Teeth
Canepa Dentistry is pleased to publish its official oral hygiene instructions. We write this to give you the most comprehensive information relevant to stopping problems on your teeth:
- Starting at night, floss first. This removes food between your teeth so toothpaste can flow through, carrying minerals prevent cavities. Don’t only floss in-between your teeth. The very back surface of the back-most tooth must be flossed as well. Start there. Swipe the floss up and down 8-12x (each up-and-down motion counts as one). Then move to the in-between areas of your next teeth. Slide the floss through the contact point, push the floss back to engage the back tooth, swipe up and down 8-12x. You do not need to snap the floss through the contact each time. You just want to floss up to where floss touches the contact point, then bring the floss down again to where the gums give it resistance, and repeat flossing up-and-down in between the contact and the gums. After 8-12x, slide the floss forward to engage the other tooth surface, repeat. When done, bring the floss up until it presses the contact point, motion the floss side to side, “shoe-shining” this area a few times, then slide the floss up and through the contact of the teeth.
- If you have bone loss around your teeth, or recession, the root surfaces will be exposed to the mouth. Roots may have indentations and plaque traps despite floss efforts. Use an “interproximal brush” – basically a pipe cleaner with a small handle sold in any department store, and brush this side to side in-between your teeth akin to a toothbrush. Interproximal brushes are invaluable in such cases and will stop cavities. They work excellent for cleaning under dental bridges and implants as well.
- For more aggressive flossing, you can tie a knot in your dental floss and shoe-shine it between the teeth. Don’t do this frequently, as it can damage gums, however it is superior for dislodging stubborn food, such as popcorn kernels, as well as cleaning under dental bridges and implants. For these restorations, we actually do advise routinely putting a knot in your floss and shoe-shining under them 8-12x. This will ensure all plaque is physically removed.
- Nightly flossing is mandatory so plaque doesn’t sit on your teeth and fester overnight. Cavities are exacerbated by dry mouth, and our mouth additionally gets dry while we sleep.
- If you chew firm foods which get stuck between your teeth during the day, such as meat, floss once or twice between the back teeth after the meal.
- We don’t advise electronic water flossers unless you lack the ability to use some form of manual, mechanical floss or interproximal brush. Plaque physically anchors to the surface of teeth. Water flossers will burst general plaque and food out of the area, however they will leave a “smear layer” of plaque anchors behind, which will quickly recolonize and cause your teeth to be chronically dirty and a high cavity risk.
- The method to hold floss: wrap the floss twice around your middle and ring fingers, press it against the pads of your index fingers. Point the pads toward you (below picture), move this floss arrangement into your mouth until you can place the floss against the back-most tooth surface in your upper right or left tooth. Once in position, begin flossing up and down. Proceed forward and floss all teeth. Don’t let the way you hold the floss change – the hand position shown below works for flossing upper and lower teeth.
- After flossing, brush. An ideal amount for a full set of normal & gums teeth is 5 minutes at night and 2 minutes in the morning. If you have plaque traps, recession, etcetera, you may want to brush longer.If you have recession, the brush may not be tall enough to brush the top and bottom of teeth. Check in the mirror. If this is the case, brush the top half of your teeth first, then go back and brush the bottom half.
- Night-time brushing is the most important. This is because cavities need three things to flourish: warmth, carbohydrates (sugar), and dryness. When we sleep, saliva flow diminishes dramatically causing the mouth to be dry, and any carbohydrate (sugar) food left behind will feed bacteria for hours while you sleep. In fact, if you brush all the plaque off your teeth at night, there is none that can form to exist in the morning, and thus brushing time can be shorter to account for any missed areas and good breath.
