CANKER SORES, ALSO known as aphthous ulcers, are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in your mouth or at the base of your gums. Unlike cold sores, canker sores don’t occur on the surface of your lips and they aren’t contagious. However, they can be painful and can make eating and talking uncomfortable. Here’s an overview of the causes, prevention, and treatment options for canker sores.

What Causes Canker Sores?

The exact cause of canker sores remains unclear, though researchers believe a combination of factors contributes to outbreaks, even in the same individual. Possible causes include:

• Minor oral injury: From dental work, hard brushing, sports accidents, or accidental cheek bites.
• Food sensitivity: Acidic and spicy foods, including citrus and tomatoes, can trigger or worsen canker sores.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Lack of vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid), or iron.
• Dental products: Toothpastes and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate.
• Stress or hormonal changes: Often related to menstrual cycles or emotional stress.
• Certain medical conditions: Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and HIV/AIDS, which involve immune system dysfunction, may cause a higher occurrence of canker sores.

How to Prevent Canker Sores

While canker sores can be unpredictable, you can reduce their frequency by following these tips:

• Practice good oral hygiene: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush after meals and floss daily to keep your mouth free of foods that might trigger a sore.
• Avoid irritating foods: Stay away from foods that are spicy, acidic, or that you’re sensitive to.
• Protect your mouth: If you have braces or other dental appliances, ask your dentist about orthodontic waxes to cover edges.
• Watch your diet: Ensure you’re getting enough vitamins, especially B-12, zinc, folate, and iron.
• Manage stress: Try stress-reduction techniques such as exercise, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises.

Treatment Options for Canker Sores

Most canker sores are minor and tend to heal on their own within one to two weeks. However, for pain relief or to speed up healing, you can consider the following treatments:

• Over-the-counter topical products: Products that numb the area, such as benzocaine, can provide temporary relief.
• Mouth rinses: Using a mouth rinse containing a steroid to reduce pain and swelling or one with an antiseptic to reduce irritation.
• Oral medications: In severe cases, your doctor might prescribe an oral medication to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Nutritional supplements: If your diet lacks essential nutrients, your doctor might recommend a nutritional supplement.
• Home remedies: Rinsing your mouth with salt water or baking soda rinse can help to soothe and heal canker sores.

Your Path to Relief: Seek Professional Advice

If you frequently experience canker sores or if the sores are large, painful, or don’t heal within two weeks, consult your dentist or doctor. Persistent, severe, or unusually large sores can sometimes indicate an underlying condition that requires medical treatment.

By understanding what triggers your canker sores and how to treat them, you can not only alleviate the discomfort they cause but also potentially reduce their recurrence. Remember, maintaining good oral hygiene and a balanced diet is key to preventing not only canker sores but also other oral health issues.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

ENCOURAGING CHILDREN TO take an active role in their dental health can set them up for a lifetime of healthy habits. One fun and effective way to engage your child in their oral care routine is by involving them in the process of choosing their own toothbrush. Here are some tips for parents on how to help your kids pick a great toothbrush, which can significantly influence their enthusiasm and effectiveness in daily brushing.

Look for Child-Friendly Features

• Size Matters: The toothbrush should fit comfortably in your child’s mouth. Look for brushes labeled for specific age ranges as they are designed to accommodate smaller mouths and have softer bristles which are gentle on young gums and developing teeth.
• Soft Bristles: Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent irritation to the gums. Hard bristles can be too harsh for young enamel and sensitive gums.
• Engaging Designs: Toothbrushes that feature popular characters from cartoons or colorful patterns can make brushing more appealing to children. Letting your child choose a design they love might motivate them to brush more regularly.
• Easy Handles: For younger children, a toothbrush with a thick or rubberized handle can make it easier for them to grip and control.

Involve Your Child in the Selection Process

Taking your child along when shopping for a new toothbrush turns a routine chore into an exciting activity. Give them a few appropriate options to choose from and let them make the final decision. This not only makes them feel empowered but also more interested in using the toothbrush they personally selected.

