Month: August 2015

You brush twice a day, you floss once a day, and you’re always careful to never miss a day. You’re confident your oral hygiene routine is top notch. But is it possible there are some common mistakes in that routine? At my Lewisburg dental office, we’re always happy to hear our patients are working hard at home to keep their smiles healthy, but we want to make sure they aren’t making mistakes that could ultimately harm their teeth.

1. Ignoring Your Tongue

Your tongue harbors a lot of sneaky bacteria in all its nooks and crannies, which can contribute to bad breath and lead to tooth decay. Since the tongue is in frequent contact with teeth, the bacteria can transfer and start to cause damage to the enamel. A gentle scrub with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper successfully removes a lot of the dangerous bacteria and keeps your pearly whites safe.

2. Foregoing The Rinse

After eating, brushing your teeth may be the last thing on your mind, especially if it’s after lunch during a crazy work day. While we’d love it if patients brushed following each meal, sometimes it’s just not possible. Instead, rinse with some water. Water helps wiggle out any food particles that may be lingering around and neutralizes acid, keeping your teeth safe. If you do have a chance to brush after eating, we recommend waiting at least 30 minutes. Meals that are high in acid can weaken enamel, and if you brush when enamel is weak, you may do more harm than good.

3. Storing Your Brush Incorrectly

Between the long oval cases that your whole brush can fit into, the caps that cover just the bristles, and shutting it behind the bathroom cabinet, there are many different ways you can store your toothbrush. But which way is the right way? It’s pretty simple. Just stand your toothbrush bristle end up and allow it to air dry.

4. Brushing Too Hard

Usually when we try to clean something, a good, hard scrubbing is a great idea. But not when it comes to our teeth. Brushing too hard can damage gums and even cause them to recede. Additionally, too much pressure can weaken enamel, and without enamel, teeth are more susceptible to decay. Instead, try using gentle, small circles.

Along with a proper at-home oral hygiene routine, regular visits to my dental office in Lewisburg are necessary for a healthy smile. Visiting us at least twice a year helps catch any potential problems early, allows us to monitor your oral hygiene habits, and keeps your smile in its best shape for life.

Accepting patients from Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, and Williamsport

We know it sounds weird, but your dentist may be the first person in your medical team to suspect and diagnose osteoporosis. At my dental office in Lewisburg, we take your health seriously, and not just your oral health. Which is why we not only want to educate patients on the risks and signs of osteoporosis, but also how we can help diagnose it.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that reduces bone density and causes them to weaken. While it typically affects women who are 50 or older, osteoporosis can happen to anyone. Currently, 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis and another 34 million are at risk for developing it. When your bone density weakens, your body becomes much more susceptible to serious, life-threatening bone breaks.

Signs

Some of the signs of osteoporosis may go unnoticed for a while, and many individuals don’t realize they have a problem until the osteoporosis causes a serious break or fracture. However, many signs of osteoporosis show up first in the mouth, since it’s the only part of your body that is x-rayed so regularly!

Some of the signs your dentist look for include:

• Bone loss around teeth and in the jaw
• Tooth loss — without the strong bone, teeth are more likely to fall out
• Gum disease
• Low bone density in x-rays

The earlier osteoporosis is caught, the earlier treatment can begin and the risk for serious injury decreases.

Prevention

• Get enough calcium and vitamin D through your diet or supplements
• Move it, move it! Exercise, particularly muscle-building exercises, can help
• Put down the cigarettes
• Limit alcohol
• Decrease caffeine intake
• Maintain regular dental appointments

Keeping up with regularly scheduled appointments at my Lewisburg dental office is important not only for your oral health, but for your whole body’s health too. At every visit, we’ll monitor your mouth for any signs of osteoporosis. If we suspect osteoporosis, we’ll work with you to find the best treatment.
Serving patients from Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, and Williamsport.

