AZ Family Dentistry

Featuring Flavored Floss

2012-03-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

The advertisement for this floss made it sound like you could feel more motivated to floss if your floss had the "amazing flavor of crispy fried bacon". I'm not sold, however, giving it more thought, I guess I do feel like brushing my teeth and flossing when I have the after-taste of bacon, that filmy, savory taste that isn't content to stay in my mouth, but permeates the fabric of my clothing and attaches itself to furniture and the air in my house like lichen.
Really this is for the single ladies seeking competing cohorts of cavemen. What better way to get him to pop his heel during your first kiss? Best stick with mint, in my opinion, but here is the website if you're interested. Apparently there is a whole line of scents and other bacon products for that guy you think will only like you if you appeal to his hunger for crispy pork fat.
http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Bacon-Floss.html

In all seriousness, though, bacon or other flavor, floss will help you prevent decay and gum disease. The bacteria we all carry around in our mouths needs only roughly twelve hours to begin building colonies, and the colonies are taking minerals from your teeth even before the twelve hours. So, at least once per day, make sure you floss.

On a Bacon Roll!

2012-03-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

And I'm sure they have bacon-flavored rolls, too! This product description was more accurate in describing the "coating your mouth" with smoky meat that will happen if you venture into the toothpaste version. Unfortunately, the only thing to do is try it, maybe they're right about the mob of potential friends you will make when you open your mouth. Just imagine the looks of love and camaraderie you'll get, each hanging on your every word!

Better Than the ER!

2012-03-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you've ever sat in an 'emergency' room of a hospital, you know that it can be traumatizing in and of itself! There is a good reason to take your mouth or teeth concerns to your dentist, as stated in a recent article. The Pew Center on the States is a research organization, and they found out that the number of people going to the ER for avoidable dental problems has risen in the last five years. In other words, more people go to the ER when they have a problem with their teeth now than they did five years ago. It is very important to establish a relationship of trust with your own oral health doctor. This way if you have a problem, you can be seen as soon as possible for it. Even if it's on a weekend, you'll get better care with your own doctor. The ER is for emergencies, and if you have an emergency, then go by all means. However, you can find out how you are doing and possibly prevent oral health problems by seeing your dentist.

Here is a link to the Pew Center on the States: Pew research
Here is a link to the DrBiscuspid article

Leave It to the Kids!

2012-02-27T13:44:00.001-07:00

Maybe you are familiar with what happens to some unsupervised children and food: it becomes a war! Amazingly enough, it is easy to let kids decide how clean their teeth will be. It just seems easier to let them brush their own teeth, especially those strong-willed-independent-types. Besides keeping the kids from hosing $5 in toothpaste into the sink to make it look like in the commercials, kids need supervision to help them brush correctly until they are about 8 years old. Each parent will need to make the decision as to when they think their child is ready to brush solo. Preventing cavities is vital both to prevent spending a lot of money on baby tooth fillings, and to prevent the fear that some children may develop if they have to have cavities filled at a young age. Talk to your dentist about when your child is ready to brush their own teeth, and how they are doing brushing their own teeth. Two other posts that may be helpful are: No Bottles for Bed and Remember!.

Trauma!

2012-02-20T14:01:00.001-07:00

Infants like to head-butt, and as they get older they can knock out their teeth in too many ways to name here. If a tooth is banged or knocked out, you should see a dentist about it as soon as possible. It is okay to rinse with milk a tooth that has been knocked, but don't scrub it, even if it looks dirty. There are healing parts of the tooth that will be lost if you scrub it. So, just rinse it off with milk, and then store it in milk until you get to the dentist's office. You need to have the tooth re-inserted within 24 hours, and really as soon as possible for there to be a chance to save the tooth. And remember, most dentists hesitate to see a stranger, a brand new patient, for an emergency like this on a weekend or in the middle of the night, so start building a relationship with your oral health physician before an emergency.

The Wonder of Electric!

