Because of the pandemic (and occasionally dental anxiety just from going to the dentist), patients may find themselves tempted to skip a dental appointment or two, especially if they are not currently having any acute dental problems. But skipping those routine dental cleanings can also put one’s oral health and overall health at risk!

It is because tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious issues like abscesses and infections, potentially requiring root canals. In particular, gum disease has been connected to rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, bruxism often arises from stress, and an unhealthy smile leads to poor self-confidence. Your mouth and body are intricately connected and require regular care for optimal health.

Bacterial Infection

The greatest oral issue stems from oral bacteria, which starts to form as soon as you eat or drink anything besides water. Brushing and flossing after you consume sugary and acidic foods and beverages – like sodas, juices, sports or energy drinks, tea, coffee, and alcohol – can help manage plaque formation and buildup but very few people take the time to do that.

And even if you do, brushing and flossing alone can’t reach and clean every surface in your mouth. It is where your professional dental cleanings come to the rescue. With the help of special tools, our hygienist removes hardened, calcified plaque (tartar or calculus) that you can’t clear away at home, especially in between teeth and around the gum line.

Removing calculus and bacteria protects your smile from cavities and gingivitis (gum disease), so you don’t suffer from bacterial infections like gum disease, which puts you at greater risk of tooth loss, heart conditions, and complications from diabetes. Oral bacteria also makes your breath smell bad and is off-putting to people in close contact.

What Happens at Your Biannual Dental Checkups?

Our skilled team’s goal is to catch and treat developing problems sooner rather than later, so they are easier, less invasive, and less costly to remedy. When you come in for your dental cleaning and exam, you can look forward to the following:

• Dental X-rays as needed
• Oral cancer screening
• Sticky plaque buildup and tartar removal
• Tooth stain removal by polishing enamel
• Screening for tooth decay and gum disease
• Checking every tooth for chips, cracks, cavities
• Evaluating your jaw and bite for abnormalities
• Ensuring that your current tooth restorations are in good shape
• Scheduling to treat any current issues
• Reviewing your at-home care if needed and recommending helpful products
• Giving you answers to your questions and concerns

Why Biannual Dental Exams?

Cavities mean the following and should not be ignored:

• Toothaches
• Tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink hot, cold, acidic, or sweet foods and beverages
• Pitting or a hole in a tooth
• Painful abscess around a tooth

As tooth enamel weakens, cavities can accelerate from infection, whether it is inside the tooth, at the tooth root, or in the jawbone. The problem is an infection that spreads to nearby teeth. A cracked or fractured tooth can worsen whenever you bite down or chew hard food, and if the tooth completely breaks, you will know it from the pain. Your routine dental exams allow us to spot these kinds of issues early and treat them before they turn painful or expensive!

Daily Oral Hygiene Between Dental Cleanings

Your best protection in between dental cleanings and exams is to brush twice a day, floss at least once daily, and use an antibacterial mouthwash to kill germs if you want to keep tooth decay and gum disease from gaining a foothold. Drink plenty of water every day, eat a balanced diet, and limit unhealthy drinks and foods as much as you can.

While we are seeing more problems with patients coming back after skipping dental cleanings this past year, know that we will never make you feel bad about missing your dental appointments! Our team can expertly clean your teeth and check for developing problems so we can fix them early. We will also go over your daily routine to make sure you have the best tools possible to fill in any gaps so you can get back on track to a healthier, happier smile! Call now to schedule a dental cleaning and exam for yourself or your family members!

The post What Happens to Your Health and Smile When Putting Off Your Biannual Dental Cleanings and Exams? first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

Did you know that a big investment you can make in your overall health and self-confidence is to make sure you have a healthy smile? June 15th is National Smile Power Day, and it’s a great time to become more aware of the many benefits of having a healthy, confident smile wherever you go!

The Psychology and Physiology of Smiling

Did you know that when you smile, it can trigger your autonomic nervous system to release endorphins into your blood? It triggers your body to release dopamine and serotonin, which act as natural pain relievers. Smiling also reduces your blood pressure levels (thank the happy hormone for that), so it has the power to relieve stress, help you relax, boost your immune system, and, when done habitually, even increase your odds of living longer!

In addition, it also helps whoever sees it to feel that same “happy hormone!” Smiling can make whoever you smile at feel better while also boosting their morale and helping them feel more confident. Smiling can be contagious, and at least half of the folks you smile at will reward you with one back. Who knew a simple smile which can produce anywhere and anytime was this powerful? We agree with the Buddhist author, Thich Nhat Hanh, that “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

Did You Know?

