What To Do During A Dental Emergency
What You Should Know Need emergency dental help? Ascent Dental Group is here for you. We offer immediate, same-day care in Denver and Cherry Creek. And if you’re not sure what to do before you come to our office, read on for some dental emergency advice that will help you stay prepared. Dental Emergencies Can Happen At Any Time – Be Prepared! Nobody wants to experience a dental emergency, but they can happen at any time, and cause damage to your teeth and gums, the soft tissue inside your mouth, and injuries to your jaw. It’s very important to get timely care for a dental emergency in Denver, and some are more important than others. If you have a knocked-out tooth, for example, you need to have your tooth replaced within 1-2 hours to save it, so contact us immediately to get the emergency dental help you need. Even if the tooth cannot be saved, modern tooth replacements like dental implants can be used to repair the damage. Broken and chipped teeth are less urgent, but still need to be treated right away. A tooth can chip or crack at any point, often when eating hard foods or due to a dental trauma. A filling or crown may be used to repair it. Contact a dentist to discuss the severity of the issue. Toothaches are another common emergency that can happen at any time. A toothache can be extremely painful. If you have a toothache that continues after 1-2 days and gets worse, or you notice a toothache after experiencing dental trauma to your tooth, contact your dentist right away to get help. When Should I Contact A Dentist For An Emergency Appointment? Here are our guidelines – if you notice any of the following symptoms, contact a dental provider for help immediately. Swelling in the mouth or facial area – This may indicate a serious tooth infection, or major trauma to your face after a dental injury. Get in touch right away to get help from a dentist. Dental trauma – If your mouth has been injured in an accident from a slip or fall, a fender-bender, or a hard hit in a contact sport, it’s best to get a consultation with a dentist right away. Knots or swelling in gums – Bumps on gums can result from oral injuries, but can also indicate oral cancer. Serious swelling in gums often results from gum disease or tooth infections, so this is a major cause for concern. Serious oral bleeding – If oral bleeding doesn’t stop within an hour after an injury, you should see a dentist to treat your cuts, lacerations, and oral injuries. Loose tooth – Whether it’s caused by oral trauma or gum disease, a loose tooth must be splinted and re-attached ASAP to preserve your tooth and your oral health. Severe oral pain that won’t go away – Any significant oral pain that doesn’t go away after taking a pain reliever demands immediate attention from a dentist. Contact Us For Emergency Dental Help In Cherry Creek, Denver! We hope the dental emergency advice above will help you stay safe and save your tooth if you’re experiencing a serious oral injury. If you have any questions about a dental emergency, don’t wait. Contact us online or give us a call at 303-975-6987 to get the help you need.
Signs That You Are Flossing Too Much
Can You Floss Too Much & When to Floss We all know the importance of properly brushing and flossing our teeth to maintain good oral health and lengthen the lifespan of our teeth. After all, no one wants to lose their teeth to decay or periodontal disease (gum disease), so it’s important that brush and floss properly and that you don’t do over-do it by brushing or flossing too much. If you have questions about how often to floss your teeth or what the proper flossing method is, please contact Cherry Creek Dentist, Dr. Jeff Johnston at Ascent Dental Group. When to Floss Flossing just once a day is enough, unless you have something stuck between your teeth that can only be removed with dental floss. Because the bacterial colonies that create plaque take around 24 hours to form completely, flossing more than once per 24-hour period has no real benefits. If you floss more than once per day, serious damage can occur to your gum tissue, but it’s not only how often you floss that can cause problems. If you floss too vigorously or apply too much pressure on the gums, the gums can bleed and become painful. Eventually, over-flossing can destroy the gum line, which exposes more of the teeth’s root, eventually causing tooth decay and cavities. Tooth decay and cavities will lead to costly dental repairs that you definitely want to avoid. Flossing properly just once a day is the best way to ensure you’re taking good care of your teeth and gums, and if you have any questions about the proper technique for flossing, the team at Ascent Dental Group will be happy to show you how to floss properly. Some enthusiastic flossers use a saw-like motion to get their teeth as clean as possible. This improper flossing method can wear through the tooth’s enamel and can even result in periodontal bone loss in very extreme cases. Flossing improperly can cause your teeth to become loose and fall out. Please schedule a dental visit with Dr. Jeff Johnston at Ascent Dental Group today. If you need a dentist in Denver or a surrounding area, you’ve come to the right place. We will not only perform a thorough evaluation of your oral health, but we will show you to brush and floss properly to keep your teeth and gums as healthy for as long as possible.
