by Roseman Dental | Oct 21, 2014 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
Pregnancy causes a lot of changes to a woman’s body. One area to be concerned about during this exciting time is your oral health. Your baby will need nutrients, such as calcium, from your diet. It is also common from plaque to build up along the gums and teeth as a result of the hormonal changes in your body. This is often referred to as “pregnancy gingivitis.” Since your health is as important as the baby, the following suggestions are recommended during pregnancy.
Prevention
Pregnant women should make an effort to keep their teeth clean to prevent problems. This is particularly important around the gums. You can do this by brushing twice each day with fluoride toothpaste, and even brushing after each meal if you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease. Flossing is also important each day to prevent plaque build up. In addition, make sure to visit the dentist during this time. This is one of the best things you can do for your oral health while you are pregnant and after you have the baby.
Your Oral Health and the Baby’s Health
Research indicates that there is a possible connection between low birth weight, pre-term babies and gum disease. The bacteria in your mouth can enter the bloodstream and get into the uterus. This might cause the creation of prostaglandins, which are known to cause premature labor.
What to Avoid at the Dentist
Although it is important to see your dentist for your regular checkups and if you have a problem, you might want to avoid the dentist for elective procedures such as teeth whitening, crowns or veneers. These are better to have done after the baby is born. However, if you do have a dental emergency, it is fine to see your dentist at anytime during your pregnancy.
If you are planning to get pregnant it might be wise to schedule an appointment with your dentist. This will provide you with a better understanding of your oral health and how to prevent problems during the pregnancy.
by Roseman Dental | Oct 16, 2014 | Dental Clinic Blog
When you’re happy, you want to smile, and studies have revealed that smiling has many benefits beyond just letting others know that you are excited. Smiling can help build trust when you meet new people, reduce stress in difficult situations, make you feel better when you are down, and even help you make more money and live longer.
But what if you’re not very confident about your smile because you’re worried about oral hygiene or crooked teeth? For many people that is enough to make them not want to smile, and it can make life a lot more difficult. A 2012 study published in the Deseret News highlighted some of the social stigma that comes with crooked or missing teeth. Studies show that bad teeth prevent people from getting jobs, promotions, and higher pay, and may impact overall health as well.
Here are five ways that you can improve your smile so you will want to show off those pearly whites whenever you feel happy.
See a Dentist Regularly
Dental care is one of the most critical components for healthy mouth and teeth. Most people should see a dentist twice a year (every six months) for a cleaning and checkup. If you have pain, swelling, infection, or other problems in your mouth, don’t go to the emergency room—go see a dentist immediately. Often they will be able to treat the problem and prevent future complications with immediate care, rather than waiting until a small problem becomes more expensive and more detrimental to your health.
Unfortunately many people in the U.S. don’t go and see a dentist regularly because they don’t have dental insurance and can’t afford the high cost to pay for it out of pocket. If you don’t have a dentist and haven’t been to a dental office because you have difficulty affording it, The Dental Clinic at Roseman University offers affordable dental care with rates significantly discounted from what you would pay at a traditional dental office so you can get high quality care at a great price.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth
One of the best ways to maintain a healthy smile is by regularly brushing and flossing teeth. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss at least once a day to keep teeth and gums healthy, remove plaque, and eliminate bad breath.
Avoid Sugary Food and Drinks
Sugar breaks down quickly and feeds the harmful bacteria in your mouth, so the more sugar you consume, the more bad bacteria grow. This leads to tooth decay, sensitivity, gum disease, and other problems in your mouth. Your teeth can also turn sugar into a glue-like substance that attracts bacteria to your teeth (in the form of plaque), making it harder to wash away naturally with your saliva. If you do eat sugar, follow up by brushing your teeth or chewing sugar-free gum, and make sure to drink plenty of water to boost saliva that will wash the sugar off your teeth.
Consider Cosmetic Procedures
If you have crooked, dirty, or decaying teeth, consider the benefits of a cosmetic procedure, such as a crown, bridge, implant, or even teeth whitening. Studies show that these small adjustments can make a big difference in the first impression you create with your smile. These procedures are also good for more than just cosmetic reasons—having healthy, strong teeth allows you to breathe, swallow, chew and speak properly, contributing to better nutrition and making you more comfortable at job interviews or in social situations.
