Pregnancy is an exciting time in life for both parents, but it also comes with so many changes that it might seem like you’ll never get all the information you need before your new baby arrives. Of course, the changes your body will undergo are amazing, but did you know that pregnancy is even related to your dental health? We’re here to offer some helpful tips as you embark on this new journey. Maintain a good routine – If you’re already brushing twice a day then you’re on the right track. Be sure to keep this up throughout your pregnancy. If you’re not brushing twice daily then now is the best time to start. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to premature birth, gestational diabetes, and preeclapsia. Don’t forget to floss. Flossing is a great way to help improve your oral hygiene and we’ve got some good tips to help you incorporate flossing into your daily routine here. Gums become more sensitive – another wonderful side effect of your changing hormones might be gums that are more sensitive. As a result of this you might notice during a routine dental cleaning that they bleed more easily or maybe even when...

Are you flossing? It’s the question you’re definitely going to be asked by your dental hygienist at your next regular checkup and cleaning. While most people have down the two times a day brushing routine, flossing can often take a back seat. However, flossing is an important step in maintaining a healthy mouth (the American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day) as it cleans the hard to reach areas between your teeth, dislodging any food that might be stuck. Because of the importance of flossing, we’re here to offer some helpful tips to make the task easier to plug back into your routine. How to Floss Properly In case you haven’t had a recent demo on the proper way to floss, we’ll give a brief overview on the proper technique. First, break off about a 24” piece of floss from your preferred flossing brand. There are a number of options from braided to waxed that can help do the job. Second, wind the extra floss around your index finger and thumb, leaving about 1-2 inches of floss available. Third, move the floss between your teeth gently and glide it up and down the sides of both teeth,...

We’ve all heard those stories, maybe we even have a few of our own, about tying the string to a door and slamming it shut to pull out that super lose tooth. Losing teeth is a right of passage for every child, and can bring about a whole world of excitement for children as they begin to lose their baby teeth. However, as this new stage of life approaches as a parent you might be wondering when it might happen and what you should be aware of to ensure you or your children don’t cause any damage to the mouth. When Will My Child Start Losing Teeth? Your children’s baby teeth, or primary teeth, will typically start to loosen and fall out around the age of 6 or 7. You can expect that the teeth will fall out in the same order that they first popped through during their teething phase. So this means that the bottom central teeth and then the top front teeth will be the first to go, followed by the others. Can I Pull Out A Loose Tooth? While it might be tempting for you or your children to help aid the tooth along in falling...

Keeping your teeth in the best shape possible can be tough for even the most diligent of adults. From regular checkups to daily brushing and flossing there are a lot of factors that influence how healthy your teeth and gums stay. With kids it can often be a battle to accomplish even the most basic of hygiene habits and that’s why we’re here to offer five ways that you can help your kids to ensure they have healthy mouths. 1. Establish a good hygiene routine early As with anything you undergo with children routines can be a major help. Start working at them at a young age – we recommend starting when that first baby tooth pops through - by introducing twice daily brushing routine. You’ll want to make sure that you continue to help your children brush until they’re about 8 years old to make sure they’re not missing any major spots. We also recommend that you start introducing flossing as soon as your children’s teeth start to touch. That’s when plaque and tartar can start to get trapped. 2. Make the routine fun Get creative and think of ways that you can make your kids tooth brushing experience...

Over the last several months the entire world has undergone unprecedented changes as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) began spreading. Over the course of the pandemic the dental industry in particular was shifted to emergency only treatments to ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available for those on the front lines, to ensure the safety of staff and patients, and a variety of other reasons. However, since the beginning of June, practices have begun reopening their doors once again for non-emergency procedures. While we’re happy to be back doing what we love, we recognize that the world is a different place and almost everyone has a heightened awareness of germs and how easily they can spread. We’re dedicating time in this blog to discuss how our office, and the dental industry in general, is well positioned to keep you safe in the weeks, months, and years to come. What Are Universal Precautions To put it simply, Universal Precautions is an approach to infection control that treats all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious. Because in the dental industry we’re working in your mouth, all of our protocols already take into...

