Most kinds of toothpaste will clean bacteria growth and acids from food and drinks. Toothpaste with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance always has fluoride, which protects and strengthens teeth. 

If you want a non-fluoride option, stores carry toothpaste and powders made with natural ingredients that don't have ADA approval and testing.

If hot or cold drinks or food make you cringe, get toothpaste for sensitive teeth and let us know. 

Buy toothbrushes with soft bristles. Firm and medium ones can damage gums and teeth. Use soft pressure for 2 minutes, twice a day.

Both manual and powered toothbrushes clean teeth well. Manual brushes with mixed bristle heights or angled bristles perform better than those with all flat, even bristles. 

Powered toothbrushes may be easier if you have trouble with using your hands.

Replace your toothbrush every 2-4 months. Get rid of it sooner if the bristles look bent or splayed out. 

Bent bristles don't clean your teeth as well. They're also a sign you may be brushing hard enough.

It is necessary to floss your teeth every day. It removes food and plaque from between teeth and under the gumline. 

If you don't floss, plaque hardens into tartar, which forms wedges and widens the space between gums and teeth, causing pockets. Over time, gums pull away and teeth loosen.

Using waxed or unwaxed floss is fine. Using floss picks or interdental brushes is another good choice. 

Visit us if you have any of these issues or see your child complaining of soreness or having trouble chewing. 

• Sores in mouth
• Pain jaws
• Redness
• Swollen gums or face
• Sensitive teeth
• Broken teeth
• Dry mouth
• Gums that are bleeding
• Bad taste in your mouth or bad breath

Prevent serious infections and problems by getting a checkup ASAP. 

Dental and medical experts study the use of X-rays and set limits for their safety.

We take as few as possible. Sometimes we recommend X-rays to diagnose a special problem. 

Advancements in technology mean today's digital X-rays release much less radiation and are safer than in the past.

Expect to get them during a first exam after not seeing a dentist for a while. This helps check gum and oral health. 

If you have gum disease, we may want pictures every 6 months. For regular checkups, it's about once a year, depending on our treatment plan.  

Children have more X-rays done than adults because their teeth are changing and because they get cavities more easily.

The radiation from a traditional film dental X-ray is low. Today, with non-film digital X-rays, the radiation is reduced by an additional 90%.

In comparison, a traditional chest CT scan exposes a patient to 2,800 times the radiation of a digital dental X-ray, and a mammogram gives off around 60 times as much radiation.

You can get the same amount of radiation from one of our dental X-rays from as from eating about 50 bananas.

References:

• BBC News Magazine,  "Go Figure: What Bananas Tell Us About Radiation," by Michael Blastland, October 12, 2011
• Everyday Health: "The Truth About Everyday Radiation," by Sharon Tanenbaum, Medically reviewed by Ed Zimney, MD, March 18, 2011

Fluoride prevents tooth decay and helps make teeth strong. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association (ADA), and the CDC  agree that children should use fluoride toothpaste for brushing, and be careful not to swallow it. 

Also, adults benefit from using fluoride to protect their teeth.

Starchy foods/snacks, sweetened and acidic foods, and drinks such as crackers, chips, soda, sports drinks, and candy can stick to and coat your teeth, which can cause cavities or worsen existing decay.

Smoking and chewing tobacco can cause oral cancer and gum disease.

While teeth can tear open packages and chew ice, those actions can stress your jaws and break your teeth. 

Gritting or grinding down on teeth when you're stressed may crack them.

Biting your nails is another bad habit. It pulls your jaw out of position and changes how your teeth fit together.

It's never too late to get back into the dental routine, whether it's been 6 months or 6 years. 

We can schedule a comprehensive educational exam for you. We have been taking care of people just like you for years. Take advantage of our experience! We're here to help!

Tooth pain means the problem has reached a more advanced stage. That's why you shouldn't wait until a tooth hurts to see the dentist.

Regular dental exams can lead to a cavity being caught early.  

The cavity will still need to be filled; however, a cavity that goes undetected until it's causing pain means that it will be more difficult and costly to repair.

Although the US Public Health Service issued a report in 1933 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings), currently, more patients are asking for white or tooth-colored composite fillings. 

Tooth-colored fillings are also more popular because they "bond" to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. 

White fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature and look better. 

However, white fillings can't be used in every situation, and if a tooth is badly broken down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.

• For a dental emergency, you ideally want to contact your regular dentist. If that's not possible, then contact another dentist near you. 
• You may also want to go directly to an urgent care or an emergency room. (Check online for locations). 
• If you can't reach a dentist or can't leave your location, consider the following tips for temporary help.

If you have a toothache

• Mix a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water and gently rinse your mouth with it.
• Brush the affected area gently and carefully floss the area in case there's trapped food causing pain.
• If it's fine for you to take an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen, then do so. It may relieve your pain temporarily.
• A topical pain relief gel like Orajel or Anbesol contains the local anesthetic benzocaine. It may provide minimal temporary pain relief.

If your toothache pain goes away, you still need to see your dentist to identify the reason for the pain. 

The pain may likely return and could get worse over time which is all the more reason to see a dentist as soon as possible. 

If you have a permanent or temporary crown that breaks off

• You want to keep the tooth area as clean as possible. 
• Frequently rinse the area with salt water (1 teaspoon of table salt to 1 cup of warm water). 
• If not too sensitive, the area can be gently brushed as well.
• The original crown may be recemented. However, if too much time passes, that may not be possible, and a new crown will need to be made.

If you have a broken filling or tooth

• Check your area pharmacy for a temporary filling product. Until you see your dentist, this can be placed over the affected area temporarily. 
• Use sugar-free gum to cover the area as a last resort.