Blog | Boulder Dentist | Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Is Your Diet Hurting Your Teeth?

Woman making a sour face and holding up a citrus lemon section to one of her eyes.

There are recommended guidelines for fruits, vegetables and more that should be included in a healthy, daily diet. Your diet can be poor or it can be great depending on what foods and drinks you choose. Foods high in carbohydrates, sugars and various acids will damage your teeth and will change their color over time. Other foods and drinks high in specific nutrients can build your teeth back up. Learn about foods and drinks that damage the teeth, what to eat and what to avoid if you want to have both a healthy body and healthy teeth!

Your Mouth and Digestion

Did you know that your oral health can affect your overall health? Many people don’t realize just how much their oral hygiene can affect their risk for disease and health problems. Countless chronic conditions are caused by nutritional deficiencies, problems with weight, viruses, bacteria that get into the body and other oral-related illnesses. Many viruses can get into your body through the mouth with eating, drinking, and touching things with the virus. Weight problems can start with the mouth as food is taken into the mouth in most cases.

Not only can your food determine how well your body runs and if your diet and hygiene habits set you at risk for chronic conditions, but your food can damage your teeth. When you eat, your mouth begins digestion by breaking your food into smaller pieces for digestion. Your teeth do the actual breaking up part, and some of that food gets left behind in the mouth. Saliva helps break down food with acids and bacteria in it. However, some of that bacteria will combine with sugars in the foods you eat to make an acidic film called plaque.

A model of the teeth where the teeth have gone yellow and the model is surrounded by sugar.

Plaque and Oral Health

Plaque is the part that gets left behind in your mouth as a film that coats your teeth. Because it is acidic, plaque can eat away at your teeth, weakening them over time and causing them to decay. If oral hygiene isn’t followed, plaque sits on the teeth for long periods and the oral health disease known as “tooth decay” happens. The teeth can decay and simultaneously, gum disease can set in. This is when acidic plaque irritates the gums to a high degree.

The gums become red, swollen, inflamed, can bleed easy and start to pull away from the teeth until tooth loss happens. Infections from both tooth decay and gum disease can get into your bloodstream, causing systemic illness. However, all of these issues never have to happen if you have great oral health.

How do you have great oral health? You brush and floss your teeth and see the dentist! The American Dental Association and other health organizations suggest:

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day (minimum) for two minutes at a time. Brush all tooth surfaces with fluoride toothpaste.
Floss 1-2 times a day, making sure to get up into the gum line and to scrape gently along your teeth as you go to remove plaque.
Use fluoride products (toothpastes, mouthwashes, gels, etc.) to strengthen the teeth and to reduce your risk for tooth decay.
Visit the dentist for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings at least biannually, which is every 6 months. There, tooth decay and gum disease signs can be found and treatment can stop the progression of both.

A man, woman and child all brushing their teeth together.

Is Your Diet Hurting Your Teeth?

You may practice great oral hygiene on your teeth and still have your teeth decay and weaken. What gives? The problem may be your diet. Some foods and drinks are acidic in nature. If there are acids in a food (like citrus fruits) or drink (sodas, citrus drinks, anything carbonated), then acid erosion will happen to your teeth. The biggest culprit is soda, as many soft drinks are carbonated. Carbonation gets that fizzy pop because of a chemical reaction taking place between carbon dioxide and water. This creates carbonic acid, which causes damage to the teeth.

You can’t just brush away the drink either. Studies show that acids in foods and drinks will stay on the teeth for 20-30 minutes working to break up the surface minerals of tooth enamel. If you brush your teeth within that time frame, you may actually take some extra layers off of your teeth. It’s best to drink these drinks sparingly, not at all, or using a straw so there is limited contact with the tooth enamel.

If you eat or drink products with acids in them frequently, you will notice your teeth becoming weaker or thinner overtime. They may physically look more gray or yellow, may show the inner tooth layers through more translucent tooth enamel, or they may break easier due to weakness. Choosing to drink water or milk can help build your teeth up, as water contains fluoride to protect the teeth and milk has calcium, phosphate and other minerals that can remineralize the teeth.

Watch Out for Sugar

Do you want to have stronger, healthier teeth? Avoid sugar! Sugar is naturally found in fruits. However, added sugars are not natural and work like acid when they combine with mouth bacteria. The more sugar you eat, the more plaque your mouth makes and the more your teeth can decay. If you eat less sugar and keep your teeth cleaner with oral hygiene measures, you can avoid tooth decay and gum disease.

These diseases are the most chronic ones that plague people in the U.S. and both can be prevented by a good diet low in sugar. If you find yourself with frequent cavities and gum issues, take a look at your diet and cut out the things that will hurt your smile. To get specific food items to avoid and tips for a healthier smile, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: November 13, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Benefits of an Oral Hygiene Routine

Blonde woman that is smiling and holding a toothbrush with toothpaste to her mouth.

Do you brush and floss your teeth each day? Studies show that only about ½ of American adults (or less) are practicing basic oral hygiene habits each day. An oral hygiene routine is vital to keeping your teeth from decaying or falling out over time. Use these recommendations and guidelines for your daily oral hygiene routine and see how you benefit you in the long run!

Oral Health and Oral Hygiene

Your oral health and oral hygiene are almost the same thing, and these terms may be used interchangeably. However, there are some differences in the two. Your overall health is how healthy you are, taking your whole body into consideration. Often, many health problems can manifest in the mouth with various signs or symptoms, or they start in the mouth. Health problems related to weight or poor eating will start with you mouth as you intake food and drink. Diabetes can cause problems with circulation and blood vessels in the body, manifesting physical signs of disease in the mouth. Countless conditions affect the health of your mouth—or your oral health.

