3 Tips to Strengthen Your Immune System

T'is the season! ... To get a cold. With the weather changing back and forth from warm to nearly freezing, plus all the stress from prepping for the holidays, your immune system can have a hard time keeping up. At Access Dental, we care about your health and want to make sure you enjoy every season with a healthy and happy body. Today, we're diving into some basic tips on how to help keep your immune system strong in this (and any!) season.

Get Lots of Sleep

When you are sleep deprived, you can't function as well and your immune system could have a difficult time preventing infections. If you lose a couple of hours of sleep here and there, you may think that it doesn't make a difference. But, your body can actually hold onto a sleep deficit for several weeks! Help your immune system keep you healthier in every season by regularly getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

Reduce Sugar

Too much sugar and carbs can negatively affect your health in a big way. If you overindulge on these substances regularly, it can cause weight gain and inflammation. The inflammation can make your immune system have to work harder. With all that extra work, your immune system may be too worn out to fight off infection when it encounters a virus. Sugar also sticks to your teeth and gums which can cause bacterial buildup and decay. If your immune system has to consistently fight off germs from sugary food particles in your teeth, then it could be less effective at keeping you healthy.

Drink Plenty of Water

While water doesn't kill viruses or bacteria, it can help improve a lot of areas of your health and behavior that do help fight off infection. When your body is hydrated, you will likely have more energy and focus, better digestion, and improved circulation. All of these things help take the burden off of your immune system so that it can work better when it encounters a sickness.

Schedule Regular Check-Ups

Regular check-ups with your doctor (and your dentist!) are important to make sure you are doing well and staying healthy! Your doctor may find something that you weren't even aware of and can help treat it before it develops into a bigger problem. This is especially true for your dental health. What you might think is just a little tooth pain could actually be a deeper issue like a cavity or developing gum disease. 

The Best Dentist in Near You!

With several convenient locations in southern Missouri, Access Dental and Dentures is here to help you enjoy a healthy smile (and a healthy lifestyle!) all year long. Follow us on social media to keep up with our healthy tips, and be sure to give us a call to schedule your next dental appointment! 

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Important Dental Health Tips for the Holidays

Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving is next week, and Christmas is right around the corner! All of these holidays come with a lot of temptation... Candy, dessert, comfort foods, and more. It can also be hard to keep up your normal routine over the holidays when you're traveling or you have a lot of guests at your house. Access Dental and Dentures is here to help you stay healthy no matter what time of year. Keep reading to learn our tips for the holidays! 

Food & Drink Selections

We tend to make more unhealthy choices over the holidays when it comes to choosing what to eat and drink.  Instead of eating a lightly seasoned fish filet with steamed veggies, we indulge in gravy-smothered dishes high in carbs, fat, and sugar. It can be easy to make excuses for the holidays, especially when you think ahead to January and promise yourself that your resolutions will make up for the bad choices now. Unfortunately, the bad food choices you make over the holidays can do more than just add pounds. Bacteria feed on sugar, so the more sweets you consume over the holidays, the more the bacteria in your mouth can grow. If you choose to indulge this season, try to limit the amount of sugar you consume, and make sure to rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after a particularly sugar-rich meal.

Overindulging

During the holidays, it can be hard to manage your impulse control. After all, how often do you have a full feast of delicious foods and desserts spread out in front of you?! Not only do we tend to eat too much during the holidays, but we also tend to eat too often. As you spend time in the kitchen with your family preparing dishes for dinner, you could fall into a bad habit of snacking all day. It's just a taste test, right? Unfortunately, if you are eating food all day - especially food high in sugar and fat - that means it's in contact with your teeth for a longer amount of time. The longer food is in contact with your teeth, the more opportunity bacteria has to grow and accumulate. Try to avoid snacking throughout the day in order to keep your teeth feeling fresh. If you do choose to snack during the day, be sure to drink plenty of water to flush away food particles.

Neglecting Healthy Habits

Even if you're not traveling far this year, the holidays tend to disrupt our normal habits. With time off work, scheduling zoom calls, visiting nearby family, buying presents, and other holiday activities... It can be hard to keep up with important dental and hygiene habits. Make your health a priority and set reminders to brush and floss your teeth every day, bring a refillable water bottle with you to stay hydrated, and carry floss picks and travel mouthwash with you to stay fresh. 

Your Missouri Dentist 

The holidays are full of temptations, but that doesn't mean you have to throw all your good habits out the window. You can stay healthy throughout the season with these tips, and with help from the best dentist in southern Missouri - Access Dental and Dentures! We have several convenient locations in southern Missouri, and we would love to help you keep your teeth in top condition year after year. Call to schedule an appointment: 1-877-DENTIST

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Crowns vs. Fillings - Do You Know the Difference?

