Author: MK & C Dental Group

We’re always talking to our patients about the importance of a proper oral hygiene routine of brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting our dental office in Middletown or Kettering regularly.  But did you know these guidelines can do more than just ensure a healthy mouth? They can also provide insight to other whole-body problems.

The Mouth/Body Connection

Many systemic diseases (whole-body diseases) have oral manifestations and often first show signs in the mouth. Some of these overall health problems are incredibly serious, such as:

• Heart disease
• Pancreatic cancer
• Leukemia
• Diabetes

Notice Any of These Signs?

If you see any of these symptoms, it’s important to call your Middletown or Kettering dentist as soon as possible. Early detection is key for the most successful treatment, so don’t wait. Serious signs include:

• Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
• Gums that have pulled away from teeth
• Chronic bad breath
• Ulcers

Steps to Better Health

In addition to a proper, at-home hygiene routine and regular dental visits, there are several ways you can help protect your smile against dangerous bacteria, and your body against serious disease.

• Water, water, water. When it comes to choosing your beverage of choice, select water whenever possible. It helps rinse away bacteria and acid in the mouth and hydrates your body.

• Say no to tobacco. Besides the effects smoking or chewing tobacco can have on your smile, using any form of tobacco can lead to overall health complications.

• Practice proper nutrition. Eating well-balanced meals is important for proper body function as well as optimal oral health. Avoid snacking throughout the day, especially sticky, sugary foods.

Your dentist could be the first line of defense against many serious diseases. If you’re experiencing any of the signs above, or if you haven’t seen a dentist in awhile, give our Middletown or Kettering dental office a call. We’ll perform a thorough exam, talk with you about any potential problems we find, and stand with you through your individualized treatment plan. Your health is the most important thing to us, and we’ll help any way we can.

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What is your bedtime routine? If you are a patient at our Kettering or Middletown dental office, we feel pretty sure it includes brushing and flossing your teeth. But routines and habits you may not even be aware of might be part of your night as well! And these habits won’t improve your health the way oral hygiene will. Instead, they might actually destroy your teeth and ruin your day!

These issues are snoring or sleep apnea and bruxism. Both snoring and bruxism (another word for clenching and grinding) are especially problematic in part because so few people are aware that they are doing them. How can you solve a problem when you don’t even know it is there?

We’d like to help. Here are a few signs and symptoms to look for.

Snoring/ Sleep Apnea

• Frequent silences during sleep due to breaks in breathing (apnea)
• Choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs
• Loud snoring
• Sudden awakenings to restart breathing or waking up in a sweat
• Daytime sleepiness and feeling unrefreshed by a night’s sleep, including falling asleep at inappropriate times

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your dentist or your physician right away. Snoring is no joke; it’s a warning that something is not right. Snoring occurs when the tissues of the throat are so lax or narrowed that air cannot pass through normally. This decreases the amount of air to the lungs, the heart has to work harder, and quality sleep is interrupted, all interfering with healthy living. It could also be a sign of sleep apnea which is quite dangerous and has been linked to everything from dangerous driving to an increased risk for strokes. Don’t take it lightly.

Bruxism (Grinding and Clenching)

• Worn, flattened, or shorter teeth than when you were younger
• Chips, cracks, or hairline fractures
• Chips at the gumline that may look and feel like gum recession
• Sore jaws or teeth, especially during times of stress
• Increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet food and drink
• Unexplained earaches
• Sores on the inside of your cheek or ridges on the sides of your tongue
• Headache or facial soreness
• Gum disease

Since snoring, sleep apnea, and grinding are dangerous to your health and your teeth, it is important to have yourself checked for them periodically. At our dental offices in Kettering and Middletown, we will look for symptoms of both of these disorders — and many more–at every checkup. Give us a call and we can get you back on the path to a good night’s sleep and better health.

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At our dental offices in Kettering and Middletown, we’re always sure to stay up to date on technology and advancements in dental care. And our patients are pretty lucky to be living in a time when dentists have access to this kind of training. Did you know that there were no dental schools in the United states until 1840? And that in the middle ages, your “dentist” was just as likely to cut your hair as pull your teeth?

Here’s a quick look back:

Dentistry in the Middle Ages

People in the middle ages might have had healthier teeth than ours. But not because of quality professional care! The reason people actually had good teeth came from a combination of a diet very low in sugar and refined foods and high in calcium, and pretty decent personal oral hygiene. There were all kinds of tooth powders and pastes and even whitening rinses! When it came to routine dental care, things were quite different.

A dental practitioner was most likely a barber surgeon who performed all sorts of procedures including cutting hair, bloodletting, pulling teeth, and performing various surgeries. They may have also dispensed dental advice such as kissing a donkey to relieve a toothache or cleaning your ears to prevent one. Tooth decay was sometime thought to be caused by a toothworm and remedies included this doozie: “Take a candle of sheep’ suet, some eringo seed being mixed therewith, and burn it as near the tooth as possible, some cold water being held under the candle. The worms (destroying the tooth) will drop into the water, in order to escape from the heat of the candle.”

Dentistry in the 19th Century

The dental profession didn’t change much until the early 18th century. Barber surgeons were the norm and they performed the majority of personal and medical care. By the 19th century, though, dentistry began to seem quite modern. European surgeons were experimenting with dental implants; porcelain dentures were becoming more popular; and nitrous oxide, the same laughing gas we sometimes use today, was introduced by Humphry Davy. Dental training even began to become what we know today with education moving from apprenticeships to formal training in colleges and universities. In fact, the first dental college, the Baltimore College of Dentistry, was founded by Chapin Harris and Horace Hayden in 1840.

If you’d like to learn more about dentistry throughout history, or would like to learn more about the history of our Kettering and Middletown dental practices, please give us a call. We promise we won’t ask you to kiss any donkeys.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.

Flossing is one of the main ways to keep your gums, mouth, teeth, and whole body healthy. Yet more than half of all Americans fail to floss daily, and another 20% don’t floss at all. This is of particular concern for all of us at our dental offices in Middletown and Kettering. So we wanted to shed  a bit of light on why so many people aren’t flossing.

So, What’s the Deal?

There are several reasons people aren’t flossing on a regular basis. Check out a few of the more common ones below.

They Don’t See The Point.

Flossing reaches places in your mouth that a toothbrush can’t. While brushing your teeth is still absolutely important in maintaining proper oral health, if you skip flossing, all of the spaces in between teeth are left uncleaned. With so many people forgoing the floss on a regular basis, it’s no surprise that most cavities are found in these exact spots. What’s more, flossing your teeth helps remove bacteria from below the gum line which can help reduce the risk of gum disease. Gum disease is an incredibly serious problem that can actually affect the whole body by increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack.

They Aren’t Sure How to Floss Correctly.

Although it seems pretty straightforward, there is a right way and wrong way to floss. Flossing will be uncomfortable if you’re not sure how to do it right. But we promise, it’s easy. Just follow the American Dental Association’s steps to successful flossing:

• Use about 18 inches of floss. Wrap the ends around each middle finger.
• Tighten the floss and wiggle it in between the space between teeth using a back and forth motion.
• When it reaches the gum line, form the floss into a “U” around the shape of the tooth.
• Press gently and glide the floss in an up and down motion.
• Repeat between each tooth, unwrapping a new, clean section of floss.

They Have Pain or Bleeding.

There’s a common misconception that if flossing hurts, you should stop. The truth is quite the opposite. If flossing is a bit painful, it’s actually a sign of not flossing enough. Additionally, if gums bleed, it could be a sign of gum disease. Even if flossing isn’t so comfortable, it’s important to get into the habit of doing it regularly. Like exercising, it hurts less the more you do it.  

If you’re having trouble flossing, or are experiencing pain or bleeding when you do, give our Middletown and Kettering dental office a call as soon as possible. We’ll work with you to find a flossing solution that works well for you and your health. And if we happen to find signs of a more serious problem, we’ll create an individualized plan to treat it.