- The “brush for two minutes” rule is actually insufficient. This rule is not based off plaque removal, and has become a misquoted phrase. It is in fact based on fluoride. Plaque leaches minerals out of teeth, and when enough minerals are lost, the hard structure of a tooth is gone, and a soft opening, a “cavity” forms in the tooth. That is all a cavity is – a hole in a tooth due to plaque leaching enough minerals out. Fluoride is the only mineral which soaks into teeth fast enough to work in day-to-day life, and this is why we use it. It takes fluoride two minutes to start soaking into teeth. It saturates a tooth for the full effect at five minutes. So the two minute rule in fact exists to have people brush for a minimum amount of time for the anticavity mineral, fluoride, to start working. If you brush only for two minutes, you rinse the toothpaste out before fluoride works very much, and you leave plaque behind! It actually takes at about 5 minutes for all the plaque to be brushed off a normal, complete set of adult teeth. If you brush for at least 5 minutes, you accomplish this and get the full effect of fluoride as well. Then your cavity risk drops dramatically. Interestingly, the sole purpose of toothpaste is to apply fluoride to the teeth. You can brush with water and the bristles and get the same hygienic effect!
- Other anticavity minerals are calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. These can take up to 30 minutes to soak into a tooth, and as a result, are not worthwhile on their own. Of benefit, fluoride has mineral properties which allow fluoride to fuse with these calcium and magnesium, and fluoride pulls them into the teeth in 2-5 minutes as well!
- The last area to brush is the tongue, and this is very important. If you stick your tongue out, it should be pink. A white film you see on the top back of your tongue is plaque, which grows on the tongue as well! Nightly, stick your tongue out and brush the top back of it 12-24x with an old toothbrush using reasonable pressure. If your tongue is not brushed before bed, the plaque remaining on it will reinfect your teeth overnight. Brushing plaque off your tongue will likely solve “morning breath” as well. Save an old toothbrush for this purpose – using your normal brush will cause the bristles to splay prematurely, and an old toothbrush will work better than “tongue scrapers” sold in stores.
Here’s to your success, we wish you health and happiness!
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Fluoride has become a complex subject. People fear fluoride may affect their intelligence or damage their health. This is untrue, and this explanation is meant to address the practical subject of fluoride in its entirety. There is “organic” fluoride, found in nature or made from only natural ingredients, and there is “synthetic” fluoride which is manufactured. The risk of problems from appropriate fluoride use of any sort are not just low, they are non-existent.
The relevant “organic” fluorides are stannous fluoride, or calcium fluoride. Stannous fluoride is superior to all fluorides keeping teeth cavity free, and is made from only natural components. The downside is stannous fluoride has tin and some worry about health effects from metal. Stannous fluoride can also stain teeth over time due to tin, and this is why it is less common. Interestingly, the tin component is also a reason stannous fluoride stops cavities so well, because metal is naturally antimicrobial. Calcium fluoride is the other “organic” fluoride, also made from natural ingredients, however it takes a long time to soak into a tooth, and thus far demonstrates inferior results stopping cavities. In some ways, it serves as a product appeasing fears and allowing users to “feel” as if they get the same impressive effect of fluoride.
The main “synthetic” fluorides are sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate. Sodium fluoride is the most common fluoride because it soaks into teeth the fastest, healing them the fastest. Sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate are basically made from combining fluoride with phosphate harvested while making fertilizer – which is concentrated minerals. In reality, phosphate is a mineral our teeth need to stay hard, and making “synthetic” fluoride from a mineral process makes sense, and also follows simple techniques: sodium fluoride is made by combining hydrofluoric acid with what is standard table salt. Hydrofluoric acid results from getting phosphate minerals out of rock. Hydrofluoric acid is abbreviated HF, table salt is abbreviated NaOH. The mixture is HF + NaOH, and the result is NaF + H2O, also known as sodium fluoride and water. The water is taken out, and sodium fluoride remains. Then we put it on our teeth and it fixes them, and we can swallow it and it will recirculate in our saliva, further healing teeth. Sodium fluoride can also strengthen our bones as a mineral. There is nothing else in that mixture, and as a result, there is nothing mysterious that can cause harm. Initial ingredients mixed to form new ingredients. There is no hydrofluoric acid or table salt going on your teeth or in your body. In fact, when you put sodium fluoride (NaF) back into water, it becomes sodium (Na+) and fluoride (F-).
