Oral Care When Your Hands Are Difficult To Use

When dealing with arthritis or another condition that limits use of the hands, dental care can actually become difficult. At Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we want all of our patients to know how to get good at-home oral care. Take some tips for brushing and flossing with hand difficulty!

Your first tip for brushing with arthritis or other hand conditions is to find the right toothbrush. Make sure you pick one that has a non-slip grip and a thick handle. This makes holding onto it and maneuvering around your mouth much easier. In addition, look for a toothbrush with a small head. This also helps you with reaching all of the areas of your mouth. Electric toothbrushes may be a good idea because they do most of the work; they just need to be held in the right places. There are also toothbrushes specially made for patients with arthritis.

When it comes to flossing, to get more control, tie your floss into a loop. You can use your hands to pull it taught easier. Floss picks may also help.

If you are having difficulty keeping good oral hygiene, you may need to ask for help or inquire about a mouthwash. You will also want to get more frequent professional cleanings.

To schedule a cleaning with Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call our office at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

How Teeth Turn Yellow

A beautifully white smile is something many patients desire, but white teeth can be difficult to maintain. It is for this reason that at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we want our patients to understand the science behind teeth turning yellow. Knowing how it happens can help you avoid the discoloration of your smile.

There are typically two different kinds of discoloration that can happen to teeth; intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic stains usually occur from the foods and drinks a patient consumes. Foods like blueberries, cranberries, and soy sauce can darken teeth, as well as drinks like wine, cola, and coffee. In addition, tobacco habits like smoking cigarettes and using chewing tobacco can also stain teeth over time.

Intrinsic stains occur below the enamel’s surface, in the dentin. Examples of causes include medications like tetracycline, chlorhexidine, and minocycline. These medications can turn the teeth a brownish or yellow color from the inside out. Thin or worn-down enamel may cause the discolored dentin to show through even more. This is one reason why it is important to preserve your enamel. Additionally, popular “homemade” whitening solutions like baking soda can be very abrasive if used incorrectly, which may lead to thinned enamel.

If you are unhappy with the shade of your smile, be sure to keep a fantastic oral hygiene routine and avoid stain-causing habits. To schedule a cleaning or whitening consultation with Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, contact our office by calling (816) 532-8778 or by visiting our website, www.garrisondentistry.com.

Electric Toothbrushes Vs. Manual Toothbrushes

When looking to invest in a new toothbrush, there are so many kinds; it can be overwhelming. Your dental hygiene is important, so picking out the right toothbrush is essential. Probably the biggest difference between toothbrushes is that some are manual and some are electric. Many of our patients want to know which is better. Because at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we want our patients to be well-informed on the best dental care, we are laying out the facts.

Since electric toothbrushes were first made in 1939, there have always been debates about whether or not they do a better job of cleaning teeth than manual toothbrushes. Well, the evidence is in. There have been studies done; and as it turns out, manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes do the same job.

The studies showed that electric toothbrushes did not do any better than manual toothbrushes, and vice versa. A good cleaning all depended on who was brushing. However, since they do the same job, electric toothbrushes may be a better option for those who have trouble using their hands. For instance, those with arthritis cannot move their hands as well to maneuver the toothbrush around the mouth. Electric toothbrushes mostly do all of the work, so you just need to hold them in the right place.

Picking out the best toothbrush for you can be a little confusing, but not when you have the facts right! To learn more about dental hygiene and Garrison Family Dentistry, call our Smithville, MO office at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com

Starting and Keeping Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Starting habits for the things you should can sometimes be difficult. However, a good oral hygiene habit is vital for your oral and overall health. Garrison Family Dentistry of Smithville, MO is offering their patients some tips for starting and keeping a good oral hygiene habit.

When starting a habit, visual reminders can be a great help. For the sake of ease, we will use the example of flossing every day. Say you want to floss every night before bed. Try keeping the floss out on your bathroom counter so that you see it every night. Another good idea is sticking a note to your bathroom mirror.

