Nightguards

 

If you notice that you wake up with a sore jaw or headaches you may have what's called "bruxism", or clenching/grinding your teeth. The majority of people do not realize that they even do this because it happens when we are asleep. Not only can it cause stress and damage to your temporomandibular joints, but the pressure that it puts on teeth can cause them to loosen and crack or for fillings to break and fall out. A way to help prevent this from happening is to have your dentist make you a custom fit night guard. It fits into place over your teeth and relieves pressure by not allowing the teeth to fully come together, having you rest and bite on the night guard instead. This will help to ease tension in jaw joints that can cause pain and headaches as well as protect your teeth in the long run.

Teeth Whitening

There are different options if you are interested in whitening your teeth. There is in office whitening, take home custom whitening trays and prescription strength disposable whitening trays. There are also over the counter options such as toothpastes, mouth rinses and whitening strips. These are lower strength products and don't show the same results as the professional strength options. Everybody's teeth whiten differently and whitening can cause some sensitivity so not every option is suitable for all people. If you have very sensitive teeth, you would want to go with a lower prescription gel or option. In office Boost whitening is the strongest and fastest option. There are different in office whitening systems but the one we use is boost. It has a 40% HP (hydrogen peroxide) rate and is chemically activated so there is no light needed. It is placed in two- twenty minute applications, one right after the other. Depending on how your teeth whiten, this option gives you the fastest results and you can see a difference before leaving the office. Another option is custom made take home whitening trays. We take molds of your teeth and make you an upper and lower tray that is perfectly fit to your teeth. You place the gel we provide in the trays and wear them anywhere from 15-35 minutes a day depending on the strength of gel you choose. There are stronger gels and lower percentage gels depending on your level of sensitivity. With the trays, it can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to notice a difference. Over time you can do touch ups and wear your trays for 2-3 days every few months and get them whiter. There are also disposable whitening trays where you simply put a pre-made upper and lower tray with gel already inside over your teeth and wear for 15 minutes a day for 10 days. If you are unsure of how your teeth will whiten, you may want to start with the disposable trays to see if it would be worth doing the boost whitening and help predict what type of results you will get.

Fluoride is a beneficial part of your oral health. It can help with sensitivity as well as re-mineralize tooth enamel. It is found in tap water if the area you live in has fluoridated water and is not filtered. It is also found in most toothpastes and mouth rinses. You can also get fluoride varnish treatment at the dentist when you go in for your routine cleaning. This will give you an extra boost of fluoride because the concentration is higher than in toothpastes and mouthwashes. When using fluoridated toothpaste, spit the puddle out of your mouth when done brushing and leave residue of toothpaste on teeth for at least 30 minutes. This allows the fluoride to sit on your teeth and have the most valuable outcome especially at night. Same with the mouth rinse. Just swish for 1 minute and leave for 30 minutes. If you floss after doing this, you can push the fluoride up in-between the teeth and help to re-mineralize tooth enamel. This can help to keep cavities from progressing and getting worse and hopefully prevent you from having fillings done.

Dental Care during pregnancy

Women who are pregnant and have periodontal disease are more likely to have pregnancy issues. Studies have shown a link between periodontal disease and premature labor or underweight babies. During pregnancy, hormone levels can increase which can lead to gingivitis due to the gums increased reaction to plaque. Women can experience this usually from months 2-8. The gums become irritated, red and puffy. It is important to brush, floss and stay on top of your oral health. It is also a good idea to go see a dentist during this time to monitor and make sure you have the best oral care and health for you and your baby.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a side effect of certain medications, diseases, and medical treatments. The symptoms are: dry or sticky feeling in the mouth and throat, sores, recurrent thirst, bad breath, or a raw tongue. There are some oral aids out there to help with this such as biotene products and oramoist patches but it is important to sip water and keep your mouth moist throughout the day also. Dry mouth can increase your chance of getting gum disease, cavities and certain conditions in the mouth such as thrush. Spit is your natural protector and helps keep bacteria at bay which is why it is necessary to keep your mouth moist and clean when you have dry mouth.