• Highlight the Importance of Regular Replacement: Teach your child that a toothbrush needs to be replaced every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. Make a fun ritual out of picking out a new toothbrush, perhaps tying it to the start of each new season or coinciding with a school semester.
• Combine Education with Entertainment: Consider using books or videos that emphasize the importance of brushing and oral hygiene. Many children’s books and shows feature episodes or scenes about brushing teeth, which can help underline the importance of what they’re doing.
• Demonstrate Proper Technique: Show your child how to brush their teeth using gentle, circular motions. Brush together to make it a part of your daily routine, which can be a bonding experience and also allows you to monitor their technique and progress.
• Encourage Consistency with a Reward System: Implement a reward system to encourage consistent brushing. A sticker chart or a small reward after a week of successful brushing can make the experience more fulfilling and fun for your child.

Ready to Brush? Let’s Make It Fun!

Involving your child in the process of choosing their toothbrush and teaching them about the importance of their dental health are steps towards building lifelong healthy habits. By turning toothbrush shopping into a fun and educational activity, you not only help your child feel excited about taking care of their teeth but also lay the groundwork for a lifetime of good oral hygiene. Remember, a child who loves their toothbrush is more likely to use it every day, paving the way for a bright and healthy smile.

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The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

BOYS AND MEN are, on average, 20% less likely to brush their teeth twice a day, and they’re even less likely than girls and women to replace old toothbrushes. The good news is this problem is easy to fix. Brushing should be part of every morning and nighttime routine (and flossing should be included in the latter as well).

Habits Play a Major Role

Men also have a greater tendency towards drinking, smoking, and especially chewing tobacco compared to women, which puts them at increased risk of oral health problems like periodontitis, tooth loss, and even oral cancer. This is why dentists urge minimal alcohol consumption and the complete avoidance of tobacco products. Men can protect their oral health by avoiding these harmful substances.

Chronic Disease Can Affect Dental Health

Because men are more susceptible to high blood pressure and heart disease, they are more likely to be taking medications that cause dry mouth as a side effect. Dry mouth increases the risk of cavities, gum disease, and chronic bad breath.

The Importance of Dental Exams

Lastly, men are less likely than women to keep up with their regular dental exams, and they’re more likely to try to tough out symptoms like toothaches. This is neither safe nor effective, because dental problems don’t solve themselves. It’s not weak or unmanly to go to the dentist, it’s a smart investment in your oral health!

Take Control of Your Dental Health

Where many of the disadvantages women and girls face in regards to their dental health come from hormonal changes, men and boys are in a much better position. We urge our male patients to make oral hygiene habits and regular dental appointments a priority. You deserve to keep a mouthful of healthy teeth for life!

We look forward to seeing you for a dental exam!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

HARMFUL ORAL BACTERIA reproduces very quickly, which is why it matters so much that we brush twice a day and floss daily. A clean, healthy mouth will contain between a thousand to a hundred thousand bacteria on the surface of each tooth. Without diligent brushing and flossing, those numbers can quickly explode into the millions and even billions.

Our Oral Bacteria

The average person has between 34 and 72 different strains of oral bacteria in their mouths. Once a new one is introduced, it’s usually there to stay. Each person has different bacteria, which is how kissing or even something as simple as sharing drinks can introduce new strains of bacteria.

Kids’ Immune Systems

This is a bigger problem for kids than adults. Little kids’ immune systems aren’t used to dealing with adult levels of oral bacteria. Too many kisses from adult relatives (or simply letting them have sips from adult relatives’ drinks) could leave them more vulnerable to cavities.

Protecting Kids From Oral Bacteria

Fortunately, it’s easy to avoid sharing bacteria with a child; keep those kisses to their cheek and give them their own drinks and utensils. (This is a good idea even for adults who always brush twice a day for the full two minutes and floss daily.) Also, only clean a dropped pacifier in the sink.

