray images of your teeth to check for teeth cavities which may not be visible to the naked eye.
  • Oral Hygiene Instructions – During checkup visits, we educate our patients regarding the best oral hygiene practices and dietary habits which are good for their teeth. In case of children, we educate their parents regarding the best methods to minimize the chances of development of teeth cavities as a result of intake of sugary items like candies and chocolates.
  • Teeth Cleaning – one of the main reasons behind the development of gum disease is the adhesion of plaque and tartar on the teeth. We perform perform professional teeth cleaning to remove this plaque to reduce, or stop the progression of periodontal disease.
  • Prophylaxis or Fluoride Therapy – fluoride treatment has been shown to be very effective in preventing, and even stopping the progression of teeth cavities. We apply fluoride varnishes and gels on the teeth of our patients who are at a high risk of developing teeth cavities. In addition to professional fluoride application, we may also recommend fluoride dentifrices and chewing gums to further strengthen your teeth.
  • Pit and Fissure Sealants – during checkup visits of children, we identify kids who are at a higher risk of having teeth cavities in their back teeth, which are primarily used for chewing. As a preventive measure, we apply fluoride containing resin sealants which coat the chewing surfaces of the teeth and prevent cavities.
  • Oral Cancer Screening – during clinical examination, we will perform preliminary examination to check for the signs and symptoms of oral cancer. This helps in an early detection of oral cancer. The chances of recovery from cancer treatment are higher when it is detected in early stages.
  • Preventive Orthodontics – preventive orthodontics involves the use various habit breaking appliances in children to eliminate factors which cause worsen tooth misalignment.
  • Mouthguards – mouthguards are prostheses which are similar to removable retainers. They are especially indicated for preventing dental injuries in sportsmen or children who are actively involved in outdoor activities.
  • Night Guards – night guards are similar to mouthguards. We prescribe nightguards to our patients who have a habit of excessively grinding their teeth. The night guards prevent the teeth from sensitivity and wear because of grinding.

The centuries old saying that “prevention is better than cure” still holds true in case of your dental health. If you look after your oral health, and visit us regularly for checkups, then you can save yourself from virtually every dental problem. So, what is better, spending your hard-earned money on expensive dental treatment, or preventing dental problems from arising at the first place? At Edge Dental, we strongly believe in the second option. Therefore, it is our foremost priority is that you enjoy a perfect dental health with preventive dentistry. So, visit us today and let us take good care of your smile and oral health.

Visit Our Dental Office in Houston

Edge Dental Houston is a state-of-the-art dental office led by one of the best dentists in Houston. Our dental clinic is located in one of the most convenient parts of Memorial City — 15455 Memorial Dr #400 Houston. Our dental clinic is right beside the Katy Freeway and a short walk from some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Bear Creek Pioneers Park and George Bush Park. If you’re looking for a conveniently located dentist’s office near me, you’ve come to the right place. Please schedule an appointment at our dental office in Houston or call (281) 940-8940.