Tea Tree Oil For Dental Health?

If you follow your dentist's recommendations on cleaning and flossing your teeth then you should have healthy gums and strong teeth.

There are many ways to keep your mouth healthy but one natural remedy is using tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is taken from the leaves of a Melaleuca Alternifolia plant that is native to Australia. This plant is known for its natural disinfectant and has been used for many years in the medical and dental professions as an antiseptic.

Tea tree oil has many benefits for your dental health:

• Helps prevent plaque - The oil fights off microorganisms that destroy tissues in the mouth which cause plaque, receding gums, and tartar deposits. 
• Helps eliminate bad breath - Using tea tree oil as a mouthwash has anti-deodorant properties.
• Helps prevent gum disease - 
• Rub a small amount of tea tree oil on swollen/sore gums.
• Add 3-5 drops of tea tree oil to a small glass of water and swish. Do this twice a day.
• Apply a few drops of tea tree oil directly onto your toothbrush and brush for at least two minutes. 
• Helps relieve pain from toothaches - Rinse your mouth with a tea tree oil mixture (listed above) and then apply a small amount of Aloe Vera to the infected tooth. 
• Mouth sores - Rinse mouth with a tea tree oil mixture (listed above).
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*Remember this is just a remedy to keep your mouth healthy and should not replace your dentist.

For more information click here!

Beware of Those Tricky Dental Coupon Specials !

 Dental centers are offering specials everyday. There are many sites out there that offer coupons and other promotions to get drive patients into the dental office. However, I would caution you to using that as your primary dental coverage. I say that, because there are people out there that do. Every time they go to the dentist, they are looking for that coupon or promotion that will save them the most amount money possible. Sounds reasonable right? Well, again I caution you about doing that and here's why.

1.  A coupon or promotion is just that! It is not an open ended offer. It is a limited time special to drive you into that dentist office, who in turn is trying to retain you as a patient. The offer will end! Most of them are new patient specials and you will only see that price on your first visit. So if you do return and you don't have coverage, you will be charged full price.

2. If you have exhausted the promotion at one dental office and you go to another one to use their special, you are starting again as a new patient, which means new x-rays, new exam, new treatment plan, new diagnosis.

Ideally, you should think of your dentist as another general practitioner, although most people don't. When you go to your regular doctor for treatment, you usually stick with that doctor through the course of your treatment. It should be the same way with your dentist. The longer you stay with your dentist the better your dental health will be.

Now back to the coverage. Regardless, YOU NEED DENTAL COVERAGE.. PERIOD.. The cost of dental care is high and is still increasing. You will wind up paying a lot of money out of pocket for your dental work.

So, although the specials and promos are nice, they are not the same as good, long term dental coverage.

Chipped Tooth...What Can I do?

Did you know the smile is the most memorable feature after first meeting someone new?  So, what happens when you have a chipped or broken tooth? Has the new person's view of you changed? 

Well, don't let it affect you! There are many ways your dentist can fix a chipped or broken tooth!

• Filling or Bonding:  The dentist will apply a filling to repair a small chipped part of the tooth's enamel. However, if you have a chipped tooth upfront, they will apply a tooth-colored composite resin called bonding.
• Dental Veneers: This is a tooth-colored composite resin or porcelain that will be applied over the surface or the chipped or broken tooth by using a special kind of cement. 
• Dental Cap or Crown: If you have lost a large portion of the tooth, you may need to have a dental cap or crown. This will be placed over the tooth to protect it, preserve function of the tooth, and enhance aesthetic appeal. 

If you break a tooth or notice a chip, call your dental office immediately to get professional advice!

Information found here!

Random Fun Dental Facts

 More endless research on the internet turned up these interesting trivial facts!

• In the year 1900, the tooth fairy would leave approximately 12 cents. In the year 1998, one dollar. Imagine, at the current rate of inflation....this year, the year 2022...NICE! $$$$$
• You cannot conceal your smoking habit with mouthwash or brushing before a visit! That's right, your dentist knows :)...Apparently, the smoke residue seeps into the tissue surrounding your gums....
• You would need to have more than 300 amalgam fillings to even come close to the amount of mercury that is considered dangerous.
• 100 years ago, 50% of adults in North America were toothless!
• The first electric toothbrush was introduced in 1939.
• The antibacterial properties in Black and Green Tea CAN help prevent cavities.
• Chewing gum that contains Xylitol can help prevent cavities by reducing the bad bacteria in your mouth.
• Mouthwashes containing alcohol are only temporarily effective, and the alcohol dries out your mouth.
• Snails have teeth! Thousands of them...and yet, turtles are toothless!
• You will get more radiation from an hour in the sun than from a dental x-ray.

One more....this one is great!

• A survey once done by Time Magazine concluded that 59% of Americans would prefer to sit in a dentist's chair than to sit next to someone on a cell phone!

Enjoy, and Keep Smiling!

Harmful Effects Of Soft Drinks On Teeth

Did you know one can of coke cola has 39 grams of sugar? That's roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar per can. Now multiply that by how many cans you drink per day, how much sugar are you consuming JUST in soft drinks?

There are two main effects of drinking soft drinks:

• Erosion
• Causing cavities

Erosion begins when the acid of the soft drink attacks the tooth enamel and once the enamel is worn away, cavities are formed, which can lead to pain and sensitivity.

You can fight tooth decay and erosion by:

• Drinking soft drinks in moderation or eliminating them.
• Use a straw so your teeth are less exposed to the drink.
• Drinking water in between to help rinse the mouth.
• Use fluoride toothpaste.

Having an x-ray done will help determine what type of treatment is available. Small lesions can often be fixed by having a filling but for bigger lesions, you may need a root canal or have the tooth removed.  

If you are a soft drink lover like myself, try drinking it in moderation to protect your dental health!

Shouldn't My Elderly Dentist Retire?

 "I just realized my dentist is older than dirt! Shouldn't he retire?"  "Is it safe to see a dentist that is well past retirement age?'  

These are some of the questions I have been asked recently.  The answers are complicated.      

The average age in the U.S for a dentist to retire is 68 years, according to a study done in 2017.  That said, I have known dentists who have continued to work into their seventies.  

Following the recession in 2008, many dentists were actually forced out of retirement.  Many who may have retired during that time chose instead to continue working.  Many simply love the work....and the income!  

There is no guideline for when a dentist should retire.  If he is able to practice at age 74, then bravo!  Many will continue to practice but at a diminished capacity, sticking to the simpler procedures.  

If you have doubts or are skeptical about getting treatment by an elderly dentist, you can always contact your local Board of Dental Examiners to see if there are any recent complaints or if his/her license is restricted.  Most often, though, they are able to perform just as well as they ever did.  Chalk that up to experience! 

Keep Smiling!

Is A Tooth Extraction Necessary?

Do you have a tooth that is bothering you? Are you wondering if it can be saved or if you need an extraction? Well, check out this article from one of our dental providers, Grand Avenue Family Dental. They are located in Surprise, AZ. 

"CAN THE DENTIST SAVE MY TOOTH OR DO I NEED AN EXTRACTION 

Posted by: Tracey

Natural teeth are very important for chewing, biting, and maintaining jawbone structure and are meant to last a lifetime. Therefore, your dentist will do everything he or she can before deciding to extract natural teeth. There are several reasons your dentist may result to extracting a tooth.

REASONS FOR TOOTH EXTRACTION

Crowding of the teeth sometimes leads your dentist to pull a tooth or two to make room for the other ones. It’s usually done before orthodontic work in order to be able to align the teeth properly.

Infection may result in tooth extraction if the damage or decay extends to the center of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels are. Bacteria can enter this area and cause an infection. Often times dentists can correct this with a root canal but if the infection is too severe they will have to extract it.

The risk of infection can cause your dentist to extract your tooth. This is usually only if your immune system is compromised by treatments like chemotherapy or organ transplant treatments. If the risk of infection is too high, the dentist will decide to pull the tooth.

Periodontal Gum Disease can sometimes cause loosening of the teeth. This is because it is an infection of the tissues and the bone that supports the tooth. If this happens a tooth extraction may be required.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR TOOTH EXTRACTION APPOINTMENT

Your dentist will inject your surrounding gum with a local anesthetic to numb the area before extracting the tooth. This will make sure you don’t experience any pain during the procedure. They will then pull the tooth and pack the socket with gauze to stop the bleeding. Stitches are sometimes required."

Are You In Need of Dental Financing?

Ok, so you've just been to the dentist and found out that you need thousands of dollars of restorative work. You have what we commonly refer to as "sticker shock". You know that you don't have that kind of money just laying around..

Whether you are in need of restorative work or cosmetic dentistry, there are a variety of creative financing plans available to help. Dentistry is among the most expensive in healthcare, with costs rising even as the economy is failing. Here are some suggestions for those who are in need of major restorative work, but who cannot afford the out of pocket expense. 

First of all, make sure you have good dental coverage (a good dental plan used in conjunction with your credit plan will go a long way toward lowering the costs, thereby making your money go farther.) 
Here is one of the most popular credit organizations to consider:

• Care Credit Healthcare Plan is a financing company that is offered by Synchrony Bank. It offers financing for personal healthcare, i.e. dental, (cosmetic or restorative) vision care, surgical procedures, (and just FYI) there is financing available for pet care as well! This option does require that you qualify for a loan. Click here to read more.

Other Credit Cards to look into could be Chase Freedom Unlimited, City Simplicity Card and Capital One Quicksilver.   Some of these offer interest free periods, points toward other purchases and low APR's. 

Unfortunately, there are many who may not qualify for financing. Don't give up! Many dental providers are now offering in-house financing options for people with no insurance, or who might need a little help with funding for an expensive treatment plan. Additionally, dental school clinics are a consideration, as they can perform most procedures at discounted fees and all work is done under supervised conditions.

Believe it or not, there is something out there for everyone in the way of affordable dental care! Don't be discouraged!