2012-02-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

There is nothing wrong with using a manual toothbrush. We recommend brushing your teeth for 2 minutes to ensure sufficient time to remove plaque and give the fluoride time to remineralize your teeth. Also, we need to use circular, light motions to make the most of the time we spend brushing. If either of these two requirements is difficult to achieve, we recommend getting an electric toothbrush. The price ranges from $6 to over $200, and even the least expensive can give some benefit in doing more brushing work within the period of time you brush. Just remember to still brush lightly, as the mechanical action of electric toothbrushes increases the chances of doing damage to your teeth or gums. (See previous post 'Ye Olde Washboarde') If you have questions about what electric toothbrush to buy, talk to your oral health doctor about the options.

What Does This Have To Do With My Mouth?

2012-02-07T09:00:00.002-07:00

When you go to the physician's or dentist's office, you are frequently asked to fill out a health history form. You may wonder why your dentist needs to know about your surgeries or any medications you take. In fact, this information is very important to your dentist. Many times, sickness manifests itself in some way in your mouth, to begin with, but also, having some work done in your mouth may stress your body's systems too much. Your dentist wants to help you gain the best oral health you can, and this is unavoidably connected to your overall health. So, next time you feel like grumbling about those health histories, remember that this information will help to avoid any complications and may help in the diagnosis of your oral health.

One Piece of the Puzzle...

2012-02-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

Having a healthy mouth is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to overall health, but it is just as vital a piece! Our mouth is connected to the rest of our body. Our mouths have a great capacity to heal when they are healthy, and sometimes this can mean that your mouth is easy to ignore when it comes to prioritizing your health. You may be tempted to say that the gum disease or cavities are not hurting right now, so they can wait for treatment. As far as gum disease is concerned, oral health physicians are still unable to predictably re-grow the bone you lose, so at this point, any bone you lose to gum disease is lost forever. Also, once a tooth is drilled to remove a cavity, only a filling or other non-tooth material can be used to fill the space. Let's face it, no dental material is as good as what your body formed to begin with. And even though our parents or grandparents got by fine with dentures, they had resigned themselves to it. If we ask them whether they prefer real teeth and tasting their food, or getting dentures, they would probably say they wished they could go back and take better care of their mouths. All of this is why our attitude toward our mouths today should be one of prevention and pro-activity. This is our health after all!

Built to Last...

2012-01-24T09:36:00.003-07:00

We have many examples of ancient architecture that has lasted for centuries and even millenia. The quality, you could say, was awesome, and although the result today is worn and shows its age, it did persist over time. What does this have to do with dentistry?
Well, here at AZ Family Dentistry, we care about quality. We strive to provide the longest lasting restorations possible for each individual. Just like ancient architecture lasted despite environmental forces, the restorations we provide will be subject to the overall adverse environments that are our mouths.
For every example of ancient, quality architecture, who knows how many buildings fell that were of equal quality, but were just subjected to too much environmental force. Imagine how many buildings would still be standing if they had been cared for meticulously and protected from those forces.
As far as our mouth is concerned, the same principle applies: imagine how long we could get our restorations and/or natural teeth and gums to last if we were meticulous in caring for them and protected them from the things that cause them to fail. As oral health professionals, we enjoy hearing about restorations and natural teeth and gums that last a lifetime. Ask your oral health professionals how you can best maintain your teeth, gums, crowns, bridges, and fillings.

Bacteria!

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

There are millions of different bacteria, and many different kinds live in our mouths. A handful of species are known to cause cavities. Recent research into possibly eliminating only the harmful bacteria produced the future possibility of a mouthwash that keeps us from getting cavities. Here is a link to a summary article: http://www.procprblog.com/ucla-develops-innovative-anti-bacterial-mouthwash-to-wipe-out-tooth-decay .

It seems that if the mouthwash proves safe, we will have a powerful tool to prevent oral health problems.

