Prevention

“Brush Your Teeth!” That was a term heard around my house, but what about flossing? Is it good enough just to brush? Proper and consistent brushing is very important, but flossing is even more important when it comes to preventing gum disease and tooth loss. Flossing cleans between the teeth where your brush cannot get, and food tends to hide and dental plaque develops. So if it’s so important, why do so many Americans not do it? According to recent studies, nearly half of all Americans say they do not floss. Here are some tips on how to floss better:
  1. Commit to flossing at least once a day for three to five minutes.
  2. Use at least 18 inches of floss and wrap most around your middle fingers to begin, gently flossing through the contours of your teeth.
  3. Think you cannot floss, or have a pain in your hands? Use a floss holder (disposable plastic Y-shaped device) instead of traditional floss.
  4. Consider purchasing a Waterpik, a new water flossing device on the market that power cleans between teeth and gums.
  5. Keep a travel size floss with you for post meal cleanings during the day.
Did you know that seeing your dentist on a regular basis for cleanings could help you become aware of a potential health issue?  Oral health provides clues to your overall health. Studies have shown that your mouth can provide early warning signs for more than 90% of all systemic diseases, diseases that affect a number of organs or tissues, or your body as a whole. By a simple visit to your dentist every six months for your bi-annual cleaning, you could either prevent, or become aware of potential life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease.
Your dentist will look for signs of gum disease, and upon treating, or working to prevent this illness, can help patients lower their risk by prescribing ways to prevent the disease from fully developing or evolving to another illness. According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), more than 80% of Americans are battling gum disease, making the need for ongoing dental care even more important now than ever. Are you next? Warning signs of gum disease that you should be on the lookout for:
  • Red, tender or swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
  • Gums that seem to be pulling away from your teeth
  • Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
  • Teeth that are loose or are separating from each other
Those who already being treated for gum disease or who are working with their dentists to prevent the disease, are taking steps in the right direction for overall good health.

In the same way preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid major car problems, taking care of your teeth could save you a lot of headaches (and toothaches) this year.

Here are some of the most common dental problems we see (and how to avoid them):

1. Gum Disease

Gum disease is typically caused by three factors: bad oral hygiene, smoking and genetic susceptibility. Periodontitis, whose symptoms can include constant bad breath, swollen or bleeding gums and loose or sensitive teeth is the more severe form of gum disease and can put you at greater risk for heart attack or stroke. Practicing good dental habits and making wise food choices are good prevention strategies, but if you already have gum disease, here’s a pain-free option to solving your problem.

2. Mouth Sores

The most common type of mouth sore is canker sores. Canker sores are non-virus based and caused by everything from stress to genetics, and typically take about 12 days to run their course. If you, or someone you know, has canker sores, you know how annoying and painful they can be. Fixing this issue has never been easier.

4. Tooth Decay (Cavities)

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth being left alone and given time to cause damage. Bacteria feasts on sugar and starch remnants left on and between our teeth. Good oral hygiene is your best bet on prevention, and parents should be particularly mindful, as cavities most often occur in kids. Once a cavity has formed, however, there are easy treatment options.

5. Enamel Erosion

Acid on the enamel of your teeth causes erosion. As the enamel is worn away, bacteria can then attack, leading to tooth decay. To prevent this, be sure to drink lots of water, cut down on acidic drinks and foods, and chew sugarless gum with xylitol. Here are some other great tips to avoid enamel erosion and keep your teeth white throughout the year.

Fall sports season is in full swing here in Nashville. The Titans are making Nashville proud across the river at LP field. The Predators have returned to Smashville. And little league and high school sports are keeping families busy each weekend. While we love the excitement and joy fall sports bring, we’ve also seen how they can quickly lead to injuries or broken teeth that no one smiles about (unless you wear it as a badge of pride like a hockey player). Whether you or your little one are hitting the field this weekend, here are a few simple ways to protect your teeth and avoid any pain or embarrassment: 1. Use a mouthguard that fits. The best way to keep your teeth safe while playing sports is to wear a mouthguard that fits properly. A good quality mouthguard that fits, not only protects your teeth, but also protects your cheeks and gums. Here’s a list of options if you’re looking for a mouthguard that will effectively protect your teeth. It’s equally important to consistently clean your mouthguard to prevent plaque build up. 2. Proper face protection should always be worn during higher contact sports. More elaborate protective equipment is recommended for sports such as football, baseball, hockey, wrestling, boxing, and lacrosse. If you’re a parent, you know how challenging it can be to encourage kids to always wear the proper protection, but doing so can prevent serious damage to their teeth.

How to treat a broken or lost tooth:

