Patient Education

Many people suffer from this common dental problem. The causes include cavities, gum disease, dentures that have been improperly cleaned, alcohol and tobacco use, and bacteria growing on the tongue, in between the papilla. If you have concerns about bad breath, your first stop should be Main Street Dental. Dr. Thomas Cox and Dr. Erin Cox can find the cause of your bad breath and explain the various treatment options to you. Don’t rely on mouthwash or mints, as these common antidotes only mask the problem, and can sometimes cause additional problems. Did you know that mouthwashes containing alcohol can cause dry mouth, making your bad breath worse? The best solution is regular oral hygiene and check-ups with your dentist.

These procedures generally take between two and three appointments to complete. It is common for patients who undergo these procedures to experience tooth sensitivity, soreness in the gums, and a general discomfort with the teeth. After the placement of the permanent crown, this should go away.

While you have your temporary crown in place, you should avoid chewing sticky or hard food. That is because temporary crowns are only placeholders, and they are made of plastic or soft metal. Continue to brush and floss normally, but floss around your temporary crown gently.

Once you have a permanent crown in place, you may feel pressure for several days, and your bite may feel different. If the feeling continues for longer than two or three days, contact Main Street Dental. Call the office if you have any questions.

There are many reasons that Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox may recommend a crown. This procedure acts to strengthen your tooth and improve the appearance of your smile. You may need to consider a crown if you have a weak tooth that is in danger of fracturing, a tooth with a large filling and little tooth structure left, or to cover a discolored or badly formed tooth. A bridge, on the other hand, is built to fill the space left by missing teeth. This procedure installs one or more artificial teeth and cements them into place, with the teeth on either side acting as support. Both these procedures begin with a dental impression, which will then be sent to the lab to create the crown or bridge.

If you have one or more missing teeth, you may consider an implant to create a fuller and more attractive smile. Dental implants have become a popular option in the last twenty years or so, and they can help create a stronger, healthier bite that will not only look great, but will also help you eat and speak easier. A dental implant is built from a titanium-based cylinder. This cylinder acts as a replacement for the natural root of a tooth. You will need to consult with Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox about whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. In most cases, an x-ray and CT scan are performed to make sure the patient has adequate bone density.

“Your new dentures will take some time to get used to, and all dentures require some adjustment in order to sit comfortably inside the user’s mouth. You may have difficulties talking for a few days, but that is normal. Practice reading a book or a newspaper out loud to get the hang of the way your new dentures feel. Your tongue and mouth muscles will get stronger, and you will begin to speak more normally soon.

Make sure you are cleaning your dentures properly every day. That means taking them out at night and storing them in water or a cleaning solution. Make sure to brush them thoroughly with a brush and water before putting them back in the morning.”

It is common sense that the food you eat will affect your dental health; after all, every sip and bite goes past your teeth. That’s why watching your sugar intake is so important. Many people consider the sugary snacks and drinks they eat when trying to lose weight, but few think about the effect those things have on their teeth. When you eat or drink something with a lot of sugar over a period of time, the results are even worse. When you do want to have a little sugar, brush your teeth right away, or rinse with Fluoride mouthwash.

X-ray technology is commonly used at dental offices to get a better idea of what is going on inside the mouth, and at Main Street Dental, Dr. Thomas Cox and Dr. Erin Cox take advantage of modern digital radiology technology. Using a small sensor, our dentists can record images of your teeth using up to ninety percent less radiation than traditional x-rays. The images are sent straight to a computer, where your dentist will be able to examine all your teeth, complete with supporting gum tissue and bones. This handy tool allows for better treatment and a better diagnosis of any issues you may be having.

“Most extractions require that you place pressure on the gauze pad over the extraction site for one hour. If bleeding continues, replace the gauze pad and put pressure on for another forty-five minutes. While anesthetic is still in effect, it is easy to do damage to soft tissue, so be careful not to bite. Take all medication that has been prescribed to you.

