Say "No" to Dental Sensitivity!

Tooth sensitivity is no laughing matter! It can make it painful every time you try to eat or drink something... Whether something is acidic, too cold, too hot, or really sour, it can be a nightmare to try and enjoy a meal. If thinking about drinking a hot cup of coffee or eating a spoonful of cold ice cream makes you cringe, then you could be suffering from serious dental sensitivity. Access Dental and Dentures is here for you to make sure there aren't any serious issues going on that could be causing your sensitivity. Keep reading to learn more about what can cause sensitivity and how to prevent and treat it! 

How to Prevent Sensitivity 

Consider buying a toothpaste that is formulated for sensitive teeth. This can help to protect your teeth from feeling the "zing" sensation when the cold or hot foods and drinks hit your teeth. There is also floss specifically made for sensitive teeth! A soft-bristled toothbrush may also be more gentle and help to relieve some of the pain you are feeling, especially if you experience pain while brushing.

Facts About Sensitive Teeth

One in five adults suffers from sensitive teeth, which is about 45 million Americans! If eating ice cream or sipping a hot tea gives you a zing, it's important to address this issue right away. Do you feel discomfort when brushing or flossing your teeth? Feel tingles after a whitening treatment? There are a number of reasons that could be happening.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Gum Disease

Sensitive teeth can be caused by inflamed tissue surrounding your tooth. This gum inflammation can come as a result of not taking proper care of your teeth. 

Wrong Toothbrush

A hard-bristled toothbrush can cause damage to your enamel. To avoid long-term damage to your teeth, consider using a softer option for brushing. Toothbrushes can be purchased in a range of softness from very soft to very firm. 

Whitening Agent

The agent used to whiten teeth can easily penetrate the protective enamel coating on your teeth. This can cause damage to the nerves and make your teeth even more sensitive.

Missed Flossing

Flossing is a vital part of your oral care routine. Plaque can build up on your tooth surface and cause damage. As the damage accelerates, the decay can lead to worse sensitivity issues. Prevent plaque from building up between your teeth by flossing regularly!

Grinding Teeth

If you grind your teeth, the outer layer of your tooth will get worn down. This exposes your inner tooth to substances even more, which makes the problem worse. It could be a good idea to use a mouth guard when you sleep to prevent dental damage. 

Tooth Decay

The decay of your tooth enamel can cause a lot of dental issues. It's really important to keep a good oral healthcare routine by brushing twice a day and removing food particles from your teeth after meals. 

Acidic Food

Acid can wear down the protective enamel on your teeth. Then the acidic foods get into your tooth's dentin and can potentially cause a lot of pain.

Dental Health at Access Dental

Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in southern Missouri and we are here to help keep your teeth healthy and comfortable. Give us a call to set up your next appointment with the best dentists, and we'll take care of you! You deserve a pain-free smile, and we can help you get that. 

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Enamel: Protect It for Better Dental Health!

Do you know what enamel is and why it's important? Enamel is critical to your dental health - which means it's important to your overall health too! Access Dental and Dentures is here for you and we are ready to help you learn how to take care of and protect your teeth. Keep reading to learn all about enamel and what you can do to keep it healthy!

What is enamel?

Enamel is the protective layer on the outside of your teeth. It is very hard and clear. The color of your teeth actually comes from a different layer under the enamel, called dentin. Because enamel is clear, so it can be hard for someone without dental training to tell if there is any damage or early decay. That is one of the reasons it is important to regularly visit your local dentist, so they can catch problems early before cavities start.

How does enamel protect teeth?

The layer of your tooth underneath the enamel is made up of a more sensitive material called dentin. When dentin gets exposed to open air and bacteria, it can cause tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, cavities, and even more serious conditions. Enamel protects this more sensitive inner layer from damage and decay, so it's important to keep it healthy.

What damages enamel?

Even though enamel is the hardest material in the human body, certain things can start to erode the enamel as they sit on your teeth. The biggest problem can often be acidic items like carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and coffee. Other huge issues can be sugary substances and starchy foods, both of which stick to teeth easily and can cause damage if not brushed, flossed, and rinsed away. Bacteria from plaque buildup can also cause erosion of the enamel.

Once enamel is gone, can it heal?

While many parts of our bodies can heal, tooth enamel is not one of those things. Enamel isn't made up of living cells, so it can't replicate and heal spots that have been cracked, worn down, or damaged. In short, no. Once enamel is gone, it is permanent. This is why it is important to help keep your enamel strong by regularly taking care of your teeth and using toothpastes and mouth washes that deposit strengthening minerals to the surface of your teeth.

What Can I Do?

Help take care of your enamel by following these tips...

• Limit the amount of sugar and starch in your diet
• Avoid overly acidic foods and drinks
• Brush your teeth or use mouthwash or water to rinse away damaging foods and drinks
• Use oral health products that strengthen your teeth
• Regularly visit your dentist to check your enamel and remove damaging plaque!

Best Dentist in Missouri

Access Dental and Dentures has the best dental clinics in southern Missouri and we are here to help you protect your enamel and prevent damage from permanently affecting your teeth. Whether you just need a checkup and your annual cleanings or you need special attention for a dental issue, we are here for you! Give us a call or check out our website to learn about the services we offer to help improve your dental health. 1-877-DENTIST

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Why Visiting Your Dentist is SO Important!

