Oral Health for the New Age: Healthy and Unhealthy Diet Choices
Establishing an effective oral hygiene routine includes making sure that you have a diet that is conducive to keeping your teeth strong. If you continually find yourself snacking on unhealthy sweets and treats, you could be causing damage to your teeth and gums. Below, we have provided some tips about how you can make sure your diet is helping your oral health: Avoid snacking throughout the day. Focus on foods that can help produce additional saliva, which includes apples and pears. Some minerals in food can help strengthen your tooth enamel. Some of these minerals are calcium and phosphorus. Avoid acidic foods, sweets and treats, or those that have sour undertones. These types of foods often have a low pH level and high acidity. Avoid products that are high in sugars or starches, as they have been proven to increase your risk for dental erosion. Avoid hard candy, as it can easily chip and crack teeth. Sticky and chewy snacks can increase your risk of tooth decay because debris can linger on your teeth for extended periods of time. If you would like to schedule a dietary assessment and discuss how your diet relates to your oral health, we invite you to contact Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD at 435-649-2078 today. We can set up your visit with Dr. Scott Chandler, our dentist in Park City, UT.
The Importance of Baby Teeth
If you are a new parent, then learning all you can about your baby’s health is always a smart idea. Did you know, your child’s baby teeth are important and play a significant role in your child’s oral health throughout their life? Well, it’s true! To help you understand the importance of baby teeth, our dentist, Dr. Scott Chandler and our staff here in Park City, Utah, is happy to give you some information that could help you understand your child’s oral health. Baby teeth are essential to your child’s oral health and development. Teeth help children learn to talk and chew properly. Baby teeth, in particular, hold the jaw in place for the permanent teeth to grow in under the gums. This is important because your baby teeth are the foundation of your permanent teeth. If the baby teeth are lost too early or suffer serious health problems, then your permanent teeth may not align in the proper place correctly and suffer serious health problems too. Cavities can lead to gum disease, and your child’s permanent teeth are inside the gums, which is why it is essential to take care of your child’s teeth. After your child’s first tooth appears, or after their first birthday, bring your child in for a dental checkup. Your dentist will be able to show you how to care for the baby teeth properly and can also help your child get comfortable at an early age with the dentist. If you have questions about your child’s oral health and wonder if it’s time for your child to have a checkup, please call us today at 435-649-2078 to talk to our pediatric dentist. Our team is always happy to help you in any way we can.
Solving the Puzzle of Dry Mouth
Xerostomia is more than just a useful word for Scrabble® (although it certainly is that). Actually, it is the medical term for a condition known as dry mouth. Dry mouth is a condition in which your body does not make enough saliva to keep your mouth hydrated. Saliva keeps your mouth moist and washes away the acids and food debris that cause tooth decay and other problems. It also helps you to process your food to make it easier to swallow and digest. Some of the symptoms include a sticky feeling in your mouth, dry lips or tongue, increased cavities, and bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused by a number of things. Some medications for high blood pressure and depression, or antihistamines and decongestants, can contribute to dry mouth. If you have HIV/AIDS or Parkinson’s, you may experience dry mouth. Tobacco and caffeine use can cause dry mouth, as well. If you are experiencing the symptoms of dry mouth, you should talk with our dentist, Dr. Scott Chandler. Our dentist may want to talk to your primary care physician about adjusting your medication or changing your course of treatment. Or, you may just need to drink more water, or try chewing sugarless gum to stimulate your salivary glands. In some cases, your dentist may prescribe a medication or artificial saliva to solve the problem. If you are having issues with dry mouth, and you live in the Park City, UT, area, you can plan your visit to our office by calling 435-649-2078. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Set Aside Time To Inspect Your Smile for Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Are you familiar with the symptoms of oral cancer? If you have any irregularities and abnormalities in your mouth, teeth, head, neck, or gums, it could very likely be associated with the disease. Thus, it is important to always keep a daily track of anything unusual with your mouth and visit your dentist as needed. Ideally, you should routinely schedule an appointment with your dentist for oral cancer screenings as necessary. If you’re suffering from oral cancer, it could often show itself through symptoms and signs present in your mouth. This can include visual clues such as red, white, or speckled patches, as well as persistent sores that continue to arise. If bleeding frequently returns, and if you have abnormal swellings or thickenings in your mouth, it could be linked to oral cancer. Common indications of oral cancer include changes in your oral health. This can include teeth moving out of their alignment or even difficulties with chewing and speaking. If your swallowing abilities are hindered, or if you have trouble moving your jaw or tongue, oral cancer may be to blame. Other common indications are throat soreness, chronic sore throat, or even dramatic and unexplained weight loss. For more about symptoms of oral cancer or to schedule an oral cancer screening with Dr. Scott Chandler and our team at our dentist office in Park City, UT, please contact Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD at 435-649-2078.
