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So often in school, advertising, and likely from your family dentist too, you will hear that it is so important to brush your teeth at least twice daily. If you’re like most people, you probably hear it and it just fades into background noise. Or, maybe you are an inherent skeptic and wonder if this is truly essential dental care.

However, if you are not doing this, I must tell you it is absolutely essential that you begin today. It is not a myth! It is strongly recommended dental care. And that’s why so many family dentist providers – including this Chicago area dentist, yours truly –  tell all of their clients to brush twice or three times daily – or as often as you can. We are not going overboard on this, believe me!

Why does good dental care mean you brush at least twice daily?

Saliva is always inside your mouth. It is essential to clearing away food debris that may collect on your teeth following a snack or a meal. This form of dental care we like to think of as “automatic tooth brushing” works great in the morning and daytime hours, but what about when you retire for the evening?

When we go to sleep, saliva secretion naturally drops. If you’ve ever wake in the middle of the night to an overly dry mouth or throat, now you know why!

Nevertheless, when the major source of your automatic tooth brushing (saliva) is depleted, debris begins to accumulate on tooth surfaces. Debris on your teeth compounds upon debris, quickly and easily. This provides a ready food source for bacteria to produce acids from that can dissolve the tooth structure – which can form cavities.

But, if you brush your teeth before going to bed at night, you can eliminate much of this potentially damaging debris and bacteria. And, since most toothpaste contain fluoride to help prevent cavities, when you brush, you’re actually adding a layer of protection upon your teeth.

Brushing again in the morning not only will freshen your “morning breath”, it will start your day off right by helping to prevent cavities and tartar all day long.

So you see – it’s not just the nervous family dentist telling you to brush more than once a day. It actually is essential!

Leverage the experience of a trusted Chicago area dentist. Dr. Joseph Majka and his team of dental professionals can help keep your teeth healthy and happy with quality dental care. For truly experienced dental care, contact Dr. Joseph Majka for an appointment today.

You’ve probably heard the term often, seen it on signs and billboards, and read it in advertisements. A ‘family dentist’. But do you really know what a family dentist is?

A family dentist provides dental care services related to the general maintenance of the teeth, oral hygiene, and tooth health. Often times, you might see the phrases ‘general dentist’ and ‘family dentist’ used interchangeably – but there is a slight difference between the two.

You might find a Chicago dentist that focuses his or her practice on a particular age group. Some dentists, for example, focus on dental care for children and pre-teens. However, with a family dentist, dental care is provided for patients of a variety of ages. They do not typically focus their practice on just one specific age group, but try to help all members of a family with proper dental care – thus the term FAMILY DENTIST.

A family dentist helps ensure that plaque buildup on and around the teeth are kept to a minimum. They do his through routine dental examinations to keep an eye out for decay. When tooth decay is spotted, a family dentist will identify an action plan to deal with it and eliminate tooth decay, helping to ensure the gums remain strong and healthy. This typically means filling cavities and performing ongoing monitoring of potentially problematic teeth, or previously filled teeth.

You might consider your family dentist your second line of defense in dental care and protecting your teeth and gums. A family dentist typically acts in a preventative nature, to help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy for a lifetime. This is done through periodic dental checkups – twice per year. It is during the dental checkup that your family dentist will perform cleaning and polishing, as well as a comprehensive exam and periodic x-rays to check the state of your dental health (including teeth, roots and gums). If decay or damage is spotted, it can be addressed early on before more substantial damage can be incurred.

So if your family dentist is the second line of defense in proper dental care, what is the first?

Proper at-home dental care is the first line of defense against tooth decay! This includes brushing your teeth and flossing between teeth several times each day. Eliminating the foods, sugars and acids that come in contact with your teeth and gums through effective brushing and flossing is the best thing you can do. Pair that with routine (twice per year) dental exams and cleanings, and you’ve got an unbeatable combination for effective dental care!

Looking for a Chicago dentist or a family dentist in Northwest Indiana that can provide the best in dental care for the entire family? Wondering about your current state of dental health? Remember - always perform routine at-home dental care – and regularly consult your family dentist to ensure optimum dental health.

Contact Dr. Joseph Majka and his team of friendly dental professionals to provide the kind of quality, gentle dental care you have been searching for. Conveniently located in Valparaiso, Indiana – a Northwest Indiana dentist located just 40 minutes from Chicago – this Chicago area dentist offers top-quality dental care for your entire family. Contact us today for an appointment.