Oral Health: Don't Forget the Tongue!

Teeth tend to get the spotlight when it comes to oral health and hygiene, but just focusing on teeth leaves out an important part of a good routine - the tongue! Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist office in southern Missouri, so we know what it takes to keep your mouth in a healthy and happy condition. Today we're diving deeper into oral health and talking about the tongue. Read on to learn more about how to keep your tongue clean and improve your oral hygiene routine.

Bacterial Growth

We all have a certain amount of bacteria in our mouths, some of it good and some of it bad. Good bacteria are there to help protect you from pathogens and illnesses. Bad bacteria are what can cause plaque buildup and tooth decay.

Both kinds of bacteria can grow and build up on your tongue, producing bad smells that are inconvenient and embarrassing. They produce substances that cause malodorous breath, including sulfur. This bad smell can be even worse if there are food particles for the bacteria to feed on. Keep your tongue clean to help limit stinky breath and bad bacterial growth in your mouth.

Healthy Color

When you're brushing your teeth twice a day, it's a good idea to pay attention to the color of your tongue to look for signs of an unhealthy mouth. Your tongue should be a natural, consistent pink color. If there are patches of red, yellow, or white discoloration, then you could have a serious issue that requires medical attention.

If your tongue is a uniform color but has a white film over the top of it, then you may simply need to improve your daily oral hygiene routine. This film is typically a combination of dead cells, food debris, bacteria, and mucus. Cleaning your tongue regularly should help reduce the appearance of this white film and keep your mouth healthier.

Cleaning Your Tongue

Keeping your tongue clean has a lot of important health benefits that include stronger teeth, better breath, less plaque buildup, and more! Make cleaning your tongue a part of your daily routine. Every time you use your toothbrush (which should be at least twice a day), gently brush your tongue with a small amount of toothpaste. This will help break up stuck on bacteria, food debris, etc.

It is also a good idea to take the extra step of using a tongue scraper at the end of your routine. A scraper can help thoroughly remove harmful materials, rather than just loosening them in your mouth. Tongue scrapers are relatively easy to find in most oral hygiene aisles at the drug store. Some are even built-in on the back of toothbrushes.

Visit a Local Missouri Dentist

If you are noticing that your tongue has some discoloration or if your bad breath can't be tamed by any amount of at-home dental care, then it might be time to consult the experts. Access Dental and Dentures is the best dentist's office in the Springfield area, and we have the knowledge and experience to help keep your mouth healthy. From your teeth and gums to your tongue, we have you covered! Call to set up an appointment: 1-877-DENTIST

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

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The Best Ways to Keep Teeth With Braces Clean

A lot of kids in this country, and adults for that matter, end up needing to wear braces. This can make brushing teeth more difficult, but if you take your time and learn the proper techniques, you'll soon get used to it. As your trusted dentists in Southern Missouri, we've got a few tips to help you keep your mouth clean and healthy while the braces do their work.

When your teeth are not properly taken care of under those braces, many problems can arise. These include cavities, swollen and infected gum tissue, tooth discoloration, and possibly even decalcification. Access Dental and Dentures can help you do your best to keep that from happening.

Brush Thoroughly
Food easily gets trapped underneath braces, but taking the time to thoroughly brush on and around each surface can help to get rid of it. First, rinse with water to loosen some of the food particles.

Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Angle it down to brush the top of the brackets and then angle it up to reach the bottoms. Brush for 2-3 minutes at least twice a day, and don't forget to also brush your tongue to remove additional bacteria. You might want to use an interdental brush, which kind of looks like a toothpick with a pipe cleaner on the end, to get to the hardest to reach places. 

Floss Between Brackets
Flossing should be done at least once a day and you will need to be more careful than before you had braces. The floss must be threaded under the main wire before going between your teeth. A floss threader can help with this. Waxed floss is best to avoid it getting shredded and caught in the braces. You may also want to invest in a water pick. These are wonderful for getting to the hardest places to reach.

Rinse After Eating
For those times when you cannot immediately brush your teeth after eating, rinsing your mouth out with water can be very helpful. This can dislodge food particles and also rinse away some of the food and sugar left behind on your teeth.

