Why it’s important to teach your child good oral hygiene

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month--an important time to focus on and teach your child the necessity of good oral hygiene. Maintaining a healthy mouth is vital for all ages, but is especially essential for youngsters when their mouth is vulnerable and adult teeth are coming in. In fact, more than half of children will be affected by tooth decay before the age of five, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Poor oral hygiene can also lead to future health issues and costly bills, something that can be difficult to explain to a child, but can also be prevented or reduced with the proper care.

Brushing at least twice a day and regular flossing can seem like an unnecessary chore to kids. Here are some ways to teach your children good oral hygiene habits and the importance of a healthy mouth: 

Be a good role model.  Kids learn from example, so be sure that they see their parents regularly brushing and flossing. Show them how long to brush, what areas and the best way to floss. Explain that brushing will get rid of bacteria while flossing gets all of the food and gunk out of your teeth. You may want to help your kids with flossing until they get the hang of it.

Make it fun.  Oral hygiene doesn’t have to be boring. Teach your kids about the importance of oral hygiene with fun activities. For example, putting an egg in soda for 24 hours will stain it and show what sugar can do to enamel. Encourage your children to brush the egg with toothpaste and explain what happened to the egg and what happens in the mouth. Other activities and worksheets are available online for continued education.

Motivate with music. Everyone should brush for at least two full minutes, but unfortunately that is rarely the case. To teach kids to brush thoroughly and take their time, music can be a great motivator. Check out the information on our Family Services page that includes a link to a list of songs for kids to brush to.

Schedule regular cleanings. Staying accountable is an important part of teaching your child good oral hygiene. Make sure to book regular teeth cleanings to build a positive relationship between your child and their dentist.

Explaining to kids what cavities and gum disease are beginning at an early age and meeting with a dentist to learn what the treatment is like will help them keep oral hygiene a priority. Challenge your kids to take the 2-2-2 pledge in the month of February and beyond: Brush twice a day for two minutes and floss twice a day. Healthy treats and fun outings can be rewards for good oral hygiene. Instilling good habits with your children from the beginning will stick with them as they become adults,  and ultimately help determine their future health.

Children should begin to visit the dentist regularly by the age of 3. At Artistic Dental we provide comprehensive dental care for all ages. To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. John Dougherty or Dr. Prabhidi Adhikari, contact us today at (602) 840 – 5400.

Everything you need to know about getting a root canal

Many patients ask us, “What is a root canal?”, concerned that it is a complicated and dangerous procedure that they may need. Getting a root canal can be daunting, however, it could save your tooth and prevent a lot of pain in the long run. A root canal is basically the process of taking out infected pulp inside the root of a tooth and cleaning the canals to prevent further infection. This infected pulp can be painful and may be caused by gum disease or something as simple as a chipped tooth or a cavity.

Root canal process

The first step of a root canal is getting an x-ray from your dentist. This will help determine whether or not the tooth is infected and where the infection is located. Local anesthetics will be applied after examining the x-ray and an opening is made in the crown of the tooth all the way down to the roots. Small tools are used to remove the infected pulp, clean the roots and reshape them. After the roots are given shape, the space is filled with a rubbery-like material called gutta-percha. The tooth is then sealed off with a cement adhesive and typically will be capped with a temporary filling. You will then come in for a second visit with the dentist in order to have a permanent crown put on and to check the tooth and gums after the procedure.

Misconceptions

A common misconception about root canal treatment is that it’s a painful process. Rest easy, the dentist will manage any pain and make sure patients are comfortable throughout the procedure. Also remember, a root canal relieves pain from a toothache. Many patients will say that they feel no pain from the procedure and that it feels similar to getting a filling. Another misconception is that root canals can make you sick or cause infection. It has been proven that a root canal is the best option to save a tooth from possible extraction and there is no evidence that a root canal will cause illness.

Additional Information

Over 40 million root canal treatments in the U.S. are performed a year, making it a fairly common procedure. Root canals are almost always successful in saving the tooth from extraction and most last a lifetime after undergoing a root canal procedure.

To prevent ever having to get a root canal it’s important to keep up with dental hygiene. This means brushing and flossing three times a day and regular visits to the dentist. It’s also important to get cavities filled, otherwise they could become abscessed and require a root canal.

The staff at Artistic Dental are experts in root canal procedures and will make sure to treat patients as they would their own family members. If you’re suffering from tooth pain, call and make an appointment for a complimentary consultation with one of our dentists at 602.840.5400.

Tackling Oral Cancer One Step at a Time

If you know anything about Artistic Dental, you know we’re committed to ensuring the utmost care for our patients and their smiles. In April, we’re taking that commitment one step further and putting on our running shoes – because we’ll be taking part in this year’s Oral Cancer Foundation Walk for Awareness!

The Oral Cancer Foundation “is a national public service, non-profit entity designed to reduce suffering and save lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy, and patient support activities.”

Approximately 48,250 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, and sadly the occurrence of this disease is only increasing, with new cases exceeding 450,000 worldwide annually.

While we all know that heavy tobacco/alcohol consumption and poor oral hygiene can be a major cause of oral cancer, studies have also shown increased correlations with aging, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, and the HPV virus. Mouth cancers will be newly diagnosed in about 132 new individuals each day in the U.S. alone.