However, your mouth can also cause health conditions to worsen, as infections that start in the mouth can get into your bloodstream and make health problems worse. Essentially, keeping your oral health in great condition can help your body stay healthy as well. You keep your oral health in check through oral hygiene—or how you care for the mouth. Those oral hygiene steps include brushing and flossing your teeth, keeping your tongue clean, using decay-fighting oral products, and visiting the dentist. All of those steps can help kill germs and bacteria that would make you sick and that would cause disease in your teeth and gums over time.

Four different colored toothbrushes, floss and a bottle of blue mouthwash on top of a wood surface.

Why Is Your Oral Hygiene Important?

Gum disease and tooth decay are among the most common chronic conditions in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health report that tooth decay—what you know as “cavities”—is the most chronic disease among American adults and children. More than 92% of people have cavities by the time they are adults, and many have untreated tooth decay they don’t know about.

Cavities are bad because once a part of your tooth decays, you can’t simply reverse it. You have to have a dentist remove the decayed part and fill it with new material. When cavities grow large, they go through the several layers of the teeth to the tooth center. This will cause rapid decay and infection where the nerves and blood vessels lie. When decay reaches this point, it can make you lose your tooth.

Gum disease is also a serious disease that more than 64.7 million American adults. That’s not even including children. When you don’t brush or floss your teeth, sugars in your food will mix with mouth bacteria to make a sticky, acidic film. That film is plaque and it sticks to your teeth, using its acid to break up minerals in your teeth. This decays your teeth and thins them, and the acidic plaque will irritate your gums. Early gum disease is when your gums become swollen and inflamed (with a darker red tint). When oral hygiene habits don’t improve, your gums will become irritated enough that the gums recede, eventually causing mushy gums and tooth loss. Good oral hygiene habits can prevent all of these problems.

Brushing 101

Brushing your teeth is one of the best oral hygiene habits you can have. Patients should buy a toothbrush that fits the size of their mouth. Use soft gum brushes for infants and infant toothbrushes for toddlers. Children will have smaller toothbrushes with smaller heads and adults will have larger toothbrushes with larger heads. Change out these toothbrushes every 3 months or when the bristles become frayed.

To brush, patients should use toothpaste enriched with decay-fighting fluoride. Use a rice-sized amount for infants, a pea-sized amount for children and slightly more for teens and adults. Wet the toothbrush, add toothpaste and brush all tooth surfaces for 2 minutes. Go in all different directions, circles and 45-degree angles. Brush for 2 minutes every time you brush, at least 2 or more times a day, as recommended by the American Dental Association. Brush your infant or child’s teeth until they are old enough to do these themselves, and then monitor that brushing.

A woman that is holding floss out in front of her. The floss in her two hands is in focus, but the woman's face is blurry in the background.

Flossing, Mouthwash and Fluoride

Brushing is not complete without flossing your teeth. Floss 1-2 times a day (minimum), using new floss each time. You need about 18 inches of floss that you wind between your pointer or middle finger on each hand. Floss up into your gum line between each tooth and scrape the teeth as you floss to remove extra plaque.

Mouthwash and fluoride products can benefit your oral hygiene routine. Mouthwash can kill bacteria that would cause you decay or disease. It can freshen breath and those with fluoride can help protect your teeth from losing minerals. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that help provide a barrier for teeth against bacteria. Your teeth loose minerals from acid-containing foods and drinks, but they also gain minerals from foods and drinks. Fluoride will help protect against that demineralization and can make your teeth stronger.

Schedule Your Dental Visits

Another major oral hygiene consideration you want to make is scheduling dental visits. Only a dentist can detect tooth decay with their professional technology. Biannual visits prevent large tooth decay and a dentist can help reverse your gum disease when it starts. They also have treatments for severe decay or disease that has already happened. If you want to avoid oral health diseases that can harm your health and can make your teeth fall out, you definitely want an oral hygiene routine. You’ll not only feel like you have a healthy, fresh mouth, but your smile will be more beautiful and your mouth structures stronger. To see how your oral hygiene and health is doing, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998 for your comprehensive exam!

Posted: November 6, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Prevent Cavities from Your Halloween Candy

White model of the teeth that has gummy worms between the two jaws and a toothbrush lying in front of it with toothpaste on it.

Studies show that trick-or-treaters can consume up to 675 grams of sugar on Halloween. That incredible sugar intake is not surprising, since Halloween is a major candy holiday. However, that candy contains the absolute worst ingredient that causes the teeth to decay: sugar. We want all our patients to have a fun Halloween and to even eat some yummy candy in the process. However, use these tips and recommendations for limiting sugar consumption and avoiding cavities that can happen later on!

Halloween Candy Facts

Halloween is the biggest candy holiday after Easter. Holidays often bring sweet treats and more indulgence in sugar foods. It’s the actual sugar content that is the main factor in raising a child’s risk for tooth decay.

These Halloween candy facts may shock you:

On average, children and teens that trick-or-treat consume up to 675 grams of sugar on Halloween day alone. That’s about 3 solid cups of sugar in just one day! One cup of sugar is equivalent to 48 teaspoons of sugar.
However, the recommended daily allowance for added sugars is only 6-9 teaspoons for females and males. Children should only have 6 teaspoons or less in one day, according to the American Heart Association.
October 28th is the biggest candy-selling day of the year.
The average family spends about $44 dollars on Halloween candy each year. Across the U.S., about $2.1 billion dollars is spent on Halloween candy.
The amount of Halloween candy sold equals about 16 of the world’s largest ocean liners (or ships) in how much that candy would weigh.
The main ingredient in Halloween candy (and candy in general) is sugar, which is directly related to tooth decay.

Close-up view of a child sucking on a lollipop. The child has tooth decay on all their teeth that is visible.

Why Is Sugar a Problem?

Eating sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and gum disease, which are some of the most prevalent chronic diseases among children and adults. Gum disease affects more than 64.7 million American adults alone, and many more people have tooth decay. These diseases stem from sugar, as sugar decays your teeth. When you eat, sugars in your food combine with mouth bacteria to form plaque, which is a sticky, acidic substance that decays the teeth. The more sugar you eat, the more plaque you make.