The Power of Sight

2012-01-16T10:18:00.002-07:00

This is an enlarged photo of between two teeth. The pink skin is gum tissue. The blue arrows are pointing to a fracture in the tooth above a silver filling. When you go to the dentist, you are not just having your teeth cleaned. You clean your teeth at home. One of the important parts of your regular dental office visit is to have your dentist check for fractures and signs of failing restorations, such as the one pictured here.
With this information and your oral health doctor's recommendations in mind, you can make wise decisions about what to do to maintain your oral health at the optimum level. One part of the optimum level is having teeth that can be cleaned at home. The crack pictured here not only weakens the tooth, but it can be a microscopic crevice where bacteria build-up and create a cavity. There is a possibility of fracture in this tooth, maybe even to the point where the tooth cannot be saved. Regular visits to your dentist's office will help you stay ahead of the game.

No Bottles For Bed

2012-01-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Having four children myself, I am aware of the ease of giving a baby a bottle to put it to sleep. Did you know that this may be very bad for a baby? If a baby is put to sleep with a bottle, there is a chance that the child will develop cavities. Babies should be helped to go to sleep without a bottle if possible. A bottle should only be given to a child during the day and only up to one year of age, then they should be taught to use a sippy-cup or cup. As soon as they're born, the baby's guardian can brush the gums with a finger, getting the baby used to having their mouths cleaned every day, which they will learn to do themselves once they are older. Parents should help their children brush their teeth until they are eight years old. Once the teeth come out, or erupt, the baby can be taken to their first dentist's office visit. This helps the child to become accustomed to the dentist having instruments in their mouth, which they will need to learn in order to maintain their teeth. Sometimes, a pediatric dentist's office has an easier atmosphere for children. If you see any staining on an infant's teeth, get them to a dentist as soon as you can to prevent any tooth decay.

Don't Let Your Teeth Be Loose...

2012-01-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Dentures give us or our loved ones another chance at life: they offer the ability to chew and have a nice looking smile. Over time, a set of complete dentures can become loose. Loose dentures are not good for our mouth because of the support system of dentures: our bone and gums. Dentures rely on having a ridge of bone and gum tissue to support them and keep them in place. Once teeth are lost, the body re-absorbs the bone, making the ridges smaller. Of course, the dentures are plastic and they stay the same, which creates looseness. Another culprit is if the dentures stay in all the time, not allowing the skin to breathe and recover. The irritated skin can also contribute to faster resorption. Any looseness can cause the bone to be re-absorbed faster! Many people with dentures may think that they don't need to see their dentist. It is important that although you have dentures, you see your oral health professional at least once per year to evaluate the supporting tissue keeping your dentures fitting well. Also, make sure you remove your dentures often enough to let the skin relax and recover. Talk to your dentist about how often you should remove your dentures.

Keep You and Yours Safe

2012-01-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

We know that smoking can have a negative impact on our mouths, both with the dryness and callousness it causes, and with it's lowering of our defenses. These effects from smoking can have an impact on our families and friends if we are not careful to smoke away from non-smokers, like children. Our mouths are one of the locations where cancer can be devastating both in the look of our face, and in the proximity to our brains and nerve centers. The best solution would be to quit smoking. The next best is to keep our loved ones safe by not smoking around them. If you are interested in quitting smoking, there are many aids at your disposal. Discuss these with your physician or dentist.

Remember!

2012-01-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

One of the most difficult parts of improving your habits is the "habit" part of it! Habits take time to create. When it comes to your mouth, good home-care habits are essential for good oral health. Only seeing your dentist or dental hygienist a handful of times per year can help have a healthy mouth, but it's the things you do on a daily basis that have the most long-term impact. Especially now that we have a new year to begin good things, make good oral cleaning habits part of your new year. If you find yourself forgetting your mouth's needs frequently, make a renewed effort to remind yourself of the importance of brushing and flossing every day. Many of us struggle with remembering something new when our lives are already full, but making sure we take care of ourselves is something we can afford to change. A couple of ideas to remember are to put your toothbrush on your pillow. Brushing at night is very important, (see other posts). Another good way to remember is to write a sticky note that has your new and improved bedtime routine. After a few days of remembering, the habit can stick.

Aspirin Burns!

