Access Dental

Thursday, July 20, 2017

7 EASY Tips to Improve Bad Breath

Did you know halitosis is a another name for bad breath? A foul odor that emanates from the mouth can cause embarrassment and even frustration for many. While it's not a major emergency, about 25% - 30% of the population suffer from this problem. Here at Access Dental and Dentures, we get asked if there are any solutions for bad breath. If you are one of these people who have noticed frequent bad breath, it's time to take action. Take a look at the points provided below, by the best dentist in southern MO, to learn how you can combat this issue.

1) Brush at Least Twice a Day

It's important for your overall oral health to brush your teeth twice a day. If you notice the appearance of bad breath, you may consider brushing after every meal. This can help remove any food particles and germs that may gather in your mouth, between meals. If twice a day isn't cutting it, consider increasing the frequency of your daily brushing.

2) Floss Once a Day

Flossing each day is vital to cleaning hard to reach spaces in your mouth. It can also help to remove food particles and bacteria that hides in your mouth. This bacteria and food can sit in your mouth and react with your saliva, to create a foul odor. To reduce the chance of this, floss at least once a day!

3) Add Mouthwash to Your Routine

Mouthwash is a quick and effective way to freshen your breath. While brushing and flossing can clean your tooth surface and in between, mouthwash can help to clean your entire mouth. For a fresh feel to start the day (or anytime throughout), consider adding mouthwash to your daily oral care routine.

4) Frequently Replace Your Toothbrush

If you suffer from bad breath, it may help to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every few months. While a toothbrush is helpful to clean your tooth surface, it can also fill up with germs and bacteria. To reduce the chance of this bacteria from entering back into your mouth, change your toothbrush on a regular basis.

5) Scrape Your Tongue

Many times bad breath can be worse in the mornings. Each morning try to scrape your tongue to free any bacteria and other particles from the surface. This can help decrease the bacteria, fungi, and dead cells that cause bad odor in the mouth. Try to scrape off the entire surface of your tongue, for best results.

6) Eat a Citrus Fruit

A piece of lemon or orange can help to freshen your breath. A burst of flavor can help to wake up the mouth too. The citric acid will also stimulate the salivary glands to help fight off bad breath. Keep in mind citrus fruits can wear down the tooth's enamel, so don't try this trick on a regular basis.

7) Drink Plenty of Water

Along with helping with a number of health conditions, bad breath can be improved by drinking the right amount of water. Swish cool water around in your mouth in order to help freshen morning time bad breath. Keeping your mouth hydrated can help the oral functions to work properly.

Now that you've hopefully learned a new technique to reduce the occurrence of bad breath, you're ready to make improvements. If you've tried a number of ways to cure your bad breath, it's time to ask for help. During your next dental visit in southern MO, ask our friendly staff for suggestions. We can help you find the right solution for your bad breath issue. Gain confidence in social situations with fresh breath!

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

Friday, July 14, 2017

Interesting Facts About Those Pearly Whites

Oral care should be a vital part of your daily routine. From brushing twice each day to flossing at least once per day, there are a number of ways to improve your teeth. Once adult teeth come in, this is the only set you will have - our goal is to help them last a lifetime. Whether you're having dental issues or simple want to schedule a routine check up, the best dentist in Springfield, MO is here for you! We want to help you achieve your oral care goals! In the mean time, check out these fun facts about teeth, provided below by Access Dental and Dentures.

1) Humans only have 2 sets of teeth in their lifetime... baby teeth and permanent teeth.

2) 38.5 days is how long the average person spends brushing their teeth over an entire lifetime.

3) Oral health is linked to a number of other diseases, like heart disease.

4) Milk can help a tooth last longer, should it get knocked out

5) 25,000 quarts of saliva is produced in your mouth over a lifetime - two swimming pools can be filled with that amount!

6) Incisors, canine, premolars, and molars are all the types of teeth found in the human mouth. These different kinds help us cut, tear, and grind food.

7) Sets of teeth are like fingerprints, no two people have the same.

8) 1/3 of the tooth surface is underneath your gums - that's why it's especially important to floss below the gum line!

9) Milk teeth or baby teeth will start to form before a child is even born.

10) The enamel coating is the hardest surface in the entire body and helps to protect your pearly whites.

11) 40% of your tooth surface is missed, if you don't floss.

12) If 3+ glasses of soda are consumed each day, an individual will have 62% more tooth decay.

13) Dental plaque has over 300 types of bacteria.

14) Tree twigs were used as the first toothbrushes. The tips were chewed up to spread out the fibers and used to clean the teeth.

15) A single can of soda can contain about 10-12 teaspoons of sugar!

Hopefully you've learned some fun facts about your pearly whites in today's blog! While oral care is a serious subject, we like to make it FUN too. If you're looking for a great place to help with your oral care needs, Access Dental & Dentures is the place for you! From routine check ups to dental emergency care, our dental office in southern Missouri provides quality care, from quality people!

