Stay In-the-Know with Our Fairview Heights Dental Office
We believe in creating a relationship with our patients that goes beyond the office doors. We've specifically created this section of our site to share with you important news and informational dental blogs from our Fairview Heights family dental practice.
Sincerely,
Your Fairview Heights Cosmetic Dentists
Did you know that Healthy People 2020 chose dental health as one of the 10 leading indicators of a person’s overall wellness? This is alongside categories such as human relationships, financial prosperity, and more.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of this connection, making it easier to neglect oral health until it’s too late.
Keep reading to learn about some fascinating ways your dental hygiene can affect your overall health!
1. Periodontal Disease and Pre-Diabetes
Pre-diabetes occurs when your glucose levels are higher than usual, leading to type 2 diabetes. In addition, researchers found that when people are exposed to periodontal bacteria for an extended amount of time, they could develop glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.
Diabetes can also be accelerated with the presence of periodontal disease. With this in mind, you must make regular appointments with your dentist so that they can assess whether you’re at risk of developing periodontal disease. If you do have gum disease, they’ll help you manage it and keep your teeth healthy.
2. Heart Disease
Next, poor dental hygiene over time can also affect your heart. This is because as plaque and tartar develop on your teeth, harmful bacteria have a greater chance of invading your bloodstream, developing plaque inside your blood vessels.
If this isn’t addressed, the buildup of plaque in your coronary arteries can eventually lead to a heart attack. For this reason, brushing and flossing daily can go a long way to reducing your chances of developing heart disease.
3. Respiratory Infections
Lastly, poor dental health can also affect your respiratory system. Bacteria that has built up on your teeth and gums over time can be breathed into your lungs or can travel to your lungs through your bloodstream.
This harmful bacteria in your lungs can lead to COPD, pneumonia, respiratory infections, and more.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Dentist Today
Along with brushing and flossing every day, one of the best ways to ensure that you have excellent oral health is to schedule twice-yearly appointments with your favorite dentist. Along with cleaning plaque and tartar from your teeth, they can also apply fluorides and sealants to your teeth, making them less prone to tooth decay in-between visits.
Dentists can examine your teeth and ensure you’re not suffering from gingivitis or gum disease. Ready to schedule your first appointment with us? Give us a call today!
If you want healthy and shining teeth this summer, paying attention to your dental hygiene is essential. However, this can become harder with changing schedules, travel, and possible life changes–such as your children being off from school.
Fortunately, there are some simple ways to ensure that you’re taking the best care of your teeth.
Keep reading for simple tips on keeping your smile glowing and teeth healthy during the summer!
Drink Plenty of Water
As the heat index rises, you must drink water frequently throughout the day to avoid overheating and dehydration. However, water also plays a vital role in your dental health. If your mouth is dry, you become far more susceptible to cavities as food, and harmful bacteria linger in your mouth.
Stick With Your Routine
If you’re vacationing this summer, it can be easy to forget about your dental hygiene routine when visiting new places or have a full schedule. However, it’s important that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day–no matter where you are.
Set reminders on your phone if you need help remembering or consider brushing in the shower so you can bundle two habits in one. This method of combining habits is called “chunking.”
If you know it will be hard to access a toothbrush and toothpaste, try keeping healthy, crunchy snacks in your bag or some xylitol gum. You can also opt to purchase a travel toothbrush and toothpaste, which are small and easy to put away.
Use a Straw
Drinking sugary drinks throughout the day can be hard to avoid when you’re vacationing or enjoying time by the pool or ocean. However, these drinks can significantly increase your chance of tooth decay because of the constant exposure to sugar.
If you can’t limit your sugary drink intake, use a straw instead. This can help limit the sugar from coming into contact with your teeth.
Keep Your Smile Shining in the Summer
By paying attention and incorporating these simple tips into your summer habits, you won’t have to worry about cavities or tooth decay during your vacation. Make sure to set alarms to remind yourself to brush your teeth or bring along a travel toothbrush if you’ll be away from home for a long time.
No one is perfect, but the important thing is that you’re striving to stick with your routines.
Ready for more healthy teeth tips? Keep reading our blog!
Do you often travel or find yourself in a rush in the morning and frequently forget to brush? Although once or twice won’t hurt the long-term health of your teeth, these bad habits can quickly add up, leading to a mouth more prone to tooth decay and cavities.
However, the good news is that you can keep your dental health routine on track by preparing a little in advance.
Keep reading to learn some simple tips for what to do when you’re stuck without a toothbrush and toothpaste!
