We all have some imperfections so, what bad habits do you have? Did you suck you’re thumb as a child or maybe nail biting? Do you think these habits lead to dental problems as we age?

According to an article at dental.net, “Bad Oral Habits”

“We all know that dental care is expensive. Although some of what happens to our teeth is out of our control, bad oral habits are one thing we can prevent. As a part of your oral health plan, not biting your nails, smoking or grinding your teeth may save you from dental crowns, dental caps or dental veneers.

A Lifelong Habit:

A majority of our bad habits start when we are children, or sometimes even when we are still infants. For example, many parents put their young children to sleep using a bottle of milk or juice. The sugars in this seemingly innocent bedtime drink can damage a child’s mouth, resulting in the phenomenon known as “bottle mouth.” (If you have started this bad habit with your children, there is an easy solution: gradually add water to the bottle each night, until eventually you are giving the child a bottle of pure water at bedtime.)

Another common bad habit in children is thumb sucking. Over time, this can cause a child’s jaw bones to reshape – pushing their teeth out of alignment. It can also cause the child to hold his or her tongue in the wrong place, which causes the entire mouth to shape itself incorrectly. Many children who were thumb suckers end up wearing dental braces later on. The damage caused by thumb sucking can even lead to overbites and snoring.

Breaking the habit of thumb sucking can be difficult as a child uses their thumb as a form of comfort. Be careful not to use drastic solutions such as putting cayenne pepper on the child’s thumb; this can cause great harm to your children. Instead, contact a pediatrician for gentle and safe alternatives.

Grown-Ups Do It, Too:

It’s important to catch problems when children are young, because bad oral habits often continue well into adulthood. Infants who drink fruit juice before bed may turn into adults who rot their teeth with too many sweets. Children who suck their thumbs may grow up to smoke or chew their pencils.

Some of the most common bad habits in adults include:

Nail biting: This is bad for your nails and hard on your teeth. Of course, it can also contribute to the spread of disease.

Smoking: In addition to the damage it does to the rest of your body, smoking leads to yellow teeth, bad breath, receding gums, bone loss, mouth lesions and oral cancer. Switching to chewing tobacco, pipes or cigars will not reduce the symptoms. The only way to avoid damage from tobacco products is to stop using them.

Biting hard objects: If you chew your pens, pencils, eyeglasses and so on, you could be causing irreparable damage to your teeth. In addition to causing stress fractures on your teeth, you could be irritating your joints and chewing muscles. To help you break this habit, you can chew gum instead, but beware: dental studies have shown that excessive gum-chewing can also cause damage to your chewing muscles. Don’t try to break your habit by chewing ice or hard candy! These are just as damaging as chewing pencils.

Bruxism: This is the technical dental term for clenching or grinding your teeth. If you clench your teeth unconsciously from stress, or if you grind your teeth hard at night, you could be causing irreparable damage to the muscles and joints. This damage is usually far worse than damage caused by chewing pens or pencils. In fact, it can lead to a disease called TMJ, in which the joints of the mouth are in chronic pain.”

Need help in correcting your bad oral habits, Dr. McElhinney of RenoLaserDentistry.com will go over possible treatments that pertain to your situation. Click here to contact Dr. McElhinney for more information.

Ever had a toothache past your dentist office hours? Need something to hold you over until your dentist can examine the tooth causing you all the pain? Home remedies could be one way to help you alleviate you’re pain quickly and budget friendly.

According to an article at 1dental.com, “a list of natural toothache remedies”

“You may wonder if home remedies really work to stop the pain. It’s important to see a dentist, and some emergency dental plans can start immediately. However, these inexpensive, effective and easily accessible toothache home remedies may help alleviate your pain and get you moving again.

Natural and Home Remedies for Toothaches

Cloves or Clove Oil

Cloves or clove oil is another great natural home remedy for a toothache. Cloves were used as a natural method of alleviating toothaches even before modern medicine was invented. Clove oil’s antiseptic properties help bring down infection which decreases the pain. This spice or its oil should be applied directly into the cavity or other source of pain in order to help bring down the infection. Make sure you only use a drop or two of clove oil, because too much can be harmful.

Garlic Remedy

Garlic is one of the most effective home remedies for tooth pain. There is a chemical found exclusively in garlic called allicin with antibiotic properties that slow down bacterial affects. When the bacteria decrease, so does the pain. By applying a clove of crushed garlic directly on the affected tooth, the allicin is released and should immediately help alleviate the pain.

Wheatgrass Juice

Wheatgrass juice is another natural way to stop pain as well as help reverse tooth decay. Being a natural antibiotic, wheatgrass juice naturally draws out toxins that may be in the gums. This toothache home remedy helps stop the infection from spreading which in turn reduces tooth pain. Use wheatgrass juice as a mouthwash to draw out toxins, or you can chew on wheatgrass for similar results.

Raw Onion

Raw onion has antiseptic properties, so chewing raw onion for 3 minutes can help. If it is too painful to chew, you can simply place a piece of raw onion directly on your tooth.

Guava Leaves Solution

Guava tree leaves have been used for this purpose in many tropical cultures. There are 2 common uses. You can chew 1-2 leaves until the liquid comes out on the tooth, or you can put 4-5 guava leaves in a pot with some water. Bring nearly to a boil, then let cool to a warm temperature. Add some salt to the solution, swish or gargle in the mouth and spit. Repeat this process, being sure to allow the liquid to swish into the aching tooth.”

Click here to read the entire article:

Remember a toothache should always be examined by a dentist. If you have a toothache or any dental issues of concern click here to contact Dr. McElhinney located in Reno, to set-up an appointment.