2012-01-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

There have been at-home care treatment rumors that when feeling a toothache, just put an aspirin tablet on the gums near the tooth pain, and it will help relieve the pain. There may be some truth to this rumor, but the rumor doesn't reveal the side-effects. If you feel a toothache, go see your dentist to fix the problem. Our bodies feel pain for a reason: to warn us that something isn't right. Sometimes we manage the pain, or it goes away for some reason, and yet the cause of the pain is still present, threatening to return at the most inconvenient time! Placing aspirin on our gums directly can burn the gums, causing more pain for up to a couple of weeks while the burns heal. As a temporary relief, if you can take aspirin (consult your doctor), swallow the tablets instead of rubbing them on the gums!

Ye Olde Washboarde

2012-01-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the old way to wash clothes? Having washed my clothes by hand in Argentina, I know how tedious it can be if you really want to get the clothes clean. What a luxury to have a machine that cleans our clothes for us! Oddly enough, it's seems amazing that now all we have to do is throw our clothes in a machine that stirs the water for around 45 minutes, and we get the same result as an old washboard, but perhaps it's easier on the clothes.
What does this have to do with dentistry? Well, in the same way a washboard is tedious and rough on clothes, brushing our teeth hard is rough on our mouth. In fact, our mouth gets cleaner when we brush lightly for longer time, doing the same thing as a washing machine: agitating as much as we can softly, over a couple of minutes, cleans our teeth better. This is especially true with electric toothbrushes. We should just agitate lightly for at least two minutes and follow up with flossing or something to clean between our teeth. So next time you catch yourself brushing hard, remember the washboard!

We updated our website!

2012-01-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

Check out our improved website at the same website address: www.azfamilydentistry.com.

The Frayed

2012-01-05T08:21:00.002-07:00

Maybe it's been a while since you replaced your toothbrush, but hopefully it doesn't look like this...Frayed toothbrushes don't clean our teeth as well, but they do a good job at creating a false sense of security. The stiff, frayed bristles don't clean the pits of our teeth anymore, and they also don't reach down into small areas near the gums where cavities and gum disease form. For the same reason that you wouldn't want to use a frayed toothbrush, you'll want to stick with soft bristles: the hard bristles just don't clean as well and they may even hurt your mouth. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush or toothbrush head at least every three months. See ada.org for more information.

Dry Mouth

2011-12-28T09:05:00.001-07:00

Ever notice that when you get tired, your eyes get dry or your mouth gets dry? Well, for most of us, this is our body shutting off the water for the night. This has implications for your mouth and your overall health because your natural oral protector, your saliva, is reduced while you sleep. If you haven't cleaned your teeth well before bed, then the bacteria still in your mouth can have a party all night long! They build up tartar, which are essentially large colonies of attached bacteria to your teeth. This situation can lead to gum disease and more cavities.
Another possible contributing factor to dry mouth during the day is that of dehydration. Many of us don't drink enough water, which may cause a lowering of our immune defenses. Even though it may mean more trips to the bathroom, we need to drink water in order to maintain our health, including our saliva. Cheers!

The Grind

2011-12-27T10:43:00.001-07:00

Grinding your teeth can cause things like sore muscles when you wake, damage to your teeth, or pain in your jaw joints. Although some of us realize we grind or clench during the day, many times we are doing it at night while sleeping. There may be solutions for you if you are having pain, and you would benefit from having your concern evaluated at your dentist's office. Your dentist may prescribe the use of a nightguard. This piece of plastic helps to prevent tooth damage and may help relieve joint discomfort.
One of the causes of so much grinding done by so many of us is the amount of stress we endure in our lives. A simple home remedy for night clenching/grinding that may help relieve the stress is to perform our own de-stress routine before bed. Whether it is reading, listening to music, or having quiet time to reflect, we need something daily to help remove ourselves from the mental stress we feel. Another great stress reliever can be to do some stretching. Any type of stretching or exercise routine needs to be okayed by your family doctor if you are starting something new, however, light exercise before bed may help you to sleep better and relieve stresses that can develop in our bodies. At the very least, talk things over with your healthcare provider and get as much information as you can about how you are doing so that you can make wise decisions about your health.

