Y is for Yellow

Yellow is a beautiful, vibrant color. Think of the sun or sunflowers. Daffodils in the Spring.

What you don’t want to associate yellow with is your teeth. Yellowing can develop with age as your enamel wears down, but also can result in certain foods or drinks. Red wine, coffee and black tea can cause stains as well as colas or sports drinks. Sugars and simple carbohydrates can cause bacteria and discolor teeth.

The use of tobacco can also cause discoloration.

If you think your teeth are more yellow than you want there are some things you can do.

• Cut back on your coffee, tea or wine drinking as well as your smoking.
• Drink with a straw. This keeps liquids away from your teeth.
• Improve your dental hygiene by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash every day.
• Have your teeth cleaned every 6 months by your dental hygienist.

By doing these steps you can help reduce the stains you have now. Call our office, Brogdon Dental PC, to set up your cleaning and discuss ways to help keep your teeth looking as good as possible.

2020 Vision

A new year and a new you!  Many are talking about 2020 being the year for vision, but we at Brogdon Dental see it as a year for a new smile, new teeth, and better health.

Did you know that problem teeth not only look bad but can make you feel bad too? Don’t wait, call today for your dental check up. Start out the new year looking and feeling your best. You’ll be smiling brightly in no time.

S is for Stains

If you wonder why your teeth don’t look as white and you think they should, it could be because of they’re stained.

According to “Glossary of Dental Health Terms” there are two types of staining in regard to teeth: extrinsic or intrinsic. As you might imagine, extrinsic staining occurs on the outside of your teeth.  This type of staining originates from external substances such as tobacco, coffee, tea, wine or food, and is usually removed by polishing the teeth with an abrasive prophylaxis paste or with a tray based whitener.  Plastic bleaching trays are provided by your dentist office. To perform this treatment, the user places whitening gel in the trays and seats them over the teeth.  They are worn for a certain time for a series of days or weeks until the desired color is achieved.

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Whitening done in the dentist office is usually faster and if any side effects come up, you will have their expertise to depend on.

The other type of staining is called intrinsic stain. It originates from the ingestion of certain materials or chemical substances during tooth development, or from the presence of cavities. This stain is permanent and cannot be removed.

If you are interested in checking your teeth stains, give us a call at Brogdon Dental. We can find out if your stains are permanent and can recommend the best action you should take if they’re not.

 

P is for Plaque

Plaque is defined as a soft, sticky, thin layer of bacteria that forms on your teeth.  Plaque is constantly forming on your teeth when you eat or drink foods and beverages that contain sugars or starches.

Because the plaque is so sticky, it remains on your teeth, breaking down the enamel and leading to tooth decay.  Plaque can also lead to gum disease.  Studies have even found that people with gum disease are more likely to also have poor heart health leading to heart attacks. Researchers have found that gum disease can raise the risk of dementia later in life as well.

In order to keep plaque under control, you need to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss daily.  Also it is important to have your teeth cleaned by your dentist on a regular basis.  Call us at Brogdon Dental to set up your cleaning schedule. Your teeth depend in it!

 

 

L is for Looks

Do you wonder what people see when they first look at you? Most studies show it’s your smile.  Whether we like it or not, most of the time we are judged by our appearance.

According to a a recent perception study conducted by Kelton Research, “many Americans say teeth are a standout feature when it comes to what they notice and recall when first meeting someone. About two-thirds of Americans are more likely to remember attractive features than those they find to be unpleasant.”

And what about getting that date? Nearly 2 out of 5 Americans would not consider a second date with someone with crooked teeth.

People with straight teeth and an attractive smile are perceived as happier, healthier and even more honest and trustworthy.

Knowing this, isn’t it time you gave us a call at Brogdon Dental and let us help you get the smile that you need to succeed!

 

K is for Kindness

Many people take their teeth for granted, especially when we’re younger. We think we will always have our teeth and don’t think much about them, until they start to hurt.  Then they get our attention! But we should be treating our teeth with kindness at an early age.  One way to be kind to our teeth is by how we brush.

Experts recommend brushing your teeth in little circles, going around until you have covered every surface of every tooth. You also need to brush up and down, rather than side to side.  You will also need to keep your teeth clean in between each tooth by flossing.  This is recommend once daily.  This helps remove particles that can get stuck between your teeth after eating.

You will need a soft toothbrush and use fluoride toothpaste, brushing at least twice a day and especially before bedtime.

Make your appointment to see us at Brogdon Dental for your semi annual teeth cleaning to keep your teeth in top shape.

Be kind to your teeth now and they will be with you for a long time!

