Dental Health at Every Age

You may be under the assumption that as you get older your dental health isn't as important as when you were younger, but that simply isn't the case. Dental health at every stage of life is equally important, which is why in this blog we aim to go through some of the important aspects of dental health at every age! 

Keep reading below to discover what routine you should be focusing on depending on which age category you are in! 

Infants

As a parent there are a few areas you need to work on developing for your baby's up and coming new teeth! For instance, never let your baby fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth, as this can lead to their teeth growing in incorrectly. 

Always be sure you are cleaning your baby's gums and checking on the development of their teeth. When you notice their first little tooth, it is time to schedule your next dental appointment with your Missouri dental office!

Children

Making sure your kids develop a healthy, consistent dental routine is essential in keeping their teeth healthy for years to come. Some of the ways you can do this are developing a scheduled routine for them to follow every morning and night, which includes brushing and flossing at least two times a day. 

For the kids who love to be active, investing in a mouth guard is a sure way to help protect your child's teeth from any damage and can be ordered from your local dentist. Make sure to keep the sweets limited to avoid cavities, and of course, schedule dental visits at least two times a year to make sure your kiddos dental health is where it needs to be! 

Teenagers

Puberty is hard, and so is juggling all of the different aspects of teenage life, which is why it is important to make sure that you are doing your best with assisting your teen keep up with their dental care. 

Some ways you can contribute to their dental health is limiting sodas, packing healthy snacks, such as apples or carrots, and setting the example of how important it is to maintain dental routines, even though life does tend to get hectic at times! 

Adults

It is time to take some accountability and responsibility, as now, it is up to you to take care of your own dental health! Most of the previous tips apply, limit junk foods and sodas, develop a solid dental care routine, visit your Missouri dentist at least two times a year, but keep in mind that with age, your teeth may start to experience some unwanted impacts. Gum disease and other oral issues can present themselves, especially if you are an avid coffee drinker, smoker, or drink alcohol. 

Be sure to pay close attention to the state of your teeth and schedule your dental visits accordingly! 

Senior Citizens

As we age, our bodies can begin to lack in certain areas, and dental health is usually one of the areas that become impacted by this. Keeping up with your dental health is crucial at this stage in your life, as you can lose your teeth, develop gum disease, and that may lead to you needing to invest in dentures. 

Luckily, if you do need dentures, the team at Access Dental can help you find the best dentures for you! 

Keeping on top of your dental health at every stage is important, but as we age it is vital to have developed and maintained a solid dental routine. If you need help with your dental care, our team is always here to help provide you with the best dental care in Missouri! Be sure to check out our website to schedule an appointment and view the services we offer! 

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Teeth Grinding: Causes and Treatments

Do you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw? Headaches? Maybe your teeth are more sensitive than normal? You may be suffering from teeth grinding or bruxism, and it is no joke! There are plenty of reasons why people start grinding their teeth, such as physical, psychological, and even pre-genetic factors, but our team at Access Dental wants to go over a few causes and also list a few dental treatments in MO, that you can seek to help with grinding your teeth. 

To find out more about the causes and treatments of bruxism- keep reading below! 

What Causes Teeth Grinding?

Of course, there is no one straight answer here, as teeth grinding can occur for a multitude of reasons and tend to differ from person-to-person. Some of the more commonly noted reasons for why teeth grinding occurs are:

-Stress/Other Psychological Factors

-Sleep Apnea

-Acid Reflux

-Tobacco, Illicit Drug, and Alcohol Usage

-Caffeine

-Genetic Factors

The Impact of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding can lead to a whirlwind of problems, including sore jaw, headaches, sensitive teeth, broken or chipped teeth, and even TMJ- which is when the muscles of the jaw are prevented from chewing/opening and closing properly, leading to a clicking sound and discomfort when trying to chew, talk, etc. 

As one can imagine, the impacts of teeth grinding can be detrimental in one's daily life, as the pain and discomfort can grow to an unbearable breaking point, which is when it is probably best to visit your local Missouri dentist office to get a check-up. 

Treatments for Teeth Grinding

Luckily, teeth grinding can be treated both at home and with the assistance of a dental professional. Some of the more common treatments include:

-Medication: Typically this will include a form of muscle relaxers to help ease your jaw and prevent grinding throughout the night. If you take antidepressants, your dentist may recommend a switch to one that does not cause bruxism, or if you aren't currently on medication, your dentist may recommend trying an antidepressant that does not have the added risk of teeth grinding.

-Behavior Changes: One way to help prevent and put a stop to your teeth grinding is finding out the behaviors that may be contributing to your teeth grinding and work with a professional on breaking those habits. 