The infamous “Root Canal” many people hear these words and say oh no! Do I really need to have that done? Want to know the ten most common myths about root canals?

According to an article at dentist.net, “Top ten myths about root canals”

“People seem to cringe when they hear the words root canal. I know that I used to. But reading the truth about these 10 root canal myths can help you get a better sense of what having a root canal really is all about.

1. Root Canals Hurt

According to the American Association of Endodontists, the perception of root canals being painful began decades ago when root canal treatments were painful. Today, with modern technology and better anesthetics, root canal treatments are no more painful than having a filling. Knowing what to expect while having a root canal can help ease a lot of anxiety.

2. Root Canals require a lot of Visits to the Dentist

With today’s cutting edge technology, most root canals can be performed in one or two office visits.

3. Crowns Cause Teeth to Need Root Canals

Many people believe that having a crown on a tooth means that the tooth will eventually need a root canal. Crowns do not cause the need for root canal therapy. If a crowned tooth does require a root canal, it could be that the tooth has abscessed or that decay has gotten underneath the crown and reached the pulp of the tooth.

4. Root Canals Cause Illness

There is no evidence to support that root canals cause illness. However, there is evidence to support the fact that people who have had root canals are no more at risk for developing illness than people who have never had root canals.

5. Root Canals Involve Removing the Roots of the Tooth

When the dentist or Endodontists performs a root canal treatment, he or she removes the pulp from inside of the tooth. The roots of the tooth are not removed.”

Click here to read the rest of the top ten myths:

No need to let your oral health go downhill take control of your dental health, click here to contact Dr. McElhinney’s dental practice in Reno to set- up an appointment today.

Want to know the top dental tips? A  well balanced diet is a great way to start but, what else should you be doing to have the best dental care? The key is prevention, so make dental care your #1 priority.

According to an article at dentist.net, “surprising ways to keep your teeth healthy”

“In addition to brushing and flossing, a healthful diet (with natural or added fluoride) protects teeth from decay and keeps the gums healthy. Read on to discover how to keep your smile safe and strong.

Tooth decay (cavities and dental caries) and gum disease are caused by colonies of bacteria that constantly coat the teeth with a sticky film called plaque. If plaque is not brushed away, these bacteria break down the sugars and starches in foods to produce acids that wear away the tooth enamel. The plaque also hardens into tartar, which can lead to gum inflammation, or gingivitis.

A well-balanced diet provides the minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients essential for healthy teeth and gums. Fluoride, occurring naturally in foods and water, or added to the water supply, can be a powerful tool in fighting decay. It can reduce the rate of cavities by as much as 60 percent.

Dental Health Guidelines

Start right by eating right during pregnancy. Make sure that your children’s teeth get off to a good start by eating sensibly during pregnancy. Particularly important is calcium, which helps to form strong teeth and bones, and vitamin D, which the body needs to absorb calcium.

You need lots of calcium for healthy teeth and gums. Low-fat dairy products, fortified soy and rice beverages, canned salmon or sardines (with bones), almonds, and dark green leafy vegetables are excellent sources of calcium.

You need vitamin D to help absorb the calcium. Vitamin D is obtained from fluid milk, fortified soy and rice beverages, margarine, fatty fish such as salmon, and moderate exposure to the sun.”

Click here to read the entire article from dentist.net:

As always make sure that you see a dentist who has experience and takes pride in their dental practice. Dr. McElhinney’s dental practice located in Reno is the best in town. Click here to contact his office to set-up an appointment.

Who would have thought that an electric spinbrush toothbrush may not be safe? I have always thought that the spinbrush was great for children just learning how to brush their teeth. It can be very effective at removing plaque and getting into places that otherwise children may not be able to reach.

According to an article at medicalnewstoday.com, “spinbrush electric toothbrush may not be as safe as you think.”

“A new warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), states that certain electric toothbrushes may not be safe for use. On more than one occasion, the battery-powered Arm & Hammer Spinbrush, previously known as the Crest Spinbrush, has been known to break, causing pieces of the toothbrush to injure eyes, and teeth, and even choking.

Ali Shumaya, M.P.H., a consumer safety officer at the FDA said:

“It’s important that consumers know how to avoid the risks associated with using the Spinbrush. We’ve had reports in which parts of the toothbrush broke off during use and were released into the mouth with great speed, causing broken teeth and presenting a choking hazard.”

Susan Runner, D.D.S., chief of FDA’s dental devices branch commented:

“Electric toothbrushes can be very effective in removing dental plaque, and so they can help prevent dental decay and gum disease. At the same time, it’s important to supervise children when they use these brushes, and to look out for any malfunctions of the toothbrush that might cause an injury.

According to the FDA, the following models of the Spinbrush have the potential to cause injury:

• Spinbrush SONIC
• Spinbrush SONIC Recharge
• Spinbrush Swirl
• Spinbrush ProClean
• Spinbrush ProClean Recharge
• Spinbrush Pro Whitening
• Spinbrush Classic Clean
• Spinbrush For Kids
• Spinbrush Replacement Heads

The following injuries have occurred due to the use of the Spinbrush:

• Injury to the face and eyes
• Choking
• Swallowing broken pieces
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Cuts in the mouth or on the gums

The main cause of the injuries, according to the FDA, is parts of the toothbrushes breaking off. In certain models of the Spinbrush, the head can be taken off and replaced with a new one. However, no parts should be breaking off or coming loose during use.”

Click here to read the entire article from medicalnewstoday.com:

If you have any dental issues or questions click here to contact Dr. McElhinney located in Reno, we’ll surely take good care of you!

Healthy Teeth, Healthy Gums = Great Dental Care!!!