Keeping Your Toothbrush for Too Long  The ADA recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, so make a resolution to change your toothbrush with every season this year. Frayed and broken bristles won’t keep your teeth clean-these are signs it’s time to let go. When you’re shopping, look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Not Brushing Long Enough  Speed demons, listen up! Your teeth should be brushed for a full two minutes, twice per day. Most of us fall short -the average time most people spend brushing is 45 seconds. If you’re racing through cleaning, try setting a timer. Or distract yourself by humming your favorite tune! Brushing Too Hard  Be gentle with your teeth. You may think brushing harder will remove more leftover food and the bacteria that loves to eat it, but a gentle brushing is all that’s needed. Too much pressure may damage your gums. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org . Sheron Dental ...

Calcium And Vitamin C Promote Oral Health Eating a variety of nutritious food is good for your overall health, including your oral health. Some vitamins in particular have demonstrated benefits to building healthy teeth, namely calcium and vitamin C, so be sure to include foods rich in these nutrients in your diet. Calcium has been shown to help build strong teeth, and vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that also plays an important role in collagen synthesis, by which it helps you develop and maintain healthy gums. Calcium:  Dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. Many physicians recommend 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily for most adults, so you may want to consider a calcium supplement, especially if dairy products aren’t a regular part of your diet. Also, try switching to low-sugar or sugar-free varieties of yogurt, since sugar (and bacteria) can promote tooth decay. Vitamin C:  Many fruits and vegetables including berri...

The Cost Of Dental Treatments If you develop complications from tooth decay and gum disease, you may be dealing with bills for anything from fillings or crowns to more costly and complicated procedures such as root canals or oral surgery to extract damaged teeth and place dental implants. The Costs Vary  The costs of dental treatments vary. For example, the cost of a root canal will depend on the location of the tooth and how many canals are in the tooth that needs the root canal treatment.  The Cost of Oral Hygiene By comparison, the cost of basic oral hygiene and preventive teeth cleaning is low. A toothbrush should be replaced every three months or when it appears worn, but that’s just a few dollars. The same goes for dental floss, whether you prefer specialized floss, such as Oral-B’s Ultra Floss, or standard floss.  Points To Remember Also, don’t forget that most dental plans cover at least one, and sometimes two, checkups and cleanings per year at little or no cos...

Veneers Veneers are thin shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. Unlike bonding, it is necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell. Based on a model of your mouth, they are meant to look like your natural teeth.  The above article is from:  MouthHealthy.org Sheron Dental   Adam Sheron, DMD Chad Sheron, DDS Richard Sheron, DMD 1200 NE 99th St. Vancouver, WA 98665 (360) 356-7096 SheronDental.com

Crowns A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. The above article is from:  MouthHealthy.org Sheron Dental   Adam Sheron, DMD Chad Sheron, DDS Richard Sheron, DMD 1200 NE 99th St. Vancouver, WA 98665 (360) 356-7096 SheronDental.com

How To Get Rid Of Cold Sores It’s easy to get them confused, but cold sores are not the same as canker sores. Cold sores are red blisters that appear on the lips as a result of infection with the herpes simplex virus. They almost never occur inside the mouth and they are not associated with gum disease. By contrast, canker sores, which are not associated with herpes or gum disease, almost always occur inside the mouth. Usually, cold sores last for seven to 10 days, after which time the pus-filled blisters will rupture and ooze. Fortunately, cold sores usually heal without leaving scars. Most cold sores will resolve without treatment, but you can apply a topical medication such as lidocaine or benzyl alcohol to relieve pain and itching. If you develop a cold sore, avoid skin-to-skin contact. And don’t share razors, eating utensils, or towels-those are other ways the infection spreads to other people. If you have frequent cold sores, or a cold sore that doesn’t go away after seven to 1...

Below is an article written by by Diana Tosuni-O'Neill RDH, BS and found on Colgate.com  Have you ever woken up from a sound sleep with a dry mouth at night? Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be caused by something as simple as sleeping with your mouth open or as complex as a side effect of medication. Read on to find out what may be at the root of your nighttime lip smacking. Signs of Dry Mouth Dry mouth can be as simple as the salivary glands not producing enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. Saliva is key to washing debris from your teeth and remineralizing tooth enamel. With too little of it, you may be at risk for tooth decay. Aside from increasing your risk for cavities, dry mouth can be uncomfortable. If you are experiencing dry mouth at night, some noticeable morning signs are: A sticky feeling in your mouth Thick or stringy saliva Bad breath Dry or sore throat Cracked or chapped lips Mouth sores Changed sense of taste What Causes Xerostomia? The occasiona...

What Is Oral Thrush? Oral thrush, also known as candidiasis, can occur in anyone of any age, from babies to the elderly. Oral thrush is a condition that occurs when a fungus called candida albicans builds up on the lining of the mouth. The result is white lesions on the tongue or inner cheeks. Oral thrush can sometimes be confused with leukoplakia. But leukoplakia lesions are caused by chronic irritation from rough edges on teeth, fillings or crowns, not by an organism. And leukoplakia lesions develop over time, while thrush lesions may develop suddenly. A thrush infection can spread and involve the roof of the mouth and the gums, where it can cause symptoms such as redness and irritation. See your dentist if you have any type of lesions on your tongue or in your mouth so you can determine the cause of the problem and plan a course of treatment. The goal in treating thrush is to stop the infection from spreading. Healthy babies and children may not need treatment-the lesions may reso...

Whitening When it comes to getting a whiter and brighter smile, there are a variety of teeth-whitening products you can try. Your main options are in-office and at-home bleaching. Before starting any whitening treatment, you should speak with your dentist. Your dentist will tell you what, if any, whitening procedures will work best for you. The above article is from:  MouthHealthy.org Sheron Dental   Adam Sheron, DMD Chad Sheron, DDS Richard Sheron, DMD 1200 NE 99th St. Vancouver, WA 98665 (360) 356-7096 SheronDental.com

Below is an article written by by Tracey Sandilands and found on Colgate.com  Antimicrobial therapy is a form of oral treatment used to eliminate or reduce the development of bacterial infections in the mouth. The therapy aims to prevent periodontal diseaseresulting from infections, which can cause painful, bleeding gums and loosening of your teeth. Preparation and Treatment If your dentist decides you will benefit from antimicrobial treatment, they will likely start with scaling and root planing. This process removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from the sulcus area around the teeth using either a scaler or instruments as well as an ultrasonic scaling device. In severe cases where there are periodontal pockets greater than 5-6 mm deep, the dentist may recommend that the patient be seen by a periodontist to evaluate the area with deeper pocketing and determine if gum surgery may be necessary. The scaling and root planing and gum surgery treatments require local anesthesia to r...

What Is Gingivitis? Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease caused by the buildup of plaque bacteria on the tissues that surround the teeth. Plaque, a naturally occurring biofilm containing bacteria, can lead to gingivitis if not removed by daily brushing.  Who Can Get Gingivitis? Gingivitis is quite prevalent. But while almost 80% of adults will experience some symptoms of gingivitis, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s inevitable. It’s important to note that occasionally there might be no noticeable pain or apparent signs, leaving people unaware that they have it. That’s another good reason to schedule regular checkups with your dental professional every six months so he or she can identify it and suggest treatment options. Gingivitis Symptoms Some symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, and bleeding gums. Chronic gingivitis can lead to periodontitis and chronic bad breath. If these symptoms persist, it's important to talk with your dental professional to determine the be...