Diabetes and Your Mouth # 4 : Keep Plaque at Bay

Sticky plaque -- food, saliva, and bacteria -- starts to form on your teeth after you eat, releasing acids that attack tooth enamel. Untreated plaque turns into tartar, which builds under gum lines and is hard to remove with flossing. The longer it stays on your teeth, the more harmful it is. Bacteria in plaque causes inflammation and leads to gum disease. Having high blood sugar often makes gum disease worse.

The above article is from: WebMD.com

Ivan K. Salmons, DDS  
1855 Indian Hills Drive   
Sioux City, IA 51104   
(712) 239-5900   
SiouxCityDentist.com

6 Habits That Harm Your Teeth (And How to Break Them): Brushing Too Hard

The habit: Brushing for two minutes twice a day is one of the best habits you can get into. Just make sure you’re not trying too hard. “Brushing with a hard toothbrush, or brushing too hard, can damage teeth and irritate gums,” says Dr. Matthew Messina.

The solution: Use a soft toothbrush with the ADA Seal of Acceptance at the proper pressure. “Don’t think ‘scrub.’  Think ‘massage,’” he says. “Save the hard toothbrush for cleaning the grout in the bathroom tile.”

To read the entire article please visit MouthHealthy.org


Ivan K. Salmons, DDS  
1855 Indian Hills Drive   
Sioux City, IA 51104   
(712) 239-5900   
SiouxCityDentist.com 

Having a plaque attack?

Plaque is that soft, sticky stuff that builds up on your teeth over time. It contains legions of bacteria. Left untreated it will eventually lead to gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss.

Frequent brushing and flossing are required to keep plaque at bay. But it's virtually impossible to remove all plaque without the skills of your professional dental hygienist. In other words, you're going to need some help.

Call our office today to schedule your next routine teeth cleaning to receive help with your plaque removal!

Ivan K. Salmons, DDS  
1855 Indian Hills Drive   
Sioux City, IA 51104   
(712) 454-7214   
SiouxCityDentist.com 

General Dentistry

The Importance of Hygiene Visits

The attention of a professional hygienist is your best defense in the struggle against gum disease. Regularly scheduled cleanings remove plaque accumulation before it forms a more challenging concern. Plaque often remains in the difficult-to-reach places of your mouth. Even with systematic brushing, some of it will remain in the grooves and pockets of your teeth and gums. Plaque hardens into tartar, which is beyond the scope of your standard toothbrush and floss to eliminate. Tartar accumulates below your gum line as well as on the enamel of your teeth, inviting decay and even gum disease to take up residence in your mouth. Recent research shows a clear link between untreated gum disease and other life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Which means having your teeth cleaned is one of the most beneficial reasons to visit your dentist!

Ivan K. Salmons, DDS  
1855 Indian Hills Drive   
Sioux City, IA 51104   
(712) 454-7214   
SiouxCityDentist.com