Handling Common Dental Emergencies

At Garrison Family Dentistry, our staff understands that accidents happen. Knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you or your child experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please give us a call immediately. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you suffer a dental emergency, contact us immediately. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Parents may not realize, but giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because, during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child’s teeth for an extended period of time. This can lead to baby bottle tooth decay and our staff at Garrison Family Dentistry would like you to know the dangers of this condition. Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. This is why it’s important to clean your infant’s gums with a warm washcloth after each feeding.

Baby teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth, so it is important to keep their gums healthy from birth. If teeth are infected or lost too early due to baby bottle tooth decay, your child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth, and perhaps damaged adult teeth. It is important to not only begin brushing your child’s teeth (without toothpaste) when his or her first tooth comes in, you should also schedule regular dental visits by your child’s first birthday.

If you have questions about your child’s dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth if They Usually Get Pulled Out?

Having wisdom teeth pulled can often make for a funny video afterwards. (Recently, two brothers convinced their sister that there was a zombie apocalypse happening). While this is all fun, it may leave you wondering why we even have wisdom teeth if so many of us need them pulled out. At Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we are going to explain why it’s thought we have them!

Well to start, we have teeth so we can chew our food properly. These days, we have a wide variety of foods, able to be prepared in all sorts of ways. Around 20,000 years ago, humans ate tougher foods in their diet, like nuts, roots, and raw meat. It is thought that wisdom teeth were needed to help them chew through their food better. In current times, we cook a lot of our meat; making it easier to chew through. We also cook much of our veggies, fruits, and grains!

Wisdom teeth have just become less and less necessary. In addition, human jaws and facial structures have actually gotten smaller since then. So these days, those unneeded wisdom teeth often do not even fit. If left alone, they can cause major pain, infection, and damage to other teeth. An interesting fact to know, though, is that there are some lucky people being born without wisdom teeth!

If you suspect your wisdom teeth are growing in, come in for an evaluation. To schedule an appointment in our Smithville, MO office, call us at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

Exercises to Relieve TMJ Pain

TMJ pain may make you want to hold your jaw shut and move it as little as possible. However, doing some exercises can actually help out the pain and stiffness caused by TMD. At Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we know how frustrating TMJ pain can be. Try out some of these exercises next time you find your jaw aching.

This first exercise will help strengthen the ligaments around your jaw and it will help relax the muscles that work to close your mouth. Close your mouth, keeping your teeth together, but not clenched. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth. Move your tongue backwards until it touches your soft palate. Gently and slowly open your mouth until your tongue is separated from the soft palate. Keep your mouth open for five seconds and then close your mouth. Do this exercise slowly and deliberately for five minutes.

To stretch your tight jaw, close your mouth and place your right hand on the right side of your jaw. Gently push your lower jaw into your hand. Do this a few times and then switch to the other side.

To avoid triggering pain and stiffness, do not bite your nails (or other objects), keep your teeth parted when sleeping, and stop clenching when you notice you are doing it.

Night guards are also available for our patients who grind and clench their teeth at night. To schedule an appointment at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call our office at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

Getting Kids Motivated to Brush and Floss

Baby teeth are important because they hold the place for the future adult teeth. While kids may not be jumping at the chance to brush and floss, it is still so important that the job gets done. Here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we want to make sure that all of our littlest patients are doing a good job taking care of their teeth at home. Take some tips for motivating your child into a good dental hygiene routine.

Kids are often easily motivated by rewards. While brushing and flossing should be something they know they have to do for their health, rewards are a good way to get them into a habit. Try creating a chart that collects stars. Every day that they brush their teeth twice and floss once, they get a star. After so many days or weeks of straight stars, they get a reward. The reward can be simple and healthy, like taking them on a bike ride or letting them play outside a little longer.

Another great way to get kids motivated is to ensure they know that they are being healthy. Starting healthy habits at a young age will likely carry onto adulthood. Try showing them videos about why dental health is important. Cartoons and funny videos will get their attention and be educational.

Kids are also inclined to imitate their parents. Brush your teeth alongside them so they can follow your techniques and so you can make sure they do a good job.

Dental health starts at a young age. To schedule your family’s appointments with Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call our office at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

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.