Get Tips for Staying Away from Sugar From Our Family Dentist Office Halloween

As the holidays approach, we treat patients of our family dentist office and help them to stay cavity and pain-free.  While conducting teeth cleanings and dental exams, we regularly ask our patients about their diet and what foods they are eating to either strengthen or weaken their teeth.  One of the most common issues we see is that people eat way too much sugar.  Sugar is in virtually all processed foods, so it is hard to get away from.  When you combine that with sugar in your coffee or a daily candy bar, it creates a sugar overload and a risk to the health of your teeth and gums.

When sugar settles onto your teeth, it can create an acid that starts to attack the tooth.  This is why people that leave sugar on their teeth are at a greater risk of getting a cavity.  We recommend that patients brush their teeth throughout the day instead of only in the morning and at night in order to remove bacteria and sugar before it has the opportunity to create a problem.  When doing so make sure to use a soft toothbrush so that your gums won’t become irritated.

In our family dentist office we believe in the importance of preventative care which includes brushing at home, having your teeth regularly cleaned, and eating a healthy diet.  With that in mind, here are our favorite tips for staying away from sugar:

• Drink lots of water.  If you stay hydrated and drink water, you will feel fuller throughout the day.  It is hard to have room for dessert when you are full from drinking a bottle of water.  In fact, before you eat make sure to drink a cup of water and do so again when you are done.  Wait a few minutes before ordering dessert, and you will likely find that you are simply too full. 
• Carry healthy snacks.  It is easy to head to the vending machine when you are hungry.  To prevent this, carry healthy snacks with you.  This can include apples, string cheese, baby carrots, granola, and other foods that are easy to transport.  Load up your bag with snacks in the morning so that you can stay healthy throughout the day. 
• Eat a balanced diet.  It is important to eat a diet that contains complex carbs and lean protein.  This way you will have sustained energy throughout the day and avoid crashing.  When you eat a diet full of simple carbs, like cereal or white bread, you will crash quickly and it is natural to reach for something else that contains sugar in order to get your energy levels back up.  This isn’t good for you so to avoid it, eat a healthy and balanced diet that will help you to stay full and have plenty of energy.

As a family dentist, we understand that the healthier you are at home; there is less of a chance that you will develop gum disease or cavities.  Combine these healthy habits with trips to the dentist so that you can stay in good oral health. 

Tips for Treating Sensitive Teeth from Your General Dentist Office

If you have sensitive teeth, schedule an appointment with our general dentist office.  We can clean your teeth and remove any bacteria that may be irritating your gums and teeth.  Afterwards, we will examine them to determine if any cavities or infection are present.  Often, tooth sensitivity comes from having a cavity that makes it painful to bite down or eat your favorite ice cream dessert. Additionally, gum disease can create sensitive teeth because when your gums are infected they will be swollen and sensitive, overall.  If they are left untreated, the disease will cause your gums to recede, and part of your tooth and roots will be exposed.

If we identify any oral health issues during your dental exam, we will treat them right away.  Gum disease, for example, can be treated with a thorough deep cleaning and if that isn’t enough we can perform a gum graft to cover the exposed portion of the tooth and roots.  Likewise, a cavity can be treated, and if necessary we will perform a root canal to remove the infected area of the tooth and the infected root.  Afterwards, a dental crown will be used to protect the tooth.

When no infection is present, tooth sensitivity is typically caused by the loss of enamel.  This is something that can be treated in our general dentist office and at home.  When your teeth lose enamel, it can be painful because the enamel is what protects the actual tooth structure that is made of dentin.  Dentin is a porous material and the holes inside of it lead directly to the roots of your tooth.  That is why when the enamel wears away doing something as simple as drinking iced tea can lead to shooting pain.

Here are tips for reducing your tooth sensitivity:

• Brush with a soft toothbrush.  Switch out your hard toothbrush for a soft one.  If you can buy an electronic toothbrush – do so.  This is the best way to get a good clean without needing to brush your teeth aggressively. 
• Use desensitizing toothpaste.  It typically takes several applications to notice a difference but this type of toothpaste will block the sensation of pain from traveling through your tooth and to your nerves.  
• Fluoride treatments.  You can get a fluoride treatment at our general dentistry office, and this will help to strengthen your teeth.  Fluoride is a mineral and by placing it directly onto your teeth they will be strengthened.  This does not directly replace your enamel but provides good protection. 
• Bonding.  If teeth are especially sensitive, having a bonding procedure completed may be a good option.  This is where a tooth colored material is applied to the surface of your teeth in order to seal and protect the dentin. 
• Crowns.  Dental crowns are a cap that surrounds the tooth so if your sensitivity is not going away, you may want to consider wearing crowns.  This way nothing directly touches your tooth.  Instead, food, water, and air will touch the crown. 

To learn more about how you can protect your teeth and reduce sensitivity, visit our general dentistry office.