Promote Good Brushing Habits with your Children

Many parents do not know that childrens's teeth must be cleaned as soon as they start coming in. What they also may not know is that traditional toothbrushes may not be safe for toddlers to use themselves because they can be over inserted in the mouth or even swallowed.

Today, safer toddler toothbrushes are available that prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria. Using toddler toothbrushes can help children establish good oral heath habits at an early age.

It's never too early for parents to encourage their youngsters to start using toddler toothbrushes. "As soon as they are reaching frabbing for things, they are ready for it," says Academy of General Dentistry spokerperson Bob Roesch, DDS, MAGD. "It familiarizes children with having a toothbrush in their mouths, and they like to mimic their parents."

If you would like to make appointment with Dr. Loyce Jones, please contact our office.
http:www.loycejonesdental.com

Whitening Your Teeth

At COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE, Dr. Loyce Jones, feels there is nothing quite like a patient that is happy with their smile. TOOTH WHITENING, is just one great way to begin the process of getting that smile you always wanted.  Our philosophy on whitening might surprise you .

Did you know that most of our patients can have whiter teeth by just using an over the counter product?  Crest white strips is our favorite over the counter product.  If you are current with your dental care, and your dentist and hygienist have offered you whitening, you can always try Crest White strips to see if they meet your needs. 

Most often the type of whitening a patient chooses is based in their wants and needs.  Crest white strips have a multitude of styles and shapes.  You just pick the one that suits you. The reason we recommend Crest White Strips is because they use the products we use in our office to whiten your teeth, just at a much lower dosage.  It might take 1-3 boxes to whiten at the level you would like but give it a try.  THE BIG “BUT”- to using an over the counter product is you must consult your dentist first. We will let you know if there is any reason you cannot whiten (ie infection, nursing, pregnant, tooth colored fillings or crowns, etc.)

OKAY what other ways can you whiten? 

The most common way to whiten in a dental office is by having custom whitening trays made. This means you have upper and lower impressions made of your teeth, then our staff will make soft rubber trays to fit you.  This takes two appointments, 1. Impressions  2. Delivery of the trays and whitening solution and instructions.  Most patients that choose this method wear the trays when they sleep at night, or for 2-4 hours during the day.  Wearing the trays 2-4 hours gives the solutions time to work.  Most patients use the trays for 2-3 weeks depending on how white you want your teeth.  REMEMBER- the good thing about all whitening techniques is you can most often titrate, or pick the level of whitening.  You will be seeing your dentist regularly to monitor your whitening and answering any questions and they can help you decide what is a safe amount of whitening.

Dry Mouth

Almost everyone’s mouth is dry sometimes. But if you feel like you have cotton in your mouth constantly, it may be time for treatment.

Dry mouth, known medically as xerostomia, occurs when you don’t have enough saliva, or spit, in your mouth.

Feeling stressed can trigger dry mouth temporarily. But a persistently dry mouth may signal an underlying disease or condition, so it’s important to see your doctor, says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates products that relieve dry mouth.

And because dry mouth can lead to tooth decay, you should see your dentist, too, says John V. Kelsey,
D.D.S., of FDA’s Division of Dermatology and Dental Products.

Dry mouth may make it difficult to speak, chew, and swallow, and may alter the taste of your food. It can also cause a sore throat, hoarseness, and bad breath.

Dry mouth can affect people of any age, but older people are especially vulnerable. “It’s not a normal consequence of aging,” says Kelsey. “Older people may take multiple medications that can cause dry mouth.”

According to the Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America, dry mouth is a side effect of more than 400 prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, and high blood pressure medicines.
Other causes of dry mouth include:

• cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation of the head or neck
• hormone changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy or menopause
• health problems, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Sjögren’s syndrome, a disease in which a person’s immune system attacks the body’s tissues, including moisture-producing glands
• snoring or breathing open-mouthed

References: This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page⁹, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.