How to Choose the Correct Toothpaste

When stepping foot into the oral hygiene aisle at the drugstore, Dr. Christopher Emuedue of Greenville Family Dentistry, understands that the selections of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control, fluoride, sensitive or whitening toothpaste? When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs. Here are some options to consider while browsing:

• ·        Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.

• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste helps reduce oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exact what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To schedule your cleaning in our Greenville, TX dental office, call Greenville Family Dentistry at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Let Us Explain, Novocain

When you think of the dentist, our staff at Greenville Family Dentistry is almost certain that you’re wondering about how to not feel a thing. Depending on the procedure at hand, you will either be given a local or general anesthetic. Local anesthesia allows the patient to remain awake, while general anesthesia allows the patient to sleep. If you are told you’ll be receiving a local anesthetic, “Novocain” probably comes to mind. Novocain is commonly used to suppress pain in patients who remain conscious. During your consultation, our doctors will determine if Novocain is appropriate for your treatment plan and if it is the best option for you.

Novocain is normally injected into an area during oral surgery and other dental procedures to numb the surrounding tissues. Like any medication, however, side effects include numbness around the injection site that can last for several hours, a tingling sensation around the injection site, as well as minor swelling around or near the injection site. Novocain is a good option for some, but not for others. Be sure to provide us with as much information about your medical history as possible so that you and our doctors can make an informed decision.

If you would like to discuss sedation options, please give us a call. To schedule your cleaning in our Greenville, TX dental office, call Greenville Family Dentistry at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Choosing Mouthwash that Meets Your Needs

Mouthwash or rinses are used for a variety of reasons: to freshen breath, to help prevent or control tooth decay, to reduce plaque, to prevent or reduce gingivitis, to reduce the speed that tartar forms on the teeth, or to produce a combination of these effects. While shopping for mouthwash at your local drugstore, it is important when searching for the rinse that’s right for you to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. Mouthwash has many beneficial properties and Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry would like to explain a few.

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor causing compounds.

If you have questions about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Some people would rather endure the agony of a toothache rather than step foot in a dentist’s office, while others simply desire relaxation during an appointment. Nitrous oxide, sometimes called “laughing gas,” is one option Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry may offer to patients to help make them more comfortable during certain procedures. If you are a candidate for sedation, our staff at Big Smiles Family Dentistry is here to make you feel as calm and comfortable as possible.

Nitrous oxide is the most commonly used form of sedation dentistry. It is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose. It is not intended to put you to sleep. Therefore, you will be able to hear and respond to any requests or directions Dr. Emuedue may have for you. When nitrous oxide is being administered you will breathe normally through your nose and within a few short minutes begin to feel the effects.

If you have questions about our sedation options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Is the Dental Implant Procedure Painful?

If you are receiving dental implants in the near future, Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry doesn’t want you to be frightened, he wants you to be informed on what to expect. Pain is a common concern among individuals who are considering dental implants and we want you to know that while some discomfort is expected, it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

As with any major dental procedure, or surgery in general, some discomfort is to be expected during the recovery process since it is a surgery that typically involves removing teeth, cutting gums, drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium post. The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb your mouth. If you’re anxious about the discomfort during the procedure and being aware of drilling noises and forces being applied to your mouth, please ask us about our sedation options.

If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Brushing with Braces

If you have braces, you should be working overtime on practicing proper oral hygiene. This is because braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped, and inadequate cleaning while wearing these wires can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands. At Greenville Family Dentistry, Dr. Christopher Emuedue can’t stand behind you and monitor how you often you brush, but he can provide you with the following routine that will help make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Last but not least, don’t forget to floss in between brackets!

If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Dental Sealants for Extra Protection

Dental health is important right from the start! It is important to start good dental hygiene in childhood. Here at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we can place dental sealants on molars so they are further protected from decay.

Dental sealants are literally seals that go over your molars. Since molars commonly have dips and grooves in them, they can be prone to cavities, especially in kids. Bacteria and other debris can be hard to brush away and it can lead to decay.

To apply the sealants, the teeth are first cleaned and dried. An acidic solution is then placed on the teeth to roughen up the surface. This aids a strong bond between the sealant and the tooth. The acidic solution is rinsed off, the teeth are dried, and the sealant is painted onto the surfaces. A light is then used to harden the area. 

Sealants are great for kids to protect their baby teeth and their adult teeth. Sealants are also great for adults who have never had a cavity or a filling in their molars.

A little extra protection could go a long way when it comes to dental health. To schedule an appointment with Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call our office at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com.