What is a Mucocele?

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Some patients will come to our Lynnwood dentistry clinic with concerns about unusual bumps or discolorations in their mouths. One of these is known as a mucocele. These typically manifest as a small, round bump, between two and ten millimeters in diameter, either pearly white or light bluish in color. They may appear anywhere on the inside of your bottom lip, on your gums, or on the roof or floor of your mouth.

Mucoceles are the result of a salivary duct getting blocked or damaged. Maybe you experienced some trauma on your face, or maybe you have a habit of biting or sucking on your lip or cheek too much. The good news is that they’re generally painless and harmless, and will likely go away without treatment, but your dentist can help you if they start to grow or become bothersome.

Protect Your Child from Thrush!

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Thrush is a fungal condition caused by the candida fungus. It can afflict people of any age, though it is most common as an infection of the mouth in infants and toddlers. You can help to protect yourself and your little one from this painful condition by taking the following advice from your Lynnwood dental clinic:

What you need to understand about the candida fungus is that it is generally going to be present in your mouth at any time, though it is largely kept under control by your saliva. This is why stress, smoking, medication, and other forces that cause dry mouth can allow the fungus to flourish. If you can keep such factors managed in your own life, you are less likely to spread an infection to your vulnerable infant.

Aside from this, it’s mostly a matter of general dental care; observe proper oral hygiene with your child, limit his or her intake of sugary or yeast-heavy food, and take him or her in for regular dentist appointments. Should all else fail and your child end up with thrush, please contact Song Dental Center.

Is Baking Soda a Good Substitute for Toothpaste?

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Some people like to use baking soda as an alternative to toothpaste. Indeed, some toothpastes even advertise that they contain baking soda, so what could the harm be? If you’re wondering whether or not baking soda actually can serve as a viable substitute for your regular toothpaste, our Lynnwood dental clinic has the answer.

In truth, you can get a lot out of a baking soda that you need from a toothpaste. It’s good at neutralizing acids, killing microbes, and scrubbing harmful plaque off of your teeth. The big problem with straight baking soda is that it is fairly abrasive, compared to a proper toothpaste. So, while it may serve well in a pinch, you would do well to not make habitual use of baking soda.

Meanwhile, baking soda toothpastes give you the benefits of baking soda without all of the same abrasiveness. These products represent a good option for your teeth, and one that many shoppers appreciate for their thorough cleaning, their low price, and the fresh feeling they leave behind in your mouth.

The Right Lipstick for a Dazzling Set of Teeth

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Are you looking to bring out the best in your smile? Our Lynnwood Dentistry offers many options for making your teeth their whitest, but sometimes you need a quicker fix. Fortunately, even if your teeth have lost a bit of their luster and you don’t have the time to give them a good whitening, you can make good use of your normal cosmetics to create the illusion of a dazzlingly white smile.

If you wear lipstick, try choosing a color that enhances the whiteness and brightness of your smile. For these purposes, a lipstick with a base color of either pink or blue is the best. Other colors can detract from the look you’re going for, bringing about a darker and duller appearance in your teeth.

The Embarrassing Effects of Dry Mouth

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Dry mouth affects you in many ways, some of the most important involving the health of your teeth. In case this isn’t enough of an incentive to deal with your dry mouth, our Lynnwood dental clinic would like to remind you of a few side effects of the condition that may appeal to your vanity.

First of all, a dry mouth is probably going to come with a dry face. When your mouth doesn’t have adequate saliva, you can expect that the moisture is also going to be leaving the surrounding skin. Be on the lookout for wrinkles and cracks around the lips, possibly with no small amount of chapping.

If you’re hoping to cover up these flaws with lipstick, think again: a dry mouth is less able to flush away stains, including those brought on by your cosmetics. This is why you might expect to see more lipstick showing up on your teeth while you suffer from dry mouth. Tackle these problems at the source, and consult your dentist on ways you can deal with your low saliva levels.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Just like any other respectable dentist, Song’s Lynnwood Dentistry recommends regular dental x-rays. These x-rays, often called “radiographs”, are a valuable way of detecting cavities, surveying injuries, monitoring erupting teeth or planning for orthodontic work. It’s natural that some people may worry about the radiation that this process may expose them to, but we can assure you that this is a safe and essential part of your oral care.

Though there has been a lot of concern about the supposed cancer risks of older x-ray machines, recent developments assure that your child is exposed to a very small degree of radiation. We make use of modern digital radiograph technology, which is able to filter out unnecessary x-rays and focus the beam entirely upon where it is necessary. Coupling this with the lead shielding we provide, any risk you may experience is reduced to a negligible level. Indeed, it is far riskier to not have regular dental x-rays taken.

If you have any further questions about dental radiographs, please consult our Lynnwood dentistry clinic.

The Trouble with Thumb-Sucking

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Many parents come to our Lynnwood Dentistry with concerns about their child’s thumb-sucking. Indeed, habitual sucking can cause teeth to come in crooked, which may eventually call for costly orthodontia work. You should encourage your child to stop sucking on thumbs or pacifiers before his or her permanent teeth start to come in. Most children will give up the habit by themselves between the ages of two and four, but if they persist beyond this point you might need to intervene.

Many children suck on their thumbs to comfort themselves in times of insecurity. Explore what may be causing their anxiety and help them address these issues. You can also keep your child mindful of the habit by putting a bandage around the thumb, or putting socks over his or her hands during the night.

Your dentist can also be instrumental in helping to kick the sucking habit as well. A dental professional can gently advise your child on the possible consequences of thumb-sucking, and problem cases can be given a special product to avert serious damage. Talk to your Lynnwood dentist today for more about your child’s problem.

What is Pulp Therapy?

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

A lot of people look at their teeth and see only hard, bone-like growths in their mouths. These people are surprised to discover that, within the thick white structure of the tooth, there is a node of soft, vulnerable flesh. This is the pulp of the tooth, and this is the part of your tooth which repairs the tooth and keeps it healthy. When this pulp is threatened, it’s up to your Lynnwood Dentistry to save it through the use of pulp therapy.

The most common reasons for needing pulp therapy are severe cavities and injuries to the teeth. These can cause the outer structure of the tooth to break enough such that bacteria can attack the delicate pulp inside, and if this isn’t addressed it could cause the tooth to die. Pulp therapy involves going into the damaged tooth, removing the diseased pulp tissue, disinfecting the area, and sealing up the break. For more on pulp therapy, consult your dentist.