Serving patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.

Bad breath affects everyone at least once in a lifetime and it’s completely normal. But it doesn’t make it any less embarrassing or worrisome. At our Middletown and Kettering dental offices, we hear a lot of questions about bad breath – what causes it? How do you cure it? Is it serious? – so we’d like to talk about some common causes of bad breath and ways to cure it.

Cause #1: Dry Mouth.

Some medications, mouth breathing, or lack of proper water intake can cause dry mouth, and a dry mouth is a great place for bacteria to hide. Dry mouth creates the perfect situation for bacteria to create bad odors..

Cure: One of the easiest ways to avoid bad breath caused by a dry mouth is to drink plenty of water every day. A well-hydrated mouth keeps saliva flowing and removes lingering bacteria. The water itself can also neutralize acid the mouth and flush out even more bacteria.

Cause #2: Delicious, Yet Oh So Stinky, Food.

Garlic, spicy dishes, onions, oh my! Plenty of our favorite foods taste so good, but leave an unpleasant odor in their wake. Most of the time, this isn’t a medical concern, but may cause insecurity. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to squash the stench and replace it with a little freshness. Here’s how.

Cure: Following such a meal, a quick and easy way to relieve bad breath is by chewing a piece of sugarless gum. Not only does the sticky texture pull lingering food particles off your teeth, it typically has a nice, minty, fresh smell. No gum handy? Fruits and veggies high in fiber and that require a lot of chewing, like apples, can help clean teeth and the vitamin C kills bacteria.                  

Cause #3: Gum Disease.

Bad breath that doesn’t go away is one of the earliest and most common signs of gum disease, which is a serious problem that has been shown to cause oral health, and whole-body health, concerns. If untreated, gum disease may lead to tooth loss, sensitivity, and receding gums. It may also increase the risk of stroke or heart attack. That’s the bad news.

Cure: The good news is, it’s treatable. There isn’t  a one-size-fits-all cure for gum disease, but we strongly encourage you to visit your dentist as soon as you can. Gum disease is serious and the earlier we catch it, the better. Each gum disease treatment is different, so work with your dentist to determine which is best for you.

If your bad breath lingers day after day, or if you notice it more often than just after a meal or post-coffee, call our dental office in Middletown or Kettering. We will help find the cause of your bad breath and work with you to cure it. We don’t judge our patients and are here to help get their mouths, and bodies, healthy. Call for your appointment today.

Welcoming patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.

Osteoporosis is a disease that mainly affects women over the age of 50. But it can happen to anyone no matter age or gender. Osteoporosis causes bone density to decrease, making breaks and whole-body concerns much more common. At our Middletown and Kettering dental offices, we want to talk about how your oral health may be linked to osteoporosis.

Your Mouth & Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects 10 million Americans, and there are 34 million more who are at risk. As with many serious diseases, early detection is key. You may not even know there’s a problem until it’s too late. Sometimes signs aren’t obvious. So how do you get diagnosed if you’re not experiencing any symptoms? Your dentist!

In fact, your dentist may be the first member of your healthcare team to catch osteoporosis. When patients visit the dentist, the team is not just looking at their teeth, they also look at x-rays. These x-rays provide a wealth of information about what’s going on below the teeth, including bone density, and show us signs you or your medical doctor may not see or notice.

Signs & Symptoms

While we will be vigilant at your exams, here are some of the signs and symptoms we encourage our patients to watch for:

• Loose dentures
• Tooth loss
• Bone loss around the teeth or in the jaw
• Gum disease

Prevention

In addition to maintaining visits to your dentist, there are other preventive actions you can take to decrease your chance of osteoporosis.

• Quit Smoking
• Consume caffeine limitedly
• Lower alcohol intake
• Get out and exercise
• Get enough vitamin D and calcium

If you’re experiencing any signs of osteoporosis, visit your doctor. Even if you’re not having difficulty currently, make sure to keep up with your regular visits to our dental office in Middletown or Kettering. We actively look for signs of potential osteoporosis and may be the first line of defense against the disease.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood

We know dentistry can be confusing, but at our Middletown and Kettering dental offices, we want to make sure all our patients are comfortable coming to us if they have questions. We’re always happy to answer or clarify anything. In fact, in this blog, we want to talk about a few questions we hear a lot.

