St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

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teeth cleaning

Protect Your Teeth During the Halloween Season

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The average kid will consume approximately 675 grams of sugar on Halloween day. That is the equivalent of eating 170 sugar cubes!

Did you know that Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy each year for Halloween? During the week of Halloween, 90 million pounds of chocolate is sold, and almost 2 billion dollars is made on the sale of candy just days before the holiday. Another staggering statistic is that the average kid will consume approximately 675 grams of sugar on Halloween day. That is the equivalent of eating 170 sugar cubes!

Whether at school or at work, we are bombarded with candy everywhere we look during this time of year. So, how can you protect your teeth? Here are a few tricks!

What Should You Avoid?

There are several tricks to protecting your teeth during this time of year. One is to remember that not all candies are equal. There are some types of candy that are worse than others. For instance, the stickier the candy, the higher the risk is for tooth decay. Gummy bears, skittles, starbursts, and tootsie rolls are examples of candies that take more time to chew and, therefore, stick to and in between your teeth. The longer it takes for the saliva in your mouth to wash away the candy, the easier it is for the bacteria-causing sugars to cause tooth decay and cavities.

Another candy to watch out for is sour candy. For instance, Sour Patch Kids are not only full of sugar, but they are also acidic and can actually dissolve tooth enamel on contact. Finally, hard candies such as Jolly Ranchers or lollypops are even worse because they sit in your mouth for long periods of time; therefore, the sugar lingers, creating more cavity-causing bacteria to build up in your mouth. They can also break fillings and teeth because they are so hard.

How to Protect Your Teeth?

So, we’ve discussed what’s bad for your teeth, but what’s actually good for them? Well here are some suggestions.

  • Try to avoid harmful candies
  • Get a fluoride boost treatment
  • Eat candy around mealtimes
  • Drink water after eating candy
  • Brush and floss your teeth – the sooner after eating candy, the better
  • Have a designated treat time rather than continuously snacking on candy
  • Schedule a teeth cleaning

It is really difficult to completely avoid sugar during this time of year. So rather than swearing off all candy, try to incorporate some of the above tips. Discuss these with your kids and try to maintain balance during the Halloween season.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

The Benefits of Having a Teeth Cleaning

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We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.

Yes, brushing and flossing your teeth at home is essential. But to ensure that your teeth are healthy and thoroughly cleaned, it’s also important to schedule regular check-ups with your dentist and routine teeth cleanings with your hygienist. But why is this really necessary?

The Purpose of Dental Cleanings

Having your teeth cleaned isn’t just for maintaining a bright smile, but dental cleanings can have a significant impact on your overall health. Inadequate oral hygiene has been linked to serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, strokes, bone loss, and many other problems.

Some of the benefits having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year include:

  • Whiter, brighter smile because the hygienist can remove most of the stains on your teeth.
  • Prevents gum disease, which contributes to early tooth loss.
  • Oral cancer can be detected at an early stage during routine cleaning.
  • Teeth cleaning can prevent gum disease, which has been linked to heart attacks and strokes.
  • Early signs of problems can be detected, such as broken fillings or tooth fractures.

During a dental cleaning, it allows the dentist or hygienist to compare your health to previous visits. If something needs to be addressed, immediate intervention can put you back on track. Another advantage of teeth cleanings is that they help prevent and resolve bad breath issues.

What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?

To begin your dental cleaning, a hygienist or dentist will perform a physical examination of your mouth. During your cleaning, they will look for cavities and issues such as inflammation of the gum.

During a teeth cleaning, your hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth. Plaque is a sticky bacteria that covers the surface of your teeth after you eat. It wears down tooth enamel causing decay and other possible complications. If it is not removed quickly, plaque can harden and become tartar and eventually lead to gum disease.

Once your teeth are thoroughly cleaned, your hygienist will polish your teeth. They will be brushed with a textured and flavored toothpaste. Finally, the last step is thorough flossing.

Schedule Your Teeth Cleaning

It’s never too late to have your teeth cleaned. Even if it’s been years, schedule your appointment today. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis. We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

Is Dental Sedation an Option for Teeth Cleaning?

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Even the most non-invasive procedure can be difficult for patients with special needs, causing them to miss their regular appointments or refuse routine procedures like dental cleaning.

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Sedation dentistry is part of an approach to oral health, which is much more focused on the patient’s education and comfort than ever before. The goal of a good dentist is to make you feel safe and comfortable in the dentist chair and to be ready to come back anytime for your regular check-ups or any treatment you may need.

Sedation can range from the mildest type to general anesthesia, depending on how serious the procedure is, and the medical history of the patient. However, even the most non-invasive procedure can be difficult for patients with dental anxiety or special needs, causing them to miss their regular appointments or refuse routine procedures like dental cleaning.

Typically, a dental cleaning does not involve the use of sedation because many patients are able to sit through a cleaning with little or no pain and/or anxiety. However, in certain cases, yes, sedation can be used for cleaning a patients teeth.

When Sedation is Needed for a Teeth Cleaning

Special needs patients are those who due to their mental, physical, medical, cognitive and developmental conditions require special consideration when receiving dental treatment. Some of the conditions that require special needs dentistry, include:

Special needs dentistry addresses the specific issues of each patient and provides the special needs dental care he or she requires.

It takes compassion and understanding to care for patients with special needs. While most dentists are able to accommodate certain special needs patients, The Dental Anesthesia Center focuses on meeting the needs and limitations of these patients. We understand that some patients need sedation for even a routine teeth cleaning. If your child or loved one requires special needs dentistry, we will be glad to schedule your next appointment.

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St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry

Your initial oral examination includes a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We will also take x-rays, which includes the panoramic x-ray for proper diagnosis of the anterior (front) and posterior (back) teeth as well as the bite-wing x-ray series for proper diagnosis of proximal decay of posterior teeth.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

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