Tag Archives: Healthy Teeth

What To Do During A Dental Emergency

shutterstock_165405326Dental emergencies can be frightening and painful. They also seem to happen when it is least convenient like during the Holidays. Often people are unsure of what to do during an emergency so we have put together some guidelines to help get you through.

What constitutes a dental emergency?
-Bleeding That Will Not Stop
-A Loose or Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
-Injured Jaw
-Painful Swelling
-Painful Toothache

Who should you contact?
Always remember to contact your dentist right away if you experience a dental emergency. In the case, your dentist’s office is closed and you are experiencing unbearable pain or bleeding that will not stop, it is best that you go straight to the emergency room.

What can you do at home during a dental emergency?
-Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of hot water and rinse out your mouth to relieve irritation and swelling.
-If the tooth has been knocked out, put it in a glass of milk until you can see your dentist.
-Floss around the tooth if you are experiencing pain in one specific area. It could be possible something has gotten stuck between your teeth.
-Use a cold compress. This will help reduce swelling and numb irritation.

How to prevent dental emergencies?
-Brush and floss daily
-Avoid foods that are tough or very chewy
-Visit your dentist regularly

Dental emergencies are never fun, but knowing how to handle them can help relieve pain, stress and possibly save a tooth! Again, if you experience a dental emergency please reach out to us right away so that we can help.

How To Keep Your Teeth Healthy This Holiday Season

12-12-2013-the-holiday-food-fightWith the Holidays among us, we worry so much about the impact it can have on our body, we often forget the impact it can have on our teeth. A few factors contribute to this. First, people tend to indulge in sweets more often than they do the remainder of the year. Second, people tend to snack more throughout the day, and without a break, your saliva doesn’t have a chance to clean the bacteria off your teeth. Third, people travel more and tend to get out of their regular routine and can often forget to grab a toothbrush or forget to brush normally.

But don’t stress! We have tips for protecting your teeth while also enjoying the Holiday!

Avoid Foods That Stain Your Teeth
Think red wine, coffee, and soda. Try to avoid these as much as possible.

Try To Avoid Snacking All Day Long
Keeping eating to mealtimes is ultimately the best, but try hard to not snack too much throughout the day.

Drink Plenty Of Water
Drink plenty of water so the food you’re eating doesn’t stick and stay on your teeth for long.

Brush, Floss, and Rinse
Try hard to remember your toothbrush and mouthwash, but in case you forget always keep a small container of floss with you. That way you can clean in between your teeth after snacking.

Limit The Amount Of Sugar
It can mean making some tough decisions. But choose where you really want to indulge and try to pass on the other sugary foods.

Happy Holidays and healthy eating from all of us at Nicollet Station Dental!

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are a great tool to improve your smile at any age and offer immediate results.  Veneers can be used for an impressive number of cosmetic corrections, ranging from teeth whitening to orthodontic adjustments.

Portrait of mature woman sitting in countryside

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Resin veneers are thinner and require removal of less of the tooth surface before placement. You will need to discuss the best choice of veneer material for you with your dentist.

Few cosmetic dental treatments offer the comprehensive results and aesthetic benefits that veneers can provide. In one treatment, veneers can correct surface flaws such as chips and cracks well as change the shape of teeth, often making these enhancements an ideal solution for patients with proportionately small, worn, irregularly shaped, or pointed teeth.

Call and schedule your consultation today if you are having the below issues:

  • Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
  • Teeth that are worn down
  • Teeth that are chipped or broken
  • Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
  • Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

How To Kick Bad Breath!

rid-bad-breathHave you ever worried that you might have bad breath? Bad breath (also known as halitosis) is a condition that most of the time can be taken care of.  It can result from poor dental health habits and can be made worse by the certain types of foods you eat and possibly other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Poor oral health – If you skip brushing and flossing teeth daily, food particles can stay in your mouth, fostering bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This bacteria can cause major bad breath.

Alcohol – Our bodies consider alcohol as a toxin. Alcohol is converted into an acetic acid, which causes bad breath in addition to tooth decay.

Tobacco products – The strong smell of the smoke left behind from cigarettes or cigars can linger in your mouth causing halitosis.

Coffee – Not only can coffee stain your teeth, it can leave a stench in your mouth that is hard to get rid of.

Lack of H2O – When your mouth gets dry harmful bacteria can begin to grow. This can result in bad breath but also in tooth decay.

Garlic and onions – Garlic and onions both contain the compound allyl methyl sulfide. This compound is known to cause bad breath so try to reduce the consumption of foods that have these ingredients.

Medications – Some medications can cause bad breath, especially drugs that dry out your mouth.
So how can you fix bad breath?
-Brush your teeth and floss daily
-Avoid using tobacco products and limit alcohol consumption
-Avoid drinking coffee when possible
-Drink plenty of water
-Limit the consumption of foods that contain garlic and onion
-Replace your toothbrush
-Visit your dentist regularly

Hopefully, this helps! If you have any questions or concerns around your breath, always feel free to reach out and ask for our help!

Tips For A Healthy Smile This Halloween

dd608ba0b540fc42810fcc4e210ebe35Halloween is almost here and although it is a favorite holiday for most children, it can be a time when our teeth need extra attention.  Here are some tips on how to keep your teeth healthy during this candy-coated holiday.  

Avoid Certain Candies

Certain candies can stay in your mouth for long periods of time and this can increase the risk for tooth decay.  Avoid sticky candies that can stay stuck on your teeth for long periods of time.  

Hydrate!  

Drinking water with fluoride can help prevent tooth decay.  

Avoid Sugary Beverages

When teeth become in contact with sugary beverages such as soda and sports drinks, the risk of tooth decay increases.  Try to avoid these.  

Brush and Floss Daily

Brush twice a day and floss at least once a day.  Sugary candy can get stuck between the teeth so it is important that you take care of your teeth regularly.  

Limit The Amount of Treats

Don’t allow your children to have unlimited amounts of candy.  Limit the amount that they consume daily and this can help limit the contact of sugar with the teeth.  

Halloween can be a child’s dream, but can be a parents’ nightmare.  Instead of depriving them of Halloween treats, use this time as an opportunity to teach your kids about good oral habits.