Gingivitis Prevention

Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS asks you to take a look in the mirror. Are your gums a healthy pink color? If they aren’t, but instead are swollen, puffy, or dark red, this is usually a symptom of gingivitis, and it’s time to get the situation under control. There are four stages of periodontal disease, and gingivitis is the first. Fortunately, gingivitis is reversible, so it’s best to seek treatment immediately.

Gingivitis is common and anyone can develop it. Those who are likely to experience symptoms first are those who don’t practice proper oral care habits. Dry mouth, poor nutrition, and smoking tobacco are additional factors that will contribute to periodontal disease. To prevent gingivitis from irritating the gums, it’s best to brush the teeth at least twice a day for two minutes, floss at least once a day, and visit Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS for routine cleanings.

If you have questions or concerns about periodontal disease, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

Tooth Sensitivity

Exposed areas of the tooth can cause pain, especially when eating food and drinking beverages that are hot or cold in temperature. The pain is often sharp and sudden and can be temporary until you go for seconds. If you experience sensitive teeth, you may need to improve your oral care routine or break some bad oral habits. Fortunately, Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS can give you the tools to reduce sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity is caused by the movement of fluid within tiny tubes located in the dentin of the tooth, which results in nerve irritation. This may occur because of a lack of brushing and flossing or because a person is brushing too hard. If a tooth or several of the teeth are highly sensitive for more than three days, it’s best to get a diagnostic exam from Dr. Bradley to fix the problem.

If you have questions or concerns about tooth sensitivity, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

How to Choose the Correct Toothpaste

Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS wants patients to keep their permanent teeth for a lifetime and doing so begins with a proper oral hygiene routine. Think about oral care as you would think of a recipe. If you use low-quality ingredients, it won’t taste as good. If you don’t use the proper tools to give your mouth a thorough cleaning, then all of your hard work will go unnoticed.  In this post, Dr. Bradley wants to discuss toothpaste. When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs such as:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste help reduces oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exactly what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.

If you have questions or concerns about oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

How to Floss Properly

During your routine cleaning, if Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS is telling you that you need to floss more, well then you better start listening to her.  Flossing has many benefits, such as removing food particles from your teeth that can cause bad breath and periodontal disease. However, like brushing your teeth, there is a correct way to floss. Instead of flossing as if you’re in a rush, next time you’re in front of the sink, try utilizing this technique.

The correct flossing technique goes something like this:

• Wind 18 inches of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a one-to-two-inch length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.


• Keep a one-to-two-inch length of floss controlled between fingers. Use index fingers to glide floss between contacts of the lower teeth.


• Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion and be sure to contour floss around the side of the tooth.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.

The Proper Toothbrush Technique

Many of us have been brushing our teeth for as long as we can remember, but did you know that there are a right way and a wrong way to brush your teeth? If you aren’t brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day, then your oral hygiene routine may need a little bit of work. Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS is more than happy to give you a lesson in home oral care, but until your next appointment, she’d like to advise that you implement the proper toothbrush technique.

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth in a circular motion in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.lisbradleydds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lis Bradley, DDS in Brentwood, TN, call 615-778-0810.