Routines are also good ways of getting into habits. Make sure to floss every night when you brush your teeth. This way, you will begin to get used to doing it every night.

Create a reward chart. Have a party coming up? Tell yourself you can buy a new pair of shoes or a new dress shirt for the party only if you floss your teeth every night for three weeks. If you do not complete the challenge, you do not get the reward.

Oral health is important for keeping strong, healthy teeth and gum tissues. For more help with oral hygiene, contact Garrison Family Dentistry of Smithville, MO by calling our office at (816) 532-8778 or by visiting our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth can really put a damper on enjoying things you love. It can affect you in cold weather, drinking hot chocolate, or eating ice cream to name a few. At Garrison Family Dentistry of Smithville, MO, we want you to know that you do not need to live with sensitive teeth. There are solutions!

When a sensitive tooth is not caused by a cavity or an infection, it is most commonly due to worn down enamel. In this case, you will need to figure out what is causing your teeth to wear. Talking about your dental habits with your dentist can help you determine this. We can also name a few of the most common reasons:

Brushing Habits

Believe it or not, you can brush too hard or too soon. Brushing too abrasively is certainly a way to wear down enamel and expose dentin. In addition, it can irritate the gums. As for brushing too soon, you should wait at least thirty minutes after eating to brush your teeth. This allows the enamel to re-harden after food acid softens it.

Too Much Acid

Speaking of the acid in our food, sometimes sensitivity can be caused simply because we are eating too much acid. This happens to people who suck on hard candy a lot and those who drink a lot of pop; especially energy drinks. Try to eat less of these foods, and always rinse with water afterwards.

Teeth Grinding

Other times, you may not even know what is causing wear down, because it happens while you sleep. Night grinders grind their teeth and wear down the enamel. There are mouth guards available to prevent damage, so ask us for more information!

Sensitive teeth are bothersome but fixable! To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call our office at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

Is It Possible to Rebuild Tooth Enamel?

The tooth itself is a complex structure that consists of four layers. Three of them – enamel, dentin, and cementum – are hard tissues while the fourth tissue – the pulp or the center of the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue – is soft. The enamel is what helps protect your teeth from daily use such as chewing, biting, crunching and grinding and can be damaged by frequent acid attacks.  Because the enamel is not living tissue, your body can't rebuild tooth enamel that has been damaged or worn away due to erosion from dietary acids. This is why our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry may recommend cosmetic options to rebuild and restore your enamel.

When enamel erodes, the tooth is more susceptible to cavities or tooth decay. When the tooth decay enters the hard enamel, it has entry to the main body of the tooth. Over time, as these cavities grow and penetrate the tooth, they can affect the tiny nerve fibers, resulting in an extremely painful abscess of infection if left untreated. Treatment of the tooth enamel loss will depend on the problem. Sometimes tooth bonding is used to protect the tooth and increase cosmetic appearance. If the enamel loss is significant, our doctors may recommend covering the tooth with a crown to protect against further decay.

If you desire a more aesthetically appealing smile, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the cosmetic services we provide at the practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

The Stages of Gum Disease

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then you need to listen when a parent or one of our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry tells you to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. If you don’t practice a proper oral hygiene routine on a daily basis, you’re already headed down the road toward gum disease.

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth and there are three that you need to be aware of. You should always schedule professional cleanings and oral exams twice a year to avoid them.  

• Gingivitis – This is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. This is when you’ll notice blood in the sink after you complete your brushing routine. However, at this early stage, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.


• Periodontitis – This is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may even begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque.


• Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, and the fibers and bone supporting your teeth is officially destroyed. In this case, your teeth may begin to shift or loosen and your bite may also be affected. If aggressive treatment can’t save them, the teeth will need to be extracted.

If you relate to any of these stages, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about oral hygiene and periodontal health as well as services we provide at the practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.