“Why are dental visits so important?”

The reasons behind regular visits with your dentist are much more broad than simply ensuring your teeth are cavity-free and getting those pearly whites cleaned and polished. Dental checkups are usually conducted every six months so we’re able to keep an eye on any potential problems and catch them before they become or create more serious issues. Most dental disease can be treated easily if caught early, so that makes regular appointments incredibly important. If you’re at increased risk for certain problems, like oral cancer or gum disease, we may recommend visits more than twice a year.

“Is it a big deal if my gums bleed when a floss?”

If your gums bleed at all, with or without the floss, you should get to your dentist as soon as possible. Bleeding gums are not normal, even though it’s often overlooked if the bleeding occurs while flossing. Sometimes, people even stop brushing or flossing if they feel the bleeding is caused by that alone. Typically it’s not. Bleeding gums is a key sign of gum disease and should be checked out so treatment can begin. Some other signs of gum disease are inflammation around the gums, red gums, or gums that appear to be pulling away from the teeth.

“I know smoking is harmful to my teeth. What about smokeless tobacco?”

Just because smokeless tobacco doesn’t have the smoke doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. Using smokeless tobacco may lead to gum recession and permanent damage to gum tissue, tooth discoloration, bad breath, and even cancer. If you do use smokeless tobacco, make sure to keep up with regular dental visits and keep an eye out for sores that don’t heal, a white spot or lump, or if you feel it’s become difficult to chew food. If you notice any of these issues, contact your dentist immediately.

If you have a dental question, give our dental office in Middletown or Kettering a call. We’d love to have you come in for a visit to talk about your concerns and get your questions answered. We strive to ensure each and every patient is educated, comfortable, and in good health.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.

Next time you’re about to brush your teeth, take a good look at your toothbrush. Does it look right? Is it time for a new one? How do you know? At our dental offices in Middletown and Kettering, we’re here to help you determine when it’s time to replace your old toothbrush and why it’s important.

How Long Does a Toothbrush Last?

According to American Dental Association, a toothbrush is typically in good working order for about three-to-four months. Around this time, it’s common to notice signs that it’s time for your toothbrush to go.

Trash it or Keep it?

There are telltale signs it’s time to trash your toothbrush. If you’re coming up on that three-to-four month checkpoint, take some time to exam the bristles. Are they frayed? Discolored? Smushed? Jagged and pointing every which way? If your toothbrush is starting to resemble modern art, it has seen better days. It’s time to get a new one.

Sometimes your brush may appear to be in good working order, but you just battled a vicious cold. Again, toss it. Bacteria may linger around on the bristles. It’s best to start fresh following any sickness. But if you start to see the signs of a worn out toothbrush before the three or four month mark,you’re probably brushing too hard. Ease up a bit.

Why is This Important?

Toothbrushes are specifically designed to reach the nooks and crannies of your teeth gently and effectively. When the bristles get all cockeyed and frayed, the toothbrush isn’t doing it’s best job and leaves you at increased risk for dental problems.

How to Care for Your New One.

Once you’ve got a shiny new toothbrush, it’s important to care for it properly. Follow the tips below to keep your toothbrush in tip-top shape:

• Don’t share your toothbrush. Ever.
• Thoroughly rinse it after each use.
• Don’t store it in a container. Air drying is best.

In addition to taking proper care of your toothbrush, using it twice a day, and replacing it when necessary, it’s also crucial to maintain regular appointments at our Middletown or Kettering dental office. Professional cleanings help to remove debris and bacteria your regular toothbrush can’t reach. If you’re in need of a new dentist, or it’s been awhile since we saw you last, give us a call!

Accepting patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.

Any emergency is serious and should be treated as such. Dental emergencies, which include any injury to the teeth, gums, or mouth, are no exception. At our Middletown and  Kettering dental offices, we understand that a dental emergency can be scary, so we’re here to help give you a few tips on how to handle several types.

