Everyone has heard of pregnant women craving certain food. But did you now that certain cravings can have an ill effect on their teeth?

Aside from eating sweets too often causing decay, like ice cream, other pregnant women suffer from an unusual eating disorder called pica. With pica, you will have cravings for ice, freezer frost, or even soil! Pica can have adverse effects on an individual’s oral health during pregnancy and also can be hard to diagnose and treat during those nine crucial months.

Pica is a compulsive eating disorder in which sufferers have a constant appetite for non-nutritious substances. Although the conditions’ association and cause during pregnancy are not known, some believe that depression or iron and zinc deficiencies during pregnancy could be a major factor. Nevertheless, pica can destroy the mother’s teeth since it can cause serious erosion of the tooth’s enamel, as well as sensitivity, thinning, and chipping.

While women often believe they should avoid dental care during pregnancy, and some dentist will wait until after the baby is born to treat cavities, it is very important for those suffering from eating disorders, like pica, to continue with their dental visits. Surprisingly, the family dentists are often the first to witness the physical effects of an eating disorder on an individual’s oral health.

Pregnancy is a time to make sure you take care of yourself, including your oral health. Consult with your family dentist for the best way to do this safely for you and your baby.

Tags: dental habits, Dental Health, dental problems, Dentist

These days, it’s not uncommon to see people walking around with store-brand water in bottles. In fact, it’s easy to grab-and-go for both busy adults and children. Water is good for you, and water bottles are quick ways to get it. But, did you know that tap water may help you stay clear of the dentist’s drill? And, that’s good news.

Today, tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even states that tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing and learning. Because of this, the controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the best and most cost effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay. But are you getting it? If you or your family are drinking water in bottles that does not contain fluoride, then most likely not

How does fluoride work?
Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which helps in repairing early decay before damage sets in. In fact, close to 150 million United States residents in more than 10,000 communities drink fluoridated tap water. This “benefit” provides an automatic defense against the harmful matter that causes oral health problems.

No one likes to get their tooth drilled to fix cavities and simply drinking more water that is fluoridated either in the store bottle or or a reusable water bottle or glass is a great way to make sure you get this extra cavity fighting power.

But, if you can’t get the fluoride in the water, what can you do? You may want to ask your dentist about varnish. Varnish, applied quickly and easily by a dentist, is one of the most concentrated products available commercially. Varnishes that contain sodium fluoride adhere to tooth surfaces when saliva is present, providing an excellent fluoride treatment.

If you suspect that you have a cavity, don’t wait. You should visit a general dentist, such as our office — Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. Also, tell you family dentist if you don’t know whether your water is fluoridated. It will help your dentist determine if you are not getting enough fluoride to fight cavities and treatments that may remedy this.

Tags: Children, dental care tips, dental problems, food for dental health, tooth decay

Most people realize by now that smoking is not only bad for your heart and lung but also can cause issues with your teeth and mouth. Bit did you know that smokeless tobacco, also called spit tobacco, chewing tobacco, chew and few other names, can also lead to oral cancer?

What is Tobacco?
Whether its snuff or chewing tobacco, the normal way to use it is to let it sit in your mouth and suck on the tobacco juices, spitting often to get rid of the saliva that builds up. This sucking and chewing allows nicotine, to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the tissues in your mouth.

Smokeless tobacco has been around for centuries. In fact, Native people of North and South America chewed tobacco. This bad habit was a trademark of American baseball players and viewed as safe to use.
By the 1950s, chewing tobacco had fallen out of favor in most of America, so by that time not too many baseball players were spitting big brown gobs all over the infield. Instead of chewing their tobacco, most people were smoking it. Today, professional athletes do not use tobacco and instead chew gum.

How Tobacco Harms You

Most people who stop smoking will turn to using tobacco thinking it will do them no harm. The truth is using tobacco can harm your mouth, including your teeth and gums, in many ways. There is no safe form of tobacco—using it produces many problems and risk factors, from tooth discoloration and gum disease to throat, lung, and oral cancer, and even death. Any form of tobacco, whether you smoke it or chew it will have negative effects on your overall health.

Every year, 35,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer, which accounts for roughly 7,500 deaths each year. Wayzata Dental & Smile Spa, a Minnetonka family dentistry, offers an oral cancer screening. Make an appointment with us today.

Tags: dental problems, gum diseases, Oral cancer, oral hygiene

You hear about it all the time – how Green Tea can help your health in many ways. Green Tea has become an increasingly popular beverage being touted found to have benefits for heart disease, arthritis, warts and obesity. There is more good news about this ancient Chinese tea. Green Tea’s antioxidant properties are believed to produce anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects known to promote healthy teeth and gums.

An antioxidant known as Catechins was identified as responsible for resolving symptoms of periodontal or gum disease. Gum disease is an infection of the gums and bone supporting the teeth and has been known to become a precursor of cardiovascular disease, lung disorders as well as diabetes.

So how does Green Tea help?

The way it works is it prevents the growth and sticking of disease-causing bacteria or virus to teeth and gums. Antioxidants are substances that protect our cells against the effects of free radicals which are molecules produced when our body breaks down food or by being be exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation.

Not a lot of tea is required for general oral health. Just about 1 cup of tea per day gives indication of healthier gums and teeth.

Aside from watching what you eat and increasing the foods that maybe good for your teeth, such as Green Tea, visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and dental checkups are important steps to maintaining good oral health. If you are looking for a dentist in the Minnetonka area, why not consider our office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are innovative – just take a look at our office – and will lead you to dental success!

Tags: Dental Health, food for dental health, gum disease, gum diseases, Periodontitis

Cavities are common but dentists are seeing more problems occurring with the gums. Gum disease or periodontal disease is an infection of the gums. Bacteria is the main culprit with periodontal disease.

Brushing and flossing will help eliminate plaque but if plaque is not caught early, plaque will form tartar — a harder substance to clean. Tartar harbors bacteria that make it easier to invade your gums, causing gum disease.

In the beginning, bacteria from tartar will cause inflammation of the gums or gingivitis, swelling and reddening of the gums. If you have gingivitis, your gums bleed easily even during toothbrushing.

Visiting your dentist for a general cleaning will help eliminate this and improve your teeth, but if left untreated, gingivitis will develop into periodontitis, which is more serious. Gum disease has also been linked to other health problems such as heart disease.

To protect yourself from gum disease it is important to practice good oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth diligently twice daily, flossing your teeth, avoiding cigarettes and tobacco products, eating a balanced diet and making regular visits to your family dentist. These as well as being aware of how your teeth look and feel will help you have healthier teeth and gums.

If you are searching for a family dentist, one that you as well as your children can visit to get regular checkups and cleanings, consider our office at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth dental office that also offers cosmetic dentistry such as professional teeth whitening. You can make an appointment online on our website.

Tags: dental problems, Gingivitis, gum disease, gum diseases

There are certain foods you should eat for your dental health. Yes, there are foods that will help you get that perfect smile.

What are they?

Here’s a list of the top foods to eat for white, healthy teeth.

• 1. Green Tea has a well-deserved reputation for providing many benefits. With teeth, green tea offers up natural antioxidant compounds that prevent plaque from accumulating, therefore reducing the risk of cavities and bad breath.
• 2. Anything dairy is low in acidity and sugar making them great choices to quench your thirst or have as a healthy snack. This is good news for both tooth erosion and tooth decay.
• 3. Fruit is great for your teeth especially when eaten in whole, raw form. It keeps down plaque and massages your gums.
• 4.All kinds of vegetables are another good idea if you are trying to build a good foundation for your teeth. Broccoli, carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin are rich in Vitamin A – great for your teeth.
• 5.Oh, the stinky onion – yes onions — are rich in powerful anti-bacterial sulphur compounds, which kill the bacteria that harm your teeth and gums.
• 6. Celery is another great friend of the dentist. Eat it raw and it will not only massage your gums, but clean your teeth. This is a natural toothbrush.
• 7. Sesame seeds, which are best combined with bread and rolls, dissolve plaque and help build tooth enamel. The tasty seeds are also rich in calcium, which will keep your teeth and jawbone healthy.
• 8. Water is great for your health and teeth! Drink more of it.

Visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa for the best dental care. You can even make appointments online.

Tags: Dental Care, dental habits, Dental Health, dental hygiene, food for dental health

Ever wake up and have a headache? Or feel tense in your jaw? Maybe your bed partner is giving you the dirty looks? You may have problems with teeth grinding or bruxism, as a habitual behavior and a sleep disorder.

Teeth grinding is something to laugh about. It can get become serious and cause damage to your teeth, chewing muscles, and jaw joint. It can even change your everyday facial expressions, so knowing whether or not you grind at night is a crucial step in preventing disfigurement of your teeth and chronic pain.

The dangerous part is that grinding teeth is that we have no idea that we’re doing it. Most grinders and clenchers do not know what they are doing since they have been doing it so since they were kids and really have become used to it. In fact, most people are quite surprised when they find out they do this at night. Most family dentists can spot people with this problem from across a room! They notice people with teeth that are flat. Some people will even compliment bruxers on how nice and straight their teeth are because a teeth grinder’s teeth appear to be the same length, after being worn down by constant grinding every night.

Teeth grinding can cause many problems. Most grinders will complain about neckaches and pain in their face. When they chew something like gum, their face will feel tired. Another sign is when bruxers visit the dentist and their cheeks start hurting when open as the chewing muscles tire quickly. A clear sign is that the jaw joint may make clicking or make an odd popping noise.

A simple diagnosis, aside from how you generally feel in your jaw, is to take a look in the mirror at your canine teeth, upper or lower. You can easily determine if they are pointy or are they flat. Flat teeth at any age may mean you are a bruxer.

An interesting fact is that teeth grinding also has a genetic component. Do your parents or siblings brux? This is a habit that runs deep in the family. In fact, fetuses exhibit bruxing behavior in the utereo.

If you discover that you are grinding your teeth at night, visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth family dentistry that can diagnose your problem and help you find a solution to your teeth grinding.

Tags: dental habits, Dental Health, dental problems, teeth

Want to look like a celebrity? One of the fast developments that are getting the attention of big Hollywood stars is cosmetic teeth whitening. There are many options to get your teeth whitened but Hollywood celebrities are turning to dental cosmetics to achieve that desired whiter teeth which is essential and a hallmark to their profession.

Good looks, especially white teeth, for events and interviews are important for the stars of film and music . . . and even professional athletes. With white, shiny teeth, they can intermingle well with others and show them that they have grace, sociability and beauty. In fact, if they had yellow teeth, they would be on the gossip magazines as a celebrity who doesn’t know anything about dental hygiene.

With all the movie starts getting their teeth whitened, this treatment is not a trend that will go away. Celebrities are making sure to get their teeth whitened products to look good, but this procedure actually helps them become more confident about the way they look – something they need in the competitive culture they live in.

What is teeth whitening? Also referred to as teeth bleaching, it refers to different cosmetic dentistry procedures for individuals, such as Hollywood celebrities, who simply want to have whiter teeth and look good. Tooth whitening also sends the message, even in Hollywood, that looking great does not mean trying to just be a beauty to everybody with fashion and makeup. It can start with the way we take care of our teeth. With celebrities getting teeth whitening, it helps their fans understand that this is something they can do because the treatment is available from a dentist near them.

