Aug
Cleaning our teeth is something we all do every day, hopefully twice a day. We have been taught since childhood that brushing and flossing are essential practices for healthy teeth and gums, and this remains true throughout our lives. At Eastland Dental Center, we understand that keeping the oral cavity healthy has a positive impact on the entire body. We work with patients on an individual basis to design oral health routines perfect for their unique needs. One way in which we do this is to determine patients’ tendencies towards dental caries, the cause of cavities. Taking extra steps to analyze the oral environment makes an enormous difference in oral health.
There are people who brush and floss their teeth regularly but still find they struggle with cavities and possibly even gum disease. To stay on top of oral health takes a watchful eye, which is why it is important to have a check-up every six months. If you have not visited your dentist in a while, you may notice that your teeth are more sensitive to temperature or sugar. Sensitivity is an indicator that cavities have formed or gum tissue has receded, and treatment should be sought.
Sugar is commonly tagged as the cause of cavities when, in truth, it is oral bacteria that weaken enamel and cause infection. These organisms live naturally in our mouths, and some are good and some are harmful. Those that have the potential to harm teeth and gums are fed by sugars, which may come from soda, juice, candy, and refined carbs. Avoiding direct sugar is important, but we mustn’t forget that bread, pasta, and cereals are also high in sugar content, providing all the sustenance oral bacteria could want. Fed well on sugar residue, oral bacteria leave behind acid waste, which eats through enamel and gum tissue with amazing efficiency.
Brushing and flossing are intended to remove sugar residue from the mouth after meals. However, research has discovered that testing to determine the types of bacteria present in the mouth leads to precise treatment for maximum results. We offer convenient, comfortable saliva testing in our office as an adjunct to conventional professional teeth cleaning services. When we know what we are up against in terms of oral bacteria, we can devise the proper plan for the restoration of optimal oral health.
Eastland Dental Center incorporates proven technology and products for the treatment of various dental problems. Contact our office today for your visit.
Eastland Dental Center is owned and operated by the father-daughter duo, Dr. Mike Milligan and Dr. Marisa Milligan.
Dr. Mike completed his doctor of dental medicine degree from Southern Illinois University in 1978. Dr. Marisa completed her doctor of dental medicine degree from Midwestern University in 2015. Both doctors have logged hundreds of hours of continuing education to stay on top of the latest technologies in dentistry as well as the most current research on the oral-systemic, mouth-body connection to benefit their patients. Dr. Mike and Dr. Marisa are active members and in excellent standing with the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, McLean County Dental Association, American Academy of Oral Systemic Health, and numerous other societies.
Both doctors are avid golfers and have won several national golf tournaments over the years. They are the only father-daughter team in the state to have won the Illinois State Amateur Golf Championship. Dr. Mike in 1974 and Dr. Marisa in 2005.