In terms of the other “synthetic” fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, this is made by phosphate rock mixing with salt water to form sodium metaphosphate, which is then mixed with sodium fluoride, forming sodium monofluorophosphate. The names are simply taken from the process that makes them.
You can have peace of mind knowing all origins are traceable. If you do too much of anything it will harm you: drink too much water and it will leach minerals and electrodes from your body, eat too much calcium and it will effect the electrical activity in your heart, eat too much salt and your vessels will burst from water pressure, and if you eat too much fluoride it will stain developing adult teeth in kids or build up too much in the bodies of adults and replace other minerals. So that is why a dentist should be the person who determines how much you get.
That being said, it is very hard to consume too much fluoride. It requires eating tubes of toothpaste either at once, or chronically over years. Not using fluoride risks losing your teeth, a component of the mouth which actually is the first organ in the digestive system, and the source of your health. Poorly chewed food from few remaining teeth wreaks havoc on the digestive tract, and also affects our psychological state. Fluoride is imperative to continue remineralizing teeth, keeping them hard & decay resistant, and chronic mineral loss in teeth may not reveal damage until lots of teeth suddenly begin cavitating. And then it is too late – because putting minerals back in teeth takes much longer than plaque leeching them out.
The cavity problem happens all day to almost everyone, while fluoride damage is almost non-existent in competent hands. May this help alleviate the burden of understanding an otherwise very valuable component of our health and happiness.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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The back corners of second molars are high cavity risks for everyone. This is because when we open to brush, we typically open wide, causing the lower jaw to slide forward in the jaw joint, pressing the cheek and jawbone against the upper molars, preventing the toothbrush from going completely back. In fact, when you open fully, you can actually feel the toothbrush bump this area! It doesn’t get to the very back of the tooth.
To avoid cavities in this part of your mouth, close halfway when brushing, and slide your jaw to the side you are brushing. You may be amazed by the difference. You can even angle the brush to reach the very back of your second molars with the space that opens – an excellent ability for preventing cavities. If brushing the upper right molar, close halfway and slide your jaw to the right. Do the same when brushing the left. For second molars in the lower jaw, close a little, angle the brush so it gets the back corners of the molar, and make sure you feel the bristles touching the gums. Many unfortunate cavities happen because the corner of the molar gets missed at the gumline.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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There can be lots of challenges when it comes to brushing the teeth of infants and toddlers. How can you know if you are brushing enough plaque away? A unique method to do daily or periodically can be filling a small glass jar with water and brushing with no toothpaste. After brushing 25% of the teeth, dip the brush in the water, run your fingers over the bristles, and you will see plumes of white plaque come off into the water. Go back and re-brush this area and repeat the brush in the water until no more plumes come off. Then progress to the next 25% of the mouth. At the end of brushing, apply a rice (infant) or pea (toddler) -sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste to the brush and glide it over the teeth for the tooth-strengthening effect of fluoride. Rinse after 2 minutes of application. If you do not believe in fluoride, this step is not necessary – as the only purpose of toothpaste is fluoride application. Otherwise, brush bristles are strong enough to debride all plaque & residue from the teeth, and anything more is abrasive.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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In today’s world, lifelike, tooth-colored restorations are the most popular choice to fix teeth you can see. Many are surprised to learn there are different types of white fillings designed to work in different parts of the tooth. In the current time, lots of big business exists in dentistry and many offices are directing to using one generic type of white filling to treat all teeth. This is not something that has to happen, and the result is your dental work may not last as long as you expect. What more, dentists that work in these offices may not have the knowledge to place restorations that work better, even though it is a professional expectation. It is important to know you get a dentist trained to put the right material in the proper part of the tooth. A screening tip when choosing a dentist is to ask what filling they use for root cavities. Root cavities take place on the yellow part of a tooth next to the gums. While the white enamel of a tooth is dry, the yellow root of a tooth is naturally moist, and standard white fillings rely on being glued in place. You can’t glue very well to a moist surface. The white filling for the root of a tooth is called a “resin modified glass ionomer” or a “glass ionomer”. These are the two correct answers for what fixes a root cavity. If the dentist answers “Resin-based composite” or “composite”, it is the wrong material and it is better to find a dentist that knows the difference. It could save you a lot of time, treatment, and money.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Kids get their first adult tooth around age 6 – and many soon after. These adult teeth need to last a lifetime and cavities early on lead to many complications. Consider periodically buying plaque disclosing pink dye tablets and using one after brushing to show missed areas in need of attention. These work very well!
