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Cosmetic Dentist - Antioch
5357 Mt. View Road
Antioch, TN 37013
(615) 731-8960

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Posts for: July, 2010

When should a child start using toothpaste?

Parents know that taking care of small children is a full-time job - and along with diaper changes, bath time, and medical checkups, parents also need to take care of their children's teeth.

Birth to 18 months: no toothpaste required

Start cleaning your child's teeth as soon as the teeth begin to come in - but you don't need toothpaste at first. For babies younger than 18 months, the best way to clean your child's teeth is with a wet cloth or gauze - without toothpaste. Gently rub your child's teeth and gums with a cloth over your fingertip - this, along with nursing and/or drinking water, is all the oral hygiene that your child needs at the infant stage. Once your child has more of a "full set" of teeth, you can use a small, soft toothbrush to brush your child's teeth with water.

When to start toothpaste? 18 months

In general, children should not use toothpaste until they are at least 18 months old - and when you do start using toothpaste, make sure it is a safe "children's toothpaste" made especially for young ones. Young children have different dental needs than grown-ups - and children's toothpaste is made for this purpose.

What to look for in a children's toothpaste:

-Safe to swallow: Most young children tend to swallow while brushing, rather than spitting out the toothpaste - so make sure that your children's toothpaste is formulated with this in mind.

- Use only a pea-sized amount: Don't use too much toothpaste - just squeeze a small, pea-size (or smaller) amount onto the toothbrush. Your child doesn't need much toothpaste to be effective, and you don't want your child to swallow too much toothpaste.

- Consider low-fluoride children's toothpaste: Fluoride is an important element of keeping teeth healthy and strong, but too much fluoride can be harmful for young children. Talk to your dentist if you have concerns about fluoride in your child's toothpaste - several varieties of children's toothpaste have lower amounts of fluoride or are fluoride-free.

- Fun flavors: Try some different flavors of toothpaste and see what your child likes. Some children - especially at the toddler stage - are very picky about flavors and might be reluctant to use a certain flavor of toothpaste. So be prepared to buy a few different varieties of children's toothpaste and see which one is your child's favorite.

Remember: brushing your child's teeth is part of parenting, and you need to start at a young age. By taking the time each day - before bedtime and in the morning - to clean your child's teeth with a specially-formulated children's toothpaste, you will be helping to create a lifetime of healthy dental habits and happy smiles.

Should I use Fluoride?

Some people have concerns about fluoride - either in their toothpaste or in their drinking water. Let me do what I can to help relieve you of those concerns. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring chemical compound that is used in dental care as a way to prevent tooth decay. Most toothpastes contain fluoride, and many visits to the dentist will include a fluoride treatment. In addition to its use in dental products, many communities across the U.S. adjust the fluoride levels of their drinking water supplies as a way to bolster the oral health of the public.

The American Dental Association (ADA) stands in favor of using fluoride as an essential component of public health and as a way to reduce the harm caused by tooth decay. Simply put: fluoride results in fewer cavities and lower long-term dental care costs.Is fluoride safe?The American Dental Association (ADA) has been a big supporter of fluoride in drinking water (and fluoride in toothpaste and other dental care products) for many years. Several decades of peer-reviewed scientific research has demonstrated that fluoride is one of the most essential components of improving the oral health of Americans during the past 50 years. Simply put, as best as we can tell from the available, credible scientific research, fluoride is safe and is beneficial - the improvements in the health of our teeth far outweigh any risks of using fluoride.

What about people who say that fluoride is dangerous?

During the past 60 years, fluoride has proven to be a big success in reducing tooth decay and cavities, and dentists are big fans of fluoride. In recent years, some activist groups have been making some claims about the supposed health risks of fluoride and objecting to the use of fluoride in drinking water. Many of these fluoride opponents are using suspect research or scare tactics, or are just opposed to chemicals as a matter of principle - and many of the fluoride opponents' arguments are based on myths and misconceptions. Is fluoride "unnatural?"Isn't it a chemical? Fluoride is a chemical, but it is naturally occurring. There are small amounts of fluoride that occur naturally in drinking water, food, and many other substances that people live with every day. There's nothing "unnatural" about fluoride.

