Tooth Care

When done properly, flossing is an effective method to eliminate plaque, bacteria, and food particles in places where a toothbrush has a hard time getting to, primarily in between your teeth and along the gum line. It is common for your teeth to initially be sore and bleed a little when first beginning to floss, but should go away after a few days.

Daily flossing is important to ensure that plaque is not building up on or between your teeth and gum line, because when this happens it can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. It also can help to increase the amount of blood circulating through your gums, keeping nutrients and oxygen flowing in and decreasing the risks of gum disease.

It is recommended that you floss at least once per day, making sure to get in between every tooth, and it should take you approximately two to three minutes from start to finish. 

When flossing, there are different methods that people can use. Two of the most common are the “spool method" and the "loop method".

The spool method, also known as the finger-wrap method, is where you wind floss around your fingers and then floss between each tooth. First you trim a piece of floss about 18-20 inches long. Next wind the ends of the floss a few times around a finger on each hand and then clean between each tooth in an up and down motion, making sure that the floss going below the gum line, scraping the side of each tooth and making a small ‘C’ in the space.

The loop method, also known as the circle method, is where you take the floss, making a circle and then flossing through both the upper and lower teeth at the same time. First, you trim a piece of floss about 18 inches long. Next tie the floss in a circle and put all of your fingers, with the exception of your thumbs inside of the circle. Then using your pointer finger, floss between the lower teeth, and with your thumb, floss through the top teeth, scraping the side of each tooth and making a small ‘C’ in the space.

Fluoride is an important mineral that is naturally found in your teeth and helps to strengthen the enamel, which in turn also helps to prevent cavities. For decades small amounts of fluoride have been added to public drinking water through a process called water fluoridation. This helps the general population safely and effectively get enough fluoride as a preventative for tooth decay and other dental ailments.

If a person only drinks bottled or filtered water, whether bought at the store or treated at home, it can decrease the effectiveness of fluoridated water. You will want to try and buy water with fluoride added or drinking tap water when at home if you live in town. 

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) now requires that the following warning be put on all fluoride toothpastes: "If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately." Where consuming large amounts of fluoride is technically true when looked at in a broad, general sense, the ADA (American Dental Association) suggests that the warning is unnecessary and they remind us that fluoride toothpaste has a stellar safety record and a child cannot consume and absorb enough fluoride from toothpaste alone to lead to serious problems.

Enamel fluorosis, also known as dental fluorosis, is extremely common and is caused when a child ingests excessive amounts of fluoride in the first eight years of their lives, when the enamel on their teeth is forming. This is why it is so important that children have routine dental exams and cleanings, and that parents follow the dentist's instructions on dental health and prevention.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) splits mouth rises, also known as mouth washes, into two separate categories - therapeutic and cosmetic.

Therapeutic mouthwash is used to disinfect the mouth and fight plaque, tooth decay and gum disease. When older adults have a hard time brushing because of arthritis or other degenerative disease, therapeutic mouth rinse can help their oral health.

Cosmetic mouthwash only has one goal, to reduce bacteria, bad breath, and remove food particles. This type of mouthwash is not made to treat or prevent gum disease. It is important to note that mouthwash cannot take the place of brushing your teeth regularly.

A sealant is a thin plastic coating that is painted on the surface of teeth, quickly bonding and forming a protective layer over the enamel. This acts as a barrier for plaque and acids, preventing tooth decay. Scientists developed the first sealants in the 1950’s, but they weren’t available commercially until the 1970’s. 

Sealants are recommended for people of all ages, but especially for children and teenagers. This will help them from getting cavities on their permanent teeth, while they are still learning and remembering to follow through with good dental hygiene practices. 

Sealant application is a quick, easy, painless procedure that only takes a few minutes to complete. First, the surface of the tooth must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, making sure to completely remove the cleaner from the teeth. Second, all moisture is removed and cotton or gauze is placed around the teeth in order to keep them dry throughout the sealing process. Third, an acidic solution is applied to the teeth, which is used to roughen them up, making them less smooth. This will aid in bonding the sealant to the teeth. Next the teeth are thoroughly rinsed and dried, ensuring that the area is free of any excess moisture. Finally the sealant is applied by painting it onto the enamel, which immediately bonds to the tooth and hardens. Some instances call for a curing light to be used in order to assist in the bonding process. After the sealant is applied and on the patient’s teeth, they should refrain from eating or drinking for a minimum of 30 minutes. 