As with any health care, dentistry comes with its fair share of confusing recommendations, nonsensical terminology, and overall general questions about the whats, whys, and hows. At our dental office in Lewisburg, we strive to ensure all our patients have their questions answered completely and accurately, so we’ve dedicated this blog to some of the more common questions we get asked.

“What is Morning Breath?”

We’ve all experienced the stale stench of a mouth closed for the past eight hours or so , the odor assaults the nostrils and we wince in disgust. But why does breath insist on smelling so darn gross in the morning? The answer is this: there’s not as much saliva in your mouth while you sleep as when you’re awake. Saliva is the natural way to rinse away bad breath bacteria, and when the supply decreases, bacteria are left to multiply and we’re left with morning breath. Usually a proper brushing and flossing will diminish the smell. If it doesn’t and your breath is chronically a little on the sour side, it may be a sign of something serious. Get to your dentist as soon as possible.

“How Often do I REALLY Need to see a dentist?”

We didn’t make up the twice a year rule simply because we enjoy seeing you, even though that’s still true. Biannual visits are important to both your oral health and your overall health for several reasons. First, regular visits allow us to catch any small problems before they have a chance to become huge, possibly painful problems. Second, many dental diseases are linked with whole-body health, so the sooner we catch an issue and begin to treat it, the healthier your mouth and your body will be. There are times when we recommend more than two visits a year, which is pretty common if you’re at risk for oral cancer, gum disease, or have an extended treatment plan. If we recommend it, you should follow it. Your smile will thank you.

“Do I Need to Floss?”

If you want to keep your smile healthy, and we assume you do, then yes, you absolutely need to floss. Flossing removes plaque and bacteria between teeth that a toothbrush alone can’t reach. In fact, if you don’t floss, 35% of your teeth surfaces aren’t getting cleaned and your chance for decay increases. We recommend brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

We’ve only touched on a few of the many dental questions we’ve heard. If you have any others, give our dental office in Lewisburg a call. We’re here to help make dentistry easy and comfortable, and we’d be happy to have you.

Welcoming patients from Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, and Williamsport.

Super-white smiles used to be a thing reserved for TV stars and the big screen. But advancements in dentistry have made this cosmetic dentistry procedure accessible to the general public. Now nearly everyone is on the journey to get a dazzlingly white smile. At my dental office in Lewisburg, we’re all for getting a brighter, whiter smile, as long as it’s done safely and correctly.

Types of Whitening

There are several forms of whitening to choose from, each having their own pros and cons.

• Strips — Inexpensive, but are not custom-fitted which could lead to serious problems
• Trays — Slightly more expensive but again, not custom, so the same concern for problems exists here too
• Professional — The strongest level of whitening available and professional guidance throughout treatment

Addicted to Over Bleaching?

A little whitening here and there can help boost your pearly whites and your confidence, but there are times when whitening can become an obsession. This is particularly concerning. Not only can over-whitening cause some serious dental problems, it may also cause your teeth to become too white.

Yes, it’s completely possible for teeth to be over whitened. Usually, a whitening treatment will brighten your smile a few shades in a few treatments, depending on the product. However, when used excessively, whitening treatments may actually cause teeth to take on a translucent appearance or look a bit gray. This is whitening to the extreme.

Things to Remember

• Just because it’s white, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Often times we mistake a gorgeously white smile as being extremely healthy. But that’s not always the case. Over-whitening can lead to weakened enamel and increased risk for decay.

• Follow the directions. Never leave a whitening product on longer than stated in the directions. Excessive contact with the whitening agent may cause gum irritation, increased sensitivity, or damage to the enamel.

• Always talk to your dentist first. Prior to beginning any whitening treatment, talk to your dentist in Lewisburg. A conversation with a professional can help get you your ultimate shade of white while also keeping your teeth healthy.

If you’re interested in boosting your smile, give my Lewisburg dental office a call. We’ll perform a smile analysis and talk about the best whitening treatment for you. With our help, you’re sure to get the smile you’re looking for.

Accepting patients from Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, and Williamsport.