Don't Miss Checkups 
Regular dental and orthodontic checkups are even more important when you have braces. In addition to the deep cleaning, you want to have a professional take a look to make sure that the braces are doing their job.

At all of our dental offices in Southern Missouri, we are always available to answer any questions you may have about dental hygiene. Now that you have a few tips on how to best keep your teeth clean with braces, carry that knowledge over and keep up those healthy habits after the braces are removed too. After all, wearing braces did a lot to give you the smile you ended up with, and Access Dental wants to make sure that you keep it looking its best for many, many years to come.

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

1-877-DENTIST

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Springfield Office          Rolla Office             Osage Beach Office

(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447          (573) 348-1466         

1701 West Sunshine        416 S. Bishop Ave.   4320 Osage Beach Pkwy

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401      Osage Beach, MO. 65065

Mountain Grove Office              Aurora Office

(417) 926-1160                             (417) 308-3534

921-A N. Main                             1402 S. Elliott

Mountain Grove, MO 65711       Aurora, MO 65605

BACK TO BASICS: Oral Care Tips for a Healthy Smile

It can be easy to get distracted from proper oral care, especially with all the new tools and features available on the market. From water picks to tongue scrapers, there are many items that can pull your attention away from the basics of oral care. As the best dentist near Springfield, MO, we pride ourselves on keeping our patients informed and up-to-date on proper oral care. Take a look below to learn more about these oral care tips for a happy, healthy smile!

Brush, Brush, Brush

Brushing your teeth is vital to your oral care and overall health. Not brushing can lead to gum disease and cavities in your teeth. It's recommended to brush your teeth twice each day. Try to make this part of your morning and night-time routine that way you don't skip it. Start the day with a clean and fresh mouth and end the day the same way! It's a great way to get into a good habit of brushing twice each day!

Floss Between Teeth

While brushing your tooth surface cleans a big portion of your teeth, you still miss about 40% of your tooth's surface if you skip flossing. Between your teeth lingers food particles and other bacteria that builds up throughout the day. Flossing once a day can help keep your teeth clear of harmful bacteria that may cause damage to your tooth surface.

Drink Plenty of Water

Not only is water good for your entire body, it's important for proper oral care too. Keeping your gums and mouth hydrated is good for circulation and helps to keep all body functions working properly. Water also helps to wash food particles from your mouth after a meal. This can help to keep food from building up on your tooth surface, which attracts bacteria and can cause damage.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A well-balanced diet helps to keep your teeth and mouth in a healthy condition. Sugary filled foods can build up on your teeth and cause damage, when mixed with the bacteria naturally found in your mouth. Try to regulate your food intake and keep a happy balance between sweet treats and healthy foods.

Your family deserves a great smile and Access Dental and Dentures is here to help! Our southern Missouri dental practice is here for all of your oral care needs. From tips to tools to a routine check up, we pride ourselves on providing great dental care for all of our customers. To learn more, be sure to schedule your routine teeth cleaning and check up every six months! Contact us at 877-DENTIST to set up an appointment today!

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

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Springfield Office          Rolla Office          Osage Beach Office      Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447        (573) 348-1466                       (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine      416 S. Bishop Ave.  4320 Osage Beach Pkwy       921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401     Osage Beach, MO. 65065       Mountain Grove

Fun Tools to Clean Your Teeth

While there are oral care basics that should be accomplished each and every day, it can be fun to spice your oral care routine up with new gadgets. Whether you prefer an electric toothbrush or one of these fun tools, it's a great idea to find the right oral care devices for your wants and needs. Your trusted dentist in southern Missouri is here for all of your oral care needs! Today's blog goes further in depth with some new tools that are on the market place.

Water Pick

Spraying small bursts of water between your teeth, a water pick is a great device to help clean deeper than brushing alone. Many people with braces find water picks to help clean between their dental appliances and hard to reach spaces in their mouth. It's important to keep food and other germ build up off the tooth surface and a water pick can help do just that!

Clean Betweeners

With small, usually colorful, sticks or picks, you can make flossing a little more fun. It looks like a pick with a small piece of pipe cleaner on the end - helpful for removing food particles. You simply slide the clean betweener flossing tool between each set of teeth and wiggle it back and forth. This helps to remove any food particles and bacteria that may be hiding in these dark places of your mouth.

