Are You Brushing your Teeth too Often or Hard?

Are you brushing your teeth too often or too hard?  According to WebMD you could be damaging your teeth if you do either one.

“While brushing your teeth three times a day is ideal, more may not be, says Michael Sesemann, DDS, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. “More than four toothbrushings a day would begin to seem compulsive,” he says.

Excessive brushing could expose the root of the tooth to irritation, and that could in turn irritate the gums. Brushing vigorously can also erode tooth enamel. The trick is to brush very gently for two to three minutes.”

Softly brushing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended, ”Three times a day is best,” Sesemann says. With too much time between brushings, he says, bacterial plaque will build up, boosting the risk of gum inflammation and other problems.”

Check back for more “tooth brushing mistakes” and how to correct them.

April National Oral Cancer Month

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation website:

“You are the most important factor in an early diagnosis. You should always contact your doctor or dentist immediately if you notice the following symptoms in yourself or a loved one:

• A sore or lesion in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks.
• A lump or thickening in the cheek.
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth.
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat.
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
• Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue.
• Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth.
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable.
• Chronic hoarseness.

These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious problems, but they also indicate the possible presence of oral cancer. Only a professional will be able to tell you definitively. Some think that a visit to their medical doctor is the appropriate course of action. But remember that dentists are trained in this simple, quick screening, which involves the examination of the oral cavity as a whole and not just your teeth.”

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“Not only do regular dental exams help keep your teeth and gums healthy, they can help detect oral cancer, the Academy of General Dentistry says.

As part of Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April, the group recommends that people get a dental exam from a general dentist every six months.

“The next time you visit your dentist, ask about an oral cancer screening,” academy spokesperson Dr. Seung-Hee Rhee advised in an academy news release.

“Your dentist will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, cheeks, and oral cavity and thoroughly examine the soft tissues in your mouth, specifically looking for any sores or discolored tissues. Although you may have already been receiving this screening from your dentist, it’s a good idea to confirm that this screening is a part, and will remain a part, of your regular exam,” Rhee said.

Each year in the United States, more than 30,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed, and more than 8,000 people die of the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” (courtesy of http://www.healthday.com)

Make an appointment today to see Dr Brogdon and ask for an Oral Cancer Screening.

St. Jude Country Music Marathon – Run for the Cause

According the their website, “As one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a beacon of hope to families with sick children everywhere. St. Jude is the hospital that hope built—a place where parents can focus on their children and not worry about the cost of treatment. That’s because people across the country make a commitment to raise money to help fund the lifesaving work of St. Jude. As a St. Jude Hero, you can join these men, women and children on the front lines in the fight against devastating childhood diseases.”

On April 28, Joe and Samantha (Team Brogdon) will be participate in the St. Jude County Music Marathon and Half Marathon.  The marathon, celebrating its 13th year, will feature many of Nashville’s best bands on 28 stages and will boast nearly 35,000 runners and walkers.

Please go to our link at Team Brogdon and donate today to support our efforts for St. Jude and join the fight against childhood cancer.

 

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC)

Have you even gone to the dentist because of a toothache, or maybe for your bi-annual checkup, and you get the bad news: you need a crown? You’ll have to schedule two appointments – one for preparation and placement of a temporary crown, and one for placement of the permanent crown. Do you have that kind of time to spare? Between the appointments, your temporary crown could crack or fall out, and then you’d have to make yet another trip to the dentist.

At Brogdon Dental, we know that your time is as important as your smile so we now use a revolutionary tool that mills a permanent crown in about an hour called CEREC.

After taking a 3D image of your tooth, our CEREC machine can mill a strong, beautiful restoration in about an hour. We’ll permanently place the crown during your single visit, and you’ll leave our office with a full, healthy smile.

Ask us about CEREC crowns today so you can spend less time in the dentist’s chair and more time sharing your happy smile with others.

Making Dentistry More Affordable

In today’s economy, we know that paying out of pocket can be prohibitively expensive, so we have forged this alliance to ensure that our patients have the kind of dental benefits they want and need. So now you can take care of your smile – without breaking the bank.

 

We are proud to offer Quality Dental Plan (QDP) – a dental savings plan for both new and existing patients in our practice. Knowing that traditional dental insurance premiums are expensive, and that insurance benefits are extremely limited, we have partnered with Quality Dental Plan to create a comprehensive and customized membership program that will cover your preventive care, like cleanings, x-rays and exams, at 100% in our practice. And QDP members also receive valuable benefits on restorative care, like fillings, crowns and implants…even cosmetic dentistry!

Ask us today about Quality Dental Plan and how it can help make dental care more affordable for you and your loved ones. Call our office today at 423-870-5698 and start saving on quality dental care today.

New Technology, LANAP and Periodontal Disease

What is Periodontal Disease?

It’s an infection of the gums. It starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form calculus or tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria which attack the soft tissue around the gums. This early stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Symptoms include red swollen gums, bleeding, bad breath and, sometimes, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Untreated, Gingivitis becomes Periodontitis. At this severe stage, bacteria destroy both the gums and the supporting bone structural Pockets form where teeth are separated from the gums and surrounding bones. Left untreated, Periodontitis eventually results in tooth loss.