Toothache or Sinus Congestion?

2011-12-22T07:32:00.005-07:00

Because there is a sinus cavity right about some of our upper back teeth, our bodies can give us the impression that we have a toothache when there is nothing wrong with our teeth or gums. If you are feeling pressure in your sinus cavities and you seem to have tooth pain that comes and goes that isn't very severe, you will want to check with your dentist to see if your teeth are the cause or if there is another explanation. Remember, you are the owner of your mouth, and you make the ultimate decision. So whatever you are told, try to get all the information you need to make a wise decision regarding your oral health.

Bad Breath!

2011-12-19T12:03:00.002-07:00

I love onions and garlic, but nobody else likes it when I eat them! Certain foods can cause bad breath, and it's so unfair because not everyone has that problem! (Sniffle) Bad breath has many sources, some of which we can change, others we can't. Definitely, we can prevent bad breath by staying away from the foods

that seem to cause it for us. Another thing we can do is simply clean our mouths after eating those foods. The bad breath can also be caused by acid reflux.
As far as food goes, particles of our diet gets lodged in the tonsils at the back of our throats and our tongues. This is the body's way of preventing sickness by developing resistance as soon as it enters our mouths, however, it also means saving a little bit of that smelly food in the back of our mouths, which can cause bad breath. Another way to develop bad breath is to not floss your teeth. In between our teeth, small particles of food can be trapped, feeding the bacteria there for a long time and developing unpleasant odors. As advertised, mouth rinses can help to combat the bad breath, however they do not penetrate very deep into food our in between our teeth. So, in short, avoid bad breath by thoroughly cleaning your teeth by brushing, and if that doesn't work, just avoid having the foods that cause bad breath enough to maintain healthy relationships! Merry Christmas!

Don't forget your toothbrush and floss!

2011-12-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

We end up traveling a lot during the holidays to see family or spend time with friends. If you are traveling whether with family or friends or by yourself, you'll want to take along your toothbrush and floss. Our home habits can get completely thrown off by the differences in schedule and location we sometimes experience during the holidays. We also eat food we would normally not eat.
Another important point that is often overlooked when considering our health is the need for a time of de-stressing. Stress can be linked to many medical issues, if not as the cause, then at least a contributor. One tool for relieving stress is to look for and realize the things we have to be grateful for. It takes no skill or talent to identify the negative in our lives, everything we think we lack that we deserve, etc. Many people have experienced the blessing of being brought back from a life-threatening event with a greater appreciation for each day, each happy moment, each breath. This holiday season may we appreciate the small things, and express our appreciation to the ones we care about, the beauty in the world around us, and even strangers who help us. This is the key to a happy, full life!

An Erosive Relationship...

2011-12-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Some of us enjoy lemonade as our preferred drink. And you might enjoy an ice-cold Coke or Pepsi, also. There is also a very acidic substance that some of us deal with on a daily basis: stomach acid. If you have acid reflux or anything like it, your stomach acid is probably doing a number on your teeth! In addition, acidic drinks, like soda and lemonade, can make your enamel thin or even etch it away, which exposes the live part of your teeth. If the live part is exposed, then your teeth may be sensitive to temperature and sweets. Although it may be unrealistic to stop drinking soda or sucking on lemons entirely, controlling you diet and what you drink and eat is important to keeping your mouth healthy. There are things you can do if you suspect that your drinks are too acidic. You can rinse your mouth out with water after drinking. Also, you can chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy to stimulate your saliva. Saliva is your natural protector because it can buffer the acids in your mouth to a degree. If you have questions about erosion, ask your dentist.

Prevention is Better Than Patching!

