Celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month

dental hygiene month - gentle family dentist bethlehem
  • Celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month

Happy Dental Hygiene Month!

It’s National Dental Hygiene Month in October! This month is special to us at our Bethlehem GA dentist office for a variety of reasons. The goal of National Dental Hygiene Month is to raise awareness about good behaviors that can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Healthy teeth and gums can also indicate a healthy body as a whole.

What is Dental Hygiene Month?

In 2009, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) introduced the month of October as National Dental Hygiene Month. The organization saw a need to focus on excellent oral health.

The organization focuses on the promotion of oral health and wellness, through interactions with the dental hygienist and through educational programs.

How Can You Keep Good Dental Hygiene?

Typically, October is a month associated with plenty of candy and sweet fall treats. Our Pediatric Dentist Bethlehem GA explains that trick or Treating candy hauls are the best part of Halloween, but you can work with them to monitor how much of it they eat. Here’s how you can enjoy this fun, holiday month and still keep optimal oral health for you and your children: 

  • Consider substituting Halloween candy for healthier, sugar-free choices. 
  • Be sure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for at least 2 minutes, ideally after every meal. Particular after enjoying some of those less than healthy sweet delicious treats.
  • FLOSS.  Our Bethlem family dentist recommends you floss every day. There are some things that brushing alone simply can’t address. Flossing between your teeth can reach those difficult areas that brushing simply cannot get to. Our Bethlem family dentist recommends you floss every day.
  • Use an antibacterial mouthwash that is not alcohol-based. This will help to remove much of the plaque and bacteria in your mouth. This helps prevent gingivitis and tooth decay.
  • Chew sugar-free gum. The production of saliva can help in preventing cavities. If you can’t brush or floss between meals, Easton PA dentist, Dr. David Mogahadam recommends that you simply pop in a stick of your favorite sugar-free gum.

Each of these simple steps can help to keep periodontal disease at bay. Gum disease is the most common factor that impacts the loss of teeth in adults. It is estimated by the ADHA that as many as 75% of Americans are already living with some type of gum disease. Gum disease is closely linked to other illnesses that include diabetes, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Reasons National Dental Hygiene Month is Important

Are you wondering just why it’s important to recognize October as National Dental Hygiene Month? 

It encourages parents and their children to focus on good oral health. No one likes to think of cavities and other tooth decay. Keeping up with your dental wellness routines can help to keep bacteria under control. Without good dental hygiene, you are increasing your risk of developing tooth decay and periodontal disease.

It’s a great reason to get a new toothbrush! Is there a better time of year to get a new toothbrush than Dental Hygienist Month? A soft-bristled toothbrush is a recommendation for most. But it’s important to speak to your dentist and dental hygienist about the type of toothbrush that is best to meet your dental care needs.

Contact our Family Dentist in Bethlehem GA Today

Be sure to get a new toothbrush for every member of the family. Children love being able to pick out their own toothbrushes, especially if they find one with their favorite superhero or character on. Is it time to schedule your six-month cleaning at our Loganville dentist office? No matter what type of dental services you need, you can always count on the Gentle Dental Group to deliver the best dental services possible. Contact us today to make your appointment.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in October 2020 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

Cracked Tooth Symptoms & Repair

Cracked Tooth Symptoms and Repair
  • Cracked Tooth Symptoms & Repair

Cracked Tooth Symptoms and Repair 

At our Bethlehem dental office, we often find cracks in our patient’s teeth. A cracked tooth can be a serious problem if left untreated. Inside of each tooth, there are nerves and blood vessels, making it a very sensitive part of our bodies. This is why a cracked tooth can lead to intense pain for some people. Many patients often ask us about cracked tooth symptoms and repair.

Our Bethlehem dental care center is passionate about patient education, and we love to help our patients be more hands-on when it comes to their dental health. Today on the blog, our team discusses everything you need to know about cracked tooth symptoms and repair! Read on to discover what to do if you are in a situation with a cracked tooth.

How Do Teeth Crack?

Teeth can crack when they are both healthy and unhealthy. For example, if your teeth are completely healthy and you get hit in the mouth or get into an accident, your tooth can crack. This doesn’t mean that your teeth are unhealthy – just the force of the blow leads to an unfortunate crack.

However, unhealthy teeth lead to a whole different type of cracking. As you age, your teeth start to weaken over time.  Additionally, if you grind your teeth at night or have poor dental hygiene, your tooth can crack on its own. Over time, even your daily chewing can weaken your teeth. Today, we will be covering all you need to know about cracked tooth symptoms and repair.

Types of Cracked Teeth

There are five different types of cracked teeth. Dr. Uyen Hoang explains them below:

Craze Lines

Craze lines are the most common teeth cracks in adults. For craze lines, think tiny, hairline cracks that are present in the enamel. These are the least serious of all teeth cracks, requiring no real treatment. They will only require dental treatment in the future if the crack extends further. 

Fractured Cusps

When a piece of your tooth breaks off  from the surface of your tooth, this is a fractured cusp. A fractured cusp typically happens with dental fillings, and most likely won’t spread to the gums.

Cracked Teeth

A tooth is considered cracked when there is a vertical crack down to the gum line. The tooth will still remain as one tooth, but could easily split without care. This type of crack requires immediate attention to save the tooth. We recommend contacting a 24 hour emergency dentist in Bethlehem if this occurs. 

Split Teeth

A split tooth is when the crack is so deep that the tooth actually splits in half. This usually is followed by tooth extraction, as this type of crack typically cannot be recovered from. Don’t worry – we have many restorative dentistry options if this occurs.

Vertical Root Fracture

We asked our friends at Green Dental Care, emergency dentist Parker, CO to explain this one. Dr. Green explains that this is when a tooth splits at the actual root of the tooth, leading to an eventual extraction unless your dentist can save a portion of this tooth.

Diagnosing A Cracked Tooth

To officially diagnose a cracked tooth, your Bethlehem dentist will ask you to describe and locate your pain. This can be hard for patients, as sometimes, cracked tooth pain can lead to headaches or other pain instead.

Then, they will have to do a dental exam or x-ray. It is important to be seen right away if you suspect a cracked tooth, so that your dentist can attempt to save your tooth.

Fixing a Cracked Tooth

At Gentle Dental Group, we will do everything in out power to save your tooth. The earlier you are seen once your tooth cracks, the better. The last thing we want is a tooth to split if we could have saved it. 

Cracked teeth are bad for your health because they leave your teeth vulnerable to potentially decay. In addition to the pain that they can cause, many patients opt to fix their cracked teeth right away to keep their smiles fully in-tact. 

There isn’t just one way to prepare a tooth. Our team will evaluate your crack and make a decision depending on the location and type of crack. There’s a variety of solutions that could be offered to you based on the severity. 

Call Your Bethlehem Dentist Today

Do you suspect a cracked tooth? Our team urges you to give us a call immediately. Your oral health is extremely important to your overall health. We would love to help ease your pain if you’re experiencing toothache.