Keep Floss in Your Bag
Unlike toothpaste and a toothbrush, floss is far easier to put in a bag or purse without adding bulk. You can also purchase multiple packs of floss and put them in your car, bathroom, and frequently used bags so that you’re never caught without it.
When you can’t brush your teeth, flossing your teeth can be a great alternative compared to doing nothing. This is because you’ll be able to remove plaque and food debris buildup before swishing your mouth out for water.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Beyond toothpaste, it’s also recommended to stock up on some sugar-free gum–xylitol is a common ingredient that’s approved by the American Dental Association. This is because gum with xylitol doesn’t add harmful sugars to your mouth.
Here are a few of the benefits of xylitol gum that you can enjoy:
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Increases saliva production
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Low glycemic index
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Reduces harmful bacteria in your mouth
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Improves digestive health
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Freshens breath
If you’re stuck without a toothbrush and toothpaste for extended amounts of gum, sugar-free gum can help offset the harmful effects of bacteria. However, keep your gum away from your pets–it’s highly toxic for dogs.
Invest in Disposable Toothbrushes
If you often travel or forget to brush your teeth, consider investing in disposable toothbrushes. These small toothbrushes are travel-friendly because they have toothpaste already applied to the bristles.
Once you’re done brushing your teeth, you simply dispose of the toothbrush. These toothbrushes can also be beneficial when you get sick or suffer from mental illness. In addition, keeping some disposable toothbrushes at the side of your bed can make it easier to attend to your oral hygiene because you don’t need to get up in order to use a disposable toothbrush.
You can throw out the toothbrush in a nearby trashcan afterward. After you get used to using those toothbrushes, you can consider investing in a reusable travel toothbrush so that you’re contributing less waste.
Make Healthy Choices
If you know that you won’t be able to brush your teeth anytime soon, we recommend focusing on drinking as much water as possible throughout the day and snacking on crunchy vegetables and fruit. The more water you drink, the easier it is to keep leftover food and plaque from building up in your mouth.
Crunchy fruits and vegetables can also help scrub away developed plaque and provide a much-needed energy boost.
Create a Paper Towel Toothbrush
Lastly, consider creating a makeshift toothbrush with a paper towel if you have toothpaste but no toothbrush. The thicker the paper towel, the better. Wrap a piece tightly around your index finger and use the same brushing motions you normally use on your teeth.
You can even use this method with just water because the paper towel still provides an abrasive surface that can help remove plaque.
Taking Your Dental Health Routine Seriously
By taking your dental health routine more seriously, even when traveling or at work, you’re less likely to develop more serious issues later on. This is especially important if you’re prone to tooth decay, gingivitis, and cavities.
Keep in mind that no matter how good you are at sticking with your dental health routine, your teeth aren’t immaculate until you visit a dentist twice a year. So schedule an appointment with us today for your cleaning!
Spring is a time of new growth, meaning it’s also the opportunity for cleaning to make room for a new environment, habits, and mindset. The same can be true for your dental hygiene routine.
If you’re unhappy with the state of your teeth, these simple tips can get you started on the right foot and motivate you to build healthy habits.
Keep reading to learn some easy ways to spring clean your dental routine today!
1. Purchase a New Toothbrush
If you don’t have a soft bristle toothbrush, it’s time to invest in one today. These are often recommended more than medium and hard toothbrushes because they’re easier on your enamel and less likely to cause your gums to recede. However, medium toothbrushes may also be a good choice if you tend to brush your teeth for less than two minutes.
You can also take this opportunity to purchase an electric toothbrush if you’re ready to step up your oral hygiene routine.
Keep in mind that the ADA recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months, even if the bristles don’t appear frayed.
2. Clean Your Toothbrush Holder
It’s vital that you store your toothbrush upright and exposed to air so that it’s less likely to harbor harmful bacteria. However, the holder you keep your toothbrush in can get dirty and grimy over time.
Take this opportunity to clean your toothbrush holder with warm water and soap and wipe it down with disinfectant.
3. Minimize Sugar
When it comes to dental hygiene, how much sugar you consume throughout the day can make a big difference in the health of your teeth. This is because the more often you drink or eat foods with high amounts of sugar, the more acids develop in your mouth that slowly eat away at your enamel.
With this in mind, try keeping your sugar intake to one time in the day, such as for dessert or after lunch. You can also make a point of swishing your mouth with water after eating or drinking sugary foods or beverages.
4. Schedule an Appointment
Keep in mind that no dental routine is complete without scheduling a yearly appointment with your dentist. Many dentists won’t judge you and will take the time to educate you on simple ways you can improve your dental health.
