General Dentistry FAQ's

Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton

Q: How frequently should I have a professional cleaning?
A: Today, teeth cleaning is more individualized – spaced out between two and six months. Those with obvious periodontal conditions, who use tobacco, or have certain medical conditions are likely to benefit from frequent cleanings.

Q: How can I maintain fresh breath?
A: To achieve fresh breath, take these preparatory measures:

Avoid odor-causing foods, which include not only garlic and onion, but peppery dishes and sauces like Tabasco. Diet sodas trigger dehydration which leads to bad breath.
Brush your teeth thoroughly at least once a day
Floss daily
Rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine (perogard or peridex), chlorine dioxide (such as OxyFresh or Profresh), zinc chloride (try Lavoris), or germ-fighting essential oils (such as Listerine, BreathRx or Tooth and Gum Tonic)
Minimize any bad-breath consequences such as pre-date anxiety by gently scraping the debris off the back of your tongue and then swab your tongue with mouthwash

Q: Wisdom Teeth – To Pull or Not To Pull
A: There are advantages to having wisdom teeth. They come in handy as bridge abutments. But otherwise, wisdom teeth present a litany of woes. Some scenarios are:

They remain upright, but under the gums. If they're decay-free, dentists tend to leave them be.
They remain unerupted, but pitched at an angle, which places pressure on the neighboring teeth.
They're lopsided and they surface only partially. That's the worst-case scenario, likely to cause a collection of food and bacteria under the gum, resulting in cavities, enlarged periodontal pockets and bone loss.

Q: If my medication is causing dry mouth, what can I do?
A: If you can't change your medication, here are some helpful remedies:

Drink plenty of fluids
Suck on crushed ice
Use a synthetic saline or oral moisturizer such as Oralbalance, Salivant or Mouthkote.
While you're at it, check out the rinses, toothpastes and toothbrushes designed for dry mouth. One brand is Biotene.
For instant relief, try Breathtech, a slippery spray with a dash of fluoride.
Finally, there are several drugs designed to relieve dryness. Salagin and Evoxac, as well as Aricept and Reminyl – new Alzheimer's drugs that are also being prescribed for actors and public speakers.

Q: What causes snoring?
A: An estimated 20% of the adult population snores. Some causes, contributing factors and side effects are:

A crowded upper airway due to a large tongue, tonsils or uvula.
Obesity. While not actually a cause in itself, it may play an important role in the development of sleep apnea where breathing is interrupted for a minimum of ten seconds hundreds of times per night.
Excessive relaxation of the throat muscles during sleep. This causes the airway to cave in, periodically collapse, and temporarily restrict breathing. Contributing factors are consumption of alcohol, sleeping pills and anxiety medications known as benzodiazepenes (valium and temazipam are prime examples).

7707 N. University Dr., Suite 201
Tamarac, FL 33321

Call Dr. O’Neil at 800-458-9140 or fill out an online contact form so we can get in touch with you.

General Dentistry FAQ's

Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton

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