Don’t Smoke or Chew Tobacco
Quitting smoking and chewing tobacco is good for many reasons, one of which is to improve the health of your teeth and gums. Tobacco and cigarettes cause tooth decay, receding gums, and gum disease, and are the main contributing factors to mouth and throat cancers. They can also make it difficult to heal following dental or orthodontic work, negating the money and time you spend trying to fix your smile. The best thing you can do to improve your oral health and your smile is to quit smoking or using tobacco.
The ability to smile is an important part of your life—to be happy, you need to be able to smile and laugh as much as possible. Don’t let poor oral health keep you from enjoying all the benefits that smiling can offer.
by Roseman Dental | Sep 21, 2014 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
More than half of adult Americans claim they brush their teeth twice a day. While this is good news for the oral health of the population, the statistics do not show how many of these people are brushing properly.
The Right Toothbrush
Choosing the correct toothbrush is the first step toward good oral hygiene. The brush needs to fit comfortably in your mouth while the handle fits comfortably in your hand. Discomfort while brushing may indicate a poor fit. Whether the toothbrush is manual or electric is a matter of preference, but bristle softness is not. The American Dental Association recommends soft bristles so the brush can remove plaque gently without scraping the tender tissue of the gums or scratching the tooth enamel.
Brushing Technique
How a person brushes may be the most important factor in preventing oral issues such as plaque buildup and gum disease. Place the bristles against the upper part of the teeth at a 45-degree angle and brush in short, circular or vertical strokes for two to three minutes twice a day. Brushing more than three times per day may cause damage to enamel, while brushing only once a day could lead to the buildup of bacteria in the mouth.
It is important to brush the outer, inner, and chewing surface of each tooth, and some dentists recommend starting in a different place every time because by the end of the routine, some people may be less thorough than they are at the beginning of the routine. After brushing your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue as well to remove bacteria.
Toothbrush Maintenance
When the toothbrush removes the bacteria from the teeth and tongue, it remains on the toothbrush unless the brush is rinsed thoroughly under running water. After rinsing, it is just as important to shake out excess moisture and allow the toothbrush to air dry. If a cap is used, it should allow air in, since a moist toothbrush may breed even more bacteria. When bristles lose their flexibility and begin breaking apart, or if you have been using the same toothbrush for more than three months, it is time for a new brush.
Following these guidelines is the beginning of a good oral hygiene routine that protects teeth and gums from bacteria, cavities, and gum disease.
by Roseman Dental | Sep 12, 2014 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
What Do You Know About Root Canals?
The American Association of Endodontists celebrated Root Canal Awareness Week on March 30 – April 5, 2014. Currently in its eight year, this week is a time for people to learn the facts about this valuable treatment and how it can help them. Endodontists and other dental professionals are setting aside time during RCAW to focus on patient education and empowerment through the sharing of reliable information.
Why is Root Canal Awareness Important?
Though many people have heard of root canals, not everyone actually understands what this procedure is, what condition it is meant to treat, or how it could benefit them as a dental patient. For instance, did you know that:
• Modern root canal treatments are virtually painless?
• Root canal treatments can preserve a natural tooth?
• Endodontists specialize in performing root canals?
• Endodontists perform an average of 25 root canal procedures each week?
• Root canal treatments can relieve the pain of infection deep inside a tooth?
Even though dental students are likely to recognize the value of root canal procedures, it is important to share this information with others who may not be aware of how these procedures could benefit them. When a patient’s natural tooth is preserved through a root canal procedure, they retain their natural sensation and bite and can enjoy more effective chewing. Treating a tooth infection could prevent discoloration and disease from spreading to adjacent teeth; this allows patients to retain their natural smile.
How You Can Get Involved
Dentists and dental students can get involved in Root Canal Awareness Week every year, but you don’t have to be a dental professional to be part of it. As a patient you can ask your dentist for more information about the procedure, even if you don’t need to have it done right now. Confronting misinformation with facts helps relieve patient anxiety and makes people less reluctant to seek this and other types of dental treatment. You can educate yourself about this procedure and other forms of endodontic treatment by visiting the website of the American Association of Endodontists.
by Roseman Dental | May 10, 2014 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
What are Receding Gums?
