Tag Archives: minneapolis dentist

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!

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!

Dental Implants

download-2Replacing a lost tooth is important for many reasons.  It restores the function of your mouth, maintains the alignment of the surrounding teeth, and helps preserve the facial profile.  Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or many teeth when being used with a bridge or denture.  When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are the closest thing to a natural tooth.

So what is a dental implant?  A dental implant is a tooth root replacement.  A crown, the portion of a tooth seen in the mouth, attaches to the implant.  This looks, feels and functions like a real tooth.  Over time a missing tooth left untreated can have a large impact on the entire mouth.  Our teeth are important placeholders for each other and those adjacent to a toothless gap can move to fill the space and throw off the entire alignment of your mouth.  It’s important to note that in order to implant successfully, there must be a sufficient amount of healthy jawbone and healthy adjacent gums and teeth.

So why choose a dental implant over a bridge?
-Aesthetics
-Durability
-Function
-Remodels and rebuilds the jaw bone
-Helps support the integrity of the neighboring teeth
-Decreases risk of gum disease compared with a bridge
-Completely replaceable by removing the crown, keeping the implant in place

Things to note:
-Implants are more expensive than a bridge, but more durable, so it can be more cost effective over time
-Requires minor surgery and healing time before the permanent crown can be placed

If you have any questions about getting a dental implant, let us know!  We are here to guide you in the right direction.

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.

When To Be Concerned About A Toothache

relieve-toothache-1Toothaches can be very painful and are not uncommon. Symptoms can include sharp or dull pain in and around the tooth, bleeding from the gums, a facial rash, jaw pain, trouble chewing, and possibly even chest pain. Many people wonder if a toothache is something to be concerned about and what actions to take.

 

You should be concerned about a toothache when
-The toothache has lasted longer than 1-2 days
-The toothache is causing severe pain
-You are experiencing a fever or chills
-You have an earache, or pain when you open your mouth

Many things can cause a toothache. What might be causing the pain?
-Gum Disease- Gingivitis is a cause of not practicing good oral hygiene. The gums can become swollen and begin to bleed causing pain around the tooth. Make sure to brush and floss regularly to avoid this issue.
-Abscessed Tooth- When a tooth is left untreated it can become infected and begin to swell causing severe pain. This is a serious problem that should be discussed with your dentist immediately.
-Tooth Decay- A cavity or tooth decay can begin to cause pain in the tooth if left untreated. Left untreated this begins to cause pain in the tooth so make sure you schedule an appointment for a filling.
-Cracked Tooth- This is obvious, but having a cracked tooth can become very painful. Discuss with your dentist on options such as a root canal, on ways to fix cracked teeth.
-Allergy or Sinus Issues – When sick, your mucus lining can swell. This causes blockage in your nasal passages, which clogs your maxillary sinuses located in your cheekbones. When these get clogged, it traps bacteria in your mouth and can cause a toothache.
-Wisdom Teeth- If you are wondering if this might be the cause of your toothache, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with your dentist to confirm this is correct and what options are available.

What to do When You Have a Toothache
-Take a Painkiller
-Apply a Cold Compress
-Apply Numbing Gel
-Go to the Dentist
-Keep Your Teeth Clean

If you are currently experiencing tooth pain, contact us immediately. We will help assess the situation and determine what is causing the pain and what actions are needed to fix the problem.

Patients First

At Nicollet Station Dental, we are dedicated to convenience, complete comfort, and dental health for all of our patients.

We offer convenient hours in order to accommodate all schedules. We are open 6 days a week and offer early morning, lunch hour, evening and weekend appointments.

Our patient’s comfort is important to us and we want your experience at our office to be enjoyable. We offer bottled water, a variety of coffees and teas, a comfortable reception area, televisions in the ceilings of every treatment room, pillows, blankets, and hot towels for freshening up after dental treatment.

We feel our patients deserve the best in dental health and we are proud to offer our patients the latest technology that dentistry has to offer.
-Digital x-rays reduce radiation and give instant diagnostic radiographs.
-Intra-oral cameras allow you to see what your dentist sees on an overhead monitor.
-Diagnodent laser instruments help detect decay that is not visible on an x-ray or clinically.
-Televisions above each dental chair, nitrous oxide gas, and headphones are available to help your time in our office fly by.

For available appointment times, request an appointment online, call us at 612-338-5557, or send an email to info@nicolletstationdental.com and we’ll respond right away!Whole Team

Benefits of a Brighter Smile

woman smiling Are you sick of feeling self-conscious because of the color of your teeth? Well, we can help here at Nicollet Station Dental!