Denture Myths and Facts
Don’t Believe These Denture Myths About 90% of people without teeth wear dentures. They’re an effective, economical, and attractive way to replace lost teeth. Unfortunately, people have many misconceptions about dentures. Here are a few of these myths and the actual truth you should know. Myth: I have to choose dentures or dental implants. Truth: Dentures and dental implants are often represented as alternative tooth replacement strategies, but the truth is that if you get dental implants you will likely have a denture placed on top of them. These dentures may be removable or permanently fixed in place. Myth: Once I have dentures, I can’t get dental implants. Truth: If you want dental implants, it’s best to get them right away, but even if you’ve had dentures for years, we may be able to put in dental implants. Myth: Once I have dentures, I won’t need to see the dentist. Truth: You won’t need to see the dentist as often after you get dentures, but you should still see the dentist once a year to make sure your gums are healthy and your dentures fit properly. Myth: Dentures are all the same, so cheapest is best. Truth: As with so many things, when it comes to dentures you get what you pay for. Cheap dentures tend to look cheap, fit poorly, and function badly. You will likely have a much worse denture experience if you buy cheap dentures. Myth: Everyone will know I have dentures. Truth: Although cheap dentures are easy to spot, quality dentures can look a lot like your natural teeth—or better. Nobody needs to know that you have dentures. Myth: Dentures always fall out when I eat or talk. Truth: Cheap dentures are prone to falling out when you eat or talk, but not all dentures do. If you get quality dentures and get them checked regularly, you will find they stay in place very well. Myth: I won’t be able to eat my favorite foods with dentures. Truth: Eating with dentures takes a little bit of practice, but once you learn how, you will be delighted with the range of foods that you can enjoy. Myth: Dentures only stay in if you “glue” them. Truth: Properly fitting dentures don’t need adhesive to stay in place, though it may still be recommended to help create a seal under the dentures to prevent food and drink from getting between the dentures and the gums. Myth: Dentures will make me smell bad. Truth: The causes of denture odor are the same as the causes of bad breath: bacteria growing in the mouth that are allowed to multiply because they are not regularly removed through proper hygiene. Clean dentures thoroughly and soak them overnight, and you won’t smell. If you’ve been told stories about what dentures are like, don’t believe hearsay. Instead, learn for yourself what properly-fitting dentures can do for you. Please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver today.
When Should Children Lose Baby Teeth?
Baby teeth play an important role in helping your children’s jaw develop. And they can be a great set of trial teeth for learning oral hygiene. But when it’s time for them to go, they have to get out of the way and make room for your child’s permanent teeth. When to Expect Your Child’s Teeth to Fall out Your teeth follow a pattern of first in, first out, so the first teeth to emerge, the central incisors, usually on the bottom, are also the first to fall out. This normally happens at the age of 6 or 7. However, it can begin much earlier for some children—as early as age 4 in some cases. The other teeth will follow, working their way out and back from the incisors, so that by the age of 12 your child will likely have lost all their baby teeth. Teeth Falling Out Early or Late: Should You Worry? Most parents only check out this information if they have concerns that their child’s teeth are falling out early or late. Typically, this isn’t a major concern, but there are some things to watch for. Teeth that fall out early may be due to a trauma your child suffered, typically as a result of a fall. The tooth may have turned discolored before it fell out. Here the concern is that there may also be damage to the permanent tooth that is developing in the jaw. There may also be effects on the spacing of permanent teeth as they emerge. In both cases, we will have to deal with those issues as the teeth emerge. Another issue that worries parents is the appearance of shark teeth: when permanent teeth emerge behind baby teeth that haven’t fallen out yet. This isn’t normally a cause for concern. The baby teeth will still fall out and the adult teeth will move into position. If, however, the baby teeth don’t fall out by the time the permanent tooth has fully emerged, it may need to be extracted. This will normally allow the permanent tooth to move into position. If your child’s permanent teeth are not properly guided into position because of early or late loss of baby teeth, orthodontics may be recommended. If you think your child might need braces, please contact a Denver family dentist at Ascent Dental in Cherry Creek.
Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Run?
Hopefully you’re running because you enjoy the sport, and not, say, because you are being chased by a bear. The problem is, tooth pain can ruin any activity, including running. So why does tooth pain often come from running. Increased Sensitivity The most common reasons why your teeth might hurt while running is because your teeth are always at the edge of hurting, but you only push them over the edge when running. For example, your teeth might be sensitive to cold, but only when you’re out running in the morning, drawing cold air into your mouth, do you notice it. Or you might have a cavity that doesn’t normally cause you trouble, but when you run the jolts from your steps irritate it. This can also happen if you have a filling that is made of metal amalgam or composite and isn’t strong enough to protect your tooth nerve from the jolts. Fortunately, porcelain fillings can be used to protect your teeth. Increased blood flow can also cause marginal damage to cause more increased pain. As your blood starts pumping, areas of irritation or damage can make their presence known. Running and Teeth Clenching Another common cause of tooth pain is that you may be clenching your teeth while running. Setting your teeth is normal and essential to helping your body maximize its force potential during running. However, there is a point at which you might be biting down too hard, putting stress on your teeth, your jaw muscles, or other tissues. This causes your pain. How Running Can Damage Teeth Unfortunately, the running that may be good for the rest of your body can be hard on your teeth, and this may be to blame for the tooth pain you experience. In addition to jaw clenching that can lead to gradual wear, a recent study suggests that many runners experience serious damage to their teeth. Damage to teeth can be caused by highly acidic—and sugary–sports drinks that runners consume. Along with this type of drinks, runners often supplement with carbs as they work out, such as energy bars and gels. And after running for a while, even a runner’s saliva can become acidic, eroding the enamel of the teeth. If you’re a runner who is experiencing tooth pain, it’s important to get it checked out quickly to prevent the worsening of damage, find the true cause of pain, and stop it forever. Please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver.
Treating White Spots on Teeth
Most of the time, we think of discolored teeth as being darkened by stains, but it’s actually very common for people to get discolored white spots on teeth. These are often early signs of decay. If properly cared for, they are not necessarily damaging, but many people find them unattractive and want to remove them to improve the appearance of their teeth. What Are White Spots on Teeth? White spots on teeth are demineralizations. This means that there is a defect in the enamel of the teeth, where some of the mineral content has been removed or hasn’t properly been built. Common causes of white spots include: Braces Oral decay Fluorosis Erosion Hypocalcification Tetracycline staining Trauma In some cases, demineralization may be a warning sign of poor oral hygiene, but in other cases, it may be unrelated. When this demineralization occurs, it changes the color and luster of tooth enamel. If you look closely, you will notice that the spots aren’t just a little whiter than the rest of your tooth—they reflect light differently, too. Treating White Spots First, we will talk about the causes of your white spots and determine whether changes to oral hygiene or lifestyle might be necessary to prevent future white spots. Next, we will discuss your treatment options. There are many ways to treat white spots. Sometimes tooth whitening can help your teeth blend in better with the white spots. Other times, the tooth might be damaged enough that it’s best to treat the white spot as the cavity it is, with a tooth-colored filling. We might try fluoride or amorphous calcium phosphate treatments to encourage remineralization of the white spots. A relatively new treatment for white spots was announced in 2009. Icon, short for infiltration concept, which allows resin—tooth-colored filling material–to be sucked into the tooth like water is sucked into a sponge. This resin is then hardened, creating a more uniform tooth appearance. If you are unhappy about white spots on your teeth, we can help. Please call (303) 975-6987 or email us for an appointment at Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver.