Keep Your Oral Bacteria Under Control

No matter your age or who you kiss, it’s essential to maintain good oral health habits. Bacteria isn’t going to take a day off from multiplying if you skip brushing and flossing. In addition to twice-daily brushing and daily flossing, professional cleanings every six months will help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.

We love our patients of all ages!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

MEN AND WOMEN don’t always face the same dental health challenges, nor do they have the same dental health advantages. The bad news for women is that hormone changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can all contribute to oral health issues. It increases the risk of gingivitis and gum inflammation, making brushing and flossing even more crucial. Menopause is also associated with dry mouth and bone loss in the jaw.

Conditions That Affect Women More

Women receive 90% of TMD diagnoses. Some of that could be because they’re more likely to seek a diagnosis, but it can’t account for the entire gap. Women are also more vulnerable to Sjörgen’s syndrome, which causes dry mouth.

Eating disorders are incredibly harmful to oral health, weakening oral tissues through malnutrition and (when purging is involved) directly damaging tooth enamel through acid erosion. These disorders affect teenage girls at twice the rate of teenage boys.

The Big Advantage

The best advantage women have in spite of all these increased risks is that women are more diligent at caring for their teeth and gums. They are more likely to keep up with their daily oral hygiene habits and schedule regular dental visits, and they’re quicker to see the dentist when experiencing symptoms. By contrast, men have a bad habit of trying to tough it out.

Prioritize Your Oral Health

Do everything you can to give your oral health an advantage, even in the face of risk factors. Maintain diligent oral hygiene habits by brushing twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, and limiting sugary drinks and snacks to mealtimes. Don’t forget those regular dental appointments to stay ahead of any emerging problems!

The dentist is here to help!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

CHILDREN DON’T HAVE to deal with a lot of the health problems that affect adults, but they aren’t exempt from the risk of gum disease. The harmful bacteria that cause gingivitis don’t care how old someone is.

Gum Disease Causes

The biggest cause of gum disease in childhood is poor oral hygiene. When plaque is allowed to build up at the gumlines and harden into tartar, it leaves the gums more prone to irritation and inflammation. When a child reaches their teens, hormones become a factor too, increasing blood flow to the gums, which makes them more sensitive. Over 50% of teens have some form of gum disease.

Parents, Be on the Lookout

A child won’t always recognize a problem with their gums because they have very little frame of reference. As a result, they might not report symptoms to their parents unprompted, so keep an eye out for signs like swollen or red gums, bleeding during brushing or flossing, and bad breath that doesn’t go away with brushing and flossing.

Oral Hygiene Is Key

Maintaining good gum health is an endless battle, and good oral hygiene is critical. Parents should set a good example by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Remember that it’s easier to prevent a dental problem than to treat one, and the best forms of prevention are daily oral hygiene routines and regular dental exams.

The Dentist Is Here to Help!

If your child is showing signs of gum disease, they may be overdue for a dental appointment! Schedule one as soon as possible so that we can help get them back on track for a lifetime of strong teeth and healthy smiles.

Thank you for being part of our practice family!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

EVERY TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE with the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance has the same two things in common: it is sugar-free and it contains fluoride. Fluoride is a key building block in our tooth enamel. The sugary or acidic things we eat and drink pull minerals out of our enamel, and we can build it back up by brushing with fluoride toothpaste. This is also why trace amounts of fluoride are added to our drinking water.

Naturally-Occurring Fluoridation

Water fluoridation started in Colorado Springs, where the water naturally contains a lot of it. At these high levels of fluoride, local dentists started noticing that many people had brown stains on their teeth despite having no tooth decay. They called it “Colorado brown stain,” and today we call it fluorosis.

The Right Level of Fluoride

Dentists wondered if there was an amount of fluoride that would offer the same benefits of preventing decay without causing stains. They first tested it in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and found that childhood tooth decay dropped by a shocking 60% with only a few mild cases of fluorosis and no other adverse effects. It was such a success that water fluoridation took off across the country, and it is still regarded as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.

