Category Archives: Dental Health Tips

Over 48,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year. Of those, approximately 9,500 will die within a year, and nearly half (43%) will die within five years, says the Oral Cancer Foundation. While there are absolutely lifestyle changes that can help you prevent oral cancer to begin with, if you have the disease, early detection and treatment are the keys to surviving. That’s why at Overland Park Dental we perform an oral cancer screening as a part of each checkup.

Mild Symptoms Make It Hard to Detect

One of the main reasons oral cancer is so deadly is that its symptoms are easy to overlook. A patch in the mouth, a recurring or persistent sore, and even chronic hoarseness are easy to attribute to other causes. It’s important that you see your dentist at least once (and preferably twice) per year for a comprehensive oral cancer screenings. At Overland Park Dental, we strive to have the latest technology available to bring you the best in oral health care.

Related Read: New Technology Makes Dental X-Rays Clearer & More Detailed

What You Can Do to Prevent Oral Cancer

If you do not have oral cancer currently, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of succumbing to this potentially deadly disease:

• Stop using tobacco. If you are smoking or chewing tobacco, talk to your physician about ways to quit. Tobacco usage is a risk factor for several types of cancer, including oral cancer.

• Cut back on your drinking. Alcohol use is another risk factor for developing oral cancer. This is particularly true if you smoke as well.

• Get vaccinated against HPV. Ask your doctor whether you are a candidate for getting the HPV vaccine. Some of the strains of HPV that it can prevent can turn into oral cancer, so vaccination might help prevent certain strains.

Finally, be sure to keep up with your dental appointments. If you notice anything amiss in your mouth (raised tissue, a sore that doesn’t heal, hoarseness, a lump or bump), make an appointment to get it checked immediately. Otherwise, just show up for your routine visits for your recommended cancer screenings.

Related Read: How to Choose a Great Dentist in Overland Park

If you’d like to schedule a checkup, call us at our south Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or our north Overland Park office at (913) 341-2380.

When playing sports, padding, helmets and protective gear are a must to prevent injury and ensure a happy, safe experience. But there’s one piece of equipment that is arguably among the most important, and yet is most often forgotten: the mouth guard. At Overland Park Dental, we frequently see tooth and mouth injuries due to lack of protective mouth guards. We encourage all of our patients active in sports to get mouth guards. We’d much rather fit you for a mouth guard than fix broken teeth.

Two Thirds of Children Don’t Wear Mouth Guards While Playing Sports

According to the American Dental Association, mouth guards can prevent up to 200,000 oral injuries annually. But 67% of parents report that their children do not wear them while playing sports. This is unfortunate, because without mouth guards, your chances of injuring your teeth becomes 60 times more likely.

Related Read: Tooth-Friendly Summer Snacks

Mouth Guards Prevent Permanent Damage to Teeth

Wearing a mouth guard is a necessity if you want to avoid permanent damage to your teeth during a game, especially sports with a lot of player-to-player contact such as hockey or football. A mouth guard serves as a cushion around your teeth. In the case of impact, it absorbs shock and deflects excessive impact, reducing the chances of teeth being broken or dislodged. They can even prevent damage to other areas in the mouth. Painful bitten lips or tongues are much less likely with a mouth guard. It even protects against jaw fractures, helping you to stay in the game.

We Can Create Custom Mouth Guards for the Best Fit

The best kind of mouth guard is one that’s properly shaped to your teeth for a personalized fit. These mouth guards provide the best protection possible. Overland Park Dental is skilled in crafting custom mouth guards for a wide range of ages, so contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our goal is not only to help you save on expensive dental work, but also to keep you happy, active and pain-free.

Call us at our South office (913) 647-8700 or our North office at (913) 341-2380 or schedule an appointment online.

Have you ever noticed that waiting for summer vacation is like watching a pot of water on the stove, waiting for it to boil? It seems like it will never happen! The first day of a new school year, however, is the exact opposite.

You blink and suddenly stores start having “back to school sales”, school sport teams start practicing, the to-do lists start growing, and you are left wondering where the time went.

With all the back-to-school excitement (and stress) right around the corner, we encourage you to make an appointment with us today to take care of all your children’s dental needs.

Your Kids Won’t Have to Miss School for a Dental Appointment

A back to school checkup is important to ensure that your child’s teeth are in tiptop shape and ready for the beginning of a new year. If problems are found, it will be much easier to take care of them now and not later when your child will miss important class time. Plus, you want to allow time for follow-up appointments if needed.

Related Read: New Technology Makes Dental X-Rays Clearer, More Detailed, and More Complete

College Kids May Be Far from Home

If your child is older and leaving for college (congratulations!), then an appointment before they leave town is even more crucial. Tooth problems far away from home are a pain. Plus, we offer teeth whitening, which is a great way to make a dazzling first impression on new classmates, for rush if they’re going Greek, or just to give them a boost of self confidence.

