Where is the Sugar Hiding?

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Hidden Sugars

You probably have a pretty good idea of what causes tooth decay. We don’t need to tell you that candy, bubblegum, and soda are among your mouth’s biggest enemies. Unfortunately, this isn’t the end of the story. Our Lynnwood Dentistry advises that you keep an eye out for some of the more unknown sources of sugar in your diet.

Sugar in Fruits

Some people assume that food that is healthy for your body is also okay on your teeth, but this is not always the case. Fruit, though highly nutritious, is one of the sneaker sources of sugar. They represent a great source of important vitamins and fiber, but even all-natural, organic fruit can be just as sugary as certain candies. This is especially true in the case of dried fruit and real fruit juices.

Other unlikely tooth rotters can show up in your medicine cabinet. Many medicinal items, particularly cough drops or gummy vitamins, are packed with sugar. A minute or two of sucking on a cough drop can be pretty rough on your mouth. Try to remember to rinse out with water.

The Importance of a Good Mouth Guard

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Mouth Guards and Injuries

Our Lynnwood Dentistry may recommend that people who participate in contact sports, and even certain non-contact sports, wear mouth guards. A proper guard offers important protection against crippling dental injuries. Mouth guards are also used while sleeping, commonly known as nightguards.

Even children at a “pee wee” level, where injuries may be less likely, should get started on mouth guards if only to become accustomed to them. They can take some getting used to, but if an athlete starts wearing them at a young age, they will quickly start feeling as natural as any other piece of equipment.

Mouth Guards & Nightguards

Whether if it’s used for sports or while sleeping, there are several options available when it comes to mouth guards. Remember that the quality of protection that you get is going to match the quality of the product you are putting into your mouth. The cheapest mouth guards are not made to fit the unique shape of your teeth and are therefore less comfortable and less protective.

Contact Song Dental in Lynnwood

“Boil and bite” nightguards are an inexpensive way to custom-fit a guard to your teeth, but these can be unreliable and difficult to use. The best way to assure that you’re getting the most beneficial mouth guard is through a dentist. The custom mouth guards we offer are safe, thin, and comfortable. Please contact our dentist in Lynnwood for more information.

When You Lose a Filling

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Lost Dental Filling

Despite all the advances in dental care, fillings are never completely invulnerable. A filling will occasionally pop out, possibly after taking a sharp impact, possibly while you are chewing on a sticky food, and maybe for no discernible reason at all. If this happens, it’s important to alert your Lynnwood dentistry clinic as soon as you can in order to replace this filling and protect the fragile insides of your tooth.

If you swallow a filling, do not worry. Modern dental fillings are non-toxic, and should pass from your system harmlessly. However, there are rare cases of a filling going down the windpipe and getting lodged in the lungs; should this happen, you should bring it to the attention of your doctor.

Possible Pre-existing Issues

When you lose a filling, remember that you shouldn’t necessarily blame the taffy that yanked it out or the baseball that knocked it loose. Chances are that there was a pre-existing issue with your filling; maybe you have some decay underneath the filling that let it fall out. With this in mind, you can look at your lost filling as a sign that it’s time to address what might have been a more serious problem in the future.

Why are my Teeth Sensitive?

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Some people come to our Lynnwood dentist with concerns about sensitive teeth. It’s a tricky problem, as sensitivity could just as easily be caused by insufficient dental hygiene and surprisingly, it could be caused by too much dental hygiene.

Cause of Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is generally caused by either receding gums, tooth decay or worn tooth enamel. Many people experience tooth sensitivity when they drink hot or cold beverages such as coffee or iced drinks.

Brushing too little invites infection, and brushing hard and too much strips away fragile gum tissues. Unfortunately, you can also expect some sensitivity arising from using antibacterial mouthwashes, teeth whiteners, and other products that are meant to benefit your teeth.

You can even expect some brief sensitivity after a routine dentist appointment and dental procedures such as a dental filling or a dental implant. Sensitivity after a procedure should be temporary.

Talk to our Dentist at Song Dental

If the sensitivity doesn’t go away after a dental procedure or you’re concerned, please contact our dental clinic so our team can take a look. There may be ways to change your dental routine in order to be less harsh on your gums and better habits to take care of your oral health.

What is Fluoride?

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You’ve probably heard the word “fluoride” before. It’s found in a lot of dental products, including many used at our Lynnwood Dentistry. But what is fluoride? Where does it come from, how does it help your teeth, and how do you know if you’re getting enough of it?

Tooth Enamel

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral, found throughout the Earth’s crust and dispersed widely across nature. It’s important to your teeth because it reinforces your tooth enamel, keeping agents of tooth decay from penetrating into the more vulnerable reaches within and causing cavities. This enamel is routinely compromised by acids in the food you eat and other similar forces, so a proper application of fluoride is necessary to keep it healthy and strong.

It is for this reason that fluoride is popular in toothpaste, mouthwash, and even some varieties of floss. US cities even took on the practice of fluoridating their drinking water after discovering that cities with naturally fluoridated water had up to two thirds fewer cavities.

If your drinking water is fluoridated, a common fluoride toothpaste is probably all you need to give you your recommended level of fluoride. If you’re in doubt as to whether you live in an area with fluoridated water, try calling your local water district.

Why Baby Teeth Matter

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Patients who have children often wonder when they should bring them in for their first visit to our Lynnwood Dentistry. After all, how important is dental care when you don’t have any permanent teeth yet? Surprising as it may be, your child’s baby teeth (or “primary teeth”) have a powerful impact on his or her life, and poor oral hygiene at a young age may have tooth-shattering consequences long after this first set of not-so-pearly-whites has been replaced.

Child’s Primary Teeth

A child’s primary teeth, after all, are his or her mouth’s “training wheels”. If you learn how to take care of these teeth at a young age, you’re far more likely to retain these habits later in life. Meanwhile, these teeth are playing an important role in developing proper chewing habits, speech habits, and self-esteem, all of which can be catastrophically harmed if tooth decay plagues your child with a crooked or painful bite.

Further, there is the occasional case of a baby tooth that simply does not have a permanent tooth growing beneath it. Your child may have to hang on to a primary tooth well into his or her adult years and, as fragile as these teeth are, they need all the help they can get.

First Dental Visit

It’s generally advised that you bring your child in for a first dental visit around his or her first birthday. Bring your young ones to Song’s Lynnwood dental center, and give them the gift of a healthy smile that will last a lifetime.

Looking Out for Oral Cancer

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Oral Cancer Screening

When you get your teeth examined at our Lynnwood Dentistry, we’re also on the lookout for oral cancer.  This represents any cancerous developments on your lips, inside your cheeks, on your tongue, on the floor of your mouth or on your hard palate.

In addition to our efforts, there is also a lot you can be doing at home to look out for malignant growths between your regular dental visits.

Possible Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Keep the following symptoms in mind, and call us immediately if you think you are in danger:

  • Strange lumps, swelling, crusts, roughness, or eroded areas on your lips or anywhere inside your mouth.
  • Lumps in your neck.
  • Velvety red or white patches in your mouth, or a speckled white and red patch.
  • Unusual bleeding in your mouth.
  • A sore throat, or a sensation that you have something caught in the back of your throat.
  • Numbness or loss of feeling in your face, neck, mouth, or ear.
  • Unexplained pain or tenderness in your face, neck, mouth, or ear.
  • Sores in your face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and persist for more than two weeks.
  • Persistent hoarseness.
  • Difficulty swallowing, chewing, or moving your tongue.
  • Slurred speech or changes in your voice.
  • A change in the way your teeth fit together.
  • Inexplicable weight loss.

How To Floss

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Are you flossing correctly?

Many patients of our Lynnwood Dentistry are surprised to discover that their flossing habits are inadequate, and that those elusive between-the-teeth surfaces that don’t feel the benefits of your brush are giving precious ground in the endless battle against tooth decay.

Flossing Tips

If you think that your flossing could use a quick primer, try following these tips:

  • Plan to floss before brushing.  By clearing detritus from between your teeth beforehand, you can gain a maximum benefit from the fluoride of your toothpaste.
  • First, draw a length of floss about eighteen inches long.  This may come out to the length of your forearm.  Wind either end around your index fingers until you are holding a two-inch length between your hands.
  • Gently guide this length between each of your teeth, including the space between your back teeth and gums.  Pull it into a “V” shape against either side of the teeth to assure that all surfaces are being cleaned.
  • Take care to not saw at your gums.  If your flossing habits have not been good in the past, you may experience a little pain and bleeding until your tissues strengthen.

If you have any further questions about flossing, consult our Lynnwood dental center.