Your Dental Workout Routine

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Dental Workout Routine - Simple Steps For Your Smile - Dr. Bolding, Omaha Dentist

Simple Steps To Keep That Smile In Shape

It’s that time of year again, when everyone resolves to make fitness a priority and life a healthier lifestyle in Omaha. At Bolding Dentistry, we sure hope your dental health is part of that resolution. While you can’t really workout your teeth, you can make sure they stay fit.

Follow this simple dental workout routine to keep your teeth in tip top shape.

Exercise #1 – Brushing

This one is easy to remember 2×2 circuits. Brush 2 minutes 2 times per day for an optimal smile. Using fluoride toothpaste will help you see faster results.

An electric toothbrush can be even more efficient at removing plaque and bacteria, and keeping both your teeth and gum healthy.

Exercise #2 – Flossing

During one of your brushing sessions, add in a round of flossing. One set should be all you need as long as you are getting between each tooth and doing a thorough job. If your gums are irritated and/or bleeding, it’s important to keep going and keep after flossing. However, please do let Dr. Bolding or your hygienist know at your next appointment.

Exercise #3 – Dental Exams

Now, this is our favorite exercise – because we get to see you! Do at least two sets per year (or more if recommended). Cleanings and exams will help keep your teeth healthy and prevent possible future problems like gum disease.

Diet Plan

For optimal health, your dental fitness diet plan should include lots of the following foods:

  • Calcium-rich foods such as cheese and yogurt to help strengthen your tooth enamel
  • Leafy greens such as kale or dandelion greens to provide your body with vitamins and minerals
  • Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, and celery that will help naturally clean your teeth by increasing the flow of saliva

If you’re ready to get fit, follow our fitness plan for the strongest, healthiest teeth you can have. Call (402) 393-4400 to schedule an appointment with our office and get started on your best smile yet!

Top Reasons Why Your Gums Bleed When Flossing

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Causes Of Bleeding Gums - Dr. Bolding Omaha Dentist

You have likely experienced bleeding with brushing or flossing, however many don’t recognize the reason “why” their gums might be bleeding or that most causes are completely preventable.

Long story short, your gums bleeding during routine dental hygiene is an indicator that you might not be maintaining a good standard of health.

Your mouth is exposed to numerous types of bacteria. If oral health is not maintained properly this can result in bleeding gums. A few things you can do to help kill or decrease the impact of bacteria in your mouth are:

  • Change your toothbrush regularly. Every couple of months is a general rule of thumb.
    Floss after brushing to remove any leftover food debris between teeth. Food can easily get trapped in places your toothbrush can’t get to effectively.
  • Maintain routine appointments to your dentist. We specialize in gums, so if you are concerned by excessive bleeding please contact us or let us know at your next visit.

Common Causes Of Bleeding Gums

Gingivitis
Gingivitis is one of the leading causes of bleeding. This is a condition where there is a buildup of plaque on the roots of the teeth. The condition causes the gums not to attach properly so that they easily bleed every time your gums are disrupted.

Smoking
Smoking is a common, but smoking can cause damage to your teeth due to excessive tobacco. This makes cleaning your teeth very difficult. Quitting smoking is crucial to maintaining the health of your teeth.

Lack of Vitamin K
Vitamin K is beneficial for protein in doing work against coagulation to be healthy. Vitamin K deficiency can cause the gums to bleed because the coagulation system does not function properly.

Age Factor
Bleeding gums also depend on a person’s age. The older you are the greater potential for bleeding gums.

Stress
The cause of bleeding gums is stress. Stress can cause the weakening of the tissues of the mouth and gums, causing bleeding.

Uneven Teeth
Uneven teeth or losing a part of your teeth can cause your bite to rub against your gums causing bleeding.

The biggest protection against oral health complications such as bleeding gums is early detection. Please notify us as soon as a problem arises or at your regular hygiene check-ups. Making your oral health a priority is critical to a happier, healthier you!

Top 5 Flossing Tips

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Top 5 Flossing Tips - Dr. Bolding - Omaha Family Dentist

Flossing is an important part of any oral hygiene routine, however if you aren’t doing it correctly then it doesn’t count. Ensuring you are utilizing the proper flossing technique is critical to cleaning away the debris that gets caught between your teeth.

It’s this debris that can cause oral complications such as gingivitis, cavities and periodontal disease.

Here are a few essential tips for flossing effectively:

  1. Don’t skimp on the floss! Use approximately 18 inches of floss so you can hold it correctly and get the right grip.
  2. Be sure to tighten the floss by holding it between your thumb and index fingers. Use an up and down motion to guide it between your teeth.
  3. Holding the floss firmly against your tooth, curve it around the base making a “C” shape to go gently below the gumline.
  4. As you make your way around your mouth, use fresh sections of floss.
  5. If you are having a hard time with traditional floss, tools like floss picks or interdental brushes can help!

If you have questions about your flossing routine or if you would like a demonstration, ask us at your next appointment!

Be Healthy, Stay Hydrated… It’s Good For Your Teeth!

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Why Water Is Important For Your Health and Teeth

Water is the foundation of your health, as it comprises 50 – 70% of your physical composition. You may wonder why adequate hydration is important if your body already contains so much water.

Why do you need to “refill” your body with water everyday?

Isn’t there already enough water in your body to keep you healthy, without having to add more?

Water is paramount for many functions within the body, from eliminating waste to maintaining a healthy internal temperature. Without adequate water supply, your body would not have enough fluids to carry out its vital functions. Since you lose water everyday through normal activities, such as sweating, using the bathroom, etc. you must replenish your fluids by drinking more water.

Why Drink Water?

