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Diet Soda and Dental Health: What You Need to Know

In today’s calorie-obsessed culture, it can be hard to hear the truth among all the other health-conscious noise. Portland residents are frequently misinformed and misled about the health benefits of trends such as cleanses, sugar alternatives, diets, organic vs. nonorganic, and a myriad of other common topics. Today, Dr. Case would like to clear up any misconceptions about dental health and diet soda. If you have any questions please call us at Family Dental Health.

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Need a Tooth Extraction? Don’t Be Afraid!

We’ve all had a toothache at some point at some point or another. While you should always consult your Portland dentist, it’s not always a serious problem. Often, the issue can be fixed with a filling or a root canal. However, many Portland residents have found themselves in a situation where the tooth is not salvageable, and the only solution is for Dr. David Case to perform an extraction, or remove the tooth. Today, Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health would like to talk about what you can expect from an extraction and why it’s not something to fear!

Pulling Teeth isn’t like “Pulling Teeth” Anymore

Just like root canals, tooth extractions have a pretty bad reputation. Many Portland folks may refer to something difficult by saying it was, “like pulling teeth.” However, Dr. David Case will be the first one to tell you that the technology and techniques of modern dentistry have made the process of extracting a tooth fairly simple and with minimal discomfort to the patients. As long as you take it easy after the procedure and follow the guidelines, you’ll be back to normal in a just a few days.

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Choosing the Right Dentist

It’s no secret that Portland residents are careful about how they choose medical professionals for their family, but sometimes it’s not easy to find everything you want in a dentist. We at Family Dental Health understand that choosing a dentist is no small feat, so we’ve put together this guide to picking a dentist for individuals and families. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us! Even if you decide on a different dentist, Dr. David Case is always happy to help!

How to Choose the Right Dentist

There are a lot of factors to consider when looking at dentists in your area. For some Portland folks the most important thing is proximity, so it’s easy to narrow their search by location. For others, the key ingredient is affordable prices. Still others may be looking for just the right service mix and supreme comfort. The easiest way to start your search is by setting your top three priorities. These may be location, cost, and comfort, or good reviews, service mix, and same-day appointments. Whatever is most important to you should be at the top of your list. Once you have an idea of what you need and what you want, the process becomes much easier.

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Replace Missing Teeth – Dentures & Dental Implants

So you’re missing a tooth—or a few!

An apple a day will not take care of this one, unfortunately. It’s time to consider dentures or dental implants. A variety of personal and practical factors will determine which solution is best for your new smile. Don’t feel lost among all the pros and cons of choosing a tooth-replacement plan. Family Dental Health in Portland is an experienced practice you can trust to  help guide you on your journey from missing teeth toward a complete, natural, and healthy smile.

Not your grandma’s dentures

Thankfully, time and technology have greatly improved the denture experience for our patients. Today, dentures look and feel more natural than ever before. Dentures are a whole set of false teeth held into your gums with secure bonding glue. This can be an affordable option if you need to replace multiple teeth. For added stability, functionality, and peace of mind, dentures can also be secured with dental implants.

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What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are time-tested treasures gaining new popularity among fans everywhere. These potent liquids are fun and fresh ingredients that you can customize for almost any oral hygiene need.

As with any DIY dental treatment, do your research and be cautious. Not all oils are safe to ingest and some may hurt you if applied directly onto your skin.

Essential oils are distilled from plants and usually sold singularly—one ingredient per bottle although you can also find oil blend products. Like other supplements, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate their safety or efficacy.

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Fluoride: Good or Bad?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fluoridation of drinking water is ranked among the ten greatest public health achievements of 20^th century America. However, a quick search of the internet tells us that fluoride is actually toxic if ingested in large enough quantities. So which is it? Do the health benefits outweigh the negatives of fluoride in toothpaste and drinking water? We at Family Dental Health know that Portland folks care a great deal about their health, so we’ve put this article together to examine the facts and help you come to your own decision. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you might have, so feel free to give us a call!

Why Use Fluoride in the First Place?

In order to understand the controversy, we must first to understand what led to putting fluoride in toothpaste and water. Even today, dental caries (tooth decay) is considered the most prevalent chronic disease in children and adults. With that in mind, it’s not hard to understand why Grand Rapids, Michigan took a leap in 1945, becoming the first city in the world to fluoridate its drinking water supply. The hope was that fluoridation would dramatically reduce the amount of tooth decay in children. After 11 years, the National Institute for Dental Research validated that hope, announcing that fluoridation had coincided with a 60% drop in the rates of tooth decay. Fast forward to 2000 and roughly half of the country’s water supply is fluoridated.

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Caring for Your Dentures

The image of a glass full of false teeth on the nightstand is plastered all throughout popular culture. You would think that soaking your dentures in water and cleaner is sufficient, but Dr. David Case reminds us that proper denture care requires more than just that. In fact, denture maintenance is an important part of oral health. For Portland residents who have dentures or are considering them, it is important to know exactly how they function and how to care for them. If you have any questions, please give us a call at Family Dental Health.

How do Dentures Work?

Dentures are intended for Portland residents who have lost most or all of their teeth. Dentures are removable dental appliances that look nearly identical to natural teeth. They also function the same way, allowing folks with little or no remaining teeth to eat and speak normally. In addition to improving oral health, facial structure, and smile, having a good set of dentures can mean a world of difference for your general health.

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5 Common Dental Myths: Fact or Fiction?

When it comes to ridiculous beliefs on dental hygiene and treatment, we’ve heard just about everything. However, the most dangerous ones usually aren’t quite so over the top. Unfortunately, a number of dental myths are floating all over Portland, so Dr. David Case is here to put an end to the misinformation. Don’t feel bad if you have believed one or more of these at some point, you’re not the only one, but do make sure to give us a call at Family Dental Health if you have any questions or concerns.

If your gums are bleeding, don’t brush them

The idea behind this false claim is that bleeding gums need to be allowed time to heal before they should be brushed, when in fact, gums bleed because they haven’t been brushed enough! This is because bacteria has built up around and beneath the gum line, irritating the gums.

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Diabetes and Oral Health: What Your Dentist Sees

It’s no secret that diabetes is a health condition that must be treated because of the problems it can cause throughout the body—including in your mouth.  Consider that nearly 26 million children and adults in the U.S. who, according to the American Diabetes Association, have diabetes. Portland dentist, Dr. David Case wants you to know the side effects diabetes can have on oral health.

When people with diabetes experience high glucose levels, those levels could also be helping bacteria thrive—causing major problems for their teeth. Some diabetics have chronic inflammation and infections in their mouths.

Because of the risk, it’s important that diabetics take extra special care of their teeth. People with diabetes have special oral are needs, so it’s vital that you share this information with your dentist.

Common dental conditions associated with diabetes are tooth decay, gum disease, saliva gland dysfunction, infection, delayed healing and more.

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The Benefits of Composite Fillings

Traditionally, dentists have used what’s known as amalgam, or special metal alloys, to fill cavities. However, modern dental medicine has advanced to the point that Dr. David Case can offer Portland patients a much better option for filling holes caused by tooth decay: composite fillings. At Family Dental Health, we would like to educate you on the benefits of tooth-colored, composite fillings, so please let this article serve as your personal fillings fact sheet.

The History of Fillings

Once upon a time, the choices for dental restoration materials were limited. Records dating back as far as 659 A.D. tell us that amalgams (mixtures of silver, mercury, tin, and/or copper) have been used widely for more than 1300 years. There have been a number of scientific disputes (referred to as the amalgam war) over the health concerns of using mercury, but the American Dental Association has always defended the safety of amalgam fillings. Until recently, amalgam fillings were favored because of their strength, resilience, and relative ease of preparation and placement. That being said, amalgams have three main drawbacks:

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