Munster Dental Blog

The Cleaning of the Teeth

The Cleaning of the Teeth (Part I)

She told me to open my mouth, she started the exam, and, she was in there for about 30 seconds,. Suddenly, she started crying (this is a dental story there might be some exaggeration for point). My dental hygienist said that my teeth were not very happy; in fact they were down right sad. I hadn’t been to the dentist for my recommended twice-yearly cleaning and I’m not the best flosser – in that I don’t really floss. The good news is that I don’t have periodontal disease, the bad news is if I don’t take care of my teeth now, I will.

I brush my teeth every day and use mouthwash with fluoride and, I don’t eat sweet stuff, so why can’t I just come in every five years and clean my teeth? After all, that’s what I have done for the past forty years. She looked at me and said, “Listen, I have a really full schedule, I’m booked out for months, and I can’t force you to take care of your teeth. Other people get it, you don’t yet, call me when you do.”

And that was the last time I saw my dental hygienist. Not because I haven’t “gotten it” yet. I understood almost immediately, cleaning your teeth doesn’t just make them whiter; it actually keeps your gums healthy and free from gingivitis and periodontal disease. I haven’t seen my hygienist since then because she really was booked for months and I just couldn’t get in.

The Cleaning of the Teeth (Part II)

I finally made it in to see my hygienist and my gums are so much happier now. Of course it takes a bit of work on my part, learning to floss after 40 years of not flossing is like learning a new language. I’d rather go to the dentist once a month for a monthly cleaning but personal responsibility is important. For now I will continue to keep my gums happy and therefore healthy by flossing and brushing every day. And, I will resign myself to the recommended twice-a-year cleaning. I hope my little story has impressed upon you the importance of regular cleanings. If I can do it after forty years of not doing it, then anyone can.*

*Two visits annually for a cleaning is normal. If you have periodontal disease, it will likely be recommended you visit your dentist and hygienist 3 to 4 times per year until the condition of your gums improve.

Image Used under Creative Commons license. Photo Credit: Dental floss (whole)

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Hiking Happiness

Looking for a reason to hit the trails? Hiking sounds fun, a lot of people do it, but how do you know if it is right for you?

You know that being out-of-doors puts you at risk of bug bites, blisters, encounters with wildlife, including snakes. Maybe that presents more of a challenge to overcome than you might like. But let’s look at the benefits of going hiking and see if they might convince you to try it as a new favorite activity.

Improving Creativity. People who walk or hike in nature have been proven to be far more creative in their approach to problems than other people. Research has shown that spending time outdoors increases our attention span as well as our creative problem solving skills by as much as fifty percent. It’s very possible that when going hiking, we tend to “unplug” from the world. We might have our smartphone with us, but we don’t pull it out and check email or text messages as we hike. The proven benefits of interacting with nature and our creative problem solving skills should be enough to persuade you to give it a try. Moving is more inspirational than sitting in place.

Improving Fitness. It is hard to hike any length of time unless you have worked at improving your overall physical fitness. A single hour of hiking can burn up to 500 calories per hour. It’s a great way to work out and not put too much pressure on our joints. Dirt and hiking trails are much easier on our joints than concrete or blacktop. When hiking up and down hills, you might even see unexpected weight loss benefits as well. You can also expect to see improvements in both your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. The up and down movement of hiking is also a huge benefit for those who are working to balance their blood sugars and their insulin response.

Hiking Trail by James WardlawBailey

Improved Level of Happiness. Hiking has been shown to help people suffering from depression or even those having suicidal thoughts. Being in nature allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings about a greater sense of peace and well-being.

Start small when taking up hiking. You can start by tackling a small hill in a pair of sneakers in your own back yard by hiking locally. But as you build endurance and have bigger hills and mountains in your future, you’ll want to get a very comfortable pair of hiking boots to protect feet and ankles from turns and twists.

Fill er’ Up!

Teeth wear down; they get abused by hard candies, sticky sugary snacks, and other items that can cause decay or cracks.

Many people are under the false assumption that only children get cavities. Unfortunately like all machines, when our body and mouth get on in age, they naturally will be in need of repairs. If you are one of those folks who think cavities are only something candy-eating children get, maybe it’s time for a dental check-up. If you do go in for a check-up and find you have cavities that need fillings, below are some helpful tips to consider.

There are two basic types of fillings: silver amalgam and tooth-colored composite resin. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Silver fillings are durable and can last up to 15 years. Some people however, don’t like the look of the dark silver fillings, while they may be more economical.

There are a few disadvantage of silver amalgam fillings: greater healthy parts of the tooth often have to be removed, the amalgam may create discoloration to the tooth, the amalgam material may lend itself to more frequent cracks and fractures, and silver amalgam fillings contain mercury, an element known to be unsafe to humans in certain concentrations. Some may also be allergic to the amount of mercury used in silver amalgam fillings.

Tooth-colored composites are the best choice for filling material from an esthetic view, as they most closely match the color of a tooth. These composites also chemically bond to the tooth and they are versatile. Often there is less of the existing tooth structure that needs to be removed in comparison to an amalgam filling. However, these composites are less durable than an amalgam filling. Also, the tooth-colored composites can more easily chip and are slightly less economical.

There are also ceramic and glass ionomer fillings available. If you would like to learn more about cavities and fillings, contact your neighborhood dentist. They will be more than happy to give you the complete run down on fillings, if you need them and which would be best for you.

Image Used under Creative Commons license. Photo Credit: 100_1373.jpg

Dental Orthodontics Munster | Ridge Dental Care | (219) 836-1111

“Since we opened our doors, we’ve been treating Lake County residents with one-on-one, friendly care – the sort of care we’d want for ourselves.

Ridge Dental Care
619 Ridge Rd Munster IN 46321
(219) 836-1111
https://www.ridgedentalcare.com/cosmetic
https://www.ridgedentalcare.com/implant-options
https://www.ridgedentalcare.com/about-us

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