This is particularly true for our teen patients. If you are a teen or a parent of a teen there are certain steps to consider when practicing oral care. Teenager’s bodies are changing, and hormones; stress, lifestyle choices and food choices all play a role in the health care of your teeth. Here are tips to help you make the most out of your next dentist visit.

Practice What You Know

The best way for teenagers to enjoy a beautiful smile and healthy teeth is to continue practicing what you already know. The habits that were developed in early childhood should still be used. It’s important to continue to brush twice a day and floss every day and make sure to stay consistent with dental checkups.

Limit Sugary Snacks

During the preteen and teenage years the body is changing rapidly. The taste buds change as well, many times the metabolism speeds up and teens need more energy. Sometimes it seems easier to turn to quick and easy foods such as sugary drinks and snacks but this can wreak havoc on your teeth. Limit sugary foods consumed between meals. Because the sugar stays on your teeth and can prevent tooth decay much faster.  If you eat foods that contain a lot of sugar, brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth out with water immediately after eating the foods. This will help wash away the food particles and lesson the likelihood of developing cavities.

Teeth Whiteners

Some people believe that discolored teeth or a not bright white smile is the result of poor oral hygiene. Although that can be a contributing factor in some cases, it’s important to realize that even the best-cared-for-teeth can become discolored over time. Sometimes people start to notice this during the teenage years. Many foods and drinks, like juices, coffee, tea and dark colas can stain teeth.

For teenagers who are concerned about discoloration of their teeth, using whitening toothpaste can also help remove these surface stains between dental visits. We don’t usually recommended teens getting their teeth professionally whitened to remove these more stubborn external stains until they are older.

Internal stains can be bleached, bonded or capped (crowned). While each of these methods is safe and effective, we can and will recommend which treatment is appropriate for you depending on the state of your teeth and the results that you wish to achieve.

No Need To Lie

Sure, your mom raised you not to tell a lie, but it never seems to amaze us how many patients lie by covering up the truth. If we ask when the last time you flossed was, and your gums are bleeding, after you tell us you floss regularly we are going to know the truth. There is no reason to lie to us, because we are here to help you. We realize that it might be embarrassing to admit to the professional dentist that you are not keeping up to date with your oral regimen but covering it up doesn’t do any good. We still know the truth. The same goes for all situations.

Teach Your Children Good Oral Care

We see a lot of young children coming in with cavities and tooth decay. It is so important as a parent to teach good healthy habits at home. The amount of care you put into teaching your children how to properly brush and floss will save a lot of time and money as they get older. The major part of dental care and prevention starts with the parent child relationship. What you put into it at home will pay out in the dental chair. Ultimately we all want a comfortable enjoyable experience at the dentist’s office. We can easily obtain this goal by practicing good oral care at home.

Don’t Wait Until its Too Late

So many people think that unless something hurts then everything is fine. But with dental care this is not the case. Ideally visit your dentist every 6 months for routine cleaning. This helps us maintain a good relationship with you and keep up to date on any problems that may occur. If you wait until your tooth hurts or something is wrong, then you will be in more pain as you spend more money on a problem that may have been addressed with regular visits.

Overall, we are here to help you enjoy your life. We give good smiles, and our goal is that you are happy, healthy and smiling all through life.

Women are more likely to develop an oral lesion such as gingivitis or pregnancy tumors, small, non-cancerous lumps that appear on the gum line, while pregnant. While neither of these conditions will harm the baby, both can cause tenderness and swelling of the gums, along with bleeding after brushing or flossing.  If left untreated, gingivitis could attack the supporting tissue that holds your teeth in position, leading to tooth loss. In addition to these conditions, pregnant women have a greater chance of developing:

Caries (Tooth Decay)

Because of the tendency to snack more often while pregnant, women are more likely to develop tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth, known as plaque, produces acids that eat away at your teeth’s enamel for at least 20 minutes after every time you consume sugar. Failure to brush regularly can lead to the your teeth’s enamel breaking down, causing tooth decay and cavities. Without receiving treatment for the condition, carries can cause facial cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection, and oral abscesses. Brushing after snacking, and limiting the amount of sweets you eat, can help decrease the chance of tooth decay while pregnant.

Loose Teeth

Due to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone, your teeth can start to loosen while pregnant even without the presence of gum disease. These hormones cause the ligaments and bones, called the periodontium, that hold your teeth in place to weaken. While this condition is normally temporary, you should consult a dentist to make sure you are not suffering from a more serious condition such as periodontal disease.

