General

Tips Every Parent Should Know

The National Children’s Dental Health Month is the month of February and it calls out to parents – the ones responsible for children’s good dental health habits. As parents, kids follow what you do – if you brush regularly, they, too, will. Kids are more likely to accept dental hygiene as part of everyday life as they get older when they start young.

Taking care of infant’s teeth is all about from wiping the gums with soft cloth to fingertip brushing to soft bristle tooth-brushing. A small pea-size toothpaste will do until the child can handle more toothpaste. Artificially sweetened toothpaste is better than those that use sugar. The American Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist in the first year of life, to familiarize them with the process and to detect any early decay issues or anomalies. Regular six-month checkups starting at 2-3 years old is another basic parenting skill. It will monitor good dental health in kids by setting guidelines and establishing discipline.

ADA guidelines offer tips so that brushing is an integral part of family life, but also a time for fun. Tips like brush with your kids to set a good example, let kids choose their own toothpaste and toothbrushes, stick to the brushing routine even on vacation or special event days, make brushing time pass quickly by playing a favorite song, reading/listening to a story, reinforce good habits with stories or videos that show characters taking care of their teeth, and reward good behavior with stickers or other small treats.

Establish some dos and don’ts regarding habits. Make clear that the first line of defense is brushing. Good healthy diet is also important. Things to avoid or minimize are candy, regular chewing gum, fruit juices and soft drinks. They are fun to have occasionally and should not be regular treats.

When choosing a dentist, it’s important to find one you like and trust. Ask family and friends for recommendations. Find out your dentist’s specialty area, insurances that are accepted and methods of payment. As parents, you must know your child’s dentist’s office hours, travel distance distance required to get there, how emergencies are handled outside of office hours, and what is the dentist’s approach to preventive dentistry.

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Child-Friendly Dental Practice in Bellingham

When you’re ready and your little one is into his or her first year of life, come visit us at Tetrick Family Dentistry and we’ll start our good oral health journey together.

Surprising Things Doing More Harm Than Good

The following may be unhealthy habits that are destroying your oral health.

Consuming foods or drinks high in acidity. Fruits and fruit juices can be harmful to your teeth, containing high amounts of acid that can dissolve enamel. The acid content can alter the pH of your mouth that otherwise protects teeth from the damage of acid. This holds true for other consumables like lemon in hot water, apple cider vinegar, green juices, apples, oranges, etc. One can use a straw to avoid prolonged contact with teeth, or drinking water immediately after, or eating cheese, milk or yogurt which can neutralize the acid.

Not minding the fluoride in your toothpaste. There are just many types of toothpaste out there in the market, but do you ever look at labels to see that there’s fluoride in them? Fluoride makes enamel stronger, enabling it to be more resistant to demineralization caused by acids. It’s been well established that fluoride offers protection to teeth by preventing the decay process. You at least need 1,400ppm (parts per million) fluoride in your toothpaste for the right protection.

Brushing immediately after eating. This can be damaging to teeth when you brush straight away after consuming a highly acidic diet. This is brushing at wrong timing. If you brush straight after eating or drinking something acidic, like orange juice, you’re basically rubbing the acid into the teeth. Wait at least 30 minutes before you brush, or gargle with water, swishing it around your mouth, then wait awhile before you brush.

Clenching your teeth. If you feel anxious or stressed you can subconsciously clench your teeth at night, while sleeping. This can wear the enamel down, exposing the dentine, the soft part underneath the enamel. If it goes unchecked, your teeth actually wears down more quickly, causing sensitivity and giving teeth a yellow appearance.

Falling for DIY Teeth Whitening. Like some people, you might want to whiten your teeth on your own so you go and purchase toothpaste that may contain abrasive agents, such as those for severe whitening or charcoal toothpaste. They may cause damage because it’s the equivalent of scrubbing salt on your teeth. These products can temporarily lift stains, but if the enamel is damaged, that will actually leave teeth more open to staining over time. For safe and monitored whitening, opt for professional tooth whitening.

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Lifestyle Changes in Bellingham

Know more about daily habits that can do more harm than good to your teeth. Visit us at Dr. Tetrick’s and learn about lifestyle modifications good for oral health.

Gums Can Tell Your Health

If you experience these unhealthy signs in your gums, do not ignore them. They are red and puffy; they bleed, hurt or are tender when you brush or floss; they’re receding away from your teeth. You may have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, but at this stage it is still a reversible situation. If it goes untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis. The state of your gums gives you a picture of your oral health, and your oral health can give you clues to whether something’s up with the rest of your body functions. Here’s what you need to know.

Signs and Symptoms of Unhealthy Gums

If your gums are receding, you may be stressed out or have sleep apnea. Receding gums can result from bruxism which puts a lot of pressure on your gum line, teeth, and jawbones, causing gums to pull away. It can lead to tooth sensitivity if roots are exposed. Bruxism may also be due to health issues like anxiety and stress, it’s also commonly linked with sleep apnea.

Sores on your gums could be an indication of herpes. They can cause oral outbreaks, known as cold sores. They can be painful, often popping up on the borders of the mouth, or break out inside the mouth, including on the gums. Before they show up, you’ll feel tingling, burning, or itching. An outbreak can last for days, and it can take two to four weeks for the blisters to fully heal. Get in touch with your doctor for an antiviral drug to accelerate healing.

Pale gums could be a sign of anemia. Very pale gums can be a sign of anemia, a blood disorder when your red blood cell count is low or you don’t have enough of the iron-rich protein hemoglobin, which gives blood its color. If you have pale gums and other symptoms of anemia, like fatigue and dizziness, consult your doctor – especially because pale gums may be masking signs of gum disease.

Dry gums could be a symptom of immune system issues. Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder affecting the mucous membranes of your eyes and mouth, that result in lowered levels of tears and saliva, leading to dry mouth, including your gums. When your gums are dry, it can contribute to or exacerbate gum disease. If dry gums bother you, bring it up with your doctor or dentist.

Gum disease and diabetes also share a link. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, this can make gum disease more severe and take longer to heal. Conversely, having a bacterial infection in your mouth can tax the body and make it harder to control diabetes. If you have these conditions, it’s important to address both with your doctors instead of just one or the other.

The Picture of Neglect

Some dentists say that they’ve observed that the most negligent group when it comes to oral health is that set of people in their twenties. These young adults call themselves health-conscious, mind you, and are very much aware about healthy foods, healthy lifestyles and practices. They have the discipline to work out at the gym, attend yoga classes, and engage in sports. However, if you ask them about the state of their teeth and gums, they’d say they’re fine, nothing is painful and their teeth and gums look good.

Putting their energy, resources and their time into the pursuit of their general health, they tend to forget their mouth. If ever they see their dentist, who will tell them about a bad bite, a small cavity, a little puffiness in the gums, these people will likely shrug off the advice, not feeling anything wrong. After all, regular dental visits are not exactly at the top of their list.

Down the road at some time, a compromised tooth will become painful or sensitive, or their gums start to bleed, then only then will they seek dental care. The fix by this time may require more extensive repair or replacement. It doesn’t take long for significant damage to be done. In as little as a year and a half, neglect can create a torrent of issues. Some will be difficult if not impossible to fix.

Many patients in their 50s will have unsalvageable teeth which could have been saved if they were helped by their dentists 30 years earlier. Basically, if you don’t see your dentist for two years, you’re already compromising your health. If you skip visits for five years, you’re going to see some bone loss. Ten years without professional dental care and you’re almost certain to have severe bone loss.

Bone loss is asymptomatic, people just don’t feel it happening. Bones become less dense and more fragile as one gets older, becoming prone to breakage. Unfortunately, harmful bacteria in the mouth hasten the process of disintegration in the bone supporting the teeth. Teeth can loosen in their sockets and fall out and nothing can be done at this point to stimulate bone growth. Bone loss can be prevented with good habits that diminish bacterial growth in the mouth so that teeth are preserved longer.

Being mortals, we are designed to age and die. Our teeth and gums will eventually give way, but we can slow it down by paying attention to our oral health.

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Caring About Oral Health in Bellingham

If you are concerned about your overall health, certainly your oral health is part and parcel of your well-being. Keep your regular visits with us and preserve your dental health for the longest time possible.

Benefits of Preventive Oral Care Plans

If you are a health provider or the patient, did you know that with a preventive care benefit, you can reduce the times you have to go to the emergency department of hospitals and even hospitalizations?

If dental services are integrated more tightly into the medical care system, it can cut utilization by those people with chronic conditions. Research shows that those with chronic illnesses but without dental coverage through medical insurance companies had a higher rate of hospital stays than those with dental benefits. On the other and, those who had dental coverage but did not use the benefit for preventive services had 3 times higher incidence rate of emergency department visits than those who took advantage of routine dental care.

Having quality dental coverage, and using it for preventive care, can contribute to overall good health. Research reinforce how integrating medical and dental coverage and care can be associated with improved health and lower costs for those who suffer from chronic medical issues.

We know already that poor dental health has been linked to an increase in heart disease and that gum disease and other dental issues contribute directly to cardiovascular events. There are strong correlations between oral health and the successful management of chronic conditions.

