What Do You Love About The Holidays?

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as our team at Thomas Family Dentistry reflects upon the year that was, we pause to count our many blessings.  We are thankful that this season allows many of us to spend time with our family members that we may otherwise not be able to see that often. Opening presents by the fireplace, preparing and enjoying those delicious, traditional family foods, and reminiscing with those we love are just a few of the things that make this season so special.

As 2011 approaches and we begin yet another decade, let each one of us commit to successfully achieving the goals that we so often set for ourselves, yet quickly lay aside.  With God's blessings, may this New Year bring health, peace, and prosperity to each one of us!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year & May God Bless!

God Bless,
DRT

Professional Custom Whitening: The Dental Connection!

With so many toothpastes and mouthwashes aimed at giving you a brighter smile, it can be hard to know what product is the best to whiten your teeth. In-home products can help reduce stains from coffee, tobacco, tea, wine and other heavily pigmented foods, but they will not dramatically change the color of the teeth.

There are also over the counter whitening strip kits.  While these can work well for young adults and teens, adults usually do not experience the same effectiveness.  These strips only treat the front six or eight teeth, and cannot whiten your entire smile.

So what is the answer?  One of the methods we offer at Thomas Family Dentistry is professional custom whitening trays.  These are an easy way to whiten all of your teeth and allow you more control of the whitening process.  Once we create your trays in the office, the whitening kit can be used at home with the included custom whitening gel.

Depending upon your desired level of whitening, these trays are comfortable to wear, and the application time is only about 30 minutes per application.  If you have been considering bleaching your teeth, call our office for an appointment at 918-455-0123 to discuss all of your whitening options!

God Bless,
DRT

Ice Crunching: The Dental Connection!

For some people, there's really nothing like the feeling and sound of ice crunching between their teeth.  However, you better cool off on the ice chewing if you're not prepared to have some level of dental issues resulting from the crunching of ice!

Chips, fracture lines, and cracks are common results from frequent ice chewing and if any of those issues are large enough, you could require a root canal and crown or even a tooth extraction!  Even if frequent ice chewing does not lead to one of these more serious effects, it will still wear down the enamel on your teeth much faster than normal.  Thinner enamel means weaker teeth and less protection, which means a higher risk for the development of cavities!

If you are a chronic ice chewer, it is really in your teeth's best interest for you to break the habit!  Whether it is a nervous habit, out of boredom, or it is something you crave, identifying the root cause can be the first step in ending this damaging dental habit.   You can even try drinking your drinks through a straw to help you resist the urge to crunch on the ice in your drink or simply order drinks without ice altogether.  Just remember that the rush of the crunch is not worth the damage you are doing to your oral health!

At Thomas Family Dentistry, we use many different types of technology to diagnose whether or not you have done any damage to your teeth through ice crunching or other means.  Digital radiographs are our first line of defense and a great tool in helping us see through and between teeth.  We also use a "tooth sleuth" to check for cracked tooth syndrome, which can be a common side effect to ice chewing or clenching.

We have flexible payment options and accept and file your dental insurance to make it easier on your pocket and time!  If you are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Brrr! The Dental Connection!

Is it cold outside yet?  Seems like the Christmas season brings the cold weather with it!  What better time to talk about teeth that are sensitive to cold. Many patients at Thomas Family Dentistry report sensitivity to different things but cold sensitivity is one of those that is sometimes hard to pinpoint.  Below are some probable causes that can cause sensitivity to cold.

• Brushing too hard or with too much pressure, which removes gum tissue and can cause gum recession
• Aging
• Using a hard tooth brush instead of a soft one
• Poor oral hygiene, which leads to plaque build-up around the teeth and gums.  This plaque hardens into tartar and the bacteria that live in the plaque can cause gum disease and gum recession
• If you have exposed roots, they contain small pores or tubules, which lead directly to the nerve of the tooth.  Pain, pressure and cold stimuli can travel down the tubules and trigger nerve causing pain and discomfort
• Tooth whitening procedures or using teeth whitening toothpastes are great for the look of teeth, but can be uncomfortable and contribute to cold sensitivity
• Hypersensitivity
• Cracked teeth
• Grinding and Clenching Teeth
• Overuse of mouthwashes can damage dentin and can cause dentin sensitivity
• Enamel erosion by acidic foods
• Root surface sensitivity, which can occur as a natural side effect to dental treatment
• People with sensitivities to sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch also usually have teeth sensitivities
• Dehydration due to diuretics like alcoholic beverages and caffeine-containing drinks like coffee and Mountain Dew

Call our office at 918-455-0123 if you have any sensitivities that need attention.  Our dental team are trained to address your sensitivity concerns!

God Bless,
DRT