Hartland Dentists | Bailey Family Dental | Flossing

 Mom always asks you, did you floss?  Well, did you?  Flossing your teeth is very important, here is why.

What is flossing?

Flossing is a method for removing bacteria and other debris that cannot be reached by a toothbrush. It entails a piece of synthetic cord you insert and move up and down between the sides of two adjoining teeth.

Why is flossing important?

Daily flossing is an excellent and proven method for complementing your brushing routine and helping to prevent cavities, periodontal disease, and other dental problems later in life. It also increases blood circulation in your gums. Floss removes plaque and debris that stick to your teeth and gums.

How often to floss

Floss at least once every day. Like brushing, flossing should take about three minutes and can easily be done while doing another activity, such as watching television. 

Flossing techniques

"C"-shaped flossing is the proper technique to use when flossing using either string floss or floss piks. 
When using string floss: Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around your middle finger. Wind the rest of the floss similarly around the middle finger of your other hand. This finger takes up the floss as it becomes soiled or frayed. Move the floss between your teeth with your index fingers and thumbs. Maneuver the floss up and down several times forming a "C" shape around the tooth. While doing this, make sure you go below the gum line, where bacteria are known to collect heavily.  The same movement should be used when using floss piks.

With either type of floss, never "snap" the floss because this can cut your gums. Your gums may be tender or even bleed for the first few days after flossing - a condition that generally heals within a few days.

Serving Waukesha, Oconomowoc, and Hartland Wisconsin, Bailey Family Dental is most concerned with your comfort. Drs Terese and Richard Bailey and their friendly staff will explain treatment options and give estimates before you begin your treatments. To learn more, feel free to go to our website at www.bailyfamilydental.com, or call us at 262-369-8633. Our office is located at 557 Cottonwood avenue, Hartland Wisconsin.

Root Canal Hartland Wi | Bailey Family Dental

Root Canal Treatment at Bailey Family Dental

 Natural teeth are meant to last a lifetime.  Even if one of your teeth becomes injured or diseased, it can often be saved through a specialized procedure known as root canal (endodontic) treatment.  Can my tooth be saved?  Endodotic therapy at Bailey Family Dental is done in a relaxed, stress free environment.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment (endodontics) is one of the areas of dentistry that Dr. Richard Bailey focuses on.  Root canal treatment usually involves the removal of the tooth's pulp, a small threadlike tissue that was important for the tooth development.  Once removed, it is replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from its supporting structures.  Years ago, diseased or injured teeth were often extracted.  Today, even if the pulp of one of your teeth becomes injured or infected, it often can be saved through root canal treatment.  This is the area of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases or injuries to the dental pulp.

What is dental pulp?

The pulp is the soft tissue that contains the blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue of a tooth.  It lies in a canal that runs through the center of the dentin- the hard tissue on the inside of the tooth that supports the outer layer of tooth enamel.  The crown (the portion of the tooth visible above the gums) contains the pulp chamber.  The pulp extends from this chamber down through the root canal of the tip of the root in the bone of the jaws.  Teeth have only one pulp chamber but may have more than one root and several root canals.

What happens if the pulp gets injured?

If the injured or diseased pulp is not removed, the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth can become infected, resulting in pain and swelling.  Even if there is no pain, certain substances released by bacteriacan damage the bone that anchors the tooth in the jaw.  Without treatment, the tooth may have to be removed.

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Serving Waukesha, Oconomowoc, and Hartland Wisconsin, Bailey Family Dental is most concerned with your comfort. Drs Terese and Richard Bailey and their friendly staff will explain treatment options and give estimates before you begin your treatments.
To learn more, feel free to go to call us at 262-369-8633. Our office is located at 557 Cottonwood avenue, Hartland Wisconsin.

Pediatric Dentists Hartland | Quick Tips For Parents

 The Pediatric dentists at Bailey Family Dental have a few quick tips for our busy parents in Hartland Wi.

Quick Tips for Busy Parents

Whitening Toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes have polishing agents in addition to the mild abrasives that help remove surface stains from teeth. Teeth that have surface stains are cleaned and whitened by whitening toothpastes; however, deeper stains won’t be touched. If your teeth have deeper, darker stains due to injury or certain medications, a more thorough brightening treatment, such as bleaching or microabrasion, will be required. If you choose to use a whitening toothpaste, make sure the toothpaste contains fluoride as well as whitening agents.
Teen Pediatric Dentistry
Just because your teenager isn’t a child anymore, doesn’t mean she should stop seeing herpediatric dentist. Dentistry to meet the special needs of teens and adolescents is an important part of the specialized training for pediatric dentists. Growing doesn’t stop at childhood – teens experience important growth in their faces and jaws. Teens are also getting the last of their permanent teeth, and teeth that have just come through the gums are especially vulnerable to decay. Additionally, teenagers start becoming responsible for their own diet and nutrition choices, and it's important that those choices are come from a solid foundation of dental health.

Your Child and Cheese
Did you know recent research shows cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth? In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, and Monterey jack all stimulate the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect teeth from acids that weaken them. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque’s ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child’s teeth.

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Serving Waukesha, Oconomowoc, and Hartland Wisconsin, Bailey Family Dental is most concerned with your comfort. Drs Terese and Richard Bailey and their friendly staff will explain treatment options and give estimates before you begin your treatments. To learn more, feel free to go to our website at www.bailyfamilydental.com, or call us at 262-369-8633. Our office is located at 557 Cottonwood avenue, Hartland Wisconsin.