Research found that persons with serious oral health conditions spent twice as much as other members on healthcare expenses. Individuals with dental health issues are also 25 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease, two times as likely to experience an emergency visit or hospitalization, and are also more likely to be diagnosed with autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and anemia.

Seeking oral care throughout life can help detect more serious problems still to happen. Unfortunately, dental benefits are not always available, or often financially separated from traditional insurance coverage. This affects the access for individuals on the lower end of the socioeconomic strata. Individuals in the lowest income brackets are half as likely as well-off patients to visit a dentist. This situation calls for more concern if good oral health is targeted to be available to all.

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Preventive Care with Benefits in Bellingham

Know that at Tetrick Family Dentistry, we practice preventive dentistry on all our cases. Proper preventive care avoids or delays oral diseases that are also linked to chronic health issues. Visit us in Bellingham.

Watch These Everyday Food and Drinks

We all know that candy is bad for the teeth. The high sugar content of candies can build up as plaque on tooth surfaces, even under the gums. Later bacteria attacks the plaque and turn them acidic, and can eventually lead to cavities and tooth decay. Little did you know that there are far more dangerous food stuffs out there worse than candy.

What’s Worse than Candy?

Just as bad as candies is eating dried fruits; they have a high sugar content and are very sticky, tending to adhere much longer on tooth surfaces. They can also get stuck in-between teeth. Skip the dried variety and opt for fresh fruits instead. Another culprit is soda. A 12-ounce can of soda has 39 grams of sugar, about ten teaspoons. Soda is also very acidic. Bottled juice can also be acidic and often contains added sugars, as much as ten teaspoons per serving. It would be better to make your own fresh fruits instead.

Pasta sauce is acidic. Tomatoes, which make up most pasta sauces, are healthy, but they’re also acidic. Eating tomato sauce with spaghetti enhances the damage to the enamel of teeth. The acid in the sauce can break down the enamel and the carbs in pasta help feed cavity-causing bacteria. Another is apple cider vinegar. While it has detoxifying properties, it is high in acidity and can erode enamel quickly. If apple cider is part of your regimen, always dilute it with water, drink it in one sitting, and rinse well afterward.

Coffee and tea are both acidic and diuretic, which means they can dry your mouth. A dry mouth makes you more prone to cavities and gum disease. Popular blended coffee drinks is even worse because of all the added sugar. Protect your teeth by swishing with water afterward. Beer, wine, hard liquor, and cocktails can also do damage. Beer has carbs which can turn acidic, wine is sugary and so are cocktails. Also, remember, the higher the alcohol content of the drink, the more it can dry the mouth. Check the USDA for the nutrient content of foods.

Other foods that can pose a danger to your teeth that are worse than candy, are gummy vitamins, flavored chips, cough drops and flavored yogurt.

Advising Moderation in Bellingham

Ask Dr. Tetrick, your Bellingham dentist, what other foods and drinks considered to be harmful to teeth and gums. While what we’ve mentioned are favorites, moderation, if not avoidance, is key to oral health.

With or Without Fillings: Dental Care is A Must

Today’s restorative dentistry boasts of several dental filling materials available – gold; porcelain; silver amalgam (which comprises mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper); or tooth-colored plastic, composite resin fillings and glass ionomer (contains glass particles).

Dental Fillings are Common

A study by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care showed that on average, 84% of adults have at least one filling, and a typical adult has an average of 7 fillings. Dental fillings are recommended by dentists; however, recent research published in the Journal of Dentistry claims that teeth on both sides of a new filling run the risk of decaying.

The possibility of otherwise healthy teeth, that are next-door neighbors to a tooth with a filling, running the risk of decay depends on two factors: how well the dentist performed the restoration, and how the patient takes care of his teeth.

Dental experts say that although restorations also have their limitations, in many cases they are the best available treatment for tooth decay. Patients should not postpone or avoid necessary dental treatment. Whether a tooth has a filling or not, tooth decay can be prevented or reduced by maintaining good oral hygiene. Patients and dentist should cooperate to put in place appropriate preventative measures.

Caring for the teeth whether they have fillings or not is the same. Regular dental visits can determine the soundness of a tooth and its filling material. The practice of correct and timely oral hygiene procedures, such as brushing and flossing, is also must. Diet modification may be advised if patients’ diet consists mostly of carbohydrates. Over consumption of these types of food can be detrimental to oral, as well as overall health.

Dentists advise that after a dental filling has been performed, patients must contact their dentist if the patient experiences continuous pain for over 30 minutes, the filling feels too high, or the filling is hit first when the patient bites down. These measures will ensure dental filling soundness at the very start. With the dentist having done a good restorative job, it is now up to the patient to clean his teeth, because no dentist can clean them for him.

