What Happens When You Skip Brushing and Flossing?

We all know our dentist tells us to brush twice per day and floss once per day but do we all really do it? Maybe if you knew why it is needed, you would. Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour, DDS of Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO want their patients to know the consequences of poor oral care.

There is a reason why brushing twice per day and flossing once per day is important. Failing to keep good care of your teeth can result in decay, gum disease, and the loss of teeth. Not to mention some pretty bad breath and an unpleasant smile.

Plaque is what forms on our teeth throughout the day. It looks like a whitish material and especially likes to collect near our gum lines. Plaque is actually a film of bacteria and it is formed from food, drinks, and saliva. Plaque in itself can cause enamel to weaken and form cavities. However, if plaque is not removed, it can soon turn into tartar. Tartar is a calcified form of plaque that can really only be removed by a dentist. If this plaque and tartar sit on your teeth for long enough, the gums become irritated and can begin to recede. Infected gums are painful, they bleed easily, and they lead to worse problems like lost teeth and spread of infection. Gum disease can even increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Plaque forms just hours after brushing and flossing, which is why it is important to brush several times per day. Flossing should be done once per day. The bacteria that get caught between teeth can begin to do damage after a day, which is why flossing is important to get to once per day.

Along with a great oral care routine at home, visits to your dentist for a professional cleaning are important, too. To schedule your cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour, DDS and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour, DDS in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at (719) 471-1717. Appointments may also be made through our Southern Cross Dental website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

TMJ/TMD Diet

 

TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is a pain or malfunction at the point where the jawbone is attached. TMJ can have many symptoms, from clicking, to locking of the jaw, to headache, earache, or even a feeling of tiredness in the face. Because TMJ affects the chewing muscles, the condition may worsen when eating certain foods. Here at Southern Cross Dental, our doctors can not only treat TMJ disorder, but they can suggest diet changes that can alleviate symptoms. 

We know that giving up certain foods is easier said than done, but you may need to try eliminating certain culprits from your diet if this decreases your problems with TMJ. To lessen pain and other symptoms associated with this condition, avoid eating hard foods, crunchy foods, and thick or large foods that involve opening your mouth wide when you chew them. You may also want to eliminate fatty foods that require a lot of chewing. Some good foods to eat include cooked vegetables and fruits, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs. By incorporating soft foods into your diet you are giving your jaw and temporomandibular joints the opportunity to rest and heal. 

If you experience jaw soreness or hear a clicking sound when you chew, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is a pain or malfunction at the point where the jawbone is attached. TMJ can have many symptoms, from clicking, to locking of the jaw, to a headache, earache, or even a feeling of tiredness in the face. Because TMJ affects the chewing muscles, the condition may worsen when eating certain foods. Here at Southern Cross Dental, our doctors can not only treat TMJ disorder, but they can suggest diet changes that can alleviate symptoms.

We know that giving up certain foods is easier said than done, but you may need to try eliminating certain culprits from your diet if this decreases your problems with TMJ. To lessen pain and other symptoms associated with this condition, avoid eating hard foods, crunchy foods, and thick or large foods that involve opening your mouth wide when you chew them. You may also want to eliminate fatty foods that require a lot of chewing. Some good foods to eat include cooked vegetables and fruits, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs. By incorporating soft foods into your diet you are giving your jaw and temporomandibular joints the opportunity to rest and heal.

If you experience jaw soreness or hear a clicking sound when you chew, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

 

How to Take Care of a Dental Crown

Dental crowns are great because they can allow a tooth to remain in place even after some damage. Crowns repair the function of your tooth and restore your oral health. After having a crown installed, there will be some things to keep in mind. At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, we can provide our patients with custom dental crowns. Read on to learn about taking care of a crown.

The process of installing a dental crown will include wearing a temporary crown for a short time. This is so that a dental laboratory can create the permanent custom crown. While you are wearing this temporary crown, you will want to avoid foods that are too hard or too sticky. These foods could cause the crown to pop off. Also, be careful when brushing and flossing.

After the permanent crown is installed, there may be some irritation or soreness in the gums surrounding the crown. This will subside as the gum tissue gets used to the new structure of the tooth. To deal with the irritation, it helps to swish your mouth with warm salt water. Ibuprofen can also be taken. Soon, your gums will adjust and your new crown will feel just like the rest of your teeth.

If you are interested in more about dental crowns, contact Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour, DDS, call our office at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Cracked tooth syndrome does not mean that you are clumsy enough to crack your teeth all the time. Believe it or not, cracked tooth syndrome occurs when a tooth has a crack that is too small to show up on X-rays or is under the gum and challenging to identify. The sensitivity may be mild to intense, which is why to determine if you have a cracked tooth, our doctors at Noah Dental Group, will examine your mouth and teeth, focusing on the tooth in question.

Cracked tooth syndrome is most common in the lower back teeth (molars.) That’s because the teeth absorb most of the forces of chewing. Most people experience cracked tooth syndrome as pain or discomfort when biting into food, or when teeth are exposed to hot or cold temperatures. How long symptoms last depends on how quickly a cracked tooth can be diagnosed. However, even after a crack is found, treatment may be difficult.

If you are experiencing pain in your mouth, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Types of Teeth and Their Functions

Many factors play a role in how many teeth we have, but there are typically 32 permanent teeth in the mouth including the four wisdom teeth. The first permanent teeth to erupt (usually at about six years) are the four first permanent molars behind the last primary teeth. At Southern Cross Dental it is our job to take care of all your teeth, but if you’ve ever wondered why your teeth are different shapes and sizes, we are here to tell you why.  

The types of teeth we have and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have further questions regarding your pearly whites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.