2011-12-13T08:47:00.003-07:00

If while driving, heaven forbid, you have ever accidentally zoned out and struck another vehicle with your front fender, you know how much easier it is to prevent an accident than it is to pay for one in time and money. Nowadays, we have the luxury of having fenders and our car bodies replaced with new parts, but there was a time when hammering out the dents and using Bondo before repainting were the only options. In a way, this can be compared to what happens when we 'zone out' and neglect our oral health. It costs much less in time and money to prevent the decay or gum disease than it is to patch things up. Most unfortunately, we have no current method to regrow your teeth or your gums/bone, so once we remove the cavity or once the gum disease has taken your bone, we have only the option of patching things up, or cleaning things out, and maintaining the new condition. As your dentist knows, once the tooth is patched, it is susceptible to needing another patch later, often progressing to larger treatment. It is better to prevent than patch!

What if I have braces?

2011-12-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Braces, or any orthodontic appliances, make it so we need to do a lot of extra work to clean our teeth. The metal from the appliances can keep food and bacteria stuck to our teeth easier, increasing our risk of cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. There are things you can do to help clean your teeth with braces. One, you can purchase an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes can help to do more work for the amount of time you brush. There are even inexpensive electric toothbrushes that can help. Flossing can be very tedious when you have to work around braces. Floss threaders can be used, and there are other options that you can ask your oral health professional about. Another vital time to have your teeth checked is after the braces come off!

Getting rid of the tartar...

2011-12-07T07:21:00.001-07:00

http://www.lifesambrosia.com/2009/10/homemade-tartar-sauce-recipe.html

Tartar sauce is great with fish, but the tartar we all need to get rid of frequently is the tartar on our teeth. Another name for it is calculus, and we all know what that word means: a hard math class. The tartar we're talking about is a build-up of bacteria, literally a colony of bacteria, and they've moved in! The hard tartar usually can only come off during a visit to your dentist for a check-up and cleaning. Where tartar is more of a problem is if it builds below your gumline, where your tooth brush can't reach. This tartar is irritating to your body and in response, your body can stay inflamed in the area. Over time, the inflammation can cause the bone around your teeth to withdraw, making your teeth loose. The inflammation is what we call active periodontal disease, or active gum disease.
You can do something about tartar to prevent it! As you brush and floss daily, you are breaking up the bacteria so they can't build tartar. Without their removal the bacteria can colonize, and this can lead to active gum disease and cavities. See your oral health professional today to determine any needs you have, and you can ask if there are any areas in your mouth where tartar can get trapped.

Amalgam VS. Composite

2011-11-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

What is the difference between composite fillings and amalgam fillings? They are different in color, obviously one being tooth colored and the other being silver. In addition, there are structural differences and differences in placement technique that are important to consider when you are deciding between the two. Silver fillings tend to cost less, however, silver fillings require that a certain amount of your tooth be removed so that the silver will be strong. This means that even if the cavity is small, the filling requires that healthy tooth structure may be removed. A composite filling is bonded to teeth, and can remain small: only the cavity need be removed to restore the tooth. New advances in composite fillings are making them more similar in longevity and strength as silver fillings without having to drill so much of the tooth out. Ask your dentist to recommend a filling material to you according to your individual needs.

"But my teeth aren't bothering me at all..."

2011-11-28T10:07:00.001-07:00

Usually, by the time your teeth are aching, a lot of work needs to be done. If a tooth is sensitive to temperature or sweets, but the sensitivity goes away when the cold/sweetness goes away, then this can be either a cavity in the tooth or just a normal tooth response . If a tooth is aching, throbbing, and keeping you awake at night, you can classify it as a toothache. Either way, sensitivity in teeth should always be evaluated by a dentist in order to rule out decay or dying teeth or infection. As previously posted, regular visits to your dentist are not just for the purpose of cleaning your teeth, but also for the purpose of evaluating any needs. Once evaluated, if any cavities or fractures are found by your dentist, treatment can be recommended.

Even though your teeth may not hurt, they still may have something like a cavity or fracture developing that is best to treat early. Early treatment is usually more conservative, leaves more natural tooth structure, and is less costly. The cost-effectiveness of prevention is much less than the cost of fixing things that are to the point of causing pain, and don't wait if you have a toothache because it won't get better on it's own: there will always be an underlying threat of severe infection.

