Causes of Bleeding Gums

When gums are healthy, they don’t bleed. At ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, we aim to protect our patients from gum inflammation and disease. For that, patients need to understand what causes their gums to bleed and what increases their risk factor.

Gingivitis usually results from plaque building up near the gum line. The gum pockets are a great place for bacteria to hide in, and as they produce plaque, the gums become irritated. Regular brushing can prevent plaque build-up, but it’s still necessary for patients to make biannual appointments for professional cleanings. Bleeding can also result from the gums being bruised, so while it is important to brush regularly and thoroughly, do so with a soft-bristled brush.

Smokers are especially likely to develop bleeding gums, as are people on blood thinner medications and who suffer from dry mouth. This is because saliva helps to remove tartar and combat the spread of bacteria. Pregnancy also creates hormonal conditions which favor the development of gum disease.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Banish Bad Breath

Bad breath that results from consuming potent foods like onions or garlic isn’t harmful to our health. However, when it becomes persistent due to lack of oral hygiene, then our doctors of ProSmiles Dental have a bone to pick with patients. Medically deemed, halitosis, bad breath can be an acute or chronic condition. There are many risk factors, such tobacco products, dry mouth, or poor oral health.  

Bad breath can be made worse by the types of foods you consume or by unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking. When we eat, our food is broken down into particles that cause plaque when not brushed away on a daily basis. The best way to prevent bad breath is by keeping your mouth as clean as possible. In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth, you should brush your tongue to eliminate all leftover food residues. Treatment for bad breath will depend on the cause.

If you have questions or concerns regarding bad breath or your oral hygiene status, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at ProSmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

That baby teeth are not permanent does not mean they shouldn’t be kept clean. We at ProSmiles Dental want families with young children to know how they can help their children avoid toothaches and be set for a lifetime of oral health. One of the biggest problems facing toddlers is a pattern dentists refer to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.

Incisors, the front teeth, are usually the first to erupt, and their fronts are where the sugar from bottled fluid tends to accumulate. The longer sugar remains on a tooth’s surface, the more likely the tooth is to experience decay. Unfortunately, toddlers are often allowed to drink milk or formula from a bottle over a period of an hour or more, keeping their teeth coated in sugar, and because they are unable to access their own drinking water, they have no means of washing away residue.

Parents can prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay by teaching their children to drink from cups as soon as possible, ensuring they are getting enough water to drink, and taking away milk bottles once a child is done feeding. (Children should only be given fruit juice and other sugary drinks after they have graduated to cups.) It is also important to begin brushing a baby’s teeth as soon as the first one begins to erupt.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

How to Clean Dentures

At ProSmiles Dental, we value our relationships with our patients and want to ensure they have as easy a time as possible adjusting to changes in their oral hygiene needs. Getting dentures is one such major transition, and to get the most use out of them, patients need to understand how to clean their new teeth.

Natural teeth are coated in the hardest substance in the human body and produce their own protective film. But artificial teeth do not, and they may be scratched by ordinary toothpaste. Patients should brush their dentures with toothpaste designated specifically for that purpose and brush the whole denture, not just the bits which mimic teeth. Like all oral hygiene, this should be done with a soft-bristled brush.

Even if dentures are supported by implants, they should be removed every night. While outside the mouth, they need to be kept moist by being soaked in cleaning solution or water. It is important that the soaking solution not be too hot, as this may warp the denture’s thin plastic. Removing dentures will give patients an opportunity to brush the inside of their mouths, which should be done in the morning to stimulate blood flow before putting the denture back in.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Electric Toothbrushes

At ProSmiles Dental, we’re proud to provide our Fort Worth patients with the advice they need to maintain their oral hygiene. Most people understand the importance of brushing their teeth, but for various reasons, people often do it improperly. Some people would benefit from using an electric toothbrush, but it depends on what they’re doing wrong.

Proper use of a manual toothbrush requires two full minutes of brushing during each session. Most people don’t do this, and some can’t. An electric toothbrush is much faster; most can make thousands of strokes per minute, while people can only make hundreds, at most. This also makes it much easier to brush too hard or for too long, but most electric toothbrushes now come with features to alert patients if they are overdoing it.

Newer models of electric toothbrushes are being manufactured with a variety of apps to assist patients with their technique and motivation. If a person is fully capable of using a manual toothbrush correctly, an electric toothbrush may only be an expensive toy. But for a person with a limited attention span or motion control issues, electric toothbrushes can make a huge improvement in oral hygiene.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Are You Flossing Correctly?

Flossing your teeth is more important to your well-being than brushing. So why do people come up with silly excuses such as, “I’m not coordinated enough to floss,” or “I don’t know how to floss.” After today, you won’t be able to use these excuses anymore, because Dr. Archana Lankupalli of Prosmiles Dental is going to teach you how to floss correctly.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

Are You Brushing Effectively?

When you brush your teeth, you help remove food and plaque – a sticky film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria. The longer plaque is left on your teeth the more time it has to break down tooth enamel and lead to cavities. As much as we love to see your smile here at Prosmiles Dental, Dr. Archana Lankupalli wants you to keep it healthy and utilize these brushing tips in between professional cleanings.

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and don’t forget to floss!

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.

Dental Cleaning: Defined

No matter how much you diligently brush or floss your teeth at home, harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that can only be removed by a dental professional. These bacteria can cause gum disease and significantly affect your overall health. Here at Prosmiles Dental, our hygienists will use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar and bacteria build-up that you are unable to efficiently remove yourself.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, it is recommended that a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. The professional dental cleaning reinforces the home-care oral health regimen of brushing and flossing and gives one of our doctors an opportunity to locate areas in the mouth that may need special attention. During a teeth cleaning, our team of hygienists will thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. Once the surfaces are smooth, polishing is done using a slow speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins on the end. Last but not least, the dentist flosses every crevice between your teeth and may apply fluoride if needed.

If you are overdue for a dental checkup, please give us a call today. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.prosmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Prosmiles Dental in Fort Worth, TX, call 817-677-8966.