You don’t just swallow plaque either. It sits on your teeth because it’s sticky and erodes your tooth enamel because it’s acidic. If it sits on tooth enamel long enough, plaque can break up the minerals in your teeth. That outer tooth enamel becomes weak and you will get cracks and open areas of your teeth. Plaque then gets inside the tooth, causing not only surface decay, but internal decay and infection as well. That decay is known as “cavities”, and cavities can lead to tooth loss. All of that weakening and decay stems straight back to sugar, which is found in almost all Halloween candy and in most foods you can buy from the store.

Preventing Cavities from Halloween Candy

You can significantly reduce your risk for cavities and disease by brushing and flossing your teeth several times a day, and especially after meals. However, not enough people brush and floss during the day—or at all—meaning that millions have cavities. There is a spike in cavities after Halloween in the months following, which is probably due to the high candy consumption. So what can you do?

If you’re a parent, make sure you are monitoring your child’s candy consumption and limiting how much they are eating. Children can be just as happy having a few small pieces of Halloween candy that night instead of 3 cups worth of sugar. It’s fine for children, teens and adults to have some candy on Halloween, as cutting out all sugar consumption can make the desire for sugar that much stronger. That can lead to bingeing on Halloween candy or sweet treats later on.

A chevron-patterned candy bag with candy pieces spilling out of it. The words "trick or treat" is written on a black background next to it.

Some Tips

If your child gets a ton of Halloween candy, you can always use these tips to limit heavy consumption:

Have a system in place where they earn their candy pieces. An example is that they get a sweet treat if they have read a book for a certain amount of time that day. Another is if they do really well with brushing and flossing during the day, they can have a treat at dinner.
Do a trade. They can trade in 10 candy pieces for a small toy from a dollar store.
Divide up the candy they can have each day after Halloween. Each day they can get the small bag with one or more pieces of candy.
Always take their candy at night to avoid night eating and limit Halloween to be had only at mealtime. This prevents plaque production from all-day snacking.

Healthy Teeth for Fall and More

It’s very possible to enjoy your holiday or Halloween candy all fall and winter while still keeping your teeth healthy. Children don’t have to get child tooth decay and adults don’t have to get cavities either. Simply practice great oral hygiene and limit your sugar consumption! Adults and children alike should brush their teeth at least twice a day, if not after every meal. Both should floss 1-2 times a day. Help your children with brushing and flossing until they can do it for themselves. Then, monitor their brushing and flossing to make sure it’s done correctly.

All patients from infancy and on should be visiting their dentist at least twice a year as well. This is a time when we can spot the signs of cavities and stop them in their tracks. Small cavities are much easier to get rid of than large cavities that lead to tooth loss. If you want more tips for preventing cavities or you need to schedule your family’s dental exams, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: October 25, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Tips for Taking Care of Baby Teeth

A young brunette female child that is smiling at the camera and brushing her teeth.

Did you know that you get two sets of teeth throughout your lifetime? The first set comprises the 20 delicate baby teeth that will eventually fall out to make way for the 32 adult teeth. Right from the time a baby gets their first tooth, that tooth needs to be cared for or tooth decay can quickly set in. Whether it’s for a new infant, a toddler, teen or yourself, find out how to properly care for the baby teeth and your own teeth!

The Baby Teeth

An infant will only have 20 baby teeth in their mouth, but an adult will have 32 larger, adult teeth. An infant grows slowly throughout childhood, and their mouth grows with them. The baby teeth can start to come in immediately, or they can take up to the second or third year to start coming in. However, most infants will start to get their baby teeth between 3 and 12 months. The teeth are actually the strongest substance in the body, but because baby teeth are so small, they can still be quite delicate.

Despite their size, the baby teeth will determine much about a person’s adult teeth. Over time, the mouth will grow and around age 7 or 8, the baby teeth will start to fall out. An interesting aspect of this growing and shedding of teeth is that the baby teeth come into the mouth in the same order that they start to fall out. The teeth many even space out before they start to fall out, which is the mouth growing to make room for the adult teeth to drop in. If the baby teeth are not cared for properly, then those delicate baby teeth can decay and fall out too soon, messing up how the adult teeth come into the mouth.

A young male child that has a few baby teeth in the mouth and he is holding a toothbrush.

Taking Care of the Baby Teeth

So what can you do? You can take care of the baby teeth as soon as you see the first one come into your child’s mouth. When that first baby tooth pops through the gums, make sure you have a finger gum brush to gently brush that baby tooth. This is especially important after nursing or after an infant takes a bottle, as those milk sugars can decay the baby teeth. Some tips to follow for healthy baby teeth include:

Never leave a baby bottle with an infant overnight or when they sleep. This may mean the child is sucking all throughout the night, exposing their teeth to decay-causing sugars constantly. This decay happens so easily, that it’s known as “baby-bottle tooth decay”.
Use an infant brush that fits the size of the mouth. With it, use a tiny amount (rice-sized) of fluoride toothpaste to brush with.
Wipe an infant’s teeth and gums with a wet cloth after eating to reduce plaque buildup.
Make sure the teeth are brushed before bedtime, after nursing or bottle-feeding.
Take infants to dental visits biannually after 1 year.

Dental Visits: When Should They Happen?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents bring their infants in for their first dental visit as early as 1 year of age. The goal is to see an infant within 6 months of them getting their first tooth. That first tooth is usually the start of an infant getting the rest of their baby teeth, which should all be in by age 3. Once that first dental visit is established, it’s important that infants and children continue to go to dental cleanings and exams every 6 months, just like teens and adults.

These dental visits are so important for children to keep their baby teeth healthy, which prevents oral health problems with decay and tooth loss that can affect the adult teeth. If a baby tooth falls out too soon, it can mean that an adult tooth comes in too early and in the wrong place. This can cause other teeth to come in incorrectly and for major oral health issues to arise. When children are seeing a dentist often, the dentist can make sure children keep their baby teeth healthy so their adult smiles can be healthy too.

A woman brushing her infant's baby teeth.

What Can You Expect?

The first dental visit can be different for every child depending on their age and their needs. Make sure that you take a child to a dentist trained to do pediatric, family or general dentistry. You want someone that has worked with children before. That first dental visit won’t involve a dental cleaning if they are very young infants.

We review all medical history at this first appointment. If a child is visiting for the first time, they start of their new dental record. For infants, we do a very quick examination of their gums and teeth to see how they are developing and how they are coming into the mouth. This is a great time for parents to learn how to properly take care of their infant’s baby teeth and what oral hygiene products they should be using.

Parents can hold infants at this first dental exam and for some of those exams following as we look in their mouths for dental issues. For children with all their baby teeth or most of them, we can assess bite and alignment to see if dental issues will develop, worsen, or will cause speech issues. The dental visit is quick and easy the first few times, yet children benefit by catching tooth decay or bite problems early on. Those problems can be fixed quickly to avoid dental problems in the future. If you want to know more about a child’s first dental visit or how to care for your child’s baby teeth, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: October 18, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

A Healthier Diet Can Lead to Healthy Teeth

African American woman that is smiling with a beautiful smile and healthy teeth.

Sugar is one of the most widely consumed substance in the world, simply because it is found in most foods in modern times. In the past, sugar rarely found its way into natural or “healthy” foods. Because the amount of sugar you’re eating directly relates to your risk for tooth decay and oral health diseases, you have to be careful about what you are eating. Learn the truth about sugar intake in the U.S., foods that secretly contain it, and how a healthier diet can lead to better health and wellness, but also to beautiful, healthy teeth!

All About Your Teeth

Did you know that your teeth are the strongest substance in your body? Many people think the bones are the strongest. However, the bones are filled with spongy cartilage, blood vessels, stem cells and more. The teeth are about 96% pure mineral content made up of calcium, phosphate, magnesium and other minerals. That is how you can bite into hard foods and how your teeth can last for decades.

You have a set of baby teeth that come in between birth and age 3. As you grow as a child, your baby teeth will space out somewhat and will eventually fall out. This makes way for the adult, permanent teeth to come into the mouth. You will have 20 baby teeth that are hard, but delicate, and 32 permanent teeth that are stronger, tougher and will last you for life (if you care for them). However, your oral hygiene habits and your diet can make your teeth weak, decayed and you can easily lose them.

Close-up view of a person's mouth with very healthy teeth.

How Are Teeth Damaged?

Your teeth can become damaged through various ways. Dental injuries can certainly damage your teeth (such as with contact sports), but it’s the small and simple things that do the most damage over time. Your oral hygiene is a major reason your teeth become damaged. Do you brush your teeth? Floss? Use mouthwash to kill germs? These are all oral hygiene habits you should be practicing if you want to avoid tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and if you want healthy teeth.

When you eat, sugars in your foods and drinks mix with mouth bacteria. That mixture creates a sticky, acidic film we call “plaque”. Instead of getting swallowed, that sticky film coats your teeth, especially along the gum line. Because it is acidic, it will go to work to weaken and demineralize your teeth. When it can break apart the minerals that hold your teeth together, it can decay them, eventually making craters of dead areas called “cavities”. You can’t get those areas back, and decay will continue to happen without swift dental treatment.

Your gums are also affected, as they get irritated by acidic plaque. The gums will react by becoming more red, swollen, and inflamed, and they will bleed easier. Without better dental hygiene or dental help, the gums will recede and your teeth can fall out.

How Do Drinks Affect Your Teeth?

Essentially, you practice a healthy diet for healthy teeth. To have healthy teeth, a good place to start is with your drinks:

Carbonation: Any carbonated beverage (soda, water, etc.) contains carbonic acid. That is what gives drinks that fizzy pop. Carbonic acid—because it is an acid—will erode away your tooth enamel. It sits on the teeth and works to break up the minerals for about 30 minutes after you’ve finished drinking. Always wait those 30 minutes before brushing or you can brush away even more enamel.
Citric Acid: Because this too is an acid found in many juices and drinks, it too can have the same effect as carbonation. Limit your lemonade and other citric juices if you want healthy teeth. Citric fruits can also have the same effects as citrus drinks.
Water Additives: Chose water sweeteners that are dye-free and free of citric acid if you want healthy teeth. Choosing dye-free will mean that your teeth stay whiter for longer. When you drink items that have dyes, those colors slowly seep into cracks into your teeth.
Milk: Milk is a great drink for your teeth. It has minerals that the teeth can take in and it nourishes your teeth. Regular water is also great and public water contains fluoride, which can strengthen your teeth. Avoid chocolate milk or milk containing high amounts of sugar, which leads to decay.

Young adult woman with ceramic braces on her teeth that is smiling and holding a toothbrush.

Foods and Sugars

With foods, you want to avoid all high-sugar foods. The more sugar you eat, the more plaque you make and the more your teeth can decay. Especially avoid sticky foods and treats such as taffy, gummies, dried fruit and caramels, as these stick sugars to your teeth longer. Avoid sucking on suckers or hard candies, which expose the teeth to sugar for a long time. To avoid dental injuries, avoid chewing ice or particularly hard foods. Chop up nuts, hard fruits and hard vegetables before you eat them. Check your food labels to avoid high amounts of added sugars, which decay your teeth. Essentially, you just want to avoid too much sugar in your diet, and you want to brush your teeth after eating those foods so decay and erosion don’t happen.

