What is a Cavity?

Cavities are just about as common as a cold and although they mostly occur in children, adults need to be aware of them too. It isn’t unusual for bacteria to be found in your mouth, however, when bacteria mixes with acid, food pieces and saliva in the mouth it creates a sticky substance called plaque. The acids in plaque damage the enamel covering your teeth, and create holes in the tooth called cavities. Although our doctors at Southern Cross Dental offer a wide variety of filling options for cavities, they would prefer you to avoid them altogether.

Developing cavities is a process and they just don’t appear overnight. In the early stages, tooth decay can be stopped. The best way to prevent cavities is by reducing the amount of plaque and bacteria in the mouth and the best way to do this is by brushing and flossing daily. Cavities caught in the very early stages can be reversed, however, caries that have destroyed enamel cannot. It is important to schedule a professional cleaning with our doctors every six months to reduce your risk of tooth decay.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour DDS at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

Eat Cheese to Keep Your Teeth

At Southern Cross Dental, our staff wants you to know why dairy is beneficial to your dental health. There are thousands of varieties of cheeses in the world, which can come from several different species such as cows, goats, and sheep. Cheese is high in calcium and calcium plays a role in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth as well as milk and yogurt. Because of this, you may want to eat more of these dairy products if you desire strong healthy teeth.

Consuming dairy products is vital to maintaining good overall health, and it’s especially important to bone health. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, cheese protects your pearly whites from acid erosion – the breakdown of enamel brought on by coffee, tea, wine soda, etc. Eating cheese also reduces cavities because it helps maintain a healthy pH level in the mouth that is safe for teeth. So next time you go grocery shopping be sure to pick up some aged cheddar, Swiss, blue, brie or Monterey Jack cheeses to keep your smile healthy.

To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.

Brushing and Flossing with Braces

Wearing braces means you need to take a little extra time to take care of your teeth and gums. Good oral care is even more important while wearing braces because of the plaque that they can trap. Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO is here to remind our patients of the proper way to brush and floss with braces.

Taking good care of your teeth with braces will ensure a healthy and good-looking smile when the braces come off. In addition to your normal brushing, make sure to also brush along the tops and bottoms of your brackets with a tooth brush. Then use an interdental toothbrush (the kind that looks like a mini tree) to brush the sides of the brackets. You will know you have done a good job when the brackets are shiny and the edges are visible. If the edges are still covered with plaque, you must brush more carefully.

Buy Superfloss or a floss threader to floss your teeth. These make it easier to get the floss under your wires and back out to floss the next space.

While a little more time may be needed to take care of your oral health while wearing braces, it will be worth it in the end when you show off that beautiful smile! To schedule your dental cleaning with Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

Tooth Sensitivity: Causes and Solutions

Sensitive teeth can make you not want to enjoy your favorite beverages and food. It can also make you want to skip your dental hygiene routine. While sensitive teeth may have a few different causes, there are ways to find out what is causing it and how you can fix it. Here at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, we want our patients to know what causes tooth sensitivity and how they can stop it.

Brushing Too Hard: Many do not know that brushing too hard can actually wear down enamel. If you are bearing down too hard or using a toothbrush with stiff bristles, this can wear down enamel, exposing nerves and causing sensitivity. Use a medium or soft bristled brush and brush lightly.

Brushing Too Soon: You should always wait at least thirty minutes to brush after eating or drinking anything but water. Foods and drinks contain acid that softens the enamel on our teeth. Brushing before giving it a chance to harden could mean brushing away precious enamel.

Grinding Your Teeth: If you wake up with a sore jaw, you may be grinding your teeth at night. This can also lead to worn down enamel. In addition, it can cause your gums to recede, exposing your tooth roots. We can create a custom mouth guard for your protection at night.

Gum Disease: Gum disease can also lead to recession of gums. Keep a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits with us to avoid gum disease.

These are only a few of the different causes and solutions to sensitive teeth. If you are having difficulty figuring out what is causing your sensitive teeth, schedule an appointment with us in our Colorado Springs, CO office. Call us at (719) 471-1717 or visit our Southern Cross Dental website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can create more than just a goofy grin. When missing teeth are not replaced, they can create health hazards. Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO wants our patients to know why it is so important to replace missing teeth.

When a tooth goes missing, the gum and bone tissue that used to surround it begin to deteriorate. When the tooth is not replaced quickly, this deterioration will cause problems. The other teeth in the mouth will begin to shift towards that open space. This will create spots where bacteria can hide. It will also change the appearance of your smile.

When multiple teeth are missing, the deterioration of the jawbone can lead to a noticeable change in your jaw shape. Facial muscles may also begin to sag, making you appear older than you actually are.

Replacing a tooth as soon as possible stops other teeth from shifting around in the mouth and can help keep the shape of your jaw. At our dental practice here in Colorado Springs, CO, we offer multiple options for tooth replacement. Our experienced dentists will be able to tell you whether a bridge, a dental implant, or dentures are right for you.

Do not put off replacing a tooth simply because it does not presently bother you. Choosing not to replace teeth can create complications in the future. To schedule your consultation with Southern Cross Dental here in our Colorado Springs, CO practice, call our office at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

Toothbrush Tips for Painful or Difficult-to-Move Hands

When a patient has limited hand movement or difficulty using their hands, it can be difficult to do a good job with oral care. Thankfully, there are ways to make brushing less of a hassle. At Southern Cross Dental here in Colorado Springs, CO, we want our patients with difficulty moving their hands to know that they can still take excellent care of their teeth.

Toothbrushes can be hard to maneuver around the mouth when you are struggling with conditions like arthritis. Take a few tips for picking out the right toothbrush to help you out. The toothbrush should have a handle that you can easily grip. Thicker handles are best for this. Also, look for one with a non-slip grip. This will make the toothbrush easier to control. One more tip is to look for a toothbrush with a small head. A smaller head makes it easier to move the toothbrush around in your mouth and reach every corner.

If you are using all of the above tips with a manual toothbrush and still having difficulty cleaning your teeth, try using an electric toothbrush. While normally, manual toothbrushes do just as good of a job of cleaning as electric ones, for those with difficulty using their hands, electric toothbrushes can offer major benefits. They basically just need to be held in the right positions and they do all the scrubbing.

Do not let painful hands or difficulty with movement stop you from having great oral health. To schedule a cleaning with Southern Cross Dental in our Colorado Springs, CO office, call us at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

How to Make Dental Care Fun for Kids

We all know that sometimes it feels like getting kids to brush and floss is like “pulling teeth”. However, it is an important step in their oral health. Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO wants to give parents pointers on making dental care fun for kids.

To help kids understand how to brush their teeth well, brush yours with them. This way they can see how to hold the toothbrush, which spots in the mouth to brush, and how long they should be brushing for. Kids love to play “monkey see, monkey do”, so they will most likely find this fun.

A full two minutes should be spent brushing teeth. A great way to make sure kids reach that full two minutes is by playing one of their favorite songs. This makes the time go by quicker for them, plus you will rest assured knowing they are doing a good job.

Offer rewards for when they complete all of their brushing and flossing for the day. These rewards can be like picking a bedtime story, getting to spend extra time playing outside, or taking them to a park on the weekend if they complete their brushing and flossing every day for the whole week.

Healthy home habits promote healthy dental visits. To schedule your child’s dental visit at Southern Cross Dental of Colorado Springs, CO, call us at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.