Patient Information/ FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions patients have about dentistry and oral health issues. If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you.

Click on a question below to see the answer.
Q: What should I do if I have bad breath?
Q: How often should I brush and floss?
Q: Are amalgam (silver) fillings safe?
Q: How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?
Q: How can I tell if I have gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease)?
Q: Why is it important to use dental floss?
Q: How can cosmetic dentistry help improve the appearance of my smile?
Q: What are porcelain veneers and how can they improve my smile?
Q: What can I do about stained or discolored teeth?

Q: What should I do if I have bad breath?
Excellent oral hygiene, brushing at least three times a day and flossing once a day is essential to fighting bad breath. It may be beneficial to chew sugarless gum and drink water throughout the day to moisten the mouth, which may reduce mouth odor.

If odor persists after the teeth, gums and tongue are clean and healthy, an antibiotic mouth rinse can be prescribed. If none of these measures succeed, a medical doctor should be consulted to explore other potential causes.

The nose is the second most common cause of bad breath. Sinus infections or polyps can cause bad breath, as well as children who insert foreign bodies into the nose. The tonsil may be a cause of bad breath in some people, especially if small tonsillar stones called tonsilloliths are formed and collect on the tongue.

Some other non-dental causes of bad breath include: respiratory infections, kidney failure, some cancers, and other disorders. One rare disorder that causes a fishy mouth odor and taste is trimethylaminuria.

The stomach and intestines are commonly thought to be a cause of bad breath, but this is not the case. The esophagus is normally closed, preventing odors from the stomach and intestines from reaching the mouth.

Bad breath is a sensitive topic that should be discussed with your dentist. Your dentist can help to discover the most likely cause and help to alleviate the problem

Q: How often should I brush and floss?

• Soft toothbrushes designed with rounded bristles are recommended for thorough, soothing cleansing of the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth. Look for the American Dental Association seal of approval.
• Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Using gentle pressure, vibrate the bristles in a small circular motion, carefully guiding the brush along the gum line.
• Maintain the same angle on the inside gum line of the back teeth.
• A 45-degree angle may be achieved on the inside of the upper and lower teeth by placing the brush straight in the mouth, on the inside gum line.
• Lastly, brush the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

Replace your toothbrush at least every 3-4 months.

The Right Way to Floss:
Using a gentle sawing motion, work the floss between your teeth without snapping it into the gums. At the gum line, hold the floss taut, bend it into a "C" shape and scrape up and down on the side of each tooth. Each stroke should go slightly below your gum line until you feel resistance. The type of floss you use -- waxed, unwaxed, flavored or unflavored -- isn't a factor in the effectiveness of flossing.

Q: Are amalgam (silver) fillings safe?
You should feel very secure that the many organizations responsible for protecting the public’s health have said time and time again that amalgam fillings are safe. Those organizations include the World Health Organization, the United States Public Health Service, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.

Q: How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?
A routine dental examination once in six months advisable to avoid progression of dental disease.

Q: How can I tell if I have gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease)?
The main cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque bacteria. Plaque is often a colorless mass of bacteria that sticks to teeth, crowns, bridges and other tissues in the oral cavity. Plaque is constantly forming on the teeth. Plaque irritates the gums, causing them to become red, tender and swollen.

If not removed daily, plaque becomes the hard material known as tartar or calculus. Calculus cannot be removed by brushing and flossing alone. A dentist, periodontist or hygienist must remove it manually to stop the disease process.

With time, the tissues that attach the gums to the teeth are destroyed by plaque and its by-products. The gums pull away from the teeth, and pockets begin to form between the teeth and gums. Plaque and calculus continue to fill these pockets until the jawbone supporting the teeth is eventually destroyed.

Q: Why is it important to use dental floss?
Tooth brushing effectively cleans the tops and sides of your teeth. However, most dental disease develops between the teeth, in areas where a toothbrush cannot reach. The solution and the key to dental health is floss.

Q: How can cosmetic dentistry help improve the appearance of my smile?
Or
Q: What can I do about stained or discolored teeth?
Cosmetic dentistry is basically an effort on the dentist's part to improve the quality of your smile this is done by a variety of means such as :

• Tooth whitening
• Porcelain Veneers
• Orthodontics

(For details refer the treatment section)

Q: What are porcelain veneers and how can they improve my smile?
Porcelain laminate veneers, or simply "veneers", are custom-made porcelain wafers that the dentist places over teeth to enhance their appearance and also to repair damage. Veneers can dramatically change a person’s smile and help improve their self-confidence.

Dental Clinic Hours

 Appointment

Location

The Trade Center,3rd Floor,
Near Hotel Woodlands,
Mangalore - 575003.