Category: Holland Dentist

You wake up with a headache most mornings. Your tongue looks weirdly scalloped. Your teeth have hairline fractures and look shorter than they used to. What is happening while you sleep? It could be bruxism, otherwise known as unconscious clenching and grinding. If it is, you really need a nightguard.

What Exactly is a Nightguard?

A nightguard works almost exactly like a sports mouthguard – it protects your teeth and prevents painful damage. It is small and portable and most patients find them very easy and comfortable to wear. In fact, most of our patients love them because of the relief and peace of mind they offer.

The Symptoms of Tooth Grinding and Clenching

While all of these do not necessarily indicate that you are bruxing or grinding at night, they are a pretty good clue! If you experience any of the following symptoms, please give my Holland dental office a call:

• Worn, chipped, broken teeth
• Flattened tooth surfaces
• Exposure of tooth layers and loss of enamel
• Tooth sensitivity
• Jaw pain
• Headache and facial pain
• Earache from jaw muscle tension and contraction
• A scalloped tongue or irregular tongue edges
• Damaged mouth tissue

Bruxism can also cause micro fracturing and sensitivity at the gum line, and it can even lead to chronic headaches and TMJ disorder. Not something we want our patients to deal with – ever!

Why am I Grinding my Teeth?

It can be hard to pinpoint the cause: It might be a result of a car accident or other injury. Sometimes chronic stress or medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, can trigger bruxism. Other times it is caused by poorly balanced dental work or missing teeth. Whatever the cause, if you clench or grind your teeth, you could be facing a long list of dental problems, including the painful effects of TMJ disorder or arthritis of the temporomandibular joints.

Let Us Help

I’d love to help you protect your teeth and let you get a truly relaxing night’s sleep. At my dental office in Holland, my team and I can fit you with a custom-made nightguard appliance that will reduce the damage to your teeth and protect your dental investments! If you think you might grind your teeth at night, call us today!
We welcome patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

At my Holland dental office, we’re all about creating beautiful smiles and keeping them healthy. An important part to overall oral health is a proper oral hygiene routine, and with that comes regular flossing. However, more than half of Americans don’t floss regularly, and a whopping 20% don’t floss at all. Why are so many people so against flossing? We dug up some research and found some of the main reasons people ditch the floss.  

“I Just Can’t Seem To Do It.”

Sometimes individuals with dexterity problems, especially those who have suffered a stroke, injury, or have arthritis, can have difficulty maneuvering the floss. But there are alternatives available. Floss picks, which are those little “Y” shaped plastic devices with a piece of floss strung between the tips, can work wonders. They make it much easier for our differently abled patients.

“I Don’t Have Time.”

While flossing may seem like a time-consuming task, if done properly, it should actually only take between three and five minutes. At first, it may take a bit longer as you get used to a technique that works for you, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Spending at least three minutes flossing can mean fewer dental problems, better check ups, and an overall healthier mouth.

“I Don’t Know If It’s Really Necessary.”

Flossing is crucial to proper oral health. Brushing is not even half the battle. If you don’t floss, all the spaces between the teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach aren’t cleaned, and bacteria is left to cause some serious damage. In fact, the most common place for cavities to form is between teeth. A lack of flossing could also lead to more serious problems.

“It Hurts and My Gums Bleed When I Do It, So I Don’t.”

Healthy gums don’t bleed or hurt when flossed. If your gums do, you should start flossing more, not less. Bleeding while flossing can also be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease not only affects your teeth, mouth, and gums, but also your overall health and has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.  

Flossing is incredibly important to a happy mouth and healthy body. If you’re having difficulty, want to learn more about the benefits of flossing, or especially if you are experiencing pain, give my dental office in Holland a call. We’ll be more than happy to work with you to find a great, personal flossing solution.
Accepting patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

Whether it was following a particularly garlicky meal, morning coffee, or a few drinks after work, everyone has experienced bad breath at some point in their lives. Usually, it’s nothing to worry about. However, when bad breath becomes an ongoing issue, there’s a possibility your mouth may not be in tip-top shape. At my dental office in Holland, we’d like to offer a few solutions to remedy bad breath and provide reasons why it could be pretty serious and should not be ignored.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath is caused by high levels of bacteria in the mouth. When bacteria feed on plaque, they produce hydrogen sulfide. It’s this byproduct that gives breath its stench.

Here’s How to Keep Bad Breath at Bay

1. Brush & Floss. You know brushing and flossing are what helps keep your mouth cavity-free and makes for good dental checkups. But it can also help rid your mouth of bad-breath causing bacteria. Make sure you’re brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time and scrubbing each surface of each tooth. Flossing at least once a day helps to reach those spots a toothbrush can’t.
2. Clear the Tongue. The tongue shouldn’t be ignored when brushing. Due to its texture of bumps and grooves, it makes it a favorite place for bacteria to burrow in and hide. You can help remove the bacteria by gently brushing the tongue each time you brush your teeth. If the brush isn’t an option due to a sensitive gag reflex, try a tongue scraper instead.
3. Drink H₂O. A hydrated mouth is a happy mouth, and a healthy one, too. Drinking plenty of water encourages saliva production. Saliva naturally rinses bacteria away and protects your mouth from bad breath. However, if a mouth becomes dehydrated and dry, it produces less saliva and increases the chance of bacteria lingering around.

Why Is Bad Breath Serious?

While staying hydrated and maintaining excellent oral hygiene can help keep bad breath away, it’s still very important to visit your dentist if it becomes an ongoing problem. Bad breath may be much more than embarrassing. It could actually be a sign of gum disease, which is serious.