Abscess

An abscess is a very serious dental problem and should not be ignored. An abscess is an infection that affects the root or the space in between teeth and may feel like a painful pimple-like protrusion on the gums. If left untreated, an abscess might damage surrounding teeth, tissue, and the infection can even spread to other parts of your body. Because of these very serious concerns, it’s extremely important to get to your dentist as soon as possible. Prior to your appointment, try rinsing with warm salt water several times a day. This should ease the pain and encourage the bacteria inside to come to the surface.

Lost Filling

If you lose a filling, sugarless gum can be a temporary fix. Just make super sure it’s sugarless or you’ll experience some serious pain. Take a piece of the gum and place it into the cavity. Then call your dentist to get a permanent fix.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

A chipped or broken tooth might result from anything like a popcorn kernel, opening packaging with your teeth, or a fall. When a tooth is chipped, the first thing to do is rinse your mouth out with warm water and find any pieces, if possible, and rinse them off, too. Then apply gauze and slight pressure if there is any bleeding, and a cold compress to the cheek to ease pain. Get to your dentist to fix the chip.

Toothache

A toothache is your mouth’s way of letting you know that something is not right. Ease the pain and help keep other problems away by first rinsing with warm salt water. Salt water can help decrease swelling and keep dangerous bacteria from attacking. If the pain is severe, try placing a cold compress against your cheek or apply a bit of clove oil to the sore spot. Again, get to your dentist as soon as you can.

One of the best ways to avoid a dental emergency in the first place is to maintain regular visits to our dental office in Middletown or Kettering. Regular checkups and cleanings allow us to catch and treat any potential problems before they can turn into an unexpected dental emergency. However, anything can happen at any time, so if you do experience an emergency, give us a call right away.

Welcoming patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.

Now that summer is officially here, we’re all starting to plan those well-deserved vacations or long weekends away. Naturally, you also need to pack. So you load up on clothes, snacks, medications, and everything you may possibly need. Yet you forget your toothbrush. What do you do when you’ve reached your destination and it’s time to brush those pearly whites? Take some advice from our dental offices in Middletown and Kettering.

Solution #1

Even if you’re without a toothbrush, you should still do something to rid your mouth of the bacteria that accumulates over time and after meals. But how? With a paper towel!

A clean, sturdy paper towel can go a long way toward getting your teeth clean until you have a chance to get to the store and buy another toothbrush. Simply find the thickest paper towel you can, wet it, dab on some toothpaste, and wrap it around your finger. Place your towel-wrapped finger along the gum line and gently scrub outwards. Then follow the same technique on the backs and chewing surfaces of each individual tooth. Don’t forget about the tongue! Scrub it as best as you can. When you’re done, rinse well.

Solution #2

If you forget both a toothbrush and toothpaste, this tip is for you.

Start by washing your hands with soap and warm water, but don’t dry them. While fingers are still wet, take your index finger and begin to scrub it over each individual tooth, the backs, and chewing surfaces. If a paper towel or soft wash cloth is handy, wet it and follow up your finger cleaning with a gentle brush of the cloth. Rinse, swish, spit, and repeat if necessary.

Solution #3

If you have no toothbrush and no toothpaste, but have some handy ingredients, you can make your own temporary paste to use with the above tip. All it takes is some water, salt, or baking soda. One or two teaspoons of salt or baking soda dissolved into warm water act as a gentle abrasive for your teeth, and can be an adequate replacement to toothpaste if needed.

This summer, or any time you’re away from home and find yourself without a toothbrush or toothpaste, follow the tips above. While these aren’t long-term solutions and a proper toothbrush and toothpaste should be found as soon as possible, they can go a long way in getting dangerous bacteria off your teeth. And as always, keeping up with appointments at our dental office in Middletown or Kettering are crucial to maintaining a healthy smile for a lifetime.

Accepting patients from Middletown, Franklin, Springboro, Kettering, Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood.