We hope you will find this helpful in answering the most common questions we get every day. It is our job to make sure you understand how to best take care of your mouth. Remember, as Dr. Gaugh says, �it is far more important what you do than what we do for you�! If you have any questions for us, please feel free to email or ask the next time you are in the office.

Frances and Nicole

What is the difference between plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a soft yellowish-white substance that contains harmful bacteria. It forms on a person�s teeth within hours of brushing and flossing. It is easily brushed and flossed away. Tarter, or calculus, is hardened plaque. It cannot be brushed or flossed off of the teeth. Tarter has to be removed during your hygiene visits.

Why is it important to remove plaque and tartar from my teeth?
Plaque and tarter contain harmful bacteria that can infect your gums. Plaque collects along your gum line and between your teeth. Without proper removal with daily brushing and flossing, the bacterial plaque and tarter will cause your gum tissue to get swollen and red. When your gum tissue is inflamed, it also bleeds. This is called gingivitis. The presence of this inflammation for long periods of time can also allow the plaque and tartar to start destroying the underlying bone. This is a more severe and harder to treat disease called Periodontitis. Gingivitis can easily be treated with diligent brushing and flossing. Periodontitis usually involves more intervention and treatment from your dentist and dental hygienist. It may also require treatment from a gum specialist called a periodontist. The prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis are important to maintain a healthy mouth and body. Although regular hygiene visits are important, nothing is more important than how well a person removes the plaque on a daily basis. Brushing after meals and daily flossing is the best defense against gum disease!

What are you checking for when you probe my gum tissue?
At each cleaning, your hygienist will probe your gum tissue. A dental probe is a special instrument that is placed under the gum line to measure the space between your tooth and gum. This space is called a sulcus. A healthy sulcus is one to three millimeters in depth and does not bleed. A sulcus that measures four millimeters and above and /or bleeds is unhealthy. An unhealthy sulcus is called a pocket. Four to five millimeter pockets usually indicates gingivitis. A reading of six and above is more concerning. When a pocket is six millimeters and above, an x-ray will be evaluated to determine f there has been any loss in the bone underneath the gum tissue. Bleeding scores are also calculated to help evaluate the health of your gums. Each patient will be given a bleeding score. This number is a percentage of how much his/her mouth bleeds. Less than ten percent bleeding is usually considered a healthy range. Ten percent and above is unhealthy.

How can I stop smoking?
Smoking and smokeless tobacco are not healthy for any part of a person�s body. These habits increase your risk of oral cancer and periodontitis. There are many nicotine replacement therapies to help fight your addiction. The patch and chewing gum are most common. The most recent nicotine replacement therapy is a lozenge. There are many pamphlets available to help you look into any of these methods. Please call or ask at your next scheduled visit about these nicotine replacement therapies. Remember, it is a choice to become healthy and until you choose to be healthy, nothing will work.

Why do my dentist and dental hygienist ask me about my overall health?
It is important to let your dentist and dental hygienist know of any changes in your health and medications. Medications in clued vitamins, herbal supplements and over the counter drugs, as well as, the ones prescribed by your physician. You may notice that we have been updating your chart by asking you to fill out new health history forms. This is an opportune time to notify us of any changes in your health and medications.

Why is my blood pressure taken at my cleaning visits?
Many Americans are diagnosed each year with hypertension, or as it is more commonly known, high blood pressure. This increase in people with high pressure is the reason you have your blood pressure taken at your cleaning appointments. We do not diagnose high blood pressure, but instead help you monitor it. One high reading does not mean that you have high blood pressure. Your blood pressure fluctuates and can be affected by things like stress, caffeine, and nicotine. We hope that if you get a high reading in our office, you will notify your physician at your next appointment so he/she can decide what is the right treatment for you.

What is an extra oral screening and why do I get one at my cleaning appointments?
An extra oral screening is a way for your dentist or dental hygienist to check for any suspicious lumps or bumps that may need further attention. At your next cleaning, we will include what we like to call a �mini massage� in your face and neck area. Most of the time we do not find much other than some swollen lymph noted, but we can never be too careful when it comes to cancer. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your �mini massage�.

What is this �report card� I am getting after my cleaning appointment?
You will begin to receive a summary of your appointment after each cleaning. We like to call these �report cards� your Dental Fitness Summary. These cards are meant to help you keep track of all the important points made throughout your appointment, like your blood pressure, x-rays taken, bleeding score, and any cavities that were found. We hope they are informative and helpful!