Healthy Teeth Through Oral Hygiene

The American Dental Association recommends that people brush their teeth at least twice a day, for two minutes at a time. Patients should also be flossing 1-2 times a day, making sure to use new floss to get up into the gum line, scraping teeth with the floss as they move the floss away from the teeth. The ADA also recommends biannual dental visits for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings.

Mouthwash that kills decay-causing bacteria and fluoride treatments that strengthen the teeth are also very good oral hygiene helps. If you want healthy teeth, you must do these small and simple things at home. When you’re doing those things and you still don’t have healthy teeth, you can call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 for a free consultation.

Posted: October 11, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Remedy Your TMJ Pain

Close-up view of a woman that is having TMJ pain where her temporomandibular joint is located.

There are countless joints throughout your body that connect different bones to each other. Your joints help you to move freely and without pain. However, many patients develop TMJ pain, meaning “temporomandibular joint” pain. That joint is one found on the sides of your face, where your jaw connects to your skull. Pain in these joints caused by inflammation, clenching, grinding and chronic conditions can make you be in pain all day long. Combat your TMJ pain with the right mouth gear and dental tips!

Joints and Your Temporomandibular Joint

You have countless body parts that all work together to keep your body in harmony and to keep you pain-free. Your muscles and ligaments connect to bones and they help create movement by pulling or retracting in different directions. This allows your body (and parts such as arms, legs or the mouth) to move. However, that’s not without the help of the joints. Your joints are hinged areas of your body which connect bones together with the help of tendons and cartilage.

Joints can pivot in different directions as the muscles move. There are about 360 joints in the body that allow you movement. Some studies report that there are 86 joints in the skull alone and 6 in the throat. The temporomandibular joint is located in your head by the temporal bone and the mandible (hence the name “temporomandibular). This is the joint that connects this bone to your mandible. This is also the joint that moves when you eat, chew, speak and more. This joint acts like a sliding hinge when you move and you have one of these joints on each side of your face. Normally, most people don’t have pain with these joints, and they work normally to open and close the mouth. However, millions of people do have pain in this area, and there are common reasons for it.

A model skull is sitting on a table and there is a hand using a pointer to emphasize the temporomandibular joint.

What Is TMJ Pain?

There are several reasons you may develop TMJ pain. You could have a genetic factor that causes you weakness and TMJ pain in that joint. You could have arthritis developing in this area, as many joint disorders stem from arthritic conditions. However, it is also possible that you have a jaw injury, that you are grinding your teeth at night, or are clenching your jaw. Many patients can start to see the signs of TMJ pain or a TMJ disorder because they will start to have symptoms such as:

Daily headaches
Jaw joint pain or noise
Limited ability to open the mouth
Ear congestion
Dizziness
Clenching or grinding the teeth
Neck pain
Teeth sensitivity
Insomnia

How Can a Dentist Help TMJ Pain?

Often, patients that are experiencing TMJ pain may not realize that the cause actually stems from TMJ. We see patients visiting doctors and they simply get prescribed anti-inflammatory medication or painkillers. However, the symptoms never go away because the actual cause is not being treated. Drugs can mask the symptoms, do not treat the underlying cause and may have severe side effects. Dental professionals have been trained in mouth and face anatomy for at least 10 years. Because so much about oral health is connected to overall health, often simple oral appliances or changes can stop other health problems from happening.

The TMJ pain and symptoms that patients feel on a daily basis can actually go away with the right dental help, and that pain relief can happen quickly. Your bite can be a factor in many types of pain and functional problems. This is because of the inter-relationships of the overall muscular system. When a problem with a simple joint causes TMJ pain, then stems to neck pain or head pain, it’s because all of these areas are connected through the joints, muscles, nerves and body systems. Even if you only have headaches, it can be traced back to TMJ pain or disorder, and we can test that theory through custom dental devices.

We look for all the signs of clenching and grinding, plus a past history or broken or injured teeth as well as the health symptoms we listed. We take digital scans or molds of your teeth and in 1-2 weeks, you get a custom-made guard to protect your teeth. This guard is almost like a retainer and mouthguard mix, where it fits snug to the teeth and is thin, but it is a hard barrier for when the teeth want to crash together at night. Your jaws start to rest in a more relaxed position, and your TMJ pain and symptoms start to ease up until they go away. If you have pain in the temporomandibular joint area, it’s worth getting an oral appliance.

Close-up view of a woman's mouth as she wears a mouthguard for teeth grinding and TMJ problems.

Get Rid of Your Symptoms

Do you have any of the symptoms we listed above? If so, make sure to schedule an appointment by calling Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998. Dr. Ania will thoroughly examine your symptoms and will discuss treatment options with you. She can see if the problem stems from clenching or grinding your teeth, because there will be physical signs on your teeth. When the problem stems from ear, nose or throat issues causing your TMJ pain, she can refer you to the right orthodontist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat doctor). However, most cases of TMJ pain can be treated with a custom-made mouth appliance that you sleep with. To see if this will work to relieve your symptoms quickly, have your mouth appliance made today!

Posted: October 4, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Oral Hygiene During Braces

Young adult woman holding oral hygiene products like floss and toothpaste to clean her braces with.

Studies show that not enough people are taking care of their oral health through proper brushing and flossing. It’s even harder to take care of your teeth when you have braces. Even though you are seeing an orthodontist with braces, you still have to see your dentist and be meticulous about your oral hygiene. If not, you could experience lots of tooth decay, problems with gum disease, tooth erosion, white stains and more. Avoid those problems with these tips!

