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.

Does Pineapple Really Help Wisdom Teeth Swelling?

No one wants to get their wisdom teeth out and honestly no one is ever ready for wisdom teeth extraction. Most people have to go through this procedure. It is just only a matter of time until your doctor says you are ready. You can expect a few days of recovery from this procedure. If you are getting your wisdom teeth out soon you should be ready to expect some pain afterwards and a swollen face also. A trend that has been floating around social media has said that drinking pineapple juice before surgery can help with the swelling afterwards.

There is some truth to this but not much. Pineapple does have an enzyme called bromelain which is an anti-inflammatory enzyme. This enzyme can help with swelling however drinking pineapple juice is not the way to do it. Pineapple juice also has a bunch of sugar and acid which can be alarming for your teeth. By drinking an excess amount of pineapple juice you would be risking getting tooth decay from all the sugar and acid.

There have been no studies that show that drinking a large amount of pineapple juice to get the enzyme bromelain before tooth extraction actually works. There is really no evidence that supports this dental hack. This hack could really hurt you more than help because of all the sugar and acid.

If you still want to try this hack before getting your wisdom teeth taken out don’t drink the juice just eat the actual fruit. This is a much healthier way of getting all of the nutrients a pineapple has to offer.

If you do have questions about your surgery and how you can prepare for it just contact your Dentist Spanish Fork and he will help you out. He can give you suggestions on how you should prepare and if you have any other questions don’t hesitate just give us a call today.

Healing After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Recovering from getting your wisdom teeth removed can be hard. After your Dentist Spanish Fork Utah has taken those teeth out it may take up to two weeks to fully recover but most of the pain and swelling will subside within the first three days. There are things that you can do at home to help with your recovery. You can help your swelling and pain go down.

Within the first 24 hours of your wisdom teeth removal you will develop blood clots over where your wisdom teeth used to be. Within 2 to 3 days almost all of your swelling should be gone. If you have stitches in after one week your dentist will take them out. After this first week most of your pain should be gone but what is left will subside after the next week.

There are things that you can do to help your recovery move quicker and to help pain go away. After surgery before you leave your dentist or doctor should give you instructions on how to take care of your teeth for the next few days. While at home you can rinse your mouth with salt water to help clean the wound. When you are done do not spit it out rather just dump your head over the sink and let it wash out. For the first 24 hours you may be told not to rinse your mouth if so just wait to do this for about 24 hours.

The best way for you to manage your pain is to use your pain medication and take advantage of your ice. Ice can really help you. If you want your swelling to go down faster make sure you are using that ice.

After you get your wisdom teeth out you should avoid using straws, eating food that needs you to chew, and hot drinks. These things can cause complications in your recovery process if you use them. For the first few days you should be eating only soft foods that don’t require much or any chewing.

If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth removal please give us a call today.

What Toothbrush is Right For Me

The most important part about your dental health is taking care of your teeth and the tool you use to do it is your toothbrush. Your toothbrush is very crucial for your health so it is important that you make sure that you have a good toothbrush. But what is a good toothbrush? Are there toothbrushes that should not be used? What is the best toothbrush to use? These are some very good questions that need to be answered.

There are many different types of toothbrushes and it can be hard to determine which one is better. To start, look at and feel the bristles. Dental professionals suggest that your toothbrushes bristles are soft. Soft bristles will put less stress and pressure on your gums. When the bristles are soft it is also a lot more comfortable. If your toothbrush has soft bristles you are headed into the right track.

Most dentists will also suggest that you use an electric toothbrush. An electric toothbrush will do a lot more cleaning compared to a normal toothbrush. An electric toothbrush is great at cleaning everywhere in your mouth in an effective manner. These toothbrushes remove plaque more easily to ensure that you get a clean brush every use. They are also just easier to use. You do not have to scrub as hard because the toothbrush does it for you.

There are many different brands of electric toothbrush and all are great. The leading brand is Philips Sonicare. Many see this as the best toothbrush brand out there so if you are looking for a new toothbrush start with the sonicares and see if you like them.

Finding a toothbrush can be hard if you are struggling to find one you can always as you Dentist Spanish Fork his suggestions. If you have a toothbrush related question or any questions at all just give us a call today.

Sedation and Wisdom Teeth

When you are ready to get your wisdom teeth out you can have a few options on how the operation is done. Your Dentist Spanish Fork wants you to have a very stress free and comfortable procedure. For wisdom teeth removal we do offer IV sedation to provide a stress free environment for tooth extraction. IV sedation is not the only option though. If you choose to, you can be awake during the tooth removal.

If you are anxious and nervous about your wisdom teeth removal, having IV sedation may be a great choice for you. For IV sedation you will receive the sedative drug through one of your veins using an IV. Doing it this way will have the drug start working more quickly. You will not feel any pain and be completely comfortable during the whole procedure. After it is all over you will have limited memory of the tooth extraction. IV sedation will help with anxiety and ensure that the procedure runs smoothly. If you do choose to opt for IV sedation you will need a family member or friend to drive you home after the procedure.

You can also choose to be awake during your wisdom teeth removal. Even though you are awake you will be completely numb and you will not feel any pain. You are ensured comfort during the procedure. As part of getting your wisdom teeth removed you will receive local anesthesia to help numb your gums. During the procedure your tooth, jaw bone, and surrounding gums will be numbed to ensure a painless tooth removal.

Any option we provide for wisdom teeth removal is a comfortable and painless option. How you feel about the procedure can help you choose how it is done. Before you get your wisdom teeth taken out we will help you understand all of your sedation options. If you have any questions about wisdom teeth removal please give us a call today.