Want Clean, Healthy Teeth? Then Remember That Floss is Boss!

The next time you think, “I will floss tomorrow,” or the kids say, “We promise to floss in the morning,” you might want to revisit your oral healthcare strategy.

While brushing removes surface plaque, it misses up to 40 percent of plaque that decides to hide between your teeth! This is worrisome because plaque buildup cannot only lead up to tooth decay, but it can also lead to gum disease, which is linked to over 200 other diseases.

Do not skip flossing for yourself or especially for your children. Flossing is by far the most effective way to remove plaque and junk stuck between your teeth. There are a couple ways of doing this correctly; the first way is to use a strand of floss and the second is to use floss picks. Our dentist in Chicagoland has given some great advice for flossing correctly.

If you use a strand of floss, then grab about 18 inches of floss, then wind the majority of the floss around your middle finger on one of your hands and wrap the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. You should have about one inch of floss to use in between for your teeth. Use your thumbs and pointer fingers to kindly pull the floss between your teeth and to the gum line. Move the floss from below the gum line to the top of the tooth a few times to remove the plaque. Rub the floss up against all the sides of the tooth; once you do this, wind the floss so you have fresh floss in between each tooth.

If you use a floss pick, then the hard part is done for you, making the floss taut and having a secure hold on it. Do the same sort of maneuvers with the floss pick that you did with the regular floss. If your teeth are close together and it is difficult to get it to the gum line, then use a gentle, sawing motion to maneuver it down there. You might need to use more than one pick in a flossing session if the floss bit shreds or becomes too loose.

You can also use a WaterPik to compliment your flossing habits, not to replace them.

Flossing is not difficult, but kids may need a refresher and seniors who belong to a generation that never learned how to floss might need a lesson. Call today to ensure your family’s regular check-ups are scheduled, and we will have a flossing refresher for everyone at our Park Ridge dental office.

What is Dental Erosion?

Dental erosion is a very common and growing problem for people of all ages, yes, all ages; erosion is especially a problem for adults and seniors.

Many dentists have seen a significant increase in premature wear to our patient's teeth in the last fifteen years. As most people keep their teeth throughout their lives, we have become more aware of the variety of wear issues that can occur. Dental erosion is a broad category describing premature loss of tooth structure, starting with enamel, which can be cause by many different factors.
Signs of dental erosion can be:

• A translucent appearance of front teeth
• A rounded or cupped appearance of back teeth
• Notches and yellow areas along the gum line
• A noticeable, severe loss of general tooth structure on multiple teeth

In some cases, patients can become hypersensitive to hot, cold, and sweets but often the progression is symptomless until it becomes severe.
The most common causes of dental erosion are:

• Acid in food that we eat and drink repeatedly on a regular basis
• Parafunctional habits such as grinding or clenching teeth
• Medical conditions like gastric reflux disease, sleep apnea, bulimia, and anorexia
• Vegetarian diets
• Decreased saliva flow

Many dentists are now screening their patients for signs of dental erosion on a regular basis. At our Park Ridge dental office, Rubino Dentistry has detailed diagnostic routine, which will help us identify the specific factors in a particular event. Once that is done, then we can begin to form a solution that often includes dietary, saliva, and cavity activity analysis followed by modifications to reduce the source of dental erosion.

In addition, dental appliances to control harmful habits like grinding and sleep apnea may be recommended. In some cases, we suggest that a patient have a comprehensive evaluation by their physician if systemic disease is suspected. The good news is that many dentists can now identify dental erosion in its early stages and stop what can be a very destructive oral health problem.
Sometimes, it can be hard to detect dental erosion on your own, as it can be symptomless until the problem is much more severe.

Make sure to schedule regular dental visits to make sure your dentist is able to catch it before it is a bigger problem.

If you think you have dental erosion, then contact Rubino Dentistry, a dentist in Chicago. We would love to see you!

5 Tips for Helping Your Child With Their Dental Fear

When it comes to having a fear of the dentist, it is very common; even as adults, some of us still tend to have at least a little anxiety when it comes to going to the dentist. Now, imagine the fear that a child will have when it comes to going to the dentist. This is someone they do not know, using intimidating tools, and saying things that sound scary.

It has been reported that almost 20 percent of school age children have a fear of the dentist. It is hard for parents and dentists alike to convince children that a visit to the dentist is not going to be difficult or scary. So what can you do to help your child with their dental anxiety? 

Give information. Children are young and have not experienced many things in the world like us adults have; they need to be told some things. Giving information about the dentist can help the child gain some confidence and relax a bit if they know a general idea of why they are going to the dentist. Now, you do not have to get specific by saying, “The dentist will scrape the plaque and tartar off your teeth.” Rather, say things like, “The dentist is going to make sure your teeth are healthy and strong.” A positive spin on things. As a dentist, I can explain what the child will experience during the visit.