In fact, some communities have to actually reduce the level of fluoride in their drinking water in order to reach the optimal level to improve dental health - often, when a community fluoridates its water, there's no "adding" of fluoride at all.Should children use fluoride? Parents of small children should be careful not to let their children use too much fluoride - when young children swallow too much fluoride, it can cause dental fluorosis, a type of tooth discoloration. (This is one of the reasons why we teach kids not to swallow their toothpaste.) Use a specially-formulated children's toothpaste that has a lower amount of fluoride. According to the ADA, fluoride in drinking water has not been proven to be the cause of fluorosis - as there are a number of possible causes. Fluorosis occurs in rare cases and usually only results in minor complications - and again, the consensus among dental health professionals is that the benefits of fluoride far outweigh these rare complications.

Where can I get more information? The American Dental Association has a detailed article called Fluoridation Facts with all of the relevant research, questions and answers about fluoride and dental health. This is a great resource if you have any concerns about fluoride and want to learn more - it's a fair, evenhanded look at the issues and the facts.


When Good Breath Goes Bad

According to the National Institutes of Health, poor oral hygiene is the most common reason for bad breath. And all the mouthwash, breath mints, and breath fresheners in the world can't banish bad breath when the source is bacteria rather than the food you eat.

If you've been having trouble keeping your mouth feeling fresh and smelling good, this article will help you locate the real source of the problem...and it may not be the onions you ate at lunch.

How do you know if your breath smells bad? If you're lucky, someone may have the courtesy (and courage) to tell you to your face. But more often than not, other people will simply flinch, turn away, or step back a pace when you're talking to them.

To avoid the embarrassing situations described above, you can use these two techniques to give yourself a breath checkup and help you determine what's making your mouth smell so unpleasant to yourself and others.

- Breath Test #1 - Front (Anterior) Tongue Test - Lick your wrist. Then wait about five seconds while the saliva dries somewhat. Smell your wrist. If it smells bad, you have probably recently eaten something stinky. Simply brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, or popping a breath mint should take care of the problem. Chewing on fresh parsley is another effective way to fight temporary bad breath

- Breath Test #2 - Back (Posterior) Tongue Test - Take a spoon, turn it upside down, and use it to gently scrape the very back portion of your tongue. (It's common that this test can cause an automatic 'gag' reaction, so be prepared.) A thick whitish material will be on the spoon. Give it a sniff. If the smell is sharp and unpleasant, you most likely have halitosis, the kind of 'bad breath' that is caused by poor oral hygiene and that won't respond to simple brushing and mouth wash.

If you failed Breath Test #2, you're not alone. A research study conducted by the University of Buffalo in New York concluded that one in four adults has halitosis, and some estimates suggest that as many as 90 million Americans have bad breath related to oral hygiene.

When the white substance on the back of your tongue smells bad, the likely culprit is a bacteria associated with gum disease is. The bacteria's name is actinomyces, and it feeds on protein particles on the teeth and gums, producing foul-smelling sulfur gases in the process. Actinomyces is also the bacteria responsible for giving soil its 'dirt' smell and envelopes your mouth a sharp, pungent aroma.

Bacteria growth occurs when you fail to pay attention to your oral hygiene. In fact, flossing daily and brushing your teeth and tongue twice a day can greatly reduce bad breath as well as make it more difficult for bacteria to grow. BUT...

The same bacteria that cause gum disease, tooth decay, and abscessed teeth are also responsible for halitosis. Regular check-ups and professional cleanings are the only way to really ensure that your mouth is healthy and your breath is sweet-smelling.

 


I have receding gums - what can I do?