Why Tongue Care Should Be Part of Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Our friendly and experienced dental team is committed to making your oral health one of our top priorities at Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD, and we strive to meet all of your dental needs to help you enjoy a better smile. You can keep your smile in good health between professional dental cleanings by practicing daily dental habits, including cleaning your tongue. Your tongue is a prime environment for many oral bacterial acids, and neglecting to clean it regularly allows bacteria to build up and cause bad breath, a fuzzy coating on the tongue, a bad taste in the mouth, and even changes to your taste buds. Cleaning your tongue is easy. You can achieve a good clean by running your toothbrush from the back to the tip of the tongue, scraping away any bacteria deposits. Some patients prefer a tongue scraper, which is designed to avoid your gag reflex while cleaning and can be found in the dental aisle of most grocery stores. Whichever tool you choose to use, we urge you to keep it clean by rinsing it thoroughly after each use with warm water followed by an antibacterial mouthwash. Please feel free to contact our dentist, Dr. Scott Chandler, and our team at 435-649-2078 today if you have any questions about how to keep your tongue clean in Park City, UT, and to schedule your next dental checkup for a thorough cleaning. We would love to see you at Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD!
Choosing a Toothbrush
As you likely know, it is recommended that you replace your toothbrush about every three to four months. Don’t be sad to part with your toothbrush. Getting a new toothbrush as recommended helps your toothbrush help you. If you are unsure how to choose the toothbrush that was meant for you, continue reading for some tips from our dentist and team in Park City, UT. The Toothbrush Head The toothbrush you choose should have a small enough head that it can easily reach and clean all areas of your mouth. Your toothbrush should be able to clean every surface of your teeth. The Toothbrush Bristles The bristles of your toothbrush should be soft, or even very soft. A toothbrush that has hard bristles can potentially damage the tooth enamel. The risk of a hard-bristled toothbrush harming your teeth is heightened if you tend to scrub your teeth when you brush them. A toothbrush with soft or extra soft bristles can efficiently remove plaque and food particles from the teeth without risking damage to the tooth enamel. Manual vs. Powered If you have trouble brushing your teeth because of limited dexterity or arthritis, a powered toothbrush may be a great choice for you. A powered toothbrush may also be a good choice if you tend to scrub your teeth. However, a manual toothbrush can clean the teeth quite well if it is utilized correctly. Choose the type of toothbrush that works best for your needs. If you have any other queries or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Scott Chandler, we invite you to contact Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD at 435-649-2078.
Helpful Information About Cavities
Cavities are holes that develop in the teeth when tooth decay attacks. Typically, cavities form when you have poor oral hygiene, you forget to visit Dr. Scott Chandler every six months, or you eat many carbohydrates, like candy, cake, soda, bread, cereal, etc. Many people think children are the only ones who can get cavities, but that’s not true. Everyone can have a cavity if they’re not careful. Seniors can also fall victim to tooth decay because cavities develop around older fillings. Also, some seniors didn’t take good care of their smiles while they were younger, so their teeth are more fragile. Fortunately, tooth decay can be treated in a variety of ways. Your dentist can use dental filling if the cavity is treated early enough. If the cavity isn’t treatable with a filling, they can restore the tooth with a dental crown. If this is not a viable treatment option, [heshe] can remove infection from the root canal. If these treatments fail, the tooth will need to be extracted. For more information about cavities in Park City, UT, please call Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD at 435-649-2078 and talk to a member of our dental team. If you have a cavity on one or more of your teeth, please schedule an appointment today. We are happy to help you restore your oral health!
