Put Your Dental Health on Your Resolution List

Have you started thinking about your New Year’s resolutions yet? I know I have. As hard as they are to make and stick to, it is a tradition that I think helps us look toward the new year as an opportunity for change and improvement. That’s why I often encourage my patients to make their smiles part of their New Year’s resolutions. Here's how:

Four Tips to Get Your Smile Healthy and Keep it That Way

• Keep up on your dental visits. Not only do cleanings keep your teeth and gums feeling good, it gives my Lenexa dental team more chances to keep an eye on your oral health and stop problems before they get serious. That saves both your teeth and your wallet.

• Get serious about your oral hygiene routine. Your smile doesn’t only allow you to talk and chew. We sometimes forget that it is directly connected to the rest of your body. That means that your mouth is an easy way for bacteria to get into your bloodstream. In fact, if you have gum disease, your risk for everything from heart attacks and cancers to low birth weight babies and tooth loss goes through the roof.
• Don’t just eat for your body, eat for your smile! You know that sugary foods or refined carbs can be bad for your overall health. They can also be bad for your smile. Acidic drinks like sodas and sports drinks can too. Try eating more crunchy fruits and vegetables, drinking green tea and coconut water, and eating foods high in  calcium and phosphorus to protect tooth enamel and even help remineralize them.
• Feel self conscious about your smile? Do something about it this year! The truth is, even elective procedures like whitening or veneers can have health benefits. Feeling confident helps you move through the world with more power – and that can make you smile more, release more endorphins, and even stick to your New Year’s resolutions more effectively!  

Why not schedule a checkup and cleaning with my Lenexa dental office today? We’ll look at what is going on in your mouth and we can discuss your needs. Then all you have to do is sit down and plan how to keep the rest of your resolutions! I’d love to help my Lenexa, Overland Park, and Kansas City neighbors feel better about themselves in 2016!

The Nightly Grind - Battling Bruxism While You Sleep

As the holidays approach, so can major stress. I mean, really, we are all stressed enough as it is, so the stress of preparing for the holidays can put us right over the top. I often see more patients in these high-stress times than ever. Why? Bruxism.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is just a fancy word for clenching and grinding of teeth. And if you have a tendency to clench, you do it more in times of stress. Of course, there are other reasons people clench and grind, but stress is a big one. If your stress is off the charts, call my Lenexa dental office. You may want a nightguard to protect your teeth!

Do I Really Grind my Teeth?

Many people who grind and clench their teeth don’t realize that they do it. Often it takes a broken tooth, an observer, or a dentist to realize it is happening.

If you notice any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from bruxism:

• Worn, chipped, broken teeth

• Flattened tooth surfaces

• Exposure of tooth layers and loss of enamel

• Tooth sensitivity

• Jaw pain

• Headache and facial pain

• Earache from jaw muscle tension and contraction

• A scalloped tongue or irregular tongue edges

• Damaged mouth tissue

What Causes Tooth Grinding and Clenching?

We already mentioned stress, but there are other things that could compound your risk or cause tooth grinding and clenching even if you are a super-relaxed person. These causes include:

• Sleep disorders

• Stress, tension, or anxiety

• Misaligned jaw or poor bite alignment

• Acid reflux

• As a result of some diseases such as Parkinson's disease

• As a side effect of some medications

What Can I do to Protect my Teeth?

At my dental office in Lenexa, we want to help protect your smile. We offer comfortable, custom-fitted mouthguards to ease the pain of clenching and grinding and keep your teeth – and your precious restorations – strong and intact. Give us a call today and find relief!

Serving teeth clenchers and grinders in Lenexa, Overland Park, and Kansas City.

Dos and Don’ts of Denture Care

Many of our patients experience tooth loss, and while dentures can provide a solid solution for missing teeth, there’s still a maintenance routine that needs to be done to extend the life of dentures and protect overall oral health. At my Lenexa dental office we want all of our patients to get the most out of their dentures, so we’re here to talk about the dos and don’ts of proper denture care.

Why is Proper Care Important ?

Not only does proper denture care protect your investment in a tooth replacement option, but it also helps keep your mouth and any remaining teeth healthy. If dentures are not well taken care of, it could lead to an uncomfortable fit and even some serious oral health concerns. When a proper denture care routine isn’t followed, plaque particles can collect and lead to chronic bad breath, gum disease, and tooth loss of any remaining teeth.

How to Extend the Life of Your Denture

There are some common dos and don’ts of denture care that can either prolong the life of your denture or cause complications.

Dos

• DO rinse dentures after every meal to eliminate as many food particles as possible. If foodstuffs aren’t removed, they’ll begin to decompose and result in bad breath or gum disease.