 

Receding gums are one of the most common dental problems - especially after the age of 40. So if your dentist tells you that you have "receding gums," don't feel bad - you are not alone!Thing of receding gums as being similar to having a "receding hairline" - it means that your gums are slipping backward, away from their regular position. ("Receding hairlines" are also more common after the age of 40.) Receding gums are a problem because they result in the nerves of your teeth getting exposed - and this can lead to pain and infection. Here are several common causes of receding gums, and ideas for what to do about them: - Overly aggressive brushing. If you're one of those people who likes to scrub your teeth really hard, this could be the reason why your gums are retreating. When you brush too hard, it scares away your gumline - and this can lead to the same dental problems that you were trying to avoid by brushing!

What to do: Lighten up. Use a toothbrush with softer bristles. Or buy an electric toothbrush that will provide a steady, consistent brushing motion.- Not enough brushing and flossing. The opposite end of the dental care spectrum can also lead to receding gums. If you don't brush and floss often enough, bacteria can build up between your teeth, leading to problems with the underlying bone structure of your mouth. What do do: Brush, brush, brush - and floss, too. A lot of people neglect to floss because they feel like they don't have time, or because they don't know how. You've got to discipline yourself to make oral hygiene a regular part of your day. Every night before bed and every morning when you wake up - brush your teeth. Your gums (and your fellow human beings) will appreciate it!

- Gum disease. Often, receding gums can be a sign of a more serious problem like gingivitis or other diseases of the gums. What to do: Make sure to see your dentist regularly - every six months for a checkup. If you're a regular visitor to your dentist's office, he/she can help you keep track of the health of your gums, and can help to correct any serious issues. If you do have gum disease, you might need to be referred to a periodontist, a dental professional who specializes in diseases of the gums.

 

Other causes. Do you have braces, or are you undergoing other orthodontic work? This can contribute to receding gums, especially for older adults. Do you have any piercings in the lip or tongue? These piercings can rub against the gums, causing the gums to recede. Do you chew tobacco? This can be harmful to the gums as well. Finally, receding gums can also be a sign of eating disorder - repeated vomiting can damage the gums and cause them to recede.

 

What to do: Talk to your dentist if any of these causes sound familiar - receding gums can be caused by a number of complex factors; it's not always just a matter of changing to a softer toothbrush. What if none of these solutions work? What else can I do to help solve my problem with receding gums? If your receding gums are creating severe discomfort and inconvenience in your life, and none of the other solutions seems to help, you might ask your dentist about "gum grafts." Gum grafts are a type of surgical treatment for extreme cases of receding gums. In a gum graft surgery, a periodontist takes some tissue from the roof of the patient's mouth and implants it onto the area of the gumline that is receding. Another treatment that is still being researched is called "Guided Tissue Regeneration," or GTR. This involves taking some blood cells from the patient and creating a collagen-based membrane which is then placed over the affected area of the gumline. Results from a recent Tufts University study have been promising, but this treatment is not yet widely available. So if you have receding gums, don't worry - it's a common dental problem and there are a number of options for treatment.

 

Talk to Dr.Glasmeier about how you can be treated for receding gums.

 


When First Impressions Count: Let Your Teeth Do the Talking

 

When you need to make a good first impression, make sure your teeth are working for you and not against you.

Have you ever heard the expression 'a million dollar smile'? It's been applied to everyone from movie stars (like Angelina Jolie) to motivational speakers (like Tony Robbins). And that's because a great smile can be worth a million dollars as far as making a great impression.

In Psychology Today magazine, Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco, and a pioneer of research on facial expressions, revealed the importance of smiling. "We (respond to) a smile from 30 meters away," he says. "A smile lets us know that we're likely to get a positive reception, and it's hard not to reciprocate."

In other words, when you smile at someone, they want to smile back at you. That immediately sets up a positive interaction, even before a word is spoken. What a great way to start off a job interview!

