Healthy Smiles Family Dental

We at Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem work closely with orthodontists to ensure that our patients have properly aligned teeth. Not only does orthodontic therapy improve the teeth’s appearance, it also makes them easier to clean and prevents bite problems. You’re probably aware that patients finish orthodontic therapy by wearing retainers. These oral appliances need to be cleaned regularly, so patients naturally wonder how long they can expect to wear them. The fact is that in order to ensure orthodontic therapy works permanently the retainer will have to be worn throughout life. Teeth naturally migrate, and one of the reasons minor orthodontic therapy is becoming more popular among adults is so they can restore their teeth to the position they were in when they got their braces off. People usually have to wear their retainers in the day for an amount of time equal to the time they were undergoing orthodontic treatment, and will have to wear their retainer at night for as long as ...

Do you always seem to have tartar and bleeding gums despite your best effort at brushing? It may be time for you to look into getting an electric toothbrush. Healthy Smiles Family Dental treats patients with all kinds of needs. We’re happy to guide our struggling patients toward hygiene products that might improve their oral health. The old model manual toothbrushes are highly effective at preventing tooth decay when they are used correctly. They need to be used twice a day for two minutes at a time, and the patient needs to pay enough attention to cover every tooth surface. Electric toothbrushes are particularly useful for people with physical disabilities or difficulty focusing. They make tens of thousands of brushstrokes per minute, contrasting with the dozens made by manual toothbrushes, and can be used more quickly and with fewer hand motions. Electric toothbrushes could create a risk of overbrushing, but many of them now come with smartphone apps to prevent that. A user would not...

Brushing your teeth is one of the most crucial steps to keeping your oral hygiene in check. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day. At Healthy Smiles Family Dental, located in Salem, OR, Drs. Na Xu and Mark Thomas want you to have a healthy mouth. That’s why we are sharing some brushing tips and tricks.   First, make sure that your toothbrush is right for you. There are different materials and bristles types. If you have sensitive teeth, buy a toothbrush with softer bristles. Make sure that it can easily fit into all areas of your mouth. As soon as the toothbrush bristles become frayed or worn, replace it. It’s also good to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months.   When brushing your teeth, follow these steps. First, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle. Move the brush back and forth in short strokes across the entire tooth. Make sure to brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of the teeth. For the inside surfaces, tilt the b...

Night guards have saved many people’s teeth. We at Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem commonly treat people who have compromised enamel and jaw pain from nighttime teeth grinding, and we’re happy when people find a way to protect themselves. A custom-fitted night guard not only prevents teeth from rubbing together, it can also help people to breathe more easily. But like any oral appliance, a night guard had to be kept clean or it will contribute to halitosis and become a home for bacteria. Night guard manufacturers make their own cleaning products and advise patients on how to care for individual products. Their websites often feature cleaning solutions or dissolvable tablets, and people can get good results with these, but they are still advised to scrub their night guards daily. Only soft-bristled toothbrushes should be used and toothpaste should be avoided. Plastic is not as resilient as enamel and can be scratched by fluoride and other minerals in toothpaste. It is a good idea ...