• There are many different smiles, including the closed-lip smile, smirk smile, lop-sided smile, flirtatious smile, and open mouth smile.
• When it comes to learning facial expressions, a baby’s smile is one of the first ones they master!
• Smiling means the same thing anywhere you go in the world, which is why you often hear the familiar phrase, “When you smile, the world smiles with you!”
• Smiling people come across more confident and looking younger as the smiling facial muscles raise the face, making the cheeks, jowls, and neck look smoother.
• Women tend to smile more than 60 times a day while their male counterparts smile less than ten times a day!
• Most people think that having a bad-looking smile can harm their career goals.

Smile For Your Health and Success

No wonder smiling is such a good thing for your mental and physical well-being! It’s good for your social and career life, so smile more often. After all, it’s free so why not give the gift of a smile to others, brightening your day as well as theirs. This National Smile Power Day, why not share the hashtag #NationalSmilePowerDay in your online communications and tell a good joke or two. If you’re just not feeling the smile bug, try writing down some of the things you are grateful for onto some sticky notes and placing them around your home or office. Before you know it, you might catch yourself smiling!

Smile Boosting Tips

Your oral health is the first step to a more confident smile as it impacts your overall health. If not taken care of, you are at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and bruxism (where you grind your teeth while you sleep). You will also want to brush with a good toothbrush, floss daily and visit our team twice a year for cleanings. Limit sugary foods and beverages, especially tooth-staining drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine. Drink enough water throughout the day to protect your smile and follow a balanced, nutritious diet so your teeth and gums get the nutrients they need to thrive.

We also recommend giving yourself the gift of a confident smile if you don’t already have one. Your dentist can be one of your best friends when it comes to reaching your smile goals. Give us a call if your smile needs some love, whether it’s just getting your next dental cleaning, a teeth whitening treatment, or a smile makeover. Our team is excited to help you smile!

The post Smile With Us on National Smile Power Day on June 15th! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

Did you know that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, leaving them with first impressions about your health, intelligence, societal status, and attractiveness? Making sure your smile looks its best is a quick way to boost your self-confidence and stand out from the crowd, whether interacting with others or smiling for close-up photos to post on social media. If you are getting ready to graduate or get married, now is the time to make your smile shine so you can dazzle on your big day while brightening your future!

Your Smile Makes a Big Difference

Having regular teeth cleanings is important to keep your smile healthy and bright, and after that, one of the easiest ways to improve your smile is with a teeth whitening treatment. Getting rid of unsightly tooth stains and discoloration go a long way in revitalizing your appearance. In fact, we would go so far as to say that your smile is the most important thing you can wear, as donning expensive clothes or even jewelry doesn’t impress people as much as flashing a stellar smile!

Graduates going off to college or entering the workforce benefit from a healthy-looking smile as much as brides and grooms do on their big day. Most cosmetic dentists can tell you that teeth whitening is easily one of the most popular treatments for someone celebrating a special occasion. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to brighten your smile and, consequently, your life!

How Much Time Do You Have?

In-Office Teeth Whitening: One teeth whitening option is to go to a dentist for treatment. It is worth every cent because you are paying for expertise as well as product effectiveness with a peroxide gel and controlling the outcome. Professionally whitened teeth are the safest, quickest, and highest quality route to whiter teeth to brighten your special day after having your teeth scaled and polished. That is also a good time for the dentist to make sure your teeth are in good enough shape to handle a teeth whitening treatment.

At-Home Bleaching Kit: This is also a popular way to whiten teeth, and you can often purchase the gel over the counter or from a dentist. Depending on whether the gel and whitening trays came from a dentist or over-the-counter, the desired results can be achieved in one to four weeks. That’s because professional teeth whitening products are customized to your teeth as they have higher concentrations of the whitening gel. You’ll still want to clean your teeth every day and avoid enamel-damaging foods and drinks as they can affect shade and color.

At-Home Whitening Strips: You can find these affordable strips easily over the counter. They also use hydrogen peroxide to whiten stains by penetrating tooth pores, so you get the results in about a week or two.

Teeth Whitening Toothpaste: This process is the most affordable approach, but it can take up to a month for you to get the results you want. Because the bleaching concentrations only affect the tooth for a short time, you’ll want to be especially mindful of the foods and drinks you consume as well as brush and floss every day as staining can set you back.