 

All Eyes Are On Your Mouth

It's a simple fact of life: how you present yourself to others is essential to your success in both personal and professional situations. When you meet a prospective employer or have a chance encounter with a prospective 'love connection,' the other person will form a first impression of you in a matter of seconds.

Your smile can be an important tool for making that first impression a good one.

In a job interview or on a first date, you'll almost certainly be talking. And as well as focusing on your words, the person on the other side of the conversation will also be focusing on your mouth. With a brighter smile, you instantly stand out from the crowd. Others will be drawn to you and want to listen to every word you have to say.

A bright white smile and a set of healthy, well-cared for teeth and gums say many things about you. Perhaps the most important thing they convey to others is that you take pride in your appearance and care about your health.

Speak with Confidence

People with teeth that are stained, discolored or otherwise not 'in shape,' may feel self-conscious. So they refrain from speaking freely. Or they may unconsciously put their hands in front of their mouths when they talk. But when your teeth and gums are healthy, you have the confidence to express yourself. And confidence is a very appealing characteristic.

Missing, crooked, and broken teeth are problems for lots of people. Sadly, many of them don't take the time and effort to do anything about it. And that's a shame because modern dentistry has so many amazing techniques and procedures that can help.

It really starts with regular check-ups and cleanings. That's the baseline of a healthy, happy smile. After that, there's practically no end to what can be done to make your mouth look and feel great.

Tooth whitening can banish coffee stains and remove the yellow left behind from smoking. Invisible braces can remove gaps and get your teeth in line. Perhaps you're a candidate for an 'extreme makeover' with dental implants or veneers. Whatever you choose, you can be certain that the investment you make in a 'million dollar' smile will pay for itself a thousand times over.


You Really Can Live Better Through Dentistry

 

Did you know that a healthy mouth means a healthy body...a healthy heart...even a healthy sex life? It's true! And just by changing certain habits related to oral hygiene you can improve the health of your mouth and teeth and lessen your risk for a whole host of illnesses.

"You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth any more than one can be healthy with an infected foot," says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a former clinical instructor at the Boston University Dental School.

He's absolutely right.

Researchers at the ADA have found that periodontitis (the advanced form of periodontal disease that can cause tooth loss) is linked with health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. It appears that bacteria in the mouth may cause inflammation throughout the body, including the arteries. Gingivitis (oral inflammation due to bacteria) may also play a role in clogged arteries and blood clots, possibly increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

 

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Love Life

 

There's nothing like bad breath to turn off the opposite sex. 22-year-old UK superstar Joss Stone famously remarked, "There's nothing worse than bad breath. I've snogged people with bad breath who smelt of (cigarettes) and beer and it made me feel sick.

Joss isn't alone. A report from a US mouthwash company revealed that nearly three quarters of the people polled said they wouldn't let a person they found attractive kiss them if they had bad breath. Plus, simply worrying about your partner smelling and/or kissing your malodorous mouth can take the joy and spontaneity out of your sex life. Good oral health literally 'takes the worry out of being close' as they used to say in the Ban deodorant ads. So improving your sex life means doing things that improve your blood flow, and that means taking care of your teeth and gums.

Attention Mothers-to-Be

Pregnant women with periodontitis may be at increased risk of delivering preterm and/or low-birth-weight infants. The theory is that oral bacteria release toxins, which interfere with the growth and development of the baby. At the same time, oral infection can cause a mother to produce labor-triggering substances too quickly, potentially triggering premature labor and birth.

And some studies suggest that periodontitis can make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar!

Yikes!

Your Dentist is Also Your Doctor

Your mouth is a window into what's going on in the rest of your body, detecting the early signs and symptoms of systemic disease -- a disease that affects or pertains to your entire body, not just one of its parts. Many diseases, including diabetes, often first become apparent as oral problems. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90% percent of all systemic diseases produce oral signs and symptoms.

So what does the health of your mouth have to do with your overall health? In a word, plenty. It's just one more reason that regular dental check-ups are so important.

 




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