Preventative treatments at the dentist in Bel Air give you an easy way to prevent major oral health issues and to keep your teeth looking great. Keep reading to find out how these preventative treatments can help you maintain a healthy, attractive smile:

It Keeps the Teeth and Gums Clean
General cleanings are huge parts of preventive care. The dentist will give you a thorough cleaning every time you go in for an appointment. This can help you prevent food and plaque from building up on your teeth and gums, which lowers your risk for developing cavities or periodontal disease.

It Reminds You Why Oral Hygiene is Important
If you visit your dentist for regular cleanings, it reminds you of the importance of a good oral hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing your teeth at home helps you get the best reports the next time you visit the dentist. If you keep up with your preventative visits, you can easily remind yourself why it is so important to focus on your oral health.

It Spots Issues Early
Preventative dental care helps you spot any oral health issues early enough to get treatment before the problems get worse . A dentist can place a dental sealant over a tooth that is at risk for developing decay to protect the eating surface. If the dentist can spot problems like gum disease in the earliest stages, he or she can give you treatment to prevent the issue from getting any worse.

It Helps You Learn About Oral Health
Preventative dentistry can also educate patients about oral health. The dentist can teach you about the proper way to care for your teeth and gums to decrease your risk for preventable problems like cavities and gum disease. He or she can also talk to you about the best kinds of foods to eat to encourage a healthy smile. The dentist can also show you how your oral health can affect your overall health.

Gum recession, while not a dental emergency in most cases, can still be quite serious. If you have receding gums in Bel Air , you’ll want to schedule a dental appointment soon so that the cause can be determined and appropriate treatment can be started.

Gums can recede for several reasons, the most common of which is periodontal disease. You may also experience gum recession if there’s been trauma to the area or if you are genetically predisposed to the condition. Treatments are available to reverse gum recession, including scaling and root planning, and gum grafting to restore lost tissue.

Check out this video to learn more about the causes of gum recession and its treatments. Remember that complications from the condition can range from tooth sensitivity to cavities in the root, and in some cases, tooth loss. Talk to your dentist today about your receding gums and what can be done about them.

Many parents mistakenly believe that the health of their children’s baby teeth isn’t that important since they’ll lose the teeth anyway. This unfortunate misconception has led to nearly half of all children experiencing at least some form of tooth decay before their permanent teeth erupt. A child’s primary teeth are extremely important to their long-term oral health, however, so it’s vital to follow and teach good oral care habits early. Talk to your family dentist in Bel Air about the best way to care for your child’s teeth, and follow these tips:

Start Early
Most children’s primary teeth begin to erupt between four and six months of age. Some dentists recommend gently cleaning the gums from birth by simply wiping them with a damp cloth, then moving on to a baby toothbrush when the first tooth erupts. By beginning oral hygiene this early and sticking to it twice per day, you can help ensure it becomes a normal part of daily life that your child simply expects; struggles over brushing teeth in the morning and evening can be greatly minimized by teaching the habit early.

Teach Proper Techniques
As children become toddlers and start to exhibit some independence, they will want to “do things themselves.” This is a good thing, but it’s important that they learn how to do them the right way. Allow your child to brush his or her own teeth, but be present to monitor the technique. You may even consider brushing together so that your child can imitate your motions until he or she has a solid grasp of the technique. Be sure to go after your child to finish the job until he or she is able to do a thorough job on his or her own.

Visit the Dentist Regularly
The family dentistry professionals at your dentist’s office can be your biggest allies in caring for your child’s teeth . At the dentist, your child will receive regular cleanings and have his or her oral health monitored through x-rays and comprehensive exams. You and your child will also receive tips and education on maintaining lifelong oral health.

Most people agree that a toothache can be a terribly painful experience. However, many people do not know what causes a toothache that might send them rushing to their dentist in Bel Air .

The most common cause of toothaches is cavities, or tooth decay. When a tooth decays to the point that it exposes the nerves inside the tooth, even the act of breathing can be excruciating as air moves across the area. You may need a filling, root canal, or crown depending on the level of decay. Another common cause of toothaches is dental abscesses. These are infections in or around the tooth and are quite serious. Immediate dental care is required. Toothaches can also be caused by a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth, infected gums, lost fillings or crowns, or tooth grinding. Talk to your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing any type of tooth pain so that he or she can determine the cause and administer the appropriate treatment.

