responsetm, Author at Dr. Thomas Walther

Dental Care Myths

November 23, 2016 By responsetm

There are several dental care myths out there, and many people believe them. This could be dangerous for your dental health — so don’t believe everything you hear!

Dental Health Myth: “If my teeth don’t hurt, they’re fine.”

Many dental problems are hard to notice at first and don’t cause any pain until they become more serious. When things like gum disease or a cavity starts, only a dental professional may be able to see the warning signs. However, when these problems progress, discomfort sets in. And the further along it is, the more expensive and serious the treatment will be. Preventing a problem or catching it early is much better than waiting until it’s too late. Visit your dentist regularly so he or she can catch any early warning signs!

Dental Health Myth: “Tooth Decay Is Mainly Caused by Sugar.”

Many people think candy and sugary foods are the only cause of tooth decay. Although sugar plays a role in tooth decay, it isn’t the only thing. Acids from bacteria in your mouth combine with saliva and cause plaque buildup on teeth. This doesn’t only happen when eating sugar; it often happens when your mouth is breaking down carbohydrates!

Dental Health Myth: “Rinse your mouth out with water after brushing.”

Rinsing your mouth out with water may seem like it’s leaving your mouth extra clean. But it may actually be reducing the positive effects of your tooth brushing! Toothpaste contains fluoride, which protects teeth from decay, strengthens enamel, and even reduces the amount of cavity-causing acid that bacteria produce. When you rinse your mouth out after brushing, you’re also rinsing away that valuable flouride! Spit toothpaste out when you’re done brushing, but don’t rinse.

Dental Health Myth: “Bleeding gums are normal.”

Although some people may have more sensitive gums than others, bleeding is not normal. Bleeding gums are often the first sign of infection. If your teeth aren’t used to being flossed regularly, they may bleed a bit when you start as you get rid of plaque and your gums adjust. To heal bleeding gums, consistently brush and floss gently twice a day. But if bleeding continues, see a dental professional to check for more serious issues.

If you have questions about your dental health, call 314-469-1950 to make an appointment!

Oral Health and Stress

November 5, 2016 By responsetm

We all know stress takes a toll on the body – you can feel the tension in your shoulders and may be more prone to illness because stress weakens the immune system. But did you know that stress affects oral health too? Here are a few not-so-good effects it can have on your mouth:

Clenching or Grinding

Stress can cause tooth-grinding or constant jaw clenching, which can both lead to tooth damage. Stress causes many people to grind their teeth in their sleep, so they may not even notice until they wake up with a sore jaw. Over time it wears down the teeth, and it could potentially crack or fracture them. It can lead to muscle pain not only in your jaw, but your face, ears, and head!

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder)

This refers to a variety of conditions that affect jaw joints, muscles, and facial nerves. TMD can occur when the jaw twists improperly during movement. People with TMD may experience pain around the ear, headaches, and neck aches, sore jaw muscles, and pain when chewing, biting, or yawning. It can even create difficulty opening and closing the mouth, cause popping noises when opening your mouth, and lead to sensitive teeth.

Canker Sores

Stress weakens the immune system and makes the body more prone to infections and sores in general. The mouth is no exception. Canker sores are small ulcers or lesions located in the mouth. They usually appear as a red lesion with a white/yellow center on the inside of the cheeks or lips, the tongue, the upper surface of the mouth or the base of the gums. Symptoms can include a burning sensation, pain, inflammation, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. They are not contagious and will usually go away in a week or two, but they’re not fun in the mean time.

Periodontal disease

Long-term stress can even increase your chances of gum disease. Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol weakens the immune systems and creates good conditions for bacteria invade the gums. Research is revealing a strong link between stress and gum disease. Symptoms include bleeding gums, swollen gums, loose teeth, and bad breath. Left untreated, gum disease can even lead to tooth loss.

If stress is having a negative effect on your oral health, call 314-469-1950 to make an appointment with Dr. Walther!

Don’t Forget to Floss!

October 25, 2016 By responsetm

Though it’s easy to forget about when you’re in a rush or feeling lazy, you shouldn’t skip flossing your teeth. Some people think it unnecessary if they already brush their teeth, but makes a difference. Flossing is an important part of dental hygiene!

Brushing your teeth cleans most surfaces in your mouth, but you just can’t reach the spaces between teeth with your toothbrush. Food particles can get stuck in those spaces and bacteria like to lurk there. Flossing compliments brushing by getting into those hard-to-reach places. Flossing regularly can help prevent cavities, fight bad breath, and stop tartar buildup.

