Preventive Care in in Mount Vernon, WA

Everything we do at Fernandez Dental is to reach the goal of preventing decay. Preventive dental care at our Mount Vernon dental office consists of a complete professional cleaning, any X-rays, a visual oral cancer screening, and a VELScope® oral cancer screening once a year. This ensures the wellness of your teeth and gums, as well as your entire body. If necessary, we will recommend a prescription strength fluoride and screen for dry mouth.

Whole-Body Wellness

To maintain good oral health, we recommend a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates, both of which contribute to decay and increase the risk of periodontal disease. A low inflammation diet, which mainly consists of less processed foods, more lean proteins, vegetables, less omega 6, and more omega 3 fats all help contribute to your oral health. Avoid the use of tobacco in any form.

Brushing and Flossing

Brushing and flossing is not only important to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, it is also vitally important to your overall health. It is now known that the health of your mouth contributes to the health of your entire body. This includes heart disease and diabetes.

When we eat, the sticky film that adheres to our teeth is called plaque. This plaque has acids in it that start to dissolve the minerals in the enamel of your teeth. This causes a cavity and a hole in your tooth. Plaque that is not removed can also accumulate and harden becoming calculus (tartar). Calculus left unattended can leave your gums red, swollen, or inflamed, resulting in periodontal (gum) disease.

While we would love to see you brush your teeth after every meal and snack, we recommend brushing at least twice per day and flossing once. Disrupting the bacteria count in your mouth at least every 12 hours is what is most important.

Brushing and Flossing Tips

Premium electric toothbrushes like Sonicare or Oral B have a two-minute timer to keep us all on track! Those two minutes can feel like the longest two minutes of the day, but every second is worth it.

Hold the toothbrush so the bristles are at a 45-degree angle. Concentrate the bristles in the area where your tooth and gums meet, overlapping the tooth and gums. If you use a manual toothbrush, make small circular motions. Using the movement of the bristles and not pressure is the most effective way to remove plaque.

When flossing, you should wrap the floss around one side of the tooth hugging in a “C” shape, and moving the floss up and down a few times, before repeating with the other side of the tooth.

During your hygiene appointment at our Mount Vernon dental office, your hygienist will give you personalized tools and instructions that are specific to your hygiene needs. Our goal is to help you maintain a healthy mouth and beautiful smile.