Even better, you can get started on your journey to improve your smile and start this season on a clean slate.
Supercharge Your Spring Dental Routine
Minimizing sugar, cleaning your toothbrush holder, and replacing your toothbrush with a new one every three to four months are great ways to refresh your dental routine this spring.
If you’re having trouble forming new toothbrushing or flossing habits, this kind of spring cleaning may be just what you need to motivate you to begin again.
We can also help you get started with a dental cleaning. Call us today to schedule an appointment!
Beyond brushing your teeth twice a day, did you know that there are even more simple ways you can improve your oral hygiene? It only takes about five minutes a day to brush your teeth and floss your teeth.
Even better, you’ll benefit from a reduction in cavities and tooth decay, fresher smelling breath, improved overall health, and a sparkling smile that you can feel confident in.
Keep reading to learn five simple ways to jumpstart your dental care routine today!
1. Wait Before Brushing
Brushing your teeth twice a day helps remove food particles and plaque that slowly eat away at your tooth enamel. However, brushing your teeth too early after eating can actually do more damage than you realize.
Acidic foods, in particular, soften your tooth enamel temporarily, making it more susceptible to be stripped away if you brush immediately after and open you up to a greater chance of tooth decay.
With this in mind, make sure that you wait 30 to 60 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods and drinks before you brush your teeth.
2. Avoid Sipping on Sugary Drinks
While drinking sugary drinks in moderation is completely fine, you’ll want to avoid sipping on them throughout the day. This is because the constant exposure to sugar will turn into harmful lactic acid because of the bacteria in your mouth.
Over time, lactic acid dissolves your tooth enamel, leading to increased tooth decay and cavities. This is one of the reasons why athletes experience more tooth decay than anyone else—they sip on sugary sports drinks frequently.
Make sure to drink sugary drinks all at once instead of throughout the day. You can also swish your mouth with water after consuming them.
3. Don’t Neglect Your Tongue
Did you know that along with your teeth, it’s essential to give your tongue a brush as well? When your tongue is white, this is a sign that bacteria and dead cells are trapped between the papillae on the surface of your tongue.
However, regardless of whether you notice that your tongue is white or not, you should take some time to brush it with your toothbrush or, even better, a tongue scraper. It only takes a few extra seconds in your routine and can even improve your breath if you suffer from halitosis.
4. Pay Attention to Your Toothbrush
It’s important that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth so that you’re not causing your gums to recede or wear down your tooth enamel. Unfortunately, your toothbrush can also harbor harmful bacteria, so make sure to rinse it well after brushing and store it in a place where it gets airflow to dry quickly.
You’ll also want to replace your toothbrush every three to four months. The bristles can become worn, meaning that brushing your teeth will be far less effective.
5. Use Fluoride
Last but not least, we can’t understate the importance of fluoride for your dental health. This naturally occurring is found in water, soil, plants, rocks, and air. Used commonly in drinking water, toothpaste, mouth rinses, and supplements, here are some of its numerous benefits:
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Remineralizing your tooth enamel
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Reversing early tooth decay
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Preventing harmful bacteria from proliferating
This is why it’s imperative that you use toothpaste and mouth rinses that contain this vital ingredient. Without fluoride, you won’t experience the full benefits of brushing your teeth!
Improve Your Dental Hygiene: One Step at a Time
Keep in mind that improving your oral hygiene doesn’t happen overnight. Focus on improving one tip from the above list at a time until it becomes a habit. You can then move on to another technique so that you’re not overwhelmed by too much change!
We recommend starting by brushing your teeth for two minutes at a time, morning and night. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and be gentle as you use small circles to brush the surface of your teeth, the inside, and the biting surfaces.
Of course, your routine isn’t complete without scheduling annual appointments at the dentist.
Contact us to schedule an appointment today!
Did you know that according to a recent CDC report, 47.2 percent of adults in the United States have some form of periodontal disease? As you get older, your chances increase–70.5 percent of adults 65 or older have periodontal disease.
Without treatment, your teeth will start to become wobbly and eventually fall out. Fortunately, gingivitis is the early stage of this disease when prevention and treatment are possible.
If you’re experiencing signs, keep reading to learn simple ways to treat gingivitis today!
What are the Signs of Gingivitis?
You must schedule an appointment with your dentist if you suspect you have gingivitis. Here are a few signs:
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Swollen and puffy gums
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Red gums
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Receding gums
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Tender gums
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Bad breath
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Gums bleed easily when brushing or flossing
Your chances of gingivitis heighten if you have a pattern of poor oral hygiene, smoking or chewing tobacco, genetics, dry mouth, older age, and more. Even hormonal changes or certain medications can increase your chances of gingivitis.
