Look into the mirror, and smile! You look your best when you do that. For all that’s worth, the mirror smiles back at you, no matter what. But what about the mirror that Bryant McGill once referred to as life? Smile and it will smile back at you, remember?! Ask yourself this- if you had cavities, would you be a little self-conscious before smiling? Yes? Then chances are that your life is not smiling back at you either; perhaps, just grinning!

You may not have cavities exactly but you’ve got more germs in your mouth and teeth than you know. To those who do brush and floss twice a day, there are high chances that you might still be doing it wrong. You might still be harboring more bacteria in your mouth than what’s present on your toilet seat! We’ll come back to that but first, to those who don’t brush and floss twice a day- for the love of mother nature, please do unless you want an advanced civilization of bacteria thriving in your warm and cozy mouth!

Coming back to brushing your teeth, it’s not as simple as you think it is. It’s not all rubbing the toothbrush against the surface of your teeth. There are certain angles you need to follow to get rid of the bacteria. Mouth Healthy advises:

“Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.”

What did you have for lunch, by the way? Something oily, starchy, acidic? If yes, you’re another step closer to cavities and enamel erosion. By the time they turn 65, 96% of Americans have tooth decay. The major contributors have been already listed- oily, starchy and acidic food.

Visit a dentist even if nothing looks that wrong. You’d never know what’s going on in your mouth and under the gums. Read more on why Looks Could Be Deceiving. A dentist hand you a list of all that’s wrong with your oral health if you haven’t visited a dentist in a while.

Perhaps you may consider keeping your toothbrush away from the toilet? “Oh, I keep it covered anyway!” Oh, you’re just as behind anyway! Keeping your toothbrush covered makes for a warm environment with moisture around it, creating a dreamland for bacterial growth.

There are much more than these to explain why your life may not smile back at you! Because your life of all people knows what you’ve done to the teeth and now it’s just too self-conscious! Consider visiting a dentist, maybe?

Make visiting the dentist a regular habit. Preventive care in oral health is essential because just like cancer, oral health is very hard to predict in terms of condition. You may have an underlying oral disease right now and never know about it. Do you know that people who have to get root canals didn’t get the symptoms until the very last week? Look after your oral health as much as you do for your general health, and that mirror might just start smiling back again!

If you have diabetes it can affect many other aspects of your life and health. 1 in 10 Americans can suffer from Diabetes. People with Diabetes are also at risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal disease.

If you have diabetes, it can cause problems with your mouth and dental health. It can damage your gums and bone that hold your teeth in place and it may lead to painful chewing difficulties. Periodontal disease may make it difficult to control your blood glucose (blood sugar) as well.

If you have diabetes, you may be experiencing have dry mouth or a fungal infection that is called thrush. Thrush causes painful white patches in your mouth. Your diabetes may also cause your glucose level in your saliva to increase.

If you have Diabetes be sure to:

1. Maintain the health of your teeth and gums by flossing and brushing everyday.
2. Visit your dentist regularly.
3. Continue to care for your diabetes and blood glucose, so it does not affect your dental health.
4. Quit smoking. Smoking escalates your gum disease to a dangerous level.
5. Check your mouth regularly for any problems such as bleeding gums, dryness, soreness, white patches, or a foul taste in your mouth.

Dr. Zhang would be happy to discuss all of your dental needs with you related to your diabetes. Be sure to let her know you have diabetes when you have your appointment, and her entire staff will help ensure the proper care of your dental health related to your diabetes.

Posted of behalf of Mendota Springs Dentistry

The word “health” seems to be a subjective word. Depending on the time period, location and school of thought, it could mean many things. Think about what it meant to eat healthy in the United States 30 years ago. Low calorie, nonfat, and processed foods stripped of fats, sugars and nutrients covered our inner grocery store shelves. Today a healthy diet is usually found on the exterior of our grocery stores where the meats, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are found. Rich and fresh food is the key to health nowadays.

Our understanding of dental health has evolved as well. Did you know that in 5000 B.C. “tooth worms” were seen as the cause of teeth decay? Over the years humans have used bones, hair, twigs, vinegar and salt to get their teeth clean. Dental health has come a long way.

Dental health is continually advancing. Technologies such as dental implants, bridges, veneers and composite fillings are some of the advancements available to you. However, one practice that has stood the test of time in order to achieve dental health is the art of brushing your teeth. For thousands of years, there is evidence of people brushing their teeth for a healthy mouth. The tools we’ve used to brush our teeth have changed, but the need for brushing remains the same.

At Mendota Springs Dentistry, we want to encourage you to be sure you’re brushing your teeth at least twice a day. When you make an appointment with us, we can help instruct you on proper brushing techniques. We can also help guide you in using the correct toothbrush for your mouth. Book your appointment with us today to get you on the road to long-lasting dental health.

Posted of behalf of Mendota Springs Dentistry

The song “Rain, Rain Go Away” is a song you sing when you’re wishing the rain you are experiencing would stop dampening your plans. The plea is for the rain to go away, and come again another day. When it comes to mouth pain, we all wish it would just go away and come again on another, more convenient day. While this is a wish we all have, it’s important to be reminded that you should never wait for your dental pain to just go away. When you experience dental pain, it is your body’s way of signaling trouble. Let your pain be a signal to contact your dentist immediately before the pain becomes more serious. Here are some pain signals your mouth is likely to give you when a problem is occurring.

Sharp Pain When Biting Down On Food

If you are experiencing sharp pains when you bite you could have tooth decay, a loose filling and/or a cracked tooth. Your dentist can remove tooth decay. Loose fillings are replaced when they no longer are kept in place. If the pain is caused by pulp tissue damage you may need a root canal to clean out the damaged pulp, disinfect the root canal and fill and seal the remaining space to save the tooth. Cracked teeth need serious attention to ensure no further damage is done.

Lingering Pain After Eating Hot Or Cold Foods And Liquids

This pain usually means the pulp is inflamed and/or dying, and may be damaged irreversibly. This is usually the result of deep decay or even physical trauma. This damage can lead to the development of an abscess. In many cases, the tooth will need a root canal to remove the dying or deal pulp tissue in order to save the tooth.

Acute And Constant Pain From An Area, But Difficult To Say Exactly Which Tooth Is Causing The Problem

If you are experiencing this type of pain the possible problem may be that your pulp tissue inside a tooth is acutely infected, inflamed and dying. This is usually a signal that your decay is coming very close to, or entering the nerve. If this pain is untreated it is likely to become much worse.

These are just a few of the possible tooth pains you may be experiencing. Treatment and diagnosis of these issues are vital to your long-term dental health, and vary from patient to patient. Visit us at Mendota Springs Dental when you begin experiencing mouth pain, because it won’t just go away.

Posted of behalf of Mendota Springs Dentistry

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the recent release by the Associated Press that stated that flossing is not longer recommended. The federal government removed this year’s dietary guidelines for flossing primarily due to a lack of research and “weak evidence.” However, as your dedicated dentist at Mendota Springs Dentistry, we strongly encourage flossing for the benefit of both your oral health and body health. It is our job to promote the most effective dental hygiene tools that reduce dental complications such as tooth decay and gum disease as much as possible. We believe that flossing is an undeniable strategy in preventing these two prevalent dental issues.

We know that flossing reaches areas of your mouth that a toothbrush simply cannot get to. In result, when you skip flossing, you are essentially neglecting up to 35% of your tooth’s surface, as well as the area below the gum line where bacteria likes to accumulate.

Perhaps the biggest danger for patients who think flossing is not necessary is the increased risk for gum disease. Flossing cleans bacteria-containing plaque between teeth and below the gum line. This substance naturally builds up in our mouths when we eat and drink throughout the day. However, it needs to be removed every 24 hours to avoid threats to your oral health. If it’s left alone, the gums can become irritated, inflamed and infected. At this point, early gum disease has set in.