2011-11-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the largest contributors to gum disease in recent years is smoking. Smoking, like diabetes, causes the blood supply to the gum tissue to decrease, leading to lessened healing. Remember our mouth usually heals rapidly when compared to tissue outside of our mouth. With less blood supply, gum tissue is more easily overrun by bacteria. Also, smoking can cause a dry mouth, which the bacteria love: they grow more rapidly without saliva to wash them away. Finally, smoking is one of the leading causes of oral cancer.
A crash course in the process of gum disease is as follows: first, the bacteria build "soft houses". This is the fuzzy feeling on our teeth that we want to brush off when we notice it. If given enough time, the bacteria build "hard houses" otherwise known as tartar, or calculus. This is similar to the build-up found in old plumbing. Most of us will remove the bacteria when we feel the fuzziness, but when gum disease is present, we cannot clean deeply enough to remove all the bacteria, so they are free to keep building. This, in turn, causes more swelling and deeper pockets, which trap more bacteria. All of this bacteria must be cleaned out by a professional at your dentist's office.
There are resources to help you quit smoking, which will save your mouth from the nasty side effects and definitely cost less from both the cost of buying smokes and the cost of repairing the damage done.

Gum Disease

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

On the left we have unhealthy pocketing, and on the right, we have healthy gums.

There are really two areas to keep healthy in our mouths: first, our teeth, obviously; and second, everything that is around our teeth. We can have perfect teeth without any cavities for our whole life, yet if the supporting structure isn't healthy, we can eventually lose our teeth anyway. This is the reason that forty years ago, or even more recently, a person could be heard saying "when I get old, I'm gonna lose all my teeth anyway."
Many people have planned on having dentures when they were older, even though there is a very real possibility that we can all keep our teeth for our entire lives. When we don't have cavities all of the time, the reason for losing teeth is probably due to gum disease. Gum disease can be a slow process, and our mouths heal fast enough that they may prevent us from experiencing pain. The picture above illustrates how with gum disease, pockets are formed between our teeth and gums by bacteria and their byproducts. The catch is that once a pocket has formed, more food and bacteria is trapped and the condition can worsen. Research is showing more and more that there are implications for other disease in our body that can be effected by gum disease in our mouths. A long-lasting inflammation in the gums is unhealthy, and the body shrinks the bone away from the irritation to protect itself. Over a lifetime, the shrinking bone is too little to hold in our teeth. All of this can be prevented by regular visits to the dentist to evaluate how we are cleaning our teeth at home and if there are any trends of gum disease occurring.

Keep the SeeSaw at Your End!

2011-11-22T09:47:00.001-07:00

Good oral health may seem to come naturally to some people and seem completely out of reach to other people. Like many seemingly impossibilities, oral health is possible for everyone who understands how our mouth is like a seesaw!
On one end of the seesaw is the bacteria, and on the other side are the things we do to combat the bacteria. The bacteria tip the seesaw to their side when we eat because the bacteria eat what we eat and then produce acid. We tip the seesaw to our side when the acid doesn't effect us. We can do many things to tip the seesaw to our side, which will prevent cavities and gum disease. Here are five things we can do to make sure the bacterial acid doesn't win:

1. Sugarless gum or candy. For the first thirty minutes after eating we are most susceptible to acid, so we can combat it with chewing sugarless gum, sucking on sugarless candy, or at the very least swishing with water. Anything to promote our saliva, which acts as a natural acid buffer.
2. Promote saliva. On that same note, our saliva is our natural protector from cavities and gum disease, so if we are taking medicine that gives us dry mouth as a side effect, or if we just notice that we have a dry mouth, we should do things that make saliva, keeping our mouth wet as often as we can, perhaps discussing changing medications if possible, or cleaning our teeth frequently to prevent the build-up of bacteria.
3. Brush and floss. Brushing our teeth and flossing between our teeth both mechanically remove build-ups of bacteria. The less bacteria, the less acid can be produced.
4. Fluoride. When we use fluoridated toothpaste, we are helping remineralize places where the bacterial acid has demineralized our teeth. The acid produced by bacteria can make small white spots on our teeth that are whiter than our natural tooth color. These "white spots" can be a precursor to cavities, so if you see white spots on your teeth, have your health professional evaluate them.
5. Regular visit to the dentist. As previously posted, getting your teeth clean is more than just a gimmick: at the dental office, your teeth are cleaned below the gums to a degree, and all of your teeth, gums, and bone levels are evaluated to let you know as soon as possible of any trends you should be aware of.

These five suggestions can help to keep the seesaw on your side, in other words, the bacterial acid will be neutralized.

Is It Really Just a Cleaning?

2011-11-21T11:20:00.001-07:00

"I have my cleaning at the dentist tomorrow..." Although we may have been raised calling it a dental cleaning, the truth is that much more is going on than cleaning. Like getting your oil changed as needed, going to the dentist regularly for a "cleaning" is actually much more. The auto mechanic checks other fluids, asks if there are any concerning noises, malfunctions, etc., and examines everything for any other needs your car may have. Well, when you see your dentist for your previously agreed upon maintenance visit, you are either given a clean bill of health, or a plan of action is discussed to bring your oral health back up to optimal. Also, the cleaning that is performed ensures that even the spots you can't reach are cleaned. By this we mean deep in between your teeth and gums where your tooth brush doesn't reach. In addition to the cleaning, however, the teeth are examined for any decay, the gums and bone are examined for any trends of recession or inflammation, and any of your concerns can be discussed. So a "cleaning" is really an oral health maintenance visit! Don't worry, if you get behind on your maintenance, you can always get back on schedule.

Who's in Charge?

2011-11-17T09:54:00.001-07:00

Ah, the '80's...many of us recognize the phrase "Charles in charge" from the sitcom made famous by an in-house, male sitter. Although we may not select someone like Charles to make decisions for us, it can be tempting to have someone else take responsibility for big decisions.
It is wise to realize early that each of us is our own best healthcare provider. If we stop to think, it is ironic that we make many decisions about our health without consulting anyone: whether to smoke, floss our teeth, or overeat. Because the physicians, nurses, and doctors we see are caring individuals, we can sometimes fall into the habit of expecting them to "fix" whatever problems we may have caused through our decisions or lack of discipline. Our healthcare providers will even try to meet whatever reasonable expectations we have, however, make no mistake: we are responsible for our own health.
So next time you see your doctor or nurse to discuss any treatment, make sure you understand what is going on, that you have all of your questions answered, and especially that you make the decision for yourself.

Is Halloween Better Than Thanksgiving?

2011-11-15T11:32:00.001-07:00

Everyone knows or is learning that soda and candy can lead to a greater number of trips to the dentist, but did you know that all of those foods we enjoy on Thanksgiving may do the same thing? That's right, many people don't realize that the bacteria in our mouths that eat candy enjoy not just a little pumpkin pie, but dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and even stuffing! Bacteria are not prejudice: they love almost any refined carbohydrate. Also, when we sleep, our natural protector, saliva, is reduced. Which means that napping after Thanksgiving dinner can contribute to cavities!

Utilize Your Dental Benefits

2011-11-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

With the end of the year quickly approaching remember to use your dental benefits. Any benefit provided by your carrier that is not used by the end of the plan or calender year is LOST! Also remember your flexible spending accounts where money could be lost if not used! Be proactive!

If you are concerned with overall health read this!

2011-11-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

The health of your mouth has a direct connection with your overall health! Studies have found that plaque levels and periodontal (gum issues) have a direct connection with other body health issues like: stroke risk, diabetes, plaque in your heart as well as many others. So many people eat right and try to stay healthy but forget to see the dentist regularly! when is the last time you saw a dentist?

Bleaching your teeth!

2011-11-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Our office offers a lifetime bleaching system for $180.00! This means you can whiten and brighten your smile and keep it that way! We believe that take home professional bleaching is the way to go. In office "quick" bleaching systems can cause some severe sensitivity and if not properly applied can cause some gum issues.

Our System is safe and very effective, safe and gentle! We have seen some pretty dramatic changes!