Often dubbed “long-in-the-tooth” for the appearance it gives, receding gums expose the roots of the teeth as gum tissue wears away or pulls back from the crown. Gingival recession can cause discomfort and pain when the person eats foods or drinks that are too hot or cold, sweet or sour, or even spicy. Gums may also be sore without a visible cause, and teeth can decay more easily because the roots do not have the same protective enamel as the crown. That opens the door for bacteria that can destroy the gums, teeth, and even the bones in your jaw, which could eventually lead to tooth loss.
What Causes Receding Gums?
There are many different causes of gingival recession. The main cause is actually gum disease, or periodontal disease. Bacterial gum infections cause gums to swell, bleed, and recede. They destroy the gum tissue and the supporting bone. Studies have shown that an astonishing 30 percent of the population may be prone to gum disease simply because of their genetic makeup. Still others have genes that give them a thinner gum line or more prominent roots than average, making gum recession much more likely.
Inadequately caring for your teeth by failing to brush and floss regularly causes tarter buildup on and in between teeth that will cause gum recession. Tobacco users have hard to-remove, sticky plaque that causes the same problem. Clenching or grinding the teeth (an unknown sleeping habit for many people) is an attributed cause, due to the fact that it places too much pressure on your teeth. A misaligned bite or crooked teeth may also place unnecessary strain on your teeth.
Another common cause that professionals have encountered is overly vigorous or improper brushing of the teeth. By brushing your teeth too often or with excessive force, you are most likely doing more damage than good. Aggressive brushing, especially with hard-bristled brushes, will traumatize and damage your gum tissue and even break down the teeth’s enamel.
How are Receding Gums Treated?
There are a few different ways that you can fix gum recession or avoid causing further harm. One of the ways that dentists and periodontists have found to repair severe gum loss is by doing a gum graft from another healthy part of the gums or from the roof of the mouth and placing it where the gums are the most worn away, thereby reducing the sensitivity and the further recession of the gums.
More important than correction is prevention. To prevent receding gums, you must develop good habits. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and brush three times a day, but not for more than the recommended two minutes. You should replace your toothbrush every three months or when the bristles are bent or damaged because a worn out toothbrush won’t clean your teeth the way they need to be and can damage your gums.
Be sure to floss regularly and use a mouthwash to help you keep your teeth and gums in better health. Staying away from cigarettes and eating a healthy diet will also strengthen your gums and help prevent gum disease.
If you recognize any of the symptoms detailed above or are worried that you are at risk for gingival recession, talk to your dentist. S/he can give you further advice and suggestions for treatment so that you can maintain your beautiful (and pain-free) smile.
by Roseman Dental | Mar 28, 2014 | Clinic Events - UT, Dental Clinic Blog, Dental School, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - UT
Doctor of Dental Medicine students at Roseman University organized an event to provide free dental care to 46 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. It was part of Give Kids a Smile, a national event started by the American Dental Association that provides free dental care to hundreds of thousands of children at more than 1,500 events nationwide throughout the year.
Healthy lifestyles are a key component of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake, and Give Kids a Smile provides an opportunity for children to get free dental care. This is especially critical for children who do not have dental insurance, and may not be able to get this care otherwise.
“Untreated childhood dental decay affects about 16 million children in the U.S. every year, and is particularly prevalent in families that do not have insurance. Dental decay can contribute to a variety of issues including pain, missed school days, improper speech development, and difficulty sleeping and concentrating,” said Dr. Aaron Ferguson, Assistant Professor at Roseman University College of Dental Medicine and faculty advisor for the student group that organized Give Kids a Smile. “Fortunately it is also one of the most treatable conditions, and Roseman University dental students are excited to offer some basic dental care as well as education about caring for teeth that these children can use at home to improve their oral hygiene.”
Club members get at least 30 minutes of physical activity and healthy snacks at the local Boys & Girls Club, according to LeAnn Saldivar, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake, but sometimes they don’t have access to quality health and dental care. To bridge that gap, Boys & Girls Club partners with organizations like Roseman University to get the care that children need to be healthy, regardless of whether or not they have insurance.
“It was so neat to see the smiles on the kids faces as they left our clinic,” said Cory Halterman, third-year dental student and one of the event organizers. “We all felt great after helping them.”