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

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

Thursday, July 6, 2017

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!

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

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Protect Your Child's Smile This Summer

With school being out of session and the kids involved in a number of activities this summer, it's important to take extra steps to protect their smiles. Whether you're taking an adventurous vacation, spending time at the local pool, or participating in sports - be sure to think about tooth protection for your kids. Your trusted dentist in southern MO is here for all of your oral care needs - protection included! Provided below, by Access Dental And Dentures, are a few easy ways to ensure your kid's smile is protected.

Guard Against Contact Sports

Playing sports is a right of passage for many youngsters. It's a fun way to stay active and get involved with others in the community. If your child is playing a sport this summer, be sure they wear a mouth guard or some sort of protective feature. Whether it's a face guard on their baseball helmet or a mouthpiece when playing soccer - this is an easy way to help protect teeth from damage.

Abide By Pool Rules

The pool is the place to be in the hot summer months... but it also presents a number of dangers for your child's teeth. Most public pools have designated diving areas and recommend walking along the concrete. Ensure your kids are following the rules of the pool. Diving in a shallow body of water has the potential for severe tooth damage and running along the concrete and tripping may have the same result.

Keep Up With Oral Care

While the summer schedule may get crazy, it's important to keep your kid's oral care habits in check. Make sure they are brushing their teeth twice each day - once in the morning and once in the evening, as well as flossing each day. This can help remove plaque and other particles from building up in the mouth, causing tooth decay and damage. Also encourage your kids to make healthy snack decisions instead of sugary-filled treats.

Seal Over Those Teeth

If you are worried about your child getting cavities, it can be helpful to get their molars sealed. This is a protective layer placed over the top of the teeth, where food and other particles get ground in, helping to prevent decay. It's a great way to combat the potential for damage to your little one's teeth.

Schedule Your Regular Dental Visit

While the summer months are usually jam packed, take this opportunity to schedule a dental visit while the kids are out of school. It's much easier than having them miss out on educational opportunities during the school year. It's recommended for your child to visit the dentist at least once every six months to regulate any changes and perform a professional teeth cleaning.

Are you ready to enjoy summer with your kids now? You're fully prepared to help combat oral injuries, now that you know some of the ways to prevent such incidents from occurring. Our dental office near Springfield MO can help get your kid's teeth ready for all of the fun summer activities that will soon take place. If you need to schedule a dental visit, the best dentist in southern MO is available! Give us a call at 877-DENTIST to schedule an appointment at a location nearest you!

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

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

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Legend of the Tooth Fairy

Just like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy is an iconic childhood fable. As many of you know, the American Tooth Fairy comes to collect a child's tooth that has fallen out, while they sleep, and usually leaves behind a treasure for the child to find in the morning. While there are many variations of the Tooth Fairy, your trusted dentist in southern MO has gathered some information about this figure from different countries. No matter what traditions your Tooth Fairy practices, it's a great way to get your child excited about oral care.

It's an English tradition that a child must drop their tooth into a fire to help keep themselves demon-free.

In Early European culture, a lost tooth was to be buried in order to spare the child from hardships in the next life.

Centuries ago in Europe, it's tradition for a baby tooth to be buried in the ground. This can help keep a witch from gaining possession of the tooth, allowing her to put a curse on the child. When more people migrated to America, there was a limited amount of dirt in cities. Eventually the ritual transitioned to putting a tooth under the child's pillow.

In Russia, Spain, and many Asian countries, a mouse would creep into a child's room and remove their baby teeth.

The Viking children would trade a tooth in, when later the teeth were strung together to make jewelry. Wearing a child's tooth supposedly brought power and good luck when in battle.

Many of the population believe a "Tooth Mouse" will come collect a child's tooth and leave a treat or prize behind for the child who lost their baby tooth.

In other parts of the world, many mothers would hide a child's tooth from animals. It was believed if an animal found the tooth, an animal tooth would grow in the child's mouth.

All over the world, there are different traditions of what to do with a child's tooth, after it has fallen out. Take a look at a few more ways to dispose of teeth, according to rituals:

-Throw tooth into the sun.
-Burn the tooth in a fire.
-Toss the tooth backwards between the legs.
-Throw it onto the roof of a dwelling.
-Put the tooth inside a tree or wall.

Now that you know about all the different Tooth Fairy traditions around the world, you can share your new-found knowledge with your kids. It can be a fun way to learn about different cultures, as well as promote proper oral care. As your children start to lose teeth, remind them of the importance of taking care of the teeth they have. Remember to brush twice each day, floss once every day, and monitor the sugar intake of your little ones. The best dentist near Springfield, Missouri is here for all of your oral care needs - give us a call at 877-DENTIST to set up and appointment for your kids today!

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

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

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Oral Care Tips for Summer

Summer is almost here! With the kids out of school and their schedules out of the ordinary, oral care may start to slip. Get a grip on your entire families' dental care routines and keep those smiles on track, during the summer months. Your trusted dentist in southern Missouri is here for all of your dental needs. From a routine check up to an emergency dental repair, we service all the dental needs for your entire family! Take a look at how you can help keep your family on track this summer, when it comes to oral health.

Schedule a Check Up

With a number of students out of school this summer, it's a great time to schedule your child's dental check up. This is a convenient way to knock out a visit to the dentist without having to miss any school! A dental visit should be performed at least once every six months - why not get that accomplished while the kids are free this summer? It can be helpful to schedule your dental appointment for the same time, that way you don't have to make two trips to visit us!

Think Healthy Foods

With the youngsters out of school, it can be tempting to keep junk food around for easy to eat and tasty treats. These types of foods are usually loaded with unnecessary sugars and processed foods. The added sugar can build up on your child's teeth, causing bacteria to attack the tooth. This can often lead to tooth decay. Try to substitute sugar-filled snacks for healthy fruits and vegetables!

Monitor Oral Care Routines

With later nights and routines a little different than the school year, it's important that your kids are still brushing their teeth twice each day. After playing outside all day, they may crash during the evenings - make sure they brush their teeth before heading to bed. It's also important that everyone in your family floss between their teeth once each day! This can help remove any built up bacteria and food particles that get trapped between the teeth.

Avoid Dental Emergencies

With the increase in outdoor activities, the chance of a dental injury does go up. There are some preventative methods that can be taken to help avoid such emergency. Make sure your child wears a mouth guard when playing contact sports, especially in the summer months. Another frequent dental emergency is caused by falling at the pool. Remind your little ones to follow any rules at your local pool - no running and diving in the shallow end, in particular.

You're ready to take on this summer with happy and health smiles all around! Now that you've learned some of the easy ways to keep up with the entire families' oral care routine, you can help promote health oral care. We look forward to serving your family this summer, for all of your oral care needs in southern Missouri. Our dental office offers a number of locations, making it convenient for all dental customers! Access Dental & Dentures wants to help make your families' summer a great one!

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

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

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Everyday Habits That Damage Your Teeth

Do you think you take pretty good care of your teeth? You brush twice each day and floss on a daily basis... but you may still be causing damage to your pearly whites. There are a number of everyday habits that can potentially damage your tooth's enamel and your mouth as a whole. Your trusted dentist in southern Missouri has provided some of the things you should avoid! Take a look below to ensure you're taking care of your pearly whites.

Eat Foods with High Acidic Level

Especially in the summer months, there are plenty of tasty treats filled with acid. From pineapples to oranges to lemons, it's important to monitor your acidic food intake. This acid can get onto your teeth and start wearing down your enamel, the protective layer on your teeth.

Chew on Ice

If you crunch on ice in your drink, it's a habit that you should try to break right away. Consider drinking beverages with already crushed ice or no ice at all. Chewing on ice can lead to chipping in teeth or cracking a tooth, which can be very painful.

Biting Your Nails

While biting your nails is mainly though as being hindering your fingernails, it can also damage your mouth and teeth. Aside from the excess bacteria found under your fingernail (which you're putting in your mouth), the hard substance can cause damage to your pearly whites.

Nervous Chewing Habits

If you tend to chew on pens or other objects when bored or nervous, this is a great time to start breaking that bad habit. The foreign objects in your mouth can cause damage, because it is not intended to chew on. From chipping teeth to cracking sealants, there are a number of ways chewing on objects can cause damage to your mouth.

Brush Teeth Too Hard

While brushing your teeth is very important, brushing too hard can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Try to apply pressure lightly, when brushing your teeth. Pressing the bristles into your teeth and gums can damage the enamel on your teeth and cause your gums to bleed.

Use Teeth as a Tool

Opening objects with your teeth is a no-no! Teeth are intended to chew food, not open cans or bags of food, or anything else that you may use them for. Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing your food, to avoid chipping or cracking a tooth!

Drink Sugary-Filled Beverages

Many Americans indulge in a can or more of soda each day. While this may be though of as a treat, it's no treat for your mouth. The added sugar combines with bacteria naturally found in your mouth, clinging to your teeth and wearing away at the enamel layer that protects your smile.

Grinding Teeth at Night

If you grind your teeth, it actually wears down the surface of your tooth. It's important to stop this habit as soon as possible to avoid further tooth damage due to the constant grinding. Mouth appliances can be worn to avoid tooth grinding against tooth.

Now that you know what habits to avoid, you can start taking better care of your teeth. It's important that you take care of your pearly whites, after all you only get one set of permanent teeth in your lifetime. If you do happen to damage a tooth, Access Dental & Dentures has a number of solutions for you. We even offer custom-fit dentures for the feel and appearance of natural teeth, should you need it. Whether you have a chipped tooth or missing teeth, the best dentist in southern MO is here for you! We look forward to helping you and your family smile with pride!

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

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