My Blog
Posts for: September, 2017

When is the best time to floss your teeth: Morning? Bedtime? How about: whenever and wherever the moment feels right?
For Cam Newton, award-winning NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, the answer is clearly the latter. During the third quarter of the 2016 season-opener between his team and the Denver Broncos, TV cameras focused on Newton as he sat on the bench. The 2015 MVP was clearly seen stretching a string of dental floss between his index fingers and taking care of some dental hygiene business… and thereby creating a minor storm on the internet.
Inappropriate? We don't think so. As dentists, we're always happy when someone comes along to remind people how important it is to floss. And when that person has a million-dollar smile like Cam Newton's — so much the better.
Of course, there has been a lot of discussion lately about flossing. News outlets have gleefully reported that there's a lack of hard evidence at present to show that flossing is effective. But we would like to point out that, as the saying goes, “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” There are a number of reasons why health care organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) still firmly recommend daily flossing. Here are a few:
- It's well established that when plaque is allowed to build up on teeth, tooth decay and gum disease are bound to follow.
- A tooth brush does a good job of cleaning most tooth surfaces, but it can't reach into spaces between teeth.
- Cleaning between teeth (interdental cleaning) has been shown to remove plaque and food debris from these hard-to-reach spaces.
- Dental floss isn't the only method for interdental cleaning… but it is recognized by dentists as the best way, and is an excellent method for doing this at home — or anywhere else!
Whether you use dental floss or another type of interdental cleaner is up to you. But the ADA stands by its recommendations for maintaining good oral health: Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste; visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups; and clean between teeth once a day with an interdental cleaner like floss. It doesn't matter if you do it in your own home, or on the sidelines of an NFL game… as long as you do it!
If you would like more information about flossing and oral hygiene, contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

If you’ve noticed some of your teeth seem to be “longer” than you remembered, it’s not because they’ve grown. Rather, your gums have shrunk back or receded to expose more of the underlying tooth.
It’s not just unattractive — gum recession could lead to severe consequences like bone or tooth loss. But before we begin treatment we need to find out why it happened. Knowing the true cause will help us put together the right treatment plan for your situation.
Here are 4 of the most common causes for gum recession and what we can do about them.
The kind of gum tissues you have. There are two kinds of risk factors: those you can control and those you can’t. Because you inherited the trait from your parents, your gum tissue thickness falls into the latter category. Although there are degrees within each, gum tissues are generally classified as either thick or thin. If you have thin tissues, you’re more susceptible to gum recession — which means we’ll need to be extra vigilant about caring for your gum health.
Tooth position. Normally a tooth erupts during childhood in the center of its bony housing. But it can erupt outside of it, often resulting in little to no gum tissue growth around it. The best solution is to move the tooth to a better position within the bony housing through orthodontics. This in turn could stimulate gum growth.
Over-aggressive brushing. Ironically, gum recession could be the result of brushing, one of the essential hygiene tasks for dental health. Consistently brushing too hard can inflame and tear the tissues to the point they begin to recede. Brushing doesn’t require a lot of force to remove plaque: use gentle, circular motions and let the detergents and mild abrasives in your toothpaste do the rest.
Periodontal (gum) disease. This, by far, is the greatest cause for gum recession: an infection caused by built-up bacterial plaque. The weakened tissues begin to detach from the teeth and recede. Gum disease can be treated with aggressive plaque removal and supporting techniques; but it’s also highly preventable. Practicing daily brushing and flossing and regularly visiting your dentist for thorough cleanings and checkups are the best practices for keeping your gums as healthy as possible.
If you would like more information on gum recession, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Gum Recession.”
Find Us
Lawrenceville Dental Implant Center And Periodontics, LLC
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Request Appointment
Our office has flexible hours to fit your busy schedule
Patient Eductation

Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- March (5)
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- We'll Help You Maintain Your Oral Health After Gum Disease
- NHL Iron Man Keith Yandle Suffers Dental Trauma on Ice
- Don't Ignore These Signs of Periodontal Disease
- Periodontal Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Another Episode of Gum Disease
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- cosmetic dentistry (6)
- celebrity smiles (56)
- gum disease (60)
- tooth grinding (1)
- oral hygiene (21)
- gummy smile (2)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- crowns (3)
- periodontist (2)
- mouthrinse (1)
- orthodontics (4)
- braces (5)
- laser dentistry (5)
- Bone Grafting (7)
- aspirin (1)
- flossing (2)
- bad breath (2)
- periodontal disease (16)
- periodontal surgery (3)
- pediatric care (1)
- brushing (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- sensitive teeth (2)
- dental implants (9)
- gummy smiles (1)
- Gum Disease Treatment (1)
- Scaling (1)
- Root Planing (2)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (6)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- veneers (2)
- tooth extractions (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- oral health (16)
- loose teeth (4)
- periodontics (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- chipped tooth (3)
- mouthguards (2)
- gum recession (12)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- medicine (2)
- Periodontal Flap Surgery (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- plaque (1)
- restorative dentistry (2)
- pregnancy (1)
- periodontal dentistry (1)
- bonding (1)
- x-rays (1)
- tooth decay (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- ibuprofen (1)
- pain management (2)
- tooth pain (2)
- toothache (1)
- mouth sores (1)
- Missing Teeth (1)
- loose tooth (2)
- pediatric dentistry (2)
- cracked mouth (1)
- oral cancer (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- retainer (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- marijuana (1)
- oral-health (1)
- Periodontal Health (1)
- Dental Cleanings (1)
- Regular Visits (1)
- nutrition (1)
- crown lengthening (4)
- smile makeover (1)
- smoking (1)
- extraction (1)
- orthodontic treatment (2)
- canker sore (1)
- gum surgery (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- root resorption (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (2)
- Gums (1)
- root canal (1)
- root canal treatment (1)
- (1)