Avoid hot food and liquid on the day of the extraction, and don’t use a straw or drink carbonated drinks. Your diet should be soft and liquid food for two to three days following extraction. Do not brush or floss the day of the extraction.

If you experience abnormal bleeding, pain, or swelling, call Main Street Dental. For serious emergencies, call 911.”

The numbness of the anesthetic may last for an hour or so, so be careful not to eat or bite anything before it wears off. Children who have had fillings put in should be carefully supervised to make sure that they don’t bite their tongue or lips. If you have had silver amalgam fillings, do not bite hard or chew on them for a full twenty-four hours. It is normal to experience some cold and heat sensitivity and gum soreness, but it should pass within a couple of days. If your pain, discomfort, or sensitivity last for longer than a few days, call Main Street Dental.

Your toothbrush can’t reach everywhere, and you should reach those inaccessible places with floss. Ideally, you should floss after every meal, or even after brushing, but you should floss once before bed at a minimum.

Start with a piece of dental floss about two feet in length. Wrap the ends around your middle fingers, and use your index finger and thumb to glide the floss between your teeth. Remember to avoid cutting your gums. Your goal should be to clean the surfaces of your teeth. Using gentle pressure, press the floss around the side of each tooth. Next, move the floss up and down before switching to the opposite tooth.

After your surgery, it is important that you take all the medication prescribed to you according to the instructions. It is normal for patients to experience pain, swelling, and some bleeding after surgery. An ice bag applied over the surgical site can reduce the swelling. Apply the ice for ten minutes on and five minutes off at a time. Don’t raise your lips with your finger to inspect the sutures, and make sure that you do not brush your teeth near the area either. Keep your next appointment for the removal of your sutures, and be on time. The day after your surgery, avoid smoking, spitting, and using a straw. If you experience any difficulties, call Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox at Main Street Dental, or for emergencies, call 911.

Oral hygiene is vital to the health of your teeth and gums, and it goes without saying that you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy for as long as possible. After all, without your teeth, how would you eat, or even talk? Preventive care like brushing and flossing are vital to your oral hygiene regimen, and so are regular visits to the dentist. You can do some simple things to prevent tooth decay between your visits to Main Street Dental. Make sure that you are brushing and flossing regularly, eating a balanced diet, and cutting down on your snacking in between meals.

The debate goes on as to whether or not it is better to use a manual toothbrush or switch to electric. Studies focus on how effective each brush is at controlling plaque. While it is true that every brush is different, it seems that electric brushes are generally more effective and efficient when it comes to controlling plaque. If you are very thorough, there is no reason you can’t get the same results with a manual toothbrush, but it would take a lot more time, care, and energy than it would with an electric brush. Many electric brushes have features that mimic the best parts of the manual brush, including smaller heads for hard-to-reach places.

The correlation between dental health and fluoride was discovered many years ago when scientists realized that children who grew up in areas where there was fluoride in the drinking water had fewer cavities. When fluoride is ingested during pregnancy and early childhood, it integrates into the structure of your teeth and enamel and actually makes the enamel stronger. That means the teeth themselves are less susceptible to damage via cavities. Once teeth have erupted, fluoride can be found in toothpaste, mouthwash, and professional dental products. If you don’t have fluoride in your drinking water, contact Dr. Thomas Cox and Dr. Erin Cox at Main Street Dental about fluoride tablets for your children.

“Choosing the right brush is important. Main Street Dental recommends a soft brush with a small head. You’ll also need good toothpaste. Anything with fluoride is a solid choice, but Crest Multicare and Colgate Total are two of the best brands.

Using a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste, start from one point in your mouth and work to the opposite side, covering your entire mouth in-between. You should spend between two and four minutes brushing your teeth.

The ideal would be to brush your teeth after every time you eat, but if this is not possible, you should still brush your teeth in the morning after breakfast and before going to bed.”

