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The post What to Do During a Dental Emergency appeared first on Dr. Terry Hopper, Family Dentistry & Orthodontics; Austell, GA.

The best way to handle a potential dental emergency is to avoid it in the first place. The most common dental emergency is pain or swelling from an infected tooth. In most cases, this does not happen suddenly, overnight. Typically, a person has some degree of pain or discomfort for several days or even longer before they are in severe pain and in need of emergency dental care. The best advice is to visit the dentist at the first sign of any discomfort in the teeth or gums.

If a dental emergency does occur when Dr. Hopper is unavailable, there are several things that you can do. Pain in the teeth or gums can often be effectively handled with over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil®), naproxen (Aleve®), or acetaminophen (Tylenol®), to be taken as directed. Rinsing with warm salt water (a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of water) can help temporarily relieve puffy or swollen cheeks and gums. Some-store bought products like Orajel® can also be effective in relieving minor soreness of the gums. If you have a broken tooth, a piece of wax or even some soft chewing gum can cover a sharp edge until you can get to the dentist.

Dr. Hopper should also be available for advice if a dental emergency occurs. Thanks to cell phones and answering services, patients can often reach their dentist after office hours. This gives the dentist the ability to contact the pharmacy for antibiotics and pain medication should they feel that patients need them. If Dr. Hopper is going to be out of the office for more than a few days, he or she should have another dentist available to treat any dental emergencies that may occur.

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The post Easy Ways to Prevent Cavities in Kids appeared first on Dr. Terry Hopper, Family Dentistry & Orthodontics; Austell, GA.

Although 4 percent may not seem like a lot, that increase represents thousands and thousands of children and cavities — as well as a trend in the opposite direction of the last 40 years, when tooth decay was on a gradual decline.

So if you have children and cavities are a concern, here are six easy ways to reduce the risk:

1. Avoid giving your baby juice or formula at night. The sugar in juice and formula causes the bacteria in the mouth to produce the acids that cause baby bottle tooth decay. Use fluoridated water instead.
2. Choose low-fat foods from the basic food groups. Raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole-grain breads and low-fat dairy products are great for your child’s overall health and their dental health!
3. If you must, give sweets only as a dessert. If your child must have sweets, limit it to dessert or following a main meal. Late-night snacking and frequent snacking are a major culprit of cavities in children.
4. Invest in a water filter. Instead of spending extra on bottled water, invest in a filter for your sink, or a filtered water pitcher. Fluoridated tap water is an excellent resource to help the battle between children and cavities.
5. Don’t share cups or utensils. Cavities are contagious. So if you have them, you can pass them onto your child by sharing cups and utensils.
6. If you smoke, stop. The University of Rochester’s Strong Children’s Research Center has discovered a link between smoking, children and cavities. Results from a study show that children of parents who smoke are more likely to develop cavities.

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The post Diet and Exercise May Prevent Gum Disease appeared first on Dr. Terry Hopper, Family Dentistry & Orthodontics; Austell, GA.

Researchers took the same factors that lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease into account when analyzing data from 12,110 participants. They found that those who exercised regularly, had healthy eating habits and maintained their weight were 40 percent less likely to develop periodontal disease than their counterparts. Those who met two of the criteria lowered their risk by 29 percent, while participants with just one healthy virtue had a 16 percent less chance of developing gum disease.

Overall, only 7 percent of those who met all three of the criteria had some form of gum disease. The participants who had a poor diet, limited physical activity and were considered overweight totaled 18 percent, suggesting that obesity can more than double your chances of developing periodontal disease.

Scientists aren’t exactly sure why these factors may decrease your chances of developing gum disease. It’s already known that healthy eating can help build up your immune system. Scientists now theorize that eating healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, may also help remove dental plaque from teeth. It’s also believed that obesity promotes gum inflammation, while physical activity may decrease it.

While a healthy lifestyle may help improve your dental health, it’s not a substitute for maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing daily and seeing your dentist twice a year are essential.

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The post New Computer Technology Makes Invisible Braces Possible appeared first on Dr. Terry Hopper, Family Dentistry & Orthodontics; Austell, GA.

This method uses a series of clear tooth aligners to move teeth progressively into alignment. The aligners are virtually invisible because they are made of a thin, clear plastic which snap-fits comfortably over the teeth. Patients wear each set of aligners for two to three weeks, removing them only for eating and brushing. A patient may need as many as twelve to forty sets of aligners to fully straighten their teeth over a six month to two year period.

Orthodontists have been providing minor realignments with this type of appliance for years. Recently however, using 3-D computer imaging technology with the INVISALIGN system, these new invisible aligners have been able to straighten even moderately crowded or spaced teeth. Adults who have more severe crowding will still require braces and will be happy to know that we offer ceramic braces.

The INVISALIGN treatment is currently available to adults and teenagers. It is a welcome choice to those who feel that braces would not be an option for them, but who do want to have straight teeth. Consultations in our office are always free of charge so ask us, and we will be happy to schedule one for you. We will provide you with an evaluation and advise you if INVISALIGN is right for you!

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