She has been a Registered Dental Hygienist for 19 years, with 10 of those years with Richview Family Dentistry! She and her husband, Matt, have two children, Connor and Victoria. When Michele is not working as a dental hygienist or busy with being a mom, fitness and running are her favorite pastimes. She is an active member of the 8TH District Dental Hygiene Association and the Clarksville Running Club.
While it’s true that wine can be harmful to your teeth, the good news is that having a little cheese with your wine can actually protect your teeth.
BUT! – Don’t brush your teeth right after finishing a glass of wine. Brushing causes the enamel that has softened from the acid to be brushed away quicker.
INSTEAD – brush your teeth an hour or so BEFORE drinking.
Another solution is to drink Sparkling Water in between glasses of wine. Swish it around in your mouth and allow the bubbles to loosen up and scrub away the stain.
And one last tip is to eat Fiber. Foods with high fiber content, like broccoli, brussel sprouts, and potatoes help produce more saliva and the chewing will scrub away stains as you chew.
If it’s time for a check-up or cleaning, make an appointment with Richview Family Dentistry. Call us to make an appointment today at (931) 647-2243
Source:
You protect your skin from the sun, but what about your teeth? Richview
Family Dentistry has some tips about caring for your teeth in hot weather.
Avoid sugary drinks and snacks. With the rising temperatures, it’s natural to want to quench your thirst. Just try to drink more water instead of sugary juices and sodas. Let your kids tell you when they’re hungry. Don’t offer sugary snacks. They’ll let you know when they want something to eat, but keep it healthy, like carrot sticks and fruit.
No matter how busy your kids get over the summer months, make sure they stay in the routine of brushing for 2 minutes twice a day and flossing daily. Be sure your kids know the importance of flossing. Any child over 10 years old should know how to floss between any two teeth that touch. If your child needs help, try putting your hands over theirs to guide them and get the job done.
The American Dental Association says you should be brushing for two minutes twice a day to boost your oral health. Science shows that if really can boost your oral health
Brushing your teeth is an important part of your dental care routine. Brushing helps remove plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. When the enamel breaks down, that’s when cavities can form.
Brushing is not the only way to have good oral health. Regular check-ups with your dentist and hygienist are also recommended.
If it’s time for a check-up or cleaning, make an appointment now with Richview Family Dentistry. Call to make an appointment (931) 647-2243
Although champagne is light in color, drinking champagne regularly can lead to tooth discoloration and stains. To avoid staining your teeth, consider drinking champagne with a straw. This will help the champagne bypass your front teeth and thus avoiding the potential for severe stains.
Since there is sugar in champagne, it can contribute to tooth decay. As oral bacteria feed on sugars caught on the surface of the teeth, this can lead to the formation of cavities and the weakening of your teeth. Brushing and flossing is always a great way to prevent tooth decay, so after having champagne, brush and floss your teeth to avoid doing damage to the tooth enamel.
The bubbles in champagne can also lead to problems with tooth structure. The carbonation creates a higher level of acidity in your mouth. When your oral pH is more acidic in nature, it can cause weakening and softening of the tooth enamel. This is known as acidic erosion or tooth erosion. To help reduce the acidity of your mouth, rinse your mouth out with water after having champagne.
If your teeth become stained or discolored, teeth whitening treatments can help. For severe stains that don’t respond to teeth whitening, porcelain veneers may be best. For tooth decay or damage done to the structure of teeth, it is always best to see your dentist as soon as possible to determine the best dental restoration.
If you need any of these services, make an appointment with Richview Family Dentistry. And don’t worry, we know how busy you’re going to be during the holiday, so we’ll send you a reminder. Call to make an appointment (931) 647-2243.
Even if you’ve lost track of your brushing and flossing routine, you can make up for it with and after holiday cleaning from Richview Family Dentistry. But do it now because you know how busy you’re going to be during the holiday. Call to make an appointment (931) 647-2243
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Source:
Absolute Dental
Halloween is just around the corner, which means your kiddos will soon be busy building their stockpile with the bags full of free candy they’ll get from their hard work trick-or-treating. Although your kids might fall victim to those sweet treats, adults are at risk too! Dr. Wall and Dr. Sherrill want to help you keep your kid’s mouth and your mouth healthy during Halloween. Don’t get spooked at your next appointment, use these tips to help keep you smiling.
Candy is hard to resist, especially during the Halloween season, so it’s best to eat candy and other sugary foods with meals. According to the ADA, saliva production increases during meals and will help cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth, and it will help rinse away food particles.
Drinking lots of water, brushing and flossing regularly and maintaining a healthy diet are all great ways to combat the effects of overindulgence in the Halloween candy bag. Another great way for parents to keep an eye on their children’s intake is to monitor their candy. Keep it hidden in a safe place and reward them with pieces after good behavior!
It’s important to monitor your child’s dental hygiene habits to help them establish a foundation of healthy practices. Brushing, flossing and regular check-ups are all part of a healthy smile! If you are unsure of kid-friendly and age-appropriate dental hygiene practices, Dr. Wall and Dr. Sherrill can help!
Contact Richview Family Dentistry at 931.647.2243 and schedule your appointment and your child’s next appointment today! Regular visits to your dentist can help prevent problems from occurring and catch those that do occur early when they are easy to “treat.”
Summer is still in full swing, but fall is just around the corner! Don’t let the back-to-school season sneak up on you and your family. While back-to-school for most is a busy time full of school shopping and parent-teacher meet and greets, you should also include dental visits for your children on your to-do list! Keeping their mouths healthy and happy is essential for a productive school year. Here are some hygiene tips to keep your kids smiling all school year long!
Back-to-school dental appointments can fill up faster than usual for dentist offices, so be sure to make it a priority to get your child in for a check-up. Once you’ve got the back-to-school visit taken care of, go ahead and plan the rest of your child’s appointments in advance. That way, you are able to plan around them once their extracurricular activities begin, giving you one less thing to worry about!
One thing that will help your child’s visit go smoothly is keeping them on a healthy diet. Not many kids are a fan of the dentist, but having regular cleanings doesn’t have to be a scary thing! A healthy diet can help prevent cavities and plaque buildup. When packing your child’s lunch, remember to include things like fruits low in citrus, cheeses or almonds, and avoid juices/sports drinks that are high in sugar as well as sodas. When it comes to staying hydrated, water is always the best option!
Don’t forget: Good hygiene starts at home! Encourage your child to brush with you in the mornings until they are able to get on a schedule of their own. Some dental habits vary depending on the age of your child, so be sure to check and make sure they are getting age-appropriate oral care.
Lastly, be prepared for a dental emergency. While you’re at your child’s dental appointment, pick up your dentist’s business cards. Give these cards to your child’s teacher, or put in their backpack and carry one in a purse or wallet as well. Having the contact details for your preferred dentist on you at all times can give you some peace of mind if an oral emergency occurs.
Going back-to-school can be a hectic time for both children and parents, but with the help of these oral health tips, it should help make the process a little easier on everyone! Your child will be able to go back-to-school with confidence in their healthy smile!
Contact Richview Family Dentistry at 931.647.2243 and schedule your child’s back-to-school appointment today!
Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them.
Because implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth. Dentures and bridges mounted to implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth — an especially important benefit when eating and speaking. This secure fit helps the dentures and bridges — as well as individual crowns placed over implants — feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures.
For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are simply not comfortable or even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, ordinary bridges must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place.
To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. You must also commit to keeping these structures healthy. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.
The American Dental Association considers two types of implants to be safe. They are:
Most dental implants are successful, and there are a few steps you can take to help ensure success and make your implant last.
Both Dr. Nina Sherrill and Dr. Bill Wall are experienced in dental implants and can help you decide if implants are a good fit for your oral care.
Dr. Wall has 20 years of experience with dental implants, from single-tooth replacement to full-mouth restoration. In August of 2006, Dr. Wall was awarded a fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
If you want to find out if you’re a candidate for dental implants and want more information, make an appointment today at Richview Family Dentistry. We’re located at 2289 Rudolphtown Rd. Clarksville, TN 37040. Phone (931) 647-2243.
Source:
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/implants/what-are-dental-implants
Dental anxiety and phobia are extremely common. It has been estimated that 9% to 15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear. That’s about 30 million to 40 million people.
Fear of pain is the main reason people avoid seeing the dentist. The good news is that there is a wide array of medications and techniques — used alone or in combination — that can reduce or eliminate pain and control anxiety during most procedures.
Here’s what you can expect during most trips to the dentist:
Besides dentists, there are other specialists that you might need for your complete oral care. They include:
In addition to the care of the teeth, there is an entire specialty that cares for all the structures that surround the teeth. Periodontists study and treat conditions that affect the stability of the teeth, such as bone levels, gum tissue, and the ligaments that hold the teeth in place in the bone. These specialists are also called upon to place dental implants with certification.
Endodontics is the field that studies the blood and nerve supply that lives inside the roots of the teeth. This tissue, called the dental pulp, sometimes needs special treatments to eliminate infections or repair injuries. The most common procedure that endodontists perform is root canals.
Orthodontists are specialists who work to align the jaw and straighten the teeth to improve the function and longevity of a patient’s dentition. Orthodontists aid in guided growth of the face and jaw through various orthopedic devices, such as braces, retainers, aligners and headgear. Seeing an orthodontist for one to three years is common in order to get a beautiful smile with straight teeth.
Taking care of your teeth means more than brushing and flossing. For complete care, it’s important to visit a dentist every six months for a regular checkup and professional cleaning. Schedule an appointment with Richview Family Dentistry and let us show you how we can alleviate your anxiety. Call us at (931) 647.2243 or email us at info@RichviewFamilyDentistry.com
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/controlling-dental-pain#1
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/what-is-dental-anxiety-and-phobia