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Oral Health Essentials: Bruxism

Are you aware of what bruxism is? Bruxism is a common, yet potentially serious disorder that is recognized by a distinct grinding of your teeth while unconscious. In most occurrences, bruxism takes place while the victim is sleeping, making a diagnosis difficult to detect. Are you showing any signs of bruxism-related dental damage?

Not all forms of bruxism happen when you sleep. Because stress and anxiety can play a role in the creation of bruxism, you should try meditative techniques such as yoga or calming music when you start to feel overly stressed or anxious.

Locating the signs of bruxism is important, as the disorder can potentially go on for years before a person ever pinpoints their ailments. Be sure to check your teeth and gums for any signs of damage after you wake up every morning. Are you aware of or have you ever noticed any chips or cracks in your teeth that have no explanation of how they got there? Is the cheek tissue on your mouth heavily worn down? Do your teeth look extremely worn or shorter than usual? If so, bruxism may be the reason why.

No matter which option for your bruxism treatment you choose, Dr. [doctor_name] and our team at [practice_name] will make sure that you receive the care and quality your smile requires. If you would like to come visit us at our dentist office in [city], [state], please schedule an appointment at [phone]. Come in today to learn all about the joys of bruxism treatments.

Keep Bad Breath Away

Do you struggle with embarrassing bad breath? If so, you are not alone. Halitosis is a condition that causes persistent bad breath and could be a sign of gum disease. Here at our dental office in [city], [state], our team is dedicated to your oral care, which is why are happy to provide you with this information on how to keep bad breath at bay.

Halitosis is a condition that keeps bacteria in your mouth that could be causing your bad breath. There are many triggers for halitosis, however the best way to fight it is to talk to Drs. Long and Thurman. Your dentists will be able to give you more information and determine if gum disease is the culprit of your bad breath. If not, there are other things you can do to fight it.

Brushing every day for twice a day, while flossing every night are key factors in fighting bad breath. Using a mouthwash to fight the rest of the bacteria can also be effective at clearing your mouth of bad breath. Sometimes, bacteria can stick to your tongue, so be sure to scrape and wash your tongue off, to keep bacteria from spreading.

The most important thing to remember is to visit your dentists regularly. Regular dental checkups are vital to your oral health. If you would like to schedule your appointment, please call us today at [phone]. Our team is always happy to assist your smile and help keep your smile clean and fresh.

All Kids Should Have Their Teeth Brushed Daily

As your family’s resource for comprehensive and comfortable dental care, Drs. Michael Long and Matthew Thurman, along with the rest of our team are happy to share some tips today for your child’s oral care.

Are you taking good care of your child’s oral health? If any teeth are present, it is important that they are cleaned and cared for on a daily basis. All kids should have their teeth brushed daily. The benefits of teeth brushing in children include:

– Very little toothpaste needs to be used for infants, so strive for a quantity about the size of a grain of rice.

– Sometime before a child turns one year of age, it is wise to bring your child in to see a pediatrician to ensure their brushing habits are progressing smoothly.

– A child’s diet is as helpful for their oral health as their overall health, so make proper food choices for your child to enjoy.

– To circumvent the dangers of contamination, never share toothbrushes or cleaning utensils with others, especially children, as doing so can move harmful bacteria from your mouth to theirs, even if you think the brush has been cleaned.

No matter the needs you require from your smile, our team at [practice_name] can help. To schedule a visit to our dental office in [city], [state], call us at [phone]. We look forward to improving your child’s smile for many years to come!

Shiny Teeth Rely on Healthy Foods and a Balanced Diet

Shiny teeth rely on healthy foods and a balanced diet. Although many foods are just another obstacle that stands in the way of optimum oral health, did you know that there are some foods that have been confirmed to actually enhance your oral health? Listed below are some helpful foods and tips for your oral health with the fantastic benefits they can offer to your smile:

– Snacking between meals increases your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

– Overly acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits are capable of weakening your tooth enamel and causing dental erosion.

– Chewing sugarless gum can increase saliva production, which helps prevent cavities and neutralize harmful acids.

– One of the best treatments for improving your oral health is keeping your teeth and gums clean. Foods such as pears and apples are crunchy with large amounts of water, which help to remove food particles from your teeth and gums.

– If you are looking to enhance your tooth enamel to improve your oral health, try eating foods high in calcium and phosphorus, such as chicken, cheese, nuts, and milk.

If you are looking for oral health care treatments in [city], [state], come see [practice_name] soon. To schedule an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name], simply call our dentist office at [phone]. With the help of our professional staff, the pathway to a beautiful smile can be yours.

Dentures Are Designed with Comfort in Mind

Dentures are designed with comfort in mind. Dentures are a well-known tooth replacement treatment option that has existed for a very long time. With modern advances in technology, dentures have shifted to improve the look of your smile, and now offer artificial enhancements that perfectly mimic the look of natural teeth. Listed below are a few of the benefits that dentures can provide:

– Dentures can be used to replace a single tooth or a few teeth at a time, which are called partial dentures, or they can be crafted to replace entire rows, which are called complete dentures.
– Dentures can be safely and easily removed on a nightly basis for easy cleaning and increased comfort while sleeping.
– Dentures can be shaped, crafted, and colored to the needs of your smile.
– If a gap in a smile caused by a missing tooth is left unfilled, your nearby teeth can move and slide within your gums. Dentures help stabilize your gums and keep your other teeth in their proper positions.
– Dentures fill out your dental profile, which can improve your facial structure and make you look much healthier and younger looking.

If you would like to discuss a denture treatment with Dr. [doctor_name] and the rest of our team here at [practice_name], please schedule an appointment to come see us at our dentist office in [city], [state]. Our number is [phone]. We look forward to helping you decide which options will work best in your quest for a whiter smile.

Never Let Your Oral Health Go Unchecked

Never let your oral health go unchecked. In the United States, over 40,000 people will be detected with oral cancer every year. If you begin to notice anything uncommon in your oral health, get a checkup or cancer screening immediately, as the sooner cancer is detected the more likely you are to recover.

Listed below are the most common oral health anomalies of oral cancer:

– There are white, red, or speckled irregularities in the mouth.
– A persistent sore throat or modification in your voice that does not go away.
– Unfamiliar bleeding often occurs from the mouth.
– A feeling that something is trapped in the back of your throat could be a sign of oral cancer.
– Irregular degrees of difficulty chewing, speaking, eating, or swallowing.
– Modifications with your teeth’s alignment, including how well they align and how well you can open and close your mouth.
– Blisters in your mouth, neck, or face that do not heal after 2 weeks that continue to bleed easily.
– Visible signs of bumps, lumps, rough spots, crusts, inflammation, or eroded areas in your mouth.
– Ear pain is felt, or there is numbness and loss of feeling in the mouth and zones around the face and neck.
– Severe weight loss could be a sign of cancer.

For more oral health care advice or to schedule an oral cancer screening with Dr. [doctor_name] and our team at our dentist office in [city], [state], please contact [practice_name] at [phone]. We look forward to helping you soon!

Restore Your Mouth with Dentures

Did you know that dentures are one of the most widely used forms of dental tooth replacement? With dentures, missing teeth can easily and effectively be replaced with realistic-looking alternatives that are gently bound to your gums.

Restore your mouth with dentures. Listed below are some of the most common benefits of dentures:

– Dentures can restore smiles lost due to missing teeth.

– Missing teeth can cause a variety of oral ailments, including tooth slippage, plaque buildup, and jawbone deterioration. Dentures help to restore your mouth to its normal functionality.

– A mouth with missing teeth appears sunken in, with an aged look. Dentures can give you a full smile and make you look more youthful.

– Partial dentures can be used to fill in the gaps for a missing tooth or two. Complete dentures can be used to replace entire rows of teeth.

– Dentures can be removed each night for both comfort and easy cleaning. Always store dentures in a soaking solution to preventing them from drying out.

–  Dentures can help restore eating, speaking, and chewing habits affected by missing teeth.

If you want to experience the benefits of dentures we invite you to call us at [phone] to schedule an appointment at our dental office in [city], [state]. Dr. [doctor_name] and our team look forward to restoring your smile!

Lower Your Risk for TMJ Disorders

Do you ever feel like your oral health has let you down? Does your jaw constantly cause you pain beyond the point to which your mouth can function properly? The truth is that you may have a temporomandibular disorder, also called a TMJ.  Fortunately, you can lower your risk for TMJ disorders by protecting your mouth properly. However, due to the highly complex nature of TMJs, you could still suffer an ailment.

If you should suffer from a TMJ disorder, take the time to care for your jaw as best you can until a visit to your dentist can be made. Typically, your jaw will best function with the help of ice packs for inflammation and heat packs for pain. If your TMJ disorder is caused by another disorder such as bruxism, try using night guards and bite pads to help alleviate some pressure off of your jaw.

Meditation also helps alleviate pain associated with TMJ disorders. There are many forms to try using, including soothing music, soft biofeedback techniques, and yoga. If medication is necessary, be sure it has been approved by your dentist. Also try to cut back on habits that can cause your jaw more pain including eating hard foods, biting your nails, and chewing gum.

If you would like to set up an appointment to discuss your possible TMJ treatment with Dr. Michael Long or Dr. Matthew Thurman at [practice_name], please call [phone] to set up a visit to our dentist office in [city], [state]. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted!

Oral Hygiene Tips for Pregnant Women Who Want the Best Oral Health and Smile Possible

Unfortunately, pregnancy can take a toll on your teeth and gums, which means your smile is vulnerable to many dental issues if you have a bun in the oven. However, there are things you can do each day to keep your smile in tip-top shape. Those things are:

Keep up on oral hygiene: It’s important to clean your smile regularly. So, make sure you brush your teeth twice a day, floss your smile once a day, and rinse your mouth daily. Doing these things can keep your teeth and gums clean and pristine and can also prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Eat a balanced diet: Having a balanced and healthy diet is vital for your teeth during pregnancy. So, please do your best to eat enough fruits and vegetables and avoid snacking throughout the day. If this is difficult because of morning sickness, feel free to talk to Dr. [doctor_name] and ask for any tips [heshe] might have.

Visit your dentist: It’s important to visit your dentist every six months, especially because gum disease is more prevalent in pregnant women. This is often the case because the bacteria that create plaque and tartar are bolstered during pregnancy. So, make sure you visit Dr. [doctor_name] twice a year so [heshe] can remove the plaque and tartar from your smile. Also, please remember to mention your pregnancy to the staff when you come to the office.

Control your smile’s exposure to acid: Unfortunately, morning sickness can cause terrible harm to your teeth. This is because your vomit has high amounts of acid. The acid tends to cling to the teeth and erode the enamel, promoting tooth decay and sensitivity. So, please rinse your mouth with water and a teaspoon of baking soda. This can help keep the acid from attacking your teeth.

If you keep up on oral hygiene, maintain a healthy diet, visit your dentist, and care for your smile, you’ll be on your way toward the best smile and oral health possible. For more information about these provided tips and about how to take care of your smile while you’re pregnant in [city], [state], please call [practice_name] at [phone] at your earliest convenience. Our dental team will be more than happy to help you in any way we can, and we look forward to your phone call!

A Modest Cavity on a Molar Can Sometimes Be Repaired by an Amalgam Filling

There are times when even the most diligent and consistent oral hygiene routine is simply not sufficient in preventing a cavity from forming on one of your teeth. This is even more likely to occur if you have deep textures on the molars in the back of your mouth. If the cavity is relatively small, Dr. [doctor_name] and our dental team might be able to repair it with an amalgam filling.

Dr. [doctor_name] will perform a thorough examination of the tooth to determine the extent of the decay. This might also include taking a few X-rays to make sure the interior of the tooth is healthy and unaffected.

Dr. [doctor_name] will then inject Novocain into your gums to numb the area. Then, [heshe] will use a drill to remove any decayed tooth enamel. This leaves behind a perfectly clean surface to cement a filling.

The material Dr. [doctor_name] recommends for the filling is primarily based on the tooth’s location and visibility in your smile. Amalgam fillings are known for being durable, making them a good choice for repairing a cavity on one of your back teeth. They are made from a blend of dental-grade metals.

Once the filling has been cured by a special ultraviolet light, the newly repaired tooth should last for many years to come.

If you suspect you have a cavity in [city], [state], you should call [phone] to have it examined and treated at [practice_name].