tooth decay | Queen City Dental Arts

What Is Your Mouth’s Love Language?

bpadmin (lorna.goodman) — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 07:51:22 +0000

It’s the time of year when we show love to all of our friends and family by giving them cards, flowers, chocolates … however you show them that you care. But what do you do to show your mouth love? Well, there are lots of things that you can do to show your mouth that you care.

1) Brush: It seems obvious, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Dr. Stenvall recommends that we all brush our teeth for a full two minutes, twice a day, every day. It doesn’t matter if you have a manual toothbrush or a fancy electric toothbrush. As long as they are used properly, both can do a good job. Make sure to angle the bristles at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line and get the front and back of every tooth.

2) Floss: It may not be everyone’s love language, but it doesn’t mean it’s not important. We recommend flossing daily. It can be in the morning or at night, in the shower, in front of the TV, whatever is easier for your routine that makes it something that you will remember to do! C-shape flossing is the best (flossing down the sides of each tooth), but if you only have floss picks, they are better than not flossing at all. Believe it or not, if you aren’t flossing, you’re actually not cleaning one-third of the surface of your teeth. People who do not floss regularly are at higher risk of getting cavities between their teeth.

3) Fluoride: Dr. Stenvall recommends using a toothpaste that has fluoride in it. The outer part of the tooth, or enamel, uses fluoride to re-mineralize, so if you are consistently exposing your teeth to fluoride, weakened areas of the enamel can actually go away. Some mouthwashes have fluoride in them as well; look on the bottle for ones that say “fluoride rinse.” Not all “antiseptic rinses” are created equal.

4) Regular checkups: We recommend that everyone come in for routine checkups every six months (3-4 months if you have ever had periodontal treatment). Even if everything is feeling fine, there may be issues starting that need to be addressed. Dr. Stenvall always recommends being proactive rather than reactive. If there’s an issue that can be fixed early, it’s always better to have a small filling than to end up with pain once the cavity gets larger.

5) A healthy diet: Try to limit the number of snacks and time spent sipping throughout the day. We know that a caffeinated drink in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up is critical in surviving some days, but try not to sip them for hours. The more often we eat or drink, the more acidic the environment of our mouth is, and the more susceptible to decay are your teeth. Healthy snacks are those that don’t get stuck in our teeth, like fruit, vegetables, nuts, cheese and yogurt. Things that are sticky and sweet or things like chips and cookies that can get lodged between your teeth will be more likely to cause cavities. Of course, water is always the best option as far as drinks are concerned.

We often forget to love ourselves when it comes to showing love to the important people in our lives but remember that, through some simple steps, you are showing yourself love by taking care of your oral health. If you ever have any concerns, Dr. Meghan Stenvall and the Queen City Dental Arts team are always here to help!

The post What Is Your Mouth’s Love Language? first appeared on Queen City Dental Arts.

Secrets to a Healthier Smile with Diabetes: Your Guide to Oral Care

bpadmin (lorna.goodman) — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 07:31:53 +0000

We all know someone with diabetes or may even struggle with diabetes ourselves. We also know that diabetes is a disease that affects our entire body, including our oral health. One of the main challenges of diabetes is controlling blood sugar. People with high blood sugar also have a higher concentration of sugar in their saliva, which puts them at a higher risk of getting cavities since saliva is normally protective of teeth. Higher sugar content in saliva also makes your mouth an environment where it is easier for plaque and bacteria to build up on your teeth. More plaque and bacteria mean you are at a higher risk for periodontal (gum) inflammation or even periodontal disease and bone loss, which can lead to tooth loss.

People with diabetes are also at risk of having decreased saliva (dry mouth or Xerostomia). This can lead to increased risk of tooth decay, ulcers, sores and thrush (burning mouth or tongue). Dry mouth can be caused by uncontrolled blood sugar or simply from the medications that diabetic patients take. Make sure to let Dr. Stenvall know about any changes to your medications which will help her to know what medications she can and can’t prescribe you.

It is even more critical for diabetic patients to be diligent with their oral home care, because of these complications. We recommend our diabetic patients purchase an electric toothbrush and use it twice a day so they can thoroughly and easily keep their teeth clean. Also, maintaining regular hygiene visits at Queen City Dental Arts to help prevent oral problems and to catch any potential problems early before they create any pain or infection.

Keeping your blood sugar levels under control is the most important aspect in maintaining overall wellness when you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Your HgA1C (Hemoglobin A1C) is the best way to determine the stability of your long-term blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar is well-controlled, your A1C will most likely be below 7%. Higher A1C may cause poor healing in patients. Let our team at QCDA know if your diabetes is uncontrolled. You will want to postpone any surgical procedures until your blood sugar is more stable unless you have an acute dental infection that needs to be addressed right away. Be sure to follow any post-op instructions closely to prevent any complications after you go home.

Prevention is always the best policy! Do your best to keep your mouth clean at home by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Work with your doctor on maintaining controlled blood sugar and if you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Reach out to Dr. Stenvall and the Queen City Dental Arts team if you have any questions about diabetes and how it may affect you and your oral health!

The post Secrets to a Healthier Smile with Diabetes: Your Guide to Oral Care first appeared on Queen City Dental Arts.

Sports Drinks: How Good Are They?

bpadmin (lorna.goodman) — Mon, 29 May 2023 17:33:23 +0000

You get up early to get in a work-out before your kids wake up and start the hectic morning routine to get out the door. Then you’re at work for 8 hours before you drive to sports practices, make dinner and do all the other things required of your day before you finally fall into bed just to do it again the next day. It’s no wonder many of us turn to energy drinks to get us through the day!

Studies actually show that young adults are the highest consumers of energy drinks, with 34% of males between the age of 18 and 24 drinking energy drinks on a regular basis. While they do provide a quick boost of energy, they also can wreak havoc on teeth. Many energy drinks contain a high amount of sugar. Some contain up to 55 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 14 teaspoons of sugar, and almost twice as much as the recommended daily allowance! Any food that contains sugar will contribute to tooth decay and the more frequently your teeth are exposed to sugar, the risk of decay increases. So if you’re someone who sips on energy drinks or drinks multiple energy drinks in one day, remember that you’re increasing the risk of getting cavities!

Energy drinks, even the sugar free varieties, are also highly acidic. By creating an acidic environment, energy drinks cause the protective enamel layer of teeth to be more susceptible to eroding. When the enamel is damaged or weakened, teeth are more prone to bacteria creating cavities, which can ultimately cause sensitivity and pain.

The best solution is not to drink energy drinks at all, but if you do, make sure you limit yourself to one. Drinking some water afterwards can help to reduce the sugar and acid on your teeth as well. Chewing sugar-free gum after you drink an energy drink can also help to promote saliva production, thereby protecting your teeth.

Dr. Stenvall and the Queen City Dental Arts team in Charlotte, NC, are always ready to answer your questions about energy drinks and the health of your teeth. Please give us a call today at 704-542-6533 with your questions and concerns. We are here to help you maintain your healthy, beautiful smile!

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Why Take Dental X-Rays on a Child?

bpadmin (lorna.goodman) — Mon, 01 May 2023 20:41:11 +0000

There would be no need for dental X-rays if all dental issues existed above the gum line. However, this is simply not the case. Damage, decay and infections that cannot be seen by the naked eye are only visible on X-rays. Dental X-rays are the only way to get a complete view of your child’s mouth. It is important to see how permanent teeth are developing before we can see them in the mouth. We require all children (and adults) to wear a lead apron with a thyroid collar when X-rays are taken in our office. Digital X-rays take less than one second and use up to 90% less radiation than traditional film that is still used in some dental offices today.

At Queen City Dental Arts, you and your child’s safety is our first concern when giving you the best dental care possible! Our general and emergency dentist, Dr. Meghan Stenvall and team in Charlotte, North Carolina, are here to help! We invite you to give us a call today at 704-542-6533 to learn more or to schedule a dental visit.

The post Why Take Dental X-Rays on a Child? first appeared on Queen City Dental Arts.

Why “Fix” Baby Teeth?

bpadmin (lorna.goodman) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:51:50 +0000

So often we think of “baby” or primary teeth as not being important. However, the complete opposite is actually true! Remember, those primary teeth are holding everything in place and preparing the mouth for the permanent or “adult” teeth that will come in later. If primary teeth are lost too early, due to decay or other reasons, your child’s smile loses that space holder. Permanent teeth can then come in misplaced or misaligned. Also, if a primary tooth is left untreated with ongoing decay, it can cause infection, which can then cause damage to the permanent, unerupted tooth coming in behind it. So even though these primary teeth will eventually fall out, you still want to make sure to take care of any current cavities on those baby teeth!

Our Queen City Dental Arts team is here to help your child’s smile develop properly for a healthier smile down the road. Our dedicated dentist, Dr. Meghan Stenvall is more than happy to evaluate your child’s dental health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and provide the dental care they need to keep their primary teeth healthy and in place. Please us a call today at 704-542-6533 with any questions or concerns you have regarding your child’s growing smile!

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