Do you Know How to Care for your Toothbrushes?

How Are You Caring for Your Toothbrush?

You brush your teeth at least twice a day and even floss at night before going to bed. You are practicing proper dental hygiene right? Not quite yet. You are forgetting an important aspect of dental hygiene, caring for your toothbrushes. If you are not replacing your brushes at least every 3-4 months, you could be exposing your mouth to harmful bacteria. This bacteria could come from your own mouth as well as the environment that your toothbrush is stored.

After Brushing

Always rinse your toothbrush with warm water and let it thoroughly dry. Try to keep other toothbrushes separate from yours or at the very least, facing away from one another. It is very important that you leave toothbrushes free to dry and avoid covering them, as that is how mold and bacteria grow, in dark, damp places. 

Watch for Wear and Tear

Watch your brushes very closely for wear and tear. Typical use will cause most brushes to last between 3 and 4 months. If you brush harder than normal or more often, you might have to replace your brushes sooner. Simply check the bristles to see if they look worn down. If you do not replace them, they will not effectively clean your teeth, leaving you at risk for debris, bacteria and plaque. In addition, if you become ill, you should replace your toothbrushes when you are well again, to avoid contaminating yourself with the germs once again. 

For more information on dental health, visit our website at www.cooleysmiles.com and learn about family-oriented care!

Should You Replace Amalgam (silver) Fillings with White?

Recently, the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network conducted a 24-month study to evaluate the long-term effects of amalgam and resin-based composite restorations. For decades, many dentists were leery of using composite resin for restorations, claiming that they often left open contact areas, pits and voids, tooth preparation margins and postoperative tooth sensitivity. However, there were problems with amalgam as well, including “difficulty in making tight contact areas, over-carving potential, overhanging amalgam material and postoperative sensitivity”. (Ref. 1)

Dental amalgam consists of a combination of mercury, silver, tin and copper. As a result, the finished product’s silvery color fails to take on the natural aesthetics of a living tooth. The closer the amalgam is to the front of the mouth, the more noticeable the silver color can be. Although many people have shown concern about the risks in mercury, it poses no threat when combined with the other dental material. (Ref. 2)

In the study, there was no conclusive evidence that favored the longevity of either resin-based composites, which blend in with the natural tooth and are more pleasing to the eye, or amalgam fillings. Instead, the variables that determined restorative longevity include age, sex, number and size of surfaces, and practice workload. Researchers suggest that clinicians should try to recognize risk factors on an individual basis in order to promote longevity. (Ref. 3)

While our dental experts at CooleySmiles would suggest replacing the silver amalgam with the more aesthetically-pleasing composite filling, the most desirable answer is to prevent the need for any fillings with daily brushing, flossing and routine cleanings. Our goal is to help our patients prevent the need for restorative care with professional exams and cleanings; providing you with a true Beautiful Smile!

Reference 1:

Christensen, G. J., D.D.S., M.S.D., PH.D. (1998, December). Amalgam vs. Composite Resin: 1998. American Dental Association. Retrieved June 16, 2013.

Reference 2:

Amalgam - Silver-Colored Dental Fillings. (n.d.). Mouth Healthy -American Dental Association. Retrieved from http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/amalgam.aspx

Reference 3:

McCracken, M. S., Gordan, V. V., & Litaker, M. S. (2013). A 24-Month Evaluation of Amalgam and Resin-Based Composite Restorations Findings form The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. JADA, 144(6), 583-593. 

Experience Dentistry With No Fear!

Experience dentistry with no fear!

If you are preparing for a filling, root canal, crown, tooth extraction, or other dental procedure, you now have an option to relieve your dental anxiety. At CooleySmiles in Bellevue, WA, there are several options available to our patients for relief of pain and anxiety during routine dental visits.

Conscious, or moderate sedation, allows patients to remain awake during dental procedures. Patients are able to interact with their dentists but do not feel any discomfort or pain. Moderate sedation can also help patients avoid more severe side effects of general anesthesia such as nausea, headache, vertigo and long-term drowsiness. This form of sedation generally causes the patient to not remember anything about their dental appointment other than a pleasant experience.

One of the most common forms of non-IV sedation is Nitrous Oxide, known as 'laughing gas'. Patients of all ages can use Nitrous Oxide with minimal to no side effects.

Make sure you tell Drs. Aaron and Brandon Cooley about any drug allergies or dependencies, existing prescriptions or over-the-counter drug use, medical conditions, changes in your health, history of anxiety, heart conditions or alcohol use before undergoing treatment. You and your Bellevue, WA dental team will discuss the benefits and risks of each option. We will work with you to make sure you have a pain-free, anxiety-free, comfortable experience.

Affordable Dental Implants in Bellevue, WA

Beautiful Smiles in Bellevue, WA

In contemporary society, it might be shocking to know that “69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay.” By the time most adults reach their seventies, 26% have few if any of their original teeth left.

