The post Five Reasons to Book a Teeth Cleaning Appointment Right Now appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Your Duncan, OK dentist, Dr. Matthew L. Bridges can help you and your family defend your mouths against decay and disease. Through preventative dentistry and at-home measures, protecting your teeth and gums will give you the freedom to enjoy this season.

Contact our friendly staff today at 580-255-4880 to schedule a regular dental cleaning at Chisholm Trail Smile Center.

Here are three tips to ensure your smile stays healthy:

1. Maintain a good oral hygiene routine.

Whether it’s summer, fall, winter, or spring, good oral hygiene habits are a necessity for both adults and children. These habits should include:

• Brushing properly: Brush your teeth at least twice a day — every morning and before bed for two to three minutes each. Use a fluoride toothpaste and make sure to purchase a new toothbrush every three months.
• Floss: We know, statistics have shown that flossing isn’t a priority for most people, but it should be, especially during the fall season. Floss reaches surfaces of your teeth that a toothbrush simply can’t.  Flossing removes plaque that would otherwise build up and lead to decay and possibly gum disease.
• Use a fluoride mouthwash: Strengthen your teeth by rinsing with mouthwash once a day.

You can encourage your child to maintain these habits by brushing and flossing together every morning and evening. Other useful tips include buying your child, (or letting them pick out) a fun toothbrush and rewarding their fresh breath with a few extra minutes of playtime.

2. Make healthy eating choices.

Fall treats often include pumpkin-flavored coffees, grandma’s famous sweet potato pie, Halloween candy, apple cider, S’mores, and so much more. We aren’t going to tell you not to have those things, but we do encourage you to enjoy them in moderation.

We also encourage you to make healthier choices by eating things like:

• Leafy, green vegetables: Make a salad with spinach, kale, strawberries, nuts, and goat cheese as a healthy appetizer. These greens will help clean your teeth and curb your appetite.
• Cheese: This popular food contains phosphorous and calcium that promotes the remineralization of your teeth, which can prevent cavities.
• Berries: When you’re tempted to eat another slice of pie, choose berries instead. These fruits are great for your overall health and can be paired with yogurt or water to combat the acidity.
• Crunchy fruits and vegetables: Apples, broccoli, and celery are all great side or snack options. These fruits and vegetables naturally clean your mouth by scrubbing your teeth and stimulating the release of saliva.

3. Schedule your regular dental cleaning.

Dr. Bridges suggests visiting your dentist before you become too busy with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. This simple step will help you prevent oral issues such as tooth decay and gum disease.

During your appointment, one of our professional dental hygienists will gently and thoroughly clean and examine your teeth. He or she can spot any problems or potential problems you may have. Dr. Bridges will create a personalized treatment plan if necessary.

We might also suggest other preventative measures, such as:

• Dental sealants
• Fluoride treatments
• Custom mouth guards
• Digital x-rays
• Oral cancer screening

You can learn more about these treatments by clicking here.

Contact Your Duncan, OK Dentist Today

Don’t let oral health issues ruin your holidays. Take the first step towards prevention by calling our office today at 580-255-4880 to schedule your regular dental cleaning.

The post Oral Hygiene Tips for Fall appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

When it comes to keeping kids’ teeth healthy, knowledge is power! To learn more, visit Duncan and Velma dentist Dr. Matthew Bridges. Contact Chisholm Trail Smile Center for an appointment.

Q: How is children’s dentistry different from adult dentistry?

In a lot of ways, preventive dentistry is the same for both adults and children. Getting a dental cleaning every six months can help prevent the accumulation of tartar and the start of cavities. Preventive treatments, such as fluoride and sealants, work equally well at protecting both baby and adult teeth. When it comes to tooth decay, however, things change. Baby teeth have thinner enamel and are smaller than adult teeth. This means that decay can worsen and spread comparatively faster than in adult teeth. Baby teeth require different materials to restore them, as well.

Adult teeth are pretty straightforward. We want them to last your whole life, so when they are damaged we repair them. They also tend to stay in the same positions over time. Children’s teeth are a more of a mixed bag. Depending on how old your child is, damaged teeth may need to be repaired, replaced or left alone. A chipped tooth may not need any restoration if it is still functioning properly and not irritating the soft tissues of the mouth. Children’s mouths and bones are always growing and changing, as well, so treating their teeth is also a matter of predicting the future and understanding what nature may correct on its own.

