The Humble Dentist

08/18/2020

Now that many dental offices are open across the country, prepare yourself for a lot of new preventative protocols to ensure safety for patients and staff. These steps are driven by recommendations from the American Dental Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the CDC.

The office and procedures may be a lot safer than you think.

08/13/2020

If your state or city is requiring people to wear masks in public, be sure to wear one to your appointment. When you arrive at the dental office, you may be asked to wait outside until they’re ready for you. This will reduce the number of people in the office and reduce the amount of time you’re close to other people. When you enter the office, you may have your temperature taken.

Inside the office, you may notice things people often touch in the waiting room – like toys or magazines – have been removed. They may have hand sanitizer available for you to use and may wipe down items you touch, such as pens, clipboards or furniture.

When you’re in the dental chair, you may notice some things look different from the last time you were there. The dentist may have covered the computer’s keyboard with a disposable cover so it can be easily cleaned between patients, for example. Your dentist may also be using different protective equipment than they’ve used at previous appointments. This could include different masks, face shields, gowns and goggles. These additional precautions help protect both you and the dentist.

07/30/2020

When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age.

While collision and contact sports, such as boxing, are higher-risk sports for the mouth, any athlete may experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and skating.

07/24/2020

Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.

Here are some warning signs that can signal a problem:..gums that bleed easily..red, swollen, tender gums..gums that have pulled away from the teeth..persistent bad breath or bad taste..permanent teeth that are loose or separating..any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite..any change in the fit of partial dentures

07/16/2020

Back to School, back to the Dentist...

Even if your child will continue home schooling, the beginning of the school year is a great time to schedule a checkup. The dentist will be looking at the big picture of your child’s mouth, including teeth and gums.

ADA pediatric dentist Dr. Mary Hayes says, “We will check to make sure teeth are lining up correctly, your child’s bite is in good shape and to keep an eye out for any [orthodontic] issues that may show up later. We’re also making sure baby teeth are going to the Tooth Fairy like they should.”

Will My Child Get a Cleaning, Too?
This is a must, no matter how well your child brushes. “Even if your child—or you, for that matter—brushes twice a day, it’s not possible to get rid of all the bacteria that can lead to cavities,” Dr. Hayes says. “And on the other hand, you may have a child who goes off to camp and never uses their toothbrush.”

07/08/2020

One common cause of cavities in older adults is dry mouth. Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. However, it is a side-effect in more than 500 medications, including those for allergies or asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain, anxiety or depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This is just one reason why it’s so important to tell your dentist about any medications that you’re taking. Your dentist can make recommendations to help relieve your dry mouth symptoms and prevent cavities.

07/01/2020

While ice may be your best friend on a hot summer's day, it's no friend to your teeth. That's because chewing on hard substances, such as ice, can leave your teeth vulnerable to a dental emergency such as a broken tooth and can even damage enamel. Tip: Use ice to cool your drinks, not as a something to eat.

06/26/2020

Every time a person eats or drinks, plaque and
sugar mix together to make acid. Each acid attack can last 20 minutes, and make a cavity get bigger and bigger.

06/17/2020

Why flossing is essential

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), interdental cleaners such as floss are an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. Cleaning between teeth removes plaque that can lead to cavities or gum disease from the areas where a toothbrush can’t reach. Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque buildup.

More than 500 bacterial species can be found in plaque; some are good and some are bad for your mouth. Together with food debris, water and other components, the plaque buildup around the teeth and on the gum line will contribute to disease in teeth and gums.

Whether you use floss or another interdental cleaner is a personal preference, but it’s very important to understand the proper technique for each tool so that it is effective. Patients should talk to their dentists about how to use interdental cleaners to ensure efficacy.

06/09/2020

Clinical studies have shown that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

The chewing of sugarless gum increases the flow of saliva, which washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel.

Look for chewing gum with the ADA Seal.

06/02/2020

If you’re looking to find a dentist you may notice that while most are listed with a “DDS”, some may be listed as “DMD”. They both mean the same thing—your dentist graduated from an accredited dental school. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. The level of education and clinical training required to earn a dental degree, and the high academic standards of dental schools are on par with those of medical schools.

05/26/2020

Here are some simple ways to care for your dental health when you’re not feeling well:

*Practice Good Hygiene
According to the CDC, the flu virus can live on moist surfaces for 72 hours. That includes your toothbrush, but if you keep it to yourself and clean it thoroughly, you probably don't need to throw it out when you recover.

*Choose Sugar-Free Cough Drops
Read the label before you pick up a bag at the drug store with an eye to avoid ingredients like fructose or corn syrup.

*Swish and Spit After Vomiting
One unfortunate side effect of a stomach flu, among other illnesses, is vomiting. Don’t brush your teeth right afterward. Instead, swish with water, a diluted mouth rinse or a mixture of water and 1 tsp. baking soda to help wash the stomach acid away. Spit, and brush about 30 minutes later.

*Stay Hydrated to Avoid Dry Mouth
When you’re sick, you need plenty of fluids for many reasons. One is to prevent dry mouth. Not only is it uncomfortable—dry mouth can also put you at greater risk for cavities. So drink plenty of water and suck on sugarless cough drops, throat lozenges or candies to keep that saliva flowing.

*Choose the Right Fluids
When it comes to your mouth and your body, water is always the best. Sports drinks with sugar can do more harm than good. Sweetened hot tea is soothing to the throat, but a cavity threat as well.