Dental Tips for Traveling
It’s important to continue to maintain your oral health even when traveling. Here are some tips to make sure you don’t run into dental trouble on your vacation. Before You Go Before traveling, especially if you’re traveling out of the country, get a dental checkup to make sure you won’t be facing any major problems while traveling. But don’t get your checkup right before you go. Give yourself a month before you go. This is sufficient to get most dental issues resolved before your trip. If you’re traveling outside the country, check on the state of dentistry and medicine in the area you’re visiting and whether it is recommended that you get care there if necessary. If you are traveling into the back country or to a place where dentistry may be more harmful than helpful, consider adding temporary dental cement to your first aid kit. This could help you manage a dental injury until you can get home and have your teeth treated. Pick up travel supplies to ensure you have all the tools for taking proper care of your oral health. Travel size toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental flossers are good supplies. Flossers are a little better than regular dental floss for travel because it’s easier to carry one around with you for use if you get something stuck in your teeth at a meal. While Traveling Maintain your typical oral hygiene routine while traveling. This is hard, we know, but you should try it anyway. Be aware of what you’re eating and drinking. It’s normal to drink more alcohol while traveling than at home. Make sure you’re staying hydrated so your body will continue to produce bacteria-fighting saliva. Also remember that wine is very acidic and can be damaging to teeth. Mixed drinks often contain sugar and acids, too. Beer is a better option. It’s not as acidic as wine or soda. Straight liquor with a water chaser is the best option. End every meal with water to rinse your teeth and prevent the growth of cavities. If You Have a Dental Emergency If you have a dental emergency, don’t panic. If you lose a filling, you can cover the area with dental cement. If you didn’t bring that, you can use wax. If you lose a dental crown, clean it out and clean the tooth where it goes. Make sure it is properly inserted, then, if you want, you can use temporary cement to hold it in place. If you crack a tooth, cover it with dental cement if you’re not in a place with good dental care, but see a dentist if you are. If you experience spontaneous or lasting tooth pain, you may have a dental emergency that needs treatment no matter what. If you have a fever, excessive bad breath, or the area around the tooth is red, swollen, and painful, you may have an abscessed tooth that could be life threatening. Ask at the hotel or a guide about getting the tooth taken care of. Hopefully, you won’t have any dental emergencies when traveling. As little as you may like the dentist at home, it’s much preferable to spending your vacation at the dentist’s office. If you are considering travel and want to schedule a checkup before you go, please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver.
How to Treat Halitosis
Halitosis is the scientific name of bad breath. Bad breath is primarily caused by mouth bacteria. If you want, you could try to schedule an appointment with Hollywood’s Halitosis expert, who, apparently, charges nearly $3000 to analyze your breath and offer you solutions. However, proper oral hygiene, including regular dental visits, can limit halitosis. What Really Causes Halitosis Halitosis is due to the presence of anaerobic bacteria in the mouth. Anaerobic bacteria don’t breathe oxygen like you, I, and most animals on this planet. Instead, they process their food with sulfur. This means that, instead of exhaling odorless carbon dioxide, they excrete sulfur compounds with a terrible smell. Preventing Halitosis The key to preventing halitosis is to reduce the numbers of these anaerobic bacteria growing in your mouth. Oxygen is toxic to them, so they like to grow places where it’s hard for oxygen to reach them, between your teeth, around your gums, and especially below your gum line. Here’s how you can keep them under control: Thoroughly brush teeth, including around the gum-line. Remember, though, don’t be too aggressive, or you can irritate your gums. Floss daily. Make sure you’re getting down to and below the gum line and curving around each tooth. Make your regular oral hygiene and checkup visits to the dentist. Stay hydrated. Saliva is the number one inhibitor of all bacteria growth in the mouth, and if your mouth is dry, bacteria may grow more easily. This should significantly reduce your bad breath, though you may still experience it somewhat in the morning—saliva production reduces at night, allowing bacteria to grow. Still Have Bad Breath? If you still have halitosis after following the above steps, it may be a sign that you’re suffering from a potentially serious condition. You need to make a dental appointment to make sure you aren’t suffering from gum disease–an infection below the gum line that allows anaerobic bacteria to thrive—or an infected tooth—which may be full of anaerobic bacteria. If necessary, we can recommend gum disease treatment or a root canal to take care of these problems. Please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver today for an appointment.
