Top tips to Maintaining a Healthy Smile over the Holidays

The holiday season is one of the best times of the year for a little self-indulgence, despite the overarching theme of giving. Diets are broken or postponed, and the glass of red wine with friends quickly becomes two or three. Nothing wrong with either of those things, a little extra gratification goes a long way for the spirit, but it’s also important to keep our dental health in mind.

Keeping with your routine: If you’re reading this, you’re probably too old to be given the twice a day brushing lecture, but there are other components to this regimen that many adults forget! Always remember to floss, flossing can add over 6 years to your life span. Flossing prevents gum disease and heart disease. Countering both of these together is what adds to your life expectancy. A great mouthwash can also go a long way in combating turkey breath.

Scheduling your next appointment: The holiday season is the perfect time to get all of your health needs up to date – and that involves scheduling any overdue checkups, dental appointments included. If you can’t make it this side of the calendar year, book your 2016 appointment today and make it your New Year’s resolution to keep it.

Staying away from too many stains: Yes, it’s fine to have an extra treat once and a while, but it’s also important consider the damage it can do to your pearly whites. Whitening treatments, both those at home or in-office, are always a great way to slow the spread of stains and maintain that bright smile, without having to forgo that glass or two of wine. Of course, that extra glass can work against those whitening efforts in the long run, so curb it if you can!

Remember – your teeth and gum health are important, but so is spending time with family and friends during the holiday season. Sharing a bright smile is one sure-fire way to give back to those you love!

Give a Smile, Get a Smile

There’s really nothing better than being able to bring a smile to someone’s

face this holiday season – and in doing so, your smile can be a whole lot brighter!

Sharing in this spirit, Dr. John Dougherty of Artistic Dental introduces, “Give a Smile,

Get a Smile,” the dental practice’s first holiday fundraiser and toy drive.


When you purchase an “Opalescence To Go” mini kit for $25 at Artistic Dental, the

practice will donate $5 directly to the St. Vincent de Paul dental clinic. If you bring in

an unwrapped toy, the kit can be purchased at a discount price of $20 and the toys

will be donated to children of military families. There’s really no shortage of ways to

help out, give back, and receive a whiter smile in return!


The “Opalescence To Go” mini kit is a professional teeth whitening at-home system

that includes three UltraFit trays to whiten and brighten smiles for the holidays and

beyond. They know their stuff, and have been the leader in teeth whitening for over

20 years. Already have a winning smile? Have that one last gift to find for the

compulsive coffee drinker or wine lover? These kits make amazing stocking stuffers!

If you have any further questions on the kit or toy drive please call our office on

(602) 840-5400.


Wish you a happy holiday season!

The Benefits of Tongue Scraping

Many times, we go to the dentist with the idea that our oral health is focused, first and foremost, on the teeth and gums. However, we should look more at one appendage that is just as crucial when it comes to wellness – the tongue!

We use it to taste, and we use it to talk. But do you know the proper techniques to take care of your tongue?

Ashly Rothrock, a member of dental hygienist team at Artistic Dental, has all of the answers:

“Scraping the tongue removes bacteria and toxins from the surface that can cause bad breath, block taste buds, and interfere with digestion. Harmful bacteria that remain on the tongue surface cause a foul odor resulting in halitosis. Taste buds can be blocked by bacteria which interferes with the ability to taste food and drinks,” fairly straightforward – but a clean tongue can also help dentists identify other problems that may stay hidden in your mouth:

“Abnormalities on the tongue such as lesions and discoloration are easier to detect on a clean, healthy, tongue.”

So, tongue scraping it is. Now we just need to know with what, and how often –

“Tongue scraping should be done daily along with brushing, flossing, and rinsing, and there are special tongue scrapers available. Some have plastic ridges and grooves that aid in removal of bacteria. Others have bristles that are a little harder than that on the toothbrush. Since a soft toothbrush is recommended, an additional tongue scraper is helpful to avoid fraying the toothbrush bristles quicker.”

Ashly also noted that many toothbrushes come with scraping mechanisms on the back of the brush head, and that in a pinch, the bristled brush head itself will do.

So along with your regular routine of brushing and flossing don’t forget to include tongue scraping for optimum oral health. If you have any further questions or need to schedule an appointment for a teeth cleaning and checkup be sure to book today. Our end of year appointments are filling up!

Why is it necessary to remove your wisdom teeth?

We know many out there indulge in watching video of dental patients coming off anesthesia after a major treatment or wisdom teeth removal. Having wisdom teeth taken out is really not a laughing matter, but it is a rite of passage in some, a stepping stone from childhood to young adulthood. While it is all well and good, it still begs the question – why is it necessary to have them removed? 


As you mature, the third molars (wisdom teeth – the ones farthest back) are the last to develop, leaving little to no space for them to grow in the correct position. It’s easier to remove them before they have fully formed, at around the age of 25. Wisdom teeth received their name from usually arriving in the late teen years, signifying the passage into adulthood, hence the term “wisdom.” 


If they are left to grow in, there is a good chance of infection or damaging other teeth through crowding. This can occur when the jaw is too small to fit the teeth. If they are not removed before they develop, they can damage nerves, which in turn causes constant pain.


Due to the location of wisdom teeth, it’s very difficult to efficiently brush and floss the area. This can cause painful tooth decay and cysts, as well as infecting nearby teeth. Being that they come in last, they often don’t have other teeth to guide the direction of their growth, leading to further discomfort. Their removal is beneficial to the health of the second molars, allowing easier reach for brushing and flossing, and eliminating a contact space for bacteria to grow. 

Pericoronitis is an inflammation that leads to an infection in the tissue surrounding wisdom teeth. This infection is very painful, and has been known to send people to the ER. Swelling of the tongue can also occur, which closes the airway and can complicate respiration. Older patients are more susceptible to complications due to their bones becoming more brittle. 

Symptoms

• Pain, swelling or jaw stiffness near an area impacted by the third molars.
• Crowding of other teeth is an issue from unsupervised wisdom teeth, because they can push other teeth and force them to crowd.
• An infected swelling in a flap of gum tissue formed on an impacted area.
• Even if you don’t have any symptoms there is still a possibility of needing to have them removed before they cause nerve damage. 

How are these problems diagnosed?
The ideal age to start monitoring wisdom teeth growth is around 14, but development is different from patient to patient, which is why it’s important to monitor. The dentist will check signs of a wisdom tooth’s growth through the gum or crowding of nearby teeth and use a dental probe to feel the tooth. X-rays are used to see if problems may occur in the future by looking at the placement of the wisdom teeth. It may seem like a daunting task to have your wisdom teeth removed, but doing so can help prevent numerous complications to the teeth, gums and to oral health.