The Dental Center At Easton Town Center

Practice better hygiene by taking better care of your toothbrush! Here are a couple of important toothbrush Do’s and Don’ts:

Do: Change it Every Three Months.

Once the bristles on your toothbrush start to soften and fray, it’s time to replace them because they will no longer clean your teeth thoroughly. It’s also a good idea to keep an extra toothbrush in your medicine cabinet so you won’t have to take the time out of your day to go buy a new one each time. Children’s toothbrushes should be replaced every two months on average. After each time you brush, be sure to store your toothbrush upright to allow the bristles to dry quickly, and it should always be kept away from the sink or toilet to avoid contamination. When you travel, make sure your toothbrush is completely dry before packing it.

Don’t: Leave Your Toothbrush Exposed to Germs

One of the easiest ways to avoid contamination is to let it completely dry because bacteria can’t grow or survive on dry bristles. Don’t place a wet toothbrush in a closed container because harmful germs can get trapped in that enclosed space. Don’t allow different toothbrushes to touch, which can also increase the chances of contamination. Sharing toothbrushes with anyone else is never a good idea, and the best way to clean each one is to rinse thoroughly in cold water. Don’t clean your toothbrush by placing it in a hot dishwasher because it can damage the bristles, and also don’t soak it in mouthwash or any similar type of disinfectant. While it may seem like a good way to kill bacteria, mouthwash can increase the chances of introducing harsh chemicals to your mouth. It’s also important to use proper brushing techniques in a gentle circular motion over each of your teeth, particularly if you have more sensitive gums. Finally, don’t forget to pick up a new pack of dental floss each time you replace your toothbrush.

Ask Your Dentist

Ask your dentist, such as Dr. Gilmer Serving Westerville Ohio, if your toothbrushing habits are getting the job done, or what can be done to improve your dental hygiene habits!

You are probably aware of the popular saying, ‘you’re never fully dressed without a smile.’ It’s true! There’s not a single person out there who doesn’t want a bright, beautiful smile.

What’s the secret to a secret to healthier smile?

The first thing you need to do is get to the dentist. Most dental plans cover a standard, twice a year teeth cleaning, but many people should see their local dentist more often. In fact, the American Dental Association encourages adults to see their dentist every 90 days for a checkup and quick cleaning. This will ensure your teeth and gums are in optimal health. Frequent visits will also help stop any cavities dead in their tracks.

If you tend to hide your smile due to some alignment imperfections, consider checking out a clear straightening system like Invisalign. Invisalign is a wildly popular, efficient method for correcting minor tooth imperfections. Typically, users are supplied with a pair of clear, computer-generated trays. The user then wears the trays for 24 hours per day and switches to slightly different trays about every two weeks. The best part is often people have no idea the user is even wearing clear braces.

But adults aren’t the only patients who should be concerned with oral health. How can you ensure your kids have a healthier smile?

Your Child’s Dentist

We know your kid’s first visit to the dentist can be stressful, however, the professionals at Easton Dentists work with children each and every day and will ensure your little one is comfortable and relaxed.

Need some tips? Make sure you talk to your child about where they are going and what is going to happen. Prizes are also a great way to advertise the dentist as a fun and exciting place. Consider offering your child stickers, crayons, finger puppets, or key chains after a successful visit.

Halitosis, also known more commonly as bad breath, is an embarrassing problem nobody wants to admit they have. Studies have shown you are not alone, about 25-30% of the population throughout the entire world has the same problem as you. However, there are plenty of bad breath cures out there so that you don’t have to feel ashamed any longer. With these bad breath remedies, you can have fresh breath all day long:

Bacteria Build-Up

In most cases, halitosis is caused by harmful bacteria inside the mouth. The odor-causing bacteria loves to hide at the back of your tongue where ordinary brushing won’t reach. One of the best bad breath remedies is using a tongue scraper every time you brush your teeth is an ideal way to get rid of noxious bacteria. If you don’t already, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day, more preferably after every meal. Also, be sure and consider your diet. Bad bacteria thrive on white sugar and white flour products, while fresh vegetables and fruit will improve your health overall and your breath.

Got Water?

The more dehydrated you are, the worse your breath smells as your mouth needs saliva to stay fresh. Make sure you are drinking the recommended amount of water for your body size an additional bonus, keeping your mouth moist and wet will flush any left behind food particles, which is what bad bacteria thrive on.

Got Gum?

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals helps stimulate the flow of saliva, which helps clean away any remaining food particles, and leaves your mouth constantly hydrated and smelling sweet.

Your Stomach Can Make Your Breath Stinky

While they may not seem related, stomach issues are another cause of bad breath. Acid reflux is a prime offender by causing a bitter, metallic taste and creating bad breath. If you have sour or bitter breath, you should schedule a checkup with your family doctor.  If you have these health issues, treating them is essential to curing your bad breath as it gets to the source rather than just masking the symptoms.

See a dentist!

Finally, if bad breath persists even after making these changes and implementing these suggestions, one should see their dentist. Your dentist will check for more serious conditions that could be causing the problem and recommend a treatment plan tailored to you.

Having a healthy mouth is the most important factor in having fresh breath. At The Dental Center at Easton, we understand that even though bad breath can be embarrassing, it is completely treatable. Contact The Dental Center today to schedule your exam.

Invisalign is a popular alternative to the more traditional metal braces. Used since 1999, it has helped correct crooked teeth and create beautiful smiles for patients around the world. Learn more about the this technology to determine if it is the right dental corrective treatment for you.

How Does it Work?

Invisalign aligners are worn over the teeth and are customized to ensure a snug fit. When a patient is fitted, the doctor will map out a plan to achieve the ideal appearance and positions of the teeth. This plan will be the basis of the shape of the aligners. Typically, each aligner is worn for about a week before it is replaced with the next aligner in the set.

When worn, Invisalign aligners move the teeth vertically and horizontally to position them where they should be. In some cases, the orthodontist may even design a set of Invisalign braces that will rotate the teeth until it achieves the correct position in the mouth. The movement of teeth happens gradually, so there is little pain and no significant discomfort.

Benefits
There are a number of benefits that patients will enjoy, such as:

Near Invisibility
One of the key Invisalign benefits is its appearance. Clear braces are nearly invisible and are barely noticeable.

Safety
These braces are comfortable and smooth, without the metal wires and brackets that are commonly used with traditional braces.

Treatment Period
Invisalign patients typically have to wear the aligners for 1 year to 1 1/2 years while traditional braces wearers have to wait for 3 to 5 years to complete the treatment.

Comfort
The aligners are removable appliances, so the patient can choose not to wear them when eating, drinking or speaking in public, for example.

What to Expect
Invisalign is the best option for people who suffer from the following conditions:

– Overbite
– Underbite
– Gapped Teeth
– Overcrowding
– Open Bite
– Crossbite

Severely malformed and misaligned teeth may not benefit from the design of Invisalign braces. However, there are other treatment options available to correct these problems. If you want to know if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, see your dentist for a proper evaluation.

Imagining that your kid is at the dentist might bring up troubling thoughts, but going to the dentist does not have to be a bad experience. Your child’s first trip can go well if you know what to expect.

What to Expect From Your Child’s Dentist

Good dental specialists, like Easton Dentists, recommend that your child visits the dentist when he or she grows that first tooth, which is usually around 6-12 months of age. But some people take their children when they are a little older.

Now, some parents fear that the first trip to dentist will be traumatizing and could linger in the child’s mind for some time. Do not fret about this; the first visit is usually quick and uneventful. What the dentist wants to do is get to know your child and develop a relationship.

Your dentist may ask you to stay with your kid and hold him or her during the quick, oral examination. The oral specialist will look for bite issues or cavities. Your kid’s teeth will likely be cleaned, too.

You and your child will be taught how to properly brush teeth during this visit. You may even get a few additional oral care tips such as foods to avoid.

There might come a time when your dentist will ask you to wait in the lobby for a minute; this will allow your child to get to know the dentist.

A Few Tips to Make the Visit Successful

Consider the following tips:

–Talk about the visit without making the dentist sound scary.
–Try to learn how to properly brush your teeth with your kid using fun activities that you might find online; you can compare this with what your oral specialist teaches you.
–Make a list of things your kid wonders about regarding his or her teeth.

You should also call the dentist before visiting for additional tips for this special visit. Hopefully, knowing a little more about your kid’s visit might make this a positive experience for everyone.

For years, people have worked diligently to achieve the perfect smile.  Brushing and flossing are the obvious measures that should be taken but many people have found that more permanent measures are needed to whiten and brighten their smiles.

While porcelain veneers are a good and viable option for a variety of patients, they may not be perfect for everyone.  Likewise, caps and crowns work in some instances but every patient is different and so every treatment must be different.  For patients looking for an alternative to veneers and crowns, cosmetic bonding may be the route to go.

Cosmetic bonding is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed by very talented cosmetic dentists.  The process is typically painless and can do anything from whiten a smile to repairing the superficial imperfections of a smile.

1. The outside of the tooth is given a rough surface.  This new roughness will make it easier for the new material to be applied to the tooth.
2. The cosmetic dentist will apply a resin or dental grade plastic to the rough surface of the tooth.  More layers of material will be added until the tooth matches the surrounding teeth in general shape.
3. A high-intensity light will be shined on the material.  This light will harden it and give the material the same basic toughness of a natural tooth.
4. Finally, the dentist will shape the new material.  This process will ensure that the cosmetic bonding matches in color and shape to the surrounding teeth.

After the cosmetic bonding is completed, the tooth will look, feel, and perform just as any other tooth.  Even care for a cosmetic bonding is simple.  Patients with a cosmetic bonding need only to floss and brush as normal, basically treating the cosmetic bonding as the rest of their teeth.  If you have more questions about cosmetic bonding, give our Columbus, Ohio office a call today.

Christmas is almost here which means sugary treats are everywhere.  Although it’s hard to turn down that delicious holiday cookie grandma just baked, we want to remind you about the effects sweets can have on your oral health.  Here are four of the most common treats we suggest to eat and drink in moderation during the holiday season:

Holiday Cookies – It’s enticing to grab one of those delicious holiday cookies that always seem to be available and laying around.  Before you reach for the second or third, it’s important to remember the amount of sugar each cookie contains and the amount of damage it can have on your teeth.

Holiday Drinks – There are a number of seasonal beverages like hot chocolate, eggnog, and warm apple ciders that are perfect for the holidays and make you feel warm inside.  Whenever you decide to drink one of these sugary drinks, try to keep it to only one cup or a small serving.  After you’ve finished, make sure to drink a glass of water afterward to help wash out some of the sugar residue and protect your teeth.

Candy Canes – This minty treat can cause a couple of negative effects on your teeth.  The prolonged amount of time these take to dissolve in your mouth leaves sugars lingering.  Also the hard and sticky structure makes it temping to bite, which could crack a tooth.

Caramels – Caramels are sticky treats that you find yourself chewing forever.  Even after you’ve finished, there always seems to be some lingering caramel left in your teeth.  The amount of sugar that is in a caramel treat can negatively affect your oral health.

All of these holiday temptations have a main ingredient, sugar.  We all know that sugar is bad for oral health because it mixes with bacteria on your teeth and will produce acid that erodes tooth enamel.  When you are enjoying these holiday sweets, just remember to keep your teeth in mind and try to take counter actions.  Make sure you are bushing twice daily and flossing regularly.  Also after your indulging, try to squeeze in an extra brush to remove the lingering sugar to keep your smile vibrant.  Everyone here at Easton Dentists wishes you all a happy and healthy holiday!

As 2021 winds down there are many things to prepare for.  Before you know it, all your Halloween candy will be long gone, your Thanksgiving turkey will be little more than a fond memory, the Holiday Season will have passed, your New Year’s resolution will be giving you trouble, and your dental care insurance will have gone another year without being used to its fullest.

Most dental care insurance plans’ yearly maximum coverage expires on the first of the year making you start from scratch when you finally decide to get the annoyingly painful toothache taken care of.  If you set your dental appointment now, you’ll get all your tooth-related needs taken care of before the end of the year, which, in turn, will give you a clean slate in 2013 should any unexpected dental problems arise.  You have already paid for your insurance; you may as well get the most use out of it.

In addition to the money you could be saving by making an appointment before the end of the year, think of the pain you could be saving yourself from.  Dental problems, like just about every other kind of problem, only get worse when left untreated.  A sore tooth today could lead all kinds of issues down the road.  Waiting to get a dental problem taken care of has never been better than actually taking care of a dental problem.  Don’t let a general apathy toward going to the dentist get in the way of your overall health.

While often overused, the phrase ‘use it or lose it’ really comes into play when talking about your dental insurance deductible.  If you don’t take full advantage of your dental care insurance this year, you can’t take it with you into next year.  Use your insurance and your teeth and wallet will thank you.

If you aren’t absolutely positive where you stand with your insurance or how much your deductible is, call your dentist.  They’ll be more than happy to work with you to make sure you and your teeth stay in good health.

Though it may seem odd, good oral care such as regular brushing, flossing and trips to the dentist, may help aging adults keep their thinking skills intact, according to a U.S. study. Research has already established an association between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York found that gum disease could also influence brain function through several mechanisms, such as causing inflammation throughout the body, which is a risk factor for loss of mental function. The study also found that adults with the highest levels of this pathogen were two times more likely to fail three-digit reverse subtraction tests.

The study, reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, was based on more than 2,350 men and women who were tested for periodontitis and completed numerous thinking skills tests as part of a national survey.

Overall 5.7 percent of the adults had trouble completing certain memory tasks, 6.5 percent had impaired delayed recall, and 22.1 percent had trouble with serial subtractions.

But those with the levels of the pathogen were nearly three times more likely to struggle with the verbal memory tests, and twice as likely to fail on both delayed verbal recall and subtraction tests.

“Although the results are preliminary, they suggest that further exploration of relationships between oral health and cognition is warranted,” they concluded, “Although results presented here are preliminary and inconclusive, a growing body of evidence supports exploration of a possible association between poor oral health and incident dementia.”

We understand, it’s Halloween, and you are surrounded by candy.  You want to eat all the candy.   But let’s try to keep our health and smiles in mind when we go digging into those pumpkin baskets for the sugar and the chocolate.  To have your cake and eat it too, it’s best to pace yourself and skip over some of the worst options.

THE GOOD

1. Dark Chocolate – Chocolate does contain a lot of sugar but many studies show that the antioxidants in dark chocolate are actually good for the heart and may lower blood pressure.  As long as you’re eating it in moderation.

2. Sugar-free Lollipops and hard candies – These yummy snacks actually stimulate saliva which prevents dry mouth.  Dry mouth allows plaque to build up which can lead to an increased risk of cavities.

3. Sugar-free gum – In addition to increasing saliva, gum can dislodge food particles from teeth which can help prevent cavities.

THE BAD

1. Sugary Snacks – Halloween favorites like candy corn contain a huge amount of sugar which leads to tooth decay.

2. Chewy Sweets – Gummy candies are delicious but the remains gets stuck in your teeth and are a serious source of tooth decay.

3. Sticky Sweets – Dried fruits may seem like a healthy choice to hand out for Halloween but as with chewy sweets, these fruits stick to your teeth and make it very hard for saliva to wash remains away.  Fresh fruits are the way to go if you’re going with the alternative route.

THE UGLY

1. Sour Candies – Did you guess this one?  Sour candies tend to be on the most overlooked candies on the danger list.  These candies have high levels of acid which can break down tooth enamel very quickly.  That immediate response your mouth has to produce a lot of saliva is a good thing – saliva restores the natural balance of acid in your mouth.

This Halloween, remember that moderation is key.  Enjoy those sweets but make sure you’re taking good care of your teeth all year.  Schedule your cleaning appointment with Easton Dentist in Columbus today and we’ll make sure you stay on track.