Oral Hygiene In America

Do you skip brushing your teeth sometimes? If so, you are not alone. Studies show that not enough people are brushing their teeth, flossing or visiting the dentist. This is probably the reason why tooth decay and gum disease is out of control. In fact:

The National Institutes of Health reports that tooth decay is the most “chronic, prevalent disease” among children and adults.
About 92% of people in the United States have had cavities, despite the U.S. being a country with great dental care available.
Gum disease is not far behind tooth decay, as 64.7 million Americans are plagued by gum disease. That number only reflects American adults, as even children can have this disease.
Both are caused by a lack of oral hygiene care and dental visits.
Only about 65% of adults visit the dentist, and many only once a year. That percentage has stayed consistent throughout the 2000s.
The CDC reports dental visits in 2015 for children as being 84.7%. Adults between 18 and 64 saw the dentist at a rate of 64% and those over 65 were around 62.7%.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that every person (even infants) should see the dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. Many people don’t know this recommendation.

Close-up view of a woman cleaning her braces with a proxabrush.

Oral Hygiene with Metal and Ceramic Braces

You can know that you are caring for your braces correctly if you go to your biannual dental visits. If your oral hygiene is lacking, we can let you know. Many people—especially children and teens—have metal and ceramic braces. The care for these are very similar, as they both have bracket-and-wire designs on your teeth. Make sure you:

Brush after every meal. The ADA recommends that people brush at least twice a day. However, with braces, brush after every meal, even if you have to take oral hygiene kits to work or school. Extra cleanings can dislodge stuck food and prevent cavities even more.
Floss every day. Do this at least once, if not day and night. Use floss threaders or threadable floss, which you stick through the spaces in between your teeth. You can thread the floss through your teeth like a sewing needle and floss like usually if you thread your floss. We can show you in-office how to do this.
Use a Waterpik. This is a device that shoots water. It can dislodge stuck food and blast it out of brackets.
Use a proxabrush. This looks like a tiny Christmas Tree brush. It can clean out stuck food in brackets and wires easier than a toothbrush.
Use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride can help protect your teeth from demineralization and tooth decay.

Oral Hygiene with Invisalign Treatment

If you are a teen or adult, you may be eligible for Invisalign treatment, which is a series of transparent aligners that you switch out each week. The aligners fit snug and gently shift your teeth straighter as you switch them out each week. With your oral hygiene, you simply remove the aligners and brush and floss like normal. If you have weak enamel or are prone to tooth decay or gum problems, this may be the best option for you.

Redheaded woman that is smiling and wearing clear braces.

What to Watch For

You may be taking great care of your teeth, but you can still get a horde of cavities because of what you are putting in your mouth. Food and drinks can destroy your tooth enamel, especially with braces. Here are some foods to watch for and avoid if you can:

Soda and Carbonated Beverages: Carbonation is made possible by a combination of water and carbonic acid. That acid creates those fizzy bubbles you love, but it also takes layers off of your tooth enamel. Don’t brush for 30 minutes after a carbonated drink, as the working acids can take off even more tooth enamel.
Citrus: This includes both citric drinks (like lemonade) and citrus fruits. Both contain citric acid, which has the same effect as carbonation does. If you eat citric fruits, wait 30 minutes and use fluoride toothpaste when you brush.
Hard Candies/Mints: Avoid hard candies or mints during braces, as these expose your teeth to sugar for long amounts of time. That sugar means more decay.
Hard Foods: Cook your veggies (like carrots) instead of enjoying them raw, as these could break appliances. Also be careful of apples and other hard fruits and veggies you bite into.
Snacks: Some snacks can break appliances or become stuck in your braces or gums. Avoid nuts, popcorn (because of the hulls) and chips at all costs if you can.
Sticky Treats: These become stuck in the braces, which can mean sugar is stuck on your teeth for long periods, creating decay. Sticky treats include gum, taffy, licorice, gummies, fruit snacks, dried fruit, caramels, Skittles, Starburst, Tootsie Rolls and similar items.
Ice: Never chew on ice, even without braces. This can break and crack teeth.

Healthy Habits, Healthy Smiles

You will spend 18-24 months in braces if you are a teen or adult. Children might spend two separate times in braces if they have bite and alignment issues. Don’t let that time go to waste! Keep up on your oral hygiene during braces and avoid certain foods and drinks if you want a beautiful smile when those braces come off. For more oral hygiene tips with braces, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: September 25, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Treating Your Gum Disease

Red page that says "gum disease" and has a description of the disease. There is a syringe, medicine and dental tools on top of the paper.

There is a silent disease that over 64.7 million American adults have and it’s called gum disease. This is a condition where plaque sitting along the gum line starts to irritate the gums to the point where they recede and the teeth fall out. If you find that you have gum disease, there are still treatments that can help you reclaim your oral health and save your smile. Find out what planing and root scaling is and how it helps treat gum disease!

Gum Disease: What Is It?

Tooth decay and gum disease top the list of chronic diseases according to the National Institutes of Health. Studies show that at least 64.7 million Americans have gum disease, and that’s only including American adults! Tooth decay is a disease that affects the teeth. It happens when sugars in foods and drinks mix with mouth bacteria to create plaque. That plaque is super sticky and acidic, and when it sticks to the teeth, it decays them. Plaque collects around the gum line, causing changes to the gums as well.

Because plaque is acidic, it irritates the soft gum tissues you have. At first, your gums start to get irritated, and that irritation causes inflammation and swelling. They will be more sensitive and will bleed easier when you brush and floss. Those symptoms will only get worse over time, until the gums start to recede in an effort to get away from acidic plaque. With moderate gum disease, gum recession has started.

With severe gum disease, you will have all these symptoms, except the teeth will actually start to fall out. This is because gums have receded so far that there is not enough gum tissue to hold the teeth in place. Gums become too mushy to even hold dental implants, dentures and other dental appliances, so patients are left toothless. Gum disease encompasses the beginning stages of irritation to the ending stages of toothlessness.

A view of the inside of a person's mouth who has gum disease. Their gums are red and the teeth have decay and recession.

How Does It Start?