The American Dental Association recommends flossing once a day. Doing it regularly is key because any plaque that isn’t removed by brushing and flossing can eventually harden into tartar. It doesn’t matter whether you do it before or after brushing, or morning or night — professionals agree that the most important thing is simply that you do it.

But you have to floss correctly for it to make a difference! Simply pulling the floss down between teeth and back up doesn’t do enough. For best results, you have to curve the floss around the tooth and move it up and down to scrape off plaque. Follow these steps from the American Dental Association for proper flossing:

Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around your finger. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand.
Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Don’t snap the floss into the gums; it could hurt them and cause bleeding.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth!

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Walther or find out more about proper dental care, call 314-469-1950!

Tips for a Whiter Smile

October 10, 2016 By responsetm

Everybody wants a pearly white smile. While everyone’s teeth are naturally different shades of white, there are certain tips anyone can follow for whiter teeth!

Limit Your Intake of Staining Foods

Aside from sugary and acidic foods, which are damaging to teeth in general, certain foods tend to stain teeth over time. Wine, coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks, berries, and tomato sauces all tend to darken teeth over time. Most won’t affect teeth immediately, but over time, they wear away and stain tooth enamel. Try to limit your consumption of these foods and drinks. Using a straw can also help keep the staining pigments in drinks away from your teeth. Drink plenty of water and brush your teeth after eating any of them to limit staining.

Cut Out Smoking

Not only are the nicotine, tobacco, and other chemicals in cigarettes bad for your overall health, they wreak havoc on your oral health, too. Smoking discolors teeth after a while and causes bad breath, gum disease, and even cancer of the mouth. So for a happier, healthier mouth, try to quit smoking!

Eat More Crunchy Produce and Drink More Milk

According to some studies, produce like celery, carrots, and apples are naturally abrasive. Because of this, they can help remove some of the substances that stick to your teeth and discolor them. Additionally, milk and other high-calcium foods strengthen your teeth and keep enamel strong. They can even eliminate food particles that stain your teeth.

Practice Good Dental Hygiene

It may seem obvious, but the simplest tip for whiter teeth is to take good care of them. Brush and floss every day and see your dentist for regular checkups. Your dentist can recommend or administer a whitening procedure for you, whether it is an in-house treatment or at-home solution. Use whitening toothpaste to continue the whitening in between treatments.

If you’re interested in professional whitening treatment, call 314-469-1950 to make an appointment with Dr. Walther!

Bad Habits that Hurt Your Teeth

September 23, 2016 By responsetm

We tend to take our teeth for granted sometimes, assuming that they can handle anything. But there are several habits that could cause tooth damage over time, even if you don’t notice anything at first. If you do any of these, try to stop and replace it with a healthier habit instead, like chewing sugar-free gum. Your teeth will thank you!

Chewing on Ice

Teeth aren’t meant to chew on something as hard as ice. Being natural and calorie-free, ice might seem like a harmless thing to munch on, but hard, frozen ice cubes can chip your teeth, or even crack them! It chips away the tooth enamel as well. Your munching could also irritate the soft tissue inside a tooth, leading to toothaches. The extreme cold may temporarily numb your mouth, so you might not even feel the pain until later on. Chewing on a pen

Biting Your Nails

Like ice, your nails are harder than your teeth can handle. The teeth aren’t meant to chew anything harder than food, and doing so can cause serious damage over time. It can cause teeth to chip or break, and scrapes away the enamel. The front teeth suffer especially, so for the sake of your smile, stop biting your nails!

Chewing on Pens and Pencils

You might do it without even thinking, but this mindless habit can also damage your teeth. You may not realize how much pressure you’re putting on your mouth when biting down on a pen, but it can stress your teeth and lead to tooth damage. Chewing on hard objects can even damage dental work you’ve already had done, like ruining fillings or crowns!

Using Your Teeth to Open Things

While it may seem like a simple solution, opening a ketchup packet or bottle cap with your teeth is dangerous. Your teeth aren’t meant to be used as pliers or a bottle opener, and doing so might subject them to more pressure than they can handle. This can lead to fractured teeth or even tooth loss!

So to sum it up, don’t chew on anything other than food or gum. Your teeth aren’t meant to handle anything harder than that! If you suspect your teeth have already been damaged, call 314-469-1950 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Walther!