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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A neat tip to stop cavities: Do you ever feel that floss just wipes the plaque around teeth, especially if you’re trying to floss a dental crown or under a dental bridge? Know this: tie a knot in your dental floss. It will physically take the plaque off hard-to-reach areas of your teeth. It works great for getting stubborn foods out as well, such as popcorn kernels!
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Do genetics influence how your teeth get cavities? Many are surprised to learn that almost no genetic conditions remarkably affect the ability to get cavities. Teeth are almost universally strong and durable. The rare conditions where genetics do contribute are dramatic and there are more problems than just soft teeth. Quite interestingly, our preferences for foods and drinks, such as soda, can be genetic as well! When you save the soda for one time in the day and brush 3o minutes after (because soda temporarily softens the outside of your teeth), the cavities go away. Gum disease, however, can be genetic, and that does cause damage. Very often, ideal dieting and oral hygiene can offset any genetic factor that may contribute.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Survival tips with dentistry: Americans rate the toothbrush as a top 5 item they cannot live without. If you’re ever in a situation where you don’t have toothpaste, you can use regular table salt as an alternative. It tastes bad, however salt kills bacteria, including cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. If you don’t have a toothbrush, you can use a strip of cloth over your finger and brush it along your teeth, or you can chew the end of a stick until it has soft bristles and you can use this as a brush as well. Brushing without any toothpaste is completely acceptable, as plaque removal, rather than toothpaste use, is the key. My friend’s mother used this method to save her teeth when fleeing Vietnam as a child. While hopefully never needed, these options may be useful in serious circumstances.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Some dental offices favor a “one size fits all” approach where they limit the number of materials to fix your teeth. This keeps systems as streamlined and convenient as possible, but it is for the practice, not the patient. A specific material that could perform better in some cases is not available when picking the best option to fix a tooth. Going to a practice that uses ALL restorative materials ensures you will have ALL your options, and the chance for your dental work to last as long as possible. Large dental companies often leave the dentist with little control over the materials purchased, which are often generic options to capitalize on bulk order discounts. Private practices are owned by individual dentists with control over materials and methods, and have a greater range of options to fix your teeth.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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What kind of toothpaste should you use? What you want to look for is anything that says “anticavity”, and pretty much nothing else. Many toothpastes advertise “whitening” and often do this by incorporating microscopic abrasive particles in the toothpaste that wears the outer layer of teeth to expose a new white layer. This may cause you to need lots of dental fillings later from worn tooth structure. Toothpastes that whiten with chemicals don’t often work unless you leave the toothpaste on your teeth as if it were a whitening strip – for ten minutes or more, and that is not practical, nor as effective. Toothpaste is for fluoride and stopping cavities, whitening strips are for whitening teeth. Combining them together can cause problems over time. Colgate or Crest Anticavity are great examples of everything you need from toothpaste.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Smokers often have aggressive gum disease and plaque buildup on their teeth. This is because any plaque on the teeth gets dried by the smoke, and essentially “smoked” onto the tooth – becoming incredibly hard to remove. For anyone who likes cigars, cigarettes, vaping, or any type of smoking product, brushing and flossing beforehand can reduce this problem tremendously. Brush with water only, as there is some evidence that whitening products, such as those in toothpastes, can increase the risk of oral cancer when used closely with tobacco.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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We are often told to brush for two minutes. This rule is not based off plaque removal, but instead from the amount of time it takes fluoride to begin working: two minutes. Brushing for this amount of time not only can leave a substantial amount of plaque behind, but it also can lead to the fluoride being rinsed out early. Fluoride takes about 5 minutes to fully work. Brushing a full set of teeth successfully can actually take 4-5 minutes, or more to prevent cavities and gum disease.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Have a problem with morning breath? Plaque also builds up on the tongue. You can see this as a tan color on the top surface when you stick your tongue out – typically at the end of the day. When we sleep, any plaque remaining on the teeth or the tongue can sit for up to 8 hours and flourish – not only causing bad breath, but also increasing your risk for cavities and gum disease. Make sure both the teeth and tongue are sufficiently brushed before bed, and you just might be surprised at the difference in the morning.