Florissant Dental Services
504 New Florissant Rd North
Florissant, MO 63031-4899
(314) 831-8500
Calls Answered From 8am-8pm
Seven Days A Week.
Cavities and Tooth Decay
(314) 831-8500
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment,contact us.
Florissant Dental Services is pleased to announce that we will now be providing Clear Correct. Clear Correct is way of straightening your teeth without unsightly braces. Click on the link above to find out more about improving your smile.
Click here to view the dangers of periodontal disease in a video excerpt ofWhoopi Goldberg on The View.
Zoom2 is a light assisted tooth whitening system for use in lightening discolored teeth. Zoom2 is intended only for in-office use by a dental professional.
On the first visit the chair side assistant will find your existing shade. Together you will discuss whether or not Zoom2 is right for you and how it works. If you decide it is right for you, an impression of your teeth will be taken so we can provide you with your own take home whitening trays.
At your next visit we will use our state of the art Zoom2 system to whiten your teeth. For the best results you should have a professional cleaning within the last 6 months. If hard tarter is on the teeth bleach will not be able to whiten those areas. We will end your visit with take home whitening trays, a custom case to hold your trays when not in use, as well as a complimentary tube of bleach for continuing whitening or touch ups.
After your visit you will need to be aware of staining. For the next 48hours you will need to avoid any staining foods such as Coffee, Dark Soft drinks, Blueberries etc. Your teeth will be more succeptable to staining during this time. Keep this in mind when making your appointment.
To view a video of a Zoom2 visit Click on the Zoom photo.
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is caused by a variety of things; in medical terms, cavities are called caries, which are caused by long-term destructive forces acting on tooth structures such as enamel and the tooth's inner dentin material.
These destructive forces include frequent exposure to foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates; soda, candy, ice cream-even milk-are the common culprits. Left inside your mouth from non-brushing and flossing, these materials break down quickly, allowing bacteria to do their dirty work in the form of a harmful, colorless sticky substance called plaque.
The plaque works in concert with leftover food particles in your mouth to form harmful acids that destroy enamel and other tooth structures.
If cavities aren't treated early enough, they can lead to more serious problems requiring treatments such as root canal therapy.
Preventing Cavities
The best defense against cavities is good oral hygiene, including brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing. Your body's own saliva is also an excellent cavity fighter, because it contains special chemicals that rinse away many harmful materials. Chewing a good sugarless gum will stimulate saliva production between brushing.
Special sealants and varnishes can also be applied to stave off cavities from forming.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have a cavity:
- Unusual sensitivity to hot and cold water or foods.
- A localized pain in your tooth or near the gum line.
- Teeth that change color.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth.
If left untreated, this can lead to premature decay of your baby's future primary teeth, which can later hamper the proper formation of permanent teeth.
One of the best ways to avoid baby bottle tooth decay is to not allow your baby to nurse on a bottle while going to sleep. Encouraging your toddler to drink from a cup as early as possible will also help stave off the problems associated with baby bottle tooth decay.