Not everyone is a good candidate for having teeth whitening done, which is why seeing the dentist is a good way to find out. People suffering from cavities, receding gums, or are currently wearing braces can be affected by how well or if their teeth can be whitened.

Call Today!

Whether you are walking down the aisle with your significant other or walking across the stage with your fellow graduates, choosing to brighten your smile with the help of teeth whitening may be the ideal choice for you! If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health or want to schedule your next visit, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at 909-590-2229. Our dentist, Dr. Leo Man and our Man Dental team in Chino Hills, California, believes your smile deserves the best possible care and treatment available!

The post Graduation and Wedding Days Are the Perfect Occasion to Whitening Your Smile! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

Spring is officially here! Along with the shifting, warmer weather and blossoming trees and bushes (hello, allergies!), spring feels like a time of change, growth, and prosperity. Spring is a time when many of us are excited to clean out our closets, get rid of old clutter and cobwebs in the home, and start some fun projects around the house.

Do your teeth and gums need a spring cleaning?

Just like your home, your smile also benefits from making some improvement, especially after indulging in not always healthy comfort foods and beverages and celebrating Valentine’s and Easter holidays often throughout the month. Spring is a good time to get your smile in order, not just your home!

The first signs of spring mean it is time for some dental housekeeping. First, you need to replace old or fraying toothbrushes to give your teeth the cleaning and polish they deserve. Replacing your toothbrush (or toothbrush head if it is electric or battery-operated) can also help prevent bacterial or viral infections if you’ve been sick in the past few months. Check your mouthwash for the expiration date, and check out your flossing supplies if you use dental floss, tape, or floss picks. If you use a water flosser, this is a good time for a thorough cleaning.

The next item on your spring dental checklist is your routine biannual dental cleaning! The Academy of General Dentistry has confirmed that having a professional dental cleaning twice a year boosts the quality of your long-term oral health. Getting a deep dental cleaning and exam every six months keeps your teeth and gums cleaner and healthier. It can also get you ready for summer when you might be spending more time outdoors and enjoying the warmer weather, vacationing, and sharing more candid photos on your social media. The healthier your mouth, the more radiant and confident your smile!

What does your spring dental cleaning do for your smile?

Routine professional checkups and exams help us spot developing oral problems like tooth decay and gum disease in their early stages. It is the best time to treat problems because they are smaller and less costly to fix, and least invasive to treat when they are just developing. Comparing a small filling to a dental crown or root canal can make a big difference in your budget! Treating problems early also means less pain for you later, both with your mouth and your wallet.

What can you expect at your spring dental cleaning?

• Our dentist will check your teeth, gums and mouth to spot any potential problems as soon as possible.
• Your exam might include dental X-rays to see what’s going on inside your teeth and gums.
• Remove dental plaque and tartar (mineralized plaque) that has settled onto your teeth and around the gum line.
• Scale and polish your teeth with special tools, ultrasonic sound waves, and specialty toothpaste.
• Floss in between your pearly whites and gum line.
• Recommendations to help boost or restore your tooth enamel.

Coming in for your routine professional dental cleanings and exams is the perfect complement to your daily oral care. Alone, they can’t fully protect your smile, but together they fill in the missing pieces. Both are needed to keep harmful plaque and bacteria from taking over your smile! Our dentist and dental team are always happy to give you tips for your at-home dental routine, lifestyle habits, showing you how to brush and floss, and even recommending dental products tailored to your unique oral needs.

Spring is the perfect time to schedule your next dental cleaning. Treat your teeth to the care they deserve by taking time out for your teeth and smile. A healthier and brighter smile awaits you, and we welcome you to call us today!

The post Spring Has Sprung! Call Today To Schedule Your Spring Dental Cleaning! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

March is the month for the dental community. Every year at this time, we honor National Dentist’s Day (March 6th) and Dental Assistants Recognition Week in the first full week in March (March 7-13, 2021). These days recognize and say thank you to our fellow dentists and dental assistants for helping people take great care of their teeth. Spring is also the perfect time to invite our patients to come in for their biannual checkup if they have been putting it off.

Dental History of National Dentist’s Day

• 5000 B.C. – The ancient Sumerians thought that tooth decay and cavities were a result of tooth worms.
• 2600 B.C. – One of the earliest dentists was Hesy-Ra from ancient Egypt.
• 1530 – The first dental book was written by Artzney Buchlein called “Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth.”
• 1990 – Cosmetic dentistry became popular with the help of colorful braces, dental veneers, dental implants, and teeth bleaching.

As dentists, we are doctors for your smile! Our goal is to help you keep your mouth healthy for a lifetime of smiles because, with proper care, most people can keep their teeth throughout their lives. We work hard to help you prevent problems in their early stages by diagnosing and treating any developing oral conditions so your teeth and gums can remain healthy and strong for you. A healthy smile protects your overall health as well since the mouth and body are intrinsically connected.

How to Support National Dentist’s Day (and Your Smile):

• Take a few extra minutes to brush and floss your pearly whites today.
• Show our dentist how your smile is improving by brushing and flossing daily.
• Teach your child a fun song to help them brush longer.
• Schedule your family’s routine dental checkups and exams.
• Snap a photo of yourself with your dentist and post it on your social media platforms and add the #NationalDentistsDay hashtag.
• Drop off a thank you note to our dentist. We love to see your smiling face under your mask!

Dental Assistant Week

The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages us to recognize our dental assistants’ crucial role in keeping our patients smile and body healthy throughout the year. It all starts inside the mouth, where harmful oral bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to hurt our bodies. Good dental care is the first step of taking care of the rest of your body.

This year’s theme is ‘Dental Assistants — Our Heart Goes Into Every Smile.’ Our dental assistants are just as important as our dentists for the work that they do on behalf of patients. Before you even show up for your dental appointment, our dental assistant is preparing for your time in the chair, pulling your dental file, and sterilizing and setting out any instruments that will be needed for your treatment.

Our dental assistant also makes sure that you are comfortable and relaxed during your treatment and supporting our dentist by handing instruments over during your procedure. They also take patients’ dental X-rays, help out our office managers, and help bring a smile to everyone they come into contact with (you might not see that smile under a mask, but it is there somewhere!).

Right now, there are over 300,000 dental assistants around the country who are hard at work to create happy smiles. Overall, dental assistants are good at what they do because they genuinely care about their patients and the dental team. They want to make a difference in the lives of those around them no matter their age; children, adults, and senior citizens alike. Compassion is a trait you will generally see in great dental assistants. They are good listeners, quick thinkers and eager to solve problems. Without their daily efforts, dental offices like ours would not function as efficiently and effectively. We hope you take a moment to thank our dental assistant the next time you come in for your appointment!

Call Us Today!

As dentists and dental assistants, we love to help you put your best face forward so that whoever you see can appreciate your smile. We are here to help you keep your mouth and body healthier all year round. With proper dental care – daily brushing and flossing and twice-a-year dental cleanings and exams – we can help you keep cavities and gum disease away. This teamwork truly makes your smile dreams work!

The post Celebrate Our Dentists and Dental Assistants the Month of March! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

February is National Gum Disease Awareness Month, and we are here for it! Working daily with gums makes us excited about creating awareness on how best to keep your gums healthy no matter what your age. When we say your smile thrives on good oral care, most patients typically think of their teeth, but the gums are just as crucial because, without them, your teeth would loosen and fall out!

The problem with gum disease (the infection of the gum tissue) is that it also is linked to general health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy issues. Taking good care of your gums means your overall health will improve. Gum disease develops when oral bacteria thrive in the mouth. It does not take a lot of time for the bacteria to inflame the oral tissues and spread via the bloodstream, affecting the organs and other areas of your body. You can make a big difference in your tooth and gum health by brushing and flossing daily to remove this harmful bacterial film (plaque) from your teeth and gum line.

Are Your Gums in Good Shape?

In the early stages, gum disease is referred to as gingivitis. Left unchecked, it will continually advance until you are at the stage called periodontal disease. To protect your gum health, you will need to practice effective oral hygiene care every day, followed by periodic professional dental cleanings and exams. Your biannual dental cleanings remove hardened plaque (known as tartar or calculus), which can only be removed using special dental instruments. In between visits, keep an eye out for the signs of gum disease.

How To Spot Gum Disease

• Look for any swollen or puffy gum tissue
• Notice if your gums are bright red or bleeding
• Watch for tooth sensitivity or pain
• Don’t ignore chronic bad breath
• If your teeth feel loose or separating
• If you notice pus or sores in the mouth
• Watch for receding gums

What Causes Gum Disease?

