Caught a cold or flu? Don’t let your oral health take a backseat. At Family 1st Dental, your well-being is our priority, even during sickness. Here’s how you can maintain your oral hygiene while under the weather, with insights from our Dentist in Hartington.

1. Brush After Every Meal: Illness can create a breeding ground for bacteria in your mouth. Stick to a routine of brushing shortly after each meal to minimize germ multiplication. Our Dentist in Hartington emphasizes the importance of this practice to keep your smile healthy, even when you’re feeling under the weather.

2. Choose Sugar-Free Options for Cough Drops and Lozenges: Many cough drops and lozenges contain sugar, which can contribute to tooth decay. Opt for sugar-free alternatives to protect your dental health. Our Dentist in Hartington advises patients to be selective with throat soothers to maintain optimal oral hygiene during illness.

3. Rinse Thoroughly After Vomiting: Stomach acids from vomiting can damage your teeth, but brushing immediately afterward can worsen the situation. Instead, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash and wait at least 20 minutes before brushing. Our Dentist in Hartington recommends this approach to minimize acid exposure to your teeth.

4. Stay Hydrated with Water: Proper hydration is essential for recovery and oral health. Drinking water helps prevent dry mouth, which can lead to decay and bad breath. Our Dentist in Hartington advises patients to stay hydrated, especially if medications used to treat cold or flu symptoms contribute to dry mouth.

5. Replace Your Toothbrush After Recovery: Once you’ve overcome illness, consider replacing your toothbrush. While reinfection is unlikely, it’s a precautionary measure recommended by the American Dental Association. Our Dentist in Hartington suggests replacing your toothbrush every three to four months to maintain optimal oral hygiene.

Prioritize Your Oral Health with Family 1st Dental: Even when you’re feeling under the weather, it’s essential to prioritize your oral health. Your medications and remedies can impact your dental well-being, so be mindful of sugar content and stay hydrated. For personalized oral health tips or to schedule a visit to our office in Hartington, contact us today. Your smile deserves the best care, even during illness.

Amidst the sniffles and coughs, maintaining your oral health might not be top of mind. However, at Family 1st Dental, we understand the importance of prioritizing your dental care even during illness. Here are some unique tips from our Dentist in Hartington to help you stay on top of your oral hygiene while battling a cold or flu.

1. Brush After Each Meal: During illness, your mouth can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It’s crucial to stick to a routine of brushing your teeth shortly after each meal. By being extra diligent with your brushing, you can minimize the growth of germs and bacteria, promoting faster recovery.

2. Choose Wisely with Cough Drops and Lozenges: Many cough drops and throat lozenges contain sugar, posing a risk to your dental health. Opt for sugar-free alternatives or those without corn syrup and fructose to avoid feeding bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to tooth decay.

3. Rinse Carefully After Vomiting: If illness leads to vomiting, it’s important to protect your teeth from stomach acids. Instead of immediately brushing, which can spread the acids, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water or mouthwash. Wait at least 20 minutes before brushing to prevent further damage.

4. Stay Hydrated with Water: Proper hydration is essential for recovery and maintaining oral health. Drinking water not only aids in flushing out toxins but also prevents dry mouth, which can contribute to decay and bad breath. Be mindful of medications that may cause dry mouth and increase your water intake accordingly.

5. Replace Your Toothbrush: After recovering from illness, consider replacing your toothbrush as a precautionary measure. While the likelihood of reinfection is low, it’s best to err on the side of caution. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months to ensure optimal oral hygiene.

Prioritize Your Oral Health with Family 1st Dental: Don’t let illness derail your oral hygiene routine. At Family 1st Dental, we’re dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy smile, even during challenging times. For more personalized oral health tips or to schedule a visit to our office in Hartington, contact us today. Your smile deserves the best care, especially when you need it most.

White spots on your teeth can be irritating and affect how you feel about your smile. The good news, however, is that they are preventable and rarely cause for concern. Here are things you should know about what causes white spots, how to prevent them, and what options are available should you already have them. 

What causes white spots on teeth? 

1.       Dental Fluorosis – This can happen when a child consumes or is exposed to too much fluoride during the development of their teeth. While undesirable, this is harmless and can happen before teeth even emerge. The most common cause of fluorosis in the US is the use or ingestion of too much toothpaste. 

2.       Poor Dental Hygiene – Forgetting to brush regularly can cause white spots to develop. 

3.       Braces – Wearing braces for an extended time can affect the coloration of your teeth and create white spots.  

4.       Acidic or Sugary Foods – These foods can damage your teeth as well as change the color of their enamel. Rinsing your mouth after you consuming acidic or sugary items can help negate these effects. 

How can I prevent them from appearing? 

Following a proper oral hygiene regimen is the best way to prevent white spots on teeth. Ensure your child uses the correct amount of toothpaste – children under 3 should use a smear the size of a rice grain, and children over 3 should not use more than a pea-sized amount. It is common for children to accidentally swallow or fail to spit out toothpaste, so be sure to supervise your child as they are learning. 

What are options for treatment? 

If you are already dealing with white spots, you have options. Whitening or bleaching can make the coloration of your teeth more uniform. Dental veneers can restore the entire appearance of your teeth, solving not just the problem of white spots. In some cases, topical fluoride or enamel microabrasion upon the white spots themselves can do the trick.  

Our doctor will recommend the optimal solution for treating white spots on your teeth. Contact our office for a consultation today.

Periodontal disease ranges from a mild inflammation of the gum tissues to periodontitis, a major oral disease that can result in soft tissue and bone damage. Periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States.  

One of the major causes of gum disease is practicing poor oral hygiene habits. Daily brushing and flossing and regular professional exams and cleanings are essential to maintaining optimal oral health. When these practices are not followed, plaque can form on the teeth and along the gumline. If this plaque is not properly removed, it may harden over time and become tartar. Once that occurs, only a dental professional can remove the tartar from teeth. 

If gum disease is not treated in a timely manner, tartar may continue to build unchecked. When this occurs, the gum disease may advance to gingivitis. In this stage, gums redden, swell, and become prone to bleeding from normal activities, such as brushing or eating. Some other common symptoms include: chronic halitosis (bad breath), sensitive teeth, and difficulty or pain with chewing. At this point, professional periodontal treatment is needed to prevent the gingivitis from advancing to periodontitis. 

When gingivitis is not treated in time, it may become periodontitis. Periodontitis is the most advanced form of periodontal disease. With periodontitis, gums begin to pull away from the teeth, creating small “pockets” along the gumline. These spaces are highly difficult to clean without professional intervention and can lead to rapid worsening in overall oral health. Without prompt and thorough treatment, bone, gums, and soft tissues may be destroyed by periodontitis. 

Some of the most common factors that contribute to periodontal disease developing include poor oral hygiene habits, diabetes, smoking, and hormonal changes in women. Some medications can cause gum tissue to grow abnormally, which can increase difficulty in proper cleaning of the teeth. People who are receiving treatment for AIDS are also at increased risk of developing periodontal disease. 

Many recent studies have found that untreated periodontal disease may negatively impact other aspects of your overall health, especially for patients with cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Periodontal disease can also increase the risk of developing certain pregnancy complications, such as low birth weight or premature birth. 

Our doctor has the training and experience to diagnose and treat every stage of periodontal disease. If you have symptoms of periodontal disease, contact our office to schedule a consultation.