Dentist Edmond: Fluoride for your Teeth

April 18, 2018/in Dental Health, Dentist Edmond /by Philip Gray DDS

Dentist Edmond: Why Fluoride is great for the teeth

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and some sources of water, and Dentist Edmond recommends it’s daily usage. In the use of your teeth, you lose minerals every day from your tooth’s enamel layer through demineralization. Over the course of eating and drinking, throughout your day you gain minerals back, a process called remineralization. Demineralization happens when your teeth are exposed to acids, these acids are formed when the plaque bacteria and sugars in the food you eat end up in your mouth. Remineralization occurs when fluoride, calcium, and phosphates are redeposited into the enamel layer from the foods that we eat and water we drink. When you have too many minerals leaving your teeth and not enough of those minerals being deposited back into the enamel layer you end up with tooth decay.

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening the tooth enamel against the acids produced by the plaque bacteria and the sugars they consume. Fluoride usage can also help repair early decay in the enamel layer. Dentist Edmond recommends that in children under the age of six fluoride be incorporated into the child’s dental routine as fluoride is used in the development of permanent teeth. The stronger these young teeth are they better suited they are to ward off the acids that accompany a lot of sugary food that are targeted at children.

Dentist Edmond: Where can you get Fluoride and in what forms are they available?

As mentioned above Fluoride is present in many foods and most public water in the United States. If you need something more direct fluoride toothpaste can be used each time your brush. There are also fluoride mouth rinses, though these options are a lower strength when you get them over the counter at a drug store.

Dentist Edmond: The Importance of childhood dental visits

April 4, 2018/in Clean Teeth, Dental Health /by Philip Gray DDS

Dentist Edmond: Why get your child in to see the dentist?

Making sure that your child comes in to see the dentist for regular check ups means that their mouth will be healthier and stay healthy throughout their lives. Early check ups in children help catch cavities and tooth decay from things like sugar and bottle rot. Taking your child to the Dentist Edmond early and regularly will ensure your child is more comfortable with going the dentist as they grow up. Children who look after their teeth and come to the dentist will have healthy teeth and be able to chew food easier and will learn to speak clearly and smile with confidence, that’s what Dentist Edmond is all about.

What does the American Dental Associate have to say?

The American Dental Association recommends that every child visit the dentist by the age of 1, or as soon as the first tooth appears. This early visit in your child’s life will help you as a parent or caregiver how to care for children’s teeth and will help them remain without cavities in the future. As an example, letting children fall asleep with a bottle of juice or milk in their mouth can cause decay. Children should be encouraged to drink milk, water, and juice from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Dentist will also recommend that a mother stop on-demand night time breast feeding once a child’s first tooth has come in.

In the United States the most common disease among children is tooth decay, which can be prevented. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 40% of children will have some kind of tooth decay when they reach kindergarten. With states like Washington seeing nearly 60% of this preventable condition in elementary school aged children. Many of these cases are a lack of proper brushing, dental visits, and not using fluoride toothpaste.

Dentist Edmond: Get rid of that old brush!

March 21, 2018/in Oral Health /by Philip Gray DDS

Dentist Edmond: You should throw away a toothbrush after the Flu

It’s true that once you’ve contracted a cold you won’t be able to reinfect yourself with the same strain of the disease, your body having developed the right antibodies to fight it off. However, it’s still a good idea to get rid of items that you use once you’ve overcome the illness. The Dentist Edmond recommends that you toss items like lip balm, toothbrushes, and some make-up like mascara once the illness has passed. Things that can commonly live in toothbrushes include the Flu, Staph infections, Strep throat, E-Coli, and yeast, all of those are excellent reasons to toss your brush once you start feeling better. The biggest reason for tossing these items is the potential for infecting others, one drop of saliva is enough to infect someone else that you live with.

Dentist Edmond: Never ever share brushes

The Dentist Edmond recommends that you never share toothbrushes with someone else. Another person’s toothbrush is just an avenue for germs to enter your body that they might not otherwise have and besides it’s just plain gross.

Bodycare products

We use lip balm in the winter month to keep our lips from becoming dry, cracked, and painful. Many lip balms carry some kind of antimicrobial chemicals in them in order to prevent the spread of disease. But even with these precautions in place, the safest way to prevent infection is to never share lip balms and makeup. Sharing in most cases is caring but in these cases your just providing an infection vector to your friends and family during the Flu season.

It’s not directly an issue regarding your oral health but make sure to change your towels and sheet, cleaning them with steam if you can. The Dentist Edmond hopes you make it through this Flu season healthy and happy and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Dentist Edmond: Beware the effects of pool water on enamal

March 7, 2018/in Dental Visits, Dentist Edmond, Edmond Dentist, Oral Health, Sensitive Teeth, Tooth Pain /by Philip Gray DDS

Dentist Edmond recommends monitoring pH levels in pools

It’s starting to get hotter outside and the pools are close to opening up for the Summer. One of the best ways to cool off during a hot summers day is to relax by or in the pool! Especially if the pool is in your backyard! You may have never considered that the chlorine levels in the water might not be properly balanced. But if they’re not, they can damage the enamel of your tooth. Dentist Edmond is here to share some more information from the New York University of Dentistry about this subject.

A few years ago, Dr. Leila Jahangiri, the clinical associate professor and the chair of NYUCD’s Department of Prosthodontics, spoke about what was found when homeowners attempted to maintain pools of their own. It’s understandable that homeowners would want to save some money by avoiding having to hire professionals to help maintain their pools, it can be dangerous decision. Not having a professional help maintain your pool can often lead to improper pH levels in your water which can, according to Jahangiri, “result in irreversible damage to one’s teeth.”

She also added that “it is difficult balance to maintain home pools properly” and that “proper pool chlorine and pH levels need to be monitored and maintained on a weekly basis.”

Our dentist Edmond knows you might be wondering what a little lab work research could really prove, but rest assured it was more than an educated guess. Jahangiri observed first-hand, in a 52-year old male patient, the effects of improper pool pH levels. His teeth were extremely sensitive and had dark staining and rapid enamel loss over a short, 5 month period. This was a result of his 90 minute swimming exercise routine.

So, before you go diving into the cold, refreshing water in your backyard pool, the dentist Edmond hopes you’ll consider carefully how you plan to maintain proper pH and chlorine levels, for the sake of your pearly whites!

Should you feel the need to have a dental checkup and ensure that things are on the right track with your teeth, don’t hesitate to come and see our Edmond dentist. You may make an appointment with our Edmond dentist at Wallace Family Dentistry by calling 405-340-0411.

If you need a dental checkup, call Philip Gray, DDS, Dentist Edmond today at 405-330-5458 and schedule an appointment!

Dentist Edmond and dental myths

February 21, 2018/in Dentist Edmond, Edmond Dentist, Harmful To Teeth, Oral Health /by Philip Gray DDS

Dentist Edmond talks about some common dental myths

There’s a ton of information out there on the internet. So of it’s good, some of it’s not. The dentist Edmond is here to dispel some of the more common ones.

Bad Breath=bad brusher: If you have bad breath, it must be because you don’t take care of your teeth as well as you should, right? Well, bad breath is actually caused by a number of factors. The foods you eat can play a big part in how your breath smells. Foods like garlic, for instance, can take over a mouth no matter how well you brush. Even certain sickness can cause bad breath.

Aspirin directly on a tooth will cure pain: It’s an old at-home remedy….and it doesn’t work. You should always swallow aspirin as it’s the only way it can work to relieve pain in your body. Another reason you shouldn’t put aspirin directly on an aching tooth is that it can react and cause a nasty chemical burn, giving you 2 sources of pain to deal with now!

Don’t brush your bleeding gums: It might make sense at first, if your gums are bleeding don’t agitate them by running a toothbrush over them. But in reality the opposite it true. Whenever your gums are bleeding, it’s a sign that plaque and other germs have gotten into your gums and are starting to cause damage. In order to get the gunk out, you need to keep brushing. If your flossing for the first time in awhile or doing pretty harshly it can also lead to your gums beginning to bleed. It might hurt a little but brushing is the best way to clean up your gums and get them to stop bleeding.

Schedule an appointment with Philip Gray, dentist Edmond, today and get your smile cleaned up!

Edmond Dentist: Charcoal toothpaste fact or fiction?

February 7, 2018/in Dental Health, Harmful To Teeth, Teeth Whitening /by Philip Gray DDS

Does brushing with charcoal really work?

