Hinsdale Dentist Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS strongly supports the concept of preventive dental care. He continues to put legs on this conviction, working to make a difference in the quality of life for his patients. Dr. Daniels says that good preventive dental care includes home care performed by the patient, as well as dental care and education by the professional dental staff at Dr. Gregory J. Daniels’ office in Hinsdale, Illinois.

Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS explains that excellent preventive care begins with the oral hygiene care a patient practices at home. Ongoing preventive dentistry is also offered at Hinsdale Dentist to help each patient maintain healthy teeth and gums. According to Dr. Gregory J. Daniels, the objective of both is to prevent the start of oral disease or to find it at an early stage. Dr. Daniels will also check for early signs of periodontal disease, dental decay, and other changes in the mouth that could lead to oral cancer.

Preventive care in Dr. Gregory J. Daniels’ office includes cleaning of the teeth to removes accumulations of calculus. It includes examination of the teeth and soft tissue, using visual and tactile exams, x-rays, and oral cancer screening. Newer techniques to diagnose gum disease include computerized instruments to measure bacterial content in the mouth. If necessary, Dr. Gregory J. Daniels will prescribe medications to help prevent dental disease.

Dr. Gregory J. Daniels also offers preventive dentistry services for children in the form of fluoride supplements and applications. Dr. Daniels applies dental sealants to children’s teeth, forming a barrier between tooth crevasses and bacteria to help ward off dental decay. Dr. Daniels also refers some young patients to a dental specialist, such as an orthodontist, to correct a bad bite. Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS recommends that children be evaluated by an orthodontist by the time they reach the age of eight.

Dr. Gregory J. Daniels also educates his patients about at-home care, nutrition, and smoking cessation. He states that at-home procedures performed by patients can help prevent disease. These include regular and proper brushing, flossing and sometimes use of mouth rinses and at-home fluoride applications. According to Dr. Gregory J. Daniels, there are proper brushing and flossing techniques that every patient should employ.

a. In order to properly brush the teeth, a patient should use a soft nylon toothbrush with round-ended bristles. Place the bristles along the gum line at a 45-degree angle to cover the tooth surface and gum line.

b. The technique used should be gentle and in a rolling back-and-forth motion, with several teeth being brushed at a time.

c. Don’t forget to brush the inside of the teeth, and then tip the toothbrush vertically to brush the front teeth. Use a back-and-forth motion to brush the biting surface of the teeth and the tongue.
d. Flossing should be done with an 18-inch strip of floss wrapped around the middle fingers of each hand. The thumbs should direct the remaining one to two inches of floss that is inserted between the teeth.

e. By keeping the floss taut, patients can use their index fingers to guide the floss between the lower teeth with a gentle zigzag motion, while contouring the floss around the sides of the teeth.  Floss each tooth with a clean section of the floss and ensure that the floss goes under the gum line.

Approximately 75% of Americans have some form of dental disease, so regular dental visits are particularly important following adolescence. Dr. Gregory J. Daniels emphasizes that good dental care should begin in the earliest years of life and continue for a lifetime.

For more information contact Dr. Gregory J. Daniels DDS at hinsdaledentist.com or at 630-655-8815.