Many people suffer from Periodontal Disease.  One of the best ways to treat Periodontal Disease is the LANAP Procedure. At Brogdon Dental we use the latest technology to provide for your dental needs. 

What’s the best way to treat Periodontal Disease?
LANAP® surgical laser protocol alternative to gum surgery, is a less painful, less traumatic way to treat periodontal disease at any stage.

WHY IS THE LANAP® PROCEDURE better for the treatment of gum disease?

The LANAP® Procedure is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there’s no cutting and no suturing.  There’s much less discomfort with the LANAP® Protocol than with standard surgery — during and after the procedure. It takes less time than traditional surgery. All it takes is two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits. Traditional surgery requires four sessions of about one hour each, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups. LANAP® gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, 98% of LANAP® treated patients remain stable after five years.

We recommend a soft diet for a day or two, and common sense should prevail, but in most cases, patients feel good enough to eat anything they want right after the procedure. Following traditional surgery, recovery can take between to 2-4 weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling, where they may be restricted to liquid or soft diets. There’s less than 24 hour recovery period, so you won’t lose time from work.

The LANAP® Procedure is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Plavix or aspirin.

Call us today to schedule an appointment. 

 

Would You Like a Mint?

Everyone has bad breath now and then. Some of us more often than others. The technical name for bad breath is halitosis, and most of the time it is a temporary condition. Some foods, alcoholic drinks, coffee, tooth decay, dry mouth and certain medical conditions are all common causes of halitosis.

There are very few people in the world who cannot identify with having “morning breath.” Most of us wake up in the morning with bad breath because while we sleep bacteria multiply in the mouth. Simply brushing your teeth will take care of morning breath, as it will take care of about 90% of cases of bad breath.

Eating foods like garlic, onions, some cheeses, fish and coffee will also cause bad breath. If you are worried about having halitosis due to a meal or your day to day diet, you should consider carrying a small dental care kit – a toothbrush, paste, and mouthwash. If bad breath is a problem, make sure to clean your tongue when you brush.

Other tips to help you avoid the embarrassment of bad breath include sipping water frequently to keep the mouth moist and chewing sugarless gum for the same reason. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every two to three months, floss regularly and see Dr. Brogdon at least every six months for a thorough cleaning.

Regular dental care is vital to avoid bad breath because, following diet, tooth decay is the second leading cause of halitosis. Having your teeth cleaned every six months will help to insure that your teeth and gums stay healthy.

A few people suffer from chronic or persistent halitosis, which is often caused by an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, GERD, bronchitis or sinusitis. In those cases, seeking treatment for the underlying condition along with good dental care from Dr. Brogdon will help you overcome having frequent bad breath.

Finally, a small segment of the population, .5-1%, suffer from halitophobia, or delusional halitosis. People with halitophobia believe they have bad breath, but have not asked for an objective opinion. As with other phobias, the fear of bad breath can severely impact a person’s life.

 

Lasar Technology

Gum disease is a pervasive condition, and most people aren’t even aware they have it. The problem is that gum disease can cause damage to your teeth, your gums and even the bones supporting  your teeth.

Until recently, treating advanced gum disease was a long and sometimes painful process that required several visits to the dentist’s office, sutures and recovery time. Advancing technology has made long, difficult treatments largely a thing of the past!

Dr. Brogdon uses Lasar-ANAP to treat gum disease. Using the lasar allows the doctor to treat gum disease in as few as two visits, and with no stitches! No cutting and no stitching means much less pain and a more comfortable recovery.

Periodontal disease (gum disease) begins as an infection of the soft tissue of the gums and progresses causing damage to tissue, teeth and bone. Many people don’t even know they have it until the condition is fairly advanced. In the past, treating gum disease caused some patients to put off taking care of the condition. Unfortunately, that allowed the disease to progress.

Now, with better technology, periodontal disease can be taken care of quickly and with less discomfort than ever before. The use of lasar treatments effectively eliminates excuses! Dr. Brogdon would be glad to consult with you to find out if you are a candidate for lasar treatments.

 

Cosmetic Dentistry, the What and the Why

The definition of “beauty” changes over time. Looking at portraits from various times is proof enough. Men no longer wear tights and doubloons or powdered wigs. Women do not wear dresses with bustles or put on several fake moles to go out. Even more recently, styles and perceptions about what is considered attractive have changed drastically. Few people have not enjoyed the pleasure of looking through their parents’ high school yearbooks for some giggles.

A healthy, beautiful smile has never been out of style. At no point in history has it been the height of fashion or respectability to have bad teeth. Aside from numerable health risks, bad teeth are just not attractive. As dentistry evolves, there are more and faster ways to keep your teeth looking and feeling great.

Cosmetic dentistry refers to a category of dental procedures that change the way the teeth look. A dentist qualified to perform those procedures has undertaken additional training and professional development beyond the regular, rigorous training required to become and remain a dentist. Dr. Brogdon is a cosmetic dentist and is highly qualified to perform cosmetic procedures that will benefit the appearance and health of your teeth.

Over the next few posts, we will talk about various procedures that fall under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry that can do wonders to improve the look and the health of your smile:

• teeth whitening
• crowns
• veneers
• contouring

Visit our blog each week to find out more about each of these procedures, who should have them, how long it takes for them to be done and what to expect.