X-Rays are a way for your dentist to see what is going on in and under your teeth. They can tell them if you have any signs of tooth decay, if your roots are healthy, and if you have any issues or areas of concern in and around the roots of the teeth. 

Your dentist may decide to do an extraoral x-ray which focuses on bone and skull and is used to see if you have any problems with your jaw or with any impacted teeth. They may also decide to do an intraoral x-ray, which is the most common type of x-ray and it primarily focuses on the teeth, from the roots up.

Depending on your individual needs, your dentist may decide to take dental x-rays just once, possibly during your initial exam, or they may decide that a particular problem needs monitoring, in which case follow up x-rays may be needed. Before making a decision your dentist will thoroughly review your medical record and discuss all options and suggestions with you.

Even though dentures are not your natural teeth, they are made from high quality materials to make them look like they are. As such, it is very important that patient's care for them as they would their natural teeth, which includes daily brushing and regular dental visits in order to ensure that they still have a seamless fit. Remember that dirty, malformed dentures cause gum irritation and infection.

When your dentures are clean and plaque, food, and other debris are regularly removed, the soft tissue in your mouth will remain healthy. You should always brush and rinse off your dentures when you are finished eating a meal and at the end of the day, they should be put in a denture solution to soak overnight. Removing and soaking your dentures while you sleep will allow your gums to rest and breathe. 

Below you will find some tips and techniques for cleaning and maintaining your dentures:

When a dental emergency arises, we understand that it can be a stressful situation, especially if something happened to you child, but the best thing you can do is keep calm. Assess the situation and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and contact our office as soon as possible. That way we can get your child in and seen right away so that we can help to prevent additional damage and subsequent costly dental restoration down the road. 

We recommend that infants have their first dental examination sometime between 6 months to a year of age and then every six months after that. This is important so that the dentist can properly examine your child’s mouth and ensure that they are developmentally on track. 

Some early issues that your dentist will look for are malformed teeth and bite relationships due to thumb sucking or over use of a pacifier, and also baby bottle tooth decay, which affects babies between birth and the age of 5 1/2 and is caused when sugary liquids, such as milk or juice, cling to teeth. This happens when you allow your baby or child to sleep with a bottle in their mouth because the flow of saliva decreases when sleeping, which causes the bacteria in the mouth to thrive on the sugar from the liquid, which in turn slowly erodes the enamel of the teeth, causing decay. If left untreated, your child's future permanent teeth run the risk of not properly forming.

It is normal that your child’s gums become swollen and sore when their primary teeth are coming in, a process which is called teething. To provide them relief from this discomfort you can try gently rubbing their gums with your finger or a clean, wet washcloth and giving them a teething ring. Allowing your child to suck on their thumb, or excessively suck on their pacifier can cause their teeth to come in crooked, making them need braces when they get older.

Primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, are a set of 20 teeth that usually come in by the time a child is three. Then between the ages of 3 and 12, the primary teeth will fall out, one by one, and they are replaced by their 28 permanent teeth and later on four wisdom teeth, , which will remain intact through adulthood.

It is important that a child practice good dental hygiene with their primary teeth because these teeth set the bar for their permanent teeth, whether good or bad. An example is when a child has a diseased primary tooth, this will cause the permanent tooth to not grow in like it should. If caught early enough, your child’s dentist can possibly correct the issue.

When brushing baby’s teeth and gums, you should use only a special infant toothbrush that you can put on your finger, like a fuzzy finger glove, and water. Toothpaste isn’t recommended for small infants because there is a greater risk that they can swallow it.

From the toddler stage, up through early childhood, your child’s primary teeth can be brushed using a pea-size amount of toothpaste and a child-sized toothbrush with soft bristles. It is important to remind them to not swallow the toothpaste.

Fluoride is an important mineral that is naturally found in your teeth and helps to strengthen the enamel, which in turn also helps to prevent cavities. For decades small amounts of fluoride have been added to public drinking water through a process called water fluoridation. This helps the general population safely and effectively get enough fluoride as a preventative for tooth decay and other dental ailments.

There are several different reasons why someone may have a toothache, ranging from a piece of debris is stuck in between the teeth, to more complicated reasons such as tooth decay or fracture. 

If the reason for the toothache is a piece of debris, simply rinse your mouth with either water or a mouth rinse to dislodge the debris. You should avoid placing aspirin on the area for pain relief because the dissolving aspirin has been shown to damage and cause harm your gum's tissue.

