Children | General Dentistry | Oral Health
Your children are watching you, even when you think they aren’t. And they learn a lot from what they see — both good and bad. While it can seem like you’re wasting your time when you try to instill good habits in your kids through lectures and teaching them, some of it gets through. The best way to ensure your kids pick up good habits, however, is to model them yourself. This is particularly true when it comes to good oral health. By holding yourself to at least the same standard of dental care that you’d like to see from your children, you’re sending the message that this is, truly, something that’s important throughout their lives.
General Dentistry | Oral Health
Knowing your options when it comes to dental treatments is an advantage: you’re not just limited to what your insurance will cover or the newest fad that’s being discussed around the watercooler. While the standard treatments to keep your teeth and gums looking and feeling their best are staples — things like teeth whitening, orthodontic devices to better align your teeth and no-frills but necessary cleanings and cavity fillings — there are other services offered that you may not know a thing about but could dramatically change your life for the better.
Dental Benefits | General Dentistry | Oral Health
Nobody likes dealing with acne. Whether you call them zits, pimples, blackheads or just plain blemishes, these unsightly breakouts cause embarrassment. You may be surprised to find out that your breakouts are caused by more than meets the eye. Although acne can have a number of causes, the one that’s often overlooked is the health of your teeth. Rather than stress about your newest bunch of pimples, check with your dentist to see if there’s anything you can do to relieve a breakout that just won’t seem to end.
What Causes Acne?
Acne can have a number of causes, including but not limited to:
- Hormones
- excess oil production
- dry or dehydrated skin
- bacteria
While your teeth have very little to do with how much oil your skin produces, your hormone levels or whether you’re drinking enough water, they absolutely can contribute to the bacterial load on your face. In fact, the same bacteria that causes breakouts — P. acne –naturally lives in your mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
How Teeth Contribute to Breakouts
Most of the time, your first stop in treating acne is a visit to your general practitioner, a dermatologist or even an esthetician. Unfortunately, some cases of acne baffle these providers. In those cases, it might be worth speaking to your dentist — especially if you’re already being treated for tooth pain or other dental issues.
Acne that is resistant to basic treatment may be caused by an abscess or an infected tooth. A basic dental exam can allow your provider to see if any of your teeth are presently infected. If so, you may find that your acne breakout subsides as you begin treating the tooth. This is because both the infection and the acne respond to the antibiotics commonly used in treatment.
What Can Be Done
Maintaining a blemish-free face and healthy teeth both require a normal self-care routine. You probably already wash and moisturize your face regularly. When it comes to your teeth, it pays to have a similar routine. You brush, floss and rinse according to your dentist’s guidelines. But just like the best skin care routine doesn’t always protect against zits, your normal oral health regimen won’t always protect against bacterial infections — some of which can lead to breakouts.
Setting up a dental appointment is your first step in warding off acne caused by tooth decay. Even during a routine cleaning, your dentist can assess your mouth and its needs and figure out pretty easily if anything is wrong. During a cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist may notice a tooth that has a cavity or other damage. If so, you’ll likely need to make another appointment to receive treatment for it. You may be prescribed a round of antibiotics to lessen the bacterial load in your body in the meantime, and that may help your acne disappear. Is it gone forever? No, so it’s important to keep any follow-up appointments; however, it is the first step in treating the underlying problem. Pretty soon, your complexion and your mouth will be in the best possible shape.
How We Can Help
If you suspect your treatment-resistant acne is being caused by an abscessed or infected tooth, we can help. While we’re not skin care experts, sorting out your oral health can potentially clear up a breakout if the underlying cause is, in fact, something related to your teeth.
The offices of Drs. Krieger and Hur make cosmetic dentistry easy and convenient, often completing procedures the same day! When your smile needs perfecting, but your time is limited, give us a call at 201-560-0606 or email us here and we’ll get you fast-tracked back to eye-catching confidence.
We heard your selfies could be a lot better, so we wrote a “How to Take a Great Selfie” guide to help you show off our great handywork. It’ll be our little secret! You don’t have to tell anyone that your dentist helped you perfect those iconic social media images.
Just click here, enter your email and download the PDF. Nothing could be easier. While you’re at it, go ahead and sign up for our newsletter for more tips for keeping that smile white and bright.
Dental Benefits | General Dentistry | Oral Health
There’s no doubt that snacking is the number one enemy when you’re trying to maintain your figure: sugary sweets, sour confections and baked goods can send even the most well-intentioned diet careening over a cliff. But these lapses in good judgment could be doing more than setting you back a few pounds on the scales; snacking can actually be ruining your teeth.
Dental Benefits | General Dentistry
Picture it: you’ve taken time out of your busy day to schedule a dental appointment for your stubborn husband or teen. They’re overdue for a cleaning, they haven’t had an exam in far too long, and getting them to go in is, well, like pulling teeth. You inform them of their upcoming appointment and get huffing, puffing, whining and moaning in return. Sound familiar?
Living with a stubborn husband or teen who refuses to go to the dentist is an all too common experience for many women. If simply booking the appointment for them causes grunting and groaning, there are other tactics you can try to get your family member to take their dental health seriously.
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Dental Fear | General Dentistry
You’ve dutifully made your dental appointment for a cleaning or to discuss Invisalign, but you’re still nervous, even though you know your teeth are in the very best of hands. Dental anxiety is common. Whether you’ve had bad experiences in the past or have a phobia, what you’re feeling is totally normal. But fear doesn’t need to rule your life when you step into the dentist’s office. Letting your dentist and staff know you’re nervous goes a long way in helping ensure you have the very best experience possible.
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General Dentistry | Oral Health
Keeping your smile looking its best, your breath fresh and your teeth and gums healthy are responsibilities you probably don’t take lightly. After all, good oral health confers so many benefits, both socially and to your overall health, we’d be hard-pressed to list them all. Regular brushing, flossing and, of course, visits to your dentist all play a part in keeping your mouth healthy and beautiful, but there’s one unsung hero of the oral health world that’s often overlooked: mouthwash.
With so many options to choose from, each boasting about a new benefit or feature, it can be tough to separate fact from advertising fiction. Here are five need-to-know facts about this small but powerful part of your everyday dental health routine:
General Dentistry | Oral Health
Chances are pretty good you’ve got a long list of things you’d rather do than sit in a dental chair for a cleaning, not including the other responsibilities you’ve got. Whether your days are full with running your kids to and from after-school activities or more leisurely pursuits like lunches and dates with friends, it can be tough to face the prospect of losing time to a dental cleaning. Regular cleanings are essential not just to your dental health, but to the appearance of your teeth as well. If you haven’t had time for a cleaning, here’s five good reasons to make today the day you grin and bear it. (more…)
Dental Benefits | General Dentistry
Just mention that you’re going for a dental visit and you’re sure to hear a horror story from a well-meaning friend, usually involving some degree of pain. Many people expect dentistry to be painful — after all, it’s a medical field and sometimes medical procedures hurt, right? Wrong. There’s absolutely no need to experience pain when undergoing a dental procedure. Painless dentistry isn’t an oxymoron, and it isn’t a myth: it’s a standard of care that is becoming the rule rather than the exception.
General Dentistry | Oral Health | Wellness
There’s nothing quite like a beautifully rich cheesecake or a thick, medium rare steak, but you’ve reached a point where the heartburn and acid reflux just aren’t worth the amazing flavors of your favorite dish. Your dentist expressed concerned about your tooth enamel at your last visit, is it possible that these two things are connected?
