How Sugar Affects Your Teeth

We know it’s not something you want to hear or maybe you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true, sugar negatively impacts your teeth in a big way. We at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park take pride in educating our patients about the importance of restricting sugary foods and drinks. It would be ideal to cut these out of your diet completely, but we understand that sometimes there’s nothing better than a crisp soda on a hot day. More attention should be paid to, say, how many sugary beverages you drink in a day or week. Is it really adding up? If so, consider restricting your intake for the sake of your teeth.

Sugar easily coats the surface of your teeth and attracts the “bad bacteria,” such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. These destructive bacteria feed on the sugar and disturb the natural pH of your mouth, to the point where the acidity is too much for your teeth. Over time, the enamel on your teeth is broken down little by little. This isn’t so good, since tooth enamel cannot be replaced. Once that natural barrier is gone, it’s gone for good. 

If you can’t give up sugar completely, then consider these tips to fight tooth decay:

- Watch what you eat and drink. Make sure to incorporate healthy options, such as fibrous vegetables.

- Restrict the sugar. Try drinking more water, your teeth will thank you (and so will your body).

- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing two to three times a day.

- Visit your dentist regularly. Your dentist will be able to take a closer look inside your mouth, monitor anything suspicious, and give your teeth a good professional cleaning. 

Bayberry Dental Care is located on 8014 W 171st St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit bayberrydentalcare.com or call 708-802-8300.

 

Tips for Tongue Hygiene

So you brush and floss your teeth two to three times a day as Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS recommends. That’s great! But did you know that you should also be brushing your tongue? Just as your teeth are covered in food and bacteria throughout the day, so is your tongue. Your tongue has its own nooks and crannies that it could be carrying just as much bacteria as your teeth, creating the perfect environment for bad breath. We at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park have a couple tips to get you on the right track to good tongue hygiene.

We know what you’re thinking, “isn’t my tongue cleaned enough with toothpaste and a good rinse?” Unfortunately, like your teeth need a good scrubbing to get them clean, so does your tongue. That buildup on your tongue is so tough to remove that even mouthwash doesn’t always do the job. If anything, mouthwash successfully removes the top layer of bacteria, but what’s underneath can still thrive. The bacteria can lead to not only bad breath but tooth damage.

Every time you brush your teeth, brush back and forth and side to side on your tongue to remove some of that buildup, then rinse with water. Be careful not to over brush though, it would be very uncomfortable if you broke the skin! Just a gentle yet thorough brushing will do the trick. Some people prefer tongue scrapers, though there is no proven evidence that tongue scrapers prevent bad breath. 

Bayberry Dental Care is located on 8014 W 171st St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit bayberrydentalcare.com or call 708-802-8300.

 

Night Guards for Teeth Grinding

Night guards are placed in the mouth to act as a “cushion” during sleep to prevent someone from grinding or gnashing their teeth together. Some people actually do this during the day as well. Grinding your teeth, also known as bruxism, damages enamel, wears down teeth, causes jaw pain, and irritates gums. If you think you are grinding your teeth, we at Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park can help.

Severe teeth grinding can lead to tension-type headaches and disorders in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), where a clicking noise is heard when you open and close your mouth. Teeth grinding has also been seen in quite a few children. According to WebMD, “approximately 15% to 33% of children grind their teeth.” The first step to preventing teeth grinding is to determine what is causing it. Sometimes a night guard or change in lifestyle is all you need to prevent it.

There are several factors that increase the chances of grinding your teeth:

- Stress and anxiety

- Age (though common in children, bruxism goes away by adulthood)

- Aggressive or competitive personality type

- Psychiatric medications

- Smoking tobacco

- Consuming caffeine or alcohol

- Family history of teeth grinding

- Other disorders such as Parkinson's, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, night terrors, sleep apnea, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Bayberry Dental Care is located on 8014 W 171st St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477. For more information about night guards or to schedule an appointment, please visit bayberrydentalcare.com or call 708-802-8300.

 

Flossing With Braces

Don’t make the mistake of thinking your immune to cavities when you have braces. This is simply not the case! Dr. Kathleen Falesy of Bayberry Dental Care, located in Tinley Park, IL, stresses the importance of daily dental care. This includes both brushing and flossing. Although flossing can be more challenging with braces, this isn’t an excuse to neglect it. Regardless, everyone should floss at least once a day.

 

Braces give bacteria unique places to fester. This is mainly due to the fact that these areas are difficult to clean. That shouldn’t be the case. Start flossing after every meal when you have braces. Follow these tips to maintain your dental health.

 

The main and most important aspect of your braces care-kit is floss threaders. These are small dental devices that move floss underneath the orthodontic wire. They almost look like a plastic sewing needle. Insert the floss through the eye, then move the floss into place. Flossing continues as normal. There are alternatives to this. Floss picks work well too. These appear similar to a normal prong tool, except the two prongs are connected by a thread of floss. These minuscule tools move past your braces and reach your teeth. Gently insert the floss between the teeth. Rubbing against the gums normally, you clean the area of mislodged food. Lastly, a Waterpik is a viable option. These tools shoot a steady spray of water at your teeth. The pressure cleans all trapped material from your teeth. They even have add-ons for braces cleanings.

