Creating Good Hygiene Habits at Home

As humans, we like having a clean mouth. Long ago people would chew tree twigs to spread the fibers, which acted like bristles to clean their teeth. 

In fact, the ancient Greeks used pumice, talc, alabaster, coral powder, or iron rust as toothpaste. Thankfully today, we have many more effective choices that yield fantastic results and fresh mouths.

Here are some simple guidelines you can implement in your home:

1. Start oral hygiene habits early. It's never too early to make brushing and flossing a part of their morning and nightly routines. 
2. Set a good example. Brushing with your children can allow them to see proper techniques, and allow you to know if they are "cutting corners". 
3. Turn toothbrushing into a game. Having charts and fun incentives to encourage proper brushing and flossing can increase children's desires. 
4. Tell a story. There are really fun dental apps that you can download that have stories or songs set to the optimal brushing time. This helps them learn the proper length of a brushing session.
5. Choose the right tools. Letting your children be part of the oral hygiene process makes a huge difference in their willingness to brush and floss. Make a big deal out of their ability to choose their new toothbrush and toothpaste.
6. Flossers are a great way to help children learn how to floss themselves. Flossing is a critical step in preventing cavities.

10 Possible Reasons for Tooth Sensitivity

 

Here are 10 possible reasons why your teeth might be giving you pain, and when to see a doctor.

1. Exposure to extreme heat or cold

Tooth sensitivity is caused by worn tooth enamel or exposed nerves in your teeth. When you eat or drink something with an extremely low or high temperature, you may feel a sudden, sharp flash of pain.

2. Gum recession

Gums are the layer of pink tissue that cover bone and surround the root of the tooth to help protect the nerve endings of your teeth. As you age, gum tissue often begins to wear , causing gum recession.

This recession leaves the roots of your teeth exposed, as well as leaving you more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth infections. If your teeth are suddenly more sensitive than they used to be, gum recession could be the culprit.

3. Enamel (dentin) erosion

It’s estimated that at least 12 percentTrusted Source of people have some form of “dentin hypersensitivity” that causes them discomfort when they eat. This kind of sensitivity can be caused by eating a highly acidic diet, brushing your teeth too hard, and other factors.

As a result, the enamel that coats and protects your teeth begins to wear away and is not replaced. This can lead to sharp, stabbing pain that sends shivers up your spine when you bite into certain foods.

4. Tooth decay (cavity)

Tooth decay, also referred to as a cavity, might be the reason why your teeth have suddenly started bothering you. Tooth decay can linger on the sides or tops of your tooth enamel without being noticed for some time.

Once the decay begins to progress toward an infection, you may startexperiencing pain in your tooth.

5. Gum infection

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, affects more than 47 percent of adults over the age of 30Trusted Source. Gum disease is called gingivitis in its early stages, and some people don’t even know that they have it. Sensitive teeth and gums can be a sign of escalating gum disease. 

6. Cracked tooth or crown

You may not be surprised to learn that a cracked tooth or crown can cause tooth pain and sensitivity. But there are cases when you may have a tooth cracked ever so slightly, so that it causes pain but is nearly impossible to see.

7. Sinus infection

One symptom of a sinus infection is pain in your teeth and in your jaw. As your sinuses become inflamed and filled with pressure from the infection, they can compress the nerve endings of your teeth.

8. Grinding or clenching jaws

Grinding your teeth and clenching your jaws can lead to chronic tooth sensitivity, as you wear away at the enamel on your teeth.

While many people clench or grind their teeth from time to time, high-stress circumstances or poor sleep can lead to you increasing this habit without you realizing it, resulting in tooth pain that seems mysterious.

9. Dental procedures

Recent fillings or tooth work involving drilling can temporarily make the nerve endings of your teeth more sensitive. Sensitivity from a tooth filling procedure may last up to two weeks.

10. Teeth bleaching products

Using whitening strips, bleaching gels, or having an in-office teeth-whitening procedure can put you at a higher riskTrusted Source of tooth sensitivity. Pain in your teeth that’s caused by teeth bleaching is often temporary and will usually subside if you stop using whitening products.

When to see a doctor

If your teeth have become sensitive when they never were before, make an appointment with your dentist. They may be able to recommend a simple treatment, such as a sensitivity-reducing toothpaste.

Your dentist will also be able to tell if you need a corrective procedure, such as a filling or a tooth extraction, to relieve your pain.

Some symptoms should never be ignored. See your dentist right away, or contact another health professional, if you experience the following:

• toothache that lasts for more than 48 hours
• throbbing or sharp, aching pain that doesn’t subside
• migraine or thunderclap headache that extends to your teeth
• fever that seems to coincide with your toothache

Takeaway

There are myriad reasons why you might feel a sudden pain in your teeth. Most of them are connected to the natural erosion of your gums or tooth enamel.

If you’ve developed hypersensitive teeth seemingly overnight, you should speak with your dentist. While it’s not usually considered a dental emergency, teeth that are causing you pain should be examined by a dentist to rule out some of the more serious causes.

Photo Source: https://www.interdent.com/gentle-dental/resources/teeth-sensitivity-causes/ 

Article Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/all-my-teeth-hurt-suddenly#takeaway

Children's Brushing Chart

          February is National Children's Dental Health Month

This is a fun brushing chart you can print out and use with your family throughout the month of February. Set up a fun reward at the end of the month for all of their diligence and hard work.

Printable Sources: https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/national-childrens-dental-health-month

Oral Healthcare is Not Puzzling!

 

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Take a few minutes to sit down with your children to fill in the blanks of this crossword puzzle. Joining together to create a fun memory will also provide a great teaching moment for your kids. 

Oral healthcare habits are critical to their present and future health. Teaching good habits now will help them take ownership over their own health. 

Printable Sources: https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/national-childrens-dental-health-month

Hello 2021 - January's eNewsletter from Dr. Clark & Team

Just in case you missed our newsletter in the email, we've posted it here for your review. Believe it or not, 2021 is underway and admittedly, it has been a rough start. But that doesn't have to foreshadow the end. 

We hope that as you begin your new year you will find the confidence to make the changes you need to make, and also give yourself the grace during the change and growth seasons in your life.

We look forward to seeing you this year during your semi-annual dental cleanings. Remember these appointments are critical for your self-care. Your mouth is a window into your overall health and when you ignore the warning signs your mouth gives you it always ends poorly. 

One Day at a Time - One Good Choice at a Time

We thought this was a great blog post with overall tips to improve your dental health.

How to Improve Your Overall Dental Health

Based on that new research, here are a few dental health tips you might not have heard before:

1. Get a new angle on things. When brushing your teeth, the position of the bristles matters. The head should be at a 45-degree angle near the gum line, and again when you go to clean the inside surfaces of your teeth.
2. Give your tongue some attention. Plaque and bacteria can gather on, around, and under your tongue too. Clean the surface of your tongue daily, either with your toothbrush or with a tongue cleaner. This will also help prevent bad breath!
3. Seal off trouble. Sealants are thin protective coatings applied to the back teeth that can help prevent decay and cavities (caries). Sealants are an especially good idea for kids, who often have trouble reaching their back teeth while brushing.
4. Suit up those teeth. Sports are good for our bodies, but they also provide opportunities for bangs, bumps, and crashes. In fact, most school teams now require children to wear mouth guards to safeguard teeth, especially for rougher sports. So it’s not a bad idea to have one yourself, for any sort of recreational activities. This is true even if it’s not a team sport – skateboarding, rock climbing, or even just hitting a ball against a wall can all present a threat to your teeth.
5. Make fluoride earn its keep. You should already be using a toothpaste with fluoride. But you might not be receiving its benefits if you rinse with mouthwash right after you brush. Mouthwash can rinse away fluoride before it has a chance to work, so wait 15 minutes or let the fluoride get to work on your enamel.
6. Chew your way to better dental health. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating or drinking can help protect your teeth and gums, especially after eating sugary foods. Better yet, finish your meal with a cube of cheese. This can help reduce the effect of acids from food on your teeth.
7. Get more sun. Specifically, get more Vitamin D – which you can get from supplements or exposure to the sun. Both Vitamin D and calcium help keep teeth and gums strong.
8. Practice the basics. Even if you follow these healthy tips, they will do little if you are not already practicing the basics, brushing, and flossing twice daily. You also want to avoid bad habits that can cause damage to your teeth over time.
9. See a dentist when everything is fine. Most people don’t bother with a dentist appointment until something goes wrong: A tooth falls out, a sudden pain makes it hard to chew, or an injury causes a chip or crack. But most problems can be prevented if their underlying cause is found early. A regular check-up more than pays for itself by preventing costly dental procedures down the road.

Source: https://happytoothnc.com/dental-health/

Timing is Everything!

 

If You Indulge, Do It During Mealtime

Don’t worry, we don’t expect you or your child to never eat sweets or starches. There is a better time to eat them than at snack time, however, and that is during meals! That’s because it’s not just important what you eat, but when you eat. At mealtime, there is an increased amount of saliva in the mouth that can help wash away those starches or sugary treats, counteract acid-producing bacteria and remineralize teeth.

Watch Out For Added Sugars

Almost all foods have some type of sugar in them. Naturally occurring sugars–like those found in milk and vegetables–are less worrisome, since these choices are healthy overall. What you want to keep an eye out for when choosing snacks are added sugars.

According to the American Dental Association, added sugar consumption should be limited to less than 10 percent of total energy intake, ideally less than five percent. To put things in perspective, one can of soda is equivalent to three times the daily recommended sugar intake of a child!

Choose Beverages Wisely

On that note, we’d like to advise parents to choose their children’s beverages wisely. Soda and juice may be your child’s preferred drinks, but milk and water are much healthier choices. Good sources of calcium, like milk, aid in building strong teeth and bones and water helps to wash away food particles that may be clinging to teeth, thus protecting against decay.

Source: https://hanoverdentistry.com/2016/08/23/snacking-tips-to-keep-your-childs-smile-health/#:~:text=Stay%20away%20from%20starchy%2C%20sticky,%2C%20nuts%2C%20yogurt%20and%20cheese.

Photo Source: https://www.drjennifercohen.com/calm-happy-mealtime-solution/

Great Snacking Options

 

GOOD NUTRITION IS ESSENTIAL for a child’s healthy growth and development. It’s also important for their dental health! A good diet can help your child build strong, healthy teeth, while poor eating habits puts your child at a higher risk of tooth decay.

You may understand how important nutritious meals are, but one thing some parents struggle with is snack time. Here are our best tips on how to make sure your child’s snack time is tooth-friendly!

Not All Snacks Are Created Equal

Stay away from starchy, sticky or sugary foods during snack time, like dried fruit, crackers, chips and cookies. These types of snacks can stick to the teeth for long periods of time, potentially causing cavities. For snack time it’s best to opt for fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurt and cheese.

Source: https://hanoverdentistry.com/2016/08/23/snacking-tips-to-keep-your-childs-smile-health/#:~:text=Stay%20away%20from%20starchy%2C%20sticky,%2C%20nuts%2C%20yogurt%20and%20cheese.

Risk Factors for Gum Disease

LANAP gum treatment also has many benefits, including:

• LANAP is a no cut, no sew, no fear procedure.
• Overall health upswing – Patients often tell us their overall wellness improves as the massive inflammation around their teeth is snuffed out, and their mouth returns to health.
• Less discomfort – LANAP treatment is more comfortable than traditional gum procedures, both during and after your treatment.
• Faster treatment time – your LANAP treatment requires fewer visits and less chair time.
• Quicker recovery – LANAP is minimally invasive, leading to much quicker recovery than traditional cut and sew gum surgery.
• Better long-term results – LANAP does not involve loss of gum tissue or removal of bone tissue as is experienced in the cut and sew technique.
• Safe for those who are medically compromised – LANAP therapy is safe for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
• Bad breath resolution: Dr Clark jokes that, “Bad breath is better than no breath at all!” Bad breath is resolved because the gums no longer are infected, bleeding or harboring accumulations of food debris and bacteria under the gums. Bad breath is toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. Imagine breathing toxic gas into your lungs constantly. It is killing you slowly as time goes by!

Patient Testimonial of LANAP

Dr. Clark interviews one of his patients about their experience with LANAP treatment. Pink gums after one week! "Had I gone to any other dentist I wouldn't have any teeth right now, they would have just pulled them."

Am I a LANAP Candidate?

Who is a candidate for LANAP laser surgery?

Patients with moderate-to-severe gum disease can especially benefit from the LANAP protocol. The LANAP protocol is also an excellent treatment option for patients who are fearful of conventional scalpel surgery.

Do I have to stop taking my medication for LANAP laser surgery?

Because of the unique properties of the PerioLase laser wavelength, patients on blood thinners or with aspirin regimens do not have to stop taking any medications.

What should I expect during LANAP treatment?

The LANAP protocol is typically performed in a dentist’s office under local anesthesia. Prior to the procedure, the dentist does a periodontal charting and takes X-rays to make a proper diagnosis and determine the extent of the disease. A tiny laser fiber (about the thickness of three human hairs) is inserted between the tooth and the gum, and the infection and disease are cleared away without cutting the gums. The tooth roots are then thoroughly cleaned of tartar and plaque, and the laser is used again with a different setting to create a stable, firm fibrin blood clot to seal the pocket. The dentist treats one half of the patient’s mouth at each session, and most patients are able to drive themselves back to work or home following the procedure.

What is the LANAP Protocol?

What is the LANAP protocol?

The LANAP protocol is a minimally invasive gum disease treatment that uses a specific dental laser, the PerioLase® MVP-7™. The LANAP protocol is the first and only protocol to receive FDA clearance for True Regeneration, which is re-growing new cementum, new periodontal ligament, and new alveolar bone. These three components are needed for full oral function. The LANAP protocol has been in widespread use by the dental community for many years.

What are the benefits of the LANAP protocol for the treatment of gum disease?

• Less post-operative pain — Using the PerioLase MVP-7 dental laser, the LANAP protocol helps avoid cutting and stitching of the gums. As a result, patients usually have minimal post-operative discomfort.
• Quicker recovery time — Most patients are able to return to their regular daily activities immediately following the procedure, which generally requires less than a 24-hour recovery period. Following traditional scalpel and suture surgery, recovery can take two to four weeks, during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling.
• Healthy gums with minimal recession — When your gums are cut, the tissue shrinks and can show more of your tooth root. Because the LANAP protocol does not cut your gums, the tissue stays intact.
• Regeneration without foreign materials — Because the PerioLase laser stimulates your body’s own healing response, your LANAP dentist doesn’t have to add foreign ‘growth factors.’

Source: https://www.lanap.com/2016/09/15/lanap-protocol-frequently-asked-questions/

Why Give Thanks?

Can It Really Be That Simple?

Do you find yourself as the saying goes “running like a chicken with your head cut off?”  In your quest to “get it all done” do feel like you are coming up short at the end of the day?  If you answered yes, you are not alone.  In fact, the majority of people feel like they will never get to the end of their “to do” lists.  Unfortunately exposing ourselves and our families to this harried pace of life leaves many of us feeling tired, depressed, sick or simply empty.

             
Who wants to feel like that day after day?  As a matter of fact, if we allow ourselves to live in this type of a environment continually it will take it’s toll one way or another.  We have a great suggestion that could be the “Pick Me Up” you need.  It’s Gratitude.  Yes, you read it correctly, GRATITUDE.  Many studies have shown that taking the time to list, ponder upon and express gratitude for your daily blessings can greatly increase your mood, health and overall wellbeing.

Elizabeth Heubeck, from WebMD, poses the question, “What would happen if we extended the tradition of giving thanks, typically celebrated just once a year during the holiday season, throughout the entire year? Such gratitude would be rewarded with better health, say researchers.”  She goes on to further explore and suggest the impact that gratitude can have in your life.  We encourage you to take a minute to read her insightful article.  You can access the article by clicking on this link:  http://women.webmd.com/features/gratitute-health-boost

Find the GRATITUDE and the HAPPINESS will follow!