Despite our best intentions to prevent injuries, there will always be instances when people break or lose teeth. If you aren’t wearing protection and have a tooth knocked out, there are still ways to save your tooth. Sometimes a knocked out tooth can be re-implanted in the mouth if the conditions are right. If only a portion of the tooth is chipped, our cosmetic bonding procedure can quickly help correct the problem and have you smiling again. If the problem is more serious and you’ve lost a tooth, we can help you solve that issue too. For children who have a baby tooth knocked out, it shouldn’t be re-implanted as this can harm the permanent tooth bud that is still being formed. This means you should not try to put the tooth back in and instead, should seek advice from a dentist or a physician if there are other injuries. The best thing you can do to prevent long-term damage to your teeth after a sports injury is to be prepared. Our offices open early at 7:00 am on Monday to help you with any injuries that may have occurred over the weekend. If you or your child experiences a dental injury, you can contact us as soon as possible and we’ll do everything we can to help solve the issue.
One of the most common misconceptions about pregnancy is that it’s unsafe to visit the dentist while you’re pregnant. Over the years, people have assumed that visits to the dentist could cause issues with a pregnancy through the various x-rays and procedures. In all actuality, scheduling an appointment with your dentist is one of the most beneficial things you can do for you and your baby during pregnancy. While it’s important to work with a dentist who you trust and one that’s well informed on the proper treatment options for expecting mothers, visiting the dentist to ensure you’re taking care of your teeth during pregnancy is extremely important. To help combat some of the misconceptions, here are three primary reasons expecting mothers should visit the dentist during pregnancy. Hormone levels can cause Periodental Disease. During pregnancy, your progesterone hormone levels are on the rise, which can cause your gums to have a weird response to plaque bacteria -- a lot more plaque buildup than normal. Often times, the build up causes gums to become more tender, swell or even bleed. If left untreated, build up can lead to a more serious condition known as Periodental Disease. At Downtown Dental, all of these issues can be treated with our pain-free, laser dentistry option, making dental care even easier for soon-to-be moms. Cleaner teeth can reduce pregnancy issues for moms. Research shows that appropriate and timely care for dental issues during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy issues, such as preeclampsia, for expecting moms. By visiting the dentist to remove all the excess bacteria that commonly builds up during pregnancy, you can lower the risk of any possible pregnancy issues you experience that are common if left untreated. Taking care of your teeth helps you take care of your baby. Poor dental care has been linked to premature births and may interfere with a baby’s development in numerous studies. Clean teeth not only help prevent possible issues for moms, it also reduces the risk of premature birth or low birth weight for your baby.   As an expecting mom, this is one of the most special, yet crucial, times of your life and we’d love to do our part in helping ensure you and your baby are staying as healthy as possible. If you’re wondering what kind of dental work is safe to have during pregnancy, know that cavities and root canals can and should be treated to reduce the risk of infection. It’s also important to note that as an expectant mom, the best time to schedule your appointment to do these procedures is during your second trimester. In your third trimester, you may have a harder time staying comfortable during a long dental appointment. Hopefully, this post clarified any misconceptions about visiting the dentist during pregnancy. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment as an expecting mom, please feel free to give us a call or let us know when you schedule an online appointment.
As part of our effort to stay healthy from head to toe, we wanted to take some time this month to talk about heart and dental health. A few months ago, we shared two unconventional ways to commit to total body heath. Instead of spitting out statics from the latest studies, here is how and why taking care of your teeth help keep your heart healthy. How does taking care of your teeth affect your heart health? Understanding the connection between heart and dental health isn’t complicated. Most people know if you don’t take proper care of your teeth, diseases such as tooth decay and gingivitis develops. Also, you probably know that if you don’t regularly floss, your gums can become sore bleeding can result. Studies have shown the bacteria you’ve built up from poor dental habits can make its way into your blood stream. Traveling through the rest of your body, the bacteria can provoke inflammation or cause clogged arteries. Over time, these issues can develop into more serious problems. Why does it matter? Over time, the issues caused by bacteria in your blood stream can contribute to heart disease or other heart related issues. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 2,600 people in the U.S. die of heart disease every day. That's an average of one death every 34 seconds. In short… By not taking care of your teeth and gums, you’re ultimately opening yourself up for the potential to be diagnosed with heart disease or other heart related issues if dental bacteria enters the blood stream. It is evident from research that the two are directly related. How do you prevent this from happening? While regular dental exams and cleanings are necessary to remove bacteria, plaque and tartar and detect early signs of gum disease, you can play a major role in preventing bacteria build up: • Brush for two to three minutes twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste. Be sure to brush along the gumline without using too much force. • Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. • Use a mouth rinse to reduce plaque up to 20 percent. • Eat a healthy diet, low in refined sugars, to provide essential nutrients (vitamins A and C, in particular). • Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. At Downtown Dental, we want you to have more than a nice smile; we want you to live a healthy, vibrant life. That’s why we’re committed to total body health. Join us in staying healthy from head to toe and taking care of the most important part of your body: your heart.
Health & Smiles If you're like us, you're shocked at how quickly the middle of January arrived. It seems like just yesterday we were counting down the last seconds of 2012 and ringing in the New Year. Now, Target it already selling swimsuits in stores! Weren't we also just deciding our New Year's goals? While you may have made several resolutions for various areas of your life, we think it's safe to say that one of those areas is probably related to your health. In fact, the most common resolution Americans made in 2013 was to eat healthy and exercise regularly.

We care about more than just your teeth.

Our staff's commitment to educating and advocating our patients to their best advantage doesn't stop with your pearly whites. We believe committing to total body health will help our families, patients, neighbors, and, frankly, the city of Nashville live fuller, richer lives!

But, before you hit the play button on Physical by Olivia Newton-John, let us share two other ways you can commit to total body health in addition to hitting the gym this year from our area of expertise: your teeth.

Maintaining a clean mouth can keep your body healthy. There are several studies showing good teeth do more than keep dental bills low - they can help protect you from a whole host of health problems.

Clean teeth can help prevent heart disease.

This study published in the British Medical Journal analyzed data from over 11,000 adults. It determined that participants who reported brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% increased risk of heart disease versus those who brushed twice daily.

Clean teeth can keep your lungs healthy.

Could proper dental hygiene help you to breath better? Possibly so. Another study published in the Journal of Periodontology uncovered a suspected link between periodontal disease and pulmonary disease (such as pneumonia and acute bronchitis).

As you continue to achieve your 2013 healthy goals, don't forget that your teeth can play an important role in your overall health throughout the year.

Stay tuned over the next several months as we partner with our patients and downtown Nashville to help them commit to making 2013 the healthiest year yet.