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Jun28

Cavity Prevention Tips from Dr. Stewart

One word nobody wants to hear when they visit the dentist is “cavity”! That’s right, the dreaded cavity; but what exactly is a cavity and how do you get one? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by your dentist, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities:
• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and check-up. In fact, summer is the perfect time for a check-up!

Jun13

Summer Is Here…Make Those Back-to-School Appointments Now!

School is finally out! Now we can begin to enjoy the pleasures and special events of summer, the vacations, trips to the beach, camping, gardening, golf, and more relaxed and longer days. Each year new memories are made during this summer break.

From a dental perspective, there are a few things associated with summer that should be on your “To Do” list. One is to make sure the athletes in your family have proper safety equipment, which in addition to knee pads and helmets, includes mouth guards. You can purchase the “Boil and Bite” mouth guards at many locations. An even better alternative is to have us make a custom fitted mouth guard.

As crazy as it sounds, another thing on your early summer “To Do” list should be to call our office and schedule those back to school cleaning appointments, as well as any sealant and restorative (filling) appointments you have been waiting to schedule. Our hygiene schedule fills up quickly and every year we get many parents and teachers calling in August hoping to schedule hygiene appointments before school starts. Now is the time to get that done!!! You have a greater chance to get the time you want and beat the beginning of school if you call now.

We hope you all have a safe and memorable summer. We’ll look forward to seeing you in the office.

Jun8

Smile! June is National Smile Month!

Can you believe it’s already June? Today, our team thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our office!

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
* Visit us regularly!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call, ask our team during your next visit or ask us on Facebook!

Jun1

Bad Breath is No Good

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You may not even be aware of your own bad breath, so if you’re concerned you may be suffering from it, talk to Dr. Stewart and team. We can help identify the cause and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to treat it.

There are many reasons for bad breath:

• What you eat can also affect the way your breath smells. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, can have a very strong and lasting odor.
• If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath, not to mention tooth decay and gingivitis.
• Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth (xerostomia), which occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor.
• Tobacco products cause bad breath. If you use tobacco, ask us for tips on kicking the habit.
• Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. If this is the case, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause.

The good news is there are many ways to help eliminate bad breath from your life. Maintaining good oral health is essential to reducing bad breath, so schedule regular dental visits with Dr. Stewart’s office for a professional cleaning and checkup. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, and don’t forget to brush your tongue, too!

May25

Oral Bleeding/Infection and Your Health— What’s the Connection?

Research has shown that:

• One in two people are pre-diabetic or insulin resistant
• Controlling gum disease controls diabetes
• One in seven people with active gum disease over the age of 40 will have Alzheimer’s Disease
• One in seven 26 year olds has peridontitis at some level
• People with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease
• Periodontal disease impacts osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, fertility and pregnancy.
• Oral disease is a disease like any other and deserving of treatment.

If you have bleeding during your hygiene visit or your hygienist suspects oral infection, your hygienist will be talking with you about the benefits of Laser Bacterial Reduction, or LBR. We have used the hygiene laser for LBR for several years with tremendous results. Now research is showing that early intervention with LBR can provide greater benefits for our patients than we realized. Ask your hygienist for LBR’s benefits for you.

May2

Reverse Decalcified White Spots

Last week we discussed how prolonged contact with acidic bacterial plaque can lead to decalcification, or demineralization, of teeth. Decalcification is one of the reasons for white spots (lesions) on teeth.

Fortunately, decalcification can be reversed. If you have white, decalcified spots on your teeth, the following are some steps you can take to reverse this condition:

• Follow proper homecare. Bacterial plaque and food debris must be removed from all tooth surfaces and the tongue at least twice a day. This can be accomplished with thorough brushing and flossing.
• Make sure your mouth is neutralized after eating and drinking. You can swish with a baking soda rinse after eating or drinking, or chew a Xylitol-containing mint or gum. Baking soda is a natural neutralizer and Xylitol is a natural sweetener that has a neutralizing effect on the bacteria in our mouths.
• Avoid grazing on foods and sipping drinks (other than water) throughout the day.
• If recommended by the hygienist or doctor, use a calcium and phosphate cream, such as MI Paste. This paste is applied to your teeth throughout the day, especially after eating and drinking. MI Paste also contains Xylitol.
• If recommended for your situation, use Clinpro 5000. This prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste contains calcium phosphate. Fluoride hardens teeth and forms a protective layer over the calcium and phosphate. This higher level of protection is needed to help restore weakened or decalcified lesions. It also helps prevent these lesions from going to the next stage and becoming dental cavities.

Apr26

Decalcification White Spots on Teeth? We Can Help!

Decalcification, also known as demineralization, is the loss of calcium and phosphate from the bones or teeth. It is the first stage, but a reversible stage, of dental cavities. Every time we eat acidic foods or drink acidic beverages, our mouths become acidic. It is the acid that pulls the minerals, calcium and phosphate, from the tooth structure. This causes hard enamel to be softened and weakened. The good news is that our own saliva is our body’s defense mechanism against the decalcification of our teeth. It washes the acids and food debris from our teeth and restores a neutral PH environment in our mouth. Saliva also replenishes calcium and phosphate to our teeth, a process called remineralization.

White spot lesions, or decalcified lesions, are caused from prolonged contact with acidic bacterial plaque (biofilm). The growth of this plaque is a continuous process. Plaque should be removed from all dental surfaces at least every twelve hours, and brushing and flossing are good ways to do this. When the acidic biofilm is not removed, it depletes the tooth surface of calcium and phosphate. Saliva is unable to neutralize the biofilm and the bacterial plaque is left to grow and evolve. Dry mouth can also dramatically increase the rate of decalcification, even with adequate plaque removal. Without the right amount of saliva, a dry mouth remains acidic for long periods of time. Therefore, the teeth are not replenished with calcium and phosphate, and white spots occur.

You can reverse this process with exciting new dental products and home care. We will discuss steps to help reverse white decalcified lesions in our blog and on our Facebook page next week.

Mar29

Fluoride – Not Just for Kids

Almost everyone is aware of the benefits of fluoride for children. Tooth decay is way down since fluoride was introduced into the water supply in Grand Rapids in 1946. However, are you aware that fluoride can be equally important for aging adults? As we age our gums receed and dentin is exposed near the gum line, increasing the risk of root surface decay. Application of fluoride during your hygiene visit will dramatically reduce this root surface decay, as well as make these exposed areas more comfortable. Ask your hygienist about the benefits of adult fluoride for you at your next visit.

Mar22

The Scoop on Dental X-rays

Dental X-rays are an essential and invaluable tool to help assist us in evaluating your oral health. With X-rays, we can see what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums and identify oral health issues otherwise hidden during a visual exam, including:

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings)
• infections in the bone
• periodontal (gum) disease
• abscesses or cysts
• developmental abnormalities
• types of tumors

If left untreated, these problems can lead to expensive, time-consuming, and painful conditions, so it’s important to find and treat them early.
Dental X-rays are extremely safe, and our team is certified in the proper use of our digital X-ray equipment. The amount of radiation that you are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to your daily exposure from things like atmospheric radiation and naturally-occurring radioactive elements, as well as medical X-rays you may have gotten at your doctor’s office or hospital. In fact our digital system dramatically decreases the already minimal amount of exposure even further. We try to be as conservative as possible when prescribing x-rays but do need them to see what is going on where our eyes can’t see.

Mar1

Toothpaste and Abrasion

Toothpaste is a great product that we all use several times a day. Unfortunately, some toothpastes can be detrimental to your teeth. Many of the “whitening” toothpastes are abrasive and remove enamel as well as stains. Our recommendation from Dr. Bruce Stewart’s office is that you stay away from highly abrasive toothpastes because they can remove the polish and luster of porcelain veneers and are not good for natural teeth.

The Federal Drug Administration and the American Dental Association have come up with a system to measure the abrasive level of toothpastes, which is called the RDA value. The lower the RDA value, the gentler the toothpaste is on your teeth. If a toothpaste has an RDA rating over 100 it is considered to be abrasive. Below are the RDA values for some toothpastes. If you would like more information on this, we have a longer list at the office. We can provide more detailed scientific information about the RDA ratings to those who may be interested, just ask your hygienist about the study the next time you are in the office.

Toothpaste / RDA Value

Straight Baking Soda / 07
Arm & Hammer Tooth Powder / 08
CloSYS / 53
Colgate Regular / 68
Colgate Total / 70
Sensodyne / 79
Aim / 80
Aquafresh Sensitive / 91
Crest Regular / 95
Sensodyne Extra Whitening / 104
Crest Sensitivity / 107
Aquafresh Whitening / 113
Colgate Whitening / 124
Crest Extra Whitening / 130
Colgate Tarter Control / 165
Colgate 2-in-1 Tarter Control/White / 200

Oral Health