How Soon After Eating Should You Brush Your Teeth?

Posted January 23, 2018 by Paris Mountain Dental

At Paris Mountain Dental, we try to help our patients establish good preventive care routines. As part of this regimen, we ask our patients to brush their teeth twice daily for two minutes each time. However, Dr. Ghimire gets many questions from patients about the best time to brush, such as whether it’s best to brush before or after breakfast. There are actually a few reasons that the timing of your toothbrushing matters for you and your family.

Fight Back Against Bacteria

Consuming certain foods, like those high in carbohydrates or sugars, can spawn the creation of bacteria that feed on them for up to 20 minutes after you eat. If you brush right after eating sugary or high-carb foods, you can get rid of these bacteria before they begin to wear away at your enamel.

Watch Out for Acidic Foods

However, if you have just consumed food or drink that’s high in acid like orange juice or other citrus products, you should wait to brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes. Foods high in acid weaken your tooth enamel. If you brush too soon after consuming them, you can damage your enamel and push the acid deeper into the enamel and dentin.

In fact, if you know you’re going to be eating acidic foods, it’s a better idea to brush before eating and then drink a glass of water when finished. Water helps wash away the acid left behind on teeth and limit the damage.

As a general rule, we recommend waiting a good 30 minutes to an hour after eating to brush your teeth. Even better, limit your intake of acidic or sugary foods to cut down on your risk for cavities. If you have any additional questions about brushing your teeth or your oral health, or if you’re ready to schedule your next appointment, call our office today.

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How Common Is Dental Anxiety?

Posted December 22, 2017 by Paris Mountain Dental

At Paris Mountain Dental, Dr. Ghimire and the rest of our team know that many folks are apprehensive about visiting the dentist. If you are part of the 15% of Americans who avoid going to the dentist out of anxiety, we understand, and we want you to know that you are not alone. Our patients have a variety of reasons for their dental anxiety. Perhaps they had a negative experience at the dentist when they were younger, or maybe they feel out of control or don’t understand what will happen once they’re in the dentist’s chair.

Because we know that so many people are reluctant to visit the dentist, our team goes above and beyond to make sure you are comfortable from the moment you set foot in our office. From amenities to pain-free dentistry technologies, we work hard to help you get the care you need.

Office Amenities

We’ve designed our office with comfort in mind for our patients and their families. We offer refreshments, magazines, WiFi, TVs, and a serene setting. We also have blankets, pillows, and aromatherapy candles available. You’ll feel relaxed and at ease while waiting for your appointment. We often recommend that our patients, especially those with anxiety, arrive early in order to familiarize themselves with our office and take advantage of our office amenities.

Gentle Care

We offer two sedation and anesthetic options to make your procedures more comfortable: nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) and DentalVibe, a gentler way of administering numbing medication. Talk to Dr. Ghimire about your concerns, and we will work to make sure that you have a pain and stress-free appointment.

Know What to Expect

Our team often finds that patients are more comfortable during their appointments if they know exactly what to expect. For this reason, our staff and Dr. Ghimire take care to clearly explain everything they do as well as the reason for it. This way, you can rest assured knowing that you are in well-qualified hands.

Don’t let dental anxiety force you to live with painful or unsightly teeth. Call our office today to schedule an appointment and to discuss your options. We will work hard to come up with a plan that keeps you comfortable and healthy. Call us at (864) 610-6188 or schedule an appointment online.

We can help you feel comfortable in our care!

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What Is a Zirconia Bridge?

Posted November 22, 2017 by Paris Mountain Dental

Our patients come to us for a variety of reasons. That’s why we’re proud to offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry services for the whole family. Dr. Ghimire works hard to provide personalized care to each individual patient, ensuring that the treatment you receive fits your goals and your lifestyle.

For example, many of our patients come to us with missing teeth and want to know what their options are. Our office offers a range of dental implant services that can help restore a natural look, feel, and function to your mouth. One such option, the zirconia bridge, provides a practical, natural-looking alternative to dentures.

What Is a Bridge?

For patients missing several teeth, Dr. Ghimire often recommends a dental bridge as the most effective treatment. A bridge is a structure containing a false tooth (or teeth) flanked by two crowns, all attached to a metal base. The crowns fit over your natural teeth, while the false teeth bridge the gap and replace your missing teeth. There are multiple bridge options available to patients, including metal ceramic bridges and zirconia bridges.

How Is the Zirconia Bridge Different?

Zirconia bridges are made from zirconium oxide, a strong, safe dental ceramic. It has a translucent appearance and matches with your other teeth. The body does not negatively react to or reject the zirconia bridge, so you do not need to worry about the bridge irritating your mouth.

Advantages of Zirconia Bridge

While metal ceramic bridges have a dark metal base that appears as a black line at the edge of your gums, the zirconia bridge does not. This allows it to have a much more natural appearance. Additionally, this type of bridge requires less preparation and minimal tooth reduction to fit into place. The end result is a strong, stable, and inconspicuous bridge that blends in with your natural teeth.

If you are missing teeth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ghimire to determine the best treatment option. Dr. Ghimire will carefully examine your oral health to come up with the best treatment plan. Afterwards, she may decide that a zirconia bridge is right for you.

Schedule an appointment or consultation today!

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How Do Different Animals Deal with Teeth Problems?

Posted October 16, 2017 by Paris Mountain Dental

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be your pet? What about what it would be like to be your pet with a toothache? Turns out, different animals deal with their teeth problems differently. Here are just some of our favorite animals, and the ways they deal with dental issues.