We offer both in-office and at-home tooth whitening options. Our in-office option takes about 2 hours and offers immediate results. Our at-home whitening system is often just as effective and can be done at home. Dramatic results with our at-home whitening system are often seen in as little as 10 days. Time, diet, and certain oral habits may stain and discolor your teeth leaving you feeling embarrassed of your smile.

Here are some of the benefits of brightening up that smile:
-Self Confidence- The better we feel about ourselves in front of the mirror, the more confidence we portray to others. when we venture out into the world. When you look good, you feel good.

-Healthy Appearance- A person’s smile has a big influence on how we are perceived on a first impression. It also shows others you take pride in your appearance. When we have brighter youthful looking smile it conveys health to others.

-Stand Out In A Crowd- A whiter, brighter smile will draw others attention to you.

-Success- A bright white smile can show the world they are ready for success. Feeling better about yourself, you will see a boost in work performance as well.

If you are feeling self-conscious about your smile, ask us at your next appointment about our different options on how to whiten your teeth!

What Your Tongue Can Tell You

tongueYour tongue can reveal surprising secrets about your health. Without proper dental care, your tongue can develop some conditions that can eventually lead to health problems down the line. Check out these common tongue-related health conditions to see if your mouth might hold the secret to what’s bothering you.

 

Strawberry Tongue
A glossy, bright red tongue may be a sign your body is lacking iron or B12. This can be more common for vegetarians, as B12 is found in meat.

White-Colored Tongue
If your tongue seems to have a white coating of some kind, it could mean you have a yeast infection, commonly called oral thrush, inside your mouth. Your tongue may look similar to cottage cheese. Typical in young children, thrush also affects people with autoimmune diseases, people with diabetes that isn’t well controlled, chemotherapy patients, and the elderly.

Bald Tongue
Our tongues are covered in papillae. These are small bumps are essentially your tastebuds that cover your tongue. Occasionally these can die and shed off leaving the tongue slick and smooth. The cause of this condition is usually a vitamin deficiency or possibly anemia.

“Geographic” Tongue
A very normal, common condition, “geographic tongue” refers to a tongue that looks like bumpy terrain. Typically harmless, geographic tongue affects between 1 and 14 percent of the U.S. population. Geographic tongue typically requires no treatment or checkup and the cause of this condition is unknown, but it has been associated with diabetes, anemia, atopy, and stress. If it does not go away on it’s own or becomes painful talking to your doctor is necessary.

Dark Fuzz
If dark hair of fuzz develops on your tongue it is likely caused by the overgrowth of papillae. This can be triggered by poor oral hygiene such as drinking, smoking, or lack of daily care causing bacteria to grow at an alarming rate. Although not a major health risk, it could turn into one if it’s not addressed.

Wrinkles/Cracks
If you notice more wrinkles and cracks on your tongue as you get older, that’s normal. Yes, even our tongues show signs of aging. While cracks are typically harmless, you always need to be careful to keep your tongue and mouth clean.

Persistent Red Lesions
Red lesions or patches that don’t go away could be serious and possibly a sign of tongue cancer. Get it checked immediately.

If you are concerned or notice any of these symptoms please talk with us.  We are here to help and point you in the right direction for treatment!

Preventing Bad Breath

bad breathBad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common problem. In fact, an estimated 65% of Americans have bad breath. So what causes bad breath? Bad breath can be caused by food trapped in the mouth, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, mouth infections or possible health problems.

So how can you combat bad breath?
1) Brush and floss daily. Plaque stuck on the teeth can trap bacteria left behind by food. Brushing and flossing daily can help remove this bacteria.
2) Use a mouth rinse. A mouthwash can be an extra step in helping remove bacteria, but make sure you use a rinse that kills germs stopping bad breath at its source.
3) Scrap your tongue. A tongue scraper can help remove residue that may be building up between the taste buds and folds into the tongue.
4) Avoid certain foods. Garlic and onions are big offenders. That’s because the sulfur compounds in garlic and onions linger in your mouth and are absorbed into the bloodstream and expelled when you exhale. Try to avoid these before social situations.
5) Avoid tobacco products. Tobacco tends to dry out your mouth and can leave an unpleasant smell that lingers even after brushing your teeth. Smoking can also damage your gums, stain your teeth and cause cancer.
6) Drink plenty of water. This can help avoid dry mouth and also wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath. If you suffer from chronic dry mouth, make sure you talk with us at your next appointment. We can help discuss options to combat this disorder.
7) Keep your gums healthy. Bacteria gather in pockets at the base of teeth, which creates an odor.
8) Visit your dentist! The best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene is to visit your dentist regularly.

If you suffer from chronic bad breath, let us know. We can help diagnose the situation and let you know if your bad breath might be a side effect from a medical condition.