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Tooth-colored composites are an exception to traditional metal restorations, but the appearance usually comes with a tradeoff: longevity. Tooth-colored restorations can be more beautiful than the traditional amalgam or gold options, but these tooth-colored restorations do not last as long. Acidic drinks (sodas, citrus juices), acidic meals (tomatoes, etc), or acid from plaque can additionally weaken the surface of these composites and shorten their lifespan. The bond can also be metabolized with time. If you want the most durable, long-lasting choices for your teeth, especially in the back of the mouth where they are less visible or out of sight, ask your dentist about metal-based options. If you want the most esthetic, tooth-colored results, composite and ceramics are the way to go. Just know they will likely require more treatment in the long run. There are now multiple generations worth of options to fix teeth. See my articles to learn more about comparison.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Flossing should be done BEFORE brushing. The term “brush and floss” is actually backwards: by flossing before brushing, you remove the food, plaque, and debris that would stop the toothpaste from flowing in-between them. This also lets the fluoride contact the surfaces better, since it plaque layers can block it.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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There are numerous different types of brushing techniques, each with their own advantages. In the search for the best option, it is important to try the most generally effective technique first. Horizontal brushing, with the bristles extending gently into the sulcus around each tooth, is a general method that I think is a great place to start. With healthy teeth, one can use this their whole life without concern. Without exceptional circumstances (such as gum disease or varying dental restorations that may require advanced techniques), the horizontal method can serve as a great overall option.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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The value of teeth: Teeth are not disposable. We only get one adult set. In fact, it can take $60,000-100,000 to restore a complete set of teeth when damage has progressed. I like to say, view the teeth as a family heirloom: you’ve inherited something extremely valuable. If the value is preserved, it can be very beneficial and serve you for your whole life.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Do you have yellow showing through the biting surface of any of your teeth? Or saucer-like divots forming on the cusp tips of your back teeth? This is concerning and a dentist should be consulted. You may be seeing the inner dentin of the tooth getting exposed. This can be due to several things (i.e., grinding, an improper bite, acid reflux, or a restoration that is wearing the opposing natural tooth away). The enamel on the outside of a tooth is strong. It is harder than bone multiple times over. However, the yellow dentin inside the enamel is softer, and is not made to function without enamel over it. This inner structure will wear away fast from regular chewing. If not addressed promptly, extensive and costly repairs with potential root canal treatment may be needed.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Continuing from the previous tip, teeth are not fixed in place. When ground down from clenching, grinding, or any other source, teeth will lift out of the bone to fill the lost space. The body has incredible mechanisms and one of those is the ability for the teeth to adjust so the natural bite remains the same, thus preserving the health of the jaw joints. This can mask the extent of damage because the teeth occupy the same space that was there before. If this goes on for too long, it can be very difficult and expensive to fix. The same is true for a tooth that doesn’t contact anything on the opposite jaw (if the opposing tooth was extracted). The tooth will continue to erupt until it contacts something, such as the gums where the opposing tooth once was. Similarly, a tooth missing a tooth next to it will migrate into the open space. This is why having a complete set of teeth – be it through implants, bridges, partial dentures, or complete dentures, is so important; otherwise the teeth will rearrange themselves as they try to fill the missing spaces.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Cavity-causing bacteria are TRANSMISSIBLE, and can be passed on to others. Silverware, cups, kissing… all are vectors for which different oral flora can transfer between people. In fact, one of the ways humans may first become exposed to cavity-causing bacteria is from a parent kissing the child near or on the mouth! As far as science goes, cavity causing bacteria are still not naturally preventable.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Whitening toothpastes. Be careful. Some can have micro-abrasives that actually sand away the enamel of your teeth, resulting in a whiter color from the exposed, deeper enamel. Over a decade or more, you may brush off some or all of the enamel on your teeth. To simplify the search for whiter teeth, over the counter bleaching products or in-office bleaching are nice ways to reach this goal. To see how abrasive your toothpaste is, look up the Relative Dentin Abrasivity chart by the ADA. You may be surprised!
