Caring for Teeth While Wearing Braces

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Braces can make your normal tooth care routine difficult. Wire braces offer food and bacteria more places to hide from your brushing, making brushing and flossing all the more essential. Your orthodontist should provide you with a special flosser to use around your braces if you need it. You may also want to schedule more check-ups with our Lynnwood Dentistry for as long as you have braces.

If you have braces that can be routinely taken out, you should always remove them before eating. If your braces can’t be removed, it is best to steer clear of foods that can stick to or damage them. Hard, gummy, and chewy candy is out, as is popcorn and gum. Sodas and sugary juices are unadvisable as well.

Some pain is to be expected as your teeth adjust to the braces. In this event, simple painkillers should be enough to help you cope. All the same, you should be aware of any poking or scratching sensations in your mouth that may be the result of a broken wire; damaged braces should be brought to your orthodontist as soon as possible.

The Dangers of Mouth-Breathing

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Do you have a child who habitually breathes through his or her mouth? This is fairly common. About half of all children under the age of eight do some degree of mouth-breathing. If he or she hasn’t grown out of the habit by the age of eight, though, it might be wise to bring this to the attention of your Lynnwood dental clinic.

One of the problems that comes with mouth breathing is that it dries up your mouth. Your mouth requires saliva to protect it against harmful bacteria and fungus, so a lack of sufficient moisture can invite serious problems to your teeth and gums. People with dry mouths are highly prone to tooth decay, gum disease, and other such conditions. Stay on the lookout for mouth-breathing and save your child’s mouth!

Protect Your Baby from Bottle Mouth!

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Our Lynnwood dental center wants your little ones to get a good start on their teeth, and there are few greater threats to an infant’s oral health than bottle mouth. The good news is that it’s an easy enough condition to avoid, if you’re aware of it, so simply follow these easy guidelines and you’ll save your baby from serious, catastrophic tooth decay.

The term “bottle mouth” comes from the fact that it generally arises from misuse of a bottle. Sometimes babies can fall asleep while drinking from bottles, and this causes the sugary substance within to pool in their mouths and linger for far longer than it should. As the baby sleeps, saliva production drops, so there is very little guarding his or her mouth from rampant decay.

With this in mind, never put your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or any other sugary substance. Pacifiers are a good alternative, as is a bottle of regular water. To learn more about proper dental hygiene for infants, you can consult Song’s Lynnwood dental clinic.

Do You Have Tonsillitis?

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Tonsillitis, or an inflammation of the tonsils, generally represents a viral or bacterial infection in your tonsils.  It can be a condition that requires medical attention, so our Lynnwood dental clinic advises that you be on the lookout for the following warning signs:

  • A pain or tenderness in your throat.
  • A coating of white or yellow on your tonsils.
  • The development of blisters or ulcers in your throat.
  • An inexplicable hoarseness, or a loss of your voice.
  • Headaches.
  • Earaches.
  • A loss of appetite.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Difficulty breathing through the mouth.
  • A swelling in the glands of your neck or jaw.
  • Fevers or chills.
  • Halitosis.

The Proper Way to Store Your Brush

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Your bathroom is not the most sanitary place.  All the same, though, it’s probably the place where you keep your toothbrush.  In order to minimize the amount of bacteria and other unhealthy substances on your brush, try taking the following storage tips from your Lynnwood Dentistry:

  • Store your brush upright, like in a cup or a brush holder.  This will keep the bristles drier, which makes them less bacteria-friendly.

  • Avoid using a toothbrush cover whenever you can.  Bacteria thrive in a cramped, moist environment.

  • Don’t mix with other brushes.  Putting more than one brush in a single cup allows them to exchange bacteria and viruses.  If somebody in your household has gingivitis or a cold sore, they could very well be sharing this problem with you.

  • Watch out for the toilet!  Whenever you flush, the toilet sends a light spray of bacteria and toilet water into the air.  This spray can settle on your toothbrush if you’re not careful.

Mix Up Your Brushing Routine!

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Brushing Your Teeth

When you get your routine check-up at our Lynnwood Dentistry, do you find that you’re developing plaque in the same places over and over again? Maybe you’ve even tried to pay more attention to brushing thoroughly, and you still experience the same plaque growth. If this is the case, the answer to your problem may be as simple as rotating your normal brushing routine.

Humans are creatures of habit, and it’s easy to fall into a strict pattern with your tooth brushing. You probably always start brushing in the same area every time you pick up your brush. This means that the same teeth are always getting your best attention, and you’re only getting to the other parts of your teeth after you’ve grown impatient, diluted your toothpaste, and lost focus on your routine.

To avoid doing this, pay attention to where you begin brushing and try to mix it up. Divide your mouth into four quarters, and focus on starting on a different quarter every morning and night. You may be surprised at the improvement you experience!

What is a Dental Abscess?

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If you get a cavity, you want to get it fixed by our Lynnwood dentistry clinic as soon as possible. Otherwise, you are at risk of developing a debilitating infection that will cause you a lot of pain and grief. This infection is known as a dental abscess.

Cavities and Dental Abscess

The cause of an abscess is the same bacteria that causes cavities. When the cavity penetrates deep enough, the bacteria begins to flourish in the soft tissues and the bones of your face and neck. It manifests itself as a pain in your mouth, face, jaw, or throat region, and can include any of the following symptoms:

  • Redness or swelling in the mouth or face
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Tenderness
  • Pus drainage
  • Difficulty opening your mouth
  • Difficulty swallowing

Should you experience these symptoms, it is time to visit our dentist right away.

Do You Need to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?

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Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are frequently the last teeth to erupt in your mouth, generally appearing as you enter adulthood. Our Lynnwood dental clinic offers wisdom tooth extractions, which are common and simple procedures that many adults have to go through. However, the idea that wisdom teeth must necessarily be removed is a common misconception.

If you have wisdom teeth, consider the impact they have on your mouth. Have they come in crooked? Are they crowding your other teeth, throwing your bite out of alignment or putting strain on your jaw? Finally, how easy is it for you to care for these teeth?

If their position makes brushing and flossing an ordeal, they could quickly turn into a hotbed of bacteria that could ruin your entire mouth. Any of these conditions can make you a candidate for a wisdom tooth removal. If you think you could live comfortably with your wisdom teeth, however, then you may very well be one of the lucky ones.

Call our office to schedule your wisdom tooth extraction, or to explore your options with your wisdom teeth.