Dr. Gary Treinkman and Associates 
All of Your Dental Needs Under One Roof Frequently Asked Questions What causes tooth decay? Tooth decay is caused by acids which are produced by bacteria in the presence of sugar. To prevent tooth decay, these bacteria, sugar and acids must be periodically removed by way of brushing and flossing. What is the best kind of toothbrush? Generally speaking, a soft bristled toothbrush is best. Whether you use a manual toothbrush or an electric one, anything harder than soft, is too hard. Stiff bristles may give you that clean feeling, but they can also abrade your teeth and cause gum recession. How do I use dental floss? Floss is cheap, so dont be stingy! Tear off about a forearms length to start. Wrap one end around the middle finger of one hand to anchor it, and pick up the other end about 4-6 inches away with the middle finger of the other hand. This allows you to manipulate the floss with your thumb and fore finger. As you soil a section of floss, reel in another 4-6 inches of clean floss with the anchor finger as you release the floss with the other finger. Once you get the floss past the tooth contact, move the floss up and down, perpendicular to the tooth. Never shoe-shine the teeth in a back-and-forth motion! You wont effectively remove the plaque and you could also cut your gums. How often should I get dental checkups? For most people, a checkup and cleaning every 6 months is standard protocol. Depending on a persons dental health, however, a cleaning every 3 to 4 months may be recommended. How often should I get x-rays? For most people, a complete radiographic survey should be done every 3 years, and a checkup or recall set every 6 to 12 months. A complete set of x-rays is estimated to expose you to the same amount of radiation you get on a flight from San Francisco to Seattle. Doctors use x-rays as an aid in diagnosing problems. Without x-rays seeing the problem will be difficult if not impossible. (773) 278-6622 
901 N. Ashland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 
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