Periodontitis

While not entirely understood, studies have shown a possible link between periodontitis and low birth weight and preterm births. Periodontitis develops as an inflammation and infection of the periodontium. Swollen or tender gums, bad breath, loose teeth, and the appearance of pus between teeth are all potential signs of periodontitis. The American Academy of Periodontology recommend all pregnant women receive a periodontal examination to assess their risk of developing the disease.

Quality daily care is the best way to ensure your teeth remain strong and healthy during your pregnancy. Brushing with toothpaste that contains fluoride at least twice a day will remove the plaque from your teeth that causes tooth decay. Flossing daily will also help to remove any plaque and food particles that form between your teeth. Scheduling additional cleanings with Dr. Elliott while pregnant can also help keep your teeth clean and smile brilliant.

While there is no question about the importance of your baby’s health, make sure not to neglect your own while pregnant. If you have any questions about your oral health while pregnant, schedule a consultation with Dr. Elliott  to have your questions answered and mind put to easy.

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Be sure to select a toothpaste that works for you!

Dental care starts with knowing what works for you, and Elliott Family Dental is here to help. As with all dental care issues, it is best to ask your dentist about choosing the toothpaste that works best for you and your children.

Type of Toothpaste

From tartar protection to teeth whitening, there are several forms of toothpaste that line the shelves. It is important to consult your dentist when it comes to what type of toothpaste you need, because while they all accomplish the goal of a clean mouth, there may be a specific need to address. This is especially true for anyone with dentures or fillings that require special care, as choosing your toothpaste in these situations presents unique issues.

Toothpaste Flavor

The flavor of your toothpaste should be your preference, as it is an aspect that makes it easy to remember to brush. If the toothpaste near the sink isn’t a flavor you enjoy, you may not want to brush as often. Whether you like a classic fresh mint, spearmint, or peppermint, there are several toothpaste products out there. Beyond the mint family, there are also fruity blends to bring a lemon or orange zest to a clean mouth. Some toothpastes have cinnamon flavors as well, so be sure that you are choosing your toothpaste according to whichever flavor will make it easy for you and the kids to remember to brush twice daily.

Brand Names

A brand name may make the difference for the selection of a toothpaste, if there is a brand that the family enjoys over another. As with the flavor, the brand of a toothpaste can help promote positivity about brushing teeth, especially for kids  learning to take care of their dental health.

If you have any questions about choosing your toothpaste, be sure to bring them up with your dentist at the next appointment. If you need to schedule an appointment for you or the kids, give us a call or fill out our contact form.

Choose the Best Toothbrush

There are several brands with different styles of toothbrushes, but how do you know which one is best for you?

First, your toothbrush should fit comfortably in your hand. Handles differ in size and shape, so choose one that will fit the size of your hand, and isn’t too heavy or light.

Your toothbrush should also fit comfortably in your mouth. Your mouth and teeth may be bigger or smaller depending upon your frame. Ideally, the toothbrush should be able to reach your teeth at the very back of your mouth to keep them healthy and clean. If in doubt, choose a smaller toothbrush versus a larger one.

Bristles are Important

It may seem like the tougher the bristles, the better they will clean your teeth. However, the bristles of your brush should be soft or extra soft. This way, your gums won’t be harmed by your toothbrush bristles.

These bristles need to to reach inside the spaces between your teeth and gums to remove plaque and bacteria. Hold the brush at a forty-five degree angle instead of perpendicular to your teeth, with the bristles directed at those spaces.

Gently Brushing Your Teeth

Just like the bristles of the toothbrush, the motions you use to brush your teeth should be soft. Use short strokes back and forth or in a circular motion to avoid hurting your gums.

Every surface of each tooth needs to be brushed thoroughly, including the top, bottom, outsides and insides of your teeth. Spend time brushing the back of your teeth, cleaning the crevices along the top of each tooth where food can get stuck.

These strategies will ensure that you are cleaning your teeth well each time you brush!

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People grind their teeth most commonly at night, but it can also happen during the day. Teeth grinding is an unconscious habit, but there are many ways to correct or even prevent this condition.

Daily Diet and Exercise

It’s well-known that diet and exercise can have far-reaching positive or negative effects on our daily lives, including whether or not we grind our teeth. Caffeine is a stimulant that can aggravate the tendency to grind your teeth. Alcohol, while a depressant, can also trigger bruxism.

A balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats will help you feel balanced and reduce stress. Exercising in some form at least once a day can also relieve stress by releasing mood-enhancing endorphins, helping you to avoid teeth grinding during sleep. Walking, jogging and yoga are beneficial exercise regimens that don’t require any additional equipment, just practice – and all will help alleviate the symptoms and practice of teeth grinding.

A Good Night’s Sleep

There’s no substitution for getting a restful night’s sleep. If you find that you have trouble settling down, read for awhile before falling asleep. Apply a heating pad or warm compress to your jaw, relaxing the muscles, and add the soothing smell of lavender to help you relax. If possible, go to sleep on your back, which decreases the pressure on your jaw joints and can help prevent teeth grinding.

Guard Your Smile

If you become aware that you’re grinding your teeth, it’s possible that a medical condition is contributing to this habit. Make an appointment with your dentist to evaluate whether or not this is the case, as well as if any of your current dental work is contributing to the problem.

If grinding your teeth is causing extensive harm, it may be that you’ll need a mouth guard (also called a bite splint or night guard). The process for finding the mouth guard that’s right for you is largely trial and error. Begin with the most common and inexpensive mouth guard, like the ones used by athletes. If that doesn’t work, there are dental guards that you can buy over-the-counter in drug stores. Finally, if these don’t work, check with your dentist about a professionally-made night guard that will work for you.

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Good Choices Start With You

In order to keep your child’s teeth strong with healthy snacks, it’s a good idea to work them into your diet as well. Incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables into each meal, and practice good oral hygiene in front of your kids by brushing and flossing twice a day. These habits will help your family realize the importance of making good choices to keep their teeth healthy.

Everyone’s Opinion Counts

Including healthy snacks in the form of a variety of fruits and vegetables into your family’s diet doesn’t have to be one person’s responsibility. Buy and prepare fruits and vegetables in different ways, then ask your children’s opinions about which healthy snacks they liked the best.

These kinds of conversations can also be a great opportunity for all of you to discuss what kinds of foods are good for their teeth, including what healthy snacks they prefer. Include them when possible, and they’ll be more enthusiastic about the changes regarding what they eat.

List of Cavity-Free Snacks

To help keep teeth clean and bright, provide healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains. Crunchy foods, like apples and celery, will naturally get rid of bacteria that turn into plaque. These healthy snacks can be added to a regular meal or eaten as a snack during the day:

Fresh Fruit
These can be served with low-fat yogurt or cream cheese to combine savory and sweet.

• Apples
• Berries
• Bananas
• Pineapple

Raw Veggies
Combine these with condiments like low-fat dressing or peanut butter for a yummy snack.

• Carrots
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Broccoli

Dairy
Choose low-fat or non-fat options to keep a diet low in fat.

• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt
• Hard cheeses, like cheddar

Good Dental Hygiene

Follow up healthy snack and meal times with good dental hygiene habits. Make sure that your kids are keeping their teeth clean by brushing and flossing regularly, removing harmful plaque from those hard-to-reach places on their teeth. Invest in some kid-friendly products, like character toothbrushes, plastic cups for rinsing, different colors of floss, and a variety of toothpaste flavors. Take turns brushing with them to help your kids practice doing a good job taking care of their teeth.

These healthy snacks and good daily dental hygiene will help your entire family have healthy teeth for a lifetime.

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What is a Crown?

A crown is a tooth-shaped covering that’s can also be called a “cap.” This protective barrier is placed over a tooth that is decayed or has been badly damaged.

Prefabricated crowns, made of stainless steel or plastic, are generally used as a temporary measure until a permanent crown is made. The permanent crowns are made-to-order, and can consist of metal, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), or ceramic.

Why is a Crown Necessary?

If a tooth has been broken or has experienced severe decay, a crown is a stronger and more reliable option than a filling. Generally, fillings are good to replace a tooth that has suffered minor decay and to prevent further damage, but aren’t strong enough to hold a cracked tooth together or replace enough of a severely damaged tooth.

Crowns can also be used to hold a bridge in place or improve the appearance of your teeth. The porcelain infused metal (PFM) and the ceramic crowns look just like normal teeth, and are suitable for the front of your mouth. The back of your mouth requires stronger metal materials, such as gold alloy or alloys made of palladium, nickel or chromium.

How a Crown is Placed

Most crown placements necessitate two visits to the dentist to complete the procedure. The first visit is for preliminary work to prepare for the permanent crown, while the second visit is to place the this crown onto the damaged tooth.

