Get the Facts About Flossers

Do you struggle to floss your teeth? Flossing is essential to keeping your gums and teeth healthy. Without flossing, you can end up with periodontal disease, your gums might recede, and you can lose your tooth. Flossing removes buildup from between the teeth that causes harmful calculus buildup. Brushing, unfortunately, cannot get between the teeth, which causes a problem in your overall dental health if left untreated. But how do you know what is the right floss for you? Here are 5 facts about flossers that can help you make your decision. 

1. Flossers are easy. You don't have to mess with getting enough floss or end up with too little. From start to finish, you can ensure you have the right amount of floss to floss all your teeth. 
2. You usually only need one flosser for your whole mouth. Going around to be sure you get between each of your teeth, flossers make it easy to reach back teeth and other hard-to-reach areas because your fingers may not get in the way. 
3. It thoroughly cleans your teeth. The flosser easily glides between your teeth without having to maneuver it around or shift to try and reach places.  
4. Flossers are usually safe for flossing if you have dental bridges or other cosmetic dental procedures completed. 
5. Flossers are safe for your smile. They remove plaque, do not damage the gums, and are safe to use to keep your smile healthy. 

To schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team today.

 

When you have a softening of the tooth enamel, the damage to the tooth structure can cause a cavity. When a cavity is left untreated the hole in the tooth gets larger. While gum recession or an exposed root is called a "root cavity." Both of these can cause problems to your teeth as well as your overall health. Here are 4 of the most common reasons for cavities, 

1. Consuming; too much food with sugar in it. Sugar breaks down the enamel of the tooth. When sugar is left on the surface of the tooth it causes damage. 
2. Not brushing regularly. Any food you eat builds upon the surface of the tooth and, is broken down into sugar. Brushing your teeth ensures the surface of your tooth is free from food particles that cause problems for your smile. 
3. Plaque build-up. Plaque is a hard yellow substance that builds up your teeth if you do not brush. In the presence of sugar, plague produces acid which, builds up over time causing even more problems for your teeth. 
4. Medical problems. Unfortunately, some medical problems can leave your smile at risk. If you are getting treatment for some types of cancer or other medical procedure, be sure to talk to your doctor about your dental care. 

For more information about your dental health, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team.

We are in some unprecedented times, and there are lots of things out of our control. However, the one thing we can help you with is your smile. While you may have plaque, broken, or chipped teeth, you do not have to live with it. We can help talk about options, opportunities, and other information you may need. It can be stressful when your smile does not look the way you want it to, but you do not have to live with it.

The nice thing about modern dentistry is that you have choices. At times it can feel like things are running out of your control, but your smile is something you can make decisions about based on your needs.

You can schedule a time to sit down with our team and consult. We'll talk about what concerns you have, what you might be interested in getting done, and then we'll take a look and evaluate the overall health of your smile. From there, we can come up with a plan that meets your dental needs. For more information, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team today. We'd love to help you reach your smile goals.

5 Ways To Protect Your Smile From Hormones

In last week’s post, we discussed how susceptible your smile is during an increase in hormones. When there is a surge in progesterone or estrogen, it can increase your risk of dental problems including periodontal disease, missing teeth and damaged gums. While you cannot control the hormones in your body, follow these 5 steps to keep your smile healthy no matter what is going on in your body.

1.    Brush and floss regularly. This is the only way to keep plaque from building up on your teeth and bacteria from going haywire in your mouth.

2.    Schedule and go to your regular dental check-ups. Dr. Strutz and her team are able to evaluate your oral health before you experience major problems when she is able to see her patients regularly.

3.    Eat fruits and vegetables daily. They can help keep your smile healthy in between brushing and flossing.

4.    Drink water throughout your day. Helping to stay hydrated can ensure that food is rinsed from your gums in between brushing.

5.    Get problems taken care of right away. If your gums are swollen or bleeding don’t wait to get the help you need.

For more information on hormones and how they impact your smile, contact Dr.Judy Strutz and her team.

In With The Holiday’s, Out With Your Breathing Machine!

Holiday travel is fast approaching and you may be wondering how you are ever going to fit all of the items you need to travel with in your 1 or 2 suitcases allowed on the plane. This year you may be able to leave that breathing machine at home and instead enjoy the benefits of a dental device to alleviate symptoms of sleep apnea.

You deserve the opportunity to enjoy the holidays with family and friends. You may be even trying to decide if you are going to bring your machine with you at all. You may be sharing a house with family and you fear keeping them awake with the noise. A custom made dental device fits easily in your mouth, opens up your throat to decrease the impact of sleep apnea without the negatives of a machine that is running all night. For many this can be a wonderful solution.

Dry mouth is a symptom that many patients with sleep apnea report when they use a breathing machine. Dry mouth can have a negative impact on the overall health of your smile. Bacteria grows faster when you do not have enough saliva to wash plaque and food from the surface of your teeth. A dental device keeps your lips closed throughout the night, decreasing dry mouth symptoms.

For more information or to schedule your consultation, contact Dr. Strutz and her team today.