Why Do My Teeth Still Feel Filmy After I Brush?

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Filmy, fuzzy, coated: there are a few words that you might use to describe your teeth after you brush other than ‘smooth’ or ‘clean.’ If you’re wondering why this is, we’ll look at the most common causes and what you can do to avoid texture when you run your tongue across your teeth.

What Makes My Teeth Feel Filmy?

Usually, the film is associated with bad eating or brushing habits, though there’s more to the story than just infusing more salads into your diet and buying a more expensive toothbrush.

For instance, the acid in foods like spinach and kale can actually mix with your saliva to create that filmy feeling. This doesn’t mean you should cut out these foods, only that you might need to take some extra steps when brushing your teeth.

Other causes might include dry mouth, because it saps your saliva, or a steady buildup of plaque from your diet. Even the most conscientious of brushes and flossers will have some degree of plaque on their teeth, but it will eventually multiply if you’re not sticking to a regular hygiene routine.

How to Eliminate that Filmy Feeling 

Here are a few tips for cleaner teeth:

  • You should brush with a quality toothbrush for at least two minutes twice a day and drink water to help flush out food particles. Water can also help you avoid dry mouth, which also contributes to fuzzy-feeling teeth.
  • Floss every day to catch the plaque and food debris that gets wedged between your teeth. You can also use a water flosser to supplement your flossing efforts. Try a mouthwash afterward to kill off any bacteria and potentially wash away any straggler particles.
  • Ensure you’re getting enough nutrients during the day, and limit your junk food. Ideally, you’ll avoid going overboard on acidic foods, because the acid can damage your enamel.
  • Talk to yourdentist in Medina, OH, to get an official diagnosis of the problem.

Teeth Cleanings in Medina, OH 

If your film is caused by tartar (sometimes known as calculus), only an experienced dental team can remove it. If you’re looking for teeth cleaning in Medina, OH, contact Evanko Dental Group of Medina to schedule an appointment!

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What’s the Difference Between a Dental Cleaning and a Deep Cleaning?  

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Deep cleaning and standard dental cleanings aren’t the same procedure. If your dentist in Medina OH has suggested that you get a deep cleaning, it’s important to know how this is different from a standard dental cleaning.

Ultimately, what you need to know is that deep dental cleanings can be helpful if you suffer from gum disease or gingivitis. Here’s what to know about getting dental deep cleaning, and how it compares to standard dental cleanings.

What happens during a standard dental cleaning?

During a standard dental cleaning, the dental professional will use tools to remove plaque from your teeth. During the cleaning, you’ll also get a physical examination, your teeth will get cleaned with a gritty type of toothpaste, and you’ll be flossed.

Your dental professional may give you a fluoride treatment, and may also take X-rays of your teeth. The entire procedure happens over the course of one dental appointment.

What happens during a dental deep cleaning?

During a dental deep cleaning, your dental professional will use scaling and planing to remove bacteria from the roots of the teeth beneath the gum line. Deep cleaning helps remove bacteria from the teeth beneath the gum line, which can prevent gum disease and other problems. A deep cleaning happens over the course of two dental appointments.

Who needs a dental deep cleaning?

You may need a dental deep cleaning if you have the early stages of gum disease (gingivitis) or if you have a more advanced case of gum disease (periodontitis). Most patients need a standard cleaning every six months, but only need a deep cleaning when the dentist recommends it.

If you’re noticing signs of gum disease, you may need a dental deep cleaning. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Bad breath that doesn’t go away even when you brush your teeth
  • Swollen, red, puffy gums
  • Gums that bleed
  • Loose teeth
  • Gum recession

Need a dental cleaning or deep cleaning? Call your dental provider today.

A dental deep cleaning can mean the difference between good oral hygiene and gum disease. At Evanko Dental Group of Medina, we provide dental deep cleanings in Medina, OH. Call today to make an appointment.

 

What Causes Teeth Grinding?

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Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, affects numerous people. Unfortunately, it can cause a variety of problems such as sensitive teeth, headaches, jaw pain, and more. If you are one of the many who grind your teeth during the day or at night and wonder why it’s happening and what your dentist in Medina, OH can do about it, here’s what you need to know.

Stress and Anxiety

Should you be under stress at school, work, or within your personal life, the anxiety you are feeling will likely be a primary reason why you are grinding your teeth. For some people, this habit is developed and exacerbated when they are involved in intense concentration, such as when taking a test.

Foods and Drugs

Unfortunately, if you love coffee, alcoholic drinks, or tobacco products, all of these can be causing your teeth grinding. In many instances, these things cause or worsen acid reflux in certain individuals, which is often related to nighttime teeth grinding. In some cases, people who are taking medications to treat depression report teeth grinding to be a side effect. By cutting back or eliminating some of these items from your life, your teeth grinding may disappear as well.

Treatments

2If you suffer from teeth grinding, your dentist will probably outfit you with a night guard. Resembling a retainer you may have worn years ago if you had braces, the night guard will be customized for your mouth and be worn while you sleep to prevent your teeth from being damaged. Other forms of treatment can include being prescribed muscle relaxers that help relax the jaw at night, or using stress management techniques such as biofeedback or meditation to reduce stress levels.

Address the Underlying Cause

While dentists agree these treatments can be effective, they also emphasize that patients need to address the underlying cause of their teeth grinding. Since no treatment is looked upon as a silver bullet, getting to the cause of stress, anxiety, and tension can be life-changing and put a stop to teeth grinding.

Whether you grind your teeth more during the day or night, finding out why it is happening and seeking appropriate dental treatment is important. Rather than risk tooth fractures or jaw issues, discuss your teeth grinding in detail with your dentist in Medina, OH

Your Child Is Afraid of the Dentist? What You Can Do

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Lots of kids have feelings of trepidation about visiting the dentist. Some children feel this way because they’ve picked up on fears from their friends. Other kids are just shy.

If your child has some fears about going to see the dentist, you can take action to make visiting the dentist in Medina, OH a more positive experience. By helping your child to develop a more positive view of the dentist, you can help set up your little one to have good oral hygiene into adulthood. Here’s what you can do to make a difference.

Talk Positively About the Dentist

Your child will take notice of the way you talk about the dentist. If you say good things about the dentist, then your child will have more positive associations with the dentist. Say good things about your visits to the dentist – both before and after. Make a point of saying these things in front of your child to ensure they hear you.

Play “Dentist”

Children often work through their fears by playing out stressful experiences. You can show that visiting the dentist is a good experience by playing “dentist office” with your child.

Pretend to be the dentist, and have your child be the patient. Show your child the way the dentist will look at their mouth and compliment their teeth. If your child wants to take a turn being a dentist, let them!

Read Books About the Dentist

There are many children’s books about the dentist that show what the experience is like. Reading your child books before taking them to the dentist will help them feel like they know what to expect.

Find a Dentist With Pediatric Experience

When the time comes to make a dental checkup appointment in Medina OH, make an appointment with a dentist who has pediatric experience. Finding a good pediatric dentist will help ensure a good experience.

Pediatric dentists know how to help kids feel comfortable and often have special equipment and even toys that can make the experience better for your child. Not sure which dentists are best?

Call around to the dentists in your area to ask questions about how they handle pediatric patients. Calling around to dentists can help you find a professional that you’re comfortable with.

Do I Need Professional Teeth Cleaning?

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“I brush my teeth twice a day and floss once daily. Do I need professional teeth cleaning?”

Our dentist hears this question quite often, especially from busy patients who don’t want to spend any more time in a dentist’s chair than they have to.

While many of our patients do take very good care of their teeth, everyone can benefit from professional teeth cleaning from a dentist or dental hygienist. Brushing and flossing can remove the plaque and cavity-causing bacteria that build up on your teeth, but it cannot always remove all of plaque. In time, plaque can harden into tartar that brushing and flossing cannot remove.

Crusty deposits of tartar make it difficult to remove plaque and bacteria. Plaque and tarter can also destroy the hard enamel the layer of teeth, which can, in turn, lead to tooth sensitivity and cavities. Tartar and bacteria below the gum line can cause serious gum disease and even tooth loss. Tartar, bacteria, plaque, gum disease and tooth decay can also give you bad breath. Gum disease can even increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

While brushing and flossing is important, they cannot remove plaque and tartar as well as professional teeth cleaning. During a professional cleaning, your dentist or hygienist will use tools unavailable to you, such as a scaler, to remove plaque and tartar before they cause problems. Your dental health professional also uses special techniques to clean in between your teeth and in those hard-to-reach spots at the back of your mouth.

Professional dental cleanings also make your teeth look and feel their best. During professional teeth cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist cleans your teeth with a high-powered electric brush and special gritty toothpaste, which removes tartar and polishes your pearly whites. Professional teeth cleanings also freshen your breath and brighten your smile.

Finally, your dentist or dental hygienist can detect hidden dental problems during your teeth cleaning. Early detection and treatment of common dental issues typically lead to better outcomes.

You need professional teeth cleaning for a variety of reasons, from improving your oral health to giving you a great smile. For more information on the importance of professional teeth cleaning, contact Evanko Dental Group of Medina.