It's the Most Wonderful Time...Of the Year.

A Cavity Free Holiday

I've already been reminded by the girls at the office that Christmas is around the corner.  I was even coerced into playing Christmas music the day after Halloween.  For me Christmas is what makes the winter and cold bearable.  I love the sights and sounds and seeing so many acts of generosity.  

So we have some quick tips for you in trying to avoid cavities during the holiday season.  We all know I have the BIGGEST sweet tooth!  I'm always digging in the candy container at work.  So here they are:

1)  It's best to eat your sweets right after your meal.

• Your saliva increases during meals and helps wash away and dilute the affects of sugar on your teeth.  A good amount of water after eating sweets will help as well.

2) Dry mouth is always a problem when it comes to cavities.  

• Stay hydrated!  Unfortunately alcohol also aids in making us dehydrated so make sure to get water in your system if you choose to drink the Egg Nog.

3) Easy on those hard candies and nuts.

• Just make sure you are careful.  It's the peanut brittle that pulls off the crowns or the nuts and hard candies like my favorite (butterscotch) that chips teeth or breaks fillings.

4) Cakes and starchy foods (chips, bread, etc) are easy to get  

     stuck and hide between your teeth.  

• So just take your time and floss before you brush so the food doesn't just sit on your teeth all night.  

5)  Water is your friend.  

• You can find water anywhere.  So in the event you have some sweets, (remember there is just as much sugar in juice and soda) finish the sweets you want and if a toothbrush isn't close or appropriate at the time, swish some water around and use your tongue to remove the food and sugar that you can.

6)  Chew sugar-free gum.

• Gum helps with saliva production and it can also help you resist more sweets.  The gum and saliva will help wash away some of the bacteria from the sweets we eat.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS FROM BARDEN FAMILY DENTISTRY!

~Dr D, Misty, Elaine, Lisa and Alisha

Halitosis / Bad Breath

Halitosis / Bad Breath

First things first is diagnosing the reason behind your bad breath before it can be properly treated.  Provided you are consistent on visiting your dentist every 6 months, you eliminate a lot of the common dental related issues that can also cause bad breath such as periodontal or gum disease which is an infection of the gums.  Cavities or tooth decay can also cause bad breath if it causes a problem with food and bacteria getting caught and stuck in the area.  Tonsil stones, sinus drainage smoking and lack of saliva can play a role as well.  

Treatment of Halitosis / Bad Breath

• Basic Oral Hygiene (brush twice, floss once per day)
• include the tongue, roof of your mouth and inside of cheeks

• Tongue Scraping
• Easy to use, painless and scrapes all the plaque and debris that collects on your tongue.

• Here's just one design.  Some are just a piece of plastic with small plastic teeth on the edge to literally scrape along your tongue.  It's like a back scratcher for your tongue!

• Drink plenty of water.  Saliva plays a big part in keeping your mouth clean.  Medications can further wreck havoc by causing dry mouth.  Keep hydrated!

• Chew on sugar free gum.  It will help produce saliva and help keep your breath fresh.

• If you have a denture, retainer or night-guard that you wear make sure you are keeping it clean as well.  Dentures should be taken out at night to allow your tissues to breathe.  Bring any of these appliances with you to your 6 month appointments and we will gladly give them a check-up and cleaning as well!

Any further questions or thoughts?  Please leave a message in the comments!  Also, if you have any recommended topics for the future suggestions are welcome.  

Children's Dental Health Month

February is Children's Dental Health Month and in this blog we have some basics that are asked all the time about our little friends.

FIRST dental appointment:  The first appointment ideally occurs when the first tooth erupts but definitely no later than the child's first birthday.  The earlier we can catch any problems the better.  If there are no problems, that is great!  We immediately start to build a relationship with your kiddo.  Most people are nervous to come to the dentist so the earlier we can catch problems and get your child comfortable with our team and office, the better.
**These appointments will SAVE you TIME, MONEY and TEETH!

Our little friends usually get their first tooth around 6 months and they have all their primary (baby) teeth by the time they are 3 years old.  

Amount of toothpaste:  Children under 3, fluoride toothpaste the size of a piece of rice.
Children from 3-6 years old, fluoride toothpaste the size of a pea.

Brushing:  Until your child is able to tie their shoes on their own, they probably should have help brushing their teeth as well.  It really takes some dexterity to make sure they get all their teeth and all sides of their teeth.

Sucking Habits:  If your baby uses a pacifier we recommend they stop by age 2.  If they suck on their fingers or thumbs, we suggest age 4 to try to get them to stop.  This is a difficult habit to break for everyone.  Please let us know if you want some extra tips or tricks.  

Sealants:  Around age 6, kids begin to have permanent teeth erupt into the mouth.  Common places for decay or cavities are on the chewing surface of those back molars or chewing teeth.  To prevent kids from having decay and eventually needing a filling on permanent teeth, we recommend placing sealants in the deep grooves on their teeth.  It is completely preventative but will protect those teeth from decay and having to get a filling on their permanent teeth.  Sealants are painless and easy for kids as well.

On our next blog, we will talk about handling dental emergencies.  For example, what to do when a child falls and lands on a baby tooth or permanent tooth, cracks a tooth, knocks out a tooth, etc.  There are some crucial steps to take that could ultimately save your child's tooth!