A Partial Denture Can Replace the Function of Extracted Teeth
Some cases of oral trauma and severe tooth decay are so pronounced that the affected teeth cannot be viably treated by endodontic therapy. In an extreme case such as this, a dentist like Dr. Scott Chandler might recommend extracting the teeth to help alleviate pain and prevent a serious periodontal infection. The recovery process will likely include a prescription for pain medication. If a dental abscess or other infection was present in the surrounding gum tissues, [heshe] might also include prescription antibiotics. These medications will need to be taken at the specified times and dosages. Once everything has fully healed the dental restoration specialists at Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD might be able to provide you a partial denture to replace the basic function of your missing teeth. It is a removable dental appliance that will be designed to replicate the missing teeth. They will be founded on a pink base that matches your local gums. The partial denture also includes some hardware components to help temporarily marry the unit with the adjacent teeth. The pink base will also closely match the structural shape of your gums. However, you might still like to apply a little denture adhesive for added hold. If live in the Park City, UT, region and you have a problem with one or more of your teeth, you should call 435-649-2078 to seek timely treatment with Dr. Scott Chandler and the staff at Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD.
Dental Crowns Can Restore Your Damaged Tooth and Improve Your Smile
Do you have a damaged tooth, meaning a broken, decayed, discolored, worn-down, or chipped tooth? If so, your dentist, Dr. Scott Chandler, might recommend restoring that tooth with a dental crown. A dental crown is a strong restoration that can replace your tooth’s enamel and improve its health and function. Dental crown treatment Your dentist will start by numbing the mouth with a local anesthetic to ensure a comfortable experience during the appointment. Then, [heshe] will cut a portion of the tooth enamel from the tooth to create room for the crown. Next, [heshe] will make a dental model or take a picture of your tooth and will send it to a dental lab. At the lab, technicians will custom make your restoration. As you wait for the crown to be custom made for your smile, your dentist will cover the remainder of your tooth with a temporary crown. Dental crown care Your dental crown can last a lifetime—but only if you keep it in top-notch condition. If you practice good oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, rinsing, and visiting your dentist, you’ll be on the right track toward having a long-lasting dental restoration. Call Dr. Scott Chandler, DMD today at 435-649-2078 if you think a dental crown is the right treatment for you. We also encourage you to give us a call if you want to know more about dental crowns in Park City, UT. Our dental team will be more than happy to help you!
Here’s Some Flossing Tips
Dr. Scott Chandler and our team encourage each of our patients to brush and floss diligently every day. Individuals should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Unfortunately, there are many people who leave flossing out of their dental hygiene routine. Others do not know how to floss properly. Our dentist and team are pleased to give you tips on proper flossing. Before you begin, wash your hands with an antibacterial soap. This is especially important if you haven’t flossed in a while, as you may experience some bleeding and germs from your hands could infect your gums. Start with about 18 inches of floss. Wrap most of the floss around each of your middle fingers, leaving about one to two inches in between. Hold the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers and gently work it in between each tooth. Slide the floss gently up and down between each tooth. Make sure you go beneath the gum line by curving the floss in a C-shape around the bottom of each tooth. Use the extra floss to change to a new section from time to time. The finger with less floss will take up floss as it becomes dirty. This prevents the transfer of bacteria from one place to another. Never snap the floss into the gums, as this can damage the tissue. Please contact our dental office at 435-649-2078 today to learn more about flossing in Park City, UT, and to schedule your next visit.