It’s great that you’re enthusiastic about your dental health! Here are some tips from Dr. Sardzinski, Dr. Wilken, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Hanson and Dr. Heying and our team to make sure you are getting the most out of your brushing by avoiding common mistakes.

Choose the right brush

In almost every case, a soft brush provides the right amount of bristle-strength to clean your teeth and gums effectively. Hard bristles can damage sensitive enamel and gum tissue, so treat yourself kindly. Also, choose a brush head that’s the right size for your mouth, since a toothbrush that’s too large can be uncomfortable and unable to reach all the areas you need to brush.

Don’t keep your brush too long

Three months is about the average life of a toothbrush. Over time, bristles become frayed or worn and lose their effectiveness. It’s also a good idea to replace your brush after an illness.

Be gentle

Even with a soft brush, it’s possible to brush so hard that your enamel and gums are affected. Think of yourself as massaging your teeth and gums rather than scrubbing them.

Use proper technique

Using a “sawing” back-and-forth motion is hard on your enamel and misses plaque and debris between the teeth. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, especially at the gumline, to gently remove plaque. Use short strokes or a circular motion to clean as much of the surface and between the teeth as possible. Make sure you cover all the surfaces of your teeth: outside, inside, and chewing. And don’t forget your tongue!

Take your time

Brushing twice a day for two minutes each time is the standard. Most people brush much less; try using the stopwatch on your phone or a two-minute timer to make sure you are spending enough time brushing. On the other hand, if you brush too hard or too often, remember that over-brushing can lead to problems for your gums and enamel.

Your daily routine might be fast and furious, but your dental routine requires a gentle, methodical approach. Ask at your next visit to our Hiawatha, IA office, and we will be happy to help you design the perfect brushing practices for your busy life.

Dentists use advanced procedures to save teeth which would have been lost a few decades ago. But sometimes, when a tooth is severely compromised, it just can’t be saved. In this case, extraction is the best and healthiest option. 

When might Dr. Sardzinski, Dr. Wilken, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Hanson and Dr. Heying recommend an extraction? Conditions which call for extraction could include:

• Extensive Decay

When a tooth has experienced mild to moderate decay, the team at Blair Ridge Dental can remove the decayed portion, clean the area, and restore the tooth with a filling or a crown. If the decay is too extensive, there won’t be sufficient healthy tooth structure left for a restoration, and extraction will be necessary.

• Severe Gum Disease

The CDC estimates that almost 50% of those aged 30 and older suffer from some form of gum disease, with the number rising to over 70% of adults aged 65 and older. Serious gum disease, or periodontitis, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. 

Periodontitis can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets where bacteria multiply and infection develops. Left untreated, infection destroys the connective tissue and bone which hold the teeth in place. Teeth become loose and eventually fall out. When tooth loss is inevitable, extraction can be a healthier option than waiting for the tooth to fall out.

• Serious Infection

When infection reaches the pulp inside the tooth, immediate treatment is necessary. An infected tooth will never get better on its own, and the infection can spread from the tooth to the surrounding gums and bone, creating a pus-filled abscess. 

When caught early enough, a root canal procedure can save your tooth. If root canal treatment isn’t possible or infection keeps recurring, extraction can be the best option to prevent infection from spreading and destroying gum and bone tissue.

• Extensive Cracks or Fractures

Caught early, cracks in the crown of a tooth or small fractures in a tooth root might be treated with root canal therapy or endodontic surgery. When a crack in the crown of the tooth extends below the gumline, or when a vertical fracture begins in the root of the tooth and spreads upward to the crown, the tooth often cannot be saved. 

• Wisdom Teeth

When wisdom teeth have no room to erupt, they may become completely impacted, lodged in the bone and gum tissue. Or they may begin to break through the gums but aren’t able to erupt completely (partial impaction), making them difficult to clean and vulnerable to infection and decay. When wisdom teeth begin to erupt without sufficient space, they can move horizontally or diagonally, putting destructive pressure on the roots of neighboring molars. 

• Trauma

Often a dislodged tooth can be restored to its place in the mouth when the injury is treated early enough and the damage is limited. When a tooth or its surrounding bone and ligaments are so badly damaged from trauma that the tooth can’t be reimplanted or restored with endodontic or surgical treatment, extraction is the healthiest choice.

When decay, gum disease, injury, or other conditions make it impossible to save a tooth, Dr. Sardzinski, Dr. Wilken, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Hanson and Dr. Heying will recommend extraction to protect your oral health. Dentists who are experts in extractions have the skill and experience needed to:

• gently extract the tooth
• provide you with sedation options before the procedure
• provide options for pain management after the procedure
• give you detailed instructions for aftercare 
• suggest follow-up options such as tooth implants, which can restore your smile with a replacement which looks and functions like a natural tooth

Extraction is never your first choice, or your dentist’s! Proactive tooth and gum care help save teeth for a lifetime. But when a tooth can’t be saved, an extraction is the best option for protecting your oral health. Contact Blair Ridge Dental in Hiawatha, IA for more information today.

Imagine this scenario: you go to the dentist to have a cavity filled, and an hour after the procedure you have a runny nose, scratchy throat, and your arms are breaking out in blotchy, red hives. In other words, you’re in worse shape after the visit to the dentist than you were before you walked in to have the cavity fixed. If you experience any of these types of symptoms or side effects, chances are you have a latex allergy.

What is a latex allergy?

A latex allergy is a hypersensitivity to latex proteins. If you have this allergy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you avoid direct contact with any materials that contain latex. While latex gloves are known to cause allergic reactions in people with a latex allergy, certain metals, plastics, and other materials used in dental care can also cause an adverse response.

A runny nose and itchy eyes are common allergic reactions to latex. However, Dr. Sardzinski, Dr. Wilken, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Hanson and Dr. Heying and our team at Blair Ridge Dental want you to know it can also trigger more severe symptoms, including asthma, wheezing, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal ailments.

A latex-safe dental environment

Many dental offices screen patients for a latex allergy. This is only beneficial, however, if you’re already aware you have a latex allergy. The best thing you can do to ease your allergies is to find a dentist who has a latex-safe environment. A latex-safe dental environment observes the following protocols:

• All patients are screened for a latex allergy.
• No personnel use latex gloves.
• All latex products are removed from the patient’s vicinity, including rubber dams and elastics.
• Work areas contaminated with latex powder are cleaned frequently.
• Signs are posted to communicate all latex allergy procedures in case of an emergency.

If a latex allergy is part of your medical history, then it’s in your best interest to find a latex-free dental environment. To learn more about latex-free dentistry, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sardzinski, Dr. Wilken, Dr. Stanley, Dr. Hanson and Dr. Heying, please give us a call at our convenient Hiawatha, IA office!

Here we are in the middle of the hottest time of the year. Yes, it’s the dog days of summer. But, wait—just what are “the dog days of summer,” anyway?

The ancient Greeks and Romans coined this term for the longest, warmest days near the end of summer when Sirius, the Dog Star, shone in the night sky. And it’s a Sirius (we couldn’t resist!) reminder that while we need to look after our own dental health during sizzling summer days, it’s essential to look out for our pets, too.

• Brushing Regularly

Sure, it’s summer, but relaxed, casual days shouldn’t mean relaxed, casual dental care.

The leading cause of tooth loss in dogs is gum disease. When plaque builds up around the gum line, it irritates gum tissue, causing inflammation. After a time, the gums pull away from the teeth, leaving pockets that become infected. Infection destroys bone tissue, leaving your poor pet with loose or missing teeth.

It’s a good idea to train your dog from puppyhood to let you brush or clean their teeth. Your vet can show you the best techniques.

Use special handled brushes or finger brushes to comfortably reach your dog’s teeth, and use pastes made just for dogs to protect your pet from swallowing the cleaners and abrasives we humans spit out after brushing. There are also single use dental wipes if your pup is no fan of the brush. If your pooch protests, talk to your vet for the best ways to keep your furry pal’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.

When it comes to preventive dental care, we humans have something in common with our best friends—gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in people, too!

Don’t let the lazy days of summer lead to lazy dental care. Brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time and floss once a day to keep bacteria and plaque from accumulating. A professional cleaning at our Hiawatha, IA dental office will get the plaque you might have missed, remove tartar buildup, and let you know if there are areas you might be missing.

While you’re looking out for your best friend in these dog days, look out for yourself, too! Dental hygiene, proper hydration, a healthy diet—and regular professional checkups and cleanings for you both—will make sure you and your bestie will enjoy the dog days of summer with paws-itively beautiful smiles.