img???
Oral Care and Hygiene
Elderly white couple smiling and brushing their teeth in the bathroom mirror Having healthy teeth begins in utero and continues daily for your entire life. Good oral care takes diligence and the development of a hygiene routine. At Sylvan Heights Dental, we can improve your oral health and discuss treatments and tips to help you have continued health.

Creating a plan to increase your oral care and hygiene includes the following.

Scheduling Regular Cleanings and Exams


Your dental cleaning and exam are important. Too often we only see patients when they are experiencing pain. Your dental cleaning appointment allows our hygienist the opportunity to remove plaque and hardened calculus, and to track and measure your gum pockets to assess gum disease. Your dental exam lets us spot problems, small or large. We do a visual examination as well as review digital x-ray images. During this time, we hope to catch issues before they become problems.

Creating a Home Routine


Regular brushing and flossing your teeth is an incredibly important step in your oral healthcare. We promote brushing twice a day, with your evening brushing being of high importance. Before you retire to bed each night, brush and floss your teeth thoroughly to remove plaque, bacteria and debris. To do this effectively, we ask patients to consider their mouths in four quadrants and brush each quadrant for 30 seconds, or a total of two minutes. After brushing, clean between your teeth with floss. Form the flossing thread into a letter c shape and use it to scoop between your teeth. Following flossing, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash to remove any remaining particles. Your morning brushing does not require the same level of care, a simple brushing can brighten and freshen your breath.

Preventive Care


We offer treatments to help you have healthier teeth. We can provide a fluoride treatment to help remineralize your teeth and thicken the enamel walls. We can also help patients at an increased risk of developing tooth decay protect their teeth with dental sealants.

Orthodontic Care


Some oral health issues will require orthodontic care to treat. Tooth placement, including overcrowding, can create space for bacteria to hide and create problems.

Diet


Your diet matters. We frequently advise patients to drink more water and to avoid sugar. Tooth decay begins with bacteria, but it's the feeding on sugars that cause caries and cavities. Sugar is often overly consumed by many. Sugar is in more than just treats, it's in breads, pastas, fruit, juices and more. Learning where sugar can be found and how to avoid it can greatly benefit the health of your teeth.

Avoid Bad Habits


Habits such as smoking tobacco, marijuana and more is bad for your oral health. The heat of smoking dries your mouth and doesn't allow your natural cleaning process of saliva to do its job. Similarly, the consumption of alcohol may kill some bacteria (not as much as you think because it doesn't stay in your mouth for long) but it also dries your saliva reducing the effects of your natural cleaning.

Schedule an Appointment


If you're ready to schedule an appointment with Sylvan Heights Dental, give us a call at (503) 297-1471 today!
icon pin

Office Location

5440 SW Westgate Dr, Suite 165
Portland, OR 97221

icon time

Opening Hours

Mon - Thurs: 8am - 5pm
Fri -Sun: CLOSED

icon dial

Phone

(503) 297-1471

Copyright © 2018-2024 Sylvan Heights Dental and WEO Media (Touchpoint Communications LLC). All rights reserved.  Sitemap
Oral Care & Hygiene | Dentist Portland, OR | Sylvan Heights Dental
At Sylvan Heights Dental, we can help you practice good oral care that can help your teeth and gums stay healthy for life. Click here to learn more!
Sylvan Heights Dental, 5440 SW Westgate Drive, Suite 165, Portland, OR 97221 - (503) 297-1471 - sylvanheightsdental.com - 12/2/2024 - Page Keywords: dentist Portland OR -