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Mints and Gum That Can Help Reduce Cavities: Gordon Dental Kansas City

Mints and Gum That Can Help Reduce Cavities

Is your teenager concerned about their breath and constantly popping gum, mints or perhaps even candy in their mouth to freshen things up a bit? If you remember those years, you can hardly blame them. But, given that sweets aren’t exactly good for their teeth, we bet you’ve wondered at some point: “Wouldn’t it be great if, in addition to temporarily freshening breath, that same sweet also helped protectteeth from cavities?” Well, there are such wonderful treats, and the secret to their success is their not-so-secret natural ingredient list. Shall we explore?

The “Secret” Ingredients

• Zylitol: Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from plants. It doesn't break down like sugar (a plus for Diabetics), and can help keep a neutral pH level in the mouth, which aids in preventing bacterial growth. Both of these traits are favorable in the fight against cavities. To be certain you’re getting enough Xylitol to reap its rewards, look for products where it’s listed as the first ingredient on the package.
• Maccha: Green tea, is loaded with antioxidants that reduce inflammation, promote good breath, and reduce the overall level of cavity-inducing bacteria in the mouth. Because of this, it’s a great addition to mints and candy. Of course, you could always serve green tea as a beverage at home for equal benefit, but if you’re looking to replace your teen’s current mint, gum or candy with something that’ll help freshen their breath and help their teeth, a quick web search is sure to turn up a few great options for you.
• Stevia: Stevia is a sugar substitute extracted from the plant Stevia rebaudiana. It has been used as a sweetener by the Guaraní people of Brazil and Paraguay for 1500 years. Recently introduced to the United States, and marketed under several brand names, Stevia is prized by low carb aficionados because it is 150 times as sweet as sugar, and has a negligible effect on blood sugar. It’s also heat stable (which means it can be used in baking), and is not fermentable (which means it’s good for your teeth)!

What Other Help is on the Horizon?

Dentists and marketers are always teaming up to bring new products to market that’ll help our teeth. In the near future, look out for products containing probiotics, with the idea being that the presence of good bacteria counters bad bacteria, so why not put them in mouthwash and things of that nature and let ‘em fight it out in our mouth? 

Gordon Dental 913-649-5017

www.kcgordondental.com

How to Plan for the Removal of Your Teen's Wisdom Teeth: Gordon Dental Kansas City

How to Plan for the Removal of Your Teen's Wisdom Teeth

Chipmunk-city. Remember what it was like to have your wisdom teeth pulled? If the swollen mouth, teasing siblings, and new-found appreciation of what it's like to have a tooth knocked out aren’t enough…  there is the blood.  Ah, yes, the blood.  You wish you could stop reading now, right? It's really not that bad. Gross, maybe, but it becomes a passing memory fast. If your dentist has suggested your teenager have their wisdom teeth extracted, here's what you can expect as you prepare for the day of surgery and immediately thereafter.

Oh, and before we get started, it might be fun to bring along your video camera, or camera phone.  For some, exposure to the anesthesia used during surgery takes a while to wear off, and a bit of post-surgery hilarity can ensue that you might want to record for posterity. Some teens have even made successes of themselves on YouTube as a result! So, with no further ado here are the guidelines.

Pre-op:

• Your teen should wear loose, comfortable clothing with short sleeves, and remove all jewelry.
• Have your child leave their contact lenses at home.
• Your doctor will have specific guidelines with regard to eating and drinking prior to surgery, but, in general, your teen should be prepared to go without food or drink for at least six hours prior to surgery.
• Ensure your child has a ride to and from the surgery center.
• Inform your surgeon the dosages and types of medications your teen may take regularly.

Post-op:

• Do not allow the consumption of alcohol of any kind. Doing so can lethally interact with anesthesia medicine lingering in your child's system.  This is very important.
• Be sure your teen avoids rinsing or spitting for 24 hours after surgery to prevent the premature release of the blood clot that lodges in the surgical pocket. This clot is necessary for healing and prevents a painful side effect called "dry socket."
• A moistened tea bag can help aid in clotting because the tannic acid in tea helps clots form. This process can be repeated if a small degree of bleeding continues; if heavy bleeding continues to occur, contact your dentist or oral surgeon.
• Have your teen refrain from brushing for the first 24 hours for the same reason above.
• Your teen should avoid inserting their fingers in their mouth after surgery, and should also refrain from using their tongue to "feel-around" the surgical wound. This will help prevent the loosening of any stitches as well as ensure the blood clot that helps prevent dry socket stays in place.
• Feel free to use ice packs on the side of the face for the first 24 hours. Do so in 20 minute increments, with a 10 minute rest in-between applications.
• Pain medication like Tylenol or Ibuprofen is okay to take as recommended for mild pain, if your child can tolerate these medicines.
• In anticipation of severe pain, your doctor may provide a stronger medication.
• Ensure your teen remains hydrated, but avoid the use of straws so as not to accidentally "stab" the surgical wound, or allow for the "sucking" out of that all-too-important blood clot.
• Avoid hot liquids like soup, coffee and tea. Each can dissolve the healing clot. 
• AFTER the first post-operative day, and through the first week, your teen should begin using a warm salt-water rinse following meals to flush out particles of food and debris, which may get stuck in the surgical area.
• Your teen should eat soft foods that won't irritate the wound, and avoid foods that can get stuck in the wound pocket like nuts, rice and seeds.
• Smoking should be avoided for at least five to seven days, because nicotine can break down the blood clot. Maybe this five-day break could be used as a launching pad to quitting as well?!

Of course, your teen will return to the surgeon's office to ensure healing is progressing at a satisfactory rate, so it's wise to plan for that eventuality as well. Lastly, some dentists and surgeons recommend doing these extractions during high school or college break times to avoid "chipmunk face," and to avoid interrupting their coursework. 

Gordon Dental 913-649-5017

www.kcgordondental.com

How Soon Should Your Pre-Teen See the Orthodontist?

If you're the parent of a young child, you've probably noticed lots of shiny, colorful mouths filled with braces at events you attend with your pre-teen children. And, if you wore braces yourself as a teenager, you might be wondering why, in fact, they are wearing braces that young. The reason is because today, advances in orthodontics and dentistry have taught us that in many cases it's best to apply orthodontic treatment in two phases; first, as a child's permanent teeth begin to erupt, and again later once the last primary tooth has been lost. The big question, then, is when to start, and what comes next?

So, when to start? Dentists and orthodontists are in general agreement with the American Association of Orthodontists that once children reach the age of seven, they should at least visit an orthodontist for an initial consultation to determine whether braces might be necessary.

Things Begin around Age Seven

This age range is important because research demonstrates identifying and correcting problems is more effective after the arrival of a child's first four permanent molars and first four central incisors – usually around age seven. So, once this milestone has been reached, the goal of the initial consultation is to determine whether or not your child could benefit from a two-phase approach to braces, or whether they'll need braces at all.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

A lot tends to happen in a first consultation, so you and your child should expect to spend at least a half hour in the office that day. The idea is to be as thorough as possible, so your orthodontist will be asking a lot of questions of both you and your child, discussing finances with you, and taking digital X-rays and photographic images of your child while in the office. X-rays provide a structural view your child's head, mouth and jaw, and photographs serve as good tools to guide the aesthetic side of orthodontics. After all, all those changes on the inside of one's mouth affect the outside of the face as well.

What are the benefits of early treatment if two-phase orthodontics is recommended?

1. One major advantage to two-phase orthodontic treatment is addressing jaw development concerns. Because children are growing a lot at this point in their lives, early treatment can be implemented to literally “guide” the development of a child's jaw, so it grows into proper alignment. Doing so early can prevent issues down the line that may even require surgery to correct.
2. Since overcrowding contributes to crooked teeth, proactively managing child's teeth can allow for necessary extractions in the teen years. It is very possible to avoid extractions later in life if a child's mouth is proactively managed when younger.
3. By addressing dental issues that may result in teasing among peers, two-phase treatment can eliminate social difficulties that might disrupt a child's self-esteem early in life. Since orthodontics is largely seen outside of the professional circuit as an aesthetic life-event, it makes sense to address particularly thorny concerns early rather than later.

Again, it's important to remember that two-phase orthodontic treatment isn't something every child requires. However, the American Association of Orthodontists does have your child's best interest in mind in suggesting a consultation at the age of seven. If you're not familiar with recommended orthodontists in your area, be sure to ask your family dentist for recommendations, so you and your child are set up and ready to go when the time comes.

Gordon Dental 913-649-5017

www.kcgordondental.com

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Tooth and Gum Recession Treatment Options. Gordon Dental Kansas City

Getting A Little Long In The Tooth?