Related Read: 8 Ways to Avoid Staining Your Pearly Whites

Athletes Need Mouth Guards

Keep in mind that our dental services include mouth guard fitting for your young athletes. Don’t wait until the first chipped tooth to consider mouth protection!

We know you are busy enjoying the beautiful freedom of summer! Just consider this a friendly reminder to take a moment to squeeze us in. Call us today at 913-647-8700 (south office) or 913-341-2380 (north office) or to schedule your child’s back to school appointment online. See you soon!

An Ode to Ice Cream

Ice cream, ice cream…so creamy, sweet, and cold

To my tongue, you are delicious, flavorful, and bold

But when you touch my teeth, I want to scream in pain

I love you, sweet ice cream…but I fear my love’s in vain

If you can relate to the above poetry, you have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are no fun. They affect your everyday life. You avoid very hot or cold foods, drink through a straw, breathe through your nose, etc.

The team at Overland Park Dentistry understands. We want to help you with your sensitive teeth. Read on to learn more about causes and treatments for sensitive teeth.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Sensitive teeth are caused by your gums pulling back from the tooth and exposing the the dentin beneath. The dentin is a soft layer of your tooth under the hard enamel. Inside the dentin, thousands of tiny tubes lead to the tooth’s nerve center. When hot, cold, or sour foods touch the dentin, it triggers the nerve in your tooth, causing pain.

Other things that can cause sensitive teeth are:

• Damage – Chipped or broken teeth can become infected and the bacteria from that infection can enter the pulp, causing inflammation
• Teeth Grinding – Grinding your teeth may wear down the enamel and expose the dentin
• Wear and Tear – Brushing too hard can wear down enamel and expose the dentin
• Tooth Decay – If tooth decay is near the gum, it can expose the dentin
• Gingivitis (gum disease) – Swollen and aggravated gums pull back and can leave the dentin or roots of your teeth exposed
• Tooth-Whitening Products – These products can make teeth more sensitive
• Plaque Buildup – Plaque on the root surfaces can cause sensitivity
• Acidic Foods – Foods with acid can wear down enamel
• Dental Work – Teeth cleaning, crown placement, etc. can make teeth sensitive; this sensitivity is usually temporary and should go away in a month to six weeks

Treating and Preventing Tooth Sensitivity

If you suffer from sensitive teeth, the first step is to schedule an appointment with a dentist to identify the cause. Once you know the cause, there are several options that can provide relief:

• Watch What You Eat – You can help yourself by avoiding highly acidic foods and drinks (carbonated drinks, coffee, citrus fruits, and even yogurt)
• Try a New Toothpaste – For some people, simply switching to a desensitizing toothpaste helps relieve the pain (it may take several brushings to start noticing a difference). Don’t be afraid to try different brands to see if one is more effective than another
• Change Your Toothbrush & Brushing – Switching to a softer toothbrush and brushing more gently may help retain the enamel near your gums and keep them from receding
• Use Fluoridated Dental Products – Using a fluoridated mouth rinse every day can help decrease sensitivity
• Use a Mouthguard – If you grind your teeth at night, use a mouthguard to stop the damage
• Crowns or Bonding – Your dentist may apply a crown, bonding (white fillings), fluoride varnish, or dentin sealers to the exposed root surface of a sensitive tooth. This will counteract decay or lack of enamel
• Root Canal – Though these words strike fear into the heart of many people, it can help those who have sensitivity when other options have failed. With today’s dental procedures, pain is minimal and it’s a small price to pay for permanent relief from sensitive teeth

If you are suffering from tooth sensitivity, come see the team at Overland Park Dentistry. We can help. Call our South office at (913) 647-8700 or our North office at (913) 341-2380. Check out our blog for more great information about teeth, tooth care, and options at Overland Park Dentistry.

At Overland Park Dentistry, we’ve got your teeth in mind all of the time. With summer starting and the kids home from school, you might be looking for some tooth-healthy options for snacking. Lucky for you, our team of dental experts but together a list of the top tooth-friendly snacks for summertime.

Sugar Damages Teeth

Before you start munching on a snack, ask yourself if it’s loaded with sugar. If it is, think again.

Sugar reacts with bacteria to produce acids. Brown sugar, honey, molasses, and syrups react just like traditional white sugar, so keeping sweets to a minimum is better for your teeth.

The damaging acids affect your teeth for at least 20 minutes after eating sugary snacks. Sticky, sugary snacks are the worst – think caramel, taffy, etc. – as the sugar sticks to your teeth longer, giving it more time to cause damage.

Low-Sugar Summertime Treat Options

If you eat sweets, it’s better to eat them as dessert rather than several times a day between meals. Also, it’s a good idea to brush with a fluoride toothpaste after eating them.

Sure, an ice cream cone or a popsicle are delicious on a hot summer day, but there are also plenty of refreshing and delicious snacks that won’t damage your teeth with lots of sugar or acid. Don’t believe us? Check out this list of some of our team’s favorite summertime snacks:

Peanut Butter Celery Sticks – Celery is so crisp and refreshing. Pop some peanut butter inside and you’ve got a teeth-healthy snack with a little protein to boot! Don’t be afraid to throw some raisins or cranberries on top.

TIP: Remove the strings from the outer side of the celery to make it more kid friendly and easier to eat.

Watermelon Popsicles – So easy, you don’t even need a recipe – just slice, insert popsicle stick and freeze! Leave the rind on or cut it off – it’s up to you. It doesn’t get any easier, or any more refreshing.

Peanut Butter & Banana Quesadillas – In just 10 minutes, you can whip up this crispy on the outside, ooey gooey on the inside summer treat.

Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites – With just blueberries, nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt, and a sugar substitute, you have a sweet, frozen treat that’s good for your teeth!. Once these bites are frozen, you can portion them out into little cups to take on the go, or just grab them by the handful.

Tips for Getting Your Kids to Change Their Habits

If you’re introducing new snacks to your kids, it’s best to make them as convenient as possible. In other words, instead of telling them to get a celery stick with peanut butter, go ahead and make them up ahead of time and leave them front and center in the fridge so they are easy to grab and go.

Leave fresh fruit out in a bowl on the counter in plain sight. Chop some strawberries and put them in a bowl to make adding them to yogurt a cinch.

Since you’re making the better snacks available, stop buying the sugary ones so they don’t default to their old ways.

Related Read: Spring Cleaning for Your Mouth

Tooth-Friendly Foods

We know summer is almost three months of the year, so here are some more tooth-healthy options to last you all summer long:

• Plain Popcorn
• Plain Yogurt
• Yogurt Mixed with Unsweetened Fruit
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Cubes of Cheese
• Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter
• Fresh Fruit
• Raw Vegetables
• Hummus and Pita Bread
• Grains
• Dairy products
• Meats
• Nuts & Seeds

The whole team at Overland Park Dentistry wishes you a safe and savory summer! Please call us at (913) 647-8700 or (913) 341-2380 if you have questions about your teeth or your children’s teeth. Find more great teeth tips on our blog.

It’s spring and that means spring cleaning! Since we’re a dental office, the team at Overland Park Dentistry put together a spring cleaning list for your mouth. Here are the top six steps we recommend that our patients take to keep your mouth both clean and healthy.

Brush Your Teeth Properly

What’s the correct way to brush your teeth? The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends gently moving the toothbrush in circular motions.

• Brush near the gums to clean all of the plaque. Be sure to pay special attention to the molars that are in the very back of your mouth because they are harder to reach. Ignored plaque can harden and lead to gingivitis.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day, spending at least three minutes each time. With small children, setting a timer or humming a song while brushing may help them know what three minutes feels like.
• Don’t forget to brush before bed! Brushing at night is important because germs and bacteria have a solid eight hours of uninterrupted time to do their damage.

Brush Your Tongue

Your tongue is hanging out in your mouth all day, too. So naturally, it picks up bacteria and plaque. This can lead to bad breath, as well as be a gateway for moving plaque to your teeth.

Related Read: Taking a Look at Bad Breath: Causes & Solutions

Floss Every Day

Flossing does more than just remove food between your teeth. It also serves to stimulate your gums and reduce plaque. If you don’t floss often, your gums may bleed a little until they get used to it. That’s normal. Once they become accustomed to flossing every day, they won’t bleed anymore. We recommend using a floss pick. They make flossing easy and convenient, even on the go.

Choose the Right Equipment

Both your toothbrush and toothpaste should be ADA approved. Be sure to look for the label before purchasing an oral hygiene product. An ADA label lets consumers know that the product is safe for teeth and oral health.

Limit Foods That Are Bad for Your Teeth

It’s okay to eat acidic foods like wine, tea, coffee, fruit, and fruit juice. Just don’t eat or drink them regularly. Acid and sugar lead to tooth decay and cavities. If you cannot resist consuming sugar frequently, try to rinse your mouth with water after you are done to limit the amount of acid or sugar that stays on your teeth. If you chew gum, choose sugar-free varieties.

Schedule Dental Visits Twice a Year

There’s nothing like a good professional cleaning to make your mouth feel like new. Regular visits to your dentist, also known as preventative dentistry, will remove plaque, catch decay early, and spot any issues before they become major problems.

Follow these simple rules, and your mouth will be happy, your teeth will be healthy, and your breath will be fresher!

If you have any tooth care questions, please call us at our South Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or North Overland Park office at (913) 341-2380.