All About Tooth Sensitivity

If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, you know how incredibly painful it can be. it can make it difficult to enjoy hot and cold foods or even smiling in cold weather. You may have a sensitive tooth every now and then, but if your teeth are consistently sensitive over a long period of time, then it could be time to see a dentist. Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist's office in the Springfield area, and we would love to help you solve your dental sensitivity. Read on to learn what can cause sensitivity and how to fix it. 

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Bad Toothbrush

The wrong toothbrush can cause issues for your teeth. it is very common for someone to absentmindedly pick their favorite color without paying attention to the rating on the bristles' hardness. Use a soft-bristled brush rather than a firm one to protect your teeth and gums.

Teeth Whitening Products 

Because of what it does, whitening products have to penetrate your teeth to whiten away yellow stains. but this also means that it can damage your enamel if overused. Instead of trying your own whitening products, schedule an appointment with a professional dentist in the area, like Access Dental and Dentures!

Infrequent Flossing

If you don't regularly floss, then once you do remember to do it, your teeth can feel extra sensitive afterward. Floss regularly to keep plaque from building up and to make sure you are not making your gums overly sensitive.

Acidic Foods & Drinks

Acid is harmful to enamel and can wear it down until it is very thin, or even gone. Enamel is the protective layer on your teeth. So without it, there can be a lot of tooth pain.

Grinding Teeth

If you grind your teeth, the outer layer of your tooth gets worn down from the pressure. This exposes the dentin inside your teeth, which makes it more susceptible to sensitivity and decay

Cavities

Your sensitivity could be caused by a more serious issue than the others, though. It could be that your enamel has worn away and caused a cavity in your tooth. It is important to see a dentist to rule out this possibility. 

Try These Tips for Some Relief!

There are several things you can try at home to help with general sensitivity. If the pain continues, however, or is stronger in one tooth, consider visiting your local dentist to make sure it isn't being caused by something serious. If you are cavity and infection-free, try some of these tips to get lessen the sensitivity.

• Try a toothpaste formulated for sensitivity.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Floss daily to ensure particles aren't stuck and causing inflammation.
• Avoid acidic drinks like soda and coffee.
• Rinse your mouth out after meals to remove bacteria-causing food particles.

Prioritize Dental Care

Dental care is more important than a lot of people think. it isn't just about how white and straight your teeth are. If your mouth gets an infection that is not taken care of, it could spread throughout your body and eventually cause sepsis, which is often lethal. Take care of yourself by taking care of your teeth. Visit the best Springfield area dentist at Access Dental and Dentures to make your oral health a priority!

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Important Facts About Wisdom Teeth!

Wisdom teeth are the typically the latest teeth to come in, which is why they have their name. Most commonly, they arrive when you are in your early twenties, but sometimes they don't come in until you are much older, if at all. Because they are unnecessary and often don't fit well in your mouth, they typically have to be removed at some point. Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in southern Missouri, and we have put together a few facts about wisdom teeth that will help you better understand what they are and why you should have them removed. read on to learn more! 

What are Wisdom Teeth?

These teeth are the very back molars that come in when you are significantly older than when your first teeth came in. They do not replace any baby teeth and because they come in when you are older and wiser, they're given the name "wisdom teeth". Whether or not you have wisdom teeth grow in is determined by genetics. So if both your parents had to have theirs removed, it is likely that you will need to have them taken out as well.

Wisdom teeth are a type of molar, which is used to grind down tough foods so that they are easier to consume. Our diets are significantly softer and easier to eat now than they used to be, so wisdom teeth are no longer necessary. There is also not as much room to allow wisdom teeth to grow in. That means that they can start pushing your teeth together, causing cosmetic and in some cases physical issues for your teeth.

Signs It's Time to Remove Them

As wisdom teeth come in, you will likely feel quite a bit of pain, particularly as they break through your gums. They may also start pushing your teeth together, causing your "bite" to shift. If you are noticing jaw pain and that your teeth don't fit together as well when you bite down, it could be time to remove your wisdom teeth.

Getting an x-ray at our dental offices in Southern Missouri is the easiest way to determine how your wisdom teeth are coming in. Sometimes they can grow at a weird angle and become "impacted". Signs that you may have an impacted tooth include throbbing pain, swollen glands, tender gums, jaw swelling, and a painful headache. Any time that wisdom teeth cause pain, discomfort, or damage to your other teeth, it is time to have them removed. 

