You want your loved ones to be as healthy as possible. That includes their oral health, which is why your choice of a family dentist matters.

And who better to provide dental care for your family than a dentist from a family of dentists. Dr. Romey Farrell opening his practice in 1953, and today, Dr. Jerry is carrying on the work his father started serving Johnson City, NY and the surrounding area.

Together, we can help your family stay free of cavities and gum disease. To learn more about our office or to schedule an appointment, call 607-304-3993 or contact us online today.

Good Oral Health Starts At Home

To keep your family free from tooth decay and periodontal problems, you should follow the American Dental Association’s recommendations:

◻ Brush your teeth twice a day, every day

◻ Floss your teeth every day

◻ Have regular professional cleanings and exams

We’ll get to the last item on that list a little later. Let’s start by reviewing why the ADA recommends daily brushing and flossing.

When brushing your teeth, try to remember two-by-two. You should brush twice a day for two minutes each time.

The bacteria that cause plaque, which leads to tooth decay, live in our mouths. Brushing is an effective to remove many bacteria and much of the plaque that forms daily. When you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride. Be sure to scrub your teeth on all sides. Then scrub your tongue before spitting out the toothpaste. Rinse your toothbrush and leave it to dry.

Brushing will clean most of your teeth, but there are few places your toothbrush isn’t as good at reaching. Those places are between your teeth and below your gumline. This is why flossing, or using an interdental cleaner, is so important.

Dental floss, flossers, and water flossers are all options for removing plaque buildup and small food particles that can get stuck between your teeth and gum.

By brushing and flossing daily, you greatly reduce your risk of both cavities and gum disease.

Why Professional Dental Cleanings Are Important

In a perfect world, you would brush and floss every day for as long as you should and in the right way. In the real world, you probably aren’t using a timer when you brush, and most people do not floss every day (if they floss at all).

But even if you do brush and floss by following the exact ADA guidelines, there is still a chance you could develop decay or gum disease.

For these reasons, professional cleanings and exams are essential for maintaining your long-term oral health. And if you come to our office in Johnson City, you can trust that you and your family will receive thorough care.

As part of your regular exams, we will take X-rays to monitor any changes in the alignment of your teeth and to reveal places where decay could be forming. We may not always be able to see it with our eyes alone.

One of our dental professionals will remove plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. (Tartar is plaque that has hardened.) We have a variety of tools to do this as effectively as possible.

We will finish by giving your teeth a professional polish.

Extra Steps To Protect Your Family’s Smiles

We believe that every patient deserves to feel good about his or her smile. We want every patient to keep their smile as healthy and as attractive as it can be.

That’s why you also may want to ask about additional services that go beyond the basics of our routine cleanings and exams.

Many parents will take advantage of dental sealants to create a barrier between harmful bacteria and their children’s teeth. This is a low-cost, but effective way to create an extra layer of protection for those times when your kids might not brush and floss as well as they should.

Fluoride treatments help for a different reason. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral. When applied to your teeth, it can both strengthen enamel (the outer layer of teeth) and repair minor damage from bacteria.

Both sealants and fluoride can reduce your risk of decay.

Give Yourself A Reason To Smile

If you are a parent, you probably enjoy taking photos of your family. When you do, we bet you want to see their smiles, too.

Give your family a reason to keep smiling with regular visits to Dr. Jerry Farrell’s office if you live in or near Johnson City, NY. Call us today at 607-304-3993 or contact us online to plan your first or your next visit with us.