Dogs

If you have a dog, beware, because they rarely show any discomfort when it comes to dental issues. Man’s best friend will happily wag their tail and act as if everything is normal even with a cracked tooth or gum disease. This is because they’ve evolved to hide chronic pain, and their instincts tell them not to show signs of weakness. If the oral problem is bad enough, you will be able to see certain symptoms like vocalizing when they eat, head shyness (not wanting you to pet them on their head), chewing on one side of their mouth, and difficulty picking up food.

Cats

Like dogs, cats are experts at hiding their pain as their instincts are to resist showing any sign of weakness. By the time your cat shows any signs, their dental issue is probably very advanced. Beyond the usual symptoms of bad breath, some indicators that your cat is suffering from oral pain include difficulty eating or loss of appetite, drooling, chattering (jaw shakes or quivers) when they eat or groom, pawing at their mouth, excessive teeth grinding or yawning, head shaking or tilting, decreasing their grooming, pulling away when touched or petted near the mouth, and any changes in normal behavior such as becoming more aggressive.

Rabbits

Rabbits are also very good at hiding their pain. Are you sensing a pattern? When rabbits have tooth pain, you may not be able to tell right away, but it’s important to be on the lookout for some symptoms so you can get them treatment. Some signs of dental problems include picky eating, bad breath, reduced activity, matted fur, weight loss, bulging eyes, slobbering, a creamy discharge from the eyes and nose, facial abscess, and even anorexia.

To avoid any oral health issues, be sure to practice good dental hygiene with your pet every day. And while you’re at it, be sure you’re taking care of your mouth, too! At Paris Mountain Dental, we’re dedicated to providing you with the best dental care. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Your smile is important to us!

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Can I Whiten My Crowns

Posted September 22, 2017 by Paris Mountain Dental

Crowns are used to restore damaged or decayed teeth. They can also whiten teeth that are discolored due to that damage or decay. But can you whiten crowns down the road? Here’s a closer look at what crowns are and whether you can whiten them.

What Are Crowns?

A crown is a tooth-shaped cover that fits snugly over a damaged or decayed tooth. Crowns are also known as caps. They can be made of many different materials including ceramic, porcelain, zirconia, and metal. They are meant to last at least seven years, but they usually last much longer than that.

Why Are Crowns Used?

Crowns are necessary in situations where a tooth is so badly damaged that it cannot be fixed with a filling. They serve to hold together parts of a cracked tooth, hold a bridge in place, and cover misshapen and even discolored teeth.

What’s the Procedure for Placing Crowns?

If you’ve come in for an appointment and we’ve determined crowns are the best course of treatment for you, we’ll first assess the damage or decay of the tooth. If you are getting a crown placed because of decay, we’ll need to remove the affected tooth structure. Depending on how severe the dental issue is, we might have to perform a root canal procedure. If there isn’t much of the tooth is remaining, we may need to build up a foundation to support the crown.

Once the tooth is free of the decaying material and is structurally sound, we’ll file down the tooth slightly so that the crown can fit over it. We’ll then take an impression of the tooth and send it to a lab to make the replacement. This may take a couple of weeks, so we’ll provide you with a temporary crown in the meantime. When your permanent crown is ready, we’ll call you back in to see us. We’ll remove your temporary crown and fit the permanent one over your tooth to make sure it’s the right fit. We can make any adjustments that you need during this appointment. Finally, we’ll bond the crown in place and make sure the look and fit are natural.

Can I Whiten My Crowns?

Now that you know what crowns are made of and how we place them, let’s talk about teeth whitening and your crowns. You cannot whiten crowns because the materials used to make them do not whiten like natural teeth. However, the crown itself can be made into any shade that you’d like when the lab makes it. If you think your crowns need to be brighter, make an appointment with us and we can discuss creating new crowns that are as white as you desire.

At Paris Mountain Dental, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve the smile you want. Call us today to make an appointment!

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At What Age Should My Child Have an Orthodontic Evaluation?

Posted August 29, 2017 by Paris Mountain Dental

It’s not uncommon for tweens and teens to need braces. And since the headgear of the past is long gone, they’re usually less averse to the idea of orthodontia. But when should your child have an orthodontic evaluation? We recommend bringing your child in once their permanent teeth start erupting. That doesn’t necessarily mean your child will leave with a shiny set of braces, but it does allow us to start keeping an eye out for potential problems.

Benefits of Early Teeth Straightening

The most ideal time for children to get braces is between the ages of 10 and 14. At this point, their head and mouths are still growing and developing. Teeth are more likely to take to the straightening process during this time. Of course, people can get braces at any age, but there are benefits to straightening teeth earlier rather than later.

Influence jaw growth and bite
Lower trauma risk if front teeth are protruding
Correct harmful habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, etc.)
Improve aesthetics of face and teeth
Help permanent teeth move into better positions

Orthodontic Evaluations for Kids

If you notice any of the following in your child, it may be time for an orthodontic evaluation:

Difficulty chewing
Breathing through mouth
Crowded or misplaced teeth
Jaw position that is too far back or forward
Front teeth not meeting, or meeting abnormally
Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
Facial appearance that seems unbalanced

When your child comes in for an orthodontic evaluation, we take X-rays and go over any potential problems we see with their tooth eruption and mouth development. We discuss our suggested treatment plan with you so you can talk it over with your child. It’s important to go over the idea of braces with your child since they will be the one wearing the braces for years.

Braces aren’t nearly as big a deal as they used to be, but it can still be hard to decide if the time is right for your child to have an orthodontic evaluation. If you’re unsure, give Paris Mountain Dental a call. One of our team members will gladly discuss your concerns, answer any questions you have, and help you schedule a convenient consultation appointment.