Tongue Scraper

An unwashed or brushed tongue can be the cause of bad breath for many people. The scraper helps to reduce the amount of bacteria that causes bad breath. You simply scrape the tongue scraper across your tongue which helps it remove bacteria and other particles that may build up on the tongue surface.

Fun Flossers

If you need a convenient way to floss on the go, flossers are for you. The small pick splits toward one end with a piece of sturdy floss strung between the two ends. This helps to get into those hard to reach spaces between your teeth with ease. It's a great item to have with you when traveling or out and about during the day. If you get a little bit of food stuck between your teeth, you don't have to wait until you get home to remove the pesky piece of food.

Now that you've seen a few of the unique and interesting ways to clean your entire mouth, it's time to see if any of these will work for you. Whether you want to get your kids excited about oral care or need to step up your own game, make brushing and flossing fun! While it's important to stick with the basics of brushing twice and flossing once each day - you may as well have a good time while you take care of your teeth! Access Dental and Dentures encourages you to find what works with your oral care routine and go for it! As long as you're cleaning your tooth surface and in between your teeth, we're happy you are keeping up with your oral care routine.

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

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Springfield Office          Rolla Office          Osage Beach Office      Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447        (573) 348-1466                       (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine      416 S. Bishop Ave.  4320 Osage Beach Pkwy       921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401     Osage Beach, MO. 65065       Mountain Grove

6 Tips for Proper Oral Hygiene When Traveling

Many people head out of town to stay with family members or friends over the Thanksgiving holiday. Since you may be out of your normal routine, your oral care regimen may slip. Your trusted dentist in Springfield, Missouri knows how important it is to keep up with your dental hygiene routine when traveling. Access Dental and Dentures has provided some tips to make it a little easier to stick to your dental care regimen, when traveling.

1. Pack Small

There are a number of miniature oral hygiene items that take up less room, when traveling. If it is not convenient, it may slip your mind or just take up too much room in your bag. A foldable toothbrush, miniature tube of toothpaste, and small bottle of mouthwash can easily fit in your suitcase or travel bag. If it is inconvenient, you may choose to leave it at home.

2. Keep Brush Dry

If your travel plans allow, try to let your toothbrush air out between uses. A moist brush in an enclosed space makes the perfect breading grounds for bacteria. If you do have to keep your toothbrush enclosed, remember to wash your case and brush as soon as you get back home, to help eliminate bacteria build up.

3. Chew Gum

While it may be hard to brush your teeth throughout the day when traveling, sugar-free gum can help keep your tooth surface free of debris and plaque build up. Drinking green tea can also help to protect your teeth throughout the day.

4. Eat Healthy

While it may be difficult to resist during the holiday feast, try to eat a well-balanced meal when possible over the weekend. In particular, try to limit your sugar intake this Thanksgiving. The sugar found in snacks and treats can promote bacteria growth, which can lead to tooth decay.

5. Be Prepared

While no one plans to misplace luggage, try to be prepared when traveling over the holidays. Keep a spare tooth brush on you when traveling, that way you are never caught off guard. If your travel plans include a flight, keep a toothbrush in your carry-on bag as well as your checked bag, to ensure you arrive to your destination prepared.

6. Thoroughly Clean

Eating a gourmet feast, snacking with friends and family, and stuffing yourself with pumpkin pie are all things that remind us of Thanksgiving. All of these activities can wreak havoc on your mouth. Each morning and at the end of each night, ensure your perform a deep clean on your teeth and mouth. Brush at least twice a day, floss once a day, and use mouthwash after every brushing for a clean and healthy smile.

If you are traveling this holiday weekend, you now have some tips to help maintain proper oral care, while you are out of town. As you pack your overnight bag, be sure to keep these tips in mind so you are prepared to take care of your teeth while visiting friends and family over the holiday. The best dentist in southern-Missouri wishes you and yours a happy Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones!

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

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Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn
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Springfield Office                         Rolla Office                     Osage Beach Office
(417) 501-1048                              (573) 426-5447                  (573) 348-1466
1701 West Sunshine                      416 S. Bishop Ave.            4320 Osage Beach Parkway

Springfield, MO 65807                   Rolla, MO 65401               Osage Beach, MO. 65065