With so many people losing teeth and with our current dip in the economy, many people cannot afford the cost of implants and so go either without their teeth or with the less favorable option of bridges or dentures. Yet dental implants are the most desirable of all teeth-replacement options: they look natural, last virtually forever, do not cause pain, discomfort and bad breath and are permanent. Unlike dentures and bridges, implants do not sit on top of the gums or adhere to adjacent teeth. Instead, your dental implant experts, Drs Brandon and Aaron Cooley, place them inside the jawbone, making them a natural, long-term replacement for teeth.

Thankfully, there is an alternate solution for those who need implants but cannot afford the cost. With a moderate-term, esthetic provisional, patients would be able to preserve their implant site and have the benefit of a temporary replacement tooth. Using computer-aided design and manufacturing, dentists can digitally create temporary implants for a fraction of the cost of permanent ones. The result, produced by a milling machine, is almost as strong as gold.

What this means is that there is now a predictable and successful stopgap for people who do not want dentures but who cannot afford implants. Call your Bellevue dentists, Dr. Aaron and Dr. Brandon Cooley at Cooley Smiles for further details on how you can get your grin back.

Is Frozen Yogurt Healthy For Your Smile?

Remember to clean your teeth after every meal.

If you believe that frozen yogurt is better for your health than ice-cream, you may want to think again! While frozen yogurt may be healthier for your diet, it is not good for your teeth. Frozen yogurt contains a variety of sugars that can lead to tooth decay.

Contained within the ingredients of frozen yogurt resides evaporated cane juice. Evaporated cane juice is another form of sugar, and should never be referred to as a "healthy" sugar. Both contain molasses, but evaporated cane juice has a somewhat lower percentage.

Regardless of the types of sugar you eat, when you consume food containing sugar you are putting yourself at risk of getting cavities. Sugar is a leading contributor to dental decay which can lead to other dental diseases. Don't feel like you need to eliminate frozen yogurt all together, but realize that the "health benefits" of frozen yogurt also include risks to your dental health.

Have you scheduled your next cleaning? Remember that twice yearly visits are the gold standard for a healthy smile. Call your Bellevue, WA dental experts at (425) 998-6998 today. We're here and waiting for your call!

Are You In Dental Pain?

Do you have tooth pain?

When you suffer from a tooth abscess, you will feel more than tooth pain

. The pain from the bacteria infection is often severe, and it can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep, in addition to stopping you from completing work at the office during the day. You could fall victim to a tooth abscess at any time, so it is best to be prepared in case it happens.

When you have a tooth cavity, it can cause an infection, known as an abscess. When bacteria grows a pus pocket will form. There is no specific region where an abscess can occur.

There are various symptoms that can alert you that a tooth abscess has arrived. Some of those signs include:

• Red Face and Mouth
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Gum Inflammation
• Pus Drainage
• Pain…and lots of it.

You can rinse your mouth out with warm water if you are suffering from a dental abscess. To treat the pain, you can purchase naproxen or ibuprofen, but these anti-inflammatory medicines will provide a small – if any – amount of relief. The pain may stop temporarily, but the infection is still alive and well. You will need to consult with a dentist as soon as possible to treat your infection, and get you back to work, and resting without issue during the night.

Keep in mind that if a tooth abscess goes untreated, it could lead to a more severe dental issue. This condition can spread, and cause you to become extremely ill. Some individuals who do not treat their tooth abscess have had to be hospitalized.  

Have you scheduled your next cleaning? Remember that twice yearly visits are the gold standard for a healthy smile. Call your Bellevue, WA dental experts at (425) 998-6998 today. We're here and waiting for your call!

Will The Best Toothbrush Please Stand Up?

How Do You Choose Your
Toothbrush?

Everyone knows that choosing a dentist is important, but dental care outside of your Bellevue, WA dentist's office is equally important. If you put a lot of thought into your teeth, finding the best toothbrush is just as important as finding the best dentist. Both will have a huge impact on your smile, so it is best to get it right.

The days of the simple nylon bristled toothbrushes have long gone, and now we have electrical powered toothbrushes, in addition to disposable toothbrushes.

Size matters when you are choosing a toothbrush. You need to find a toothbrush head that is one-inch tall, and half an inch wide. Next you will need to browse the bristle varieties. Soft bristles are more popular, because they are comfortable. If you are a heavy brusher, you will want to avoid hard or medium bristle brushes, because the heavy brushing can cause damage to your mouth.

Heavy brushers who use a medium or hard bristle brush are more likely to damage their:

• Protective Tooth Enamel
• Gums
• Root Surface

Parents should purchase a soft bristle brush with a small head for children.

Before you place that toothbrush in your shopping cart, look over the recommendations. You do not want to purchase a toothbrush that has not been tested for safety, regardless of how expensive – or cheap – it is. Fancy toothbrushes may be the most stylish, but they are not the best. If you do not see a Seal of Approval from the American Dental Association, do not purchase the toothbrush.

Have you scheduled your next cleaning? Remember that twice yearly visits are the gold standard for a healthy smile. Call your Bellevue, WA dental experts at (425) 998-6998 today. We're here and waiting for your call!