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Brushing for a long time over fewer sessions can be much more effective than brushing for many sessions for short amounts of time. Brushing once a day and removing all the plaque is more effective than several limited sessions where plaque remains.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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If you are bleaching your teeth at home and need a tooth-colored filling from your dentist within the next two weeks, be sure to tell them you are bleaching. The product will stay in the tooth over this period of time and can weaken the bond of your restoration to the tooth.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Have you ever wondered how different foods affect your teeth? When you eat, your saliva becomes more acidic, causing the outer surface of your teeth to get a little softer. This happens even more when eating acidic foods (lemons, tomatoes, coffee, etc). It takes 30-60 minutes after eating before your teeth return to their normal hardness. Why does this matter? Any clenching, grinding, or toothbrushing you do within 30-60 minutes of eating will wear away more tooth structure. Over the years, it can add up and cause you to need dental treatment if the enamel gets thin or wears through. Wait about 30-60 minutes after a meal before brushing to allow the surface of your teeth to return to normal. Drinking/rinsing with water, or ending with something non-acidic (such as ice cream after dinner), returns them to normal faster.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Generally speaking, implants have their crowns retained in one form or another with a small screw. This screw can become loose over time. If you have an implant crown that you notice is starting to move, prompt care should be obtained, as this is concerning regardless of the cause. Even though there is typically no discomfort with a loose screw, if left untreated even for a little while, the screw will deform and become more difficult to remove. It may also damage the inner threads of the implant, or fracture and lead to a trapped screw or the implant becoming unfixable. These are serious and expensive complications best avoided with early treatment.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Night guards come in many materials and designs. The night guards you can buy in a store, in my experience, perform poorly in the long run. Professionally designed night guards made by a dentist tend to have the best durability and fit to your teeth. These can be soft, hard, or designed with a hard exterior and an elastic interior. If issues with fit happen, the latter design can be a great option to solve that problem.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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If you or a child ever have a tooth knocked out, as immediately as possible (1) place the tooth under your tongue or in a cup of milk. Do NOT place the tooth in water or almond milk, as the water will cause the living cells on the root of the tooth to swell and die. These cells are needed for the tooth to be successfully placed back in the socket. (2) Travel to your dentist immediately. You have a 1 hour window for the tooth to be put back in place before the body may reject it. You have the best odds for success if done within 30 minutes. Pediatric dentists will be better equipped for age 21 and below.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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Back molars in the upper jaw are notorious for getting plaque buildup, gum disease and cavities. This is usually due to lack of brush access – particularly the back surface of the very last molar. This is because when you open fully while brushing, the jaw slides forward and blocks the toothbrush from getting back there. Try closing halfway, which slides the jaw back, and then slide your jaw to the side for extra access. You may be amazed how much more you can brush. Don’t forget to floss the back-most surface as well, even if there is no tooth behind it.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.
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How long does it take for a cavity to develop? The white enamel on the outside of a tooth is extremely strong. Several times harder than bone. It can take YEARS for a cavity to develop. Once the cavity breaks through the enamel, the inside of a tooth is softer, and the cavity moves quick. That’s how they get big. Don’t let too much time go by between dental checkups, as cavities can stay small and simple.
This message brought to you by Canepa Dentistry and Dr. Colt Canepa, proudly providing dentistry to Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port St. Lucie, and Martin County.