This is why it’s crucial you focus on solutions rather than blaming and shaming yourself for the condition!
How to Treat Gingivitis: Start Simple
It’s essential to keep in mind that your oral health isn’t doomed if you experience signs of gingivitis. Instead, consider it a warning from your body to start taking care of your oral hygiene before things worsen.
1. Schedule Regular Appointments
If you haven’t seen your dentist in over a year, it’s time to schedule an appointment today. They’ll be able to give you customized tips on how to take care of your teeth and take care of gingivitis.
Your dentist will also be able to monitor your progress during subsequent appointments so that you can be assured it’s not worsening.
2. Use Fluoride or Antibacterial Mouth Rinses
Fluoride is a natural mineral that’s one of the most critical ingredients in toothpaste. It helps strengthen your enamel and prevent cavities.
By increasing the fluoride your teeth are exposed to, you can help strengthen them over time, so they’re more resistant to plaque that causes gingivitis.
Make sure to wait at least 30 minutes before rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. This is because you don’t want to rinse off the fluoride on the toothpaste you just used.
Your dentist may also prescribe you a chlorhexidine mouthwash to reduce the bacteria in your mouth. Recent studies have found that tea tree mouthwash gives you similar benefits.
3. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Did you know that you only need to brush your teeth for about four minutes each day? So morning and night, brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, or 30 seconds per quadrant of your mouth.
The motion of your soft-bristled toothbrush combined with the fluoride in toothpaste will help reduce plaque. A reduction of plaque means reducing the chance of bacteria attacking your teeth and gums with harmful acids.
4. Floss Every Day
Flossing is a habit that many people failed to develop when they were children, making it even harder to pick up as an adult. Keep in mind that flossing at least once a day before you go to bed is all you need to do to increase your dental health.
You can use water picks, dental tape, pre-threaded floss, or interdental picks to make your life easier. You can also opt to floss one section of your mouth in the morning and one at night to speed up the process!
Take Time to Treat Gingivitis Today
It’s essential to keep in mind that ignoring the signs of gingivitis won’t make them go away. Over time, your condition will worsen. Before this happens, make sure you start treating your gingivitis and enhance your oral health habits by going to the dentist, brushing twice a day, using oral rinses, and flossing.
Not only will you find relief from the pain and discomfort of your gums, but you can also develop a renewed confidence in your smile.
Ready to take charge of your dental health? Schedule an appointment with us today!
Did you know that according to the American Dental Association, 47.2 percent of adults experience chronic gum disease? In those cases, you need a deep cleaning to help mitigate the damage and get your gums healthy again.
Is it time for your routine checkup, but you’re unsure whether you should get a regular cleaning versus a deep cleaning at the dentist? It helps to know a little about each procedure.
Read on to learn the difference between regular cleaning versus deep cleaning and whether you need one or both!
What is a Regular Dental Cleaning?
Regular cleaning is probably what you’re most used to. Although it’s less extensive than deep cleaning, it’s necessary for both the look and cleanliness of your teeth. Hygienists will remove tartar buildup with a scaler as well as brush and floss your teeth till they shine.
You’ll find that regular dental cleaning is a preventative measure against tooth decay and gingivitis. However, if tartar has already begun to invade your gumline, you’ll need to have a deep cleaning.
What is a Deep Cleaning?
If you have gums that are red and swollen, a deep cleaning may be necessary. This indicates that your gums are suffering from a bacterial infection. In this case, your hygienists will clean below your gum line to the roots of your teeth.
Using a manual scraper and an ultrasonic device, they’ll remove plaque as well as rub the rough spots at the roots of your teeth. Over time, this process will help your infected gums attach to your teeth and become healthy again.
Do You Need Deep Cleaning?
You’ll know that you may need a deep cleaning if your hygienist recommends it for a future appointment. They may have noticed that you have tartar that wasn’t able to be removed with a regular cleaning.
You may also be experiencing symptoms of gum disease, such as bleeding gums when you brush, loose teeth, swelling of your gums, and more. Your hygienists may also find that you’re at risk for periodontal disease when your gum pockets are over 5 millimeters in depth.
In this case, a deep cleaning is necessary.
What to Expect During a Deep Cleaning
If you do need a deep cleaning, there’s no need to be afraid. Your dentist may choose to use a local anesthetic in order to minimize any pain or discomfort. A deep cleaning also means you’re on the road for healthier teeth and gums!
If you find that a deep cleaning may be necessary, make sure to speak to your dentist about your options. They may find that twice-a-year regular cleanings are all you need to get back on track.
