Do you fear going to the dentist?

Dental anxiety is a legitimate condition, which is why our Lynnwood Dentistry takes lengths to put your fears at ease and make you feel more comfortable throughout your procedure.

It’s been found that a full five percent of the population suffers from a dentist-phobia, even when they themselves recognize the fear as irrational. This causes them to suffer oral pain for weeks before calling a dentist, or lose sleep on the night before an appointment. If you’re one of these people, don’t be afraid. There are ways to overcome your anxiety.

For many patients, their fear springs from a perceived lack of control while they are on the dentist chair. We work to alleviate this by listening to all of your concerns, discussing your procedures with you, and making sure you understand everything that is going on inside your mouth.

Modern Dentistry Technology

Modern technology even allows us to give you a video feed of certain procedures as we perform them, removing the uncertainty that goes with being left in the dark. This serves to mentally prepare most anxious patients, who gradually lose their dentist fear.

Some anxious patients base their fear off of a previous bad experience, probably a severe pain from their childhood visits to the dentist office. To these patients, we offer the assurance that our equipment is the top of the line in the modern dentistry world. Today’s techniques are more sophisticated than when you were young, and likely far more painless.

So don’t continue to live in fear and pain! Make the call to Song Dental, and finally find a friend in your dentist!

Teeth Grinding

Our Lynnwood Dentist sees many patients suffering from excessive tooth grinding, or “bruxism”, as it is known medically. It’s a condition that can seriously compromise your teeth, wearing down their enamel and possibly leading to their destruction if it is allowed to go on for too long. Fortunately, there are many options for dealing with this problem.

Warning Signs of Bruxism

One of the worst things about bruxism is that many people don’t even realize they have it. Perhaps you grind your teeth in your sleep, or simply aren’t aware of it when it’s going on. It’s therefore good to look out for the warning signs: a dull headache or a sore jaw that just won’t go away may mean that it’s time to seek the help of your dentist.

If you have bruxism, you should explore the reasons that might be behind it. It’s frequently brought on by stress, pain, or misaligned teeth. You can discuss these possibilities with your dentist.

Contact Song Dental in Lynnwood

We can offer you tips on how to overcome your condition, special treatment where it is appropriate, and even nocturnal mouth guards to prevent further damage to your teeth.

Contact us for more information on bruxism.

Do you have children in your household? You’re probably taking care of their dental hygiene for them for the first few years of their lives, but eventually they’re going to have to start brushing by themselves.

When this time comes, our Lynnwood Dentistry advises that proper brushing technique requires motor skills and an understanding that may be beyond children under the age of six or seven.

Children may not understand that their teeth aren’t clean just because they don’t see any stains on them. They may not understand that they needs to brush all of their teeth, and not just the front teeth. Maybe your child doesn’t understand that the toothpaste is not supposed to be swallowed like the candy it tastes like. These are all concerns for when your child starts in on his or her own dental hygiene.

Let them Watch and Observe

Until your child is ready, it’s good to let them watch and observe you brushing your own teeth and do some practice brushes under your direction. Give them a pea-sized drop of toothpaste. Guide their hand, and let them watch what they’re doing in the mirror.

Assure that they cover the entire surface area of the teeth: top, front, back, and in between if they’re ready for floss. Teach them the habit of brushing in circular motions, gently scrubbing the gums. Have them brush their tongues, spit, and rinse out with water. In this way your kids can develop the right brushing habits that will serve them well for the rest their lives.

Are you grinding your teeth?

Our Lynnwood dentist can help you get over your problem before it takes its toll on your jaw or tooth structure!

Try following these easy tips to help ease the discomfort:

• Much of the time, grinding is caused by stress.  Identify your stressors, and figure out how to deal with them.
• If you are experiencing any pain in your mouth, this may cause you to grind.  Alert your dentist so he can help you get rid of your pain.
• If you drink alcohol frequently, try cutting back.
• Cut back on your caffeine consumption.
• If you often chew items that are not food, like pencils, candy wrappers, or even gum, your jaw muscles are getting trained to clench.  This might aggravate your grinding problem.
• If you grind during daytime, you can encourage your jaw muscles to relax by holding the tip of your tongue between your teeth.
• If you grind while you sleep, try relaxing your jaw muscles before bedtime.  Hold a warm compress against your cheek for a few minutes before going to sleep.

If you’re still grinding your teeth, clenching your jaw, or experiencing discomfort or pain, talk to our dentist to seek solutions.