What Is Plaque and Tartar?

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When you hear about why brushing your teeth is important, you hear a lot about plaque and tartar. Knowing what plaque and tartar are and how to protect your teeth from these substances. Working with your dentist in Castle Rock, CO, can help. At Castle Valley Dental, we recommend that our patients visit the dentist twice annually to remove plaque and tartar. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, clear, or whitish substance that consists of a combination of food particles and saliva. Plaque sticks to teeth after eating and can gather on tooth enamel near the gum line. Plaque can often be removed with good brushing habits.

What Is Tartar?

Tartar is a very hard substance. Tartar is what plaque turns into if it’s left on the teeth for too long. Tartar is often dark yellow in color. It can’t be removed with simple brushing; it needs to be scraped away by the dentist. Tartar can cause gum recession, gather at or even below the gum line, and cause stains on the teeth.

How Can I Protect My Teeth?

You can protect your teeth from plaque and tartar by brushing your teeth twice daily with a good toothbrush. You don’t need a toothbrush with stiff bristles to get rid of plaque and tartar; a soft bristle toothbrush is enough. Replace your toothbrush every three months to ensure that your toothbrush will do a good enough job.

If possible, use an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are better for getting rid of plaque and keeping tartar off your teeth. Flossing once per day can also help keep plaque and tartar off your teeth. Have your dentist show you how to floss properly to ensure you’re doing your best to eliminate plaque.

Make Your Annual Appointment

See your dentist twice per year for tooth examinations and tooth cleanings in Castle Rock, CO. During your visit, your dental professional will remove this from your teeth and help polish the tooth enamel to prevent more plaque and tartar from accumulating there. Need an appointment with Castle Valley Dental? Call today to get on the schedule.

Is It Time For Your Next Dental Appointment?

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When was the last time you saw the dentist in Castle Rock, CO? If it’s been more than six months, you’re overdue for a dental appointment! Knowing when to see the dentist and what to expect during your dental appointment can make the whole experience more comfortable.

If you’re not seeing the dentist as often as you should, your dental health could suffer, and that could make your next appointment with the dentist a less enjoyable experience. Here’s what you need to know about seeing the dentist for a dental cleaning.

How Often Should You See the Dentist?

Most dentists recommend that their patients come in for regular dental appointments every six months. Follow this recommended schedule unless your dentist has directed you to do otherwise. Seeing the dentist twice per year will help keep plaque and tartar to a minimum and will also make your appointments a smoother and less stressful experience.

See the Dentist When You’re Seeing Signs of a Problem

You should also see the dentist if you’re experiencing symptoms of a dental problem, such as:

  • Toothache (intermittent or at specific times, like when you bite down)
  • Sudden intense tooth sensitivity
  • Permanent tooth has become loose
  • Your breath smells bad even though you’re brushing your teeth twice per day

These could be signs of a dental problem like gum disease, an infection or a cavity. See your dentist to get a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Benefits of Seeing the Dentist Regularly

Seeing the dentist regularly can help you avoid dental problems like cavities, gum disease, and dental infections. During your dental appointment, the dental professional will remove plaque and tartar that can cause gum recession. You’ll also have your teeth polished, and some general stains on your tooth enamel may be removed.

What to Expect During Your Dental Appointment

During your dental appointment, you’ll have your teeth cleaned and examined by a dental professional. You may get dental X-rays during your appointment, and the dentist will also polish your tooth enamel. If you’re experiencing a problem, the dentist will identify that problem and recommend treatment.

If you’re due for a dental cleaning and exam in Castle Rock, CO, call Castle Valley Dental today to make an appointment.

What a Dental X-Ray Doesn’t Show

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A dental X-rays is truly useful technology to a dentist. It shows off not just the interior of the tooth, but also the bone structure and gums that support the teeth. However, for as powerful as an X-ray is, it can’t show a dentist in Castle Rock, CO everything. We’ll look at the common details that it won’t show.

A dental X-ray can reveal most cavities, but it may not accurately portray one if it hasn’t penetrated the enamel of the tooth or if it’s hiding under a filling. It also may not be able to show other dental issues, such as a cracked tooth or an abscess in the soft tissue of the mouth.

This can be disappointing to a patient who wants to know that they have a clean bill of health, but the good news is that there other types of scans that can reveal these issues to the dentist. In addition, it’s unlikely that you would have a fracture or an infection without having other symptoms.

No matter why you’re visiting the dentist, you want to have confidence in the diagnosis they give you. If they suspect that there’s an issue, you want them to go the extra mile to verify that your mouth is healthy. A reputable dentist will make sure that their X-ray machine is calibrated, that the pictures are taken at the proper angle, and that you’re perfectly still at the time of the photo. If you have a lot of hardware in your mouth, such as braces or crowns, they’ll be aware of how those objects impair their vision, and they’ll make contingencies about what to do next if their vision is blocked.

Finding a General Dentist in Castle Rock, CO

A general dentist in Castle Rock, CO is your first line of defense when it comes to staving off serious oral health issues in the future. If you’re looking for a professional staff that will make sure they have all the facts in hand, Castle Valley Dental has the technology and the expertise to interpret your scans as accurately as possible. Contact us today to make an appointment for an X-ray exam and cleaning.

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How Often Should I See the Dentist?

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Seeing the dentist on a regular basis can help you take good care of your teeth. Knowing how often to visit the dentist in Castle Rock CO, and sticking to that schedule, can help you avoid dental problems like gum disease, stains on your tooth enamel, dental infections and other problems. How often should you visit the dentist? Read on to find out.

See the Dentist Twice Per Year

Most dentists ask that their patients come in for dental cleanings twice per year. Patients who have special needs or who have a dental problem that requires special care may need to see the dentist more often.

Patients who are very young or who have very good oral hygiene and dental health may only be asked to see the dentist once per year. Either way, following your dentist’s recommended treatment plan and examination schedule is important.

Call the Dentist With Signs of a Problem

Even if you’re going to the dentist twice annually for your regular cleanings, you may need to go to the dentist for an additional visit if you’re noticing signs of a dental problem. Signs of dental disease include:

  • Bad breath that doesn’t go away, even if you brush your teeth
  • Pain in your teeth or in one particular tooth
  • Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
  • Swelling around your tooth, in the gums, or your cheeks
  • Black or brown spots on your teeth or discolorations on the tooth enamel
  • A hole or crack in your tooth enamel

See the Dentist During a Dental Emergency

If you’re having a dental emergency, see the dentist as quickly as possible. For example, if you lose a permanent tooth, see the dentist within half an hour if you wish to save the tooth. If you have severe tooth pain, you could be in need of an emergency procedure called a root canal. Call the dentist for advice and to make an appointment.

Whether you have a dental emergency or you simply need to see the dentist for your usual cleaning and examination, contact Castle Valley Dental for a dental appointment in Castle Rock, CO. Call today.