What is the risk of untreated gum disease? Gum disease is not only the leading cause of tooth loss, but it also carries serious consequences beyond your oral health. Gum disease has been linked to stroke, heart disease, diabetes and premature birth. Flossing is one of the strongest weapons against the overgrowth of bacteria-filled plaque that causes gum disease in the first place.

Considering that nearly half of the American population suffers from some degree of gum disease and gum disease may be the source of serious heart disease and other medical conditions, why wouldn’t you take the extra few minutes and floss each day? There are a variety of flossing options available today, ranging from handheld flossers, flavored floss and water flossers. The right floss for you is the one that you will actually use! Contact Mendota Springs Dentistry for expert advice on how to keep your oral health in top condition.

Posted of behalf of Mendota Springs Dentistry

If you’ve always had the desire to straighten your teeth, but don’t want to go through months of wearing conventional braces, Mendota Springs Dentistry has an option: Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign uses clear, customized alignment trays that snap right over your teeth. You wear each set of aligners for two weeks (taking it out during meals, brushing, and flossing) and then change it out with the next set in the series.

Here are 5 reasons why our Fitchburg patients choose Invisalign at Mendota Springs Dentistry:

1. There are no brackets and wires.

It goes without saying, but Invisalign is the most comfortable way to straighten your teeth. There is no metal involved!

2. There are fewer, shorter appointments.

Because Invisalign progresses your tooth movement on its own, there aren’t any adjustments needed in the dentist office. Your checkups take just a few minutes, every 6-8 weeks.

3. It’s easy to care for your teeth in the process.

Brushing and flossing is never challenging with Invisalign, because the aligners are removable. No floss threaders, special picks, or extra tools are necessary!

4. You can eat whatever you want.

Traditional orthodontic patients have to significantly limit what they eat. Not with clear aligners! Just take your trays out during snacks or meals to eat your favorite crunchy foods without any damage to your braces.

5. They’re invisible!

When you wear Invisalign, nobody else has to ever know that you’re wearing braces…they’re that clear! Each aligner is made of durable, translucent plastic.

Find out if Invisalign is right for you by calling Mendota Springs Dentistry in Fitchburg to schedule a consultation. Financing plans are available!

Posted on behalf of Mendota Springs Dentistry

Take a look at your teeth. More specifically, take a good look at your gums. If they’re pink and firm, and not red or swollen, chances are they’re healthy. But if you see that they’re beginning to pull away from the tooth, that small pockets have begun forming at the base of your teeth, or if your gums bleed or swell, that could indicate gum recession.

Other signs to look for? Recurring bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, redness, or loose teeth.

Receding gums occur when portions of the gum tissue begin to wear away, exposing larger amounts of the tooth. This can leave you more susceptible to gum disease and other oral health problems.

Here are 3 more things you probably didn’t know.

Receding gums can happen even if you brush and floss twice a day.

While poor oral hygiene does play a role in gum recession, it still occurs in people who take good care of their teeth and gums. That’s because overly aggressive brushing and flossing can irritate the gums and contribute to a receding gum line. Go easy on those pearly whites and never use a toothbrush that isn’t graded ‘soft.’

It’s different than gum disease.

These conditions may sound the same, but they’re actually different. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of gingival recession, because it allows plaque and bacteria to build up between the tooth and the gum line. This causes painful swelling over time and eventually leads to the recession of the gum tissue. Taking good care of your teeth and gums to prevent gum disease is also a crucial step in preventing gum recession, too.

Most people don’t know they have it.

Receding gums don’t happen overnight. The gum line recedes slowly over time, making it harder to notice until it becomes a more serious problem. Keep an eye out for early signs such as teeth sensitivity, a larger amount of tooth exposed, notches felt at the gum line, and bleeding gums.

If you’re worried about the health of your gums, don’t ignore it. Schedule an appointment with Mendota Springs Dental today. Our team of expert, caring professionals is standing by to put you on track to healthy teeth for a lifetime.

Posted on behalf of Mendota Springs Dentistry