Dental care can seem complicated, and it might be hard to sort through all the information out there. One question we answer a lot is this: What is the difference between a filling and a crown? And why would I need one instead of another? Access Dental and Dentures has the best dental clinics in southern Missouri, and we are here to help answer your questions and take care of all your dental needs. Keep reading to learn more! 

What are Composite Fillings? 

Composite (tooth-colored) fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium. All that to say, composite fillings provide good durability and strength for damaged teeth. Composite fillings are also light-cured to match your teeth so it looks natural. 

When Should Composite Fillings be Used? 

This kind of filling should be used in small to mid-sized tooth repairs that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Direct dental composites can also be used for filling cavity preparations, filling gaps between teeth using a shell-like veneer, minor reshaping of teeth, and partial crowns on single teeth.

What are Dental Crowns? 

Crowns strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure when there is a lot of decay or damage. They can also improve the appearance of your teeth. Crowns are made from different materials which include the full porcelain crown, the porcelain fused-to-metal crown, and the all-metal crown. You and your dentist will decide which type is appropriate, depending upon the strength requirements and esthetic concerns of the tooth involved.

Fitting a crown requires at least two appointments. During your first visit, the tooth is prepared for the crown, an impression or mold is made of the tooth, and a temporary crown is placed over the prepared tooth. At the subsequent visit, the temporary crown is removed and the final crown is fitted and adjusted and cemented into place.

Why Would I Need a Crown?

The reasons your dentist may suggest restoring your tooth with a crown can vary from case to case. Some of the indications for a using a crown are:

A previously filled tooth where there now exists more filling than tooth. The existing tooth structure becomes weakened and can no longer support the filling.

• Extensive damage by decay.
• Discolorations and compromised esthetics.
• Fractures
• Root canal – After root canal, teeth tend to become brittle and are more apt to fracture. They, therefore, need to be protected by a crown.
• Bridges – When missing teeth are replaced with a bridge, the adjacent teeth require crowns in order to support the replacement teeth.

Best Dental Care in Missouri

If your teeth have experienced damage or decay and you need a repair, Access Dental and Dentures is here to help! We can check your teeth and determine exactly what's needed to get you back to your best and healthiest smile. Give us a call to schedule your next appointment! 1-877-DENTIST

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Fruit - Is It Good or Actually Bad?

Fruit has a mostly great reputation in the health community. But some groups think that fruit can have negative effects on your health. So... Which is true? Is fruit good or bad for your overall health? Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist in Missouri and we are here to help answer that question for you! Keep reading to learn the positive and negative effects that fruit can have. 

Sugars & Carbs

Fruit contains natural sugars and contain carbohydrates. Many refined carbohydrates transition into sugars as well, so there can be quite a bit of sugar in most fruits. Some people on low-carb diets (such as Atkins and Keto) will avoid fruit almost entirely because of their carb content. However, when compared with packaged overly-processed foods, fruit is the significantly healthier option overall. Just keep in mind that the sugar content could be feeding bacteria between your teeth, which will wear away at your enamel. Be sure to brush your teeth regularly so the fruit has less contact time with your teeth. 

Vitamins & Minerals

Fruits have several vitamins and minerals that help keep your body healthy. One of the most notable vitamins found in several fruits is Vitamin C. This vitamin is infamous for helping stave off the common cold and giving your immune system a boost. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant and helps with inflammation and the healing process from injuries or damage. Fruits that contain Vitamin C include oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, tomato, cantaloupe, strawberries, and more!

Acid Content 

Fresh fruit, especially citrus like lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc., are high in acid. This acid can erode the enamel on your teeth, causing them to be sensitive and more prone to cavities. To get the health benefits of fruit without causing too much damage to your teeth, try drinking water when you eat them. Drinking water can help to wash away some of the acid so your teeth aren't exposed for as long. If you're drinking fruit juice, try using a straw to reduce the amount of time it's touching your teeth. 

High Fiber & Low Caloric Density 

Another great health benefit of fruits is their high fiber content and relatively low caloric density. The fruits that contain a lot of fiber can help keep you feeling full for longer amount of time. This helps prevent you from craving junk food and over-snacking. Fruit also contains a high volume of water which means the calories are spread out across more volume. (Example: 10 grapes will keep you fuller than 10 raisins.) 

Dental Health & Diet

One of the ways you can help keep your teeth in top condition is by following a balanced diet. Enjoy the benefit of the increased vitamins, minerals, and fiber by including more fruit in your diet. Just make sure to keep up your regular dental habits and rinse your mouth out after eating to prevent too much sugar and acid being in contact with your teeth. Also be sure to set up regular dentist appointments to checkup on your teeth and keep them clean and healthy. Call Access Dental and Dentures to learn more and schedule an appointment! 

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

1-877-DENTIST

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