Caring for Your Dental Fillings in Bellingham

Over at Dr Tetrick’s dental clinic in Bellingham, we ensure quality restorations for our patients so as to maintain sound fillings integrity and long-term benefits of our restoration materials.

Tips for Coffee Lovers About Coffee Stains

There are many serious coffee drinkers out there who love coffee for itself. Health perks of coffee are just as serious. Coffee is proved to decrease your risk for diabetes and heart disease. It was also claimed that it makes you live longer. One downside of this very revered beverage is that it can also damage teeth.

Coffee, tea, and red wine, among others, contain staining substances called tannins. They are naturally occurring compounds found in plants that can stick to surfaces, including teeth. Since you cannot be stopped from drinking coffee, at least try to protect your teeth. If you practice good oral hygiene, then staining of teeth should not be an issue for you. Here are some tips to live by, all you coffee drinkers.

Just remember to brush your teeth. Better to brush after drinking coffee, however, it is recommended to brush twice a day, at least. Also, once-a-day flossing is a must to avoid the buildup of plaque.

Drink water immediately after drinking coffee. If you are not able to brush right away, take a tall glass of water after your coffee. It will surely wash away surface materials off your teeth while it hydrates the mouth. You can also choose to gargle with water and spit it out after. Remember that the more water you drink, the less time your teeth are exposed to the coffee and its tannins.

Try to sip your coffee instead of swishing it around your mouth. Sipping ensures that your teeth are in contact with coffee tannins for brief periods of time only. Do follow it up with a water gargle or drinking a glass of water.

Drink coffee through a straw. It can at least save your front teeth from getting stained though your back teeth may carry that burden. A straw helps move liquid past your front teeth, which are more visible when you smile and talk. Coffee can go straight down, as opposed to moving around in your mouth.

Can you skip the sugar?

It can do a lot for your gums and teeth. Enjoy in moderation, but if your teeth starts getting yellow with morning coffee, you might want to try black roast. Remember that sugars can latch onto teeth easily, leading to staining and tooth decay if not removed thoroughly by brushing.

For The Love of Coffee in Bellingham

Let your Bellingham dentist tell you more about coffee and coffee stains. Let’s help you enjoy your favorite beverages and yet, still take care of your pearly whites.

Healthy Eating for Healthy Teeth

You know that your teeth have an essential role to play in daily life. It would be lovely to have your full set of teeth for smiling and speaking, among other things. Most important of all, is that you use them for eating your food – biting, grinding, munching – without which it would be extremely difficult to eat, let alone survive. Over time you might have developed habits that may be detrimental to your teeth and overall oral health.

Some of these are everyday habits that have to be changed to maintain healthier teeth.

Firstly, limit your intake of sweet treats. It’s been established that sweets and cavities are linked. Biscuits, cakes, chocolates and candies are so sugar-loaded that the smart way of enjoying them is eating them only sparingly. That’s the same with fizzy drinks and energy drinks. When shopping or going to the grocers, remember to check the labels of processed and packaged foods. Store-bought salad dressings, cereals or tomato sauce have a high sugar content and adding onto to them your smoothies, sodas and dessert are not helping you cut down on sugar. Though you brush and floss after eating, still is wise to cut down sugar.

Limit your sticky or acidic food intake. Foods with sticky consistency take longer to break down by saliva. The stickier consistency will more likely stick to your teeth, leading to plaque. Honey, molasses, dried fruit or raisins can remain on the surface of teeth and increase your risk for cavities. Acid in food also rapidly escalates the process of tooth decay. Foods and beverages like alcoholic drinks, coffee, potato chips, including foods beneficial in a diet, as tomatoes or citrus fruits are acidic. Remember to eat these with other foods like fruits and veggies to render them less harmful to the teeth.

Limit foods and drinks that can stain teeth. Rich-colored foods and drinks as coffee, tea, red wine, berries, balsamic vinegar and rich sauces can stain your teeth when consumed in large quantities. Brush, drink water or rinse the mouth soon after to avoid the pigments from remaining on the teeth.

Remember that calcium is important for strong teeth. A healthy level of it in your diet – through dairy, eggs or leafy green vegetables – is crucial for healthy teeth, as calcium helps strengthen your bones and teeth. Lack of calcium can cause osteoporosis and can also cause problems with your teeth and jawbone. Those who have osteoporosis are three times more likely to lose teeth than those who don’t.

Giving Healthy Food Advice in Bellingham

Your Bellingham dentist would also like to add, that, for overall well being, including oral health, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, legumes, and lean protein. Such a diet provides a wide spectrum of nutrients for optimum oral health. See us for a consult in Bellingham.