Dealing with a Knocked Out Tooth

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smilinggThere’s no doubt about it that when one of your teeth becomes completely detached at the roots, the experience is shocking and upsetting. You might think there’s nothing your dentist can do to help you save your natural tooth. Fortunately, quick action and a little luck provide the possibility that your knocked out tooth can be reattached. If you educate yourself in advance, you’re more likely to remain in the best possible head space to deal with a dental crisis.

It’s a Hard Knock Life

Naturally, if you sustain an injury (or even if you are a witness to an accident) which is substantial or life-threatening, you should dial 911 or make your way to the closest emergency room as quickly as possible. If your only apparent sign of injury is that your tooth is knocked out, an emergency dentist’s attention should suffice. Hopefully, your tooth is displaced in one single piece. If so, retrieve it and hold on to it. Even fragmented teeth are sometimes possible to save. There is a 30 – 60 minute window if you are searching for your best chance of success. Gently and carefully rinse the tooth free of dirt or debris, only holding it by the crown. Don’t touch the roots or detach any tissues which are still connected.

Milk your Situation

Once your tooth is clean and in one piece, clean gauze is a great tool. Before you head to the emergency dentist, you can potentially reinsert the dislodged tooth into the correct socket temporarily. After you have gently placed the tooth back in place, gingerly bite down on the gauze to hold the tooth steady and make your way to your appointment. If the knocked out tooth is in multiple fragments, store them in whole milk, or between your cheek and gums to keep the tooth moist and “alive.”

Visit your Sheridan Dentist

To learn more about porcelain veneers, or to speak with your Sheridan dentist, schedule a consultation at Grinnell Street Dental by contacting our Sheridan dentist office at (307) 672-7567. We welcome patients from Sheridan, WY and the surrounding communities.

filed under: Oral Health, Preventive Dentistry

A Quiz on Porcelain Veneers

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Beach CoupleDo you have porcelain veneers on any part of your smile, or have you ever considered them? They are one of the most versatile cosmetic dental treatments out there. Few other single procedures answer to so many different issues at the same time. In fact, porcelain veneers are so efficient at covering over a multitude of flaws, many people consider them to be a “smile makeover.” To learn more, test yourself on the following quiz.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Porcelain veneers require specialized dental care. (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry

Does Baking Soda Brighten Smiles?

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Baking SodaBaking soda has been a part of people’s pantries for over one-hundred years. Sodium bicarbonate (AKA baking soda) has a number of benefits and uses such as soaking up odors or scrubbing off stains from a variety of surfaces.One  popular use for baking soda, however, is whitening your teeth. Brushing with a baking soda and water solution removes small tooth stains and potentially improves oral health. A number of commercially available toothpastes contain baking soda. Sheridan dentist, Dr. Donald Coon explains why baking soda makes such an excellent dental hygiene product. However, you may want to be mindful of how often you use sodium bicarbonate on your smile.

Baking Soda and your Mouth

The greatest overall threat to your teeth is acid. Some foods and drinks are naturally acidic. When consumed, they change the pH level in your mouth. The pH scale measures any substance’s acidity in ranges between 0-14. Zero is the most acidic, while 14 is the most alkaline.The mid-scale number seven indicates neutral pH. Therefore, the ideal mouth pH is approximately 7.1. When oral pH levels lower to 5.5 or less, your tooth enamel begins to erode. This process is called demineralization, and it is the first step in the development of tooth decay. Since baking soda is a naturally alkaline substance, the powder helps raise your mouth’s pH level, thereby neutralizing the damaging effects of acid erosion.

Baking Soda Whitening

Aside from cancelling acid, baking soda is a popular additive in oral hygiene products because the abrasiveness can remove surface stains on tooth enamel. While the irresponsible overuse of baking soda can cause damage to your teeth, the American Dental Association (ADA) agrees that toothpaste without abrasives won’t do as much for cleaning your smile. That said, the ADA also recommends brushing your teeth gently, with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and only using baking soda a maximum of once a week to avoid scratching tooth enamel.

Visit your Sheridan Dentist

To learn more about taking care of your teeth, or to speak with your Sheridan dentist, schedule a consultation at Grinnell Street Dental by contacting our Sheridan dentist office at (307) 672-7567. We welcome patients from Sheridan, WY and the surrounding communities.

filed under: Family Dentistry, Oral Health

Can Chewing Decrease your Risk for Dementia?