Regardless of what type of cleaning you need, make sure you’re brushing and flossing twice a day. You can prevent gingivitis or alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.
Ready for more simple oral health information? Keep reading our blog or contact us to schedule an appointment today!
Good oral hygiene and a sparkling smile all start with brushing your teeth, but did you know that you may not be brushing your teeth properly?
By taking time to learn the proper techniques, you can avoid painful cavities and gingivitis. Even better, you’ll feel more confident in your smile.
With this in mind, read on to learn about the most common tooth brushing mistakes that you might be making today.
Rinsing Out Your Toothpaste
When you’re done brushing your teeth, most people fill their mouths with water, swish, and spit out all the toothpaste. However, you’re actually making your toothpaste less effective.
Instead, when you’re done brushing your teeth, simply spit out the excess toothpaste and keep the rest on your teeth. This will allow the fluoride to work more effectively in keeping cavities away.
Keeping the Same Toothbrush
Do you know the last time you got a new toothbrush? If you can’t remember, you’ve most likely kept it far beyond its lifetime. The ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months.
The reason for this is that you don’t want to brush your teeth with a toothbrush that has bacteria buildup in the bristles. If the bristles are bent and warped, you also aren’t brushing your teeth as effectively.
You’re Not Brushing Long Enough
Most dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for two minutes in the morning and evening. Why two minutes? This is just long enough to brush each quadrant of your mouth thoroughly, getting rid of as much plaque as possible.
Any shorter means that you may be missing areas, or you won’t be brushing long enough to make a difference. Your time is valuable, so make sure that you’re brushing your teeth long enough to make an impact on the plaque and tartar buildup in your mouth.
Take Time to Brush Your Teeth Properly
By taking the time to brush your teeth properly twice a day, not only will your oral hygiene improve, but so will your bank account. The reason for this is that you’ll be able to avoid costly procedures, such as cavity fillings and root canals.
You’ll also be able to recognize issues with your teeth before they become major issues. For instance, cavities often start out as dark spots on the surface of your teeth.
Ready to improve your oral hygiene? It all starts with routine cleanings. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Fluoride is a controversial topic, but is fluoride dangerous? Learning about fluoride and how it affects you and those you care about is incredibly important.
Fluoride and Water
Fluoride occurs naturally in drinking water without additions needing to be made at all. Fluoride is added to drinking water because the naturally occurring amount of fluoride in the water isn’t enough to help strengthen our teeth and bones.
Strengthening Enamel
Your enamel is the part of your tooth that your food touches as you chew. This part of your tooth protects the rest of it, like a shield. Once the enamel is cracked or broken, your tooth quickly decays, leading you to tooth pain. Fluoride helps you by strengthening your enamel both when you brush and when you drink water.
Fluorosis
When you’re a child, you’re taught to spit out your toothpaste, not to swallow it, because of fluorosis. When appropriately used in products, fluoride is entirely harmless, but ingesting too much fluoride, just like any other vitamin or mineral, can have consequences in the form of fluorosis. Fluorosis is incredibly rare and usually happens when small children get ahold of a tube of toothpaste. You should always follow the guidelines on toothpaste use for both adults and children.
Fluoride isn’t a danger to your health or the health of your loved ones when used as intended. It can have some adverse effects if you ingest a larger amount of it at a time. Do you have more questions about fluoride and how it helps you? Feel free to ask us at your next appointment!
Replacing your toothbrush is an easy task, so much so that many people don't often think about doing it until it's been a significant amount of time. Here are three things you should know about replacing your toothbrush.
Bacteria Buildup
Bacteria builds up on your toothbrush daily; though it's a very small amount in relation to surfaces like the bathroom sink, bacteria does still build up. After about three to four months, your toothbrush is a bacteria playground.
You Should Replace Your Toothbrush More Often
Because of the bacterial buildup, it's suggested you replace your toothbrush every three to four months to avoid bad breath and tooth decay. If you don't replace your toothbrush regularly, it'll become less effective, potentially leading to dental illnesses.
Different Kinds of Toothbrushes
The kind of toothbrush you use doesn't matter nearly as much as you think it may. So long as the American Dental Association approves it, it's an excellent toothbrush. Regular toothbrushes and battery-operated toothbrushes don't have a different cleaning ability either, so picking the right toothbrush boils down to which you'd prefer.
Replacing your toothbrush is incredibly important, and so long as you replace it regularly and get a toothbrush you'd like to use often, you'll have the right tool to maintain your dental health. If you have any more questions about your toothbrush, ask us at your next appointment!