There are many steps taken during the first visit for crown placement. Because a crown takes up space, the damaged tooth will need to be filed to make room for it. A foundation to support the crown may also be required if large parts of the tooth are missing, decayed or damaged.

After filing the tooth, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth that takes about five minutes, as well as the teeth above or below the tooth that needs a crown. While these impressions are sent to the lab and your permanent crown is made, the dentist will fit your tooth with a temporary crown. These are generally made of plastic and can last up to a year or more. It will be placed using a weak cement that can be easily removed when it’s time to place the permanent crown.

After a Crown Placement

Once the permanent crown is tested by your dentist, it will be placed on the damaged tooth using a permanent cement. There shouldn’t be any sensitivity or discomfort once the crown is attached. If you notice any sensitivity or pain, consult your dentist right away – it may be that the crown needs to be adjusted.

It’s important to get your crowns checked by the dentist when you go for your dental checkups every six months. This will ensure that the fit is right and the crown is protecting your tooth.

Daily Dental Habits

Consistent good dental habits go a long way toward maintaining whiter teeth. Snacks and meals high in sugar and carbohydrates encourage bacteria that produce acid that harm our teeth. Avoid these kinds of foods, opting instead for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meat.

Follow each meal if possible with a thorough brushing, holding your toothbrush at a forty-five degree angle to clean the gumline. Brushing your teeth after breakfast and dinner may be the most convenient – if brushing after lunch isn’t possible, rinse well with water. Floss at least once a day to clean out food particles from between teeth.

Teeth Whitening at Home

If your teeth have lost their luster, it may be time to whiten them. Teeth whitening is basically applying a bleaching agent

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to the surfaces of your teeth. The best equation for whiter teeth is consistent use over a long period of time to produce the results you want.

If you want to spend less than $100, there are many teeth whitening agents available in retail stores. These options range from strips that adhere to your teeth as well as non-customized mouth trays filled with a bleaching agent. These teeth whiteniners are safe to use at home and don’t require a dentist’s supervision. They also require more consistent use and a longer amount of time to work. To get the most from these less expensive options, follow the directions carefully.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening done by your dental professional is the fastest, easiest and most convenient way to whiten your teeth. Using professional equipment, your dentist can help whiten your teeth up to ten shades in about an hour. While more expensive, this is the most effective way to whiten teeth.

A less expensive option involves customized mouth trays and a dentist’s supervision. In a little over a week, your teeth could be up to ten shades whiter using these materials provided by your dentist. Many dental professionals offer these teeth-whitening kits for free for new patients, which may be worth your time and effort.

No matter which option you choose, the reward will be a smile that’s healthy, white and bright!

It’s never too late to start flossing your teeth. And, like brushing, it’s just as important.  These tips will help you make flossing your teeth a part of your regular routine.

Floss To Use

There are many different kinds of floss, and the specific one that you choose depends on your teeth. If they have rough edges, you’ll want floss that resists shredding. If your teeth are tightly set together, you’ll want one that easily fits in between them.

Other considerations for floss include flavored versus not flavored, waxed versus unwaxed, and the material that the floss is from. You may have to try a few different kinds of floss before you find one that you prefer.

Flossing Basics

Get a length of floss that will clean each of your teeth, and wrap the ends around each index finger until a short section is ready to use.

Starting with your front teeth, put that short segment of floss in between, gently working it through any narrow or tight spots. Wrap the floss around the edge of each tooth, gently scraping the edge as well as the base of each tooth and the space between it and your gumline.

Careful Flossing

The pressure you use while flossing needs to be firm but not extreme. When moving the floss up and down between teeth, don’t press so hard that you cause injury to your gum.

Use as much floss as you need in order to clean your teeth. It may take a few tries using floss to remove food particles. Make sure to use clean sections of floss as you floss one tooth to avoid spreading bacteria.

General Tips for Flossing Your Teeth

• Choose a time to floss that works for you. Maybe your morning routine as you get ready for work will help you remember to floss, or perhaps evening works better.

• Floss on-the-go. Purchase floss picks from the local grocery or drug store and stash them in your purse or your care for easy access. They’ll be there when you get food stuck in between your teeth and they’ll also help remind you to floss!

• Talk with your dentist. If it’s difficult to floss or you don’t feel confident, ask your dental hygienist to give you a lesson – they’ll be thrilled that you asked!

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