How to choose the right toothpaste.

Walking down the toothpaste aisle can be overwhelming. The promises of fighting cavities, plaque, tartar, or gingivitis; stain removal; desensitizing, oh, and of course providing fresh breath liter the aisle. So how do you even begin choosing which one is right for you? Is it by the commercial that gets stuck in our head or colorful packaging that catches your eye? Selecting the right toothpaste doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some tips to keep in mind when shopping for the toothpaste that is right for you.

First Things First: A great place to start when looking for a toothpaste is to look for the ADA's (American Dental Association) Seal of Acceptance. This is granted after the toothpaste has gone through clinical trials and has meet their standards of being safe and effective. 

Next: Key Ingredient: All toothpastes that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance contain fluoride. Most Dental experts agree that fluoride is the first ingredient you should look for when choosing a toothpaste. This mineral , naturally found in water, protects the teeth. Fluoridated water has been found to reduce tooth decay by nearly 40%!

Give Me More: After you have identified the ADA's Seal of Acceptance and the presence of fluoride you can choose a toothpaste that also helps with specific things; such as:

• Whitening. Keep in mind these product do not contain teeth whitening bleach, but rather use chemicals or polishing agents to remove surface stains that may make teeth appear brighter. 
• Tartar Control.Tartar is the hard deposits that collect on the root or crowns or the tooth. These toothpastes can help reduce tartar.
• Prevent Gum Disease. Plaque, made up of mostly bacteria, is a sticky substance that can build up on teeth and may cause cavities and gum disease. These toothpastes help control plaque and can also help reduce Gingivitis; a mild inflammation of gum tissue. 
• Fight Bad Breath. These product may contain active agents that either kill bacteria in plaque or neutralize bad odors.
• Desensitizing. These products may prevent  irritation to the nerves causing discomfort by hot, cold, sweet or acidic foods. 

Hopefully these tips in choosing the right toothpaste will help you out the next time you find yourself in the toothpaste aisle. If you find yourself with more questions and need a recommendation, ask your hygienist at your next visit! 

Benefits of using an Electric Toothbrush

If you haven't  tried an electric toothbrush you are missing out! The ease of use and positive impact they can make on your oral health makes it an investment worthwhile. Many people even claim they will never go back to a manual toothbrush.  Why not let the brush do it for you?

More effective: An electric toothbrush comes with a built in timer that ensures you brush for the proper amount of time and some will even tell you when to switch to a different part of your mouth so you aren't missing any.

On average an adult can complete around 300 strokes a minute with a manual brush. Whereas an electric toothbrush will typically rotate from 7,500 to 3,000 strokes a minute removing more plaque and leaving your teeth cleaner!

Easy for all ages: Your child will find brushing fun with a specially designed toothbrush that plays music or tells you when to switch and you can rest assured their teeth are getting clean! Those with arthritis, or for those who simply find brushing difficult or straining, this is a much easier process with greater results.

At Glacier Dental we stand behind the electric toothbrush as a fantastic way to improve your overall oral health. We would be happy to provide a disposable head to let you try before you buy  the next time you are in the office!  

What is the purpose of Dental X-rays?

Have you ever wondered why you need to have x-rays taken at your continuous care visits? At Glacier Dental we pride ourselves in making sure you receive the best care possible and we could not do it without the help from routine x-rays. There are several  types that allow us to see the tooth and jaw differently. 

• Bitewing x-rays: These are the x-rays where you have to bite down on the x-ray film while the photo is being taken. Bitewings are taken so that we can see decay in-between your teeth – a tricky area we can’t see with the naked eye . Typically 4 bitewing x-rays are taken in order to see all 4 quadrants of your mouth.

At Glacier Dental we recommend taking bitewing x-rays once a year to ensure the most accurate diagnosis . If you have dental insurance it is likely that your insurance will cover these annually. Take a look at what this bitewing x-ray looks like and notice how you can see between each tooth.

• Panoramic X-ray: The Panoramic X-ray is another common image that allows us to see the entire mouth. This type of image shows the presence of wisdom teeth, abscesses, tumors, and cysts that otherwise could not be seen  Panoramic x-rays are also critical for implant and  orthodontic treatment to evaluate the health of the roots, bones, and permanent teeth development.
  

Typically we recommend a panorex every 3-5 years, depending on the patient.

• Periapical X-ray: More commonly known as PA’s these dental x-rays focus on 1-2 teeth up close. If you are experiencing a toothache or if there is a suspicious looking area on one of your teeth, we would take a PA to get a better idea of what is going on. With these x-rays we are also able to see the root structure of the tooth.
  

We also recommend having periapical x-rays taken once a year when your 4 bitewing x-rays are taken.

 Each type of dental x-ray that we take serves a very different purpose. It is important for us to have all the information we need in order to properly take care of your dental health.

Pink Pumpkins for the Cure!

It's time to get creative! That's right folks October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all month long Glacier Dental will be holding a Pumpkin Decorating Contest. For just $5 we will give you a pumpkin to razzle dazzle. At the end of the month we will go through the patch and select the best decorated pumpkin to win a super awesome prize.

The best part is all of the proceeds will be matched by Glacier Dental and go to the Conquer Cancer Foundation. We need you help in making a big,pink, glorious pumpkin patch in our front yard!