Author: MK & C Dental Group

In Case of a Dental Emergency, Read This Blog

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
dental emergency

The last thing anyone ever wants to deal with is a dental emergency. Dental emergencies, like any type of unexpected issue, can be scary, painful, and even confusing as to how to handle them. At our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester, we want to help our patients and neighbors understand different types of dental emergencies and what to do if any happen to them.

Common Dental Emergencies & What to Do

Before we talk about what you can do at home in case of a dental emergency, there’s one thing you should always do first. If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call your dentist as soon as you can.

If you can’t get in to see your dentist immediately, try some of the tips to relieve some of the most common dental emergencies:

  • Knocked Out Tooth – A knocked out tooth has a higher chance of being saved if it’s put back into the socket within an hour, so it’s important to act as quickly as you can. After you find the tooth, only touch the crown (the white part). Contact with the roots can cause even more damage. Try putting it back into the socket without using too much force. If you can’t, put the tooth in milk or store it under your tongue with some spit and get to a dentist.
  • Lost Filling – Losing a filling can be painful and the best thing you can do is get something into the hole. Head to a drugstore to buy over-the-counter dental cement and pack the area where the filling used to be. If you can’t find dental cement, sugarless gum is another temporary option. Whatever you do, don’t use anything with sugar, it’ll make the pain worse.
  • Chipped or Broken Tooth – Find any piece of the tooth that you can and rinse them with water. You should also give your mouth a good rinse as well. Stop any bleeding by applying pressure with a piece of gauze and use a cold compress to reduce pain.

 

Avoid a Problem

The best way to avoid a problem is to prevent a problem. How? We’re glad you asked! First, make sure you’re maintaining regular visits with your dentist at least twice a year. Regular appointments can help catch any problems before they become an annoying, and possibly painful, emergency. Next, be aware of things that may lead to an issue. For example, popcorn, sticky foods, and hard, crunchy snacks are notorious culprits of dental emergencies. Avoiding them can reduce your risk of a dental problem.

If you’re looking for a new dentist, are experiencing a dental emergency, or are new to the area, we welcome you to make an appointment at our Middletown, Kettering, or West Chester dental office. We’re here to keep smiles healthy and help those experiencing an emergency get relief.

Welcoming patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and the surrounding areas.

How a Dentist Becomes a Dentist

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
become a dentist

At our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester, it’s no secret to our patients that we really love our jobs. Dentistry isn’t only rewarding because we get to boost people’s confidence and get them smiling again after smile transformations, but also because we help keep people healthy. To us, dentistry is one of the best careers out there. But how does a dentist become a dentist? Let’s check it out.

The Basics

Before someone considers a career as a dentist, they should examine some of their interests and characteristics to ensure they’re compatible with what’s necessary for the job. For instance, dentistry is highly scientific, and the required courses dentists-to-be need to take are mainly science related. Because of this, someone thinking about dentistry as a career should have an interest and excel at science. Additionally, since a dentist’s main job is to monitor oral health,  and then determine and perform proper treatment if there’s ever a problem, one considering becoming a dentist should care about the health of others and have a desire to help.

The Schooling

Dentists complete, at a minimum, eight years of school and need to pass some exams before they can fulfill all the steps necessary to become a dentist. We’ve detailed them below.

  • Finish a Bachelor’s Degree. While a Bachelor’s is usually required prior to getting into dental school, the undergraduate degree can be in anything. However, it’d be wise to explore science-related degrees or classes such as biology, physiology, and chemistry to get a head start.
  • Take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Taking this exam, and scoring well on it, is required before applying to dental school.
  • Complete a Dental Degree. Whether it’s a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD), a dental degree will require at least another four years of schooling.
  • Pass Your Boards. All states require dentists to pass the National Board Dental Examinations before practicing dentistry. Other requirements may be necessary and vary by state.

The Job Market

Nobody wants to prepare for a career where there are no jobs available. Thankfully, dentistry isn’t one of those occupations. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% job growth for dentists through 2024 — more than twice the average growth rate for other jobs.

At our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices, we would encourage anyone with an interest in our field to explore what it takes to become a dentist and what the job could look like in more detail, and if it sounds like a good fit, to take the plunge and become one.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and beyond. 

Top 7 Ways to Show Your Smile Some Love

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
love smile

At our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester, we love helping our patients get a smile they’re proud of. But visits to our office twice a year are only part of what you can do to make sure you’re showing your smile the love it needs to stay healthy. If you want to get and maintain a smile you’re happy with, check out the top 7 ways to care for your smile.

  • Brush, brush, brush. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we have to say it. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush is one of the most important things you can do to keep your mouth free of decay causing bacteria.  
  • Floss everyday. We get asked often if flossing is really that important. The short answer: Yes! If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning 35% of each tooth. Food particles and bacteria love to hide in between teeth, and you don’t floss, it’s left there and can lead to cavities.  
  • Kick the tobacco habit. About 80% of those with oral cancer use tobacco. Whether it’s chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes, if you want to keep your mouth healthy, you should try to quit.
  • Ease up on dark-colored drinks. We’re talking about drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine. These colorful beverages can stain teeth. Usually a professional whitening can reverse that, but other times, the staining seeps into the enamel requiring a more advanced cosmetic dentistry treatment to mask it.
  • Drink more water. If we could have our patients drink only one thing, it’d be water. Not only is it free of sugars and coloring, it helps neutralize acid that contributes to cavities.
  • Resolve dental problems early and quickly. If you suspect a dental problem, don’t let it go, especially if you’re in pain. Early resolution of many dental concerns can reduce the likelihood that you’ll need more advanced treatment or that a more serious issue will arise.
  • See your dentist twice a year. Ok we already covered the importance of this one, but it’s worth repeating. Getting a dental cleaning and checkup every six months is the best way to ensure no serious problems are creeping up and to remove plaque build up.

If you’re looking for a dentist, have a dental concern, or you’d like to talk about other ways to get a smile you love, schedule an appointment at our Middletown, Kettering, or West Chester dental office today.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and beyond. 

Celebrate Heart Health Month with Your Dentist

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
heart health

It’s not uncommon for the month of February to be full of hearts — candy hearts, heart shaped boxes of chocolate, and a whole host of other gifts given in the name of love. At our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices, we’re all for celebrating love, but this February, we’d like our patients to pay attention to a different kind of heart — the one inside you — and ways to keep it healthy.

Fast Facts on Heart Disease

February is recognized as Heart Health Month and is used to raise awareness of the seriousness and widespread occurrence of heart disease in America. Here are some important facts you should know about heart disease.

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
  • Someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds
  • Every 60 seconds, someone dies from a heart disease-related event
  • You can decrease your risk of heart disease by making lifestyle changes

The Effect of Oral Health on Heart Health

Why should you take heart health advice from a dentist? Isn’t that what a cardiologist is for? Well, yes, a cardiologist is the best person to help diagnose and treat any heart problems you may have. However, your dentist can be a crucial part of your health care team.

In recent years, there have been numerous studies that show a clear link between gum health and heart health. In fact, gum disease doubles a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke. But how?

Your gums are like a portal to your bloodstream. An infection in your gums means that the infection can easily enter your bloodstream. When there is infection in your blood, your body reacts. The liver begins to produce certain proteins such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and these proteins lead to all kinds of problems including:

  • Inflamed arteries
  • Blood clots
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes

How Can You Minimize Your Risk?

There are ways to decrease your chance of gum disease and the overall health concerns associated with it. Start with maintaining regular visits to our dental office in Middletown, Kettering, or West Chester. In between appointments, make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, floss everyday, and avoid tobacco products. Proper dental care can, in fact, save your life.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and beyond. 

What Causes Bad Breath?

