Break Your Bad Oral Habits

If you open packages with your teeth, bite your nails or suck your thumb when you’re anxious, you are likely wrecking your teeth without even knowing it. Habits such as these can damage your teeth over time, and increase your chances of cracking, chipping or fracturing a tooth. Our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry want you to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, so if you practice any of these detrimental habits, it’s time to break them, immediately.

If you’re a nail-biter, this nervous habit can impact your jaw just as much as it impacts your teeth. This is because placing your jaw in a protruded position for a long period of time can put unnecessary pressure on it. Using your teeth as a tool can easily crack teeth because all it takes is one wrong move for the enamel to break. Teeth clenching and grinding will also cause jaw pain, an improper bite, and may cause crooked teeth. If bruxism is detected, our doctors may suggest a mouth guard to protect the teeth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral care or 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.

National Children's Dental Health Month

We provide dental cleanings to people of all ages at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, and we’re proud to have educated so many children about their oral health. February is designated by the American Dental Association as National Children’ Dental Health Month, and this year, dentists are focusing on teaching why and how to use fluoridated toothpaste.

Just because baby teeth fall out doesn’t mean decay will be any less painful if they aren’t kept clean. When children suffer from dental infections, their speech development, eating, sleeping, behavior, and academic performance all suffer. Fluoride treatments at our office can help prevent this, but regular use of fluoridated toothpaste also helps to shield teeth from acid caused by bacteria. We recommend that parents begin brushing their child’s teeth as soon as the first one erupts. As children age, their oral hygiene becomes one of the first aspects of their health that is their own responsibility, which prepares them for a lifetime of making self-care a habit. The only thing to look out for with fluoridated toothpaste is to not use it on oral appliances since they lack the protective film teeth have. These should be brushed with a different toothbrush, as well.

Dr. Matthew Garrison operates at Garrison Family Dentistry, 14790 N. 169 Highway, Smithville, Missouri, 64089. To schedule an appointment, call 816-532-8778 or visit Garrison Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Risks of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth earn their name because they are the third set of molars to erupt around the ages of 17-22. When wisdom teeth are impacted, this means that they don’t have enough room to emerge or develop normally. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to the surrounding teeth, and other dental problems, such as infection. This is why our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry recommend extraction, to prevent future problems.

Impacted wisdom teeth may leave a patient with swollen and tender gums, jaw pain, bad breath, or difficulty opening the mouth. Some patients, however, may experience no symptoms at all. Impacted wisdom teeth will also cause problems in the mouth, such as cysts, decay, or periodontal disease. If your wisdom teeth are still intact, it’s best to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors to discuss extraction before any of these symptoms develop.  

If you have questions or concerns regarding wisdom teeth extractions, 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.

Post-Operative Care

Whether you’ve undergone oral surgery for dental implants or tooth extractions, our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry will give you a list of instructions to follow post-operation. It’s important to follow every step because if you don’t, you risk your stitches coming undone; making the healing process longer than it needs to be. Just in case you decide to toss your instructions in the trash, here’s a reminder to take it easy after oral surgery.

It’s important to maintain the extraction site during healing to avoid infection and continued pain. Keep the extraction site clean by applying necessary gauze and using a rinse that the doctor will give you. On your first day of surgery, you should lay in bed to rest, as daily activities can increase bleeding, swelling, and pain. If you experience increased swelling, apply ice as needed. If something arises that is a cause for concern, don’t hesitate to call the office.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction or post-operative care, 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.

Banish Bad Breath

It’s one thing to have bad breath after drinking a cup of coffee or eating a dish that is heavy on the garlic. It’s another thing to have persistent bad breath that leaves you feeling self-conscious on a daily basis. If you suffer from bad breath, our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry encourage you to review your oral hygiene habits. If you aren’t brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day, and flossing at least once a day, you are only making the problem worse.

Offensive odors in the mouth indicate that something is out of balance. Symptoms depend on the underlying cause which may include dry mouth, poor dental hygiene, food, and beverages, and/or an illness. Treatment will depend on the cause but it’s important to visit our doctors twice a year for routine dental visits to ensure that you have optimal oral health. To help prevent bad breath in the meantime, eat fibrous fruits and vegetables that stimulate saliva flow and avoid smoking and alcohol.

If you would like to discuss bad breath treatment options, 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.

Dry Mouth Complications

If you often suffer from a bad taste in the mouth, or if you constantly feel dehydrated, our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry might need to treat you for being a victim of dry mouth. Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, refers to a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva to keep the oral cavity moist. Decreased saliva flow can range from being a mild issue to having a major impact on your oral and overall health.

If the mouth isn’t producing enough saliva, a patient may feel dryness or a feeling of stickiness in the mouth, bad breath, dry or a sore throat, and/or difficulty chewing, speaking, and swallowing. Saliva helps us chew and swallow food that we eat, when it’s lacking, it can make this everyday task a frustrating one. Treatment options may include a change in medication or recommended products that moisturize the mouth.

If you would like to discuss dry mouth treatment options, 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.

Dry Sockets

We believe in preserving teeth at Garrison Family Dentistry, but when extractions are necessary, patients are in good hands. We always make sure our patients understand how to avoid problems such as dry sockets. But if such an emergency does occur we want patients to recognize it so they can get help.

Usually, sockets close within a few days of the extraction. During that time, they will be vulnerable to drying out if they are not covered by a blood clot or medicated wound dressing. This would be extremely painful and likely lead to infection. To ensure a blood clot forms, patients will need to disclose all of their medications to us, since some are known to interfere with clotting, and should also avoid smoking. Patients are further instructed not to sip through straws while the sockets are closing because the suction can tear clots loose.

If patients notice the clot has become dislodged or they experience pain or dryness, they should request an immediate appointment. After cleaning the socket we can supply prescriptions for medications and dressings, which will need to be changed every few days. Complicated extractions, such as those requiring incisions and suturing, are known to result in dry sockets more frequently, and follow-up appointments to remove the sutures allow us to ensure the socket is healing correctly.

Drs. Matthew Garrison and Anna Jones operate at Garrison Family Dentistry, 14790 N. 169 Highway, Smithville, Missouri, 64089. To schedule an appointment, call 816-532-8778 or visit GarrisonDentistry.com and fill out a contact sheet.