It is important to hydrate your body with the cleanest, healthiest water available. Remember, not all beverages can hydrate like water can. For instance, alcohol, caffeinated, and sugary drinks do not prevent dehydration, and unfortunately they can sometimes intensify dehydration symptoms. Water, on the other hand, will replace lost fluids and help keep your body at peak performance. Not to mention what sugary drinks can do to your teeth!

Drinks with high amounts of sugar content can cause cavities and damage your teeth. This is why Dr. B’s drink of choice is straight-up H2O!

Gum Disease :: The Silent Disease

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Gum disease has become so common that some think it’s normal.

For us, that’s just scary! Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that attacks your gums, along with the bones and ligaments that support your teeth. It can damage your appearance and even your entire body!

Important Things To Know About Gum Disease:

  1. It appears silently without symptoms and progresses slowly so you hardly notice
    until swollen and bleeding gums coupled with bad breath seem normal.
  2. Its severity can worsen due to inherited susceptibility, smoking, inconsistent home care,
    diet, and medications.
  3. Gum disease has been linked to many systemic illnesses including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, cancers, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

We can help prevent and even reverse the earliest signs of gum disease. If you are like half of people aged 30 or older and already have gum disease, we can help you find relief.

5 Diabetes Risks Everyone Should Know

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Gum Disease and Diabetes: Don’t Take Chances

Dr. Bolding and our hygiene team want to make sure you know the connection between gum disease and diabetes. Gum disease is often called a complication of diabetes, so you need to be vigilant about both!

Here are 5 risks you should know about gum disease and diabetes:

  1. If you are a diabetic, you are more likely to develop infections, including gum disease.
  2. Gum disease can make it more difficult for anyone to control blood sugar… especially if you are diabetic.
  3. Uncontrolled blood sugar can increase your risk of complications.
  4. Diabetes is a major risk factor for systemic illnesses including Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases. Both have been linked to advance gum disease.
  5. Nearly 26 million North Americans, including kids, are affected by diabetes. An estimated 79 million adults aged 20 years or older have “pre-diabetes” where blood sugar is higher than normal.

If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, we can help you keep gum disease under control through routine dental care and oral hygiene instruction.

Restore Your Smile And Look Your Best With Crowns

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You deserve to look and feel your best! Live life to the fullest with a happy and healthy smile!

If damaged, discolored or missing teeth make you hide your smile, let Dr. Bolding help you bring back your self-confidence with durable, natural-looking crowns.

We offer three different options when it comes to crowns, suitable for all needs:

  • Single Crown :: Cover an unattractive or damaged tooth to improve it’s appearance, shape, function, and color.
  • Bridge :: Replace one or more missing teeth with a natural-looking artificial tooth to alleviate bit stress and help retain the shape of your face.
  • Implant Restoration :: Crowns, when used with a dental implant are long-lasting, non-removable enhancements that fill gaps and stop bone loss.

We are here to help you not only look your best, but feel your best! Contact us today and let’s help get your self-confidence back!

Gum Disease Can Increase Your Risk For Many Cancers

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Maintaining a healthy smile through brushing, flossing and regular dental hygiene appointments is proven to do much more than keep your teeth white. A new study shows that postmenopausal women with a history of periodontal disease, are at a significantly increased risk for cancer, including lung, breast, esophageal, gallbladder and melanoma.

This study adds to previous evidence that there is in fact a link between periodontal disease and total cancer risk.

Periodontal disease is completely preventable and in most cases treatable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 47% of adults 30 years of age or older in the US have some form of periodontal disease. At 65 years and older, 70% of adults have worsening cases periodontal disease.

These numbers are staggering and we are fighting to help you prevent periodontal disease from even taken hold. Help us but maintaining your routine cleaning appointments as well as practicing good oral hygiene at home.

{Source: Medscape}

Sip and Snack All Day? You May Be Risking Tooth Decay!

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What you eat and how often you eat it can affect your teeth.

Certain eating patterns and food choices can lead to tooth erosion and cavities. A steady supply of sugary foods and drinks, including sports drinks, sodas and energy drinks, can damage your teeth. Even snacking on healthy foods like oranges or dried fruit can increase your risk of erosion and cavities.

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. When this plaque is not removed it can build up. The bacteria in plaque creates acid from eating the sugars found in what you eat and drink. This acid attacks the hard surface of your tooth called enamel. The acid stays on the enamel for up to 20 minutes after you are finished eating or drinking. Eventually, your enamel can wear away from these acids and cavities will start to form.

Cavities do not go away on their own and must be treated.

When you have sugary foods or drinks numerous times through the day, your enamel is exposed to acid attacks, which raises your risk of tooth erosion and cavities.

How To Lower Your Risk Of Cavities:

  • Avoid sugary drinks when possible.
  • Limit snacks between meals and choose foods that are low in sugar.
  • If you do have sugary foods and drinks, have them with meals. Saliva increases during meals which can help rinse bits of food from your mouth.
  • Chew sugarless gum after meals which has been proven to increase saliva and reduce cavities.
  • Drink water with fluoride.
  • Visit us regularly to identify cavities early before major problems arise.

How To Prevent Acid Wear On Your Teeth

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Easy Ways To Prevent Teeth Erosion

One of the most common issues we see in our office is dental erosion, which occurs when tooth enamel is dissolved by acid. This erosion can lead to sensitivity, yellowing and pitted or worn teeth.

Believe it or not, many everyday foods and beverages are the culprit of acid wear, even those promoted as “healthy”. For example, your post workout sports drinks or even lemon water.

Here are simple steps to prevent teeth erosion:

  • Avoid sugary or acidic beverages or use a straw to reduce contact with teeth.
  • Finish meals with acid-neutralizing milk or cheese.
  • After consuming anything acidic, wait an hour before brushing your teeth.

Our team can alert your to any signs of erosion and make sure to address any issues you might have!