At Chesterfield Smile Designs, having patients come for treatment and leave with questions answered—from which toothpaste to buy to proper tools and techniques—is our business. We are all about educating our patients for better dental health.

1 Soft Bristle Toothbrush

Gentle brushing will obtain the same results as hard bristle brushing without the abrasive damage to gums and gum line. There is never a good reason to use hard or medium bristle toothbrushes. Better yet, wet the soft bristle toothbrush to be sure the bristles are soft and pliant before brushing.

2 Minutes of Brushing and Flossing

Split the mouth into fourths and spend a good 30 seconds in each quarter. Hit the chewing surfaces, the inside surfaces, the outside surfaces and gently massage the gums. Be sure to pay attention to the far side of the back tooth that is never visible but can collect food and allow cavities to begin. Take two minutes to floss after brushing in the evening to remove any remnants the toothbrush couldn’t coax out and to clean any build-up. You have approximately 32 teeth and 32 gaps to floss clean. Two minutes should do the trick, but adding an extra minute for good measure can’t hurt.

3 Times a Day

Brushing after every meal should remain the goal. This is difficult for many who are not home for the midday meal. To achieve amazing dental hygiene, brushing is priority one. There are as many toothpaste choices out there as you have teeth; without consistent brushing and flossing, those teeth are facing sure destruction. Don’t misunderstand, toothpaste is essential. Toothpaste acts as the vehicle that collects the debris, keeps the bristles pliable, fluoridates the mouth, freshens the breath and a myriad of other side jobs. But after every meal, gently removing food debris prevents breakdown on precious tooth surfaces. Even if you don’t use toothpaste after lunch, a quick brush can keep your teeth free of build-buildup

Here at Chesterfield Smile Designs we provide our patients with general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment with us today.

Contact Chesterfield Smile Designs:

314-254-8458

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

14377 Woodlake Dr Ste 205
Chesterfield, Missouri
28036

If you’ve ever walked the oral care aisles of any drugstore, you know that there are many different types of mouthwash. Some tout their germ-killing abilities, others emphasize their fluoride content, and some claim to whiten teeth while freshening the breath. These are all great benefits, but at Chesterfield Smile Designs we remind you to ask yourself, will they help meet your dental health needs?

Many individuals wonder if daily mouthwash should be part of their dental routine. Brushing and flossing are the two critical habits that have the most significant effect on dental health, so if you’re doing these two things, is mouthwash necessary?

When our dental patients ask about mouthwash, we tell them that as long as they follow the directions on the bottle, mouthwash may slightly benefit dental health, even if it doesn’t live up to every promise on the label. Rinsing with a mouthwash that contains fluoride can’t hurt your teeth, but allowing a bit of diluted toothpaste to stay on tooth surfaces after brushing probably has the same effect.

Men and women with bad breath often believe that mouthwash can solve the trouble. Actually, mouthwashes that contain alcohol can worsen the problem because they can cause dry mouth—a condition that can contribute to bad breath. Mouthwashes without alcohol are typically more efficient for freshening breath. These products are typically called fluoride rinses.

If you have persistent bad breath, you should have your teeth evaluated for plaque build-up. No amount of mouthwash can remedy a mouth full of plaque. If your teeth and gums are healthy and you still suffer from bad breath, it’s important to confirm the cause. Bad breath can be an indication of a physical condition, so see your doctor soon.

Bottom line? Never substitute mouthwash for proper brushing and flossing. And if you use mouthwash, pick a brand that contains fluoride and no alcohol.

At Chesterfield Smile Designs, serving the greater St. Louis area, your dental health matters. We provide quality dental care that includes general and cosmetic dentistry. Make an appointment with us today.

Contact Chesterfield Smile Designs:

314-254-8458

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

14377 Woodlake Dr Ste 205
Chesterfield, Missouri
28036

When you leave Chesterfield Smile Designs after a cleaning and checkup, our front desk always makes sure to schedule your next appointment with us, six months down the road. Is that really necessary? Isn’t having the dentist look inside your mouth once a year enough?

The short answer is: no. An unfortunate reality of dental health is that it doesn’t take very long for new problems to appear, and the sooner we identify and treat them, the better. You don’t want to give a cavity an extra six months to eat away at the enamel of your teeth.

We understand that no one really likes going to the dentist. Even when you’re confident that your teeth are in great shape, do you really want to sit for an hour while a hygienist pokes and scrapes your teeth and gum line?

But as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Benjamin Franklin said that more than two hundred years ago, and it’s as true now as it was in his day. If you don’t have cleanings and checkups on a regular basis, you’re gambling with your dental health – and that can result in other health complications.

By now, we think you get the point. But here are three very good reasons to see us every six months:

• Plaque and tarter. Even brushing and flossing twice a day won’t get everything. There are areas that simply won’t be reached. Plaque and tartar has a way of settling into those areas, and should be removed frequently.
• Bad habits. When you see us on a regular basis, we have the chance to identify new problems that may appear. Additional stress in life may lead to teeth grinding or jaw clenching; the early stages of gum disease, not noticeable six months ago, may be plain to see. No matter the issue, early detection and early treatment are the best ways to treat it.
• Oral cancer check. You don’t have to be a smoker to get oral cancer, although tobacco use increases your risk. Once again, the sooner it is found, the better the chances of successful treatment and recovery.

During those six months between cleanings and checkups, remember to brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Chesterfield Smile Designs provides general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment today.

Contact Chesterfield Smile Designs:

314-254-8458

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

14377 Woodlake Dr Ste 205
Chesterfield, Missouri
28036

Most people brush their teeth (at least we hope so). However, there are many who brush incorrectly but don’t realize it. In this post from Chesterfield Smile Designs, we’d like to remind the greater St. Louis area to brush properly.

One of the most common errors—especially for teenagers—is quick, aggressive teeth cleaning with a hard bristle toothbrush. There is a certain logic to this; when you want to clean smooth surfaces like bathroom tiles, you scrub with a hard brush, right? The trouble is that teeth and soft tissue have different characteristics. While enamel is strong, the soft tissues in the mouth are not designed for intense scouring.

Effects of Quick, Hard Brushing:

• Tooth decay caused by bits of food left between teeth
• Damage to teeth through abrasion
• Weakened enamel
• Tooth sensitivity
• Gums receding or pulling away from teeth
• Damage to existing dental work
• Tartar build-up

The friendly dental hygienists at Chesterfield Smile Designs  teach patients the proper way to brush teeth. With a slow, deliberate two minutes twice daily, you can take control of your dental hygiene, improve your oral health, and curtail the risk of future problems.

Smart Brushing Beats Aggressive Brushing:

• Plaque is soft enough to scratch off with a fingernail, so brush accordingly with soft bristles
• Holding the toothbrush at the correct angle achieves a thorough cleaning
• Proper tooth brushing can prolong that remarkable professional-cleaning feel
• Flossing is easier without sore, bleeding gums

If you have already damaged your teeth or gums through aggressive or haphazard brushing, it’s important to fix those troubles and get back on track. Protect your dental health! Call us at Chesterfield Smile Designs. We provide general and cosmetic dentistry.

Contact Chesterfield Smile Designs:

314-254-8458

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

14377 Woodlake Dr Ste 205
Chesterfield, Missouri
28036

At Chesterfield Smile Designs, each dental professional on our team, from the front desk to the dentist, helps us operate smoothly and provide an excellent standard of care. Today’s message will focus on the duties of a dental assistant.

You may think of the dental assistant as: “The one who suctions my mouth while the dentist is working on me,” or “The one who puts the bib around my neck,” and you are right. However, his/her knowledge of patient care and dental lab procedures is probably more extensive than you realize.

Competent dental assistants work behind the scenes at Chesterfield Smile Designs. They assist during all dental procedures, including basic oral examinations, tooth prep, and cavity filling, as well as lengthy smile makeovers involving multiple procedures. Our assistants also work with our dental hygienists during dental cleanings and patient instruction.

When a dental patient arrives for his/her appointment, the dental assistant has already been preparing for the necessary procedure. Before he/she is escorted to a chair in one of our comfortable patient rooms, the assistant has made sure the room is ready.

Whether the patient is receiving teeth whitening, undergoing a routine orthodontia adjustment, or settling in for a two-hour smile makeover, the dental assistant has set the stage for a comfortable and efficient procedure.

Dental assistants may also prepare tray setups, make impressions for restorations, schedule appointments, take x-rays, and maintain patient records. They must have an astute eye for detail and a first-rate memory as they organize and stock the many different dental supplies in a typical office.

At Chesterfield Smile Designs, our dentist provides everything from general dentistry to dental implants, and the dental assistant is always there – an essential, if unsung, member of the team.

Contact Chesterfield Smile Designs:

314-254-8458

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

14377 Woodlake Dr Ste 205
Chesterfield, Missouri
28036