A complete oral exam is a dental exam completed for diagnostic purposes to gather all the necessary information to assess your oral health. Your dentist will perform the complete oral exam with the help of a dental assistant or dental hygienist. A comprehensive oral exam will be implemented at the first visit to a new dental office, or routinely every 3-5 years to update charting and diagnoses regarding oral and overall health.
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Of course, you’ve heard, over and over again, to floss your teeth daily. But did you know that if you don’t get the floss underneath your gums, you aren’t removing enough bacteria? Ensure that when you floss your teeth, you are sliding the floss slightly underneath your gums, where most of the bacteria sit. Make sure that you use a “c” method of flossing by hugging or curving the floss lightly around each tooth.
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There is a change of hormones in your body during pregnancy, and this change can create swelling and inflammation of your gums, called pregnancy gingivitis. The change in hormones can also make it easier for bacteria to grow, which can lead to the puffy, red and swollen gum tissue. Pregnancy gingivitis can occur in any trimester of pregnancy but is most common in the second and third trimester. With proper oral hygiene, pregnancy gingivitis usually subsides on it’s own after birth and nursing, but in rare cases, if left untreated, it can progress into more severe gum disease, which leaves permanent complications with the supporting structures of your teeth.
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This condition is a contagious mouth infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1.) It is commonly experienced at its first onset in childhood before the age of 5, but can also be experienced in adulthood in some cases.
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