Daniel I. Varadi

Great to hear that you're interested in flossing and what it can do for you. Flossing is by far the best way you can prevent future dental problems including gum disease and decay between your teeth (the most common place for it). When you floss between your teeth, you are disrupting a biofilm of bacteria responsible for gingivitis and tooth decay. You should try to work your way up to flossing once per day, if you're not already there. A good dental hygienist will work with you on your specific flossing technique and what type of floss would be best for your particular situation.

Thank you for your question!
-DIV

Chewing gum is only bad for your teeth if you're chewing sugary gum. Sugar-Free is the way to go, so you've got that covered. Gums with a sugar substitute called Xylitol is particularly special because the ingredient kills the bacteria that is responsible for dental decay. Chewing gum after meals helps to cleanse your teeth, but it also stimulates your saliva glands which help to neutralize plaque acids responsible for tooth decay.
Thanks for asking a great question!
-DIV

YES! Dental anesthetics are the most effective pain blocking drug known and it can certainly be used during dental cleanings. We often see more need to anesthetize our patients when they are new to the practice and are in need of deep cleanings after they are return to dentistry after having missed several cleanings over the years. At times, patients have hyper-sensitive teeth and cannot tolerate the cleanings and anesthetic is often employed. However, this is not the norm, and we usually investigate the cause for such sensitivity and treat it first.

Dental fillings whether they are silver or composite resin have a finite lifespan and your dentist will evaluate the quality of the seal of the restoration and determine when it should be replaced or repaired.

Gingivitis is the first stage in the progressive of Periodontis ("gum disease"). It is literally the inflammation of your gum tissues and is often characterized by red, swollen and bleeding tissues. However there is some good news!: gingivitis is completely reversible. The best way to know if you have gingivitis is to see your dentist and hygienist and ask good questions!

Hello and thank you for posting a great question.
I'm a big fan of Fluoride rinses (ie. ACT). I have been using one every night for the past 30 years and recommend them to most of my patients for raising resistance to tooth decay and helping prevent or lessen tooth sensitivity. Once a day is fine, but remember to avoid rinsing with water after using the Fl rinse for maximum benefit. It will continue to "soak in" for the next 30 mins. If you want to rinse in the morning, I would recommend an anti-plaque rinse such as Listerine or Crest Pro Health to decrease plaque bacteria.
Hope that helps and keep up the great work!
-DIV

Hello and thank you for your question.

First of all, I don't think there will be any problems with the baby, especially if the x-rays taken were digital which is typically about 80% less radiation than E-speed film x-rays. You said "routine" x-rays were taken. Assuming this involved only 4 BW's, that's even safer than say a full set of 18 or so images. I always compliment my pregnant moms for having their teeth checked and cleaned, so you can rest assured that having your cleaning and effectively reducing your overall level of inflammation will benefit the baby and make up for any negligent amount of radiation exposure. Also, if any dental pathology would have overlooked that can be much worse for the baby...such as an abscess for which you would often need to take Antibiotics etc.

If you are worried about what can be done from here on out, I would consult your OB-GYN, but I think there will not be any issues.

I hope that helps!
DIV