Brush up on Crucial Dental Habits

Almost everyone knows that brushing teeth is important, but sometimes we don’t understand WHY we need to be thorough and consistent when it comes to our dental care. As the best dental clinic in Missouri, we know how important it is to implement good dental habits as early as possible, to prevent major issues. Read on to learn about crucial habits you need to know to keep up with your tooth and gum health.

Brush TWICE a Day – no more, no less

Brushing is a must and there’s no way around it! Brushing should be done twice a day; once in the morning (ideally) before breakfast and again at the end of the day after dinner. When we brush our teeth before drinking coffee or eating breakfast, we’re eliminating a night’s worth of bacteria and plaque and this helps food not stick to the enamel on your teeth and can help keep your teeth whiter, longer. 

Pick the Right Toothbrush 

Don’t know if you need a hard or soft toothbrush? The truth is that there’s no right or wrong answer here but choosing a soft toothbrush can actually allow the bristles to clean in between your teeth and at your gum line better. The nice thing about a soft toothbrush versus a hard one is that it can prevent gum recession if you’re someone who tends to brush their teeth too hard.

Practice Good Technique  

Speaking of brushing too hard.. try not to do this! Although you think you’re getting your teeth extra clean by brushing hard, you may be putting your gums at risk! Go slow and spend around 2 minutes focusing on covering each quarter of your mouth at a time.

Keep your Equipment Clean 

Properly storing & replacing your toothbrush when necessary will keep bad bacteria from taking it over. Never keep your toothbrush in a closed container for long – this will help prevent bacteria from forming – and remember to always replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick.

Don’t Forget to Floss 

It’s important to floss between our teeth to keep our smiles healthy! For maximum control against plaque and tartar build up, floss daily or after each meal. Remember to take it slow & one tooth at a time to prevent damage to your gums.

Be Consistent 

Practicing a good morning and evening routine when brushing your teeth is critical. If you do this, it becomes second nature and is no longer a burden to take care of.

At Access Dental & Dentures, we know trips to the dentist can be overwhelming, but it all starts with a good oral care routine at home. We’re here to help you with taking care of your teeth for the long haul. Call us to schedule your next appointment with the best dentist in southern Missouri. We’ll get you on the right track to maintaining your dental care at home so you can enjoy taking care of those precious teeth! 

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

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Smoking – What is it Doing to Your Mouth?

Smoking gets a lot of attention for being bad for your lungs, but it can also be detrimental to other parts of your body, including your mouth and teeth. Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist office in southern Missouri, and we know how important dental health is... and how a tobacco habit can affect your mouth and teeth. We are here to help let you know how smoking can change your dental health and how to address it. Keep reading to learn more!

What Problems Can Smoking Cause? 

Smoking can lead to serious dental problems. Some are just annoying and inconvenient like bad breath and tooth discoloration. But it can also cause very serious issues including inflammation of the salivary glands, increased buildup of plaque and tartar, lose of bone in the jaw, risk of leukoplakia, risk of gum disease, tooth loss, delayed healing, and increased risk of developing oral cancer. 

Why Does Smoking Do So Much Harm?

When you smoke, your body's immune system is weakened and has a hard time fighting off infection. That means that all the bacteria in your mouth has a better chance of causing problems for your teeth and gums. Plaque and tartar in between your teeth can grow more quickly, causing inflammation and infection. In fact, a smoker's chance of getting gum disease is twice as much as a non-smoker. 

Which Tobacco Product is Better for Me? 

In short, none of them! Cigarettes, pipes, and chewing tobacco are all detrimental to your dental health and increase your risk of gum disease and all the other dental health issues we've talked about. 

What are the Warning Signs of Gum Disease? 

If you're wondering what the signs and symptoms are of gum disease, check out this list: 

• Sensitive teeth
• Gums are red or swollen
• Gums are tender or bleeding
• Pain with chewing
• Loose teeth
• Gums pulling away from the teeth

How Is Gum Disease Treated?

Gum disease is very detrimental to your overall health, so it's important to seek treatment if you think you have an issue. The best way to treat early gum disease is with regular tooth brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist's office. If you do end up with severe gum disease, there are still ways to treat it. Your dentist may have to clean below the gum line, perform surgery to remove tartar and heal bone or gum loss, or prescribe a prescription mouth rinse. Keep in mind, though, it may be harder for your gums to heal if you are a smoker. 

Isn't the Damage Already Done? 

While your teeth and gums may have already experienced a lot of damage from years of smoking, it's never too late to quit! In fact, many habitual smokers that quit then have the same lower risk of gum disease as a non-smoker. Your gum and tooth health will also improve greatly if you even reduce the amount you smoke. Again, it's never too late to quite and enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and - as a result - as healthier mouth!

Dental Health in Missouri

If you are looking for help addressing your dental health issues, Access Dental and Dentures is here for you! Our expert team of dentists and dental hygienists can help find out what is going on and how to fix it. You deserve a healthy, confident smile, and we can help you!