Probably the most common cause of this insidious disease is chronic poor oral hygiene. Without daily intervention, oral bacteria thrive, harming your gums, teeth, and body. But neglecting your oral hygiene care is only partly responsible for inviting gum disease into your mouth. There are a variety of other conditions that can lead to disease:

• Using tobacco in any form
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Having crowded or overlapping teeth that are hard to brush and floss correctly
• Experiencing hormonal changes
• Having oral cancer
• Breathing via the mouth, leading to dry mouth by reducing saliva production
• Constant, unrelieved stress
• Consuming a non-nutritious diet of high sugar or starches
• Poor diabetes control
• Insufficient dental care from skipped dental visits
• Your gums turning white (they should be pink)

So, what can you do to prevent gum disease or keep it from worsening? It is where improvements to your daily habits can make have the biggest impact:

• Brush: Brush at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Wait about half an hour after eating so that you don’t wear down enamel from food particles.
• Floss: Flossing cleans areas of the teeth and gum line that brushing alone can’t effectively clean. Floss at least once a day to remove debris between the teeth and near the gums. Be sure to floss between each tooth individually.
• Keep your dental appointments: Your teeth and gums can suffer if you go too long without having a dental checkup and cleaning. Six-month checkups are important to get rid of tartar. If you have signs of gum disease, feel pain or discomfort, please don’t wait! Call our team as soon as possible, and we will help you get the treatment you need.
• Eat healthier: Your teeth, gums, and body thrive when you eat a balanced diet with nutritious essentials. Even drinking healthy smoothies or other beverages good for you can make the difference between a healthy or unhealthy smile. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks that build up sticky bacteria. Rinse your mouth out with water after you eat and drink if you are not brushing right away.

What if You Have Gum Disease?

Depending on the state of your gums, there are several solutions to get your smile back on track:

• A professional dental cleaning and exam
• A scaling and root planing
• A gum pocket reduction
• A gum graft or soft tissue graft
• Take prescribed medication
• Use medicated toothpaste or mouthwash
• Have root canal therapy performed

Your smile needs daily care and good habits, especially if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy (and in place). We welcome you to call our office if you have any issues or concerns about your gums. This National Gum Disease Awareness Month, resolve to take the best care of your teeth and gums!

The post For National Gum Disease Awareness Month, Commit To Healthier Teeth and Gums! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

Whenever we begin a new year, we often feel like making resolutions for better habits and better health. Along with better general health, striving for better oral health can make a huge difference in our happiness. That is because the smile and the body are intricately linked, and a healthier smile makes for a more attractive and confident smile. In fact, with proper care, a new year can bring a new smile. Here are some changes you can make to create your best smile for a healthier, happier 2021!

Brush at Least Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth removes harmful oral plaque, protecting your smile against gum disease and tooth decay. Brushing removes oral debris from the front, top and back surfaces of your teeth. It is essential to brush your teeth at least twice a day every day for two minutes each time. Skipping out on daily brushing can quickly harm your teeth as dental plaque wears down the tooth enamel needed to keep your teeth healthy, strong and cavity-free.

Floss Teeth at Least Once Daily

Brushing by itself can’t remove plaque and food particles between your teeth, especially where two teeth touch. Plaque also collects and builds up around the gum line. It doesn’t matter when you floss, morning, or evening, just as long as it is within a 24-hour period. It takes 24 hours for oral plaque to build up around your teeth, and you need to clean those areas where your toothbrush isn’t designed to clean so harmful bacterial buildup can’t harm your smile.

A good choice for flossing is using an interdental brush that fits between the teeth or a water flosser that can easily rinse those areas where your toothbrush can’t. People who floss have healthier gums, which are vital for supporting your teeth. Without flossing, oral bacteria can quickly lead to inflamed gums, bad breath, and gum disease.

Eat and Drink Healthier

A healthier diet is often on the menu during the New Year, and a smile-healthy diet is similar to a healthier diet. Avoiding sugary foods and drinks benefits your teeth, gums, and waistline. Sugar feeds the bad oral bacteria that lead to cavities, not just empty calories. Consuming more fresh vegetables and fruits high in antioxidants benefits your body, teeth, and gums. Drinking more water hydrates your mouth and your body, boosting saliva production, and washing away oral debris, and preventing dry mouth.

Give Up Smoking

Smoking is bad for your body and your smile! Smoking promotes bad breath, stains teeth, leads to cavities, gum recession, gum disease, and tooth loss, not to mention oral cancers. The new year is a wonderful time for a fresh start and a healthier body and smile! You might also enlist the help of a cessation support program if needed. Your body, lungs and smile will thank you!