Some patients experience temperature sensitivity after having their teeth cleaned, and this is especially common after a deep teeth cleaning. In the case of a cleaning where anesthesia was administered, do not eat until the numbness subsides. Be careful, too, because it is easy to do damage to the lips accidentally. Keep brushing and flossing your teeth as normal, and do not be alarmed if you experience a little bleeding for a day or two. If the bleeding continues however, or if it is excessive, call Main Street Dental. If you experience pain or have questions, feel free to contact Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Eric Cox.

Even the best tooth-brusher can sometimes have difficulty cleaning out the grooves and pits of a hard to reach tooth. Sealing a tooth can prevent decay, especially in the first few years after the tooth has erupted. In fact, because decay begins in the pits and grooves of the chewing surfaces of the tooth, an early protection plan like tooth sealant can really make a difference in protecting the overall health of the tooth. While it isn’t a guarantee that someone who has had tooth sealants will never get a cavity, it certainly does go a long way toward promoting good dental health in the long term.

In certain situations, a tooth has been severely traumatized, either through progressive decay or through external forces like an accident. One condition that may require tooth restoration is dental caries, which results in the destruction of enamel, dentin, or cementum in the tooth. If you suffer an accident that breaks you teeth, or even fractures them, you may also need tooth restoration. Luckily, with the use of the same general procedures involved in filling cavities, Main Street Dental can help. You can choose from a silver amalgam or a white composite filling. Both have their advantages, and you should discuss your options with Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox.

Many people are familiar with the term “TMJ”, but not many know exactly what it means. In fact, the TMJ is a joint, the tempero-mandibular joint. Because of all the different ways this joint moves, it is among the most complex pieces of machinery in your entire body. The TMJ can move forward and back and from side to side, and it can even rotate. Unfortunately, this impressive joint is also prone to issues that stem from genetic and environmental problems. These problems include pain, clicking, muscle spasms, and lockjaw. If you are experiencing these symptoms, discuss them with Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox. Your dentist can help determine the best mode of treatment for you.

You may continue brushing and flossing after your root canal, but be very gentle with your tooth until the permanent restoration is done. If you have had a temporary filling put in, do not bite down on that tooth for at least an hour, and be careful while the numbness subsides, as it is easy to accidentally do severe soft tissue damage. Pain and sensitivity is normal, and you may also feel soreness around your gums. This should go away over time. Don’t put off your permanent restoration, because you may end up damaging the tooth permanently. For any questions, or if you experience swelling or severe pain, call Main Street Dental.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to get a cavity filled. The unfortunate truth is that bacteria and plaque can cause those tiny crevices and holes for all but the most vigilant of brushers. Luckily, a filling is a relatively easy procedure to undergo. You’ll need a little anesthetic and a little bit of time in the dental chair before your smile will be as good as new. You can choose between a white composite resin filling and a silver amalgam filling. Silver fillings have been used for many years to great success. They are strong and reliable. Composite fillings are generally more expensive, but less noticeable and in most cases, just as strong. Talk to Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox about your options.

Everyone loves a beautiful smile, and if you want to put yourself on a fast track to whiter, more perfect teeth, then you may want to consider veneers or laminates. These treatments offer a thin shell of resin or porcelain that bonds to your tooth for a more beautiful smile. You can also replace and restore lost structure using veneers or laminates. This thin, cosmetic treatment is one of the most conservative currently available, and you can find out if you are a good candidate with a short consultation at Main Street Dental. It won’t take long before you’ll have the smile you always wanted.

Your teeth go through a lot. Between all the food you eat and the things you drink, not to mention other factors like smoking, coffee consumption, or a diet heavy in spicy food, your teeth can really take a beating. Lucky for you there are advanced teeth whitening options like ZOOM that make your smile whiter and brighter without harming the structure of your teeth. There are two ways of getting a professional whitening accomplished: through tray whitening and in-office whitening. Tray whitening is a take-home, professional-grade whitening that is delivered over a few days. If you choose in-office whitening, you can get significant results in just one visit. Ask Dr. Thomas Cox or Dr. Erin Cox for more information.