Syracuse, NY dentists wish your oral health a happy new year

Syracuse, NY dentists wish you happy new year and good oral hygiene. Resolve to brush, floss and get semi-annual exams at Creative Dental Concepts.

Drs. Gregory Craybas, Donald Crumb and Richard Giarrusso wish you the happiest of new years! During this time of resolutions, why not aim to improve your oral hygiene through excellent brushing and flossing habits and semi-annual exams and cleanings with your Syracuse, NY dentists at Creative Dental Concepts?

The American Dental Association recommends everyone–children through senior adults–brush their teeth twice a day and floss daily, too. In fact, your brushing routine should last at least 2 minutes, and careful flossing can last even longer than that.

Why is good oral hygiene important?

The human mouth is loaded with bacteria, and these germs just love the carbohydrates we eat. Starchy food residues, or plaque, on and in between teeth create the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that lead to dental decay and gum disease. The acids these organisms secrete eat away at tooth enamel.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research estimates that 92 percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have experienced dental decay. Unfortunately, cavities often lead to expensive restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns and root canal therapy.

Besides cavities, the toxicl bacteria in plaque collects at the gum line, hardening into tartar when not removed by brushing and professional cleanings by a dental hygienist. Plaque and tartar infects the gums, causing bleeding, bad breath, gum recession and damage to the underlying bone. Ultimately, teeth loosen and can be lost. Also, researchers link severe gum disease, or periodontitis, to several systemic health conditions such as heart attack, stroke, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, dementia and pregnancy complications.

With so much at stake, your Syracuse dentists urge all their patients to come to Creative Dental Concepts twice a year. Their gentle, but technically precise oral exams, uncover hidden dental problems before they become complex and expensive. Plus, 6-month cleanings remove the plaque and tartar that even the most diligent brushers and flossers miss at home.

What happens during an exam?

Drs. Craybas, Crumb and Giarrusso perform many checks in a routine dental exam, including:

• visual inspection for decay, using digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to see cavities when and where they are just beginning
• check of existing restorations such as crowns, implants and fillings
• assessment of how teeth bite together
• oral cancer check-up
• periodontal probing which measures pocket depth, a measure of gum tissue health
• scaling of teeth to smooth tooth surfaces, remove plaque and polish tooth enamel

Resolve to optimize oral health

The friendly staff at Creative Dental Concepts excels at making your dental visits as pleasant as possible. They would love to see you in this new year! Contact the office today to arrange your routine dental exam and cleaning. If you do, your teeth and gums will have a great year.