The Characteristics to Look for in Toothpaste

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If you’re about to head to the store for a new tube of toothpaste, our dentist, Dr. Christopher McGonigle, would like to give you some tips that can help you. It’s best to select the paste that is right for your teeth and smile. To help you find that paste, he encourages you to look for the paste that has the following characteristics:

-ADA approval: The American Dental Association Seal of Approval is a logo that proves that the oral hygiene tool is safe and effective for your smile. It’s best to choose a toothpaste that has this logo so you know it will take good care of your teeth while you brush.

-Fluoride: Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps your teeth in many ways. In fact, it strengthens and nourishes the tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities and enamel erosion. It’s best to use toothpaste that contains fluoride so you can help your smile every day.

-The necessary characteristics: There are many different types of toothpaste that can cater to your specific needs. For example, if you have sensitive teeth, there is desensitizing toothpaste available to help reduce the sensitivity. It’s best to keep your needs in mind when choosing toothpaste.

Would you like to know more about how to choose the right toothpaste in Burlington, Massachusetts? If so, please reach out to Advanced Dental Care and talk to a member of our dental team. All you need to do is dial 781-272-2875 and we will be more than happy to give you the information you need. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Purpose of Saliva in Your Mouth

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A component of your mouth that you may not consider very often is saliva, but once you are informed of its critical role in your oral health, we think you will consider it frequently. We invite you to learn more about the purpose of saliva and how it benefits your smile.

Your salivary glands produce saliva as a mildly alkaline secretion comprising of about 99% water. The three main functions of saliva are to lubricate your oral tissues when speaking, aid in swallowing your food, and protecting your tooth structure.

Speaking with a dry mouth is never easy, as you may have found. Saliva production acts as a lubricant for the oral tissues, enabling the function of speech to be smoother.

The production of saliva also helps to protect your teeth from tooth decay since it helps to dilute any dietary carbohydrates you eat, neutralize the acids from plaque, and remineralize your tooth enamel. When saliva coats the teeth, it provides a layer of protective proteins and aids in breaking down starches.

Saliva also acts as a natural antidote against cavities by working with fluoride to provide protection for the teeth against tooth decay. You can take steps to stimulate saliva flow following mealtime by chewing a piece of sugar-free gum. If your mouth often feels dry, you may find an ADA-accepted artificial saliva to be helpful in moistening your soft tissues in your smile.

If you struggle with a chronically dry mouth or are interested in learning more about the properties of saliva in Burlington, Massachusetts, contact Advanced Dental Care at 781-272-2875 and schedule a time to speak with our dentist, Dr. Christopher McGonigle.

Tooth Enamel Can Be Strengthened With Fluoride

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The enamel on your teeth is made up of a dense matrix of microscopic crystals. This is what gives your teeth the strength to chew food, and protects your teeth from cavities.

Inconsistencies in your daily oral hygiene regimen can allow plaque to build up in your mouth. When this plaque interacts with the acid in your food, your teeth can lose enamel. During this process, you might notice tooth sensitivity problems and signs of tooth decay.

One way to counter this problem is with fluoride. Fluoride can restore the density of your teeth to prevent cavities and reduce tooth sensitivity.

If Dr. Christopher McGonigle is concerned about the condition of your tooth enamel, he might recommend a simple fluoride treatment. This can be administered at the end of your checkup, by pouring a small amount of concentrated fluoride gel into trays. They will need to be held in your mouth for a few minutes.

Going forward, you might want to also make sure that you are brushing your teeth with a toothpaste contains fluoride, and has the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval.

If you live in the Burlington, Massachusetts, area and you have concerns about the strength of your tooth enamel, you should call 781-272-2875 to schedule a dental checkup at Advanced Dental Care.

After Eating, Reach for Your Mouthwash, Not Your Toothbrush

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Did you know that brushing your teeth after meals can actually damage your teeth? After eating, reach for your mouthwash, not your toothbrush. Harmful acids often present in food can leave your teeth vulnerable and extra sensitive. Some forms of toothpaste may be too abrasive for your teeth at this time, and could actually harm your enamel. Instead, opt for an alternative oral health cleaning method such as mouthwash. Listed be are a few benefits that mouthwash can provide:

– Some forms of mouthwash can have active ingredients in them to help fight off halitosis, which is another name for bad breath. Halitosis is often caused by foul odors created from bacteria.
– Some forms of mouthwash can contain ingredients designed to whiten your teeth. For the most effective tooth whitening system, speak with your dentist about scheduling a professional tooth whitening treatment, as they can improve the color of your teeth by up to ten shades in a single visit.
– Mouthwash often contains fluoride, an active ingredient well known for its enamel-protecting effects.

If you are interested in a professional cleaning from Advanced Dental Care at our dentist office in Burlington, Massachusetts, call us as 781-272-2875. Dr. Christopher McGonigle and our team want to ensure your teeth remain clean for a lifetime to come.

Why You Should Clean Your Tongue

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Most people know that keeping your pearly whites clean is a crucial part of keeping your teeth and oral health in excellent shape. You are probably aware that failing to keep your teeth and gums clean could make you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. In fact, we usually recommend setting up an appointment with our dental team once every six months to have your teeth cleaned a lot more thoroughly. Still, do you ever wonder if cleaning or brushing your tongue is also important?

In general, you don’t really need to clean your tongue as long as you keep your teeth and gums healthy. Although, your tongue can actually harbor bad bacteria, yet since your tongue is usually covered in saliva, it can clean itself fairly well. The bacteria from your tongue could move to your back teeth, so brushing your tongue can help you prevent this problem. This isn’t a huge issue since it takes about twenty-four hours for plaque to actually form. In other words, as long as you are brushing twice a day, bacteria that moves from your tongue to your back teeth won’t cause serious dental issues.

Still, there are many different benefits to brushing your tongue. Brushing your tongue could improve your breath, but some people can struggle to brush their tongues with a toothbrush as it can trigger your gag reflex. Tongue scrapers are a great option you can consider doing. Tongue scrapers, as you may have already guessed, are designed to help you keep your tongue clean without triggering your gag reflex. To use a tongue scraper, all you have to do is put the head of your tongue scraper against the back of your tongue and pull it forward.

If you would like to learn more about the perfect tongue scraper in Burlington, Massachusetts, we invite you to contact Advanced Dental Care at 781-272-2875. Our dentist, Dr. Christopher McGonigle, and our dental team will gladly assess your teeth and address any of your questions. We look forward to meeting with you!

First Aid for a Knocked Out Tooth

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The American Association of Endodontists estimates that nearly five million teeth are knocked out each year as a result of athletic activities or household accidents. To help you provide quality first aid in a time like this Dr. Christopher McGonigle offers these simple tips.

If there is blood or debris in your mouth you can rinse it away with lukewarm salt water. This can also help to sooth the injured gums and give you a better look at the situation. If the socket is bleeding profusely you can lightly bite down on some sterile gauze to stop the bleeding. Try not to swallow too much blood as it can cause nausea.

If the tooth is whole and none of it remains in the socket, Dr. Christopher McGonigle might be able to implant it back into your gums. For this to have any chance of success, the tooth must be whole and still be alive

You can keep the tooth alive by holding it in your mouth between your cheek and gums, or you could use one of the tooth preservation products available in stores. These canisters are filled with a specially formulated nourishing gel. All you have to do is place the knocked out tooth in the jar and seal it. The nourishing gel will keep it alive for a short period of time.

In the vast majority of cases, part of the tooth remains in the socket, and the tooth cannot be saved. To prevent pain and future infection, Dr. Christopher McGonigle will likely need to extract the remnants and suture the wound. Once your gums have healed he can help you decide if you want to restore the tooth with a bridge or a dental implant.

If one of your teeth has recently been knocked out, you should call Dr. Christopher McGonigle’s office in Burlington, Massachusetts at 781-272-2875 to seek immediate treatment.

The Truth About Fluoride

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It doesn’t take a very long internet search to find out that there is a lot of misinformation about fluoride out there. It is certainly a controversial topic, mainly with regards to it being added to public water supplies. While we don’t want to weigh in on the controversy, at Advanced Dental Care we do offer fluoride treatment. Here are some facts about fluoride.

Fluoride is a mineral, not a medicine. Fluoride occurs naturally in rocks, soil, and almost all water sources on Earth. It is a chemical ion from the element fluorine. Its benefit to us is that it strengthens tooth enamel. Many people use it in toothpaste and in supplements. But it is no more a medication than any calcium or vitamin supplement.

Fluoride is safe to use at any age. In fact, it is quite important for children to have appropriate access to fluoride in their early years. They are especially prone to developing cavities, and therefore need any protection we can give them. By strengthening teeth early, children are put on the road to a lifetime of good oral health.

However, overexposure can cause consequences in the form of fluorosis. This is mild discoloration in the teeth, and is typically caused by natural water sources, such as a well. Extreme fluorosis is exceptionally rare in the U.S.

Fluoride prevents cavities. There has been a demonstrable, major decline in cavities since fluoride has been incorporated widely in toothpaste and other systems. The stronger tooth enamel is, the harder it is for cavities to form.

If you would like to learn more about fluoride, including the fluoride treatment available from Dr. Christopher McGonigle, please call our Burlington, MA, office today. We look forward to helping you have a stronger smile!