The Dental Center At Easton Town Center

You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don’t let bad breath be any part of someone’s first interaction with you. Follow these three tips and you will always be confident that your breath is fresh.

1. Keep your mouth moist. A dry mouth has a lack of saliva, which can lead to tooth decay and bad breath. Drinking plenty of water is the best way to ensure that your mouth has the appropriate amount of moisture. Using sugarless candy or chewing sugarless gum can also help keep the mouth moist, and fight bad breath.
2. Stick to fresh-smelling foods. Potent and spicy foods, such as garlic and onion, are major causes of bad breath.  These foods can even make their way into your bloodstream, and ultimately make any bad breath even worse.
3. Choose gum. It is a common myth that after-dinner mints help ward off bad breath. The sugar in mints actually promotes the growth of bacteria that causes bad breath. Chewing sugarless gum will increase your mouth’s production of saliva, which will help prevent bad breath.

Having a healthy mouth is the most important factor in having fresh breath. A healthy mouth starts with having regular dental examinations. Contact The Dental Center today to schedule your exam.

Welcome to the first Columbus Ohio dentists quiz…

Here at the Dental Center at Easton Town Center we like having fun just as much as everyone else. So here’s our very first quiz.  We’ve provided a few questions to test your dental mental acuity.

1) What is the recommendation of Columbus, Ohio dentists for brushing and flossing?

a) Once a day.

b) Twice a day.

c) Once a week.

d) Three times a day.

2) At what age should a child be seen by Columbus, Ohio dentists?

a) When the first baby tooth appears.

b) Before the start of kindergarten.

c) When the child has discomfort.

d) Before second grade.

3) What do tree branches, wild boar hair and nylon have in common?

a) They all have been made into toothbrushes at one time or another.

b) Dentists have used these items for filling materials.

c) All can be found in a modern Columbus , Ohio dentists office.

d) Nothing.

4) Which is healthier for your teeth – chocolate, raisins, chewing gum, or hard candy?

a) Chocolate.

b) Raisins.

c) Chewing gum.

d) Hard Candy.

5) In one appointment, on one patient, what is the most teeth Dr. Gilmer has extracted?

a) Four.

b) Eight.

c) Twenty Eight.

d) Sixteen.

Columbus Ohio Dentists Quiz Correct Answers

1) D: Brushing and flossing after every meal is imperative to preventing cavities and other dental conditions

2) A: Familiarizing a child with our office makes the child more comfortable over time

3) A: People have been concerned about their dental hygiene since Egyptian times.  Ancient tombs contained small tree branches with ends frayed into soft fibers.  In the 15^th century, the Chinese made toothbrushes from the neck hairs of the Siberian wild boar.  The present day nylon toothbrush was invented in 1937. Columbus, Ohio dentists have come a long way since then.

4) A: Sticky foods, such as raisins, and heavily sugared foods can stick to teeth and cause more decay.

5) C: Dr. Gilmer once extracted an entire mouthful of teeth!

Learn more about Columbus Ohio dentists care for kids.

Everyone fears having bad breath in that important interview or on a date with someone special. A quick way to self-check for bad breath is by licking your wrist, waiting 10 seconds then smelling the spot you licked.

The most prevalent causes of bad breath are odor-omitting bacteria living on the back of the tongue, below the gumline, and in the pockets created by gum disease between teeth and the gums. The bacteria that grow on your tongue produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids that produce a foul smell. Gum disease can also produce an oppressive odor.

There are several options to prevent bad breath. Cleaning your tongue at least twice a day will help prevent odor-causing bacteria from building up. Flossing is also essential in keeping breath smelling great. Flossing removes trapped food particles from between your teeth that cause odor. A dry mouth is more likely to omit an odor; chewing sugar-free gum will help to keep your mouth moist. It may seem obvious, but brushing your teeth at lease twice a day will help keep your mouth clean and fresh.

Having a healthy mouth is of the utmost importance and the key to keeping breath smelling great. Regular cleanings and appointments with your dentist will keep your mouth in good health! The dental experts at The Dental Center can help you achieve optimal dental health.

In both business and your personal life there is only one chance to make a first impression. Bad breath doesn’t have to be a part of someone’s first perception of you. Try the following 3 tips to always be confident that your breath is smelling great!

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss, and scrape your tongue. Bad breath is caused by a dirty mouth, as bacteria develops from food particles trapped in your teeth. Keeping your mouth clean is vital to having good breath.
2. Drink plenty of water. Dryness is a cause of bad breath, and drinking water will help keep your mouth moist. Water also aids in keeping your mouth clean by flushing odor-causing debris out from between your teeth.
3. Chewing xylitol gum inhibits odor caused by bacteria. Bacteria thrives on sugar and breaks down into acids; these acids can make your breath smell unappealing. Xylitol is a sugar alternative that can’t be broken down by bacteria, which means that your breath will only have the scent of your gum.

Having fresh breath ultimately comes from practicing good oral hygiene. Call the experts at The Dental Center today to schedule an appointment!

When most people hear the word “inflammation” they think of joint inflammation. However, one of the most problematic places to have inflammation is in the mouth. Dan Sindelar, D.M.D., explains in his blog Oral Health: The Tipping Point of Healthcare that “inflammation is the body’s response to bacteria, virus, and injury.” Chronic inflammation associated with oral bacteria poses serious risks to your overall health.

Sindelar compares dental inflammation to having a fire in the kitchen of a house (where most residential fires start). Think of inflammation like fire. The flames from a kitchen fire can easily spread throughout the home, burning it to the ground. Your mouth is like a kitchen. If it is exposed to a constant source of inflammation (fire), both the cause of inflammation and your body’s response itself to the inflammation spread throughout your system. When bacteria are spread throughout your body it can cause heart disease, arthritis, pancreatic disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Having good health means having good dental health, and the only way to have good dental health is to keep up good dental hygiene and see your dentist regularly. The Dental Center is currently accepting new patients. Call today to book your appointment and be on your way to better overall health!

Cold sores are unattractive and painful, but there are some viable prescription and over-the-counter remedies to help expedite the healing process. In his blog, Dr. Robert G. Tupac, D.D.S., F.A.C.P., suggests using antiviral medications if the cold sore is caught early or if you are prone to them. These medications include acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex) and can be prescribed by your dentist.

Lidocaine and benzocaine (commonly known as Zilactin) are topical ointments that can be purchased at your local drugstore without a prescription. Never use more than the recommended dosage or on children younger than age two without doctor’s direction.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, Tylenol, or Advil help alleviate pain and discomfort. If you choose not to take any type of oral medications, placing ice or a warm compress on the blister may offer some relief. Dr. Tupac stresses that the most important thing to remember about treating cold sores is to let them heal and not squeeze, pinch, or pick at any sore.

If you have a cold sore that will not heal or is causing you significant discomfort, seek treatment from a dental expert immediately.

It is quite common for dentists to hear that their patients do not floss very often but they do use mouthwash.  Although mouthwash is great, it does not provide the same purposes as flossing or brushing.  Mouthwash is just one of the tools that can be used to reduce your risk of gum disease.  It is important to know what mouthwash actually does and doesn’t do for your oral hygiene.

Mouthwash is ideal to rinse away food particles that are missed by brushing and flossing.  It can also assist in the fight against cavity causing bacteria and can freshen your breath.  When selecting a mouthwash, make sure it is ADA approved.  It is best to use mouthwash at least once per day but can also be used after each time you brush.  Children can benefit from the use of mouthwash but be cautious when selecting a type that is age appropriate.

There are many benefits of mouthwash but it also doesn’t do everything necessary to keep a healthy mouth.  Mouthwash does not remove food particles that are wedged between teeth and will not properly clean the surface of your teeth.  It is important that you brush twice daily, floss at least one a day, and use mouthwash for an overall healthy mouth.

Gum disease, while common, is not a pretty thing to look at as it advances to more severe stages. Although typically, most people who suffer from chronic gum disease aren’t even aware that anything is wrong. So what are the symptoms? What should you be looking out for?

Tender Gums / Bleeding Gums
Gums that consistently bleed during daily tooth brushing may be affected by gingivitis or periodontitis. Although some people do brush too hard, this is often a sign of sensitive, irritated gums. Plaque build-up is the culprit behind things like this. These bacterial deposits grow around and in your gums, causing them to be irritated and tender to the touch. This is the most common sign of needing to seek dental help.

Halitosis
Everyone’s favorite word, no one’s favorite experience. Halitosis (aka constant bad breath) is the by-product of bacteria that grow between your teeth and put off this gross stench. If loved ones are always complaining about your breath and you can’t seem to do anything about it, it may be time to fight back.

Receding Gums
While a receding hairline is common and natural for many men, a receding gum line is not. If you see your gums shrinking or what appears to be the ‘lengthening’ of teeth, let your dentist know. Healthy gums are full and plump.

Loose or Shifting Teeth
A loose tooth is always a sure sign to go see a dentist. This category of symptoms includes wiggling teeth and changes in how dentures or braces fit. This is a sign of acute gum disease: periodontitis. At this point, the disease will be eating away at the bone tissue in your jaw, causing teeth to not fit as well as they used to. See a dentist immediately.

If you exhibit some of these symptoms and believe you have any degree of gum disease, The Dental Center at Easton is here to help! Call us to set up an appointment as soon as possible!

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! We love seeing your perfect smiles in our office, but dentistry isn’t just about what happens at your appointments. Your teeth require daily cleaning. Sticking to that routine and developing good habits is the only way to prevent gum disease. It is so easy to do, that it’s astounding that 30-50% of Americans suffer from some form of gum disease.

Prevention is a routine of twice daily brushing and flossing, as well as twice yearly dental cleaning with a professional. Proper plaque control keeps your mouth from developing a bacterial jungle between teeth. Your at-home regimen is simple and effective:

• Brushing removes plaque from the surface of teeth.
• Flossing eliminates hard-to-reach plaque between teeth and below the gum line.
• Mouthwash can kill bacteria that cause gum disease.

Dental cleanings are more fun for everyone when you stick to a routine at home. Think of it as prescribed medicine from a doctor. Would you skip doses of a pill that prevented gum disease?

Without hard plaque (aka dental calculus), cleaning your teeth is a much smoother process. It’s less painful and much shorter for the patient, and much easier and much less stressful for the dentist. We worry about you. We don’t want you to be in pain. But difficult to remove build-up must be removed with hand scalers. Large patches of this can take an involved process to remove.

Save yourself from gum disease, save yourself from uncomfortable dental check-ups. Practice good dental hygiene at home to prevent gum disease and keep a healthy mouth!

Periodontics is the treatment of diseases and conditions that afflict the support structure of teeth. This includes the gums, tooth ligaments, and bone tissue in your jaw. These are susceptible to just as many things as your teeth are, and you need a properly trained periodontist to treat them. Unclean or improperly cleaned teeth can have plaque build-up, and that leads to gingivitis. Clinical gingivitis leads to periodontitis, and that causes loss of bone tissue in the jaw. That twice daily recommended cleaning doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?

Your regularly scheduled dental appointments will include more rigorous cleanings designed to get the stuff you can’t always prevent on your own. Dentists use a method called scaling and root planing to remove plaque, build-up, and dental calculus. No, not that high-brow math you’re afraid of, but you should be just as afraid of this gunk. Without regular cleaning, plaque turns hard and more difficult to remove. That’s dental calculus. Your dentist will use a tool called a hand scaler, most of which are now powered with ultrasonic technology. The vibrations emitted by these advanced tools help break down bacterial cell membranes to ensure plaque is thoroughly removed. A hand scaler may still be used to collect what was left behind by the ultrasonic one.

Gingivitis that advances to periodontitis involves plaque that builds up beneath the gum line. More sophisticated sonic tools are used to create vibrations and break down these unwanted deposits. Regular flossing and use of anti-bacterial mouthwash can help keep your gums from reaching this state, though.

Happy teeth are healthy teeth! Whether you suspect that you have a periodontal disease or not, a dental cleaning keeps your mouth in tip-top condition. Call us today to set up an appointment!