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
bad breath

Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is a common issue that affects nearly 80 million Americans. It’s a serious problem that doesn’t only affect your oral health, but can directly impact your personal life as well. Don’t worry, your dentist is here to help.

Dry Mouth

Your mouth needs an adequate saliva supply to keep itself healthy. Essentially, it helps wash away bacteria and neutralize acid that can lead to decay and cavities. Without it, bacteria are left to linger around and cause all sorts of problems, including bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused by numerous things including some medications or mouth breathing.

Foods

Although fragrant foods don’t tend to be a serious, long-lasting problem, they are a cause of bad breath. The typical culprits like your morning cup of coffee, a garlicky pasta sauce, or a tasty onion-packed sandwich can sometimes leave an after-smell in your mouth, even after you brush and floss.

Poor Dental Hygiene

When someone doesn’t follow a proper at-home oral health routine of brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, the chance of odor causing bacteria sticking around and creating an unpleasant stench increases. Not to mention, poor dental hygiene can lead to more problems like cavities, the need for root canal treatment, discoloration, or even tooth loss.

A Whole-Body Problem

While bad breath may seem like a small yet embarrassing issue, it may be a sign that something more serious is happening somewhere else in the body. Bad breath has been linked to:

  • Gum disease
  • Pneumonia
  • Liver or kidney disease
  • Diabetes

This is why the team at our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices encourages anyone suffering from chronic bad breath to see their dentist as soon as possible.

If you’re worried about bad breath, or it’s just time to see a dentist, we welcome you to call our dental office in Middletown, Kettering, or West Chester to schedule an appointment. We’ll be happy to see you and discuss any dental concern you may have.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and beyond. 

“Why Do I Keep Biting My Tongue At Night?”

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
biting tongue

Everyone enjoys getting a solid night’s sleep. It not only feels great… it also provides some valuable health benefits, too. But sometime, sleep can be interrupted by any number of things — a snoring partner, a sick child, or even from biting your own tongue. If this last item happens to you frequently, our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester encourages you to find out why. We’re here to help.

Common Causes

Nighttime tongue biting is actually pretty common, but it can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful. What’s more, it may be a sign that something more serious is going on. The top reasons someone may experience tongue biting during sleep include:  

  • Nighttime seizures
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Rhythmic movement disorder

Let’s take a closer look at each cause and potential treatment.

Nighttime Seizures

Seizures are usually categorized by a tightening of muscles accompanied by violent twitching. Involuntarily biting of the tongue is also one of the main indicators of seizures. But the symptoms aren’t always so noticeable, and sometimes there are no daytime signs and rather only occur during sleep. Treatment: Using a seizure medication can help prevent seizures and, in turn, tongue biting.

Rhythmic Movement Disorder

This disorder causes individuals to experience jerks or sudden movements during sleep, usually in the head or neck. Typically more common in children, sometimes rhythmic movement disorder can appear as head banging and may result in injuries to the eyes, brain, and yes, tongue. Treatment: The good news is rhythmic movement disorder in children tends to go away on its own. If not, medication may be recommended.

Grinding Your Teeth

Nighttime bruxism, also known as grinding your teeth, is fairly common but can cause someone to bite their tongue unwillingly. Teeth grinding may also create additional dental problems like chips and cracks. Treatment: A bruxism night guard can protect teeth from grinding against each other, as well as the tongue from being bitten

If you suffer from frequent nighttime tongue biting, talk with your dentist in Middletown, Kettering, or West Chester to determine if grinding your teeth may the cause and to discuss the best treatment for your specific needs. Our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices also encourage you to see your physician if another culprit is suspected.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and the surrounding areas.

“Why is My Mouth So Dry?”

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
dry mouth

We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. The dry, cracked lips, the bad breath, the sticky tongue, and every other uncomfortable sensation we get when our mouths are dry. Sometimes, it’s short-lived and goes away quickly. No big deal. However, it’s those times when dry mouth is chronic when our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester become concerned.

What’s the Big Deal?

Dry mouth may seem like a simply annoying thing that happens. But if it happens a lot and lasts a while, there’s definitely a reason to be concerned. Healthy mouths require adequate saliva production to stay healthy. It helps rinse away food particles and bacteria and it neutralizes damaging acid. Without it, the mouth is in danger of tooth decay and other oral health concerns.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

There are several possible explanations to dry mouth. Some are fairly common and are easily fixed. Others are a bit more complicated and require input from your medical team.

  • Medications. Hundreds of prescription and over the counter medicines list dry mouth as a side effect. Read the packet of all medicine and discuss regular medications with your dentist.
  • Disease. Diabetes, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, Sjögren’s syndrome, and others can lead to dry mouth.
  • Dehydration. This is incredibly common and easily remedied. Drink more water and you should feel relief.
  • Mouth Breathing. When people can’t effectively breathe through the nose, they open their mouths to get enough oxygen in. This constant exposure to air can be incredibly drying.

How Do You Treat Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth treatment greatly depends on the case and the cause behind it. Sometimes a shift in medication may be appropriate. Other times, adding in a medicine that helps produce saliva can help. Either way, there are some things you can do in your everyday life to keep your mouth wet, limit the severity of dry mouth, or avoid it in the first place.

  • Drink water throughout the day
  • Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
  • Limit caffeinated beverages
  • Chew sugarless gum

Don’t forget, our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices are always here to help as well. If you’d like to speak with someone about your dry mouth or possible treatments, call us to schedule an appointment. We’ll determine the cause of your symptoms and work together to find the appropriate solution for you.

Welcoming patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and beyond.

Fact or Fiction: Oil Pulling is Good For Oral Health

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
oil

You may have heard of this alternative form of oral health care called oil pulling. Within the past couple of years, it’s become an increasingly popular way to boost oral health and the appearance of teeth. But does it actually do all the things it claims it can? Our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester are here to find out.

What is Oil Pulling?

First discovered over 3,000 years ago, oil pulling is an ancient technique originated by Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic medicine was founded in India and is a holistic approach to medical care. It wasn’t until the past couple of years when the trend started to infiltrate into modern times and has since become widely used.

The act of oil pulling is simple, but does require a commitment. You start by taking a tablespoon full of liquid vegetable oil — most people choose coconut oil — and swishing it around in your mouth for 20 minutes. During this time you should push and pull the liquid in between your teeth and expose it to every part of your mouth. Once the 20 minutes is complete, simply spit it out and rinse with water. Many oil pullers recommend doing this every day for maximum results.

Oil Pulling Claims

There are a multitude of supposed benefits associated with oil pulling. We chose to focus on the ones related to oral health. Some of which include:

Does It Actually Work?

There hasn’t been a wealth of research conducted on oil pulling, but what we do know is that it is not a substantial substitute for brushing and flossing daily and seeing your dentist twice a year. With that said, there is some truth behind some of the benefits of oil pulling. Swishing with coconut oil, for example, for 20 minutes each day can help remove surface stains on teeth, therefore giving them a brighter, whiter look. It can also be used as an alternative to mouthwash to help freshen breath. Even more, daily oil pulling may reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth. However, the amount it removes isn’t enough to counteract gum disease or reduce the risk of cavities.

There’s still a lot of research that needs to be done to truly understand just how beneficial oil pulling may be to oral health. Until then, we encourage you to keep brushing, flossing, and visiting our Middletown, Kettering, or West Chester dental office regularly to ensure optimal oral health.

Accepting new patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and beyond. 

5 Reasons Your Dentist is So Happy to See You!

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
happy

When we come to the office each day, it’s always with one goal in mind: to help patients and their smiles feel and look great. It’s important to take the time to make sure patients never feel uncomfortable or rushed, and we go out of our way to make sure they feel at ease. At our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices, we are so very happy every day, for so many reasons.

Reason #1 — Treating You and Your Smile

Dentists care deeply about the health of your teeth, and especially your gums. This is because studies show potential links between gum disease and other illnesses that affect the rest of the body. We always want the very best for your oral and overall health too!

Reason #2 — Paying Close Attention to Prevention

Our patients understand why it’s so important to keep up with regular checkups and dental cleanings. We don’t want to see them develop problems such as cavities, gum disease, the need for a root canal, etc. Prevention is our best medicine. It makes us smile, and it can do the same for you!

Reason #3 — It’s All About Teamwork

The talented team of dental professionals at our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester are always happy, and it translates to our patients too. We treat each other like family, because that’s how we want our patients to feel when they come in for an appointment. When we’re happy about who we work with and the job we do, it makes everyone smile bigger and brighter.

Reason #4 — Comfortable, Gentle Care

Going to the dentist shouldn’t make a patient feel uneasy. That’s why we go out of our way to make sure you’re comfortable and feeling at ease every time you come to the office, no matter what the reason. It’s deeply rewarding to helping a patient who is feeling nervous or apprehensive.

Reason #5 — Restoring Health and Confidence

Anyone on our trusted team will tell you, one of the best things about being a dentist is seeing a patient enjoy life with a renewed smile and confidence. It goes beyond simply treating teeth, to providing someone with a better quality of life that’s beneficial — both personally and professionally.

Know that a visit to your dentist makes us happy for so many reasons. We want you to enjoy and live life to the fullest, and that starts with a healthy smile. If you or someone in your family is in need of a checkup, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We’re always happy to see you!

Welcoming patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and the surrounding areas.

4 Foods For Denture-Wearers to Avoid

Posted on by MK & C Dental Group
eat with dentures

Patients living with dentures are faced with a new set of menu challenges. Unfortunately, some foods just are no longer compatible. While having dentures is a great way to restore a natural, healthy look, they aren’t able provide the same stable durability and function of regular teeth. At our dental offices in Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester, we want our denture patients to always feel comfortable in their dentures every day, at every meal.

We’ve compiled a shortlist of just a few foods that have been known to be a problem for denture wearers, along with some alternative choices that are deliciously denture-friendly.

  1. Avoid Sticky Situations

We don’t really like to see any patient constantly snacking on chewy, sticky candy. But for people with dentures, it’s almost certain that sticky stuff will lead to serious dentures problems.

  • A Better Option: If you absolutely need to indulge in a sweet treat, try sugar-free gum that’s specifically designed for dentures.

  1. Say No to Your Cup of Joe?

OK, so this is a bit tricky. We know how important that morning cup of coffee can be to getting your day kickstarted. Your dentist is not going to tell you to give it up altogether, but it’s best in moderation. It can potentially cause staining and can also be dehydrating, leading to dry mouth. (That’s not helpful when you have dentures.)

  • A Better Option: Trying lessening the caffeine intake or completely switching over to decaf. If this isn’t an option, just be sure you’re getting enough additional fluids to help keep salivary glands functioning properly. If your mouth isn’t moist, the friction from dentures can be irritating to you and your gums.

  1. Don’t Go Nuts

Nuts and dentures don’t work well together. Tiny, painful pieces of nuts can get lodged under partials or dentures, making them uncomfortable and unstable.

  • A Better Option: Pitted olives are easier to chew and even contain heart-healthy fats. You can also try fresh, seedless grapes and berries.

  1. No Need For Seeds

Try to avoid seeded breads and crackers. Pesky little poppy seeds can get stuck under your dentures and be a real pain.

  • A Better Option: Try whole grain breads where the grains are baked inside.

At our Middletown, Kettering, and West Chester dental offices, we see a lot of patients have great success with a variety of different kinds of dentures. It’s just a matter of making them work for you, and making an effort to avoid possible problems — especially with the foods and drinks you consume. If you have any questions about denture care, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Accepting patients from Middletown, Kettering, West Chester and the surrounding areas.