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Stop Zombie Mouth

October 17, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry,Preventive Dentistry — asprosandboyd @ 7:29 pm

Who doesn’t love candy at Halloween? If your kids are like mine, they’re going to come home from trick-or-treating with tons of candy, sugary candy that can lead to tooth decay. Following these simple steps can help you and your children have a fun Halloween without the nightmare of harming teeth in the process.

Six Ways to Stop Zombie Mouth

  • 1 2×2! Brush for two minutes two times per day with fluoride toothpaste.
  • 2 Floss between your teeth daily.
  • 3 Eat fruits and veggies instead of sugary and starchy snacks..
  • 4 Don’t smoke or use tobacco.
  • 5 Don’t pierce your lips or any other part of your mouth.
  • 6 Visit your dentist regularly. Dentists get lonely!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Aging, Root Cavities and LifeSavers Part 2

October 5, 2011

Filed under: Preventive Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — asprosandboyd @ 5:45 pm

Last time we explored why we have an increased risk of cavities on the roots of the teeth as we get older.  Today we are addressing what can be done to keep those roots cavity free.  As we age our dexterity diminishes, so brushing and flossing becomes more difficult.  This allows more plaque to accumulate.  Below I have delineated specific things you can do to hold decay at bay.

  • Use an electric tooth brush.   It is essential.   With decreased ability to handle a brush and floss, the electric brush does the work.  You just need to place the brush at the gum line.   I recommend them for all patients, especially the elderly.  Get a good one!  I like the Sonicare or the Oral B.
  • Flossing is essential for removal of plaque on the surfaces between the teeth.  That’s 40 percent of the tooth.  Many elderly folks cannot manipulate floss on cramped or arthritic fingers.  If you can’t floss, rubber tip cones, proxy brushes or stimudents are aides you can use that will greatly help get at those in between the teeth areas.
  • More frequent visits to the dentist for routine cleanings. I recommend 3-4 cleanings a year for elderly patients, especially those who consistently show up with heavy plaque at their cleanings. If you can’t do it, let us help you!  The longer plaque sits on your gums and teeth, the more likely decay will develop.
  • Fluoride can help harden root surfaces and therefore make them less susceptible to cavity formation.  Use a concentrated fluoride rinse or tooth paste at home.  Get fluoride treatments in the office.  We can paint a varnish on the surfaces that has a longer lasting benefit.
  • Many older people combat their dry mouths with sucking candies.   The sucking candies help increase saliva flow which makes their mouths more lubricated and comfortable.  Many people suck on them all day.  My parents have bowls of them around the house.   That’s fine;  BUT… they need to be sugarless!  Sugared candies that you suck on are the absolute worst thing you can use.  When you suck on a candy that is sugared, the plaque on the teeth creates acids for hours.  When you suck on these throughout the day, the teeth are bathed in acids continually! Get sugar free candies and all is OK.  Lifesavers make them and so does Jolly Ranchers, along with other candy makers. Sugar free gum is also good for combating the acids that bacteria in the plague create.  As a matter of fact dentists recommend sugar free gum after eating if you can’t brush right away.
  • Do yourself and your teeth a favor, throw them a sugar free Lifesaver!

Aging, Root Cavities, and Lifesavers

September 6, 2011

Filed under: Preventive Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — asprosandboyd @ 2:35 pm

Modern medicine has done an unbelievable job of extending our life spans and the quality of health we have in our later years. Modern dentistry, too, is helping to play a part in all this. Years ago, people would have false teeth or dentures in their midlife, but today’s it’s not unusual for people to live to a ripe old age with their own teeth. But keeping teeth healthy and cavity free as we age requires extra work, because aging actually makes us more susceptible to cavities. The main reason for this is that, with age, we get varying degree of gum recession and bone loss around our teeth, which leaves their roots exposed. These roots are softer than the rest of your teeth and aren’t protected by enamel, so it’s much easier for decay to set in and cause trouble.

The plaque that forms on teeth is made up of the bacteria responsible for decay. Diligent removal of that plaque through brushing and flossing is essential to preventing root cavities. If the plaque sits along the gum line, cavities will form. The roots are so thin and soft that decay can advance to the nerve area of the tooth very quickly.

Saliva helps wash away plaque before it forms, but as we age our saliva flow decreases. Sometimes this is due to certain medical conditions we may develop, such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and anemia. Drugs that are taken to treat certain diseases can also results in less saliva. In fact, over 1,000 drugs list dry mouth as a side effect, including some anti-allergy medications, decongestants, epilepsy medications, and drugs that treat high blood pressure. Muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety drugs and sedatives also have this effect. The result of this decreased saliva flow is increased plaque along the gum line, which require increased attention to its removal.

People often combat dry mouth by sucking on hard candies like LifeSavers. These candies will increase saliva, which helps lubricate the mouth, but that sweet succulence comes with a price.

In our next blog, we’ll further explore the dangers of these seemingly innocent treats.

and Boyd Dental Associates Keeps Tallahassee Patients Smiling with Preventive Dentistry

May 9, 2011

Filed under: Preventive Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — asprosandboyd @ 4:51 pm

Our Tallahassee dental office offers a full range of cosmetic services to help you transform your smile and boost self-confidence. But as great as those services are, there’s no substitute for great preventive care, on your end and our end.

Preventive care can help us identify tooth decay, gum disease, or even signs of oral cancer. And catching these early not only boosts your oral health—your entire body benefits as well. That’s why we’re firm believers in regular, six-month visits. Because the more we know about your teeth and gums, the better we can preserve your smile for years to come.

From Your First Visit—and Beyond!

Whether it’s your first visit with us or your 20th, the first thing we’ll do when you come in is just talk to you and find out how you’re doing. We want to know your concerns, your thoughts, and what changes you’ve noticed in your smile as we begin a tooth-by-tooth inspection. We’ll also use X-rays to help us get an even better idea of how to help you.

What are we looking for? In addition to checking for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer, we’re also looking for signs of bruxism or TMJ dysfunction. And of course, your checkup isn’t complete without a cleaning. Brushing and flossing are vital for maintaining your optimal oral health, but even the most vigilant brushers and flossers sometimes need help with the mouth’s hard-to-reach areas.

Smiling Bright into the Future

We all know how important regular visits are, but sometimes they just aren’t a priority. If you’ve missed your six-month exam, or have one coming up, contact our office to schedule an appointment. We’re dedicated to preserving and protecting your smile!