While you probably strive to protect your mouth and teeth from injury or infection, life isn’t always easy to control. Certain dental situations will require a prompt trip to an emergency dentist near Bel Air , while others may be handled with at-home care until you can see your dentist during regular business hours. Here’s what to do if you find yourself facing a dental emergency:

Stop Any Bleeding
If you sustain injury to the soft tissues of the mouth, or if you have a tooth knocked out, partially dislodged, or broken, it’s vital to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. This can be accomplished by rinsing your mouth gently with a warm saltwater solution and then applying pressure to the area. You may use either a folded piece of gauze or a damp tea bag over the area to keep pressure on for 15 to 20 minutes. If the bleeding is not controlled after that, continue applying pressure but seek treatment immediately either at an emergency room or an emergency dentist.

Control Swelling and Pain
​Dental emergencies typically come with pain, and often are accompanied by swelling. Unless your doctor has placed restrictions on it, take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with the pain. Ibuprofen will also help to control inflammation and swelling. Apply cold compresses to the face over the area where there is pain and swelling. A gentle rinse of warm water, either plain or with a touch of salt, can also be soothing until you can get to the emergency dentist.

Preserve the Tooth
If your dental emergency involves a dislodged or knocked out tooth, it’s important to keep the tooth viable if at all possible. Do not handle the tooth by the root; pick it up by the crown and very gently rinse it with warm water. Never attempt to clean the attached tissue off the root. If it is possible, reinsert the tooth in its socket, taking care to ensure it is facing the proper direction. If reinsertion is not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk and try to get to the emergency dentist within one hour if at all possible.

When wisdom teeth do not grow in properly, they could cause major problems in your mouth. You should visit your dentist in Bel Air as your wisdom teeth start to grow in so they can be sure they are coming in the right way.

If wisdom teeth do not erupt fully, it might create an opening around the area that allows bacteria and infections to develop in the area. This area can also become food or plaque traps that lead to tooth decay or periodontal disease.

Wisdom teeth that grow in sideways might get trapped between the bone and the gum and might lead to infections or pain. Check out this video to learn more.

While good oral hygiene is important, you have to visit the dentist regularly to keep your teeth clean and healthy. If you want to have truly healthy teeth and gums, it is important to find the right family dentist . Use the following tips to choose a dentist that will help you keep your mouth in top condition:

Look into Experience
All dentists must achieve certain qualifications to practice, but that does not mean that they all have the same levels of experience. Look for a dental practice with high standards for their dentists so you can be sure to find an oral health professional with the necessary experience to give you the best dental care in the area.

At Your Smile, our dental team has over 10 years of experience, our highly Our goal is to deliver individualized treatment in a comfortable and friendly environment. We offer a wide variety of dental procedures, including family and cosmetic dentistry. Are you one of our current patients? We would love to hear from you. Please take a moment to leave a review about our experience with us on our Google+ page.

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Your Smile is one of the top offices specializing in family dentistry near Bel Air . We are dedicated to restoring and enhancing your natural smile to keep it as healthy and attractive as possible.

We hold our entire staff to high standards to ensure that our patients get the treatment they need. From regular cleanings to orthodontics, we do everything we can to keep your mouth healthy and your teeth beautiful. We focus on preventative care and education to allow our patients to have an active role in caring for their teeth and gums. Our office abides by intensive safety features to offer our patients the top services in the area. We also dedicate a lot of time to training our staff so they are ready to offer you the level of care you need.

If you are looking for a top family dentist, turn to Your Smile. We have the skills and technology that it takes to keep your mouth as healthy and attractive as possible.

Without the proper attention, dental emergencies can lead to huge, painful issues for your teeth and gums. Keep reading to learn about some of the most common issues so you know when you need to visit the emergency dentist in Bel Air to get immediate attention for your injury:

A Toothache
Severe tooth pain makes it difficult to do anything. A lot of people have to make a special appointment with the emergency dentist to fix toothaches that cause severe pain in the mouth. If you have a toothache that is keeping you from doing your normal daily activities, you should schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible to get the treatment you need to get rid of the pain.

A Chipped or Broken Tooth
Whether you take a fall or get hit in the mouth during a sports game, chipping or breaking a tooth is a serious dental emergency that requires immediate attention . If you can find the missing piece of the tooth, you should keep it in some milk to keep it viable until the dentist can examine you. Biting down too hard on the tongue or the lip can also cause an injury that needs the attention of a dentist.

A Knocked Out Tooth
If you knock out your entire tooth, you should see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Clean out your mouth and the tooth to minimize your risk for infection. Put the tooth into some milk and keep it there until you can see your dentist. The sooner you can make an appointment, the better chance you have of salvaging your natural tooth without the need for dental implants.

Objects Stuck Between the Teeth
Although it might not seem like a dental emergency, they can create a large problem for your mouth. If you have something stuck between your teeth and you cannot dislodge it with your toothbrush or your floss, you should schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible.