Dr. Kalee Coakley and staff would like to invite you to be a part of this special day.
Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 4:15pm Hors d’oeuvres, gifts, and prizes
When it comes to maintaining optimal oral health, there is plenty
of advice out there, some of which, unfortunately, isn’t correct. The Academy of General
Dentistry (AGD) looks to set the record straight on common dental myths and help patients
determine what is fact and what is fiction.
Myth: Crushed aspirin on teeth provides pain relief
Suffering from a toothache? Unfortunately, this popular folk remedy won’t help. Crushing an
aspirin on an affected tooth doesn’t provide pain relief—and it even could cause a chemical burn on the soft tissues of the mouth.
“Aspirin works by blocking pain after it is ingested and enters the bloodstream to travel to the
part of the body that is in need of pain relief,” says AGD Spokesperson Carolyn L. Taggart-
Burns, DDS, MAGD. “Crushing an aspirin against your tooth will not allow for a significant
amount of the medicine to enter the bloodstream and help relieve the toothache.”
Instead, visit your dentist so that he or she can conduct a complete oral examination to determine the cause of your tooth pain. Among the common causes of tooth pain are infection, gum disease, and grinding. Once the cause is known, your dentist can help alleviate the pain.
Myth: Diet soft drinks don’t damage teeth
Are you addicted to soft drinks? You may be shocked to learn that drinking large quantities of
your favorite carbonated beverages—even the diet varieties—can cause irreversible damage to your teeth. Both regular and diet soft drinks contain high levels of citric acid, which can cause tooth erosion.
“The acid wears away tooth enamel—the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth,” Dr.
Taggart-Burns says. “Without the protection of enamel, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked, and discolored.”
Dr. Taggart-Burns recommends that her patients minimize their intake of soft drinks and drink
more water. Additionally, she advises them to either chew sugar-free gum or rinse their mouths
with water after drinking carbonated beverages. “Both tactics increase saliva flow, which
naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal,” she says.
Myth: Brushing with baking soda is a safe way to whiten teeth
Baking soda is used around the home for many purposes, but can it also whiten teeth? Using
equal parts baking soda and water to brush your teeth will indeed remove surface stains.
However, proceed with caution! With continual use, the abrasiveness of baking soda could wear away tooth enamel, increasing your risk of developing cavities.
“Baking soda may be an inexpensive way to eliminate surface stains, but I recommend you speak with your dentist so that he or she can advise you on what is the most effective and safe teeth whitening method for your mouth,” Dr. Taggart-Burns says.
“Good oral health should be a priority in any person’s life, because poor oral health and
untreated oral disease can have a significant impact on quality of life,” Dr. Taggart-Burns adds.
“Patients should see their dentist every six months for a checkup, and most importantly, if you
have questions regarding your oral health routine, just be honest with your dentist. We are
always ready to help answer your questions and determine the best oral hygiene practices for
you.”
Depending upon the level of your oral health, our dentist, Dr. Coakley and Dr. Fowler may recommend a deep cleaning instead of a standard regular cleaning. The main questions that people ask regarding this procedure is why and what is the difference?
A regular dental cleaning is designed for the maintenance of healthy gums. Healthy gums have a small, shallow space between the teeth and gums. The procedure involves going into the space and cleaning it thoroughly by removing bacteria and tartar build up. When a person brushes and flosses daily, and gets their teeth cleaned on a regular basis, the bacteria and tartar build up are minimal. Healthy gums are pink in color and there is generally little or no bleeding during the cleaning.
A deep cleaning which is often known by the terms scaling or root planing is needed when there is a larger amount of tartar and bacteria under the gums. This occurs, when there is a deeper space between the teeth and gums, called a “pocket”. Pockets can develop when a person has not had their teeth professionally cleaned for a long period of time or when the person does not brush and floss on a regular basis. In addition, other health issues can also put a person at risk for developing pockets.
Pockets that measure at a certain depth are called periodontal or gum disease. Regardless of the cause, the first step to improve this condition is to have a deep cleaning to clear the pockets of the bacteria and tartar build up.
The dentist will determine what type of cleaning you will need during your initial exam by measuring the depth of the space between your teeth and gums. When you hear the dentist calling out numbers during gum measurements, you want to hear the lowest numbers. If the numbers are under 4, you will need a regular cleaning. If the numbers are 4 and above, then you may require a deep cleaning.
The best defense against needing a deep cleaning is to maintain your regular visits to our dental office in Ellijay with regular exams and cleaning.
To contact Sugars End Dental to schedule a dental appointment call 706-635-7453 or use the convenient “Contact Us” feature on our website.
Image courtesy of cooldesign / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The Hinman Dental Society, a non-profit organization, is comprised of more than 750 member dentists primarily located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1911 by Thomas P. Hinman, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of its membership through outstanding educational and professional development opportunities, as well as promoting the high practice standards of the field of dentistry through public advocacy and outreach.
Each year, the Society hosts the annual Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting, which exists to provide the best possible continuing dental education, not just for the dentists, but also the whole dental team. The program addresses the needs of general dentists, specialists, hygienists, assistants, front office staff and students.
The meeting has developed a reputation for devotion to detail and hospitality that has continued to grow through the years with every meeting. These qualities are represented in the motto: “Devotion to detail is the secret of success.” The combination of outstanding education and hospitality ensures the position of the Hinman Dental Meeting as one of the premier dental programs in the country.
The Hinman meeting was designed by Dr. Thomas P. Hinman in 1911 for serious-minded educational purposes. The meeting continued over the years with the reputation for devotion to detail and hospitality and coined the motto: Devotion to detail is the secret of success.
With the Hinman meeting over 100 years strong, the goal is still the same. Today the focus is providing the best possible continuing dental education. The focus is not only for dentist but also, the whole dental team.
Candy hearts, roses, and cards, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! In honor of this romantic holiday, this week on the Sugars End Dental blog we wanted to feature some facts about k-i-s-s-i-n-g – Yep, kissing!
Did you know that kissing is nature’s natural cleansing process? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, kissing stimulates saliva, which washes out the mouth and helps remove cavity-causing bacteria and food particles that accumulate after eating. Here are some more fascinating facts about kissing:
If you have big plans this Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to contact us to make your appointment with Dr. Coakley & Dr. Fowler and the rest of his dental team so we can keep your mouth healthy and happy!