Although gum disease can’t be reversed in it’s severe stages, the first stage is one that is fairly easy to combat. This beginning stage is called “gingivitis” and it is when your gums are first starting to be inflamed. A large portion of Americans have gingivitis and they don’t realize it. Coincidentally, they may also have cavities, as both of these conditions are caused by plaque. When plaque sits along the gumline, it’s acidic nature will start to irritate the gums, as we’ve mentioned.

When it’s there for too long, that is the point at which, the gums will become irritated and will start to swell up a tiny bit. If you haven’t been brushing as well as you used to, you can lift up your lips and take a look at your gums. Are they more red than they used to be? Do they bleed easier? These are all signs of gum irritation, or gingivitis. It’s a dentist’s first sign that maybe a patient is falling behind a bit on their brushing and flossing. Luckily, at this stage of gum disease, you can stop that inflammation, irritation and bleeding if you invest a bit more time in more meticulous brushing and flossing.

Tips for Care at Home

You’ve noticed that your gums are starting to bleed or that they are more red than usual. Now what? It’s time to have better oral hygiene to get your gums back to the lighter pink color they should be. You can get better gum health and combat the early stages of gum disease by:

Brushing your teeth more often. The American Dental Association recommends that all patients brush at least twice a day, for two minutes at a time. If you have gingivitis, try brushing 3 times a day, and especially remember to brush before you go to sleep, as you don’t want plaque irritating your gums all night. Remember, children can get gingivitis and gum disease too, so make sure everyone in your family is brushing.
Floss every single day. Many people skip this oral hygiene routine, when it is incredibly important. Plaque irritates your gums because it is along the gum line and in between the teeth. If you don’t floss, it accelerates gingivitis and gum disease. Floss every day, making sure to get up in the gum line and scrape the teeth with the floss as you go.
Use mouthwash. This will help kill bacteria that will turn into plaque and will keep your mouth acids at bay.
Avoid tobacco products (especially cigarettes and chewing tobacco) as well as alcohol. Alcohol is very acidic and both of these types of products kill nerves and slowly wear away tissues, like your gums.
See a dentist regularly. All patients (even children) should visit the dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. These cleanings can check how large your gum pockets are, if you have gum disease and how you can help reverse it.
Use gingivitis detection tablets. You can get these at the store or through your dentist. The chewable tablets help you see what areas of your mouth you need to be caring for more.

A close-up view of a person receiving planing and root scaling on their mouth.

Planing and Root Scaling In-Office

In our office, we do a deep gum cleaning for our patients with gum disease. This is planing and root scaling. Essentially, we use our normal scraping tool for cleanings or an ultrasonic device to clean your gum pockets. We get tartar (mineralized plaque) off your exposed tooth roots and we use our tools just under your gum surface to scrape away plaque, infection and food particles. These extra deep cleanings can help soothe inflamed gums to reverse gum disease as much as possible. To know more about this treatment and others for gum disease in-office, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: September 17, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Teaching Children to Take Care of Their Baby Teeth

A father sitting on the bathroom floor of his house holding a baby and sitting next to a toddler. He is teaching both how to brush their teeth.

From an early age, you teach your baby how to eat, speak, walk and do everything on their own. This process can take years. Parents who teach their children oral hygiene basics while they are young have a better chance of their children having good oral health for life. Find out what your child should be doing for their oral health at different ages and how you can teach them those skills!

Are the Baby Teeth Important?

The baby teeth are only around for a few short years. However, those years with the baby teeth are very telling of the rest of the years with your oral health. Infants will get their baby teeth starting anywhere between 3 months and 3 years. An infant will get 20 teeth in their mouth that will be small to fit their size and needs. Baby teeth won’t work for an adult, who needs to have the ability to bite and chew food with stronger, larger teeth.

That is why there are two sets of teeth. The baby teeth will start to space out as a child grows, which makes room in the mouth for adult, permanent teeth to eventually come in. When a baby tooth falls out, the permanent tooth will fall into place. The baby teeth must be taken care of throughout childhood or tooth decay can make those teeth fall out too soon. That would cause the permanent teeth come in too early and possibly in the wrong place in the mouth. This can make other teeth come in wrong, creating many dental problems as a child grows. When proper oral hygiene is followed each day from the time a child gets their first tooth, they can avoid many childhood and adulthood dental problems.

A mother helping her two children to brush their teeth in front of the bathroom mirror. She is helping her son with proper brushing technique.

Tips to Get Your Kids to Brush and Floss

As soon as your child can hold a toothbrush, have them start their brushing and flossing. That’s even when they are a baby and can grasp objects. When your infant only has one or a few teeth, try brushing their teeth and gums with a baby gum brush. Add the smallest amount of fluoride toothpaste for kids to the brush. Let them grasp the toothbrush and mimic your actions. Even if they wiggle lots, take turns with them trying to brush and you trying to brush their teeth, even if you both need to hold a toothbrush.

When children get older and more independent as toddlers, they may fight back with brushing and flossing if they don’t know why it’s important. Teach them why you keep your teeth clean to avoid cavities and tooth loss. Brush alongside them and have them mimic your actions, which can even turn into a game of “do as I’m doing”. You can also try:

Turning on a song or short video for 2 minutes, during which they have to brush their teeth really well.
Make a brushing chart where they earn stars for every time they brush and floss their teeth well. Make a goal with those stars that they get a small prize when they hit a certain number, or they get extra privileges such as more reading time with you at night.
Tell a story to them when they brush their teeth.
Let your child practice on you. If you show them how to brush their teeth and they can see how to do it on you, it can make them more excited to brush their own teeth.
Let them choose their toothbrushing products, which can help them have a greater desire to brush and floss more.
Explain what they are doing and why. Children often ask “why?” if you ask them to do something and are more willing to do it if they know there is a reason.

A young woman helping her small baby hold a toothbrush and brush his teeth.