Visit the Dentist

For a better smile, you need to supplement your daily at-home dental care with biannual dental checkups. In addition to removing hardened plaque from your teeth and around the gumline, our dental team will check for any dental issues you might be experiencing before it grows into something bigger. Starting 2021 with a clean bill of dental health can boost your smile and your wellbeing, setting the tone for a healthier year.

Not only can dental checkups protect teeth and gums, but this is also a time to get needed dental work done. Whether you want to brighten your smile with professional whitening treatments or replace missing teeth, a dental checkup is a great way to start making improvements.

Missing teeth can affect the appearance of your face and cheeks, inflame the gum pockets that are used to hold teeth and leave you feeling self-conscious of your smile. Feeling good about your smile is as important as feeling good about your body, and our smile-friendly habits can help you accomplish both!

Call Today!

Our dental team is excited to help you reach your smile goals and invite you to give us a call today to schedule your next dental visit. We are excited to help you create the healthy, beautiful smile you have always wanted. Call today!

The post Start the New Year off With a Bang by Creating a Healthier, More Beautiful Smile! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

Winter is almost here, and sports activities can find a way to bring a dental emergency into your life during the busy holiday season. Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, swimming, or surfing, accidents can happen. It can mean running into a tree while sledding, falling on your face at an ice skating rink, or knocking a tooth out on your surfboard. Your mouth can sustain a dental emergency all year round!

Protecting Your Smile

Whether you are out having fun hitting the snow-covered hills, playing hockey with friends, or even celebrating the season with friends, you usually are not thinking about how you can prevent a dental emergency. It’s what you can do beforehand that will really count! Protecting your smile is as easy as wearing the right gear for your recreational activity, whether that’s a mouth guard, face cage, or helmet.

So, what happens when the unthinkable happens? Seeking help right away can help stop your oral pain and lower the risk of having permanent oral damage. During business hours, calling our office is simple, but what if you have an accident on a holiday, weekend, or in the middle of the night that can’t wait? It might require getting help from an emergency room visit. But first, let’s look at what constitutes a dental emergency.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

Some emergencies can wait until the next morning, but others could result in a lost adult tooth if treatment is not sought out immediately. Ask yourself the following to make that assessment:

• Do you have severe pain along with bleeding?
• Do you have a partially dislodged or knocked-out adult tooth?
• Do you have a loose permanent tooth (but no pain)?
• Do you have an oral abscess or infection combined with swelling in the mouth or face?
• Do you have a severely bitten tongue or lip?
• Do you have a cracked or broken tooth?
• Have you lost a dental crown or filling?
• Do you have an object stuck between your teeth that shouldn’t be?
• Have you broken your jaw from trauma/injury?

Please call us right away if you have any of those conditions, and if you can’t reach us for emergency dental care, visiting the ER is your next best option.

What Is Not a Dental Emergency?

The easiest question you can ask yourself here is, “Can you wait to see your dentist in the next day or so?” It means that a chipped tooth that isn’t causing you pain can be delayed, but a chipped or cracked tooth that hurts or has sharp bits that hurt cannot wait. Sometimes, even a painful toothache can safely wait if it is not accompanied by an abscess or facial swelling, bumps on your gum tissue, or a rising fever. Losing a filling or crown can typically wait several days if necessary.

Dental emergencies benefit from remembering to stay calm. Knowing what to do beforehand can help facilitate that needed self-control, especially when pain is combined with stress, making it harder to think clearly. When should you visit an emergency room if you can’t reach our dentist?

Visiting Your Nearest Emergency Room

• You’ve sustained an injury to your head or eye
• You’ve suffered a concussion and are experiencing confusion
• You’ve broken a bone or dislocated a joint in your jaw
• You have a cut or facial laceration likely to require multiple stitches

When it comes to your oral health, remember to never ignore dental injuries, illnesses, or conditions. Sometimes a problem can wait until you see your dentist, but many times, early intervention is necessary. When in doubt, call our office to make sure! And if you can’t reach us after hours, please seek help at your local ER.

In between dental visits, stay on top of your oral hygiene habits to help keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong throughout the year. And if you are participating in recreational activities this winter, wear a mouth guard and helmet as needed. Speak to our team about what you can do today to prevent a dental accident. Your smile deserves your best care!

