It is very important to keep your teeth healthy, a way to do that is avoid cavities. Cavities are very bad for your teeth, and they are also a pain to get fixed. The more you can prevent yourself from getting cavities the better.
One way that you can prevent yourself from getting cavities is to make sure you are rinsing your mouth a lot. Rinsing your mouth can get rid of a lot of bacteria and food that you don’t even realize is there. You can also brush with fluoride toothpaste after eating and drinking. Fluoride toothpaste is really good for your teeth, and can also get rid of the things in your mouth that can cause cavities.
Something else that you can do is change your diet a little bit. Eat less sugars, and more fruits and vegetables. Although sugar does not directly cause cavities, sugar helps the bacteria form, which causes the cavities. Make sure you are eating lots of calcium. Calcium is really good for your teeth, and can prevent cavities from forming. You should also make sure you are getting lots of water. When you drink water, it cleans the bacteria that forms in your mouth.
To avoid cavities, you can visit our dentist more frequently. It is good to visit the dentist, because when you do, your teeth get cleaned really well. Cavities are not going to form on really clean teeth, so if you come to the dentist more, your teeth will be more clean, and you won’t get cavities.
You can also put sealants on your teeth to prevent cavities. Sealants are thin coatings that are painted on the chewing surfaces of the back of your teeth. A lot of people will put them on small children, to prevent the children from getting cavities. Sealants are a really easy option, and they are absolutely painless. Sealants don’t just prevent cavities, but they also prevent tooth decay. They keep germs and food out of the grooves in your back teeth. They are pretty much a shield on your teeth.
There are a lot of ways to prevent cavities. Here at our Spanish Fork Dental, we take cavities very seriously. We want to help you in any way, to make sure that your teeth are healthy.
Getting a dental implant
Not having a tooth can be a big insecurity for some, as they do not feel confident in their smile. One way to fix this is to get a dental implant. After getting an implant you can gain more confidence in your smile and while you eat and talk. An implant is not noticeable and heals within a couple of months, after this period you will be able to enjoy your new smile.
If you are thinking about getting a dental implant for cosmetic reasons consult with your dentist and/or the surgeon you are thinking about getting the procedure with. We will give you a consultation and help you logistically figure out what your ideal timetable for the process is.
The process to take a dental implant takes a couple of months as you go through the process of getting the implant in, healing, then a lab made crown is placed in the implant and is secured. Healing time from the initial surgery varies, and the second stage of getting an implant can only happen after you have healed from the first stage. This waiting period is for the implant to bond with the jaw bone.
During the first period of healing you will be able to wear temporary dentures, so no one will be able to tell that you are in the process of getting an implant. In addition to aesthetic looks, after the initial pain wears off you will be able to eat softer foods. For most people getting an implant will not affect their everyday, normal lives.
The process as a whole typically lasts anywhere from six to eight months and your Spanish Fork Dental dentist will be with you for every step of the way. If you have any questions at any step along the way please contact your dentist, and if there seems to be any problems or complications contact us as soon as possible to get it resolved.
Want to whiten your teeth?
It is common for adults and even teenagers to want to have a nice white and bright smile. For some people this is something they already have due to good teeth care and lucky genetics. Others who are not as fortunate may feel like they are out of luck but this is not the case. There are at home or in the office treatments we can administer to make your smile bother whiter and brighter.
The first of these treatments is something that is done in our office. We first will make some unique plastic trays that fit around your teeth. After these are made some whitening gel is placed in the trays then placed in your mouth. The process as a whole lasts about one hour, and you can expect to see results instantly. This treatment is completely non-invasive and quick.
If you are looking for something to do on your own time from the comfort of your home we have the perfect thing. We will provide you with some plastic trays made for your teeth particularly. In addition to the trays you will get some syringes of whitening gel. To whiten your teeth you will get the trays and put some of the whitening gel into them, then place the trays in your mouth. Leave the tray on for 30 minutes to an hour to get the best whitening results. This type of whitening is also useful as if you ever want to whiten your teeth again all you need to do is buy more whitening gel as you will already have the trays.
Both options are great and the choice between is entirely dependent on if you want to whiten your teeth in your Spanish Fork Dental office with our trained professions or from the comfort of your home while watching your favorite show.
What foods stain teeth
Having whiter teeth is a dream from many people. Everyone wants their smile to look pearly white and clean. While no one has perfectly white teeth there are some foods you can avoid eating to keep them looking whiter. These foods are not bad for you and many have healthy benefits. If you consume a significant amount of these foods you may want to look at cutting down on how much and how often you have them.