Care After Removal

Taking care of yourself after getting your wisdom teeth removed is very important. Your dentist will give you a syringe to help clean the areas where the teeth were removed. Used warm salty water to flush out the area after every time you eat. Your dentist may also recommend sticking to a liquid diet for a few days while your stitches heal. Make sure you don't use a straw and don't engage in any physically demanding activities for awhile. The suction and pressure from your elevated heart rate could cause the stitches to burst.

See Your Local Dentist 

The best way to stay on top of issues with your wisdom teeth is to regularly go to checkups with one of our trusted dentists in Southern Missouri. We will be able to advise you on the best practice for your specific situation. Our goal at Access Dental and Dentures is to ensure that you are healthy and that you feel confident in your one-of-a-kind smile!

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Access Dental Loves Supporting the Community!

Access Dental and Dentures is not just the best dentist in the Springfield area, but we also care deeply about our community and helping others. One of our favorite charities that we love to support is the Give a Child a Voice Foundation. This is an incredible organization that we are excited to share with you today. Read on to learn more about their mission and work, and how you could help support them this Valentine's Day!

Give a Child a Voice Mission

This foundation is a nonprofit organization with a positive message of empowerment and kindness to help children shine. They prioritize the values of Honor, Protect, and Educate. Give a Child a Voice Mission Foundation is a completely volunteer organization that strives to make the world a happier place. They organize fundraisers and community-building events and teach children they have worth. Giving children the tools they need to feel empowered and stay safe is an incredibly important part of their mission.

Fundraising for the Foundation

Give a Child a Voice raises money to support children in several ways. One of the unique platforms the organization uses to raise money is by offering books on Amazon - both traditional books and eBooks! One hundred percent of the proceeds from the books go to children's books for schools, kids' foundations, and fundraising events.

Valentine After Party

This year is the first ever Annual Valentine After Party, hosted by the Give a Child a Voice Mission. It will be held on February 15th, 2020 at the Relics Event Center in Springfield, Missouri. Find the event center at this address: 2015 Battlefield Springfield, Missouri. Happy hour starts at 6:30pm and then dinner will begin at 7:30pm. It is going to be a fun, entertaining event with great food and dancing! Tickets are $25 per person, and can be purchased on the Give a Child a Voice website, here.

Get Involved!

Because the Give a Child a Voice Foundation is run solely by volunteers, they can always use more help! Connect with their team to volunteer with the foundation and promote their mission to help children. If you are short on time, you can help by purchasing their books from Amazon. All proceeds are donated to children and the mission of the foundation!

Supporting the Community

At Access Dental and Dentures, we appreciate and support our community however we can. One of those ways is by donating to and supporting the Give a Child a Voice Foundation. They believe that Together We All Shine Brighter, and we agree! We hope you feel inclined to attend the fundraising event or donate to this wonderful cause in 2020 because every child was made to shine!

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Keep Teeth Happy During Cold & Flu Season!

It is the dreaded cold and flu season, and it seems like everyone is catching a bug. If you have been feeling under the weather, there are several things you can do to help recover more quickly and keep your dental health top notch through your illness. Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in the Springfield area, and we care about your health. Read on to learn some great tips from our team!

Avoid Sugary Substances

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it can actually be difficult to avoid added sugar when you’re sick if you’re not careful. A lot of medicines tend to use sugar, or sugar substitutes, to make them taste more pleasant and less bitter. Choose cough drops that are sugar-free and opt for medicine that is delivered in pill form instead of syrup.

Another way extra sugar can sneak into your diet is through juice. Some people like sipping on orange juice because they get tired of water and think juice helps them get over their cold. In reality, juice has quite a bit of extra sugar in it. This extra sugar can not only stick to your teeth and cause damage, but it can also slow your recovery.

Keep Clean!

It can be really easy to slack on good habits when you’re sick. No one feels like standing at the sink brushing their teeth for 2 minutes every morning and night when you also feel like your body has been hit by a truck. However, brushing your teeth twice a day will help remove germs from your mouth and keep them from spreading.