Visiting the dentist isn't anyone's favorite thing to do. But, it's still important to have your regular check-ups in order to keep your teeth - and your whole body - healthy! At Access Dental and Dentures, we help make your visit as comfortable and easy as possible. That way, when you make your dental appointment every six months, you don't have to feel anxious or apprehensive. Keep reading to learn all about the importance of your regular dental visits and our convenient locations that make taking care of your health even easier!

Our Several Convenient Locations!

We have five locations across Missouri to better serve your needs, so there's no excuse to not go to the dentist when you should! Almost all of our clinics have on-site, full-service dental labs, staffed with our own highly-trained dental technicians. This makes providing dental services easier for our dentists, and more convenient for our patients. Check out the location nearest you!

SPRINGFIELD, MO

1701 West Sunshine
Springfield, MO 65807

OSAGE BEACH, MO

4320 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO. 65065

ROLLA, MO

416 S. Bishop Ave. (Hwy 63)
Rolla, MO 65401

MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO

921-A N. Main
Mountain Grove, MO 65711

Thorough Cleaning

At home, you can certainly remove a lot of debris, bacteria, and surface stains that have accumulated on your teeth throughout the day. However, plaque can harden into tartar and then there is nothing you can safely do from home to remove it. Tartar is a hard substance that sticks to your teeth until it is scaled off by a professional. If you try scraping it off yourself, you could very easily scrape through your enamel which would make your teeth even weaker than before and more prone to cavities.

You dental hygienist will carefully scale off any tartar build up on your teeth, polish them with professional grade polish that helps break up anything stuck to the surface, floss between your teeth to remove any stubborn particles, and leave your mouth feeling fresher and cleaner than any home cleaning ever could.

Cavity & Health Check

Even if you consistently brush your teeth twice a day, floss every day, and eat a balanced diet, issues could still arise with your oral health that you may not notice on your own. Your wisdom teeth may be coming in at an angle from the back of your mouth, which can cause jaw pain and shifting teeth. Your brushing technique could be missing between the backs of your molars where plaque and tartar have started to build up. You could be brushing too hard and causing wear and inflammation on your gums. There are a lot of things that could be going on in your mouth you may not realize without a visit to the dentist.

When you come in for a check-up, your dentist will inspect your teeth and the rest of your mouth to make sure there aren't any issues that need to be addressed. They are skilled at identifying weak spots in teeth where cavities may be starting to form. With a quick examination using simple tools, a dentist can tell you if you have cavities, or if there are any major issues that need to be addressed.

Schedule Your Appointment

Visiting the dentist is an important part of your health journey. Dental health issues can cause more significant health problems if inflammation and infection enters the bloodstream. Let us help keep you healthy and safe with the best dental care in southern Missouri. Contact Access Dental and Dentures to schedule your next appointment!

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Beware These Over-Whitening Issues!

A bright, white smile can make all the difference in your personal confidence and the first impression you make with people. Sometimes, though, people jump in and try to whiten their teeth on their own before considering a few important factors. Are the chemicals in the product safe? Will the product you chose damage your enamel? Should you be using teeth whitener in the first place? 

Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in southern Missouri and we have the answers to a lot of those questions for you! We can also schedule an appointment with you to talk about professional teeth whitening and how we can help you get the smile of your dreams. Keep reading to learn more!  

Teeth Whitening Chemicals

When it comes to whitening teeth, you have to use the right product to lift stains without also causing damage to your enamel. This is a really delicate balance, so you should be careful about what products you use. If it's too aggressive, your enamel will be damaged during the whitening process. This will weaken your teeth and actually make them more prone to damage and discoloration. That's right, a bad whitener could actually make your teeth more yellow in the long-run. A product that is too weak, on the other hand, is just a waste of money because it won't do anything to help whiten your teeth. Access Dental has professional-grade whitener that give you the smile you've always dreamed of in a safe way that won't damage your enamel! 

Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me? 

Traditional teeth whitening may not be right for everyone. If you have sensitive teeth, then over-the-counter whitening products are definitely not right for you. They will increase your sensitivity and can cause significant dental pain. If you have colored tooth fillings (as opposed to metal) or a fake tooth, then you should be aware that whiteners won't affect these areas. That means you could end up with spots or teeth that look like different colors. No good! If you aren't sure about whether or not teeth whitening is right for you, talk to our professionals at Access Dental and Dentures! 

Access Dental Whitening Services!

At Access Dental and Dentures, we custom-make a whitening tray that specifically fits your very own dental impressions. That way there's no slippery strips, uneven "paint", or other products that just don't seem to fit quite right. The treatment will be specific to you and you can use it until you reach your desired level of whiteness! We can also help monitor your progress so you don't accidentally overdo it and cause irreparable damage. That's what makes us the best teeth whitening service in Missouri!

Set up an appointment at one of our many convenient locations! We're located in Springfield, Osage Beach, Rolla, and Mountain Grove. Call today and we'll be there for you! 1-877-DENTIST

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

1-877-DENTIST

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