Signs You Should Visit a General Dentistry Office

There are times where you may need to visit our general dentistry office for your oral health needs. Yes, it is important to keep your teeth beautiful and to retain an attractive appearance, but your teeth offer even more important benefits than the aesthetic attributes. Your oral health is a huge part of your overall health. If you have tooth problems, they can get worse quickly. Therefore, you should visit our office if you have any of these symptoms or other unknown problems.

Q. Why do I have bad breath and an unappealing taste in my mouth?
A.    Many people have perpetual bad breath, so they think it is just a way of life. Don't give into this dangerous belief. Bad bread and unpleasant tastes in your mouth often are signs of periodontal disease and tartar growth under your gum lines. If you haven't had your teeth professionally cleaned by our general dentistry office lately, you haven't been brushing like you should, or you have a genetic disposition to bad cavities, you may be at risk for this disease. Your bad breath may also be the result of dry mouth. Dry mouth can be a side effect of some medications, but it can also lead to more bacterial development in your mouth and decay in your teeth. If you are experiencing these problems, you should visit our general dentistry office.

Q. My gums are swollen, and they bleed when I brush, what should I do?
A.    If you are experiencing discomfort, bleeding, or inflammation of your gums, you should visit our general dentistry office immediately. These distressing symptoms are called gingivitis and may also be the result of periodontal disease or infection. These symptoms could also lead to these conditions. A general dentistry office can help you get rid of these bothersome issues and save your teeth from further damage.

Q. I am a tobacco user. Is tobacco really as bad for your mouth as people say it is? 
A.    Yes. Tobacco can be incredibly harmful to your oral health. Exposing your mouth to the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco can lead to chronic bad breath, infections, and even cancer. Use tobacco with caution, and visit our general dentistry office regularly so that we can check for areas that have the capacity to be malignant.

Q. Do I really need to brush twice a day? 
A.    Brushing thoroughly twice a day should be a minimum standard for good oral hygiene. If you eat sugary foods or drink acidic sodas, you should be brushing even more than that or at least washing your mouth out after consumption to prevent enamel wear and cavities. Additionally, replace your toothbrush every few months and use a Fluoride toothpaste. You should be flossing regularly as well.

These are just a few of the questions our general dentistry office regularly receives. Get educated, protect your natural teeth, and visit our office twice per year to start making your oral health a priority.

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Tips From a Children's Dentist For Getting Kids Excited to Brush

When you visit our children's dentist office, you are going to hear a lot about teeth brushing.  We can't help it – brushing teeth is that important!  Still, we understand that for parents the idea or concept of getting their kids to brush makes 100 percent sense.  Implementation, however, can be incredibly difficult, especially with a child that is absolutely uninterested.  Regardless of whether you have a toddler at home or a teen, brushing teeth will often take a backseat to playing, watching a show, running around, etc.  Our goal is to help you to change the tide and make brushing teeth a fun and interesting activity.

Yes – it is possible.

The first thing we suggest is to put away the old timers and stopwatches.  If you have been timing your kids while they brush, that is a good thing.  How you do it, however, can make the difference between teeth brushing being something to dread and a fun activity.  Instead of using a timer, start to have fun with it by playing their favorite song for two minutes at a time.  If you have several kids, let them take turns picking to change things up a bit.  This works really well in the morning if you play an upbeat song that they can sing and dance to.  This is not the time to play your personal favorites, but let them make the song selection.  The ultimate goal, after all, is for the to start having fun while brushing their teeth.

As a children's dentist office, we also suggest that you visit the American Dental Association website and use the tools that they have available for kids and parents.  They have a rewards chart that you can use to start encouraging your kids to brush.  This works really well for younger kids, but you can use the same concept without the chart.  For example, if your teen wants to go out with friends on Friday, make brushing their teeth twice a day, every day, the criteria for doing so.  It's simple, but it creates a positive association.  With your younger kids, you can offer a reward of staying up fifteen minutes later if they brush their teeth without being told.  Once again, you are offering a simple reward that costs nothing but will show them how healthy habits can positively influence their life.

The ADA also has a section on their website that features two minute videos.  These are popular cartoons like Adventure Time and sing-alongs for the younger kids.  Each video is only two minutes long so that you can grab your tablet and play it while they brush.  Once the video is over, they can stop brushing, and you will know that they did it for a long enough period of time to be successful at it.  If you have kids, that hate to brush teeth, letting them watch their favorite show is a simple and easy way to get them to change their mind.  When you visit our children's dentist office, we will reinforce what you are doing at home and further encourage them to keep up with their good, healthy habits.

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