Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Tips for a Healthy Mouth

A healthy mouth is a good-looking smile. Keeping teeth healthy takes a good home oral care routine. The doctors of Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania want their patients in the Philadelphia, PA area to have the right tips and information for a healthy mouth.


To start, brushing and flossing should be performed correctly. Brushing should be done two times per day. If a third time is able to be squeezed in, that is even better. Flossing should be done every day. It doesn’t matter if flossing is done before or after brushing, it just needs to be done.


While brushing should be done two to three times per day, it should be done at least thirty minutes after eating. This is because certain foods have acids that sit on the teeth. If the teeth are brushed when the acid is still on the teeth, it can wear down enamel; making teeth cavity-prone.


If you smoke, now is a great time to quit. Smoking creates the perfect environment for bacteria to harbor near the gum line, harming gums and teeth. This increases the risk of tooth loss. Smoking can also lead to oral cancer.


Use a light touch when brushing. While it is important to brush the whole tooth and pay attention to the gum line, abrasive brushing can erode the tooth and harm the gums. Light brushing is all that is needed to remove plaque.


Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have four locations in the Philadelphia, PA area. To learn more about our practice, contact one of our locations, or visit our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Why it is Important to Replace a Missing Tooth

When a tooth falls out or is extracted, if it doesn’t bother you, it may be tempting to just leave the open space there. However, replacing that tooth can actually be very important to the health of your other teeth, your gums, and your jaw. Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in the Philadelphia, PA area, we want our patients to understand the importance of tooth replacement.


When a tooth is missing, there are several things that will happen to the area. As soon as the tooth is gone, the jaw bone that used to hold the tooth’s root begins to degenerate. This creates a change in the jaw that makes the other teeth shift towards that opening. When the teeth shift, they create gaps and other awkward spacing that affects your smile. It also creates hard-to-reach areas where debris and bacteria may collect. When there is more than one tooth missing, this can create major changes in the jaw shape, which can also change the facial structure.


An open space can also cause irritation to the gum tissue that is exposed. When chewing, food can irritate the tissue since it is unprotected by a tooth. Built up bacteria and gum irritation, as we know, can lead to decay and gum disease.


We offer dental implants as permanent tooth replacement here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania. Dental implants act just like teeth and can last a lifetime. To learn more, contact one of our Philadelphia, PA area locations or visit our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

How to Choose the Right Toothbrush For You

Choosing the right toothbrush can be a very important step in good oral care. Everyone’s mouth is different, so the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania wants our patients to understand how they can choose the right toothbrush for them and get the most out of their brushing.


Toothbrushes come in all shapes and sizes. Some are electric, some are large, and some are shaped differently. While picking out a new toothbrush, we want you to know the right properties that will help you out.


A good toothbrush should have a small head. This allows for all surfaces of the mouth to be reached. A good grip is also good for moving the toothbrush around in the mouth. Soft bristles are best for removing plaque. Bristles that are too stiff can actually harm the tooth by wearing down enamel. This will do the opposite of what tooth brushing is for; it can actually cause teeth to be cavity-prone. Stiff bristles can also harm the gums.


Now, one huge difference between all of the toothbrushes available is that some are manual and some are electric. Studies have shown that manual toothbrushes can clean teeth just as well as electric ones; however, electric ones may do a better job for those who have difficulties using their hands. For those with say, arthritis, electric toothbrushes do most of the work and may offer a better cleaning.


Good oral hygiene is part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy. For information about Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania and their four Philadelphia, PA area locations, visit our website, www.oralsurgerypa.com