Author Archives: Sixth Avenue Dentistry

Brush Your Way to a Better Memory!

Do you find yourself forgetting a lot of important dates or appointments? Our International District Dentist advises that one of the best things you can drill into your memory is your regular oral hygiene routine! Not only is this a good habit to get into for the sake of maintaining tooth and gum health, it can also help you keep up on the other important things going on in your life.

Recent scientific research managed to link loss of memory to gum disease. Adults with swollen or bleeding gum tissues showed poorer performance in memory and cognitive skills, like verbal recall and subtraction, while subjects with healthier gums were able to perform better. Therefore, if you find your mind slipping on some of your day-to-day tasks, it may help to “brush up” on your memory!

Should I Yank My Child’s Loose Tooth?

So, your child’s baby teeth are starting to come loose. Should you get in there and yank out? This is an important question when it comes to your child’s oral health, and our International District Seattle dentistry clinic advises that you should probably allow the teeth to come out on their own.

Remember that your child’s mouth is a delicate place. Sticking your fingers inside his or her mouth and pulling out a tooth before it is ready will damage the fragile gums. Only your child really knows just how much pain is going along with forcing the tooth out, and he or she should therefore be allowed to decide when the tooth is ready.

One concern that parents often have in this situation is protecting the child from swallowing a tooth when it comes out unexpectedly. This may happen, but it’s really not something to worry about. A tooth can pass through your child’s system harmlessly. Ultimately, you should really only think about removing a loose tooth if the permanent tooth starts to come in underneath it; when this happens, there may be some risk of the permanent tooth coming in crooked, and you should bring a stubborn baby tooth to the attention of your dentist.

Choosing the Right Floss

Do you know what to get when it’s time to replenish your floss supply? For something as simple as a length of string, there is a surprising number of options available to accommodate your dental needs. You can ask our International District Seattle dentistry about what floss might be right for you, or you can follow these simple tips to find the perfect floss for yourself.

One important factor to consider in your floss is thickness. Some people have particularly narrow gaps between their teeth, and the average floss frequently gets stuck during the flossing process. If this sounds familiar, you should look for a finer floss. If you’re comfortable with a thicker thread, however, you’re probably better served with such string.

It’s also a good idea to look out for a floss that offers fluoride. Fluoride is a substance that is found in most toothpastes, and serves to reinforce the enamel of your teeth. The spaces between your teeth may not be reached by much of the fluoride in your toothpaste, so a little extra help may be warranted.

There are also some people who don’t have the manual dexterity needed to properly use their floss. Maybe you have bad finger joints, poor coordination, or fingers that are just too large to fit into the back of your mouth. If you are such a person, you might benefit from one of several varieties of flossing aids. Look for these at your local drugstore, or consult your dentist for further information.

When Should My Child First Visit the Dentist?

Some people ask our International District Seattle dentist about why their children need to visit the dentist before their permanent teeth come in. They reason that it doesn’t matter whether or not a baby tooth suffers decay, since it’s going to fall out anyway. This is a dangerous misconception. The truth is that baby teeth have a very important role to play that can affect your child’s mouth well into adulthood.

The first thing to understand is that primary teeth are your mouth’s “training wheels”, and you can’t get too far on training wheels if you let them break. These are the teeth that your child is using to develop proper chewing habits, speech patterns, and brushing technique. If these teeth are uneven or cause the child pain, they may develop problems that will only get worse as they age. If primary teeth are not properly cared for, the permanent teeth may even come in crooked. The consequences on your child’s health and self-esteem can be disastrous.

We recommend that you bring your children in for their first dental visits within six months of their first teeth erupting, or around their first birthdays. Do the right thing for your little ones, and get them to Sixth Avenue Dentistry as soon as they’re ready.

Proper Toothbrush Care

Some patients of our International District Seattle dentistry are using a poorly maintained toothbrush, and this is aggravating their dental problems. Though your brush may seem like a simple device with a simple function, there are many ways that your brush can fall short and even start doing more harm than good if you don’t maintain it properly.

Firstly, remember to replace your brush every three months. This is generally how long it will take for your bristles to be worn down too much to clean your teeth effectively. They become weaker, they jut out at unfavorable angles, and they’re not lifting plaque away like they ought to.

Another problem that can show up on your brush is bacteria build up. Your brush is always exposed to bacteria in your mouth, and these bacteria can quickly multiply deep within the bristles. To fight this, it’s a good idea to store your brush upright, like in a cup or a brush holder. This allows it to dry out between use, which makes it a less friendly environment for microbes. You might also occasionally dip the bristles into hot water or an antibacterial mouthwash. Do not microwave your toothbrush or attempt to wash it in the dishwasher; these can damage your bristles.