The Utah Dentist

Open House Photos

Cascade Dental in Pleasant Grove, Utah held its Oral Health Open House last Thursday.  The event was a lot of fun for everyone who attended.

Sydney explains how oral health affects overall health.
(click for more photos)

Congratulations to the winners of our drawings!  The winners of the teeth whitening are: Ken Bryson, Dan Pace, Cameron Christensen, Candace Rasmussen, and Kay Pace.  The winner of the Sonicare toothbrush is: Ramay Rasmussen.

Oral Health Open House

Cascade Dental in Pleasant Grove, Utah will be hosting an oral health open house on Thursday April 29th from noon-1pm and 5:30-7pm. The open house will include informational booths that will cover important topics related to oral health. They will also be doing drawings to win free teeth whitening and electric toothbrushes.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Here is a flyer for the event:

Utah Give Kids a Smile

Last month, Dr. Chris Jolley participated in the 6th annual Give Kids a Smile day.  The event was held at the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in Orem.  Give Kids a Smile provides free dental work to kids who would otherwise have no access to dental care.  Dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants donated their time and resources to make the event a success.  Dr. Jolley enjoyed the event and hopes to participate next year.

Toddler Teeth Tips

Use a warm washcloth or a moistened cotton swab to clean your child’s teeth after every meal. This gets the child used to something in his or her mouth. After this, graduate to a small, soft toothbrush. You don’t need to add toothpaste into the regimen until your child is 2 years old; use only a pea-sized amount on the bristles. “Make sure to develop a system so that you don’t miss any teeth,” says Dr. Barna. She suggests starting from the back to clean the molars, which are most susceptible to infection, and then working forward to the front teeth by pulling back the lips. You can either face the child or have him or her sit on your lap.

Additional oral health tips for parents:

• Bedtime is the most important time to brush.
• Schedule dental appointments early in the day, but avoid naptime. When bringing the child to your Utah County dentist for the first time, it’s okay to bring a comfort item such as a blanket or favorite toy. Make the experience positive for the child and try not to instill your own fears into the child.
• Change your child’s toothbrush every two months and after the child has been sick. Dr. Barna says parents should go through approximately four brushes between every six-month checkup.

Click for more…

(from the Academy of General Dentistry)

Utah County Dentist

Why is Fluoride Important?

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under six years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth. Fluoride also helps speed remineralization as well as disrupts acid production in already erupted teeth of both children and adults.

(click here to learn more)

Do I Really Need to Floss?

Yes. Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth, including places where toothbrushes can’t reach. This can lead to gum disease. By flossing your teeth daily, you increase the chance of keeping them for a lifetime and decrease the chance of getting gum disease.  Utah County dentists strongly recommend flossing.
Read More… (from the Academy of General Dentistry)

How to Floss Teeth Video

This video was recommended by your Utah Valley dentist.

Gum Disease and Heart Disease

Researchers are finding possible links between periodontal (gum) infections and other diseases throughout the body. Current studies suggest that there may be a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. In fact, some research suggests that gum disease may be a more serious risk factor for heart disease than high blood pressure (hypertension),  smoking, high cholesterol, gender and age. Studies suggest that people who have gum disease seem to be at a higher risk for heart attacks, although no one is certain how this relationship works. Your oral health affects your overall health, but studies that will find exactly why these problems are linked are still underway. (from the Academy if General Dentistry)
Read More about the connection between your mouth and heart …