Caring for Your Teeth
Brush and floss.
So many people do not brush twice and floss once daily. This is your best defense against cavities, tooth loss, receding gums, bad breath, and host of other common oral ailments. Brushing and flossing remove plaque, the soft, sticky substance that builds up on your teeth from bacteria and food particles, that are at the root of many common dental problems.
Change your toothbrush every three months.
After three months, manual toothbrushes usually lose their resilience, causing them to be less effective. Patients with gum disease and weaker teeth should change their toothbrush even more often, as bacteria can build up in the bristles of toothbrushes.
Tell your dentist about all oral problems you are having.
Some patients are embarrassed by oral problems. For instance, bad breath is a common issue that some are ashamed to share. Yet, the cause of recurring bad breath in 85% of patients is a dental condition that won't get better without a dentist's help.
Regular cleanings and check-ups with Wolken Dental are key.
Your bi-annual check-up goes well beyond checking for cavities. The removal of tartar during cleanings is important in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Each check-up includes an oral cancer screening. Someone in the U.S. dies each hour of each day of oral cancer, and early detection is vital to treating and possibly curing oral cancer.
Your Dental Health
A Profound Link
Dental problems can indicate the presence of serious health problems. A recent article in the journal Circulation linked five common dental problems with an increased risk of heart disease. In fact, those dental problems proved to be stronger predictors of heart disease than more traditionally used risk factors such as low "good" cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high levels of clotting factor called fibrinogen.
During your bi-annual exam, Dr. Wolken can detect symptoms for a host of important issues...
- Diabetes: Diabetes impairs white blood cells, the body's main defense against bacterial infection, and peridontal disease results from bacterial infection.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis and tooth loss often go hand-in-hand because the same decrease in bone mineral density that boosts risk of hip and other fractures affects the jawbone and teeth. Women are particularly vulnerable to tooth loss after menopause.
- Heart Disease: As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing one person every 34 seconds.
- Premature and Low-Weight Births: Peridontal disease can also affect the weight of your unborn baby. The inflammation caused by gum and tooth disease releases certain chemicals into your bloodstream which have the potential to affect a baby's birth weight. One recent study found that treatment for removing plaque and tartar might reduce the risk of premature delivery.
What to expect on your first visit
Upon arriving for your first appointment at Wolken Dental, you will be asked to fill out patient registration forms, patient history forms, and sign our Notice of Privacy Practices and Financial policy. For your convenience, these forms are available for download below.
If you are coming to us from another dentist, please be sure to request that your dental records be transfered to us. This provides the practitioners at Wolken Dental the best opportunity to provide seamless and efficient care. Records can be sent to:
Wolken Dental
8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200
Saint Louis, MO 63124
Drs. Wolken meet with each patient before treatment begins to discuss individual needs and expections, in order to construct the right treatment plan for each patient.