-Bite Guards: Bite guards are a great way to help begin the process of stopping teeth grinding, as the guard prevents the damage that your teeth would otherwise be receiving.

-Being Aware: Now, when you sleep, you won't be able to notice if and when you are grinding your teeth, but when you are awake, it is important to stay cognizant about whether you are grinding, and if so, learning to unclench and relax your jaw. 

Of course, you can always reach out to your local dental office in Missouri and get other recommendations as well! 

Teeth grinding can be a real pain for both your teeth and your physical and mental wellbeing. But, now that you have a better understanding of the causes and treatments of bruxism, you know what to look for. 

If you have any questions, or feel like you need to see one of our dental experts at Access Dental, then please reach out to us on our website, www.accessdentalanddentures.com.

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

1-877-DENTIST

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How to Fix Bad Breath

So, you or someone else has noticed that your breath isn't exactly minty-fresh. Well, that is okay! Most of us at some point or another struggle with bad breath, or halitosis, it isn't the end of the world, but it does indicate that you may need to put some extra TLC into your dental routine. 

With that, our team here at Access Dental wants to discuss some of the causes of bad breath and the remedies that we recommend to ensure a healthy dental routine! We are the best dental office in Missouri, which means you can trust in us to help you with all of your dental needs!

Cause #1: Poor Dental Routine

The first and main cause of bad breath is simply not having a strong dental routine. Listen, we know that sometimes you forget to brush or floss every single day, 2 times per day, but it is really important to try and stick with a schedule that allows for you to properly take care of your teeth, and your bad breath at that!

Remedy #1: Brush Twice a Day

As mentioned prior, brushing 2 times a day is crucial to getting in the habit of developing a solid dental routine. But, in doing this, you also will find that your bad breath will begin to disappear! Keep in mind using a fluoride toothpaste is your best bet when brushing! 
However, there are some other reasons why you may have bad breath, that go a bit further than just poor brushing habits. 

Cause #2: Gum Disease

Gum disease is another common cause for bad breath, and tends to be linked, once more, with poor dental routine. Gingivitis and Periodontist, dry mouth, amongst others can be caused from a lack of flossing, brushing, even using mouth wash. But a big contributor is also using tobacco products- specifically cigarettes and vapes. 

Remedy #2: Avoid Tobacco and Use Mouthwash

It is pretty simple- the more you can avoid using tobacco products, the better off your dental and overall health will be. But, we understand that that is a lot easier said than done, which is why we also offer dental consultations in Missouri, that way you and your dentist can go over a plan of action and determine the best short-term solutions, such as prescribed dental products. Also, using mouth wash is another way to help with gum disease! Make sure you are also flossing to get the small bits of food left over! 

Keeping your breath from smelling bad is something that most people are really concerned about, and it is understandable! We want to do our part in helping you keep your teeth, gums, and breath as fresh as they can be! That is why we offer these tips, as well as the best dental care in Missouri, so you have options on how you can make the most of your dental routine! 

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

1-877-DENTIST

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How Smoking and Vaping Impact Your Dental Health

Are you a chronic smoker? Maybe you have put down the cigarette in favor of vaping? Regardless, it is important to understand the risks associated with both- especially for your dental health. Although vaping has been marketed as a "healthier" alternative to smoking, both pose some serious threats to the overall well-being of your teeth and gums. Of course, both also can severely damage your lungs, but for the sake of this blog we will be focusing on how smoking and vaping impacts your dental health. 

Luckily, our dental clinic in Osage Beach, MO also has some tips for how you can help provide your teeth and gums with some much needed care! So, keep reading to find out more! 

Smoking/Vaping Risks on Dental Health

For starters, let's address some of the different risks that both of these can have on your dental health. Keep in mind, this list will be pretty long, but even then it does not cover all of the risks associated and these are only a handful of risks you may be exposed to from smoking/vaping. 

The Risks:

-Smoker's keratosis (The whitening of the soft tissue in your mouth.)

-Gum disease

-Loss of taste

-Tooth decay

-Tooth loss

-Mouth cancer

-Halitosis

-Poor healing after dental work/care

And so many more. These risks obviously pose a massive threat to your teeth and gums, not to mention, even when you begin trying to heal, you can run into some major problems along the way and stall your dental care solutions. 

Increased Risk of Infections

In addition to the associated risks we listed off earlier, you can also find that studies have shown that the chances of getting dental infections are at an increased rate for smokers/vapers. The studies have shown that your chances are doubled that of an individual who doesn't smoke. This is attributed to the chemicals- especially in vapes- damage and traumatize the tissue in your mouth, which leads to a lack of ability to repair the damage. 

This can obviously lead to a slew of issues, including the bacteria in your mouth spreading, which can lead to some nasty infections in your mouth. 

Preventative Measures

As we mentioned prior, we do want to provide some insight into some preventative measures that you can take to help keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. 

The Measures:

-Quit smoking- Now this one is obviously easier said than done, but by all means, if you are able to stop smoking or at least cut out as much as possible, you will see noticeable differences in the state of your dental health. 

-Brush and floss 2x/day

-Try and keep your mouth from getting dry- Whether you do this in the form of chewing gum to promote saliva production or you take medication for dry mouth issues, keeping your mouth from getting too dry can help with preventing any further dental issues. 

-Refrain from alcohol and other drug usage

And of course, visit your dentist at least 2x/year. If you don't have a dentist, be sure to check out one of our dental practices in Missouri, and we would be more than happy to help you get your teeth and gums in the healthiest state we can. 

Smoking and vaping can cause irreversible damage to your dental health, which is why it is important to understand what these risks are and how you can prevent them. Contacting our local dentist office in Missouri is a good start in the right direction, as we can provide more insight to the state of your teeth and gums, as well as start the journey of recovering from any damages. 

If you would like more information or would like to schedule an appointment, please visit our website at www.accessdentalanddentures.com

Best Practices for Healthy Teeth!

Taking care of your teeth is probably a high priority on your list of ways to care for yourself! Making sure your teeth are well-cared for is truly such an important aspect of your daily hygienic routine, but it can be hard making sure you are following all of the best practices to ensure your teeth stay healthy, as there are so many different ways and methods that you can utilize! 

In this blog, our dental practice in Missouri would like to explore some of the many options you have to keep your teeth strong and healthy for many years to come! 

1. Brush Your Teeth

So, the most obvious on the list of healthy dental practices is brushing your teeth! Of course, we will elaborate a bit more on the topic, but let's start with the basics! Brushing your teeth, rather, brushing your teeth at least twice a day is vital in ensuring that your teeth look and stay their best! If you can brush after every meal, that would be even better, but ultimately brushing once in the morning and once before you go to bed is sufficient! 

But, it is critical that you brush your teeth before going to bed, that way you can remove the left over food from the day, and remove all of the nasty bacteria from your teeth to avoid cavities and tooth decay. 

2. Use Mouthwash

To help keep your teeth free from bacteria, using mouthwash is a great solution! Granted, not all mouthwashes work the same, and it may be best for you to seek a recommendation from your local dentist office. For instance, if you have sensitive teeth, you may need a mouthwash that is specifically for sensitivity, or if you have a child, they may need a mouthwash that is easier on a child's teeth. 

You may even need a prescription mouthwash if your dentist finds it necessary, but it is definitely a good investment into the prolonging of your dental health. 

3. Floss Your Teeth

Not as popular of a choice in relation to our first rule of healthy dental practices, but flossing is such a key aspect of maintaining a healthy smile! When we eat, food obviously goes into our mouths and gets all up on our teeth, and in-between our teeth. Brushing can help remove the plaque and germ build up, but when you have bits of left over food stuck in your teeth that brushing just cannot get to, you have dental floss to help with the load! 

Dental floss is really helpful in removing those tiny pieces that the bristles on a toothbrush just can't reach, so in order to help prevent your teeth from falling victim to a leftover bit of food, flossing is sure to get the trick done! 

4. Visit Your Dentist

This one probably goes without saying, but visiting your dentist is always a given. It is recommended that you visit at least two times a year, but if you can, try and visit more just to make sure your dental care is where it needs to be. If you are in the Missouri area, then you have Access Dental offices located throughout the state, meaning you won't have to worry about finding a Missouri dental office, as we have over 5 locations! 

If you have any concerns with your dental health, it is always wise to schedule an appointment with your dentist, so be sure to keep an eye on the state of your teeth, and if the problem is something that may require some addition assistance from a professional. 

Ultimately, these tips are fantastic in helping ensure that your dental care routine is solid! But, of course, there are so many other tips out there that can really help you keep your dental game on top! For now, these are practices you should develop and try to implement into your daily routine as much as possible. 

If you are in need of a dental clinic, be sure to reach out to one of our locations throughout Missouri, that way we can help you with all of your dental care needs. To schedule an appointment, or to view the services we offer, check out our website at www.accessdentalanddentures.com.

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

1-877-DENTIST

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