Relaxation strategies. Using some relaxation strategies will help the child feel much more comfortable while at the dentist. Simple breathing exercises will be great; blowing bubbles is a great way to accomplish this and also gives the child more fun. When the child is in the dental chair, allowing them to close their eyes can help as well as tensing and relaxing muscles in specific order can help release tension.

Give distraction. Along with blowing bubbles, there are some great ways to distract the child so they do not let their anxiety, become the focus. One method is to allow the child to play with a toy in the waiting room as well as have simple dialogue with one of the hygienists.

Give the child reinforcement. Positive reinforcement will be a huge deal. Things like stickers, words of affirmation, things of that nature go a long way. When you confirm that the child is doing a good job with their dental health, they’ll feel better about going.

Get the parents involved. Having a parent involved with the child’s oral health, it will make a world of difference. A parent can help reduce the child’s stress during the dental visit, perhaps by holding their hand, etc.

Bottom line, while it is very common for a child to feel scared about the dentist, there are several ways to help reduce that and get them in a good place with dental hygiene.

How Does Precision Gum Sculpting Work?

When you look in the mirror, do you see a pleasing, well-proportioned toothy grin? Or are your gums monopolizing your smile? No matter where you are in life, a beautiful, confident smile can transform the way you address the world and the way it addresses you.

The perfect proportion of pink, well-cared-for gums will always make you look healthier and more youthful. Gum sculpting is a fast and effective procedure that can improve your smile by:

• Giving an irregular shaped gum line a more pleasing, uniform look. 
• Making short teeth look longer and perfectly proportioned in your mouth. 
• Giving you the confidence to flash a bold, toothy grin that lights up a room. 

Gum sculpting can be performed on a single tooth, or on a number of teeth, and is usually done in a single visit. For a complete smile makeover, consider a tooth whitening procedure to highlight your new smile! A quick fix with bonding may correct damage, misshapen, or poorly aligned teeth. 

No more closed-lipped grins for you! Rubino Dentistry will help you achieve that beautiful, bold, confident smile of your dreams! Call us or stop by! 

Myths About Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath is incredibly common. Everybody has it to some degree, even if it is just in the morning when we wake up. However, for something so common, there are a lot of misconceptions about bad breath, or halitosis.

1. Bad breath comes from the stomach. Only in rare cases does this occur. As for things like Gastric Reflux, this is yet to be scientifically proven. 
2. Bad breath comes from the lungs. Only in rare cases does this occur. 
3. It is hereditary. Not true. There is no genial linkage for halitosis. There are certain conditions that cause bad breath that are hereditary but bad breath itself is not. 
4. It is contagious. Not true. 
5. Breath mints and mouthwashes help. Temporarily, yes. But if your bad breath is caused by something like gingivitis, then it will return. 
6. Brushing my teeth more will help. Brushing your teeth too much can actually dry out your mouth, making the bad breath issue worse. 
7. Bad breath is caused by food. Foods like onions, garlic, etc. can create odors in our mouths that aid bad breath.
8. Probiotics help. There is no support for this yet. 

If you are experiencing chronic halitosis, then consult a oral healthcare professional, like Dr. Rubino and see what the cause is and how it can be treated. 

image source: http://theamericankid.com

Brush After Reading- Dental Plaque is Bad News

The word "plaque" is associated with many illnesses but is the plaque found on your teeth the same stuff in your arteries? No.

Plaque that causes heart attacks and strokes is made up of cholesterol, fat, and inflammatory cells. This plaque is linked to eye plaque.

Dental plaque is completely different. It's a deposit of bacterial that actually sticks to teeth and gums, which is why you need to manually brush it off. Plaque buildup leads to acid production, which can cause tooth decay, gum inflammation, and ultimately tooth loss.

It's believed that inflammation, not plaque, links poor oral health to heart disease, stroke, and other inflammatory diseases. A good oral maintenance regimen, including checkups and cleanings, can have great health benefits!

Concerned about plaque, tartar, or gum inflammation? Then contact Rubino Dentistry and see how we can help!



gif source: https://www.tumblr.com/search/teeth%20gif

Here's Why You Need to Floss

Do you want clean, healthy teeth? Then you can no longer tell yourself, "I'll just floss tomorrow." If you want your kids to have healthy teeth, then don't let them tell you, "We'll floss in the morning." Even if you hold true to those promises, you are still skipping a nighttime or morning floss that needs to happen.

While brushing your teeth will remove the surface plaque on those pearly whites, brushing will miss up to 40 percent of plaque hiding beneath the gum line. That can be a real issue because plaque buildup leads to tooth decay and gum disease and is also linked to over 200 diseases, not just oral diseases, either!

Flossing seems daunting and difficult but it doesn't have to be; however, the kids may need a lesson on how to do it correctly. If you floss with your child, they are much more likely to learn how to do it correctly and form the habit. If it is too difficult to use normal floss, then consider floss picks.

Questions or comments? Call or visit Rubino Dentistry about flossing tips!