Injuries can cause broken, fractured, or displaced teeth, but typically it is not an immediate reason to be alarmed, as long as you stay calm and act quick. 

If someone has knocked out your child’s tooth, the first thing you should do, after finding your tooth, is rinse out your mouth in order to remove any blood or foreign object fragments. Then, to reduce the swelling, you should put a cold compress on your cheek close to the effected area. Next, you should try to put it back in the empty socket, taking care to only hold the tooth by the crown, and not the root, so you don't damage it. If you are unable to put the tooth back in the empty socket, you should then take and put it in the victim's saliva, warm milk, or saline and keep it there until you are able to get in to see us.

If someone has caused your child’s tooth to become fractured, you should rinse out their mouth, taking care that they do not to swallow any tooth fragments, and put a cold compress on their cheek close to the effected area. To reduce swelling, you can also give them ibuprofen to take, following the medicine's instructions. Once you are able to get your child in to see us, if the fracture is not major and the pulp is not severely injured, we will probably be able to fully restore it by sanding and bonding.

In cases where a child's primary tooth was loosened, whether the reason is that they were injured or because a permanent tooth is coming through and pushed it loose, you can try getting an apple or piece of caramel and having them gently bite down which should cause the tooth to come out of the child's gums.

A good preventative for injuries with children, is the use of a mouth guard, especially when playing sports. A mouth guard is a small plastic dental shield used to protect the teeth, gums and lips. 

Sealants are recommended for people of all ages, but especially for children and teenagers. This will help them from getting cavities on their permanent teeth, while they are still learning and remembering to follow through with good dental hygiene practices. 

A woman’s body is different than a man’s. A woman has hormonal fluctuations and changes to deal with from menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, all of which affect not only her body, but her oral health as well. 

Some women’s gums become swollen and may bleed, others notice a spike in cold and canker sores in their mouths during menstruation. One of the side effects of oral contraceptives, such as birth control pills, are that the gums may become inflamed and in rare cases increase the risk of gingivitis. While pregnant, some women have noticed an increase in the amount of plaque buildup in their mouths, which in turn causes the gums to become irritated and potentially cause pregnancy gingivitis. When a woman goes through menopause, not only does she have to deal with hot flashes and weight gain, but she also has to deal with swollen or red gums, weird tastes in her mouth, and dry mouth. Osteoporosis, which 68% of the 44 million people at risk annually are women, effects bone loss all over the body, including the jaw which could lead to tooth loss. If a woman has gum disease while she is pregnant, the chances of her child being born prematurely rises.

Good dental hygiene habits and regular dental examinations can go a long way to helping prevent this laundry list of dental problems that women face.

Many people are under the assumption that false teeth are part of growing older, and everyone has them. While many people do have them, there is no absolute or guaranty that you will have to have them when you get older. Lately, more and more people are taking better care of their health and teeth, which in turn makes them less likely to need dentures. This healthy lifestyle also helps them to better prevent other serious health issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. A healthy body equals a healthier, longer life.

When a person has arthritis, it can at times make it hard to maintain good dental hygiene practices using traditional tools. However, there are now ergonomically designed toothbrushes and floss holders available which helps people suffering from dexterity challenges to be able to have good oral hygiene. If you don’t want to go out and buy a new toothbrush, there are some household DIY hacks that could help. For example, put your toothbrush into a small rubber ball, and now it is easier to control. You can also make the handle longer by taping a popsicle stick or other long object to it. 

It’s no secret that for optimum oral health, you must maintain a balanced diet, making sure that your body gets all of the vitamins and minerals it needs to fight off disease, infection, and decay. Calcium-rich foods (milk, yogurt, and cheese) can help build strong bones and teeth. Foods that have high levels of sugar or carbohydrates (soda, pasta, and bread) have harmful bacteria and acids that damage your mouth and teeth if left to sit on the teeth for too long after consumption. 

It is important that good nutrition and eating habits start when children are young. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and nutrients is key, making sure they get enough fruit, vegetables, calcium, and protein. Letting your children eat a lot of junk food is not good for their overall health, which includes their teeth. They run a higher risk of suffering from ailments such as osteoporosis, obesity, and diabetes, and also may develop tooth decay. It may be a good idea to have your children take a fluoride supplement if you live in a rural area, or an area that does not have fluoridated tap water, but you should ask us first because you don’t want your children to run the risk of getting fluorosis.