Impressions Dental offers a variety of general and cosmetic dentistry solutions in Richmond Hill and surrounding areas. To learn more, visit their website.

1. ENCOURAGING
PATIENTS TO TAKE
CONTROL OF TOOTH
DECAY

2. Dental caries, commonly called tooth decay, damages the surface
structures of the teeth. It occurs when bacteria on the teeth break down
food particles and produce an acid.
It is this acid that eats away at the enamel surface that protects teeth.
INTRODUCTION

3. Tooth decay is common in children from about 6 years old throughout
adolescence. However, it is not just a problem of childhood.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, root level decay affects 9
out of 10 adults over the age of 20.
Dentists should advise patients of all ages how to prevent tooth decay.
INTRODUCTION

4. The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth twice each
day, morning and night, with fluoride toothpaste.
This action helps to remove the bacteria that make the acid that eats
through tooth enamel.
Regular brushing will also have a teeth whitening effect, removing stains
from commonly ingested foods like coffee and tea.
REGULAR BRUSHING

5. Emphasize to your patients the importance of daily flossing to remove
food particles from between teeth that can lead to tooth decay.
Your patients can choose from a wide range of flossing products,
including waxed floss, unwaxed floss, flavored flosses that help to freshen
breath and interdental brushes make it easy to reach between the teeth
to dislodge trapped food debris.
Ensure that patients understand that daily flossing can help to reduce the
incidence of tooth decay.
DAILY FLOSSING

6. Your patient’s diet can have a significant effect on their risk of developing
cavities.
Educate patients on the problems of eating carbohydrates that bacteria
use to produce cavity-producing acids. Encourage patients to avoid
carbohydrate snacks, sugary candies, baked goods, pretzels, chips and
other foods that can leave a film on the teeth.
AVOIDING CAVITY-PRODUCING FOODS

7. Some patients may be particularly susceptible to tooth decay. These
patients may benefit from the application of dental sealants that help to
resist the acids that cause tooth decay.
These sealants are thin layers of plastic that go on in a gel form and take
only a few minutes to set to a hard consistency that will protect teeth.
Sealants can last as long as 5 to 10 years.
APPLYING DENTAL SEALANTS

8. Dentists should identify patients that are vulnerable to tooth decay and
encourage them to drink tap water that contains fluoride.
They may also benefit from topical applications of fluoride products that
are applied to the teeth.
These products are also available in rinse or gel form that the patient can
apply at home. These can be an additional measure of protection for
teeth that are prone to tooth decay.
ADDITIONAL FLUORIDE

9. Use social media and other new media to remind patients about the
importance of regular dental examinations and tooth cleaning.
These visits can help to find small cavities before they become bigger
problems and other tooth problems that can be repaired to avoid more
serious work at a later date.
Regular dental visits can also be used to discuss cosmetic corrections,
teeth whitening and other procedures that will help to keep patients’
smiles looking their best.
REGULAR TOOTH CLEANING

10. Use social media and other new media to remind patients about the
importance of regular dental examinations and tooth cleaning.
These visits can help to find small cavities before they become bigger
problems and other tooth problems that can be repaired to avoid more
serious work at a later date.
Regular dental visits can also be used to discuss cosmetic corrections,
teeth whitening and other procedures that will help to keep patients’
smiles looking their best.
REGULAR TOOTH CLEANING