How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush?
The short answer is: more often. The American Dental Association recommends that you change your toothbrush 4 times a year (every three months), but most Americans only change their toothbrush once or twice a year. You should also change your toothbrush after suffering a bacterial illness. Why You Need to Change Your Toothbrush There are two main reasons why you should change your toothbrush. The first reason is that it becomes less effective. Bristles are designed so that they can effectively clean your teeth by properly rubbing up against your teeth and flexing to reach nooks and crannies around the gumline. As your toothbrush ages, its bristles lose effectiveness in these tasks, so you get less effective cleaning. This can increase your risk of gum disease and cavities. Another problem is that bacteria begins to build up on your toothbrush. Eventually, you will be reintroducing some amount of bacteria to your mouth every time you brush. It’s still a net benefit, but it diminishes. Care, Cleaning, and Special Circumstances In order to make sure your toothbrush lasts its full lifetime effectively, use the following care practices. Always brush gently. Brushing too hard not only irritates your gums (and can lead to receding gums), it can degrade your brush quicker. Rinse your brush thoroughly after use and let it air-dry upright. Be careful about using sterilizing methods on your brush. Some people recommend microwaving your brush, but this can damage the plastic and bristles. Chemical sterilizers should be ADA approved for the purpose. When traveling, cover your brush with a cover that allows air flow to dry it, and only use the cover when you’re actually traveling. Leave your brush uncovered at the hotel so it can get as dry as possible. Dispose of a brush after you have a bacterial infection. Otherwise, you could reinfect yourself. For more advice on oral care and a professional cleaning, please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver.
Reasons Why Flossing Is Important
Flossing is essential to maintaining your oral and general health. If you don’t floss, you are much more likely to suffer not only dental problems, but also serious health conditions that are not just expensive to treat—they are life-threatening. Why You Should Floss Dental floss cleans the space between the teeth and along the gumline. If you don’t floss, these bacteria can build up and alter the environment. Both brushing and flossing are designed to remove bacterial plaque. Think of plaque like a bacteria city. It’s shelter and protection. Where there’s plaque, bacteria can grow safely. Imagine the difference between someone moving to Denver today as opposed to moving here 200 years ago when there were no houses. When there’s plaque surviving, the bacteria population can grow easily. If you remove all the plaque, bacteria has to live like pioneers in a harsh environment, which slows their growth. If you don’t remove plaque, it can grow like Denver does today: adding new suburbs every year. And one of the places those new “suburbs” goes is between your teeth and your gums. As bacteria colonize here, they can irritate your gums, causing them to be red, painful, and bleeding, this is gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. As they grow, the acid they secrete will destroy your gums and separate them from your teeth. At this point, bacteria are not just in your gums, they’re entering your bloodstream and colonizing other places (including your coronary arteries, which leads to coronary artery disease and heart problems). At a certain point, your immune system becomes alarmed at the extent of the bacterial infection, and it calls in the “bulldozers” to tear down the bacteria cities. Unfortunately, these immune system bulldozers destroy not just bacteria, but also your natural tissues, too, especially your bones and the ligaments that secure your teeth, resulting in tooth loss. Flossing Is a Great Investment Above, we alluded to the role of gum infection, called periodontitis, in health conditions like coronary artery disease. This means that people with gum disease have higher medical costs than those without. How much higher? A new study shows that people who have other health conditions and are treated for gum disease have significantly lower annual medical costs than those who do not have their gum disease treated. The savings were about $2840 a year for diabetes, $5681 for cerebrovascular disease (blood vessel problems in the brain), $2433 for pregnancy, and $1090 for coronary artery disease. Preventing gum disease by flossing has minimal costs. If you use 18 inches of dental floss a day, you’ll use a little more than 4 44-yard rolls of dental floss. At a cost of $3.37 per each, your total flossing cost for the year is $14.07, which means flossing could have an ROI (return on investment) of more than 40,000%! Even if you add in the costs of dental cleanings, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, your annual ROI is at least 3-400% if you have coronary artery disease. And think about the savings if you never develop coronary artery disease! So, start flossing today, and if you are overdue for an appointment, please schedule one at Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver today.
