A Floss a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

The dental professionals at Kansas City Dental Works are pleased to welcome you to our practice. We have put together this guide to help you learn the basics of oral care and understand the resources available to you as a patient. As always, feel free to call with any questions or concerns about your oral health and your teeth.

Tooth Care

  1. Be aware of your breathing. We should all be breathing through our nose, so if you notice mouth breathing please consider discussing this with us as we have options to help you restore proper breathing patterns.

  2. Brush your teeth (at least) twice a day in a circular motion
    with a soft bristled toothbrush aimed at the gum, optimally with a natural toothpaste that does not contain fluoride. Dr. Humphrey recommends Wellnesse, Boka or Risewell toothpastes. We also recommend the use of oral probiotics, such as Revitin toothpaste or Burst oral probiotic tablets.

  3. Floss every night in an up-and-down motion while keeping
    the floss in a C-shape and against the tooth surface.

  4. Avoid smoking and vaping.

  5. Avoid sticky sugary foods.

  6. Eat a balanced diet. Nutrition is a huge factor is oral health and is an important part of a holistic approach to oral health.

  7. Use natural oral care products that contain ingredients you can pronounce.

  8. Have sealants placed on young permanent teeth with the use of dental ozone. At KC Dental Works, we have a specific protocol for sealant placement which includes dental ozone gas treatment and placement of a fluoride-free flowable porcelain based composite material.

  9. Smile!

More on Brushing

Brushing is the most effective method for removing harmful plaque from your teeth and gums. Getting the debris off your teeth and gums in a timely manner prevents bacteria in the food you eat from turning into harmful, cavity causing acids. Most dentists agree that brushing three times a day is the minimum. We recommend using either a wet toothbrush or using a natural toothpaste that does not contain any toxic ingredients such as fluoride. We recommend a toothpaste that contains hydroxyapatite. Rinsing with salt water is also a wonderful daily routine, much better than daily use of antimicrobial mouth rinses that disrupt your oral microbiome.

Tooth Wisdom

Bad breath can sometimes be caused by the medications you take, including central nervous system agents, antiparkinson drugs, antihistamines/decongestants, antipsychotics, anticholinergics, narcotics, antihypertensives and antidepressants. It is often times an indication of disruption of the digestive microbiome, allowing sulfur compounds to build up in the digestive system.

If your tooth has been knocked out:

  1. Try to place the tooth back in its socket.

  2. If you cannot locate the tooth back in its socket, hold the dislocated tooth by the crown and place it in a container of warm milk, saline or the victim's own saliva.

  3. Rinse the mouth of any blood or other debris, place a cold cloth or compress on the cheek near the injury and go to the emergency room or dentist's office.