Bring Us Your Fluoride Questions!

If you have questions about how fluoride helps keep teeth strong, we’d be happy to answer them! Much more important than fluoridated water is brushing with toothpaste that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Make sure you’re using the right tools to protect your teeth!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

AS ADULTS, TOOTHACHES can quickly ruin an otherwise lovely day, but how much worse is it for a little kid who doesn’t know what’s happening? Toothaches have a variety of causes, and most of them are worth visiting the dentist, especially if they persist for days. But what if the toothache comes after hours or during the holidays? What can parents do?

Toothache Causes

The cause of a child’s toothache could be as simple as teething, which is a normal part of development. If it isn’t teething, it’s most likely tooth decay, gum disease, an abscess, inflamed pulp, or a cracked tooth. An impacted tooth can also be uncomfortable, as can tooth sensitivity.

Managing Discomfort

A child’s toothache is usually worth a visit to the dentist, but if that isn’t possible at first, here are a few tips for managing their discomfort in the meantime:

1. Have them swish and spit warm salt water to reduce inflammation.
2. Apply a cold compress to their cheek near the sore area.
3. Give them over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication for children.
4. Brush and floss daily and schedule regular dental visits to prevent future toothaches!

The Dentist Is Here to Help!

Any oral health symptom that has you worried as a parent could be worth a visit to the dentist. If it’s not a serious problem, we can put your mind at ease, and if it is, we can treat it and encourage good habits and precautions going forward.

We love our patients!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

THE BEST WAY to get the best possible outcome in any kind of emergency is to have an action plan ready beforehand, so here are some tips to keep in mind for different types of dental emergencies:

1. A Knocked-Out Baby Tooth

These usually aren’t emergencies, especially if the damage is only to the tooth, but it’s a good idea to at least call the dentist for advice on how to proceed.

2. A Knocked-Out Adult Tooth

There is a limited window in which the dentist may be able to replant an intact knocked-out tooth. Get it to the dentist as quickly as possible, storing it either in the socket or in a glass of milk. Do NOT touch the root, do NOT let it dry out, and do NOT scrub it clean with soap, alcohol, or peroxide, because it will kill the root!

3. A Broken Tooth

Find the pieces and bring them to the dentist in a glass of cold milk. Don’t ignore cracked teeth, no matter how small the cracks! The damage could lead to infection, abscess, bone loss, and even life-threatening spread of infection.

Do You Know Where Your Emergency Dentist Is?

Aside from knowing what to do before getting to the dentist, it’s crucial to know where to go! Be familiar with the location of an emergency dentist, and keep their phone number handy.

We’re here to help you have the best outcome in an emergency!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

THE REASON SUGAR is so dangerous for our oral health is that harmful oral bacteria love eating it as much as we do, and then they excrete acid onto our teeth. Tooth enamel might be the strongest substance in the human body, but even weak acids can erode it, which is why dentists encourage us to avoid sour, sticky, and hard Halloween candy.

Candy Don’ts

Hard candy is like a slow-release sugar delivery system for all that bacteria, keeping them active for a long period of time. Sticky candy is a problem because it puts the sugar directly against our teeth and gums. Sour candy contains plenty of its own acid, so that’s like cutting out the middleman!

Candy Dos (Yes, They Exist!)

What Halloween treats are left? Chocolate is a pretty good option! It contains compounds that slow tooth decay, limit oral bacteria, and fight bad breath. However, these polyphenols and flavonoids don’t outweigh the effects of sugar, which is why dentists are bigger fans of dark chocolate than milk chocolate.

Any candy sweetened by xylitol instead of sugar is definitely better for teeth. Xylitol actually hurts oral bacteria. These candies aren’t super common in 2024, but hopefully that will change!

Look After Your Teeth With a Dental Visit

Whatever candy you end up enjoying on Halloween and the first few days of November, it’s always a great idea to schedule a professional dental cleaning. Check to see if we have appointments available for you, because they might fill up quickly as 2024 comes to a close!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.