 

In Tinley Park, IL, Bayberry Dental Care provides the best dental care around. We cater to all our patients, no matter what! Dr. Kathleen Falsey provides her dental expertise for all. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 708-802-8300.

Dry Mouth

Dr. Kathleen Falsey of Bayberry Dental Care provides quality dental treatment in the Tinley Park, IL, area. This includes the treatment of Xerostomia, commonly referred to as Dry Mouth. This condition makes it incredibly difficult to undertake all everyday tasks. This includes simple things like chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Dry mouth lowers your quality of life while putting your dental health at risk. Contact our office right away if you’re struggling with dry mouth.

 

Your saliva plays an important role in your everyday life. It’s not just for eating and speaking! It’s necessary for your dental health. Saliva cleans your mouth while removing food debris. Without your salivary glands functioning correctly, you’re at risk for plaque and tooth decay. That’s why it’s important to schedule an appointment with your Tinley Park, IL, dentist right away.

 

Determining the cause of your dry mouth is the first step. Be forthright with Dr. Falsey about your medical history and current medications. There are over 500 different medications that cause dry mouth. Examine all pharmaceuticals thoroughly, even ones that appear harmless. Dr. Falsey might recommend that you talk to your physician about switching prescriptions. Another common cause is autoimmune disorders. Certain conditions, like Sjögren's syndrome, are known for creating dry mouth. You should also examine any medical treatments you’re receiving. Chemotherapy, for example, is known for causing dry mouth.

 

Treatment depends entirely on the cause. There are a few general tips for reducing dry mouth symptoms. First, the best way to accomplish this is by reducing your sugar intake. Sugar is infamous for drying out your mouth. Cut back on drinking soda, tea, alcohol, and coffee. Replace these with water. Drinking more H2O keeps your mouth fresh and moist. There are also over-the-counter dry mouth treatments. You can find these at your local supermarket or grocery store. They are available in toothpaste, mouthwash, and gel form.

 

Bayberry Dental Care is located in Tinley Park, IL. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, visit our website or call 708-802-8300.

Mouthguard Usage

Now that the weather’s hot, Tinley Park residents are having more fun outdoors. But while cycling, skating, or playing sports, it’s important to keep your teeth safe. We know how much effort our patients at Bayberry Dental Care put into maintaining their smiles, which is why we want them to use mouthguards.

When properly fitted, a mouthguard shouldn’t cause difficulty breathing. Sports stores and online retailers offer one-size fits all mouthguards, and these are better than using nothing. However, a more popular option are mouthguards that are softened by boiling and then bitten down on (after cooling somewhat) to perfectly fit the wearer’s teeth. This option is especially appealing to children and people undergoing orthodontic therapy, whose teeth radically shift position in a short amount of time. Boil-and-bite models may be reshaped every month.

Formal sports organizations commonly require participants to wear recently fitted mouthguards. Our office can help you decide whether your current one is providing sufficient protection and is clean enough. Mouthguards need to be cleaned with antibacterial soap after each use and patted dry, as do their containers. They also need to be kept out of extreme heat to avoid accidental warping.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Senior Dental Care

No matter how old you are, practicing good oral health remains an important daily routine. Your teeth, like all your bones, weaken as you age. That’s why it’s important to schedule your bi-annual appointments with Dr. Kathleen Falsey. She can address new dental concerns that weren’t applicable before. This includes the increased chances of gum disease that heightens after the age of sixty. Older patients are also at risk of extraction and cavities. To learn more, contact Bayberry Dental Care. We are located in Tinley Park, IL.

 

It’s easy to take your good health for granted when you’re younger. Once you get older, it’s important to stay on top of brushing and flossing. If you’re a caretaker or live with an older individual, assist them with their dental care. Remind them to brush and floss. Attending regular dental appointments is also important.

 

If you or a loved one struggle with brushing, your Tinley Park dentist has some tips for you:

 

-Invest in an electric toothbrush. These provide thorough cleanings while using less physical force. They are great for patients who struggle with certain physical activities.

-Elongate the handle of the toothbrush. This may seem odd, but it makes a lot of sense! It’s difficult to reach the farther areas of your mouth. You can lengthen the handle using materials found around the house. Many patients use foam or rubber to extend the handle.

-Talk to Dr. Falsey about toothbrushes made specifically for older patients. These products are easier on your teeth while being highly accessible.

 

We know that dental care can be expensive. That’s why most towns and cities offer elderly dental services through their social services or public health offices. Talk to our staff about creating an affordable treatment plan that works for you.

 

Bayberry Dental Care is located in Tinley Park, IL. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, visit her website or call 708-802-8300.