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

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Rave Reviews from Smiling Clients! 😁🦷

When it comes to dental care, it's critical to find a dental clinic you can trust to provide not only the absolute best care but also make you feel comfortable during your visit! Access Dental has five locations across Missouri to better serve your needs. If you are looking for a new dental clinic, see what our patients have to say about a few of our dental clinics in Missouri!

Springfield, Mo

Love your staff. They’re nice, friendly, helpful and treated me with respect and understood what I was saying about my needs with my teeth. They are the greatest people around. Thank you

~Jerri Cleason

The employees at Access Dental are very caring and take all your questions and answer any fears you have. Work with you so you get the best experience and fit with your dentures. Care about your well-being while you get use to wearing and eating again. They want your smile to be one you can be proud of. Thank you.

~Karla Patrick

Rolla, MO

My Dad is in need of dentures. Access went above and beyond to help us with the process and explored discount options for him to assist with what his insurance doesn’t cover. We appreciate all of you at Access Dental. Thank you!

~Tanda Solomon

Staff was super friendly. Got us right in, place was really clean. Everyone was so professional, helpful, and over all I had a really experience here.

~Chanel Leum

Access Dental and Staff were all very professional and kind. I haven't been to a dentist in years and they made me feel welcome and at ease. My anxiety was much lower than it would have been otherwise. Thank you!

~Christina Cornick

Having lived in several parts of the country and been to just as many dentists the overall experience here was outstanding, the experience with individuals was even better.

~John Landwhr

Mountain Grove, MO

Wonderful place. The staff was very friendly! The dentist was very informative. He explained everything and answered all my questions. He was very gentle as I have a sensitive mouth and cannot open it up very well. While I was waiting for the dentist to come in they kept checking on me and letting me know he was coming soon. One of the best experiences at the dentist. I would recommend anyone to go there!

~Jessica Berhorst

Really great care. Nice, accommodating, and professional.
Had to take my little ones with me for three different appointments. Each time they treated me with kindness, have my children coloring pages, and made the entire experience enjoyable.

~Rebekah Lebahn

We care about your smile and assisting in our patient's ideal dental health is our passion! Providing personalized, quality dental service at or four dental clinics is our top priority. We want to not only provide the best dental care for our patients while they are in our office, but we also want to help educate our patients on dental hygiene - including the kiddos! If you are looking for a new dental clinic in Central Missouri, you won't find better care!

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

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Brushing Your Teeth the RIGHT Way

Brushing your teeth might seem like a task that's impossible to get wrong, but that couldn't be further from the truth! Access Dental and Dentures is here to tell you, if you aren't brushing your teeth correctly, then your dental health could suffer and even affect your overall health. Missing spots on your teeth, brushing too hard, using too much toothpaste... These are just a few of the issues that you could have in your own toothbrushing routine. Keep reading to learn all about how to keep your teeth as healthy as possible!

How to Brush

Did you know that there are several different tooth brushing techniques? Side-to-side, up-to-down, and circular are some of the more common styles. Side-to-side can feel the most natural and easy, but it’s not always the most effective method. Brushing up-to-down or in a circular motion can help remove plaque and foreign materials rather than simply pushing them around. It's also better for your gums. Circular is great for the front of your teeth when your bite is together, while up-and-down is best for the inner sides of your back teeth. The graphic above is a good indicator of the best ways to brush different areas of your mouth. 

How Long to Brush

Some people brush their teeth without really thinking about it while performing other morning chores. That makes it hard to know how long they're actually brushing their teeth. They may even get distracted and need both hands for a task and pause their tooth brushing. What seems like enough time could be too short because of distractions that interrupt their routine.

Two minutes is the ideal amount of time to brush your teeth. This comes to about 30 seconds for each side (top right, top left, bottom right, and bottom left). To help keep yourself on track, try to avoid performing other parts of your morning routine while brushing your teeth. Get a fun hourglass timer for your bathroom or choose a two-minute song to start your morning off on the right foot. There are also some electric toothbrushes that will vibrate when it's time to switch sides. 

Don't Miss a Spot!

It can be easy to get into a routine of brushing just the front of your teeth and tops of your molars, missing some of the most important places. Many people commonly miss the inner sides of their teeth. Plaque can build up on the back of your front incisors and between your back molars as a result of incomplete tooth brushing habits. Remember that every surface of your teeth exposed to food and drink needs regular cleaning – not just the surfaces you see when you smile.

How Much Toothpaste

Many people don’t realize how little toothpaste you actually need. Too much toothpaste can cause extra abrasion to your tooth enamel, damaging your teeth. It can also leave white spots on the surface of your teeth from too much fluoride – a condition called fluorosis.

The recommended amount of toothpaste is a pea-sized drop. This amount helps clean off bacteria and buildup without being too aggressive to the surface of your teeth. For kids with developing teeth, the suggested amount is even smaller. Use just a smear or rice-sized amount for small children.

Best Dentist in Southern Missouri

If you take good care of your teeth with proper brushing techniques, your overall oral health will be in good shape! As part of your important health habits, make sure you visit the dentist regularly so they can keep an eye on the parts of your dental health that you can't see on your own. Access Dental and Dentures is here to help keep you and your teeth healthy for year to come. Give us a call to schedule your next appointment!

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

1-877-DENTIST

Visit our Website
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn