One summer when I was a kid my mom informed me that she could no longer eat ice cream or bite into a cold apple.  Bummer!  When I asked her why, she told me it was because her teeth were too sensitive to enjoy these cold treats.  Years later, when I bit into a cold apple and got a little zing of pain in my lower teeth I knew I was not about to give up certain foods like my mom did.  So I decided to ask my dentist for help with my sensitive teeth. 

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), having sensitive teeth is a common problem.  Some people experience pain when eating or drinking cold things like ice cream, or hot things like coffee.  Some people with sensitive teeth may even experience pain when brushing or flossing. 

There are several causes of sensitive teeth.  According to the ADA, these causes include cavities, fractured teeth, worn tooth enamel, cracked teeth, or an exposed tooth root.  If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, you need to visit your dentist so he or she can determine the cause and help you find a solution. 

The ADA recommends visiting your dentist every six months for a dental cleaning and check-up.  At this visit, your dentist will do a thorough exam and perhaps even x-rays to determine what is causing your sensitivity. 

Old and worn silver fillings can also cause sensitivity.  You can discuss your options with your dentist for fixing these old fillings or even removing and replacing them with new tooth-colored fillings.

When I visited my dentist, I found out that my gums had receded and this was causing my sensitivity.  I wondered how I could have receding gums since I take stellar care of my teeth, brushing and flossing at least twice daily.  My dentist explained to me that brushing my teeth too hard was probably the cause.  He recommended I use a soft-bristled toothbrush and use gentle strokes when brushing.  Another option to help be gentler when brushing is to use an electric toothbrush.  Electric toothbrushes help you brush gently yet effectively. 

A simple solution that may have helped my mom would have been using de-sensitizing toothpaste.  There are many over-the-counter types of toothpaste on the market today.  The ADA recommends looking for toothpaste that has the American Dental Association’s “Seal of Acceptance.”  This seal is “your assurance that products have met ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness.”  You can also ask your dentist for a recommendation or even samples he or she may have in their office.

The good news is that according to my dentist and the ADA, sensitive teeth can be treated.  Too bad my mom didn’t turn to her dentist when her problems with sensitivity started. 

Simply avoiding food or drinks that trigger your sensitivity like my mom did is not a solution.  Sensitive teeth should not be ignored since they could be a warning of a serious dental problem that needs attention. 

Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan.  Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.

If I were to ask you if you know how to brush your teeth, you’d probably roll your eyes and answer “duh!”.  I’m sure you think you’re doing a good job, but did you know there’s a lot more to brushing your teeth than loading your toothbrush with toothpaste and scrubbing away at your chompers? 

First of all, most people don’t realize the length of time you’re supposed to brush your teeth.  Two full minutes.  That’s right.  Two minutes is a lot longer than you probably realize.  You need to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself (preferably in your head so as not to spray toothpaste everywhere) at least four times to hit that two minute mark.

There’s some basic geometry involved, too.  Ok, it’s simpler than I’m making it sound, but you do need to hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle so that you can properly clean under your gum line.  Holding your toothbrush flat to your teeth and gums can actually hurt your gums. 

And please, please tell me you’re using a soft-bristled toothbrush.  According to the American Dental Association, you should replace your toothbrush whenever it looks worn or at least every 3 months.  When it comes to teeth and gums, the keyword to remember is “gentle.”  Brushing quickly and with a lot of pressure really isn’t the appropriate way to clean your teeth.  With your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle you want to make small circles across your teeth.  Brush the inside, outside, and biting surface of each tooth.

Hey, don’t forget about your tongue!  Brushing your tongue will eliminate bacteria that cause bad breath.   

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily.  According to the ADA, you should also floss because your toothbrush can’t get in between your teeth to get the bacteria and food particles lingering there.

The ADA offers a quick step-by-step guide to brushing on their website at www.ada.org:

• “Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums. 
• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• Use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.”

 The ADA also offers a guide to flossing:

• “Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. 
• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
• 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.”

 Brushing up on your tooth brushing technique will ensure a good report the next time you visit your dentist.  Remember, you should visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and check-up.

Bright Side Dental is a dental office with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan.  Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.

Sometimes we delay doing things that make us uncomfortable.  Things like bathing suit shopping, getting our taxes done, or visiting a dentist can all be pushed down our to-do-lists because they put us on edge.  While bathing suit shopping can wait another day, visiting your dentist cannot be avoided because it is vital to the health of your smile and to the health of your body as well.  Certain diseases of the mouth have been linked to heart disease.  Your dental health must be taken seriously. 

If it’s been a long time since you’ve visited a dentist and you’re delaying making an appointment because you’re not sure what to expect, maybe it would help to know what happens during a typical dental visit.

The first thing you need to do is find a dentist.  Maybe you’ve put off your next trip to the dentist because you weren’t comfortable at the office you last visited.  It’s very important to find a dentist you are happy with.  If you’d like to find a new dentist in your area, visiting the Michigan Dental Association’s website at www.SmileMichigan.com is a great place to start. 

You’ll need to make yourself an appointment by calling your dental office and scheduling a check-up.  A standard check-up usually includes x-rays, a cleaning by the hygienist, and a full examination by the dentist.  You should have a regular check-up every six months.

Colgate.com offers a thorough explanation of what to except at your next dental check-up:

• X-rays

“X-rays can diagnose problems otherwise unnoticed, such as damage to jawbones, impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts or tumors, and decay between the teeth. A modern dental office uses machines that emit virtually no radiation — no more than you would receive from a day in the sun or a weekend watching TV. As a precaution, you should always wear a lead apron when having an X-ray. And, if you are pregnant, inform your dentist, as X-rays should only be taken in emergency situations.”

• A thorough cleaning:
  ”Checkups almost always include a complete cleaning, either from your dentist or a dental hygienist. Using special instruments, a dental hygienist will scrape below the gumline, removing built-up plaque and tartar that can cause gum disease, cavities, bad breath and other problems. Your dentist or hygienist may also polish and floss your teeth.”
• A full examination
  ”Your dentist will perform a thorough examination of your teeth, gums and mouth, looking for signs of disease or other problems. His or her goal is to help maintain your good oral health and to prevent problems from becoming serious, by identifying and treating them as soon as possible.”

 As posted on the Michigan Dental Association’s website, here is what your dentist will look for during an exam:

• The health of your entire mouth and the surrounding soft tissues;
• Signs of gum disease;
• Tooth decay;
• Checking for pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions;
• Oral sores or irritations to gum tissue;
• Fit of dentures or bridges;
• Proper bite;
• Signs of other diseases or medical conditions that may first appear in the mouth. 

Visiting a dentist regularly will help prevent serious dental problems from developing.  Knowing what to expect during your check-up should help ease your uncertainty and give you confidence the next time you visit your dentist. 

Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan.  Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.