Make Brushing Teeth Fun, Not a Chore!

Posted on: March 28th, 2016 by tcg_admin

Tooth brushing with your kids can be a fun, family time that will help keep everyone healthy.

The recommended time for tooth brushing is 2 whole minutes, which can feel like an eternity, especially to kids. It may seem difficult to keep kids brushing the entire time, but there are some simple and fun things that you can do to keep them going!

Give them choices.

Toothbrush options are limitless. Bring your kids with you when you shop for a new toothbrush and let them pick. Children’s toothbrushes come in all kinds of varieties and colors, so let them choose their favorite character (Batman, Minions, Barbie). On top of that, there are countless toothpaste choices! Make sure that you pick one that is ADA approved, but otherwise let your kids try a new toothpaste every time you need a new tube to keep things entertaining!
Play a game.

There a lots of fun toothbrushing games to play. You can count each tooth as they brush and cheer as each one is clean. You can play “chase the sugar bug” and pretend that the toothbrush is chasing the germs away. You can also pretend to be animals and make faces at each other in the mirror while you brush. Open wide like a crocodile, show your teeth and growl like a tiger, yawn and show all your pearly whites like a hippo!
Musical brushing.

Nothing makes the time pass more quickly than a song! There are all kinds of fun brushing songs that you can look up on YouTube. There are also great apps (like Brush DJ and Brusheez) to help make the brushing time go faster!
Reward good brushing.

A reward isn’t a bribe, and it doesn’t have to be extravagant. You can choose small rewards for good brushing, like reading their favorite book, or playing a game together. You can also make a weekly chart to reward your kids with stickers, or a monthly chart that ends in a bigger reward like a trip to the movies.

No matter how you choose to reward your kids, teaching them to brush properly will help them for their entire lives. A little creativity can go a long way toward turning something that is a chore, into the best part of the day! For more ideas or to schedule your family’s next professional 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:
MYSA
Colgate
Aquafresh

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

931.647.2243

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