Access Dental: October 2017

Monday, October 23, 2017

Frightening Effects of Halloween Candy on Your Children’s Teeth

The spookiest night of the year is just around the corner, and the ample amount of candy can be your biggest nightmare as a parent. Is Halloween candy and its effects on your children’s teeth enough to give you the chills? Cavities and tooth decay are unnerving enough, but kids on Halloween eat around 4 times the amount of candy eaten by adults. Access Dental & Dentures recommend not eating candy that is too sticky or chewy because it can impact the sealants on children’s teeth which prevent cavities.

1. Not all sugary candies are created equal.

Cavities and tooth decay are caused by prolonged exposure to sugar in the mouth. Not surprisingly, sugar is the leading cause of cavities and tooth decay and the bacteria found in the mouth feeds on the sugar in candy when it turns into acid. This acid attacks tooth enamel causing it to decay.

Some candies are much more erosive than others because of the amount of sugar in them. The main problem with artificial sugar is that our bodies do not know what do to with it. Our bodies are just not equipped to handle artificial foods or sugars. Look for sugar free candy, hard candy, and dark chocolate. Sugar free gum can actually prevent cavities and tooth decay and can increase saliva which works to neutralize the acids in the mouth. Dark chocolate is the healthiest chocolate because its antioxidants are good for your heart and may even lower blood pressure.

Try to avoid sticky, sour, and high sugar content candy. Sugary snacks like candy corn, cookies, and cake can all cause tooth decay from the excessive amounts of sugar they contain, which can lead to increased cavities in your mouth. Sour candies are highly acidic and can break down tooth enamel fast, which will never grow back. But the good news is that saliva slowly helps to restore the natural balance of the acid in the mouth. Our tip: wait 30 minutes to brush your teeth after you eat sweets to allow the acid to harden in your mouth for easy removal once you brush.

2. Candy can weaken bones and teeth.

Eating a whole bowl of candy can have an acidic effect in the blood. Our blood has a healthy pH level and will adjust to stay in that healthy range. If sugar lowers that level too much, making it acidic, it must come back up. To compensate, the blood needs minerals to balance our pH and bring it back to that healthy range. Our cells pull calcium from our bones and teeth in order to protect the blood. Not surprisingly, this leads to weakening in our bones and decay in our teeth.

3. Eat well beforehand.

Candy is a treat, not a source of nutrition. Eating a healthy dinner prior to trick-or-treating will help prevent mindless candy consumption.

4. Keep up good oral hygiene habits.

Halloween isn’t a welcome party for cavities. Stay mindful of you and your child’s candy intake and be sure to follow up with a good brush and floss session. This will help fight tooth decay and will wash away the bacteria that cause bad breath and bleeding gums. Stay committed to your daily oral hygiene habits and make sure you and your child are properly brushing, flossing, and making routine checkups to the dentist.

While we think of mostly kids trick-or-treating, we know that adults will be too. Don’t let the sugar monster stick around, visit the best dentist in Springfield, Osage Beach, and Rolla, Missouri for a cleaning and checkup after your night of frights. From everyone at the Access Dental & Dentures office, we want to wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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Springfield Office Rolla Office Osage Beach Office Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048 (573) 426-5447 (573) 348-1466 (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine 416 S. Bishop Ave. 4320 Osage Beach Pkwy 921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

BACK TO BASICS: Oral Care Tips for a Healthy Smile

It can be easy to get distracted from proper oral care, especially with all the new tools and features available on the market. From water picks to tongue scrapers, there are many items that can pull your attention away from the basics of oral care. As the best dentist near Springfield, MO, we pride ourselves on keeping our patients informed and up-to-date on proper oral care. Take a look below to learn more about these oral care tips for a happy, healthy smile!

Brush, Brush, Brush

Brushing your teeth is vital to your oral care and overall health. Not brushing can lead to gum disease and cavities in your teeth. It's recommended to brush your teeth twice each day. Try to make this part of your morning and night-time routine that way you don't skip it. Start the day with a clean and fresh mouth and end the day the same way! It's a great way to get into a good habit of brushing twice each day!

Floss Between Teeth

While brushing your tooth surface cleans a big portion of your teeth, you still miss about 40% of your tooth's surface if you skip flossing. Between your teeth lingers food particles and other bacteria that builds up throughout the day. Flossing once a day can help keep your teeth clear of harmful bacteria that may cause damage to your tooth surface.

Drink Plenty of Water

Not only is water good for your entire body, it's important for proper oral care too. Keeping your gums and mouth hydrated is good for circulation and helps to keep all body functions working properly. Water also helps to wash food particles from your mouth after a meal. This can help to keep food from building up on your tooth surface, which attracts bacteria and can cause damage.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A well-balanced diet helps to keep your teeth and mouth in a healthy condition. Sugary filled foods can build up on your teeth and cause damage, when mixed with the bacteria naturally found in your mouth. Try to regulate your food intake and keep a happy balance between sweet treats and healthy foods.