Teach By Example

Sometimes, the best way to teach is by example. If you want your children to take care of their baby teeth, show them it’s important by taking care of your own teeth! Brush your teeth every day, several times a day, where they can see you. Brush alongside them and take them to your own dental appointments if your child is stubborn with their oral health.

The American Dental Association has some great guidelines for taking care of baby teeth and adult teeth, and they work pretty well:

Brush your teeth every day, at least twice a day. When brushing, make sure you brush for two minutes at a time with toothpaste. Brush in all different directions. Cover all tooth surfaces with your brushing.
Floss 1-2 times each day. Use new floss each time to reduce bacteria transfer from one day to the next and one area of the mouth to the next. Make sure to floss up into your gum line, scraping your teeth as you go to remove built-up plaque.
Use fluoride products. Fluoride is found in toothpastes, gels, mouthwash and public water sources. This mineral can strengthen your teeth and protect against decay.

Teaching Is a Great Start

Sometimes, kids simply don’t want to brush or floss their teeth. However, it’s still important to make the effort to try to teach them. Even if they don’t want to take care of their baby teeth for quite some time, eventually it will click that their oral health care is important. No matter what works for your family, keep trying until your child at least knows that their baby teeth are important and need care. Remind them by your good example and by helping them each day to take care of their mouth. If you need to schedule your child’s dental exam or want help for what dental products to use, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: September 11, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Choosing Toothbrushes and Toothpastes

A woman putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. Everything except the woman is in focus.

Did you know that it actually does matter what toothbrushes and toothpastes you choose if you want a healthy mouth? You never want to simply buy the cheapest product you can find, nor do you want to use unknown brands. When choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes, they should have the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance on them if they are quality and if they will protect your oral health. Find out what that seal is and what aspects you should look for when choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes!

Oral Hygiene Products: Why You Need Them

Your oral health can have incredible impacts on your overall health, and yet, too many people skip taking care of their teeth and mouths. Studies show that at least 92% of all Americans have had tooth decay. Up to 42% of children get it regularly and about 26% of adults have untreated decay. Gum disease is another major problem, as this is a condition that can lead to tooth loss and mushy gums, and yet, more than 64.7 million American adults get it still from poor oral hygiene habits.

That is why having and choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes is so important. Simply having these products and using them correctly can help you either avoid oral health diseases or can help you significantly reduce your risk for them.

Image with many different colors and types of toothbrushes.

Choosing Toothbrushes

A toothbrush is more than just a handle to hold with a brush attached to it. There are actual designs that go into each toothbrush you buy. The cheapest brands you could buy that are generic products (without a name brand) may not have a design. Whereas, brands such as Crest, Colgate, Gum and more will have many different styles of bristles. These are sometimes mixed with gum massagers, tongue cleaners and other accessories. Some toothbrushes are electric ones, which are powered toothbrushes that might provide a better clean for patients.

When choosing a toothbrush, you will see that they come in different degrees of hardness like “soft” and “hard”. This refers to how firm the toothbrush bristles are, which will reflect how harsh they will be on your teeth. Most patients only need a soft-bristled brush, which helps avoid tooth enamel damage. Some hard-bristled brushes can take off layers of enamel, especially if enamel is weak due to eating and oral hygiene habits. Many toothbrushes have colorful designs and rubber massagers. They can help you remove plaque easier, but when choosing toothbrushes like these, the real thing that matters is how the brush feels in your mouth and if you like using it.

The brush head of the toothbrush is an important aspect your should consider when choosing toothbrushes. There are angled brushes that help you reach the inside of your teeth, where plaque and tartar can build up. There are also also either compact or full-size brush heads. The compact heads are smaller, which work great if you have a smaller mouth. Full-size brushes will fit people with large mouths, but will feel bulky to children or those with small mouths. Try out various types of toothbrushes, but choose one that fits comfortably with your mouth size. This can ensure that it will reach all parts of your mouth easily. The size is also why there are infant and child toothbrushes that are designed for the size of the person that should be using them.

Different colored toothpastes next to each other.

Choosing the Right Toothpastes

There are countless forms of toothpastes out there. Choosing the toothpaste you use is often more important than choosing toothbrushes. That’s because toothpastes contain chemicals and substances that will do different actions on your teeth. A good recommendation is to only choose toothpastes that are approved by the American Dental Association. These ones will have the ADA Seal of Acceptance, meaning they abide by strict rules of quality that help reduce your risk for oral health problems.

If a product has the Seal of Acceptance, it has been tested and proven effective for combating decay-causing bacteria. These product must also contain fluoride. This is a natural mineral that helps provide a barrier between bacteria and your teeth. Good toothpastes will be free of decay-causing substances (like sugar) that damage your teeth and can only contain active ingredients that will improve your oral health. No-name brands or ones without the Seal of Acceptance are ones you want to avoid, as you don’t know if their chemicals will be harmful for your teeth or your body.

Many toothpastes have extra components meant to tackle certain oral health problems such as gum disease or tooth sensitivity. Toothpastes for sensitive teeth, for example, will contain potassium nitrate, which masks areas of the teeth with sensitivity, helping to stop pain signals. Choose a toothpaste that is safe and one that will meet your oral health needs effectively.

How You Should Use Those Products

The ADA recommends that every patient brush their teeth at least twice a day (even infants), for two minutes at a time, covering all tooth surfaces. You should floss your teeth 1-2 times a day as well, while also making sure you visit the dentist twice a year for dental cleanings and exams. These measures will significantly reduce your risk of oral health diseases.

Choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes is a personal choice, but one that can affect if you will brush your teeth often or not. If you don’t like the products you have, you won’t use them. Buying no-name brands can be risky, as you don’t know if the company follows safety regulations in the materials they use (which you put in your mouth). Find products you like so that you can use them, and follow the recommended guidelines for use if you want to avoid oral health diseases. To find out what products we like to use, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: September 4, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

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