It’s a fact, flossing daily helps protect against gingivitis by removing plaque and food particles, keeping your teeth and gums healthy, while giving you a beautiful smile.
So, do you floss daily?
Probably not! Well, you’re not alone because according to an American Dental Association (ADA) survey, only 16% of patients report flossing daily.
The main reason people say they don’t floss every day is because it takes too much time but, flossing is a very important aspect of your gum health. In fact, the American Academy of Periodontology says, “Gum disease is typically caused when prolonged exposure to bacteria in dental plaque causes an inflammatory reaction. Flossing is an effective and useful way to remove the plaque, especially in between the teeth or under the gum line-places where a toothbrush cannot reach.”
Some people find flossing difficult, others say it makes their gums bleed or sore. Well, that bleeding and soreness means bacteria is causing an infection between your teeth. Flossing removes that!
Here are a few tips to start making flossing part of your daily routine:
Create Flossing Cues
One of the easiest ways to remind yourself to floss more is to create a flossing cue, a way to remind you to do it. This can be as simple as a sticky note on your bathroom mirror or a reminder alarm on your phone. There are even dental apps that help you set reminders such as Brush DJ. The app helps you to brush your teeth for the full two minutes to a randomly selected song from your playlist. The app entertains you with music while you brush, making brushing fun and exciting rather than boring. The app also allows you to set reminders to brush twice a day, floss, and see your dentist or hygienist regularly. Brush DJ is a free app.
Chunk Floss
Studies in neuroscience show that one way to create a new habit is by chunking the desired one with something you already do. This action, called ‘habit-chunking’ can work for flossing too. Pick something that you do every day, dental or non-dental, and put floss there. Before you do that daily habit, floss first. By chunking, you basically trick your brain into creating a new habit without thinking too much about it.
Stash Floss Everywhere!
If you only floss by the mirror, it may seem like a time-consuming chore, ut if you have it stashed in places like your purse, pocket, car, or by the TV, you can do it when you have any extra minute. So, stock up on floss, LOTS OF IT!
Find the flossing product that works best for you
Not everyone has to use string floss. Some find it difficult to maneuver while others think it is just plain slimy. If you have sensitive teeth and gums that bleed easily, choose a soft floss that slides easily and comfortably between the teeth. There are also many alternatives to string floss such as floss holders, floss picks, and water flossers.
Types of floss:
Traditional Waxed Floss – this is the typical offering. The wax can help make it easier to get the floss between your teeth so if you have really tiny spaces this could be a good option for you.
Non-waxed floss – The lack of wax might make the floss a bit thinner, but the absence of the wax acting as a lubricant might make it a little more difficult to thread between your teeth.
Disposable Toothpicks – these have grown in popularity and can be a great option, whether you’re on the go or just need help getting those tough to reach back teeth. These come in large packs at most grocery stores and are great for having on hand at all times. Throw a few in your backpack or purse in case you find yourself away from the house and in need of a quick floss.
Floss Threaders – these handy tools are especially great for individuals with braces or permanent retainers. You can take your floss and place it inside the threader and then use the threader to guide the floss where you need it to go.
Electric or Water Flossers – these handy tools can be great for those who really can’t get into the regular routine of flossing, they use a combination of pressure and water to clean away plaque and stuck food from the hard to reach areas between your teeth. These are great options but might not clean the entire area. They can be a little more expensive and they might make more of a mess during your daily routine.
*It is always best to discuss floss alternatives with your dental professionals*
Reward Yourself After You’re Done!
Just as individuals can form good habits, it’s also possible for bad habits to form. Help get yourself excited about flossing by rewarding yourself after you’ve done it. If you have a favorite TV show wait to watch it until after you’ve completed your flossing or mark off the number of days in a row you floss on your calendar and after 30 consecutive days allow yourself a special treat.
Take Baby Steps
Start taking baby steps toward more flossing. Flossing a few times a week is better than not at all. It can even lead to more regular flossing later! You can even start by flossing just one tooth. Flossing just one tooth isn’t going to improve your overall periodontal health right away. But that’s not the point. The point is to make the act of flossing a habit, which will eventually lead to improved gum health. All you have to do to feel successful is to floss one single tooth at a time.
Don’t ever feel defeated if you can’t seem to make it a daily habit. Just keep trying to do your best and know that we are always here to help you find tools and tips to clean in-between your teeth.
Keep in mind that flossing correctly is just as important as how often you do it. Here is a step-by-step guide and video by the ADA on proper flossing.
TMJ is an abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint. Your TMJ is like any other joint in your body, and good preventive health habits will help a lifetime of happy smiles and chewing.
The TMJ is located at the base of the skull in front of the ear structure and connects the lower jaw with the upper jaw. Unlike most joints located in the body, the TMJ is unique in its structure, composed of a rounded protrusion of the mandible that sits against an indentation in the skull, and a disc-like structure made of a soft bone called cartilage found in between the two bones.
How does the TMJ work:
The TMJ works in two ways to open your mouth.
The first way is like a hinge to simply open and close the mouth, like a hinge on a door.
The second way is a sliding motion where your lower jaw moves down and forward. This motion helps the TMJ to move backward and forward and from side to side for actions such as eating and yawning.
What can happen to the TMJ?
A variety of symptoms may be linked to TMJ disorders. Pain, particularly in the chewing muscles or jaw joint, is the most common symptom. Like any other joint in the body, the TMJ can be fractured. A TMJ fracture can swell and become sore, causing limited movement of the lower jaw and pain radiating to the head and neck area.
Other symptoms include:
Radiating pain in the face, jaw, or neck
Jaw muscle stiffness
Limited movement or locking of the jaw
Painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening and closing the mouth
A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
What Causes TMJ Pain?
Sometimes, pain can come from the teeth themselves, as opposed to the TMJ and surrounding ligaments.
Work or personal stress can be a source of aggressive jaw activity, according to the American College of Prosthodontists, and a general dentist, orthodontist or prosthodontist are the most qualified people to look at your teeth and determine if this is the cause.
Clenching can also cause TMJ pain, and some patients exhibit this behavior at night while sleeping.
How to treat TMJ Pain:
Pain in the TMJ is often temporary, and can be treated with a combination of ice then heat to relieve the sore ligaments and muscles surrounding the joint. Over-the-counter pain medicines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, may provide temporary relief from jaw discomfort.
Your dentist may also prescribe a clear plastic bite/night guard, fabricated to help alleviate your symptoms after a thorough diagnosis has been made.
Although rare, surgery is sometimes required to correct TMJ problems. A referral to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is sometimes appropriate and special imaging pictures of the joint may need to be taken to determine if surgery should be a part of your TMJ treatment.
You can also try eating soft foods, avoiding extreme jaw movements and practice gentle jaw stretching and relaxing exercises.
For most people, discomfort from TMJ disorders will eventually go away on its own. Just like keeping your teeth healthy, your TMJ should warrant regular visits to your dentist to prevent complications during a routine dental exam.
Call us at 717-761-0341 to schedule an appointment!
Approximately 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes? Also, around 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed each year and 8.1 million people living with diabetes don’t even know they have it.
So what does this have to do with your smile and how can you protect it?
If diabetes is left untreated, it can take a toll on your mouth. Here’s how:
You may have less saliva, causing your mouth to feel dry. (Dry mouth is also caused by certain medications.)
Because saliva protects your teeth, you’re also at a higher risk of cavities.
Gums may become inflamed and bleed often (gingivitis).
You may have problems tasting food.
You may experience delayed wound healing.
You may be susceptible to infections inside of your mouth.
For children with diabetes, teeth may erupt at an age earlier than is typical.
Diabetics are more prone to gum disease:
Bacteria in your gums can lead to periodontal disease. This chronic, inflammatory disease can destroy your gums, all the tissues holding your teeth, and even your bones.
Periodontal disease is the most common dental disease affecting those living with diabetes, affecting nearly 22% of those diagnosed. In fact, people with diabetes are at a higher risk for gum problems because of poor blood sugar control. As with all infections, serious gum disease may cause blood sugar to rise. This makes diabetes harder to control because you are more susceptible to infections and are less able to fight the bacteria invading the gums.
How do your gums affect blood sugar?
The American Dental Association (ADA) published research that suggests gum disease can raise your blood sugar. Their research compared people with healthy gums and people with active gum disease. They found that people who had active gum disease had higher long-term blood sugar levels. Researchers believe that harmful oral bacteria can be introduced into the bloodstream more easily through infected gum tissue. That bacteria, which flows through the bloodstream, triggers your body’s immune system to produce molecules that raise blood sugar. That harmful bacteria can be introduced into your body by simply brushing or eating!
How your dentist can help you fight diabetes:
Research suggests that treating gum disease can help improve blood sugar control in patients living with diabetes, decreasing the progression of the disease. Practicing good oral hygiene and having professional deep cleanings done by your dentist can help to lower your HbA1c.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 53,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer in 2020. They estimate that it will cause over close to 10,000 deaths. In the late stages, oral cancer can be life-threatening, which is why early diagnosis is so important.
Because early detection is the key to early-stage diagnosis, your dentist is an important health partner in mouth cancer detection.
How is oral cancer detected by my dentist?
When you visit your dental office, your dental professionals are screening for cancer. At your cleaning appointment, your hygienist performs an oral cancer screening and reports suspicious areas to your dentist before your exam. Your dentist also performs an oral cancer exam and will refer you to an oral surgeon if they feel the discovered lesion or bump should be tested. Those abnormalities can be tested through a biopsy, which can definitively determine whether cancer cells are present.
Because oral cancer symptoms can often seem like other less serious conditions, it can be missed early, which is why self-awareness is so important. Self-examination is also a way to detect abnormalities as well. So, if you have a sore, lump, or pain that doesn’t go away in about two weeks, you should seek an examination by your dentist or physician.
Can oral cancer be treated?
Yes, it can be treated like other forms of cancer.
Your oral surgeon can perform a biopsy and remove the abnormal lesion or growth. If it is determined to be cancerous, patients are referred to an oncologist, a cancer specialist. Typically, post-surgery treatment involves treatment such as radiation and/or chemotherapy.
Common Symptoms:
Mouth or lip sores that do not heal after 14 days.
Unusual red or whitish spots inside the mouth/tongue that cannot be wiped away.
Unusual bleeding or pain inside the mouth/around gums.
Lumps or bumps inside the mouth & lip or outside the mouth, head, and neck.
Chronic sore throat or feeling of thickness in your throat.
Voice changes or hoarseness.
Trouble chewing and swallowing.
Common Risks:
Age – Patients who are over the age of 55 are at higher risk.
Gender – Men are at twice the risk as women.
Tobacco Use – Tobacco users are 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer!
Excessive Alcohol Consumption – Oral cancer is more likely in people who drink alcohol vs non-drinkers. Some studies show that excessive alcohol users are up to 6 times more likely to get oral cancer.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – Cases of oral cancer associated with HPV are rising, especially in younger people.
UV Exposure – Cancerous lesions around lips are more common in those who have had excessive sun exposure from a young age.
In addition to common risk factors, new research is also finding that there may be links between oral cancer and poor nutrition and poor oral health. So, regular dental visits can help not only detect but also help reduce your risk for oral cancer.
Does a visit to the dentist make you feel nervous or even scared? Well, you’re not alone!
Dental-related anxiety is the number one reason why patients do not seek regular care. But staying away from the dentist can hurt more than just your teeth. Dental care is important for good overall health. So, avoiding the dentist could be making you unhealthy!
Take steps toward overcoming your dental fears by:
Recognizing signs of dental phobia.
Realizing what causes your fears.
Discovering tips on how you can help yourself reduce your fears.
Learning ways that your dental office can help.
FAQs about Dental Fear
What are Some Signs of Dental Anxiety?
Avoiding Dental Visits — Do you often skip regular visits?
Problems Sleeping the Night Before a Dental Appointment – Does the idea of an upcoming dental cleaning have you worried for days and especially the night before?
Uneasy Feeling in the Waiting Room – Do you feel those butterflies in your stomach or even feel a bit nauseous?
Uncomfortable in the Chair –– Once you sit in the chair, do you ever feel lightheaded, nervous, or out of breath?
What are Common Reasons for Dental Anxiety?
Fear of Pain/Needle Fear – You should know that now there are so many new ways to treat patients painlessly.
Worries about Expenses – Just know that dental problems usually get more expensive the longer you wait for treatment.
Bad Past Experiences — Unfortunately, bad experiences happen, which is why finding a caring and compassionate dental office is important.
Embarrassed about Your Teeth – While it is understandable to be self-conscious, don’t worry because your dental office is a no-judgment zone!
How Can I Reduce My Dental Fears?
Communicate Your Fears – Your dental office staff wants to help. So, don’t be afraid to let them know when you make or arrive for an appointment that you have dental fears. It will help them to help you feel more comfortable.
Schedule Early Appointments – Scheduling the earliest appointment of the day helps in two ways, by allowing you to be seen promptly and to get it out of the way and enjoy the rest of your day.
Consider Food Choices — Avoid caffeine right before a dental visit because it can make you feel more anxious. Choose high-protein foods vs. high sugar foods because high-protein foods can produce a calmer feeling.
Bring Headphones – Listening to music or a podcast can help distract you from some of the sights and sounds of the dental chair.
Practice Breathing Exercises – In the chair, practice a calming breathing technique called “4-6 Breathing.” Inhale slowly for 4 breathes and exhale slowly for 6 breaths for about one minute before you start your treatment.
If you suffer from dental fears, consider choosing a dental office that is committed to:
Creating a Calm Experience
Gently Managing Your Pain
Considering Your Needs
Taking the Time to Listen
Here at Fox Dental, we go the extra mile to ensure that you feel comfortable so your dental fears will slowly fade. Who knows, you might even look forward to visiting your dentist!
Dental x-rays or radiographs are an important part of your dental care. Along with an oral examination, they provide your dentist with a more complete view of what’s happening in your mouth.
BENEFITS OF X- RAYS
X-rays give your dentist a picture of your hard tissues (teeth and bones) and the soft tissues that surround your teeth and jawbones.
According to the American Dental Association, x-rays can show tooth decay, fillings, gum disease, and types of tumors. Dental radiographs can also alert your dentist to changes in your hard and soft tissues. In children, radiographs allow the dentist to see how their teeth and jawbones are developing. Early detection of an infection or injury also can limit or prevent further damage to other areas of the mouth.
SAFETY OF DENTAL X-RAYS
Many wonder if x-rays are safe because they expose the patient to radiation. The ADA states that the amount of radiation used to obtain dental radiographs is very small. Dentists follow the ALARA principle, which stands for “As Low As Reasonably Achievable,” when obtaining radiographs. This radiation safety principle limits your exposure by incorporating the following techniques: use of the fastest image receptor (that is, the fastest film speed or digital speed); reduction in the size of the x-ray beam to the size of the image receptor whenever possible; use of proper exposure and processing techniques; duse of leaded aprons and, whenever possible, thyroid collars.
Your dentist will decide when radiographs are needed on the basis of your oral examination findings, any symptoms you report, a review of your health history, your risk of experiencing oral disease, your age, or any combination of the preceding.
Peanut butter is a heart-healthy food with good fats, but that classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich from your childhood might not be such a great idea for your mouth. Most kinds of peanut butter are made with a lot of sugar that feeds acid-causing bacteria.
Here at Fox Dental, we recommend looking for peanut butter with no added sugar. It’s also a good idea to drink lots of water and brush afterward to make sure all of the sticky substance is removed from your teeth.
Peanuts and peanut butter can have benefits for your mouth, in fact, some research suggests that they can decrease your chances of gum disease. Just make sure to buy brands with only natural peanut oils not added fats. Peanuts are also a great source of protein which is an important building block for a healthy mouth and body. The protein in peanuts helps form and repair cells.
Of course, there are some risk factors of eating peanuts like breaking the shell. Using your teeth to break the shell is a major no-no. You’ll risk chipping or even cracking a tooth, which can be seriously painful. Instead, use your hands or opt for the already shelled variety.
Again, there is often a lot of unnecessary sugar so always check the ingredients and pick brands free of added sugars and syrups. And remember the sticky treat can stay on your teeth, promoting plaque-causing bacteria so be sure to brush and you can keep enjoying the delicious sticky snack!