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Older Couple OutdoorsChewing is a natural instinct, like breathing. Of course, if you have jaw pain or bite your tongue, the hundreds of times you chew every day without a second thought will suddenly become uncomfortable. As the years pass and people inevitably age, chewing food may no longer remain a given, due to missing teeth and the lack of resources (or desire) to replace them. One scientific research study from the Department of Odontology and the Aging Research Center at the Karolinska Institutet focused on a link between chewing and dementia.

Brain Stimulation, no Matter the Age

These days, more people are living well into their eighties, nineties, and even past 100. Advances in medicine and technology have made it easier to live longer. Unfortunately, our anatomy is not necessarily meant to last that long. Oral health in relation to our overall well-being is referred to as oral-systemic health. The research team at Baylor College of Medicine found that brain function is stimulated through chewing even in young people. In fact, in another study, students who chewed gum while performing school work showed better standardized math scores than a control group which did not chew anything during testing.

Study Conclusions

Chewing increases blood flow to your brain. When someone has missing, or no teeth left in their mouth, they have a decision whether or not to replace them. If you don’t make that effort, you are simply going to chew less. You are likely to stick to softer foods, or even lean towards liquid diet. Less blood flow to the brain is theorized to lead to a rapid descent into dementia for most aging patients. The Swedish scientists at the Karolinska Institutet set out to highlight the impact of tooth loss on brain function. The team collected data and surveys from a total of 557 elderly people over the age of 77. The conclusion of the research led to data showing a higher risk of developing dementia (including Alzheimer’s Disease) seen in patients incapable of masticating hard foods because of missing teeth.

Visit your Sheridan Dentist

To learn about protecting your oral health, schedule a consultation at Grinnell Street Dental by contacting our Sheridan dentist office at (307) 672-7567. We welcome patients from Sheridan, WY and the surrounding communities.

filed under: Family Dentistry, Healthy Living

Is Natural Tooth Renewal Possible?

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Alligator TeethFascinating scientific research studies are underway all the time to improve medical fields such as dentistry. Through the work of researchers over the years, we have found out the importance of compounds such as fluoride and dental sealants. Research has allowed dental scientists to come up with better materials for making restorations and dental implants appear aesthetically pleasing while remaining durable. Recent research performed at the University of Southern California (USC) is one of the first steps in learning how stem cells can help regenerate teeth in the same manner that certain animals do in nature.

Human Tooth Replacement of the Future

A global team of researchers led by USC pathology Professor Cheng-Ming Chuong, M.D., Ph.D discovered that “Specialized stem cell niche enables repetitive renewal of alligator teeth.” The research results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This publication is the official journal of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Professor Chuong pointed out that humans only generate teeth twice in the average life span. The first is when primary (baby) teeth gradually erupt in babies and toddlers. After they fall out one-at-a-time, permanent teeth replace them. This is nothing when compared to the alligator. The research team isolated stem cells as the main reason for the natural regrowth of teeth which occurs when an alligator loses a tooth due to hunting or fighting.

Potential Regeneration in Humans

Alligators are among a plethora of animals who are able to regenerate teeth as many as 50 times throughout their life span. Dr. Chuong and his team utilized microscopic imaging to compartmentalize alligator teeth into three components. In the front, alligators have a set of current functioning teeth. Behind the current teeth are backup teeth waiting in the wings. Behind the backup teeth is dental lamina, which is comprised of stem cells. The scientists hope to isolate these cells in future research studies. Hopefully this will allow them to regenerate alligator teeth in a lab setting so they might do the same with human teeth in the future.

Visit your Sheridan Dentist

To learn about protecting your oral health, schedule a consultation at Grinnell Street Dental by contacting our Sheridan dentist office at (307) 672-7567. We welcome patients from Sheridan, WY and the surrounding communities.

filed under: Family Dentistry, Oral Health

Know your Enemies: Dental Plaque

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CoupleBrushingRun your tongue over your teeth as  you read this. You may feel some lumps and bumps which are likely tartar buildup. Tartar is a hardened version of dental plaque. These biofilms cling to your teeth and gums. Identifying this unpleasant feeling is one thing. Taking action is another. Few people truly understand the formation and reason for plaque, or why the substance is as sticky as it is. Since plaque weakens tooth enamel and opens the door for tooth decay and gum disease, Sheridan dentist, Dr. Coon, would like to teach you more.

Dental Plaque Explained

One of the most important aspects to understanding dental plaque is knowing how it forms. Your mouth is host to over 600 different kinds of oral bacteria. Most of these germs are harmless, and some are even essential to the eco-system in your mouth. However, some bacteria are extremely detrimental to your oral health. These various germs gather together, multiplying and breeding and gaining strength from what you feed them. The accumulation of these germs leads to their fast consumption of sucrose (sugar) which is not only in the sweets you eat, but in breads, pastas, and fruits. Bacteria create acid as a by-product of a sugar binge, this mixes with more debris and the germs themselves, and the next thing you know, you have plaque. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Patient Education

Mouthwash for Better Oral Health

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Mouthwash GirlMany people view mouthwash as a personal choice or a now and then thing. Dental professionals tend to have varying opinions about whether or not mouthwash will actually improve dental health. The truth is, just as with any products in American, there are good mouthwashes and bad ones. How do you know which one is right for you?

Mouthwash for Killing Oral Germs (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry

Dental Implants Over Time

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History TeacherAre you missing any teeth? Or do you already have dental implants in your mouth? As the leading tooth replacement option of modern times, it may seem to you that dental implants are a somewhat recent technological advancement. Believe it or not, the first dental implants actually date back more than 1,300 years. Of course, the technology has evolved greatly over time.

The Earliest Implants

The earliest recorded dental implants date back to the Ancient Mayans and Egyptians. These (more…)

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A Diet for Healthier Teeth

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HealthyFoodSugar may not technically cause cavities, but it sure doesn’t help you to maintain healthy teeth. The bacteria – Streptococcus mutans – which actually do cause tooth decay love sugar. Any food which contains large amounts of sucrose will increase acid production, creating larger amounts of sticky plaque. Plaque is a biofilm which clings to your teeth. If you don’t clean your teeth, after about 48 hours, plaque will turn into tartar. Tartar is the consistency of cement and collects at your gumline, creating inflammation and gum disease. You probably already have a pretty firm grasp on which foods to avoid. On the other hand Sheridan, WY dentist, Dr. Donald Coon would like to suggest some dietary additions which can help you attain good dental health.

A Side of Veggies, Hold the Steam

The nutritional reputation of vegetables is well earned. Raw vegetables require plenty of chewing which increases your salivary production. Excess saliva aids in the elimination of bacteria and food particles in your mouth. Ample salivary production also neutralizes acid. Plaque is a mixture of acid, food debris, and bacteria. Before it hardens into tartar, it can be relatively easy to clean off of your teeth. Beyond brushing and flossing, munching on raw vegetables provides a fibrous, sugar-free way of cleaning your mouth. Some of the best raw veggies for a natural teeth cleaning are:

  • Celery
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli

Dairy Good for your Teeth

Large quantities of cheese or ice cream are delicious, but full of saturated fat. If you can resist a binge on the most calorically dense of the dairy products and instead stick to reasonable portions, small amounts of dairy will strengthen teeth. Cheese helps maintain a healthy pH level ensuring that acid is neutralized before it can damage your smile. Cheddar, Swiss, brie, Gouda, and even processed American cheese are high in calcium which protects and coats your bone-like teeth.

Visit your Sheridan, WY Dentist

Are you concerned with your dental health?  Visit Dr. Coon to consult about any troubled areas in your smile. Contact Grinnell Street Dental in Sheridan, WY at (307) 672-7567 to schedule your appointment.
 
 

filed under: Family Dentistry, Healthy Living

Give your Teeth Less Space

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DiastemaWhat do Sir Elton John, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Letterman, and Madonna have in common? They are all proud wearers of diastemas. Diastema is the clinical term for a space between two or more teeth. Diastemas are most obvious when they occur prominently between the top two front teeth. While the aforementioned public figures may flaunt their tooth gaps in pride, many people are uncomfortable that they have significant spaces in their smile. Sheridan dentist, Dr. Donald Coon will tell you what you can do if you want to bridge your gaps. (more…)

filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry