Don’t Forget Your Dental Health on Vacation

Posted on: June 21st, 2023 by tcg_admin

Headed on vacation? Don’t forget to schedule some time for dental hygiene! Here’s some easy ways to make sure your pearly whites stay healthy and strong while you’re traveling.

Your toothbrush

Ventilate
- Don’t wrap or keep your toothbrush in a holder without holes for ventilation.
- Moisture locked inside can cause bacteria to grow on your toothbrush.
- Keep your toothbrush in a large enough container to circulate air.
Keep it dry
- Leave your toothbrush out of your travel bag or case to let it dry out.
Pack an extra toothbrush
- It’s easy for toothbrushes to get lost and those provided by the hotel are too firm for your gums.
- Pack one in your carry-on and one in your checked baggage.

Compact Items

The more compact your oral hygiene items, the more likely you are to keep them handy and use them.
- Foldable toothbrushes
- Mini toothpastes
- Small bottle of mouthwash
- Keep these in a purse or carry-on bag so you can use them during your flights.

Don’t drink the water!

If you’re traveling somewhere you can’t drink the water, don’t rinse your mouth or your toothbrush with it.
- According to the CDC, Use bottled water for your oral hygiene.

Pack chewing gum

If you find it hard to keep up with brushing your teeth as often as usual, chewing sugarless gum after eating.
Also, green tea can protect your teeth.

Watch your sugar intake

Vacation time is a time to eat whatever you want!
- However, sugary treats can have a bad effect on your teeth and gums.
- Try to keep those treats to a minimum.

If it has been a while since your last check-up or if you’re new to the area and looking for a family dentist, give us a call today at (931) 647-2243. We love new patients at Richview Family Dentistry!

Mouth Cancer – What it is & How to Prevent it

Posted on: May 1st, 2023 by tcg_admin

According to the Mayo Clinic, mouth or oral cancer develops in any part of the mouth.

Your dentist is your first line of defense and detection. Unlike your regular doctor, your dentist is constantly working on your mouth. Though we observe Oral Cancer Month every April, our patients should be on the look out for these signs and symptoms all year round.

Symptoms:

A lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal
A white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth
Loose teeth
A growth or lump inside your mouth
Mouth pain
difficulty swallowing

If any signs persist for over two weeks, contact your doctor or dentist.

Causes:

Mouth cancers form when cells on the lips or in the mouth develop changes or mutations in their DNA.
Mouth cancers begin in the flat, thin cells (squamous cells) that line your lips and the inside of your mouth.

Risk factors:

Tobacco use of any kind, including:
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Pipes
- Chewing tobacco
- And vaping
Heavy alcohol use
Excessive sun exposure to your lips
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
A weakened immune system

How to reduce your risk of mouth cancer:

Stop using tobacco – If you don’t smoke, don’t start
- Using tobacco exposes the cells in your mouth to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals
Moderate your drinking – or stop drinking alcohol
- Excessive alcohol use can irritate the cells in your mouth.
Avoid excessive sun exposure to your lips
- Stay in the shade
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat
- Apply sunscreen lip products
Most importantly, see your dentist regularly. As part of a routine dental examination, ask your dentist to inspect your mouth for signs of mouth cancer.

Best vs. Worst Halloween Candy for Teeth

Posted on: October 26th, 2016 by tcg_admin

Halloween is just around the corner, and that means your house may soon be flooded with candy and other special goodies. While most things are okay in moderation, some Halloween treats are undoubtedly better for your oral health than others.

Check out our recommendations for the best & worst Halloween treats for your teeth!

Worst Treats for Your Teeth:

Sticky Sweets

Beware of treats that can stick to your teeth. This includes gummies, taffy, or even caramel apples! Be ready to have your floss and toothbrush handy when enjoying goodies like these, especially if you or your kids are indulging at night time.

Hard Candies

While candies like lollipops and jawbreakers won’t necessarily stick to your teeth like taffy, these types of candy usually take a long time to dissolve, leaving your teeth exposed to sugar for a longer period of time.

Sour Candy

The acidity in sour candies can be rough on your tooth enamel. Thankfully, saliva helps to naturally break this acid down. You may be surprised to learn that it is actually wise to wait about 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating acidic snacks like this to give your saliva time to do its job!

Best Treats for Your Teeth:

Sugar Free Choices

Obviously, sugar free options (candy and gum alike) will have a less adverse effect on your teeth. Sugar free gum in particular leaves no sticky residue. In fact, sugar free gum can even help prevent cavities by increasing saliva production!

Chocolate

If you simply must have a classic Halloween candy, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) is arguably the best way to go. Unlike many options out there, chocolate does not stick to your teeth as long, making it a bit friendlier to the health of your mouth!

Non-Candy Alternatives or Non-Food Alternatives

Options like mini pretzels, goldfish crackers and the like are better for your teeth due to the lower sugar content. Due to food allergy concerns, many families are now opting to distribute non-food alternatives such as small toys, pencils or stickers too! Obviously, non-food options will have no effect on your oral health, and they can still be really fun!

Here at Richview Family Dentistry, we love enjoying a good time with our families and friends. Remember, it is certainly okay to enjoy yourself, even indulging in a sweet treat or two, as long as you balance with healthy options and good oral hygiene habits on a regular basis. We hope that you all have a wonderful and safe Halloween. After the holiday, come see us for a routine visit, dental cleaning and more in Clarksville, TN!

Sources:
Know Your Teeth
Parenting

Protect Your Teeth Against Sports Injuries

Posted on: July 25th, 2016 by tcg_admin

When suiting up for sports this summer, don’t forget to protect your smile!

It can be easy to forget about your oral health when it comes to playing summer sports, but doing so is a mistake! While we love seeing all of our dental patients, we want to prevent emergency visits whenever possible. Check out our tips for protecting your teeth while playing this summer!

1) Wear a Mouthguard for Contact Sports

There are plenty of contact sports to be enjoyed in the summer, from baseball to soccer! Using a mouthguard is a simple, cost effective way to protect your child or yourself from unnecessary pain and expense due to a mouth injury. Whether playing organized summer sports, or a pickup game with friends, make sure you take your mouthguard along. Mouthguards come in a variety of styles and colors.

Standardized Mouthguards: Available at most drug and athletic stores, these are the least expensive and most easily accessible. Although they provide the least protection, stock mouth guards are “better than nothing” and can be purchased in a pinch.
Mouth-Formed Guards: While slightly more expensive, this type of guard forms to a person’s teeth for a more custom fit. Protectors that are mouth-formed can also be purchased at many sporting goods stores.
Custom Mouthguards: Custom guards offer the most protection for your mouth, along with the most comfortable fit. Custom mouthguards are created by dentists, and while they are the most expensive option, people who require the use of a mouthguard often find the cost well worth it.

2) Be Mindful of Your Teeth When Swimming

If you are a frequent swimmer, wear goggles so that you are sure to see well and avoid running into anything that might damage your teeth. If you are one of many swimmers who suffer from “swimmer’s calculus” (a yellow stain that can be brought on by spending lots of time in chemically treated water), be sure to see the dentist for a thorough teeth cleaning!

3) Wear A Helmet

Think a helmet is just for your head? Think again! Helmets can protect not only the top of your head, but your face and mouth as well. Falls and bicycle crashes are all too common in the summer, but a cracked tooth or worse may be avoidable simply by wearing a helmet!

Make sure to keep your family smiling by protecting your mouth this summer! Staying active is even more fun when you stay safe. If you are inspired to get a custom mouth guard or come in for a cleaning, give us a call at Richview Family Dentistry. We pride ourselves on our warm, welcoming environment where you’ll actually enjoy a visit to the dentist!

Resources:

Delta Dental of California

Dentistry for the Entire Family

Fun Fact: Sunshine is good for your teeth!

Posted on: June 20th, 2016 by tcg_admin

Did you know that getting out in the sun this summer can be good for your oral health?

It’s true! The sun shining down is not only a mood booster, but a few rays can have a positive impact on your pearly whites! How? The increased production of Vitamin D, of course! Spending some time in the sun is a great way to naturally absorb this necessary vitamin.

Vitamin D is essential to your health for many reasons, but it is especially imperative for strong, healthy teeth! Here are just a few reasons why proper Vitamin D production should make you smile.

1) Vitamin D Helps You Absorb Calcium

We all know that calcium is necessary to strong bones and teeth, but you may not know that your body uses Vitamin D as a catalyst to absorb calcium. Whether you are getting your calcium from food or supplements, Vitamin D helps make sure it really takes!

2) Vitamin D Helps Fight Tooth Decay

Some studies suggest that Vitamin D is responsible for up to a 50 percent reduction in tooth decay! Wow, now that is what we call maximizing your time in the sun!

3) Vitamin D Helps Regulate Your Immune System

As your body’s first defense against illness, keeping your immune system strong is a must! Vitamin D can help do just that. Studies have shown that Vitamin D can also help your pancreas produce insulin and lower your blood pressure!

If spending time in the sun isn’t for you, don’t worry. You can get Vitamin D from food and supplements in order to reap the same benefits for your teeth! Some Vitamin D rich foods include:

Eggs
Milk
Salmon
Spinach
Kale
Soybeans
And more!

At Richview Family Dentistry, we are always on the lookout for fun ways to improve your oral health! Our office is a state-of-the-art facility that doubles as a warm, welcoming environment where you’ll actually enjoy a visit to the dentist and leave with a smile! Check us out on Facebook, or contact us to make an appointment for your next cleaning. In the meantime, do yourself (and your smile) a favor and get out in the sun. Just don’t forget your sunscreen!

Sources:

New Beauty

Sunny Brook Dental

Web MD

Smiling is the best, for many reasons!

Posted on: May 25th, 2016 by tcg_admin

Smiling is a great way to improve your mood and your health.

At Richview Family Dentistry, we love to see smiling faces. That is why we have dedicated our lives to improving people’s smiles. As much as everyone loves to laugh and smile, there may be even more reasons to smile than you realized. Here are just some of the reasons smiling is the best:

Smiling boosts your immune system.

Smiling changes the chemistry in your body. Numerous medical studies have found smiling can help lower heart rate, steady breathing and relax the body, which results in a stronger immune system.
You feel better when you smile.

When a person is smiling, it affects muscles that make you feel happy or joyful. You smile because you are happy and when those muscles are in use, your brain sends endorphins. Smiling really does make you feel better!
Smiling is contagious.

When someone is having a bad day, pay them a compliment with a smile. The double-duty mood boosting effect will turn their day around for sure.
Smiling helps reduce stress.

There was a study performed in 2012 that brought a whole new meaning to the term “grin and bear it.” The people who had a bigger smile during a difficult task actually completed it with less stress. So, when you tackle something hard, remember to do it with a smile on your face!
Even fake smiles do the trick.

Even when your existing mood and surroundings suggest otherwise, faking a smile can help your improve mood and health. It only takes smiling for a brief period to experience the benefits — no matter how contrived it feels initially. In this case, maybe it’s OK to fake it a little.
Smile your way to success.

People who smile more often are perceived to be more attractive. Psychological research has shown that attractive people are perceived as more successful, intelligent, and friendly.
Smiling is a universal sign of happiness.

Language may be a barrier, but facial expressions like the smile are universal signs of happiness. So show your pearly whites and spread the happiness around!

At Richview Family Dentistry, we want to help keep a smile on your face and also help you feel confident in your smile! Contact us today to set up an appointment for a routine cleaning or a consultation for Invisalign. Our office is a state-of-the-art facility that doubles as a warm, welcoming environment where you’ll actually enjoy a visit to the dentist and leave with a smile!
Sources:
Huffington Post
Life Hack
Body & Soul

Help, I lost a filling!

Posted on: February 29th, 2016 by tcg_admin

What do I need to do until I’m able to see the dentist?

Losing a filling can be a traumatic experience, but is isn’t necessarily and emergency. You may notice a filling has come out when you feel something in your mouth that feels hard, like a rock, or your tongue feels a strange hole or other change to one of your teeth.

1) Remove the filling from your mouth.

In general it is safe to discard your filling, it will most likely not fit where it was originally placed anymore. If you can’t find the filling and think that you swallowed it, don’t worry. It should pass naturally and not cause you any harm.

There are some common reasons for a filling to come loose and fall out. These include:

An older filling that has weakened over time.
A weaker filling material (some fillings are not meant to last forever).
Teeth grinding and clenching can cause a filling to become loose over time.
Chewing on hard items can cause a filling to chip and dislodge.
The filling being hit at a strange angle and dislodging during a meal can occur.
New tooth decay under the filling can cause it to loosen.

2) Call the dentist.

We will set up an appointment to fix the issue as quickly as possible. Although this isn’t an emergency, you will want to get the problem fixed quickly. In the meantime, there are a few things that you can do to make yourself more comfortable.

Use clove oil or an oral pain reliever (such as anbesol) to avoid discomfort. Over the counter pain medicine (Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin) will help ease discomfort too.
Avoid chewing with the damaged tooth.
Make sure to clean the area well after eating.
Rinse after every meal with warm salt water.
Temporary filling material containing zinc-oxide can sometimes be found over the counter to cover the spot until your appointment.

Once you get to our office for your appointment, we will be able to take over. Make sure you tell us exactly what happened, and what steps you took to protect your tooth when you come in. From there we will be able to fix any damage, remove any additional decay, and replace your filling. If you have any questions or are worried that it could be a more serious problem, feel free to call Richview Family Dentistry.

At Richview Family Dentistry in Clarksville, TN. we are committed to providing the best possible dental care for you and your family. From our dentists to our hygienists to the office staff who greet you at the front desk, we want you to have an exceptional experience every step of the way!

Sources:
Colgate
Oral Answers
Direct Dental

What should I expect when I schedule a dental cleaning?

Posted on: January 21st, 2016 by tcg_admin

A basic teeth cleaning is designed to clean and polish your teeth while also providing a general health screening for your mouth.

As intimidating as that might sound, it’s actually a relatively simple and painless appointment! At Richview Family Dentistry we are committed to providing you and your family with the best possible dental care.

No matter how diligent you are with your home routine, regular checkups with a dentist and hygienist are important. A professional cleaning rids your teeth of calcified plaque, called calculus or tartar, that can build up in hard-to-reach places. We can also watch teeth for early signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or other dental problems.

Cleaning Your Teeth

During the cleaning, the dentist or hygienist will:

Use a scaler (a small metal instrument) to scrape off tartar along the gum line.
Next, we will use an ultrasonic vibrating device to shake loose plaque and tartar off, then rinse it away with a stream of water.
This is followed by a tooth polishing. We will polish the teeth with a lightly abrasive paste. The now-smooth tooth surfaces make it more difficult for plaque to accumulate before your next cleaning.
We will finish up your cleaning with a flossing and fluoride rinse.

Tooth Exam

Once your cleaning is finished, the dentist will give your teeth a thorough exam. We will look for signs of decay, using a metal probe and a small mirror with an angled handle. We will also check for gum swelling and redness. Additionally, we will be on the lookout for evidence of tooth grinding as well as screen for other problems, including signs of oral cancer.

The majority of dental patients find routine teeth cleanings painless. Most dental cleanings last between 30 minutes to an hour. After a cleaning, you may notice that your teeth feel fresher and look brighter, too!

To schedule your next routine dental cleaning contact us at Richview Family Dentistry. Our office is a state-of-the-art facility that is a warm, welcoming environment where you’ll actually enjoy a visit to the dentist! Discover more about who we are, then call us at (931) 647-2243 to schedule your consultation.

Sources:
Healthline
Delta Dental
Dental One

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