Dentist FAQ in Casablanca: your questions on teeth and gums

Twice a day, morning and evening, for about two minutes, with fluoride toothpaste. Evening brushing matters most because saliva decreases overnight.

Tilt the brush 45° towards the gum and make small gentle movements on every surface of the teeth, without scrubbing hard. Brush your tongue too. Brushing too hard can damage the gums.

Both work if the technique is good. An electric brush often helps you brush more regularly and for longer. Choose soft or medium bristles, never hard.

Yes: a brush cannot reach the spaces between teeth, where many cavities and gum problems begin. Use floss or interdental brushes once a day, preferably in the evening.

It is not compulsory. It complements brushing but does not replace it. Antiseptic mouthwashes should not be used for long without the dentist’s advice, as they can stain teeth.

About every three months, or as soon as the bristles spread. Change it after a sore throat or a mouth infection too.

Most often because plaque and tartar irritate the gum (gingivitis). Do not stop brushing: carry on gently and have a scaling. If bleeding persists, a gum assessment is needed.

Brush your tongue, clean between your teeth and have regular scaling. Bad breath most often comes from the mouth (plaque, gums, cavities); if it persists, talk to your dentist or doctor.

Tartar is hardened dental plaque. It cannot be brushed off and should not be scraped at home, which risks damaging enamel and gum. Only a dentist can remove it.

Tooth mobility in an adult should always be examined: it can signal gum disease or an injury. The earlier it is treated, the better the chance of keeping the tooth.

Brushing too hard, gum disease, smoking, grinding or misaligned teeth can cause it. Gums do not always grow back by themselves: see a dentist before the root is exposed.

Rinse gently with lukewarm water, avoid very hot or cold food and contact the centre quickly. A painkiller may relieve it temporarily on your doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice, but it does not treat the cause.

Worn enamel, receding gums, a cavity or a crack can be the cause. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth can help, but the cause must be found.

Keep the fragment or tooth without rubbing or disinfecting it. A whole knocked-out tooth can sometimes be replanted if you act very fast: keep it in milk or saline and call the centre immediately.

An infection at the tip of the root or in the gum, with throbbing pain, swelling and sometimes fever. It needs a quick consultation, because the infection does not go away by itself.

Facial swelling with pain or fever may signal a dental infection. See a dentist the same day. If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or a high fever, go to the emergency room.

Slight discomfort may last a few days after treatment. Pain that lasts or returns may signal an infection or a crack: tell your dentist.

A white, brown or black spot, sensitivity to sweets or cold, food getting stuck: all possible signs. But many cavities are painless at first: only a check-up with X-rays can detect them.

No. Its lifespan depends on its size, the material, hygiene and chewing. Regular check-ups let the dentist monitor it and redo it before a new cavity forms.

When the nerve is infected or irreversibly damaged, a root canal lets you keep the tooth instead of extracting it. The tooth is then rebuilt, often with a crown.

Not systematically. They are removed when infected, decayed, badly positioned or damaging neighbouring teeth. A panoramic X-ray or scan helps decide. See wisdom teeth extraction.

Usually once or twice a year for a check-up and scaling. The schedule is adapted to your risk of cavities and gum disease.

Done by a dentist after an examination and with suitable products, whitening is considered safe for healthy teeth. Temporary sensitivity is possible. Avoid unsupervised products.

With age, enamel thins and shows the yellower dentine underneath. Coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine and some medicines also stain teeth. Scaling removes surface stains; whitening lightens the shade.

They can remove surface stains but are abrasive: used often, they wear enamel and make teeth more sensitive. Supervised whitening by a dentist is better.

It is possible at any age if the gums are healthy, often with clear aligners (Invisalign) or fixed braces. An assessment helps choose the method.

Veneers cover the visible surface of healthy teeth to change their look. Crowns surround the whole tooth and suit badly damaged teeth. The dentist decides after an examination.

With an implant, a bridge or a removable denture. The choice depends on bone, neighbouring teeth, your health and expectations. Do not leave a gap unexamined: neighbouring teeth can drift.

Well placed and well maintained, it can last many years. Lifespan depends on hygiene, follow-up, smoking and general health.

There is no strict age limit, but you need enough bone, healthy gums and a health condition compatible with surgery. An assessment with a 3D scan checks this.

As soon as the first teeth appear or around age 1, for a first discovery visit. Then a check-up about every six months.

Yes. A cavity in a baby tooth causes pain and infection and can affect the permanent tooth. See children’s dentist.

Talk about it in simple words without mentioning pain, and choose a practitioner who takes their time. The first visit can be without treatment, just to discover the clinic.

Used beyond age 3 or 4, they can deform the palate and move teeth. A dental opinion helps stop the habit gently.

Yes, check-ups and necessary treatment are possible, preferably in the second trimester. Always tell the dentist you are pregnant. Gums bleed more easily, so good follow-up helps.

Modern digital devices use very low doses and images are only taken when useful. See dental X-rays. Mention a possible pregnancy.

Treatment is done under local anaesthesia when needed: you should not feel pain. Tell us if you are afraid or something bothers you.

Online on Dabadoc, by phone on 05 22 99 00 33 or on WhatsApp on 06 62 21 82 20. Emergency appointments are available if you are in pain.