10 Tips for Whiter Teeth
Discolored teeth can make you look unhealthy or prematurely aged. Here are 10 good tips for keeping your teeth looking whiter and healthier. 1: Fake It with a Tan or Lipstick If you can’t get your teeth white, you can always try making them look whiter. Certain shades of lipstick as well as a tan can make your teeth look whiter by comparison. 2: Quit Smoking Cigarette smoke discolors your front teeth unevenly and quickly. These stains are hard to conceal, and though they respond to teeth whitening, they come back in a short time. Worse, smoking threatens your oral health, increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth loss. It even makes it up to 10 times more likely that dental implants will fail. 3: Stop Binge Drinking Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol daily can improve your overall health, but drinking too much can stain your teeth. Red wine and dark beer are obvious culprits for tooth staining, but even white wine and pale beer are acidic and can stain teeth, effects that worsen over long drinking sessions that can dehydrate you and thus reduce saliva production. Mixed drinks also contain staining compounds or highly acidic ingredients. And if you make yourself sick, stomach acid is very bad for your teeth. 4: Use a Straw When drinking acidic or staining beverages, you can drink them through a straw to reduce the contact they have with your teeth. 5: Rinse with Water Now, you’re not going to be drinking your hot coffee with a straw, but you can reduce the amount of staining if you rinse your mouth with water after finishing a cup of joe. This is also a good way to follow up a soda or any meal. It’s better than brushing right after eating, which can erode softened enamel. For maximum effectiveness, you can rinse right away, wait half an hour, then brush. 6: Finish Meals with Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables Crunchy fruits and vegetables can remove food particles clinging to your teeth. They can also help you produce more saliva, which helps neutralize acids from bacteria feeding on food. 7: Or Finish with Dairy Dairy can also help neutralize acid in your mouth. Milk is a natural buffer solution that helps keep the pH at a level where enamel won’t be damaged. Cheese and yogurt are even better. The bacteria cultures in them have been shown to reduce the activity of harmful bacteria in your mouth, resulting in reduced risk of cavities or gum disease. 8: Visit Your Dentist Regularly In addition to your regular daily oral hygiene, regular visits to your dentist can help keep your teeth clean. Your dentist will also give them a gentle but polish that can help them look whiter. 9: Skip OTC Whiteners Over-the-counter whitening products can be somewhat effective at whitening your teeth, but in general they don’t do a good job. Ill-fitting trays and strips that give incomplete coverage tend to whiten only part of your teeth, leaving yellowish stains at the margins. They also don’t do a good job of keeping the whiteners off your gums, which can lead to irritation and bleeding. 10: Get Professional Whitening If you are still unhappy with the color of your teeth, professional teeth whitening can help. In-office whitening is good for a start, but professional-strength take-home treatments give the best long-term results. If you want to whiten your teeth in Denver, please contact Ascent Dental in Cherry Creek.
Why Oral Hygiene Is Important
Oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your health on a daily basis. It can have an impact not only on your oral health, but on your entire body. Oral Hygiene Can Prevent Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease is when your gums become infected. Bacteria start out clinging to the surface of your teeth, but if they can develop enough of a protective biofilm, what we describe as “plaque,” they can begin to grow colonies below your gum line. The plaque at the gum line can harden, making it impossible to remove with normal brushing and flossing, and this hardened plaque then becomes a protective shelter for bacteria to grow and develop more. Periodontal disease is accompanied by red, swollen, and bleeding gums. As bacteria grow into your gums, they attack the bone and ligaments that hold your teeth in place. You will notice your teeth starting to loosen. At this point, you are beyond the help of normal hygiene and you need to see a dentist. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the US, but it also threatens your entire body. Effects of Gum Disease on Your Body Gum disease has been linked to many dangerous health conditions. Bacteria enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body. There are studies linking periodontal disease with preterm delivery and low birth weight. Research suggests that periodontal disease can contribute to kidney failure, and that kidney problems also make periodontal disease worse. Periodontal disease has also been linked to heart disease and stroke. Weaker evidence even suggests a connection between gum disease and impaired lung function. Oral Hygiene Protects Your Teeth Oral hygiene can also help protect your teeth from cavities and their potentially deadly consequences. When a cavity progresses inside your tooth, resulting in an infected tooth nerve, what is called an abscessed tooth, the infection can spread to other parts of your body, such as your sinuses and even your brain. Thousands of people visit the emergency room and dozens die every year as a result of such infections. Don’t neglect your oral hygiene. Make sure you brush and floss at home. Make regular appointments with your dentist to ensure you are getting professional cleanings that can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you are overdue for a dental appointment, please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver today.
Electric Toothbrush vs. Regular
It’s possible to get good oral hygiene with both regular and electric toothbrushes. Both types of toothbrushes have benefits, so either one may be right for you. Benefits of a Regular Toothbrush A regular toothbrush has many benefits to recommend it, including: Inexpensive Require no electricity Convenient for travel Often more comfortable to hold These benefits make it the best place to start with your toothbrush. As long as you have a good brushing technique and spend an appropriate amount of time brushing your teeth, there’s no need to move to an electric toothbrush. Benefits of an Electric Toothbrush An electric toothbrush also offers some good advantages: Rotating head can achieve effective circular cleaning motion Smaller head may give better access Timer encourages you to brush for recommended time These benefits may make an electric toothbrush more effective for many people. When to Switch Brushes You should always be making your regular dental visits. When your dentist looks in your mouth, he or she can see how good a job you are doing to clean your teeth. If you aren’t doing well, your dentist may recommend that you try harder to brush for the recommended length of time (minimum of 2 minutes). However, your dentist may recommend that you move to an electric toothbrush if poor cleaning is caused by: Arthritis Hand injury or disease Strong handedness (left or right-handed) that keeps you from brushing properly on both sides Uneven or crooked teeth that may be hard to access with manual brush When your dentist recommends that you switch to an electric brush, you may save yourself significant cost in dental treatment by investing in an electric brush. Better cleaning can reduce your risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay. To learn more about the best hygiene practices for you and schedule a regular dental appointment, please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver, CO.
When to Remove Wisdom Teeth
Although most people seem to need their wisdom teeth removed, it’s not always necessary. It’s important to remember that removing wisdom teeth is not always recommended. However, there are many reasons why you might want your wisdom teeth removed, such as: They cause crowding and orthodontic problems They cause pain They have become infected They are hard to clean They are impacted (stuck) and can’t fully emerge Often, your dentist can tell your wisdom teeth will cause problems before they happen. It’s best to listen to your dentist in this case to avoid more trouble later on. Getting Your Teeth Checked You should be visiting the dentist at least once a year from the age of two, and by the time you’re a teen, you should have visits to the dentist twice a year just like an adult. During your regular visits, your dentist will check on the state of your wisdom teeth and look at them for any problems. At about age 16-19 is when your dentist can usually tell if there will be problems with your wisdom teeth. Some people may have obvious signs of trouble earlier than this, while others may not see any problems through their 20s. People who experience no problems with wisdom teeth by the age of 30 may be able to keep them for life. You may have all four wisdom teeth removed at once, or just some of them. Sometimes wisdom teeth left in today may have to be removed at a later date. Some dentists may recommend removing your wisdom teeth before the age of 20 to make it easier, but in reality they can be removed at any age. If you are experiencing problems with your wisdom teeth and want to talk about having them extracted, please contact Ascent Dental in Denver, Colorado today for an appointment.