You’ve probably seen it going around on nutrition blogs and on social media. Brushing your teeth with substances like activated charcoal will help make your teeth whiter and shinier. It sounds simple right? But does it really do anything for your teeth. The short answer is it can do something, but not in the way you’re hoping. The Edmond dentist is here to lay down what’s fact and what’s fiction about brushing with activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal is supposed to work by cleaning and polishing the enamel on your teeth to clear away the plaque and build-up around them. Elements within the charcoal and the abrasive texture scrub away the bad stuff and leave your teeth shining white. That’s what it’s supposed to do anyway.

But, according to a study done by the Journal of the American Dental Association there simply isn’t any evidence that that’s the case. Furthermore, claims that brushing with charcoal was 100% safe also could not be verified. More studies are being done but at present there simply is no scientific basis that charcoal does anything for the teeth…except.

Remember when we said activated charcoal can do something? Well if the charcoal is too abrasive, and therefore not approved by the ADA, it can actually wear away the protective enamel on your teeth and expose the underlying dentin. It’s bad enough you might be brushing away your teeth’s best defense, but to add to it dentin is usually yellow meaning your teeth can actually look worse by brushing with charcoal.

So what are the best ways to keep your teeth healthy and shiny? The same ones that have always been: Brushing twice a day, not smoking, flossing, and regular dentist visits.

Schedule an appointment today with Philip Gray, Edmond dentist, and get your smile looking awesome!

Edmond Dentist: One simple way to strengthen your teeth

January 17, 2018/in Dental Health /by Philip Gray DDS

Edmond Dentist: Ask about fluoride varnishes

Ice, coffee, sticky foods, and candy are the stuff of nightmares for teeth. Chomping down on these and other types of foods regularly certainly increases the chances that damage will be done to your teeth and possibly diminish your bright smile. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are always recommended as the fluoride in the toothpaste will help to fight off decay and cavities from bacteria, but there is something even more protective that you can do. This treatment will require you to go to the dentist, but isn’t your smile worth a small dental visit?

What is this “Miracle” treatment we speak of? They’re called Fluoride varnishes. When you visit your Edmond Dentist you can request that fluoride varnish protection be used to help prevent tooth decay. Here’s how it works:

The fluoride varnish gel is typically pale yellow in color that is softly brushed on. It sets on teeth quickly and starts working immediately. Fluoride is important, because it enters the tooth enamel and makes the tooth hard. Fluoride helps prevents any new cavities from forming while stopping current decay from worsening. If the varnish is applied at the beginning stages of tooth decay, the fluoride is powerful enough to reverse the decay and repair the tooth.

If you hate going to the dentist to get some work done and then leaving hungry or thirsty but being unable to eat anything, then there’s good news! One of the best parts about fluoride varnish treatments is that you don’t have to wait to eat, though foods should be softer for the first day.

It’s important to say that some brands of fluoride varnish can cause some teeth to look even more dull than before the application, but this is temporary. In such cases, refrain from brushing or flossing the varnish away for a full day. After the full day, brush your teeth and you will reveal a brighter, healthier smile.

Are you ready to strengthen your teeth with fluoride varnish? Then call our Edmond Dentist today at 405-330-5458.

Edmond Dentists: Protecting you teeth from treats

January 3, 2018/in Dentist Edmond, Sugar /by Philip Gray DDS

Edmond Dentist: How to help protect your teeth from baked treats

The holidays are winding down but there’s still plenty of time for lots of tasty, sugary treats. Every year, we’re bombarded at this time of year with cookies, cakes, and candies. It can be very difficult to say no to these sweet, tasty treats and we’re not going to tell you not to enjoy them, absolutely do it’s the holidays after all! What are Edmond dentist will do, though, is give you some tips for protecting your teeth from becoming the victims to these holiday treats.

The reason sugar is so bad for your teeth is that it creates plaque that sits on your teeth. The more sugar you eat, the more plaque that grows. So, the less you sugar you eat the less plaque you’ll have! So, cutting back on the amount of sugar is important for your teeth, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up holiday treats all together.

The easiest way to approach holiday sweets is like this: Use half the amount of white, cane sugar to your recipes when baking. Vanilla, Nutmeg, and cinnamon can all serve as alternatives for your baked goods to help add some sweetness to your treats without relying on sugar.

Of course, our Edmond dentist also recommends that you brush your teeth as often as possible after consuming any sugary foods. Brushing your teeth will wipe away the sugar before it can form plaque and eat away at your teeth. If you’re going to be traveling, consider taking a travel toothbrush to help maintain your dental health.