Early detection of the disease often leads to high survival rates, but many of the cases are unfortunately found at a later stage – when survival rates fall to around 40%. Giving up smoking or tobacco use, reducing alcohol intake and keeping your mouth clean and healthy are all positive steps to preventing oral cancer.

April is also Oral Cancer Month, so the time to spread this message is now. If you’d like to join us on Saturday, April 2 or support our team visit our team page for more details.

How to teach your child good oral hygiene

Teaching healthy habits is much more about what we do than what we say. Children will closely observe their parents’ behavior and other important adults in their lives as they learn and form their own behaviors and habits. In other words, it is important that parents practice what they preach when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene.

It can be difficult for children to understand the importance of taking good care of their teeth and gums and how it can impact their overall health. Fortunately, there are ways to engage kids using age appropriate activities to help them understand just how vital oral hygiene is. 

Here are a few strategies you may want to try: 

·         Give kids choices. Let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste, providing that they’re age appropriate. Before the age of two fluoride-free toothpaste is recommended.  From the age of two on it’s best to use an ADA approved brand containing fluoride. Characters on toothbrushes or a superhero on the tube of toothpaste might encourage them to stick to their brushing routine.

·         Show them how it’s done. Let them see you brush your teeth in the morning and evening. If the message is not resonating consider showing them some fun YouTube videos. Watching what a peer is doing is often more relatable and considered a lot “cooler” than mom or dad!

·         Invest in technology. If the novelty of a manual toothbrush wears off, consider purchasing an electric toothbrush. If you have more than one child, you can save money by purchasing one and then buying individual heads for each child. Turn brushing into fun-time using this new “toy” to do the job. For younger kids consider a less expensive option—adding a fun faucet fountain like a whale or dolphin to make it more entertaining.

·        Turn tooth brushing time into story time. If you are creative you can make up a story where all the bad guys have brown, ugly teeth. Otherwise, there are a number of great books to read aloud, like Open Wide by Laurie Keller or The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss.

There are many factors that help children learn how to take good care of their teeth and maintain a healthy smile. Beyond modeling good habits, the other most important thing a parent can do is book regular checkups and limit sugar intake. If a dental emergency should occur, contact your dentist immediately.

Sedation Dentistry 101

Dental anxiety is real, and the truth is it’s quite common to feel uncomfortable. The sounds and smells at the dental office often trigger anxiety. Fortunately, it is manageable, and as dental professionals it is our job to make the patient experience as comfortable as possible.

At Artistic Dental we have stunning, enlarged photographs of famous canyons and national parks on our ceilings to help transport our patients to another place, to ease their fears to help them relax. We have headphones for those that wish to block the noise. We also try to address our patients fears by discussing the planned procedure; we find this often helps reduce anxiety and lets patients know what to expect.
When these techniques do not do the trick or when a patient is really struggling, we are able to offer sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry uses medication to help the patient relax. It is sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry”, but that’s not completely accurate. Patients are usually awake with the exception of those under general anesthetic.

The levels of sedation used include:

• Minimal sedation: the patient is awake but relaxed

• Moderation sedation, formerly referred to as conscious sedation: the patient may slur their words when speaking and not have much memory of the procedure

•  Deep sedation: the patient is on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened

• General anesthesia: the patient is completely unconscious. For this level of sedation a dental office will have a dentist anesthesiologist administer the drugs to the patient

The following types of sedation that are used in dentistry include:

• Inhalation sedation – this is the only form of sedation where the patient may be able to drive home afterwards

• Oral sedation – depending on dosage some people can feel groggy enough to sleep throughout the procedure. A pill such as halicon or valium is administered to the patient, but it is imperative that they do not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours following the appointment

• IV sedation – the drug is administered throught the vein, so it goes to work more quickly

• Deep sedation and general anesthesia – the patient will be administered drugs that will make either make them almost unconscious or fully unconscious

Regardless of what type of sedation patients opt for, the patient will typically need a local anesthetic as well, to numb the area the dentist is working on.To learn more about Artistic Dental's amenities and services visit our dental information center on our website or call to schedule a consult with Dr. Dougherty at (602) 840-5400.

Which Cleans Better: A Manual or Electric Toothbrush?

If you’re in the market for a new toothbrush you may be asking yourself if it’s better to stick with an old-fashioned manual toothbrush or if it’s time to upgrade to an electric one. The American Dental Association states that you can effectively clean your teeth with either, so long as you are using the correct technique. This means the decision really comes down to personal preference.

Before deciding between an electric or manual toothbrush, here are some things to consider:

• Electric toothbrushes can be easier for people who have arthritis or other difficulties moving the brush across their teeth.
• Electric toothbrushes are typically more expensive.
• Some people are more apt to brush their teeth if they’re using an electric toothbrush.
• Some people are bothered by the vibrations from electric toothbrushes.
• Electric toothbrushes typically put less pressure on teeth and gums.
• Manual toothbrushes can be easier to travel with, as they don’t require chargers or batteries.    

Regardless of which type of toothbrush you decide works best for you, make sure you brush twice a day, floss regularly and replace your brush every three months or sooner. If you have had an illness or you see bristles begin to fray and notice they are no longer straight and firm, it’s time to buy a new toothbrush (or replace the brush head on some types of electric toothbrushes). Always make sure you are brushing your teeth and gums properly and thoroughly; if you’re unsure if you’re brushing effectively, consult your dentist during your bi-yearly teeth cleaning.