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 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!
What is the Difference?
Dentures and Dental Implants are two very different kinds of dental health solutions. Both have pros and cons and concluding which is better for you is essential for your dental health plan. Which one should you consider, though?
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices designed to be supported by hard and soft tissue where your teeth used to be. You can get these both in full or partial dentures, ensuring that your current teeth are kept.
Pros
Both removable and permanent options are available
Customizable
Look Natural
Cons
Cant eat certain foods,
non-permanent varieties cannot stay in while you sleep
Cannot eat certain foods
Not as natural as implants
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a far more permanent solution to any missing teeth and are often considered the best option for getting your smile back. This process gives you durable, efficient teeth that can be cleaned and tended to without issues for the rest of your life—helping you eat what you like.
Pros
Durable and long-lasting
Restores chewing and speaking ability
Promotes healthy gums
Cons
Lengthy healing process
Requires surgery to install, which can lead to pain and swelling
Both dental implants and dentures are great ways to come to dental health solutions for your best smile. Deciding your best option, though, is up to you. If you’d like to talk about your options, feel free to ask us about your dental health plan at your next appointment!
Our Office Shares Fun Ways to Get Your Kids Excited about Dental Care
Many kids are averse to brushing, and as a parent, it can be difficult to get them to brush regularly. Kids will be sneaky as they try to avoid brushing, so how do you get them to want to brush their teeth? Learn more with the help of our dentist!
Make it a Game
For younger kids making brushing their teeth, a game is a great way to get them to start brushing regularly. Fighting the sugar bugs, or the tooth monsters is a great idea that can get them excited about brushing twice a day.
Let Them Pick Their Tools
Kids like to feel independent so letting them pick their toothbrush and toothpaste can make them feel empowered and encourage a desire to brush their teeth. They get to use their cool toothbrushes and their awesome toothpaste to brush away those tiny tooth monsters.
Start Early
This is essential, getting them excited about brushing their teeth early will make this daily habit easier to enforce as they get older. Learning to brush their teeth while their young seriously reduces the probability that they’ll see not brushing their teeth as a sign of rebellion later in their teen years.
Positive Language
One way you can make a positive impact on your child is by using positive language and a positive angle with brushing your teeth. Don’t threaten that they’ll have a bad smile, or that their teeth will break down, paint a triumphant picture. Paint your child as the hero, slaying the sugar bugs in their mouth. Using positive language and tactics will get them excited about brushing.
If you’re still having trouble getting your kids to brush their teeth, feel free ask at your next appointment with our dentist for more tips to get them brushing again! Call our office to schedule your visit and our front desk staff will happily assist you.