• DO brush your dentures daily. Similarly to rinsing, brushing takes cleaning away food one step further. Brush gently at a 45 degree angle, just like you would your natural teeth.

• DO soak your dentures every night in water or a denture solution. Dentures need to remain hydrated, and soaking is the way to do it. Make sure you’re using a solution recommended by your doctor.

• DO visit your Lenexa dentist regularly. Regular checkups are important to ensure a proper fit and to monitor any possible signs of a problem.

Don’ts

• DON’T use harsh or abrasive paste or bristles. They can damage the denture.

• DON’T try to adjust or fix your own dentures.

• DON’T drop them. They’re very delicate and can break easily.

• DON’T let them dry out. Whenever you’re not wearing them, make sure they’re soaking.

For additional information on denture care, or to see if they’re a solution for you, give my dental office in Lenexa a call. We’ll work with you to see if dentures are right for you and discuss any and all treatments available.

Accepting patients from Lenexa, Overland Park, and Kansas City.

Healthier Mouth, Healthier You

We’re always talking to our patients about the importance of a proper oral hygiene routine of brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting my dental office in Lenexa regularly.  But did you know these guidelines can do more than just ensure a healthy mouth? They can also provide insight to other whole-body problems.

The Mouth/Body Connection

Many systemic diseases (whole-body diseases) have oral manifestations and often first show signs in the mouth. Some of these overall health problems are incredibly serious, such as:

• Heart disease

• Pancreatic cancer

• Leukemia

• Diabetes

Notice Any of These Signs?

If you see any of these symptoms, it’s important to call your Lenexa dentist as soon as possible. Early detection is key for the most successful treatment, so don’t wait. Serious signs include:

• Swollen, red, or bleeding gums

• Gums that have pulled away from teeth

• Chronic bad breath

• Ulcers

Steps to Better Health

In addition to a proper, at-home hygiene routine and regular dental visits, there are several ways you can help protect your smile against dangerous bacteria, and your body against serious disease.

• Water, water, water. When it comes to choosing your beverage of choice, select water whenever possible. It helps rinse away bacteria and acid in the mouth and hydrates your body.

• Say no to tobacco. Besides the effects smoking or chewing tobacco can have on your smile, using any form of tobacco can lead to overall health complications.

• Practice proper nutrition. Eating well-balanced meals is important for proper body function as well as optimal oral health. Avoid snacking throughout the day, especially sticky, sugary foods.

Your dentist could be the first line of defense against many serious diseases. If you’re experiencing any of the signs above, or if you haven’t seen a dentist in awhile, give my Lenexa dental office a call. We’ll perform a thorough exam, talk with you about any potential problems we find, and stand with you through your individualized treatment plan. Your health is the most important thing to us, and we’ll help any way we can.

Welcoming patients from Lenexa, Overland Park, and Kansas Cit.

Dentistry Through The Ages

Just as with all medicine, dentistry is an ever-evolving field. At my dental office in Lenexa, we’re constantly updating technology and improving our knowledge to better serve patients just like you.

But imagine if you lived 200 hundred years ago. What was dentistry like then? How about during the middle ages? Would the dentists of those times have been able to replace your lost tooth? Would they have been able to fill a cavity? What would they have recommended you do for a toothache?

Let's take a look.

Dentistry in the middle ages

For the common folk, dentistry consisted mostly of self-care and occasional visits to practitioners or barber surgeons who treated a toothache by pulling the offending tooth and  suggested things like kissing a donkey to cure the toothache. It also wasn’t unheard of to recommend concocting a mixture of newts, lizards, and beetles into a powder and applying it to the painful tooth throughout the day.  

The truth is, in spite of inconsistent professional care, most medieval commoners had clean, white teeth. Why? Their diets were similar to what a modern dentist would recommend for a healthy mouth: One very low in sugar and refined flours and high in calcium.  They also used all kinds of fairly effective tooth cleaners and mouth rinses, including a paste made from crushed peppermint and rock salt.

Dentistry in the 19th Century

Dentistry didn’t begin to resemble what we think of as dentistry today until the early 18th century, and by the 19th century, dentistry began to seem quite modern. European surgeons had begun experimenting with implanting teeth; dentures were being created out of both human teeth, the teeth of animals, and porcelain; and nitrous oxide, the same laughing gas we sometimes use today, was introduced by Humphry Davy around 1800. In 1840, the Baltimore College of Dentistry, the first dental college, was founded by Chapin Harris and Horace Hayden. It was the first step into dentistry as we know it today.

Our Dentistry

At my Lenexa dental office, we’ve continued to adapt and improve our services as the advancements in dental care improve. We always ensure the utmost in comfort, technology, and service. To schedule an appointment and experience the difference, give us a call today!

Welcoming patients from Lenexa, Overland Park, and Kansas City.