Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Tips for a Healthy Halloween

Halloween is here again and there is candy galore! While Halloween treats may be tasty, they can hurt your dental health if you let them. At Greenville Family Dentistry of Greenville, TX, we want to remind our patients of how to enjoy a happy and healthy Halloween!


Candy is filled with sugar, which as we know, causes cavities. But mostly everything is fine in moderation. To limit the amount of sugar that your teeth are being exposed to, set a limit on the candy you eat each day. Pick a healthy number of candies and stick to it. In addition, make sure you are brushing your teeth two to three times per day and flossing once per day. Sticky candies are especially good at getting stuck between teeth, so have that floss ready! While brushing away the sugar is important, do wait at least thirty minutes after eating to brush. Food, especially sour gummies, has acid that softens the enamel on your teeth. If it is brushed right away, the enamel may become worn down.


For patients who have recent fillings, crowns, braces, or other similar dental appliances, stay away from sticky candies and caramel apples. Gum and taffy are infamous for pulling off crowns and brackets. Very hard treats should also be avoided for those with braces. The pressure from biting into it may cause a bracket to pop off. No one wants an emergency dental visit in the middle of trick-or-treating.


Follow these tips and you are sure to have a fun and healthy Halloween! To schedule a dental cleaning with Greenville Family Dentistry in our Greenville, TX office, call us at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Effects of Poor Oral Hygiene

It is surprisingly easy to forget to brush your teeth. With the hustle and bustle of today’s world, we rush out the door in the morning, and fall asleep on the couch at night. But do you know the consequences of not making oral care a priority? At Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we want our patients to know why a great oral hygiene routine is so important.


The point of brushing and flossing is to remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth. Plaque can turn into tartar, a hardened material only removable by dentists, if it is not brushed away. Plaque and bacteria cause cavities, irritate the gums, and can lead to gum disease and tooth infections. These conditions can be painful and troublesome to fix.


Gum disease happens when bacteria irritates the gum line. Gums can turn red, puffy, and irritated. The plaque and tartar can get in between the teeth and the gums and form pockets. These pockets become deep, allowing bacteria to reach further down, and causing the gums to pull away from the teeth. This level of serious gum disease is difficult to get rid of. It is painful, unsightly, and causes bad breath. Left untreated, it will cause infections and loss of teeth. Infected teeth through decay can also cause gum disease. In addition, it can destroy a tooth and become abscessed. An abscessed tooth will continue destruction below the surface, damaging bone and gum tissue.


Brushing your teeth two or three times per day, flossing once per day, and regularly visiting your dentist will ensure a healthy mouth. To schedule your appointment with Greenville Family Dentistry of Greenville, TX, call us at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

How to Keep a White Smile

Look your best this fall by keeping those pearly whites white! There are many at-home ways of protecting the natural color of your teeth or making them shine brighter than ever before! At Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we want to offer our tips and tricks to keeping a white smile.


The first rule for avoiding stains and discoloration of your smile is to keep it clean! A great oral hygiene routine is important to keep away stain-causing debris. Foods, drinks, and plaque can stain our teeth if they are not cleaned regularly. In addition, plaque is sticky and can hold in stain-causers close to our teeth. That is why it is important to brush two to three times per day and floss once per day.


After drinking dark liquids or eating dark foods, make sure to rinse your mouth out. You should wait at least thirty minutes after consuming anything but water to brush your teeth. This preserves the enamel. However, rinsing with water will help deter any stains from sticking and it will not hurt your enamel. In addition to rinsing afterward, drink your dark liquids through a straw to minimize contact. Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco if you want a bright smile. These habits will absolutely darken teeth over time.


In addition to these tips for avoiding stains, a professional teeth whitening can help you get to where you want to be. To schedule an appointment with us at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call our office at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Frenectomy for Lip Tie and Tongue Tie in Greenville, TX

Lip tie or tongue tie is a condition that can majorly inhibit a baby’s ability to feed. Later in life it can cause complications, as well. Fortunately, there is a simple solution call a frenectomy. At Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we perform frenectomies for infants, children, and adults.


Lip tie and tongue tie are the conditions where the frenulum, the piece of tissue that connects the lips to the gums and the tongue to the floor of the mouth, is short or tight. This creates a small range of motion for the lips or tongue which can prevent proper feeding. This can cause low-weight in babies and pain for breastfeeding mothers. Later in life, lip tie and tongue tie can affect things such as eating, cleanliness, speech, and kissing.


A frenectomy is a very quick procedure with little or no discomfort. The frenulum is numbed and it is detached using a scalpel or a laser. This allows the frenulum to heal with more range. Healing time is minimal with very minor discomfort.


To learn more about the frenectomy procedure, contact Greenville Family Dentistry of Greenville, TX. We are committed to helping our patients make healthy and informed oral decisions. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call us at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com