 

A is for Anxiety

Do you dread going to the Dentist? Does your palms start to sweat and your heart starts beating faster when you walk in the door?  Do you find yourself avoiding making an appointment because of your fears?  If this describes you, you are not alone.  Somewhere between 9% and 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of anxiety or fear.

According to WebMD here are some of the most common reasons for dental anxiety:

• Fear of pain. Fear of pain is a very common reason for avoiding the dentist. This fear usually stems from an early dental experience that was unpleasant or painful or from dental “pain and horror” stories told by others. Thanks to the many advances in dentistry made over the years, most of today’s dental procedures are considerably less painful or even pain-free.
• Fear of injections or fear the injection won’t work. Many people are terrified of needles, especially when inserted into their mouth. Beyond this fear, others fear that the anesthesia hasn’t yet taken effect or wasn’t a large enough dose to eliminate any pain before the dental procedure begins.
• Fear of anesthetic side effects. Some people fear the potential side effects of anesthesia such as dizziness, feeling faint, or nausea. Others don’t like the numbness or “fat lip” associated with local anesthetics.
• Feelings of helplessness and loss of control. It’s common for people to feel these emotions considering the situation — sitting in a dental chair with your mouth wide open, unable to see what’s going on.
• Embarrassment and loss of personal space. Many people feel uncomfortable about the physical closeness of the dentist or hygienist to their face. Others may feel self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth or possible mouth odors.

If you suffer from any of these anxieties, the best thing you can do is talk about your fears with Dr Brogdon. He can discuss ways to make you feel less stressed and more comfortable.  Ask him to explain all he is doing, when he is doing it.  Knowing what to expect can help you relax. If you have any pain or just need to catch your breath, you might raise your hand or give him some signal to stop what he’s doing.

Dental Anxiety doesn’t have to keep you from having the best smile possible.  We are here to help.  Give us a call and set up that appointment.  Don’t be one of those 20%.

Our Dental Hygienist

A Dental Hygienist is an important part of any dental team.  They provide full oral health care, focusing on the prevention and treatment of oral disease and work closely with the Dentist.

Some of the duties they perform include:

• Patient screening and intake procedures
• Taking and developing x-rays of your teeth
• Basic cleaning of your teeth
• Applying sealants, fluorides, or other substances for preventing tooth decay
• Assisting with procedures in cosmetic dentistry
• Helping educate patients on proper oral care

One of the most important things to look at when choosing a Dental Practice is how long the Hygienist have been with the office. At Brogdon Dental our hygienist have been with us for many years.  We will spotlight some of them in future blogs.

Kids and their Teeth

When can you expect your baby’s teeth to first come in?  Generally, the first teeth begin to break through the gums at about 6 months of age.  These are the two bottom front teeth. Then you can expect to see the top four front teeth.  The rest of the teeth (20 at this time will fill in until your child is around 2 -3 years old.

According to WebMD here are some more facts about your baby and their teeth:

• A general rule of thumb is that for every 6 months of life, approximately 4 teeth will erupt.
• Girls generally precede boys in tooth eruption.
• Lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth.
• Teeth in both jaws usually erupt in pairs — one on the right and one on the left.
• Primary teeth are smaller in size and whiter in color than the permanent teeth that will follow.
• By the time a child is 2 to 3 years of age, all primary teeth should have erupted.

By the ages of 6 and 12, a mixture of both primary teeth and permanent teeth will be in their mouth.

Even though they will only have their baby teeth for a short time, they serve an important purpose in your child’s dental development. Baby teeth…

• Reserve space for their permanent counterparts
• Give the face its normal appearance.
• Aid in the development of clear speech.
• Help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make it difficult to chew, causing children to reject foods)
• Help give a healthy start to the permanent teeth (decay and infection in baby teeth can cause damage to the permanent teeth developing beneath them).

It’s important to set up a dental appointment soon after their teeth start coming in.  Call us today. 423-870-5698. Your kids will love it!

Why Dental Cleanings are Essential

Do you ever wonder why your dentist recommends you come back to see them every six months? Not only to we enjoy seeing you, but regular dental visits are essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums.  It’s also up to you to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy between those visits. Plaque and tartar can build up in a very short time if good oral hygiene is not practiced. If not treated, plaque can lead to gum disease.

After your dental exam we will perform a dental cleaning which consist of:

• Checking the cleanliness of your teeth and gums
• Removing any plaque and tartar
• Polishing your teeth
• Flossing between your teeth
• Reviewing recommended brushing and flossing techniques

Once we are finished with your cleaning, we’ll tell you more about the health of your teeth and gums and make any recommendations we feel is warranted.  Remember, by seeing our staff at Brogdon Dental on a routine basis (at least every 6 months) and following our recommendations of good, daily oral hygiene practices, you can be sure that you will keep your teeth and gums healthy. And isn’t that what it’s all about?