We are asked many questions about “dental flossing” by our patients. Most frequent are why is it necessary to floss and what’s the best floss to use? Here’s what we tell our patients.

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Q. Dr. Jack, at what age should I first bring my child to the dentist?

A. It’s a good idea to have an oral exam, usually with your physician for convenience, within six months of the eruption of the first tooth, no later than the child’s first birthday. Regular visits with the dentist should begin during the third year.

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Q. Dr. Share, I’m aware of the changes that my body is going through while being pregnant. Should I have any particular dental concerns at this time?

A. During pregnancy there is a special need for good oral hygiene, because pregnancy may exaggerate some dental disorders. The old adage “a tooth is lost for every child” is untrue. However, during pregnancy inflammation of the gums may be more pronounced due to a rise in your body’s hormonal levels. This is due to the way that your gums react to the irritants in the plaque on your teeth, not the hormones themselves. By maintaining a sound program of brushing and flossing thoroughly twice daily, using an ADA-accepted toothpaste and seeing our hygienist regularly, your tissues will remain their healthiest.

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I am often asked questions about anatomy by my patients, many of whom know about my profound interests in paleontology and evolution. Many of their questions regard their jaw joint called the temporomandibular joint, or simply TMJ. Discussions often lead to the TMJ’s interesting proximity to the ear, being directly in front of it. Curiosity usually peaks when discomfort arises within the ear or the TMJ, which can often be difficult to localize for patients when they are in pain. In fact, many patients have their ears examined before suspecting that their pain is arising from their TMJ.

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Q. Dr. Share, I’ve been told by my partner that I make noises with my teeth at night while I’m asleep. I can actually see little yellow spots starting to form on the tops of my teeth. Do you think that I’m grinding my teeth in my sleep?

A. The verification of noises and jaw movement by a sleep partner is an excellent indication that you are grinding your teeth. Yellow areas on the biting surfaces of the teeth, especially if they are sensitive, could be the start of wear into the dentin, the softer tooth tissue that lies under the enamel. Keep in mind that dentin can be exposed for other reasons than teeth grinding. Your chewing patterns, type of bite, diet, and even aging will cause wear, exposing the dentin. So in time, wearing of the teeth is perfectly normal. The big question is whether you’re accelerating the process of wear by grinding your teeth while you are asleep.

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