A very common beverage that stains teeth is coffee. Coffee contains tannins, which is a chemical compound that makes stains stick to teeth. This chemical compound in addition to the dark color of the coffee makes for the pair that will certainly stain your teeth. Similarity teas also contain tannins making them another substance that will easily stain your teeth.
Because of the acidicness of soda these beverages are more likely than others to stain teeth. In addition to this, soda is already unideal for your teeth, with the high sugar content it contains.
Highly pigmented fruits and vegetables, take beets for example, can stain your teeth because of the natural coloring they contain. This is unfortunate as these foods are highly nutritious and should still be consumed.
The best way to fight these stains is to brush your teeth, using the whitening setting if your tooth brush has it. In addition to this you can get your teeth professionally whitened. If you want a cheaper alternative there are cheap whitening strips or whitening toothpastes you can try.
Consult with your Spanish Fork Dental office dentist to get a professional option on what to do about whitening. Your doctor can give you suggestions for which brands you should try when whitening your teeth. They can also tell you how often you should use these treatments so you do not cause any damage to your teeth.
Taking care of your teeth around the holidays
The holidays season means there will be social events, performances, family dinners, and Christmas lights to look at. Many of these events include good food and fun memories. Eating all of these sweet foods can cause cavities if you do not take care of your teeth. Certain foods are also more likely to pull out fillings or mess up other dental work you have gotten done. It can be hard to be mindful of your mouth’s health through the holidays so here are some tips to help keep your mouth healthy.
First, make sure you remember to pack your toothbrush if you will be traveling this season. Forgetting your oral hygiene items is very easy to do if you are in a rush to pack. Put this on your list, and double check to make sure you have everything you need. Going a few days without brushing can lead to cavities forming or cause other problems.
Be aware of how much sugar you are eating. It can be easy to sit and chat for hours while snacking on holiday goodies. This means sugar could be sitting on your teeth for hours at a time. Drink water frequently, as this can help rinse your mouth and be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, more if you want or need it.
Besides cavities forming another thing to think about is what kinds of foods can mess up other dental work you have gotten done. Sticky treats can stick to fillings and pull them out or move them. Hard candies can chip or break your teeth, so instead of biting them try sucking on these treats. These treats are delicious and should be enjoyed over the holidays, just be careful and cautious when eating them.
If you have a dental mishap over the holidays give your Spanish Fork Dentist a call, and we will help find an appointment time that works for you. Be sure to check our hours and see what days we are open.
What types of candy can damage fillings and other dental work
Halloween night brings fun costumes, good times, and lots of candy. This is not always a good thing, especially when your child has had dental fillings or other dental work done recently. It is very common for children to get a dental filling pulled out on halloween night or in the following weeks as they eat their candy. Certain types of candy are more likely to do this than others.
Sticky candies are the most likely candies to pull out your fillings. These candies stick to your teeth and fillings like glue. As you chew the candy it creates a sort of suction between your teeth, the candy, and your filling. This suction is what causes the fillings to be pulled out. Other soft candies can do similar things and the sugar will get inside the grooves and ridges of your teeth. In addition to these candies pulling out existing fillings they can also cause new cavities to be formed, as the sticky candy can get deep into the ridges and grooves leaving sugar. Another candy to be careful with is caramel. Caramel can also get very sticky and can pull fillings out.
Hard candies will not pull out your fillings but they can crack your teeth if you are not careful. Try to avoid biting hard candy and only suck on them. Even if your teeth are not broken from the biting, it will still be hard on your teeth.
Enjoying the occasional candy or sweet treat is great, but you need to be careful especially when it comes to breaking fillings. Making an appointment so short notice can be difficult, so doing things to avoid this can save you trouble later on. If you do run into trouble or need any emergency care do not hesitate to call us, your Spanish Fork Dentist, and we will get you an appointment as soon as possible.
The process of getting a crown
Hearing your Spanish Fork UT Dentistry dentist say you need to get a crown on one of your teeth can be a super scary thought. Any big dental work can seem intimidating and something that you may want to put off. Getting a crown is not a bad thing though. It will help your health and relieve any pain or discomfort you may be feeling. A crown is just a sort of cap that protects a damaged tooth, usually you will get a crown after tooth fillings are not enough to protect your tooth. This crown is like a cap for your tooth to protect your tooth from further deterioration. After you get a crown it does not have any specific care routine other than normal oral hygiene.
Getting a crown takes two dentist visits to complete. First they will prepare the tooth from the crown and give you a temporary cap, then the real cap will be made.
During the first visit the tooth that will be crowned is looked at, x-rayed, and they will then mold your tooth so they can make the cap in a way that will not affect your bite. The tooth will be filed down then a temporary cap will be placed on it, as the permanent one will have to be made and this takes time. It usually takes about two weeks for this permanent cap to be made.
