Thu 17 May 2012

Toothbrush Trivia from Your Ankeny Dentist

Posted by admin under General & Preventive Dentistry, Healthy Living
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A toothbrush is a seemingly simple little tool that we use every day (or at least, we should be using it every day!). Do you ever stop and think about where it came from? The drugstore from which you probably bought it obviously didn’t invent it. So who did? Test your knowledge with Dr. Amanda Foust’s toothbrush trivia!

1. The bristle toothbrush that we use today was first constructed during the 15th century.  What were the bristles made from?

a. Cotton

b. Pig hairs

c. Dried leaves

The answer is b, pig hairs! Around 1498, the Chinese came up with the idea of attaching coarse hairs from the back of a pig’s neck to a handle made of bamboo. Don’t worry, though, today’s toothbrush bristles are made of nylon. That’s a little better than pig hair, right?

2. How often should your toothbrush be replaced?

a. Every two or three months

b. Every week

c. Every four or five months

The answer is a, every two or three months. After a while, toothbrush bristles will simply wear out and lose their effectiveness. Plus, bacteria can build up over time, making your brush very unsanitary. (more…)

 

Thu 10 May 2012

Teeth Whitening in Ankeny Makes a Great Mother’s Day Gift

Posted by admin under Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening
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Show Mom You Care About Her Smile This Mother’s Day

Whether you realize it or not, your mother’s smile has probably meant a lot to you over the years. After all, her smile was most likely one of the first images ever in your brain. Maybe her smile encouraged you when you needed support or let you know someone cared. This Mother’s Day show your mom how much her smile means to you by giving her the gift of teeth whitening.

Teeth Whitening Produces Beautiful Results

One of the most sought after cosmetic dentistry services, teeth whitening improves thousands of smiles every year. A recent study by the American Academy for Cosmetic Dentistry discovered that the majority of those polled chose a whiter smile as the cosmetic improvement they desired most. Teeth whitening can improve almost anyone’s smile quickly with beautiful results. Our Ankeny cosmetic dentist, Dr. Amanda Foust offers whitening treatments to transform smiles.

Special Considerations for Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening in Ankeny is a simple process that delivers brilliant results. After a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Foust, your mom can determine the cosmetic treatment that is right for her. Some special considerations for teeth whitening include previous dental restorations. Since porcelain veneers, crowns, and dental implants are not made of the same material as natural teeth, these cosmetic restorations will not whiten the same as teeth. (more…)

 

Thu 3 May 2012

Protecting Your Tooth Enamel with Tips from Dr. Foust

Posted by admin under Bruxism, General & Preventive Dentistry
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What Causes of Tooth Sensitivity and Toothache?

Do you avoid eating ice cream because your teeth are too sensitive to cold? Does it seem like you need a filling every time you see the dentist? Since your smile relies on enamel to protect the sensitive pulp, tooth sensitivity and a prevalence of cavities are often signs of enamel erosion. Ankeny family dentist, Dr. Amanda Foust offers these tips for protecting tooth enamel and building back your smile’s defenses.

How Teeth Grinding Harms Your Health

If you wake every morning with ringing ears, feel a dull ache in your shoulders and neck, or experience frequent headaches, you may have bruxism. This condition involves conscious and unconscious teeth grinding which not only exerts stress on your neck and shoulder muscles but also wears away your tooth enamel. In fact, enamel erosion is why tooth sensitivity is one of the main symptoms of bruxism. When your teeth gnash against one another, the hard enamel meets its match and becomes weak. Extreme pressure throughout your sleeping and waking hours can wreak havoc on your oral and overall health. You can prevent teeth grinding during your sleep with nightguards. These mouthguards worn at night will keep your back teeth from touching and triggering bruxism.

How to Build Back Enamel Strength

Once enamel is lost to teeth grinding, harsh brushing, acid formation, or other dental health issues that wear away the protective layer, your body cannot reproduce enamel. Since the enamel layer is not connected to any living tissue, your body relies on mineral supplements to strengthen your smile defenses. Fluoride treatments are one of the most commonly used ways to enhance your enamel strength. This natural mineral combines with the outer layer of your teeth to make enamel thicker. Fluoride treatments in Ankeny are a great preventive measure for patients with bruxism, or patients who are more vulnerable to cavities. Children and patients undergoing orthodontic treatment are usually recommended fluoride supplements. (more…)

 

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