You may have heard the amazing story of Jay, a 21-year-old whose fear of the dentist kept him from properly caring for his smile throughout his entire lifetime. In fact, Jay never even brushed or flossed his teeth! His magnificent dental transformation has gone viral, and people around the world are chattering about dental care. It’s not often that brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are the focus of a viral video, but if Jay’s story gets more people to start taking better care of their smiles, some good has come for this young man’s oral health care struggle.
What Can Happen Without Preventive Dental Care
With 21 years of neglect and no preventive dental care, Jay’s smile was severely damaged. After spending a significant amount of time removing the excessive plaque and tartar buildup, the underlying dental structures were revealed. Unfortunately, Jay had 11 teeth that were too damaged to be saved. Before offering any treatment to restore the remaining teeth or replace those that were lost, his dentist asked Jay to make a few changes to his daily routine. Jay committed to brushing and flossing daily, and he even invested in an electric toothbrush! The dentist restored his entire smile, and today, Jay takes great pride in caring for his teeth and gums.
Keeping your Smile Whole & Healthy
When it comes to your own oral health, we hope you’re doing at least a little better than Jay at keeping up with daily at home hygiene and regular dental office appointments. If fear is keeping you out of the dental chair, find a dentist you can trust and work with their office to get the care you need. Most practices provide dental sedation for those with severe anxiety, but finding a dentist who puts your mind at ease and makes you feel comfortable is typically the best option. Here are some tips to keep your smile whole and healthy at home:
- Use the right stuff. Find a soft bristled toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, and floss or flosser you can use easily. Always check for the American Dental Association seal to ensure you’re buying the best products.
- Brush for two minutes at a time at least two times each day.
- Floss once each day taking time to carefully floss up and down both sides of each tooth.
Meet the Indy Dental Group Team
At Indy Dental Group, our Carmel dentist and team are dedicated to helping patients achieve and maintain healthy, happy smiles for a lifetime. If it’s been six months, six years, or longer since your last appointment, contact us to schedule your first visit. We will not pass judgment or make you feel guilty about your smile. In fact, we will congratulate you and celebrate your first steps toward a better, brighter smile. Partner with our caring dentist and team to get the flawless, healthy smile of your dreams in a pain and stress free dental office where you’ll always feel right at home.