General Dentistry

Jan28

5 Ways To Floss Daily

Categories: General Dentistry, Oral Health

Since flossing is such a cornerstone of dental health, the team at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI has some tips for our patients. We have put together a short list of ideas for unique times to floss, so you can keep working this crucial practice into your daily oral health routine!

5 UNIQUE TIMES TO FLOSS

  1. If you’re an early riser, try flossing in the morning right after you brush. It can be satisfying to start the day with a clean slate!
  2. There’s never a better time than after lunch, before you go back to work.
  3. Before or after you exercise. Your oral health is just as important as your physical fitness. Keep some floss in your gym bag and give your teeth and gums some attention, along with the rest of your body.
  4. While watching Netflix, or the nightly news, is as good a time as any to give your teeth a quick floss. We recommend having floss picks handy to make it easy and quick!
  5. At the end of your day, before going to bed, is a great time to floss and remove food particles left throughout the day.

Along with brushing, flossing should be part of your daily routine. So should regular checkups at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI. We offer complete general and cosmetic dentistry services that can make your smile shine! Satisfied patients from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI see us for chipped tooth repair, tooth-colored fillings, implant dentistry, and more. Contact us for an appointment today.

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

 

ArticleID 4849
Jan21

15 Things You Didn’t Know About Teeth

Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI, we think that dental health is easier to navigate when information is widely available and directly transmitted. This is why our team has put together some interesting facts about your teeth.

We want our patients to love their own smile! What better way to start than outlining the many ways in which teeth are interesting? Here are fifteen things you might not know about them.

INTERESTING FACTS

  1. Children’s teeth are soft until about age 10.
  2. Tooth enamel is the hardest part of the human body!
  3. Your gum tissue is as vital as your teeth.
  4. On average, people spend about 38 days of their lives brushing their teeth.
  5. Fluoride is added to drinking water to keep everyone’s teeth healthy.
  6. Smiles are as unique as a fingerprint; nobody has the same set of teeth.
  7. The first toothbrushes humans used were twigs!
  8. Despite the similarities in make-up, teeth are not considered bones.
  9. The first official toothbrush commercial was made in 1938.
  10. If you brush your teeth twice a day, you are 33 percent more likely to avoid any dental conditions.
  11. The first dentists in recorded history emerged in Ancient Egypt and lived more than 5000 years ago.
  12. Right-handed adults will often chew with the right side of their mouth, and left-handed adults will chew with their left.
  13. Teeth are icebergs. Only two-thirds of your teeth are visible; the rest are hidden underneath your gum-line.
  14. You use four different types of teeth to eat: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
  15. Americans buy more than 15 million gallons of toothpaste every year.

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI, we want all of our patients to have clean and healthy teeth, along with beautiful smiles. But we also want them to share our passion for dental health. It is really one of the most interesting and important cornerstones of overall health. People from Ada, Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to us for general and cosmetic dentistry services, including dental implants, veneers and Invisalign® clear braces. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan

 

Jan7

What To Expect From Your Dental Checkup

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry

Along with your daily dental health routine, regular checkups at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park MI are essential to maintaining good dental health and the peace of mind that comes with it.

For most patients, we recommend a checkup every six months. Sometimes we need to see a patient more often and sometimes less often. But twice a year is the norm.

Checkups are divided into two parts: the cleaning and the examination.

THE CLEANING

A Professional cleaning of your teeth is done by a hygienist and usually comes before the exam.

  • Teeth and gums are inspected
  • Built-up plaque and tartar are removed
  • Your teeth are polished

Plaque is a filmy, sticky layer of bacteria. You can remove it with daily brushing and flossing, but there may be hard-to-reach areas where some has remained. When it isn’t removed, plaque hardens into tartar. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing. It can only be removed with special tools, in a process called scaling.

THE EXAM

A dental examination is performed by the dentist. It involves your teeth and gums, as well as an inspection of the tongue, throat, face, head, and neck.

  • Teeth are inspected for cavities
  • Gums are inspected for any sign of gum disease
  • Tongue, throat, and head area are inspected for any signs of cancer

Any issues are usually addressed in a follow-up appointment.

Between checkups, it’s important to brush and floss every single day. Plaque is constantly forming on teeth, but if you remove it every day it shouldn’t cause you any problems.

At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, MI we offer cosmetic, general, and implant dentistry. People from Ada, Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI also come to us for Invisalign® orthodontics. Please call to schedule a cleaning and checkup today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

 

Dec24

Regular Cleanings And Heart Health

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Oral Health

Comstock Park Dental News Regular Cleanings And Heart Health

Visiting Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park for a dental checkup and cleaning every six months may seem inconvenient sometimes, but you may benefit in ways you’d never imagine.

A recent study showed that people who had their teeth professionally cleaned at least once every two years were 24 percent less likely to have a heart attack, compared to those who skipped appointments.

Not only that, but brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes may lower your risk of heart disease. The study says that people who brushed less than twice a day, and for less than two minutes, were three times as likely to have heart issues than those who brushed at least twice, and for at least two minutes.

A cardiologist who was not associated with the study said it’s possible that those who are attentive to their dental health may simply be more health conscious overall.

Still, researchers believe it strengthens the notion that there is a clear link between your dental health and your overall health.

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we encourage all our patients to brush their teeth for two minutes at least twice a day, and to floss, too. It’s the best way to keep cavities at bay. People from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to our practice for family and cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, and much more. Schedule your next cleaning and checkup today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

ArticleID 3698

Dec10

Want To Keep Your Enamel Healthy? Avoid Doing These 11 Things

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry

cosmetic dentistry Comstock ParkTooth enamel is the hardest part of the human body, but that doesn’t mean teeth are indestructible. Far from it! To keep them healthy and problem-free, the team at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park recommends (strongly!) you avoid the following.

1. Chewing on hard foods

We’re looking at you, unpopped popcorn kernels and hard candy.

2. Chewing on hard things

This includes fingernails, pencils, pen caps, and ice.

3. Grinding your teeth

If you grind your teeth, ask us about an oral appliance.

4. Eating too much sticky food

Gummy candy, dried fruit, and even protein bars can break teeth.

5. Drinking lots of anything besides water

If your teeth are constantly bathed in soda (sugared or diet), juice, coffee, or sports drinks, you are asking for dental issues.

6. Playing sports without a mouthguard

Sports pose a major risk of tooth damage. Most children are required to wear a protective mouthguard on the playing field, but adults tend to be less vigilant. (Custom-fitted mouthguards are more comfortable and provide more protection than the cheap boil-and-bite type.)

7. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush

A hard-bristled tooth brush can weaken teeth and cause gums to pull away. We recommend a soft (or extra-soft) toothbrush!

8. Ignoring dry mouth

Saliva is important. It helps to rinse food particles from your mouth as well as neutralize the acids that cause plaque. Constant dry mouth (xerostomia) can lead to tooth decay. Talk to us if you have persistent dry mouth.

9. Using teeth as tools

Take a minute to find a pair of scissors before you tear open a package of lunch meat or pry the lid off of a medicine bottle. Use a nutcracker if you are eating shelled nuts.

10. Ignoring bad breath

Bad breath might be a symptom of accelerating tooth decay or periodontal disease. Please discuss it with us.

11. Ignoring jaw pain

If you suffer from jaw pain or notice a clicking sound, be sure to let us know! These can be signs of a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

If you’ve damaged a tooth, come see us at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park. We offer complete general dentistry services, and have helped patients throughout Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI. We also offer Invisalign clear braces, cosmetic and implant dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

ArticleID 8124
Nov26

To Chew Or Not To Chew

Categories: Dental health, Dental hygiene, General Dentistry

To Chew Or Not To Chew In Comstock Park

Hello gum chewers! In this post from Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we’re going to talk about that chewing gum. You know there can be benefits to gum chewing, but isn’t it a big risk for tooth decay?

It really depends on the type of gum. Chewing regular sucrose-based gum may be helpful in removing bits of food from the surface of teeth, but that benefit is negated by the stream of sugar washing over your teeth as you chew.

However, gum with some alternative sweeteners has an added benefit for your pearly whites. Xylitol is a sweetener which not only has fewer calories than traditional sugars, but it also has antimicrobial properties that lessen plaque build-up. This means that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes decay.

So if you’re headed out to a restaurant, bring a pack of sugar-free gum with after your meal. Of course, brushing and flossing are the ideal practices for your oral health, but when you can’t brush, select a sugarless gum with xylitol.

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we encourage regular cleanings and checkups. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry. Our patients come to us from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI for Invisalign clear braces, implant dentistry and much more. Call to schedule an appointment today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

ArticleID 3888
Nov19

Attack Of The Gummi Bear

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry

Comstock Parkaffordable family dentist

There probably isn’t a dentist in the world who would say eating candy is a good thing. That includes those of us at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

To put it plainly, candy is loaded with sugar. The bacteria in your mouth uses any sugar that comes its way to produce the acids that cause tooth decay.

You’re better off avoiding candy entirely. But we’re realists, and know that is not an easy thing to do. (Most of us here don’t mind the occasional sweet, too!)

The trick, in part, is moderation. It’s also choosing your candy wisely. Some kinds are worse for your teeth than others. (Be sure to read this entire post: there’s a surprise ending!)

THE WORST

The worst types of candy are the sticky ones, like gummi bears, taffy, and even those chewy fruit snacks. They attach to your teeth and stick there, and don’t rinse or brush away very easily.

  • Sticky candy can also cause problems with dental work, like fillings and crowns.
  • Dried fruit has the same effect. Admittedly, raisins or cranberries have more nutrition than a gummi bear. But they also have a lot of sugar and cling to the teeth.
  • Hard candy like lollipops are also really rough on teeth. They’re meant to melt in your mouth, so they’re in there a long time. That’s a sugar bath your teeth definitely don’t need.

SURPRISE!

Here’s the surprise: some candy isn’t all that bad. Chocolate melts quickly and rinses or brushes out easily. We like dark chocolate in particular, because it’s yummy and also tends to have less sugar than milk chocolate. It’s made from cocoa beans, which contain substances that help to harden enamel and even fight bacteria. Just remember to brush and floss!

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we want all our patients to have the best possible dental health, and staying away from candy, especially sticky candy, is always a good strategy. People from Ada, Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to us for Invisalign clear braces, cosmetic dentistry, and family dentistry. Call our office to schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

 

ArticleID 6706
Nov12

4 Reason To Look For The ADA Seal

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry

Kentwood cosmetic dental and adult braces

Here’s a suggestion from Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park: when you go to the store for dental products, be sure that what you choose has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

Here are four ways the ADA seal can help you make good oral care choices for you and your family.

  1. Products with the seal have to be safe and effective, so you won’t waste your dollars on something that won’t work, or worse, can harm you.
  2. The ADA only places its seal on a product after serious scientific testing. This usually means that manufacturers have to meet higher standards than those required by law.
  3. When you purchase products with the ADA seal, it’s practically like shopping with us right by your side! Who wouldn’t want that extra knowledge and information?
  4. The ADA seal is not the organization’s endorsement of one particular product or another, but a verification of the claims made about that product.

At Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we want all our patients to enjoy good dental health, and one of the ways you maintain it is using quality dental care products. People from Ada, Belmont, Comstock Park, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to us for our Invisalign clear braces, cosmetic dentistry, and family dentistry. Call for an appointment today!

Contact Eric Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

ArticleID 4858
Oct22

Fun Floss Facts

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry

Walker after hours dental

Flossing is one of the best things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Doing it is simple enough, but as in most things there is usually room for improvement. At Eric Hull, DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we think trying out different types of floss is a good idea, and can help you do a better job.

The reason flossing is so important is that it removes plaque and food debris from between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. Left on the teeth, plaque hardens  and contributes to tooth decay. The Academy of General Dentistry goes so far as to call flossing the most important thing you can do to fight plaque.

WHAT KIND IS BEST?

When it comes to what dental floss to use, there is a lot to choose from. Flavored or unflavored? Waxed or unwaxed? Wide or thin?

No single type of floss is right for everyone. You might even benefit from having more than one kind in your medicine cabinet. With a little trial and error, you can narrow down your choices to find what works best for you.

Here are some things to bear in mind:

  • Waxed floss fits more easily into tight spaces
  • Unwaxed floss tends to squeak against clean teeth, an indicator that plaque is gone
  • Wider dental tape may work better in gaps between teeth, and on bridgework

We recommend traditional string floss that you can pull out in a long strand, as opposed to a flossing pick. Those little picks are popular, but with only a tight strand of floss it’s all but impossible to wrap any around your teeth – and flossing is far more effective when you do that. The picks fine for when you’re on the go. Just be sure to use regular floss as part of your dental hygiene routine before bedtime.

Whatever your preference, the important thing is to floss at least once each day.

At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we like to see you for a checkup every six months. People from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to our office for general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, and much more. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Eric Hull DDS:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

ArticleID 5273
Oct8

9 Tips For Preventing Gum Disease

Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Gum Disease

prevent gum disease Comstock Park

Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. But it is a preventable disease, and also treatable, at Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park.

Here are some simple ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

  1. Brush your teeth for two to three minutes, at least twice a day, with fluoridated toothpaste. Be sure to brush along the gumline. Don’t brush too hard, but be thorough.
  2. Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. Don’t like to floss? Try a floss holder, which makes it much simpler to insert floss between teeth.
  3. Although not a substitute for flossing, using a waterpik can help prevent plaque accumulation and keep your enamel strong.
  4. Eat a healthy diet. Starchy and sugary foods increase plaque. A sensible diet provides the nutrients necessary (Vitamins A and C, in particular) to keep teeth and gums healthy.
  5. Don’t smoke, or use smokeless tobacco, which may bring about advanced gum disease or oral cancer. That includes e-cigarettes.
  6. Be aware that certain medications can also threaten a healthy smile. These include oral contraceptives, antidepressants and heart medicines.
  7. Exercise prevention by scheduling regular evaluations — the best way to detect early signs of gum disease and make a plan to reverse it.
  8. Talk to us about dental health topics such as old, broken fillings or crowded teeth.
  9. If you grind your teeth, ask us about ways to protect them.

Prevention is always the best medicine, so brush and floss your teeth twice a day. At Eric Hull DDS Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park we treat gum disease, and people from Ada, Belmont, Grand Rapids, Sparta, Walker and Rockford, MI come to us for Invisalign clear braces, complete cosmetic dentistry, and much more. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Eric Hull DDS:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321

 

ArticleID 8129