If untreated,gum disease may cause increased sensitivity, receding gums, and tooth loss. But that’s not all. Gum disease can also lead to other problems throughout the body like increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Don’t let something that seems small, like bad breath, create a serious problem for your overall health. If you notice signs of chronic bad breath, schedule an appointment at my Holland dental practice. We’re here to help diagnose what’s causing it and work with you to cure it in a judgement-free, caring office. Give us a call today.

Serving patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

Osteoporosis is a disease that mainly affects women over the age of 50. But it can happen to anyone no matter age or gender. Osteoporosis causes bone density to decrease, making breaks and whole-body concerns much more common. At my Holland dental office, we want to talk about how your oral health may be linked to osteoporosis.

Your Mouth & Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects 10 million Americans, and there are 34 million more who are at risk. As with many serious diseases, early detection is key. You may not even know there’s a problem until it’s too late. Sometimes signs aren’t obvious. So how do you get diagnosed if you’re not experiencing any symptoms? Your dentist!

In fact, your dentist may be the first member of your healthcare team to catch osteoporosis. When patients visit the dentist, the team is not just looking at their teeth, they also look at x-rays. These x-rays provide a wealth of information about what’s going on below the teeth, including bone density, and show us signs you or your medical doctor may not see or notice.

Signs & Symptoms

While we will be vigilant at your exams, here are some of the signs and symptoms we encourage our patients to watch for:

• Loose dentures
• Tooth loss
• Bone loss around the teeth or in the jaw
• Gum disease

Prevention

In addition to maintaining visits to your Holland dentist, there are other preventive actions you can take to decrease your chance of osteoporosis.

• Quit Smoking
• Consume caffeine limitedly
• Lower alcohol intake
• Get out and exercise
• Get enough vitamin D and calcium

If you’re experiencing any signs of osteoporosis, visit your doctor. Even if you’re not having difficulty currently, make sure to keep up with your regular visits to my dental office in Holland. We actively look for signs of potential osteoporosis and may be the first line of defense against the disease.

Accepting patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

At my dental office in Holland, we get asked a lot of questions. And that’s ok. We know we sometimes use dentist speak, but we’re always happy to clarify and help make dentistry easier to understand. In this blog, we wanted to take some of the most frequent dental questions and answer them once and for all.

“Do I really need to see a dentist twice a year?”

The short answer is yes. Biannual visits are essential. However, we may encourage some patients to come in more often. If you’re at increased risk for gum disease or oral cancer, or if you have several treatments planned, visiting a dentist more than twice a year is normal. If your checkups are problem free, we’ll ask you to come back in about six months. Regular appointments are important for thorough cleaning and early detection. With early detection, you may avoid larger, more invasive, costly procedures in the future.

“Is flossing really necessary?”

Both brushing and flossing are crucial to a healthy mouth, yet about half of all Americans fail to floss on a regular basis. Without flossing, 35% of your tooth surfaces are not being cleaned. This allows bacteria to linger, food particles to fester, and decay to develop. Our best recommendation is to brush twice a day and floss once a day, at the minimum.

“I brush and floss, yet I still get cavities. What’s up?”

Brushing and flossing are only part of keeping decay and cavities away. If you have a diet that’s high in acidic foods or beverages, if you use tobacco, or if you are hard on your teeth, either by clenching, grinding, or crunching hard things, you’re automatically at increased risk for cavities. Acid eats away at enamel, and without enamel, teeth are left exposed to dangerous bacteria. Grinding and crunching alike may lead to tiny chips and cracks which are perfect places for bacteria to hide and create a cavity.

“What’s the purpose of dental x-rays?”

Dental x-rays allow us to see below the naturally visible surfaces of teeth. This helps identify potential problems early, before they become big problems. We can look at decay, bone infections, gum disease, and baby teeth patterns all by using x-rays.

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist, or if you ever have a question, just ask! We’ll be happy to help. Everyone at my Holland dental office isn’t only here to give you the care you need, we’re here to work with you to make sure all your questions are answered and you’re always comfortable.

Serving patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

Next time you’re about to brush your teeth, take a good look at your toothbrush. Does it look right? Is it time for a new one? How do you know? At my dental office in Holland, we’re here to help you determine when it’s time to replace your old toothbrush and why it’s important.

How Long Does a Toothbrush Last?

According to American Dental Association, a toothbrush is typically in good working order for about three-to-four months. Around this time, it’s common to notice signs that it’s time for your toothbrush to go.

Trash it or Keep it?

There are telltale signs it’s time to trash your toothbrush. If you’re coming up on that three-to-four month checkpoint, take some time to exam the bristles. Are they frayed? Discolored? Smushed? Jagged and pointing every which way? If your toothbrush is starting to resemble modern art, it has seen better days. It’s time to get a new one.

Sometimes your brush may appear to be in good working order, but you just battled a vicious cold. Again, toss it. Bacteria may linger around on the bristles. It’s best to start fresh following any sickness. But if you start to see the signs of a worn out toothbrush before the three or four month mark,you’re probably brushing too hard. Ease up a bit.

Why is This Important?

Toothbrushes are specifically designed to reach the nooks and crannies of your teeth gently and effectively. When the bristles get all cockeyed and frayed, the toothbrush isn’t doing it’s best job and leaves you at increased risk for dental problems.

How to Care for Your New One.

Once you’ve got a shiny new toothbrush, it’s important to care for it properly. Follow the tips below to keep your toothbrush in tip-top shape:

• Don’t share your toothbrush. Ever.
• Thoroughly rinse it after each use.
• Don’t store it in a container. Air drying is best.

In addition to taking proper care of your toothbrush, using it twice a day, and replacing it when necessary, it’s also crucial to maintain regular appointments at my Holland dental office. Professional cleanings help to remove debris and bacteria your regular toothbrush can’t reach. If you’re in need of a new dentist, or it’s been awhile since we saw you last, give us a call!

Accepting patients from Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland .