Preventive Dental Care

If you need emergency dental care in Austin, you may be wondering if it’s safe to see the dentist, and to come to Enamel Dentistry to get the treatment you need. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few of the precautions we’re taking to provide you with the treatment you need while protecting your health and well-being. Let’s get started.

We’re Taking COVID-19 Seriously & Protecting Our Patients And Staff

We have always adhered to the safety, sanitation, and infection prevention standards required by the ADA, CDC, and OSHA, including cleaning and sanitizing all dental tools, replacing plastic covers, sanitizing surfaces touched by patients and staff, and more.

However, we’re making even more efforts to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, such as wiping down counters, doorknobs, chairs, and other commonly-touched surfaces more regularly. Doing so will help protect you and protect our staff.

In addition, we’re taking extra steps to adhere to social distancing regulations within our office, such as seeing fewer patients each day and spacing out appointments to avoid crowds. We’ve also reconfigured our sitting areas to provide more space between each person.

Going To The Dentist For An Emergency Is Safer Than Going To The Emergency Room

If you need emergency dental care, you may think that you should go to the emergency room. But most ERs are not equipped to deal with dental emergencies. You should only go to an ER if you believe you have a life-threatening issue, such as a broken jaw. Otherwise, it’s usually best to see an emergency dentist at an office like Enamel Dentistry. 

In fact, it’s much safer to come to Enamel Dentistry than it is to visit the ER for treatment. As you may expect, most ERs and hospitals are treating multiple COVID-19 coronavirus patients, so being in the same area as these individuals could increase your risk of infection, even with the best possible precautions.

In contrast, Enamel Dentistry is doing its best to avoid exposing patients to COVID-19. We ask all patients about whether or not they’ve traveled, been around someone who developed COVID-19, and any symptoms they may have that could indicate COVID-19 infection. We’re taking every precaution we can to avoid exposing you and our staff members.

You Need Immediate Care For Dental Emergencies – Don’t Wait To Get Treatment 

Dental emergencies always demand immediate attention, and if you don’t get help right away, your condition could get worse. For example, a pulled-out filling or crown that’s not replaced could lead to a tooth infection.

If you think your condition counts as a dental emergency, the best thing you can do is contact Enamel Dentistry for an appointment right away. We’re doing everything we can to keep you safe during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, and our doctors will provide you with the dental care you need to resolve your emergency and restore your dental health.

So don’t wait. Contact us now to schedule an appointment at our offices in Parmer Park, South Lamar, or Lantana Place, and get the emergency care you need right away.

If your gums start bleeding while you’re flossing, should you keep flossing? Absolutely!

Bleeding while flossing is often a sign that you need to be flossing your gums more thoroughly or frequently—not that they should be left alone. It might sound counterintuitive, but the more you floss, the less your gums will bleed, unless the bleeding is related to physical damage to your gum tissue or a systemic issue. Many patients will stop flossing an area that bleeds, but the best thing to do is to give that area more attention!

Other Reasons Why Your Gums Might Bleed During Flossing

For most patients, simply flossing more often is enough to stop bleeding gums. However, there are several other reasons why your gums could bleed while flossing, including:

• You could be using poor flossing techniques
• You may not be brushing your gums properly while brushing your teeth
• You may have an accumulation of plaque and tartar on your teeth
• You may have had your teeth cleaned recently and had a lot of build-up removed
• You may have gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease

If the bleeding hasn’t gone away within 3-10 days, schedule an appointment to have your dentist check it out. We’ll evaluate your flossing technique and determine whether you may need a cleaning or periodontal care. Gingivitis and gum disease are both very common, but the good news is that they can be reversed in the early stages.

How Often Should You Floss Your Teeth?

Flossing is very important because it can get into areas that your toothbrush bristles can’t. No matter how well you brush your teeth, if you’re not flossing, you’re essentially only cleaning about 50% of your mouth. If you only floss occasionally, your gums will probably bleed because the tissue isn’t used to the stimulation; regular flossing helps the gum tissue become more resilient.

Although some patients floss after every meal, simply flossing once a day will do wonders for your oral health! The best time to floss is typically before you brush your teeth at the end of the day. This will allow the fluoride to make the most contact with your teeth. If you have questions about how to floss your teeth properly, we’d be happy to give you a demonstration!

The bottom line: your gums may bleed from time to time, and generally, it’s not serious. Start flossing more often, and it should go away. But if your gums bleed regularly, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist! Contact your closest Enamel location or book an appointment online.

You’ve probably heard it time and time again: brushing your teeth, flossing, and regular dental exams are important. While we can all appreciate having a beautiful smile, it’s often easy to overlook the health benefits of preventive dental care.

The health benefits of going to the dentist regularly go deeper than just making sure your teeth stay in good condition. We’re learning more all the time about how dental issues (like gum disease) can affect your overall health and lead to more serious health problems. That’s why regular dental visits and a  good oral hygiene routine at home are so very important!

Six-Month Check-Ups Are Essential

Six-month check-ups give your dentist a chance to keep an eye on your gum and teeth health, which allows any developing issues to be caught early on. A small cavity is easy to fix but if it’s not addressed for many years, it can develop into severe tooth decay or even lead to infection. If a tooth is too badly infected, it may need extraction. It’s much easier to take care of a cavity as soon as it develops – and it can save you money in the long run if you don’t need more extensive procedures. We also do oral cancer screenings at every six-month check-up. Without regular dental appointments, oral cancer is very difficult to detect until it’s reached stage III or IV. By then, it’s already made its way through the body. 

Don’t Forget Teeth Cleaning, Fluoride Treatments, or Dental Sealants!

Regular cleanings are important because they remove tartar, plus any plaque that your toothbrush and floss might have missed. While your teeth are being cleaned, our hygienists can look for anything concerning, like cavities or signs of gingivitis (gum disease). Fluoride treatments are also helpful because they remineralize your teeth, which prevents soft spots in the enamel that can turn into cavities. Likewise, dental sealants protect your molars (which are particularly vulnerable to cavities) from things like bacteria, acids, and food particles. 

Keep Your Smile Strong and Healthy at Enamel Dentistry

At Enamel Dentistry, we want our patients to have a lifetime of strong, healthy smiles, which is why preventive dental care is at the heart of what we do. Our dental office serves all of Austin, providing complete dental care for children and adults. Contact us online or visit us at our South Lamar, Parmer Park, Lantana Place, Saltillo location. We also have a fifth location at the Domain opening soon!