Southside Dental invests in technology that provides the greatest value to patients. In some cases, technological advances in dentistry simply are more expensive methods instead of chasing the latest dental fad that's not always medically necessary and often drives up patient and insurance costs.
Here's a sample of the latest technology Southside Dental offers you.
• To keep you comfortable during your visit, we offer nitrous oxide gas or a special comfort control syringe to painlessly administer anesthesia.
• Non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, or gingivitis, causes red, swollen, bleeding gums. If caught early, we can help reverse the damage. And, with the latest cosmetic procedures, we can restore your smile -- without surgery.
Dental Health Products
Visit Southside Dental for your dental health products including:
• Sonic® Care toothbrushes
• Braun®
• Other ….
• Bleach…
• Prescription Sensitivity Treatment Gel
Tips on Caring for Your Smile
Here is some helpful information to keep you and your family's smile healthy:
• Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
• Preparing for Your Child's First Dental Visit
• Caring for Baby's Teeth
• Give Bad Breath the Brush-off
Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
To clean your teeth properly, brush them at least twice a day, preferably after each meal or snack, and floss daily. Consider the following to keep a healthy, bright smile:
• Use a soft-bristled brush because it's gentler on the gums.
• Place your toothbrush at an angle against your teeth. Use short, back-and-forth motions to clean your teeth.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
• Floss your teeth by gently pulling the ends of the floss against the front and back surface of a tooth so that the floss forms a “C” as it wraps around the tooth. Gently pull the floss from the gumline to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Don't forget to floss the backs of your teeth and to use fresh floss as you progress through your teeth.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
And, don't forget to schedule an appointment with Southside Dental once or twice a year to prevent gum disease and other oral problems.
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Preparing for Your Child's First Dental Visit
When should you schedule your child's first dentist appointment? Ideally, six months after your child's primary, or “baby” teeth erupt. This is a perfect time to have your child's mouth examined to ensure proper development and to safeguard against baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum disease and prolonged thumb-sucking.
The best way to prepare your child is for you to appear calm and comfortable. If your child is under 36 months, you may need to sit in the dental chair and hold the child during the exam. In some cases, you may be asked to wait in the reception area so a relationship can develop between your child and the dentist and hygienist.
The first exam lasts between 15-30 minutes and may include the following depending on your child's age:
• A gentle, but thorough exam of the teeth, jaw, bite, gums and oral tissues
• Perhaps a gentle cleaning to polish teeth and remove plaque, tarter build-up or stains
• X-rays
• A demonstration of how to properly brush and floss teeth
Like adults, children should visit the dentist every six months.
We provide special attention to our smallest patients, and we'll make your child's first visit as comfortable as possible.
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Caring for Baby's Teeth
Building a lifetime of good oral health starts early. You should begin in the first weeks after your baby is born. Here's how to care for your baby's teeth:
• Clean baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth.
• As soon as the first teeth come in, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• To avoid baby bottle tooth decay and crooked teeth due to sucking, try to wean your child off of the breast and bottle by one year of age. Monitor excessive sucking of pacifiers, fingers and thumbs. Never give your child a bottle of milk, juice or sweetened liquid as a pacifier at bedtime.
• Once children are 5 years old, they can learn to brush their teeth on their own.
• Make sure your child brushes their teeth at nighttime. This is the most important time to brush.
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Give Bad Breath the Brush-off
Bad breath, or halitosis, originates from the gums or tongue. The odor is caused by bacteria from the decay of food particles and other debris in your mouth, often the result of poor oral hygiene. The decaying food particles produce a sulfur compound that causes the unpleasant odor. Here are some ways to battle bad breath:
• Brush your tongue, cheeks and the roof of your mouth to completely remove food particles.
• Floss to remove accumulated bacteria, plaque and food trapped between your teeth.
• Make sure you don't have a medical condition causing bad breath. Gum disease, diabetes, kidney failure or infection can create bad breath.
• Watch to see if stress, diet, snoring or hormonal changes contribute to your breath.
• Brush at least twice a day and after you've eaten very spicy or pungent foods which can be detected on the breath for up to 72 hours after digestion.
• Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva production that can wash away food particles and bacteria.
• Thoroughly clean any removable mouth appliance such as a retainer, mouthguard or dentures.
• Talk to your dentist who can help you detect the source of your bad breath.
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