The post Don’t Let a Preventable Dental Emergency Sideline Your Oral Health first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

Halloween is lurking around the corner, but so is the coronavirus, making traditional Halloween parties trickier. This year, big parties and parades, creepy haunted houses, and gathering in crowds to trick-or-treat are off the table for many, or at the very least, downsized and held outdoors while social distancing. While the traditional ways of celebrating Halloween may look different this year, your family can still stock up on Halloween candy and dress up for some squeamishly spooky fun.

Treat Your Teeth

The problem with sweets is that all that sugary goodness can wreak havoc on teeth and gums. When you snack on sugary treats, be sure to rinse your mouth well with water afterward or brush your teeth if possible. Avoid hard, chewy, or extra sticky candies like the plague to avoid damaging dental plaque!

Eerie Count Chocula

Chocolate is a better choice when getting your sweets on, as it melts quickly and doesn’t stress the chompers like taffy, caramel, or other hard, sticky candies typically do. It’s easier to clean chocolate off the teeth unless they are filled with caramel or nougat fillings. Candy season can also be made more tooth-friendly by drinking plenty of water to keep saliva levels optimal. Saliva helps wash away oral debris to reduce harmful plaque. Supply your child with mini water bottles and sugar-free gum when brushing their teeth is not possible. Help your family stick to a healthy diet in general, so teeth and gums stay strong during the treat-laden holiday season for the next three months.

Frightful Family Fun

To protect your child’s wickedly cute smile during this pumpkin season, you can do what some parents do and limit daily candy consumption! Some spread out a trick-or-treating haul throughout the month and make sure they clean their teeth after eating sugary goodies. Others limit treats to a few days around Halloween itself. Having your family eat their candy right after a meal can help minimize plaque and tartar. Whatever works best for you and your family’s traditions, remember to instill in them the lifelong habit of cleaning their teeth after enjoying sweet treats.

Creating Safe Halloween Smiles

Here are some spooktacular ideas to enjoy scaring your loved ones with some wicked good fun!

Tip: If a costume comes with a mask, consider wearing a safety mask under it. Double the mask, double the protection!

• Go all out this year by making or buying fun costumes for your family and taking lots of pictures to share on social media, send to extended family, or display in an album or on the wall!
• Join friends and extended family in a “virtual costume contest” and award prizes and treats that can be dropped off or delivered by your favorite delivery company (Instacart, Walmart or Amazon).
• Host a cool Zoom Halloween party, complete with scary music, games, or dance party for older kids.
• Buy your child’s favorite Halloween candy, plastic spiders and bats, spooky stickers, Halloween-themed pencils, and mini tubes of toothpaste and flosses and let them trick-or-treat door-to-door INSIDE your house!
• Check out your neighbors’ Halloween decorations while driving around, or masking up and walking around to wave at them from the sidewalk. If the neighbors are game, you can use Facebook or NextDoor to vote on the best decorations.
• Paint scary pumpkins and place them around the house or by your doorstep. For extra spooky fun, paint teeth on them and practice “brushing” with your little ones armed with a new superhero or other character-inspired children’s toothbrush just for them.
• Have a Rotten Witch Teeth guessing contest! Fill a clear jar with candy corn and have your kids guess how many wicked witch “rotten teeth” there are!
• Take your family to a drive-thru Halloween haunt! Instead of Christmas lights, you’re getting spooked from frightful Halloween decorations.
• Have a haunted skull glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt! Fill plastic skulls with mini dental floss and toothpaste, sugar-free candy or gum, glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces, vampire teeth, or plastic spider rings to hunt for in the yard. If you can’t find skulls, mini plastic pumpkins or mummies are also fun!
• Decorate a Halloween candy tree (artificial or real) with creepy lights and treats, including travel-sized dental floss, glow sticks, toothpaste, and more (see ideas above), so kids can grab their own goodies from your porch or yard.
• Parade your child through the neighborhood to show off their cool costume and wave at your neighbors. When you come home, treat your child to a Halloween toy or goody bag instead of trick-or-treating.
• Have some scary family movie nights or a Halloween night macabre marathon with healthy treats. Spooky apple smiles (cored and quartered apples decorated with blanched slivered almond “teeth”), Clementine pumpkins (peeled and topped with a celery stick stalk), and banana ghosts (peeled bananas with chocolate chips for eyes and mouth) are a fun way to enjoy sweet treats safely!
• Anonymously drop off a Halloween goodie bag or decorated pumpkin on the doorsteps of a few friends, family or neighbors to spread some spooky cheer, contact-free! After dark, tip-toe silently to the front door, ring the doorbell, and then “ghost” them by dropping off a ghoulish goodie and hiding or running away.