Of course, teeth whitening products are widely offered online and in local stores. Just be careful when you purchase teeth whitening products. You cannot compromise your safety, right? Thus, consulting with your cosmetic dentist would be the best thing to do prior to purchasing over-the-counter teeth whiteners which can cause sensitivity and other issues.

So want to look like a million bucks plus promote healthy teeth? Make that smile bigger through cosmetic teeth whitening. You don’t have to be a star to feel and look like one.

Visit us at Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We offer many types of cosmetic dental treatments including professional teeth whitening from our SmileSpa! You can even make an appointment online.

Tags: Dental Care, Smile Spa, Tooth whitening, Whitening

So you just got your cavity filled, and your tooth should feel perfect, right? Not exactly. Several situations can cause tooth pain after filling a cavity, some are normal but others can be more serious.

The most common includes tooth sensitivity, which typically doesn’t require a dentist’s attention unless it gets worse. Other problems include an easy fix such as a filling that doesn’t fit properly, exposed to another kind of filling material or produced from a material the patient is allergic to. With these problems, your family dentist can easily repair or replace the filling. But, if the tooth pain occurs because of continuing decay, then it’s more serious. The dentist might try to remove the remaining decay or perform a root canal.

The normal pain after a filling a cavity is more similar to tooth sensitivity than to severe dental pain. The tooth might become sensitive to temperatures – hot or cold. The patient might experience tenderness when speaking or biting down. Normally, this sensitivity will decrease with time but if it doesn’t decrease or even becomes more of a problem, the patient should see the dentist right away.

If the problem is because the patient is allergic to the material used as the filling, the dentist will have to refill the teeth. The most common dental filling materials used are porcelain, gold, a silver mix consisting of silver, mercury, zinc, tin, and copper, and composite resin, which are tooth-colored plastic and glass materials. A family dentist that also works in cosmetic dentistry will also be able to help you create a natural smile with the correct type of fillings.

However, the most urgent causes of tooth pain after filling a cavity is leftover tooth decay or an infection. A dentist removes the decay before filling a tooth, but sometimes some decay is left behind. Also, there are times when the decay is too close to the tooth pulp. When either of these situations happens, the decay can continue to spread under the filling and cause the tooth to hurt or even cause an infection. The dentist might be able to correct the problem or he might need to perform a root canal and remove the tooth nerve.

Getting a cavity filled is normally an easy process for both the dentist and the patient but you still need to be aware of how the tooth feels in case there is an underlying problem. If you need a cavity filled or other dental treatments such as teeth whitening, crowns or veneers, contact Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. We are a Plymouth family dentistry that offers dental treatments from restorative care to cosmetic dentistry. Check us out online!

Tags: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Health, Fillings, tooth decay

Natural is in. We all want a healthier lifestyle, and this includes the choices we make in our family dentistry. Natural dentistry, also commonly referred to as holistic dentistry or biological dentistry is a form of professional tooth care aimed at preventing and treating dental problems without using methods or substances believed to be potentially harmful or toxic.

One of the goals is to treat cavities without the use of fillings that contain mercury. Many dentists are changing their viewpoints on mercury and practice alternatives to traditional root canals. There are also cases where in natural dentistry, the dentist treats secondary concerns, such as nutrition and other physical problems, which may be linked to dental problems.

The goal of many family dentists is to help patients become and stay healthy. As for cavity fillings, most dentists would agree that the amalgam fillings, commonly used to treat cavities in standard dentistry, can pose a health risk by exposing the body to mercury. To avoid any problems with mercury, these dentists fill cavities with composites made from resin.

Also a part of this type of dentistry is making the patient feel less like he or she is in a dental office. Keeping the patient comfortable and happy, with music or even video, soothes them and prepares them before/after treatment.

If you are looking for a Minnetonka dentistry, consider coming to our office, Wayzata Dental & SmileSpa. Our office is comfortable and our staff is knowledgeable about modern dentistry. We treat patients of all ages too!

Tags: dental care routine, Dental Health, Dentist, tooth decay