If your illness involves stomach upset and you vomit, make sure to rinse your mouth and spit after each time that you throw up. Vomit can be very acidic due to bile content from your stomach and can cause damage to the enamel on your teeth. Rinsing with mouthwash can also help prevent the growth and spread of bacteria in your mouth.

Stay Hydrated

Rest and drink fluids! That is the advice almost everyone gives to someone that is struggling with a cold. They’re right! Staying hydrated helps decrease bacterial growth and your risk of getting cavities by improving saliva production. Many medications can cause dry mouth, so drinking plenty of water is important during almost any illness.

It’s important to stay hydrated with water. Not only does water have no calories and no sugar, but most tap water also contains fluoride. Fluoride helps strengthen your enamel so that your teeth can hold up to more acid, and damaging substances over time.

Your Oral Health in Southern Missouri

Staying healthy can feel complicated sometimes, but these simple tips could help shorten your illness so you can feel better sooner! Be sure to avoid additional sugar, stick to your regular habits, and stay hydrated to keep your teeth healthy during your cold or flu this season. If you’re experiencing any tooth pain or dental issues, call the best dentists in Southern Missouri - Access Dental and Dentures!

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

1-877-DENTIST

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How Do Popular Diets Affect Dental Health?

It is officially 2020! The New Year can bring a sense of newness to everything and help motivate people to get a fresh start in many areas of their lives. One of the most popular areas is what people eat. Access Dental is the best dentist in the Springfield area, and we care about your health! There are so many popular diets these days, it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. Read on to learn about a few popular diets and cleanses you may have read about, and how they could affect your dental health. (Disclaimer: Before making a drastic change in your daily diet, it is important to always consult with your personal physician first.)

Liquid Cleanses

Some people like to start the new year off with a power punch to their health journey. Liquid and juice diets can be very effective for rapid weight loss, but their merits are often debated in the medical community. It can be difficult to get the nutrients you need from fluids alone, and the loss of fiber and roughage in your diet could cause stomach issues.

A liquid diet could also be harmful to your dental health. Crunchy health foods like carrots and apples can help reduce the buildup of plaque by literally pushing it off your teeth. Liquid diets can also be acidic and high in sugar because juices and smoothies tend to be what dieters grab for first.

Dairy-Free Diets

A few good examples of popular dairy-free diets are Paleo and Whole30. The Paleo diet encourages participants to eat meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, healthy fats, and oils. People on this diet are also supposed to avoid processed foods, sugar, soft drinks, grains, dairy products, legumes, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oils, margarine, and trans fats. Whole 30 abides by three major rules: No added sugar, no alcohol, no grains, no legumes, and no dairy. Most of these items can be good to avoid, but not always.

Dairy is often considered beneficial for bones and teeth due to its calcium content. Until recently, all dairy was thought to have the same effect on teeth. The Academy of General Dentistry published a study that indicates cheese could have anti-cavity properties. It does this by reducing the level of acidity in your mouth and increasing saliva production (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130605130118.htm).

Low Carb Diets

One of the most popular diets in recent years has been the Low-Carb Diet. You may have heard of "Keto", which at its core is a low or no-carb diet. The idea of these diets is to optimize your body to burn fat by reducing or eliminating carbs. This diet could also reduce your folic acid and fiber intake if you are not careful to replace grains with a high volume of leafy greens and beans.

These diets can be detrimental to your oral health because of the elimination of fruits. Fruits are considered carbs on these diets because of their natural sugar content, so they are either not allowed or limited on almost all Low-Carb Diets. But fruits can be helpful to your oral health! Particularly fruits like apples, pears, and watermelon. These fruits have higher water content and cause you to salivate more when eating them. Saliva production is incredibly important to keep your mouth hydrated and free of bacteria. If your choice is between a piece of low-carb pie and an apple, the higher-carb apple may be a healthier choice for your teeth.

Your Local Healthcare Providers

It is very important to consult with your personal physician, and possibly a registered dietician, before making a drastic change in your daily diet. They can help determine what kind of diet would be best for you and your level of health. Maybe a low-cholesterol or anti-inflammatory diet is what you need. Regardless of whether or not you decide to start the year off with a new diet, Access Dental and Dentures is here for all your oral health needs. We are the best dentist in southern Missouri and we look forward to caring for you in 2020!

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

1-877-DENTIST

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