Harrowing Halloween Fun for Families

Download one of these fun pumpkin carving stencils like Billy the Bicuspid, Count Bicuspid, Frankentooth’s molar, and more as well as Activity Sheets or Coloring Sheets:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/resources/activity-sheets/halloween

From our dental family to yours, no matter how you celebrate Halloween this year, make it safe, healthy, and fun for all!

The post Healthy Dental Tips For the Spooky Season! first appeared on Jeppson Dental.

September is National Gum Care Month, so let’s talk about everything related to gums. This month is a good time to reflect on your dental health and commit to taking better care of your gums. Sometimes, we forget your gums help keep your teeth in their place and functioning at top capacity. When your gums are damaged, you risk losing your teeth!

Protecting your gums is simple; brushing and flossing every day is part of a personal dental hygiene practice as well as keeping routine dental cleanings. This way, tartar can be removed and your teeth polished. Your gums can also be checked for signs of trouble and to treat problems early. Stick to a balanced diet to give your gums the nutrients they need to fight disease.

The Problem With Gum Disease

Treating gum disease is most effective when done in the early stage of gum disease because treatment can reverse the progress of gum disease. Once your gums are fighting serious infection, it’s harder to treat and progressively worsens. Like most things medically related, preventative care supports your oral and general health most effectively. When teeth are lost (other than teeth that are pulled for a purpose like wisdom teeth or tooth extraction procedures), the cause is often progressive gum disease. Gum disease is a common problem in our country, affecting around 67 million Americans.

Two Types of Gum Disease

Gum disease is broken down into two types. The mild version is the early stage, called gingivitis. Over time it progresses into periodontitis, a more dangerous phase. Both are caused by bacterial toxins leading to infection. In the gingivitis stage, you’ll see your gums as red, swollen, painful, and bleeding. In the later stage, you’ll see infection from inflammation in the gums, ligaments, and bone surrounding the teeth loosening teeth that either fall out or need to be removed from bone loss.

Gingivitis

We urge you to tell your dentist right away if you notice that your gums are bleeding, find sores in your mouth, have gum pain or find yourself with an unpleasant taste in your mouth along with bad breath. Having your gums checked and treated right away will help them stay healthier, longer, and with minimal damage.

Periodontitis

Advancing periodontitis involves rapid gum recession. This version often appears with young people having a growth spurt. They may be deficient in vitamins that protect the gums, rather than being overrun by bad oral bacteria. Once gum disease advances because of periodontitis, you may see spurts of infection mingled with improvement as you receive treatment. But gum disease affects the rest of your health, not just your mouth. As a systemic disease, gum disease will spread through your bloodstream to other organs in the body, resulting in inflammation related to diabetes, heart disease and even autoimmune issues.

Preventing Gum Disease

Avoiding gum disease means stopping bacterial plaque in the mouth that leaves a sticky film coating your teeth that you can feel when you run your tongue across them. Brushing twice a day for two minutes each session – followed by flossing – removes harmful bacteria to keep it from building up and hardening into tartar. Some tartar buildup is inevitable around the gum line, and this is one of the main reasons you see your dentist for a professional cleaning every six months. As gingivitis progresses and the gums start to recede from the teeth, bacterial plaque hardens into tartar inside the pockets around the teeth. Without intervention, the bone and ligaments keeping your teeth in position continue to deteriorate until they loosen.

Keep your gums pink and healthy by using a soft-bristled toothbrush (replacing when the bristles start to fray) and enamel strengthening toothpaste. Don’t forget to floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash. Fend off dry mouth by staying hydrated throughout your day and chewing sugar-free gum or lozenges. Be sure to control diabetes if you have it, and quit tobacco use. Limit the sugar in your diet, and incorporate more nutrient-dense and vitamin-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and calcium.

Treating Gum Disease

National Gum Care Month is a great time to see your dentist if you have any concerns about your gums. Once gum disease is a problem for you, you may also need to see a periodontist, endodontist or oral surgeon who can help reverse gum disease. Your smile deserves the best care, so contact our team today!

The post National Gum Care Month Is a Good Reminder for You To Prevent Gum Disease first appeared on Jeppson Dental.