On the second visit you will get your permanent cap put on. First the temporary cap will be removed. Then the dentist will check and make sure the fit and color of the cap works. Then the dentist will cement the crown onto your tooth. There may be some slight sensitivity or a weird feeling in your mouth but this is normal and should go away within a couple of days.
How to Get My Kid To Brush Their Teeth
Every parent has the fun job of teaching their kids all about hygiene and taking care of yourself. One of the most important parts of hygiene that a parent gets to teach their kids is brushing their teeth. For some kids this is an easy task to do and you have no trouble with them. Some kids are very good at making sure their teeth are brushed and others are not so easy when it comes to the tooth brush. Teaching some kids to brush their teeth and to create a habit of doing so can be a daunting task. Here we have some things that you can use to try and get your kid to brush.
The first thing that you can do as a parent is to just set a good example. Make sure that your kids see or notice you brushing your teeth and this might make them want to follow your example. As part of being a good example you should talk to your kid about the importance of taking care of your teeth and the problems that your child could have if they did not brush.
Let your child get involved. What does this exactly mean? When you are talking about brushing your teeth let your child make all of the decisions. Go to the store and let your kid pick out their own toothbrush. This may give them some motivation to go home and use it. As best you can try not to brush your kids teeth for them. The sooner your child will do it on their own the faster your kid will create a habit.
If your kid still struggles to brush after buying the toothbrush of their choice try creating a reward system of turning on the favorite show so they can watch and brush at the same time. Either of these options should help your child stay motivated to brush.
We want your child to have healthy teeth so do not forget to bring them in every six months for their cleaning at Spanish Fork UT Dentistry. If you need to schedule your child’s cleaning just give us a call.
Recovering From a Root Canal
Did your Spanish Fork UT Dentistry suggest that you get a root canal to stop the throbbing pain that you have been having? We know that for some getting a root canal can seem very intimidating and super worrisome. Please do not be concerned because we are here for you and will be with you every step of the way. There are even things that you can do yourself to help with your root canal.
Root canal treatment can be essential to keeping a healthy smile and appearance. This process should take no longer than about 30 minutes to an hour. During this process we will remove all of the infected area of the tooth and then we will clean it to ensure that the infection is completely gone. After your tooth is thoroughly cleaned we will then seal the hole in your tooth using a filling or a crown. During this process we will ensure that you feel as little to no pain or discomfort as possible.
Once you are finished it is on to recovery. There are some things that you can do during recovery to ensure that you have the smoothest recovery. First take it slow with your mouth. Do not jump straight into eating any food you want. Ease your mouth and teeth into eating foods. If needed take your time with this. During recovery ice is your best friend so use it. This will really help manage your swelling.
Do not try to do too much. Listen to your mouth and body and let it recover. Don’t start exercising immediately. Give your body a few days to fully recover. Then after a few days you can slowly start incorporating exercise back into your daily routine. During your first few days of recovery make sure that you get tons of rest. This will really help your recovery process go by smoother and even quicker.
Also always be aware of how you feel. It can be normal to feel some pain during recovery but if you have any questions or concerns about your recovery process or the pain that you are feeling just give us a call and we will help you out.
Fluoride 101
We often hear the word fluoride when it comes to our teeth and our dental care but what exactly is fluoride? Fluoride is a mineral that naturally occurs in water and some foods. Fluoride is a mineral that can provide many health benefits. Fluoride is very good at strengthening bone density to some level but because of that fluoride is mostly known for helping strengthen your teeth.
Because of the health benefits for your teeth fluoride has been added to many dental products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and even small tablets that you can chew and swallow. In some cases more fluoride is added to our water to help strengthen our enamel. When you come into Dentist Spanish Fork for your cleaning we also offer a fluoride coating to put onto your teeth to help strengthen them.
Fluoride is very good for your teeth but unfortunately there are many myths about fluoride that make people believe false things about it. For example many people believe that fluoride is bad for children and this is completely false. Fluoride is great for kids and it will really help them strengthen their teeth. Many people also believe that fluoridated water does not help with your tooth decay again this is incorrect. Many studies have shown that fluoridated water really helps with tooth decay.
When it comes to fluoride just remember that fluoride is naturally occurring. Fluoride is very good for you and it will help with your dental health. Fluoride will help prevent tooth decay and cavities from forming by making your teeth stronger. Next time you see something that may be a myth about fluoride just do some quick research and you will find only positive things about fluoride.
If you are ready to schedule your annual six month cleaning where you can also add a fluoride coating or even if you just have any questions do not hesitate and give us a call today.