Q: My son’s baby tooth got knocked out—do we need to replace it?

Children lose their baby teeth in a predictable order and on a predictable schedule. If I child loses a tooth before it became loose on its own, you should always make an appointment with your dentist. Baby teeth are important. If you’ve ever been tempted to think “they’re all going to fall out anyway…they don’t need attention,” think again! Not only do children need all their baby teeth for proper chewing function, they also need them as placeholders for the adult teeth growing in their jaw. If a tooth is required for proper speech, losing it early may cause communication problems for your child. It may be that the tooth does not need to be replaced with a bridge or other prosthetic, but only your dentist should make that determination.

Q: Why are my kids getting cavities? They brush and floss their teeth every day!

Brushing the teeth twice a day (and flossing once a day) is the cornerstone of good home-based oral hygiene, but it may not be enough for all kids. Many parents don’t realize the role that diet plays in preventing tooth decay. We all know that candy and sodas contribute to cavities, but any sugary or starchy foods can be just as harmful if allowed to sit on the teeth for hours at a time. Sports drinks, fruit juice, potato chips, corn chips, chewy fruit snacks, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches: these can all be as harmful to the teeth as candy when their residue is not removed from the teeth promptly.

This does not mean your children need to brush their teeth every time they eat, however. Drinking water, chewing sugarless gum, or eating crunchy fruits and vegetables can all “clean” the teeth and prevent mouth bacteria from feasting on food particles and plaque. Many parents can successfully prevent cavities with a few tweaks to their kids’ diet and eating habits.

It’s important to note that medical conditions can also contribute to oral health problems, including decay. Always discuss any medical concerns with Dr. Bridges and your hygienist, so we can help you pre-empt any ill effects to the teeth and gums.

Q: Should I buy my child an electric toothbrush?

Electric toothbrushes are not necessary for effective tooth-brushing. However, studies have shown that patients tend to brush longer when using an electric toothbrush, so that could be a good thing. If your child doesn’t brush for a full two minutes each time, a toothbrush with an automatic timing mechanism might help him/her brush more thoroughly.

Good tooth brushing is more about technique. You can do an excellent job or a poor job, depending on how you use your cleaning tools. To learn more about the right way to brush your teeth (with any kind of toothbrush), talk to your dentist or hygienist at Chisholm Trail Smile Center. Regardless of which type of brush you choose, be sure to change it out every two or three months so the bristles remain effective cleaning tools.

Duncan and Velma dentist Dr. Matthew Bridges is ready to help your children get the best oral health possible. To learn more about children’s dentistry, call our office to make an appointment at Chisholm Trail Smile Center.

The post Parents’ Top Questions About Children’s Dentistry appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Need a children’s dentist? Visit our Duncan, OK dental practice to see what makes our office a great place for kids and families.

Children’s Teeth Have Special Needs

It’s true that children have special oral health needs, but every licensed dentist is well versed in the care of children’s teeth, from toddlers to teens. For example, did you know that baby teeth have much thinner enamel than adult teeth? This means that even tiny cavities can worsen or spread faster than they do in adults. During adolescence, changing hormones and diets may have a negative effect on the health of children’s adult teeth. That’s why it’s important to bring children in for check-ups every six months. During these visits, we will clean their teeth of the calculus (tartar) that leads to cavities and apply preventive treatments, such as fluoride and dental sealants. With regular dental care, we can identify problems early and make sure your child does not suffer preventable dental catastrophes.

In the earliest years of childhood, it’s important to establish good habits. Parents should monitor their children’s oral hygiene, occasionally brushing the teeth for them, while still inspiring a sense of responsibility over one’s oral health. When young children take ownership of their dental hygiene, they have a much greater chance of preventing tooth decay with their daily brushing and flossing regimen. We can help by making sure your child understands the basics of caring for his or her teeth and answering any questions you may have.

As kids get older, and adult teeth start coming in, we can begin to identify whether they may need orthodontic intervention and continue monitoring the teeth for signs of decay as their diet and hygiene habits become more independent.

When to Bring Your Child to the Dentist

Most children should have their first routine dental visit by their third birthday. During this visit we will examine the development of the teeth, check for problems, and deliver a gentle dental cleaning. These first visits do not take very long, but they can help your child establish that the dentist’s office is a place where good things happen.

We find that early visits are the best way to prevent children from experiencing anxiety about going to the dentist. Even if you are certain your child’s teeth are perfectly healthy, starting regular visits early in life is the best way to make sure he or she never feels fearful or anxious about dental care. If a child’s first dental visit only happens because he or she has a toothache, that experience may be accompanied by feelings of fear or shame. This can color a child’s feelings toward dental visits for the rest of his or her life.

Caring for your child’s teeth before the first dental visit should include:

• During Infancy – clean the gums with soft gauze or a moist washcloth every day.
• When Teeth Come In – brush baby teeth with a small, soft brush and a small dab of non-fluoride baby toothpaste, if preferred.
• Ages 1-3 – teach your child to brush the teeth using a children’s non-fluoride toothpaste. Brush his/her teeth yourself, while also providing the opportunity for independent brushing.

When your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste reliably, rather than swallow it, you can start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste. Children and adults should brush for two minutes, twice a day. Flossing should start once your child’s teeth begin to fit together closely. This may happen as early as two years, or as late as age six.

How We Make Every Child Comfortable

At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, we treat every preventive visit as an opportunity to help your child establish good habits that will last a lifetime. Dr. Bridges and our dental staff maintain a calm, friendly environment where children can ask questions and be themselves. We never ask a child to open up and say “ah” until we are sure he or she is comfortable and ready. Parents are encouraged to stay in the room and be part of the process, to make it easier to reinforce good habits at home.

Do you need a Duncan, OK children’s dentist? Visit Chisholm Trail Smile Center and we’ll make sure every member of your family gets the friendly and efficient care they deserve. Call us at (580) 255-4880 or contact us online for an appointment

The post Parents: You Don’t Need a Pediatric Dentist for Excellent Pediatric Dental Care appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

It seems that no matter where you live these days – traffic is inevitable, and trying to get from point A to point B can be frustrating and exhausting. Parents today spend their days working fulltime and taking their children to school and a host of extracurricular activities, and that doesn’t even include medical appointments. What if you and your children could go to one location for all your dental care needs? Convenient and hassle-free dental care is the way of the future. More and more dentists today are offering services for the whole family to make visiting the dentist easy and convenient.

At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, our family dentists can provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages. This blog discusses five reasons why a family dentist can make your life easier. To book your appointment, please call our Duncan, OK practice at (580) 255-4880 or contact us online.

Simplifies Dental Care

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is simplified dental care. A family dentist provides a family-friendly environment that meets the needs of patients of all ages, from toddlers to senior adults, and anyone in between. Long gone are the days of dental exams with multiple providers on different days. With a family dentist, you can schedule your family’s routine dental cleanings and exams together (all on the same day) to simplify your life.

Develops Good Rapport with the Dentist

Each member of your family will get to know the family dentist on a personal level. The longer you see the same family dentist, the stronger the relationship will be. This is especially beneficial for young children. The sooner your children start going to the dentist, and the more comfortable they become, the less likely they are to develop dental anxiety later on in life. Having the same dentist as a child on into adolescent and adult years provides steady dental care.

Provides a Wide Variety of Services

Because a family dentist is equipped to treat a range of ages, they offer a wide variety of services. Our dentists provide preventative services for both children and adults, including dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and mouth guards, as well as restorative and cosmetic dentistry services catered to the specific needs of patients. Some of these services include:

• Dental fillings
• Dentures
• Dental implants
• Porcelain veneers
• Teeth whitening

As an added incentive, we provide emergency dental care for those unexpected emergencies.

Makes Tracking Dental History Convenient

When children start with a pediatric dentist and then switch over to a general dentist, it opens the door for issues to get overlooked. Once you start seeing a family dentist, x-rays will be taken and a file started to track your complete dental history year after year. This allows the family dentist to have easy access to your file to detect any abnormalities or changes from your previous appointment so that optimal dental care is provided.

Instills Good Oral Health Habits in Your Kids

Parents who make oral health a priority set a good example for their little ones. At a family dental center, your children will have the opportunity to see you sitting in the dental chair and getting your teeth cleaned. When children are exposed to dentistry at a young age, they are more likely to maintain good oral hygiene habits long into their adult years.

Need a Family Dentist?

Dr. Matthew Bridges and Dr. Terry J. Schreiner provide family-friendly dental services for patients living in the Duncan, OK area. Schedule appointments for the whole family by calling (580) 255-4880 or contacting us online.

The post 5 Reasons a Family Dentist Makes Life Easier appeared first on Chisholm Trail.