The holidays are over and if you’re like most of the world you probably indulged in a few too many sweets. It’s not really a secret that sugar isn’t good for your teeth. While you can enjoy it in moderation, continuous or prolonged exposure to sugar isn’t good for your overall health and it can cause problems in your mouth such as cavities, tooth decay and gum disease. One of the downsides of sugar is how great it tastes and the addictive nature of foods that contain high amounts of it. Eating sweet foods can make your body crave more and more of them. Because of this it can be extremely hard to stop eating them. If you’re looking for ways to help reduce your overall intake, we’ve got some helpful tips: 1. Drink A Glass of Water – Water is great for your body in all kinds of ways. It’s also said that sometimes dehydration is mistaken for cravings. Enjoying a big glass of water before diving into the candy dish might just save you. 2. Reach for Fruit Instead – While some fruits have high acidity levels too there are others that have lower levels. Fruit also has...

Have you found yourself immersed in the world of a teething baby or toddler? Many mothers and fathers around the world can likely relate to this topic. Whether you’ve found yourself rolling out of bed after a sleepless night or frantically bouncing your tearful child up and down during the day, teething can make a real impact. Believe us, we’ve been there with our own kids and we’re here to offer you reassurance that this time will pass and there are lots of ways you can help your child (and yourself) through this phase of development. What Is Teething? Teething for a child is the process that they go through when they’re first set of teeth begins to emerge in the mouth. The new set of shiny teeth will appear by cutting up through the gums. Each tooth may take several days to fully appear and the entire process of teething can take a couple of years. When Does Teething Start? The start of teething depends on your individual child. While it can start as early as four months of age some kids don’t start until much later. The average age when a child cuts their first tooth is 6...

It’s the beginning of a new year, and if you’re like a majority of the world then the new year is a great time to recommit or at least stay committed to staying healthy. As we try to emphasize to our patients, maintaining good oral health plays a key role in your overall health journey. The mouth is the portal into the rest of your body and because of this it’s important that you work in regular dental cleanings to ensure that you have a healthy mouth. If you’ve recently moved, haven’t been to the dentist in a while or are simply looking for someone new to see, we have a few tips that might help you. How to Find a Dentist There are lots of ways that you can find a dentist. If you’ve recently moved you could start by asking your previous dentist for a recommendation. They might know someone in your new location or might have some suggestions on a good place to start looking. Ask your friends for a recommendation. It’s likely that you and your friends have things in common and you trust their advice – that’s why you are friends isn’t it? Get information...

Your oral health is important; it might be more important than you even realize. It’s probable that you’ve heard the expression “the eyes are the window to the soul.” While it might be slightly (or a lot) cheesy, there’s also a level of truth to it which is likely why it’s such a popular phrase. Similarly, in the dental world we like to say that “the mouth is the gateway to your gut.” While this one is pretty obvious, what you might not realize is just how your oral health can impact your overall physical health. What’s the Connection? There has long been an indication that a connection exists between overall health and oral health. Dentists, simply by looking at your teeth, can sometimes identify warning signs of underlying health problem. Similarly, primary care doctors know that various health issues like diabetes can impact oral health, and therefore can help create awareness for patients. Connected Health Issues The mouth, which has a variety of bacteria, is also the entry point for both your respiratory and digestive tracts. While most of the bacteria in your mouth is harmless, there remains a connection between the bacteria, the inflammation those bacteria cause, and...

We’ve explored one dental specialty, endodontics, and here we venture into the world of periodontology. Periodontists specialize in the treatment of the structures (primarily the gums and gum tissue) that support your teeth. They also specialize and study the diseases and conditions that might affect these structures. Periodontists, in addition to completing four years of dental school, also complete three additional years of clinical training in periodontology. Severe gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and periodontists are the specialists who can help, making them an important part in some dental journeys and integral to maintaining good oral health. While general dentists are able to handle early onset of gum disease some cases require a more specialized eye. If you ever need to seek treatment for gum health, a periodontist will work directly with your dentist to establish the best treatment plan. Why Do You Need to See a Periodontist? Have you noticed in your dental appointments that your dentist will check your teeth and start assigning numbers that are recorded in your chart? The odds are pretty good that this has happened and you might be wondering what exactly they’re doing. The short and simple...