Your family deserves a great smile and Access Dental and Dentures is here to help! Our southern Missouri dental practice is here for all of your oral care needs. From tips to tools to a routine check up, we pride ourselves on providing great dental care for all of our customers. To learn more, be sure to schedule your routine teeth cleaning and check up every six months! Contact us at 877-DENTIST to set up an appointment today!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Tooth Fairy Ideas the Won't Break the Bank

The average "going rate" for the tooth fairy is $3.70 per tooth! If you attempt to keep up with your child's friend's tooth fairy, you may be hurting in the financial department. Instead of dishing out cash for every tooth that falls out, there are other creative - and less expensive- ways to handle the situation. Being the tooth fairy is a tough job, especially when you aren't sure how much - or what- to leave under the pillow. As your trusted dentist near Springfield, MO, we are here to help with some clever ideas for tooth fairy gifts in exchange for a tooth falling out.

Add to a Favorite Collection

What does your child love to collect? Consider having the tooth fairy leave an item to add to his or her collection for a thoughtful and custom gift. Whether its marbles or rocks or beads, there are a number of inexpensive ways to help add to your child's collection, instead of leaving cash.

Various Coins

While collector coins can be very pricey, consider giving "smashed pennies" from various locations you have visited. It's a cheaper option for the tooth fairy. As an added bonus, in the morning you and your child can reminisce about what fun you had at the "penny" location. It's a unique way to give your kid a thrill and encourage strong communication.

Stickers

Who doesn't love stickers? Whether it's a favorite cartoon or animal or a simple smiley face - stickers are a fun way to reward a kid for losing a tooth. If you find a good deal on stickers, you can even leave an entire package in exchange for the tooth, without breaking the bank!

Educational Gift

While some of these types of gifts can get pricey, consider finding books or other games at a garage sale or thrift store to have the tooth fairy leave for your child. It's an inexpensive way to give the gift of fun and education - the best of both worlds!

Now that you've seen a few unique tooth fairy ideas, you're ready to start implementing them in your house. Whether you choose a different object altogether or decide to cut back on the amount left for your child, you can start saving right away. As your child's teeth start to fall out and the makeup of their mouth starts to change, it's an important time to keep up with regular dental visits. It's recommended that a child (and adult) have a dental appointment every six months. This helps to regulate any changes and catch any issues that may arise. Contact Access Dental & Dentures at 877-DENTIST to schedule an appointment today!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month

October is National Dental Hygiene Month! It's a great time to focus on proper oral care techniques and improving your oral health. As we celebrate the professionals who help teach the right way to care for our mouths, we've dedicated this week's blog to oral care, as well. Here at Access Dental And Dentures, we pride ourselves on providing helpful dental hygiene techniques for our patients. Take a look below to see what we commend for your oral care routine!

Brush Twice a Day

Each and every day your teeth need brushed twice. To help get into a good routine, it's recommended to do this first thing in the morning and right before bed in the evening. It can help rid your teeth of germs and plaque that builds up throughout the day and night. Remember to spend two minutes brushing each time you brush to adequately clean your tooth surface!

Floss Between Teeth

It's recommended to floss between your teeth once a day. This can help remove any plaque or food particles that may be hiding between your teeth. Brushing doesn't reach your entire tooth surface and flossing can help reach where a toothbrush does not. Flossing is also good for your gums and helps to avoid dangerous infections.

Rinse Your Mouth

While brushing and flossing are vital to your oral care routine, there is much more of the mouth the does not get cleaned. That's where mouthwash comes in handy! As you rinse your mouth, every surface is cleansed, leaving your mouth feeling clean and fresh.

Chew Gum

Chewing gum after a meal can actually help prevent tooth decay. With food particles building up in your mouth, the gum can help clean your tooth surface off. This helps to prevent food from sittin on your teeth for long periods of time and causing decay. If you do chew gum, make sure it's sugar free to avoid adding sugar into your mouth and preventing a sticky situation.

Now that you've read about our oral care tips, you're ready to tackle Dental Hygiene Month! Simply add these teqchniques into your daily routine. You only get one set of permanent teeth - it's important to take good care of them! In addition to the daily oral care tips, it's important to have a dental check up every six months. Contact the best dentist near Springfield, MO to schedule your appointment today! We look forward to helping you and your family achieve happy and healthy smiles!

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

Springfield, MO 65807 Rolla, MO 65401 Osage Beach, MO. 65065 Mountain Grove