Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com
By following the information in this guide, you and your family can have healthy teeth and gums to last a lifetime. As a parent, you can work with your children to help them understand why good oral care is important - and show them how to do it right!
Four Steps to a Bright Smile
- Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, especially after eating breakfast and before bedtime.
- Floss every day.
- Limit the number of times you eat snacks each day.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
It's easy to guide your family toward good oral health. All it takes is the right information and a little practice to keep them moving in the right direction!
To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.
The remainder of the article details the following:
- Infographics on how to brush
- Infographcis on how to floss
- A list of preventive dental care tips!
Preventing Child Tooth Decay – the Easy Way!
For both children and adults, doing an adequate job of brushing our teeth isn’t always easy. Even with meticulous brushing, we may frequently miss the deep grooves in the back teeth. This permits bacteria, acid, and plaque to remain, which will cause decay. And once the tooth has decay, it is impaired permanently and will require a filling or a crown.
The use of dental sealants can compensate for a child’s struggles with brushing properly, protecting their teeth from harm. The steps are harmless, painless, and take just a few minutes to achieve. After the tooth (or teeth) is cleansed and sterilized, a thin layer of a white or clear plastic sealant is painted on the tooth. Then a curing light is focused on the sealant to bond it into place. This procedure requires no shots, drills, or the reduction of any tooth structure. Applying dental sealants is one of the best pre-emptive actions both children and adolescents can have done to preserve their natural teeth!
Kevin Rykard, DDS
12448 St. Andrews Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
(405) 752-2626
OklahomaDentistry.com
Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about Stress and your Oral Health!
Saving Hopeless Teeth
A root canal – the very thought is sufficient to make most people wince. In the past, before the development of proper instruments and anesthesia, the root canal deserved its dreaded reputation. However, with modern anesthetics and new, innovative technology, root canals are now exceptionally manageable. This technique fixes a tooth by removing the pulp chamber and replacing it with a filling material. This is often mandatory when dental decay touches the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has developed an infection, and a simple filling will not repair the damage. Teeth with these issues used to necessitate extraction, which can bring on even more difficulties and should be avoided whenever possible. Call us today and find out how Dr. Rykard can help you save your teeth. He’s very experienced in advanced root canal therapy.
Kevin Rykard, DDS
12448 St. Andrews Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
(405) 752-2626
OklahomaDentistry.com
Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about Periodontal Screening!
Headache and Migraine Suffers – We May Have Your Miracle Treatment!
Have you ever seen the NTI™ device on TV or in magazines? This tiny wonder device is an FDA-approved, drug-free treatment for the deterrence of migraine and tension headaches, and Dr. Rykard has it available in our practice. It works by soothing the muscles beneath the scalp and thus averting most headaches. In clinical trials, 82% of migraine sufferers found relief from their headaches, experiencing a 77% reduction in migraine events. It’s painless, fast, and NOT expensive. If you suffer the agony of migraines or know someone who does, be certain to ask us about this amazing new treatment.
You know good dental habits can help prevent things like cavities and gingivitis, but you may not know what conditions like these really look like or how they can affect your mouth. Use this visual guide to learn more about some of the most common dental health issues, symptoms to watch for and the potential treatments that are available. Please note: This content is for informational purposes only. Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can make a diagnosis.
Darkened Tooth
There
are two reasons your tooth may change color after trauma: It’s either trying
to protect the nerve or it’s dying. If it’s protecting the nerve, your tooth
may look a little darker than the ones next to it. If it changes colors like a
bruise (from pink to gray), this means your tooth is most likely dead. You may
need a root canal, usually followed by
a crown. In some cases it may
be necessary to remove the tooth. If it is a baby tooth, you may be able to
leave it alone until it falls out.
Canker Sores
Canker sores are small white or
gray sores with a red border that appear your lips, the back of your throat or
under your tongue. Their exact cause is uncertain but some suggest that immune
system problems, bacteria or viruses may be play a role. They are also more common
in women.
Canker sores aren’t contagious and usually heal on their own after one or two
weeks. Over-the-counter creams and mouthwashes may give you temporary relief.
Until it heals, stay away from hot, spicy or acidic foods because these can
irritate the sore.
Cancer
Each
year, approximately 40,000 new cases of oral cancer and cancers of the
throat, tonsils and back of the tongue are diagnosed. Tobacco use, alcohol abuse and HPV all increase your
chance of developing these
cancers.
Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer than women. During regular
checkups, your dentist will check your mouth for symptoms like red or white
patches, sores that won’t heal and rough, crusty spots. If anything suspicious
is found, your dentist will order more testing or refer you to a specialist.
The image above is only one example of how oral cancer might appear.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
You know good dental habits can help prevent things like cavities and gingivitis, but you may not know what conditions like these really look like or how they can affect your mouth. Use this visual guide to learn more about some of the most common dental health issues, symptoms to watch for and the potential treatments that are available. Please note: This content is for informational purposes only. Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can make a diagnosis.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage
of gum disease, an infection of the
tissues around your teeth caused by plaque. If you have gingivitis, your gums
may become red, swollen and bleed easily. You may also
experience bad breath. Because gum disease
is usually painless, you may not know you have it.
You are more likely to develop gum disease if you skip brushing and flossing, use tobacco, have crooked teeth
that are hard to keep clean, are pregnant, have diabetes or take certain
medications. When in its early stages, the disease is still reversible and your
gums can be returned to good health with a professional cleaning from your
dentist, along with daily brushing and flossing.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis
is the more advanced form of gum disease, a major cause of
tooth loss in adults. According to the CDC, nearly half of U.S.
adults suffer from it. The disease can be reversed in early stages, but damage
may be permanent the longer it goes untreated. Although you may not be aware of
the gum disease in your mouth, abscesses can develop which
usually painful. Symptoms include bleeding, swollen gums,
persistent bad breath or bad taste, loose
permanent teeth and a change in bite. Your teeth may appear to become longer as
gums and bone recede. There are many treatments available, including deep cleanings known as scaling and
root planing. Talk to your dentist to find out what’s best for you.
Thrush
Thrush is a yeast infection
that looks like white film in your mouth. You’re more likely to get thrush if
you have an illness that affects your immune system. This includes people with
HIV/AIDS or cancer, as well as people
using steroids to manage their asthma. People with untreated or uncontrolled diabetes are also susceptible
because sugar in saliva encourages yeast to grow. Thrush is also common in
people who wear dentures. If you have
symptoms, see your dentist. After a scraping to confirm you have thrush, your
dentist can prescribe medicine to clear it up.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com