Did you know the expression “long in the tooth” comes from the observation that the most wise among us tend to have longer teeth? Well, not actually “longer,” per se, but more visible. The reason is because as we get older, and thus “wiser,” our gums tend to recede along with our increasing age. What “long in the tooth,” really means, then, is that we haven’t taken care of our teeth throughout life – hardly wise. Regardless, there is a solution that can help protect your teeth moving forward so you don’t fall victim of the other tale about growing older – that of depositing your teeth in a glass jar each night.

The solution, which may have been suggested to you at some point, is what’s known as a gingival graft (or, more commonly, a gum graft). Traditionally, there were three basic types of gingival graft: a connective tissue graft, a free gingival graft, and pedicle grafts. A new, fourth procedure – which requires no incision or suturing – is named the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST), and was invented and patented by Dr. John Chao, a dentist from California. Here’s a little more about each procedure:

1. Free Gingival Graft: In this procedure, tissue is removed from the roof of the patient’s mouth and sutured to the area surrounding the tooth where gingival recession exists. The area where the tissue was taken heals on its own (like any other wound), and the tissue transferred to the recession area joins with the gum tissue already in existence.
2. Connective Tissue Graft: This procedure is the most common among the four, and less painful than a free gingival graft, because only “sub-epithelial” tissue (that which lies beneath the outermost layer of tissue on the roof of the mouth) is taken for the graft. It is also a preferred choice when exposed roots are a cause for concern.
3. Pedical Graft: Pedical grafts are done by making an incision along the gumline of a tooth adjacent to the one needing the graft, and extending the tissue from the first tooth to the second. This procedure is less common because wear along the gumline of one tooth is typically seen along adjacent teeth as well.
4. Pinhole Surgical Technique: As stated above, this procedure calls for no cutting or suturing, and is done by using a small needle to create a hole above the area in need of correcting. Specialized instruments are then used to loosen and pull the gum tissue down or up over the receded area, and collagen strips are inserted into the pinhole to hold the tissue in place. The procedure is faster than each of the procedures outlined above, and requires far less recovery time.

For many, there is an understandable amount of concern regarding gum graft surgery. After all, surgery of any kind tends to cause some level of trepidation, and when it comes to our mouth – an area which we consider to be sensitive to pain, our concerns can double. If you think about it though, our eyes are also sensitive to pain (perhaps more so), and yet three million people each year undergo surgery to correct cataracts, and more than 700,000 people undergo elective LASIK surgery. So, fear not, a gingival graft is likely to cause some mild discomfort, but the result (a healthier mouth full of teeth and gums) can be well worth the sacrifice. 

Gordon Dental 913-649-5017
www.kcgordondental.com

Four Tips to Help Alleviate the Discomfort of TMJ: Gordon Dental Kansas City

Four Tips to Help Alleviate the Discomfort of TMJ

Do you suffer from frequent headaches? Feel a “popping” or “clicking” sensation in your jaw when you eat or talk? Deal with regular aches and pains in and around your jaw and lower ear? If so, you may have what is known as TMJD – or, temporal mandibular joint disorder.

What Is TMJD?

TMJD is a serious, and often progressive condition resulting from mechanical stress to the jaw and its surrounding muscles. It’s often caused by of an injury to the joint – usually, an injury you don’t even recall. For example, simply having your mouth extended too wide for too long a time (even at the dentist), or repeatedly chewing on ice cubes can contribute to TMJD-related pain.

In most patients we see, the disorder usually involves more than one symptom and rarely has a single cause. If you are experiencing symptoms you believe may be a result of TMJD, the TMJ Association recommends treating your symptoms gently, and suggests the following as potentially useful to curb pain.

1. Moist Heat: Use a warm compress (nothing too hot!), to reduce pain.
2. Ice: When using ice to decrease inflammation and numb pain, keep the pack wrapped in a clean cloth prior to placing on your face. Do not use uncovered ice on the skin, and don’t use ice therapy beyond a 10 - 15 minute window.
3. Soft Diet: A soft diet can help, as can avoiding foods like corn on the cob and apples that require you to extend your mouth too wide.
4. Over the-Counter Analgesics: Over-the-counter pain medicines or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, may alleviate some discomfort.

Beyond the above recommendations, the best thing you can do is seek the advice of someone on your professional care team. Because TMJD is often progressive, ignoring the symptoms can cause your pain to escalate, and the imbalance it creates with your bite can cause excessive tooth wear and an uneven facial appearance. TMJD is something you shouldn’t self-diagnose, so if you find yourself experiencing regular bouts of pain and discomfort, schedule an appointment to see your doctor right away. 

Call Gordon Dental at 913-649-5017

www.kcgordondental.com