Do these images below look familiar to you? Are you experiencing blisters, noticing unusual lumps or bumps, crust formations or white and red areas on the tongue, lips, gums or other area of the mouth that will not go away?
Stops or even reverses decay process (keeps the enamel stay strong by preventing loss of minerals) and reduces sensitivity
Can find in drinking water from community water supply, toothpaste, mouthwash, tablets, drops
Dentist’s provide rinses, varnishes, gels
No scientific evidence that fluoridated water has causes disease or illness
Fluoridated toothpaste alone is not enough, that’s why we need other sources
Fluoride + children: children under age of 3, guardians should consult dentist prior to using fluoridated toothpaste (over use of fluoride during tooth development can lead to fluorosis)
Fluorosis are very faint white spots that appear on the tooth (does not affect the function or health of the tooth, only appearance)
Areas of fluorosis are actually more cavity resistant
Fluoride Varnishes
Applied only by professionals
Agents painted on teeth after cleaning
Hardens on tooth and stays on for 4-6 hours then brushed off, releasing fluoride gradually over months
Great for children due to less gagging and less swallowed
Here are some conditions that can be caused by stress:
Cold sores and Canker sores
Mostly caused by stress. If the lesion doesn’t heal within a 2-week period, it can be a sign of oral cancer. Call us for an oral cancer screening!
TMD Temporal Mandibular disorder
Most often, TMD is known as clenching or grinding(bruxism). It is usually a subconscious habit occurring during sleep. It results in jaw joint irritation, tooth sensitivity, cracked/bent teeth, wearing teeth, headaches, facial muscle pain, and neck pain. Call us for a consultation for a night guard or other treatment interventions of the worn dentition!
Increased cortisol levels
This is caused by stress which induces the bodies inflammatory process. Increased inflammation leads to increased gingivitis. Regular/routinely cleanings are important to help reduce infection/inflammation. Book your cleaning appointment today!
We all try to brush our teeth twice a day, and eat healthy foods as often as possible, but somethings that we think are actually good for our health, are not the greatest for our teeth. Here are some examples:
Brushing before you eat
When you eat acidic foods, such as oranges and apples, they tend to soften your enamel. When your enamel is soft and you use something abrasive on them, it will remove some of that enamel and leave your teeth feeling very sensitive. That is why it is recommended to brush your teeth before you eat something acidic, so that your enamel is still strong and won’t be removed.
Chewing on ice
A lot of people like chewing on ice as it is low in calories, and on a hot day, it can cool you off. However, it does have its downsides. Ice is very hard and can cause damage to your teeth, like cracks and chips. It can also cause jaw issues if chewed on for a long period of time. So always be cautious!
Sipping your wine
Some wines tend to have their health benefits, for example red wine. It can help with lowering your cholesterol and heart disease, but it is also acidic. Sipping your wine means more exposure to acid little by little, and this can ruin the enamel on your teeth. Try to mix some water with your wine, one sip of wine, on sip of water, to relieve the amount of acid exposure on your pearly whites.
When you think of going to the dentist, do you feel your heart start racing? Do you get nervous of sitting in the chair and having those sharp instruments in your mouth? Well, you are not alone when it comes to this! Studies show that 1 in 4 people have fears of going to the dentist. But there are ways to help you get over these issues.
Some people have developed these problems due to past experiences, and some are scared of the dentist because they are nervous about feeling pain. With the dental industry advancing all the time, there are many ways that sedation and anesthetics can help stop these fears.
There are a few ways to help with handling your fear of the dentist. One of them would be to come in and meet with the doctor to talk about your issues. They can go over the procedures that need to be done and talk about your anxiety and ways to treat it. They can also offer ways to keep you calm, such as a blanket or pillow during your appointment, or music to listen too.
Another way to help with your anxiety is to talk to your friends or family. Sometimes getting advice from the people closest to you can help manage your fear, and sharing their good experiences with you can make it a little easier to go to the dentist.
About 50 year’s ago, the standards for dental care were not the greatest. People would go to the dentist only when there was an emergency, and the preventive care given wasn’t as good as it is today.
The standards for dental care have definitely improved since then. Even if you have the best dental routine at home, it is still important to come every 6 months to see your dentist. Problems usually don’t occur until they are in the more advanced stages. This is why it is important to see your dentist regularly so problems such as cavities and gum disease can be detected before they reach those later stages.
On average, seeing the dentist twice a year is the common routine, however, if you are at high risk of getting cavities or gum disease, it is better to come every 3-4 months. Some examples of high risk cases include:
Smokers
Diabetics
People with gum disease
People who are prone to getting cavities
Always make sure to ask your dentist what they recommend your regular check-ups should be, as it isn’t the same for everyone.
Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays of the year! But its also really important to keep your teeth nice and healthy throughout the holiday season. Whether you are at home, or at a loved one’s home, here are a few dental tips to keep your teeth nice and white during the holidays!
Drink lots of water throughout the day!
The worst thing we can do during the holidays is eat food all day and not drink any water. Its important to drink water between meals because your saliva does not have enough time to clean your teeth, therefore, drinking water will help wash away all the food that is caught between your teeth.
Brush, Floss, and Rinse!
Whether you are at home, or at family’s house, it is always important to bring your tooth brush and floss with you. Since you may be eating a few times during the day, it is important to brush at least 3 times on thanksgiving to get rid of any food particles that may build up throughout the day!
Staining food!
Some of our favorite foods during thanksgiving can be the worst for our teeth! Cranberries can usually stain your white teeth. Sticky foods, such as pecan pies, can leave food particles in your mouth that will munch away at your teeth all day. So it is important to be mindful of the food you eat around this time of year!
Sometimes it feels like kids will do anything to stay away from keeping a healthy lifestyle. From eating vegetables to brushing their teeth, it just feels impossible. But it is important as parents to make sure that these daily routines are kept, especially brushing and flossing. As dental professionals, we don’t see our patients every day, so it makes it hard for us to be on top of everybody. But what we can do is teach parents how to get their kids into that a healthy lifestyle, and how to make brushing and flossing fun at home! Here are some ways to do this:
Make it a fun game – Competition is a big motivator for kids, so try and make a game out of it, whether it is with both kids or mom and child, making a game out of brushing their teeth at night will definitely push them to brush more!
Try an electronic toothbrush – Kids don’t have much patience for hassle and tedium. An electronic toothbrush can reduce some of the frustration and make it fun for the kids to brush their teeth. While it is easier than using a manual toothbrush, it actually helps them brush their teeth a little better, with less work. Even adults love their electric tooth brushes!
Let them pick out thesupplies – Let’s be honest, what kid doesn’t like to pick out their own toys? By
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