The Smile Daily

You’ve probably spent your fair share of time with a dental hygienist. After all, they are usually the ones to meticulously clean your teeth, apply fluoride treatments, and assist your dentist in various procedures.

Here at Norge Dental, we are pulling back the curtain and sharing what they want you to know before arriving at your appointment. With years of experience under their belts, they’re here to answer your burning questions, ease your anxiety about procedures, and help you maintain a healthy beautiful smile!

Here’s 3 Things Your Dental Hygienist Wants You To Know Before Your Appointment:

1. If you don’t floss regularly, but decide to the morning of your dentist appointment, we know. (You can’t hide those bleeding gums from us!) The good news is that we practice shame-free dentistry here at Norge Dental Center.
   
   So instead of shaking our heads, we’ll show you the best techniques to flossing your teeth and how to incorporate it into your routine. Soon, flossing will become a daily habit, and you’ll have healthier gums in no time!
   
   Speaking of floss, string floss works better than floss picks because it hugs the side of your teeth. With that being said, any floss is better than no floss.
2. X-rays are important. The need for x-rays is dependent on several factors, including: present oral health, your age, your risk for disease, and any signs and symptoms of oral disease. Children often need more frequent x-rays than adults because their teeth are still developing, and your dentist will want to make sure their jawline and adult teeth are coming in nicely, free from tooth decay.
   
   If you, or a member of your family is new to Norge Dental Center, we’ll want to get initial x-rays to set a baseline for the future and confirm your current oral health status.
   
   If you are pregnant, please let us know at the beginning of your appointment. While we use a leaded apron for every patient during x-rays, it’s important for your dentist to know if you are pregnant, or could be.
3. Fluoride is beneficial to BOTH children and adults. It’s “nature’s cavity fighter” and helps rebuild weakened tooth enamel. Each time that you brush your teeth with a toothpaste that has fluoride as an ingredient, or use other dental products that have fluoride in them, you’re helping to rebuild the damage to our teeth caused by the acidic drinks/foods we consume.    
   
   Did you know that for the past 70 years fluoride has been added to public water systems to help prevent cavities? Encourage your children to drink more water. Not only is it better for their diet, but it’s also better for their pearly whites!

If you have any questions about an upcoming appointment, please give our office a call at (757) 231-7080.