Redwood Dental Smiles: Blog

We hope our patients at Redwood Dental Smiles have enjoyed learning more about their oral health on our new blog. In order to gain a fuller understanding of various oral health issues and procedures, it will be necessary to learn a bit about how teeth differ from each other and which issues most affect them. People typically grow thirty-two permanent teeth, with sixteen in each jaw that mirror each other in type. At the front of each jaw are two pairs of incisors, which are the flat, vertical teeth. They are for tearing food and forming speech. We often provide them with veneers to improve their color or provide minor adjustments in shape. On each side of the incisors is a pointy canine tooth, which is also called an eye-tooth or a cuspid. It is for piercing food and helps to stabilize the overall arch shape the teeth form. In the back of the mouth are the teeth for chewing. They include two sets of premolars and three sets of molars. Their surface of cusps and valley make them vulnera...

To get the most out of your oral care routine, this can’t be done by brushing, alone. It’s important to floss afterward because flossing removes the particles between our teeth that the brush isn’t able to reach. Flossing reduces bad breath, eliminates gingivitis, and prevents periodontal disease. Dr. Vijay Munagala of Redwood Dental Smiles wants patients to receive maximum benefits from flossing by using this technique. 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 flos...

Just like we put our pants on one leg at a time, there is a proper way to brush our teeth. Brushing our teeth is a critical part of our dental routine if we want to keep our permanent teeth for a lifetime. If you don’t give your teeth the attention they need, you increase your risk of developing periodontal disease and tooth decay. The next time you stand in front of the sink to brush your teeth, utilize these tips. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums. Move the brush back and forth in a circular motion 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. If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.redwooddentalsmiles.com for more info...