The Effects of Poor Oral Hygiene

Taking care of your teeth and gums lead to a healthy mouth and great dental checkups. Poor oral hygiene can lead to disastrous consequences. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD wants to remind his patients what good hygiene is and what poor hygiene can lead to.

Brushing two or three times per day and flossing once per day is all that is needed in your daily life to fend away dental plaque and tartar. In addition, you will want to make routine appointments with Dr. Ruyak for checkups and professional cleanings.

Plaque is the slimy white stuff that appears on your teeth throughout the day. When plaque is not removed, it eventually hardens into tartar. Plaque and tartar both lead to decay and gums problems. When tartar is not removed, it can irritate the gums enough to where they begin to pull back. This is called gum recession. Recessed gums form deep pockets where bacteria can collect. These pockets allow bacteria to get deep into the gums where the tooth root is located. This can weaken the tooth and make it more difficult for the gum disease to be cleared.

Gum disease is tough to get rid of and only gets more difficult with time. In advanced stages of gum disease, it will take more than clearing up the disease to heal the gums. Surgery can be necessary to fix recessed gums and deep pockets.

Keep up with a healthy brushing and flossing routine and be sure to see us at least every six months! To schedule your next cleaning and examination with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, call our Bethlehem, PA office at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com. 

Vising the Dentist While Pregnant

There has been talk about whether or not dental work is safe during pregnancy. Pregnancy brings about a lot of change to a woman and the utmost care should be taken to protect the baby. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD wants patients to know how important dental cleanings are during pregnancy and why pregnant women should not skip them.

If poor oral care is practiced during pregnancy, the hormonal changes can lead to worse consequences than someone who is not pregnant. During pregnancy, the gums become more sensitive to plaque, therefore it is recommended to brush and floss more carefully and more frequently. If you start noticing red, irritated gums, it may be a sign of pregnancy gingivitis. Gum sensitivity should go away after the baby is born, but you still want to take care of pregnancy gingivitis so that it does not turn into a more serious form of gum disease.

Whether or not seeing the dentist is safe for a pregnancy is something many women wonder, and the answer is yes. You should absolutely still go for your routine cleaning and examinations, or even more frequently if you are noticing signs of irritated gums. However, it is best to avoid any more complex dental procedures that can wait until after the baby is born. There is no need to put added stress on the mother. Dental emergency procedures, however, are recommended because it is better to have a safe and healthy mouth than one that could cause an infection.

If you are pregnant, be sure to let us know during your next appointment. To schedule a cleaning with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD in Bethlehem, PA, call us at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com. 

Brushing with Braces

While wearing braces, it is especially important to take good care of your teeth. A good dental hygiene routine will ensure healthy teeth and a bright smile when the braces come off. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD here in Bethlehem, PA wants to remind his patients of how to brush their teeth while wearing braces.

While wearing braces, it is important to brush correctly and often. The brackets create extra hiding spots for plaque, which means more opportunity for build-up to cause cavities and staining. After brushing the chewing surfaces, angle the toothbrush along the tops of all the brackets. Do the same for the bottom of the brackets. To hit the sides of them, use an interdental toothbrush. These are small, tree-shaped brushes that can get underneath the wires, unlike your regular toothbrush. You want to be sure you can see the edges of the brackets, afterwards. This is a sign that any built-up plaque is gone.

Taking precautions and taking extra-special care of your teeth while you wear braces will ensure a healthy smile when the braces come off. To schedule your next dental cleaning with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak in Bethlehem, PA, call us at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com. 

Home Care After an Extraction

After having a tooth extracted, it is important to know how to care for the area to allow proper healing. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD of Bethlehem, PA puts his patients’ health and safety on top of the priority list. If you are having a tooth extracted soon, prepare yourself with these guidelines.

After a tooth extraction, you will want to avoid promoting bleeding. The bleeding must stop for the area to heal. It is recommended to relax for the rest of the day following the extraction and any strenuous activity should be avoided until healing has progressed. Sleep with your head propped up by a pillow, in order to not increase blood flow to the head. In addition, when drinking, do not use a straw as this could un-clot the blood and cause more bleeding.

Soft foods such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, and pudding should be eaten until healing progresses. Make sure to drink plenty of water. Also, refrain from smoking and using other tobacco products as this could slow down healing and also lead to infection.  

To reduce pain and swelling, take medications as directed by Dr. Ruyak. An ice pack to the side of the face or a warm salt water rinse may help, as well. Also, be sure to keep up a good oral care routine. You want to keep your mouth as clean as possible. Be very careful brushing around the area of extraction.

More patient resources are available on our website to help our patients keep optimal oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD, call our office at (610) 861-01777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com. 

Choose the Right Toothbrush for You

Choosing a toothbrush may be essential for doing a proper job brushing your teeth. Since there are so many options to choose from, we want to give some general tips for picking the right one for you. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD wants all of our patients here in our Bethlehem, PA office to understand the importance of picking the right toothbrush.

In order to get easier maneuvering of the toothbrush, you want to be sure you can grip it easily. Look for one with a non-slip grip instead of just smooth plastic. In addition, if you have trouble using your hands, look for a thicker handle. There are even toothbrushes specially made for those with arthritis.

Next, look for a toothbrush with a small head. A big head with a ton of bristles won’t do you any good if you cannot fit it everywhere in your mouth. A small head makes it easier to reach every spot.

Stiff bristles are not necessary for clean teeth. Soft bristles with a light touch are all that is needed to remove plaque. Therefore, choose a toothbrush that says it has medium bristles. Do not choose a soft-bristled toothbrush unless directed to by your dentist.

Electric toothbrushes have been shown to do the same job brushing as manual toothbrushes so it is up to you on which type you prefer. However, it is worth noting that people with arthritis or other trouble using their hands may benefit from an electric toothbrush. It makes brushing easier as it does most of the work.

Taking care of your teeth and gums is vital for your oral health. To schedule your next appointment with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD, call our Bethlehem, PA office at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com. 

Tips for Brushing with Braces

Brushing your teeth is essential for a healthy mouth; however, brushing with braces is even more important. Braces can hold in plaque easier and can cause strange staining when not taken care of properly. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD of Bethlehem, PA wants to remind our patients of how to properly brush their teeth while wearing braces to continue optimal oral health.

To start, brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth as you normally would. Remember, brushing your teeth should take about two minutes normally. Then, brush the insides and the fronts of your teeth, paying attention to your gum line. When you go to brush around your braces, angle the toothbrush and brush along the tops of the brackets. Then, do the same for the bottom brackets. Take an interdental toothbrush to brush the sides of each bracket. These are tiny, tree-shaped brushes that allow you to get underneath the wires.

When it is time to floss, there are a couple of dental supplies that may make it easier. Superfloss has a built-in threader on it so you can easily get the floss over and under the wire. Separate floss threaders are also available.

Taking good care of your teeth while you have braces will ensure a healthy mouth and a stain-free smile when the braces come off. To schedule your routine cleaning and examination with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD in our Bethlehem, PA office, call us at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com.