On behalf of our Edmond Dentist, we wish you a Happy New Year. May you open the new year with your favorite foods and merry cheer! By following these tips, we hope you can have your cake and eat it too, without worrying about it eating into your teeth!

If you need to book an appointment with our Edmond Dentist, give us a call at 405-330-5458!

Edmond Dentist: The Dangers of Sugar

December 20, 2017/in Oral Health, Sugar /by Philip Gray DDS

Edmond Dentist: Keeping your Oral Health in top form

Think back to when you were a kid, did your parents ever tell you too much sugar will rot your teeth? Now, saying this may have helped avoid stomach aches and weight gain, it isn’t necessarily true. It’s true sugar is the main cause of tooth decay, maintaining oral health doesn’t require you to completely cut out sugar. Taking good care of your oral health and seeing you dentist regularly will help you avoid cavities and tooth decay even when your diet is high in sugar. The Edmond Dentist also has some things to look out for.

Sugar and Tooth Decay

Teeth decay occurs when sugar in the foods we eat mix with bacteria in your mouth and creates an acid that eats away at your teeth’s enamel. Once your enamel deteriorates it’s easy for the bacteria to cause further damage such as cavities and tooth loss. This tooth loss can become even more prevalent when a high sugar diet is mixed with poor dental hygiene, as people with poor dental hygiene lack the protection that brushing and flossing regularly give.

Prevention

Cutting down on sugar can be a scary thought. It’s nearly impossible to cut sugar out of a diet completely. Sugar is found in many healthy food products like bread, fruit, and milk in addition to the not-so-healthy options like soda, cookies and candy. However, you can mitigate the effects of sugar by getting it out of your mouth quickly. The less time sugar spends in your mouth, the less time it has to mix with bacteria and form acid that can damage your teeth.

High Sugar drinks like juice and soda are the most harmful because the liquid tends to sit in your mouth longer than a bit of cookie. The same can be said for candy, crunchy candy that you can chew and swallow quickly is better than a lollipop or jawbreaker that needs to sit in your mouth. Drinking water after consuming sugary foods can also help rinse away the sugar in your mouth.

You can also help fight tooth decay by brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride creates a layer over your teeth that makes them resistant to the acid that sugar and bacteria create. If you have a history of cavities, your dentist may add more fluoride to your dental routine to help further protect your teeth.

Maintain Dental Visits

While good oral habits and a good diet are the main ways you can keep your teeth healthy, it’s also vital to see your dentist regularly. Dentist will clear away decay causing bacteria that hides in your mouth and can spot the early signs of a cavity, helping you take steps to avoid further issues. If you live in the Edmond, Oklahoma area and have questions or want to schedule an appointment give The Edmond dentist a call today!

Edmond Dentist explains X-Rays

December 6, 2017/in Dental Health, Edmond Dentist /by Philip Gray DDS

Edmond Dentist talks about the different kinds of X-Rays

When most people hear the Edmond Dentist say “X-ray” they immediately think of a certain kind of X-rays, film X-rays. If you haven’t had X-rays done in a while though, you might not know that there is a new, digital form of X-Rays. So, what is the difference between film x-rays and digital x-rays? The Edmond Dentist has the answer and is here to share them with you. We’ll be talking a little more about these two types of x-rays to highlight they’re differences.

Film X-Rays: Film X-Rays date all the way back to 1895 by German Physicist by the name of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. Much like old film from a camera, X-Rays would have to be treated in a darkroom. As such, it would often take a longer period for doctors and dentist to receive results. Not ideal but it was the only option.

Digital X-Rays: In 1987, French inventor Dr. Francis Mouyen brought digital X-rays to life with his radiography system called RadioVisioGraphy. Nowadays, technology has made leaps and bounds even above what Mouyen did in 1987. The biggest benefit to these new digital X-rays is that patients and doctors now now longer have to wait hours, or even days, to receive critical information. Nowadays, dentist can see almost instantaneous results on a monitor next to the X-ray machine.

This means that your doctor can spot potential problems quicker and you spend much less time in your appointments. Additionally, having instant documentation of your teeth on a computer mean your dentist doesn’t have to make and maintain bulky storage files and your information is kept safer! The Edmond dentist values your time and privacy which is why we use the faster, safer digital x-ray option.

Need to schedule a visit? Book an appointment today with your Edmond Dentist by calling 405-330-5458!