Dental Health

For anyone who feels pain when sipping morning coffee or cringes each time you brush or floss, it may be a case of sensitive teeth. Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo is here for you.

The first line of defense against tooth sensitivity is proper oral hygiene. Incorrect brushing and over-brushing can result in receding gums, which causes the exposure of microscopic tubules in the dentin. When these tubules are exposed, acidic, hot, cold, and sticky foods can then reach the nerve cells in the teeth causing discomfort (who are we kidding—it’s pain).

Here in our Provo office, we can determine if your brushing style is contributing to your tooth sensitivity and get you on your way to proper oral care habits.

We usually recommend an over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste that lessens tooth pain after several applications. There are plenty of them on the market. However, some patients may need in-office procedures such as fluoride gel treatments.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, our team takes good care of you. Services include family and cosmetic dentistry, including porcelain veneers. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

This post from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo offers some answers to frequent questions about bad breath.

Q. My wife says my breath is terrible, but I brush twice a day. Shouldn’t that be enough?
A. Bacteria can multiply and stink in hidden crevices that can only be reached with floss. Time to start flossing. If your breath hasn’t improved in a few months, make an appointment so we can explore other possible causes of your halitosis.

Also keep in mind that brushing just the teeth may not remove food particles between the teeth and up in the gums. Gently brushing the gums, sides of the mouth and the tongue in addition to the teeth may make the difference.

Q. My breath seems to get worse during hay fever season. What’s up with that?
A. Allergies can change mouth odor in a couple of ways. First, anything that stimulates post-nasal drip can be a trigger because bacteria at the back of the throat mixes with the mucous and exudes a smelly odor as it breaks down. Second, hay fever medications often cause dry mouth which can bring about gross breath. Antihistamines can lessen post-nasal drip so this is a catch-22. If you take antihistamines, drink water frequently throughout the day to keep your mouth wet, suck on sugar-free mints to stimulate saliva production and rinse with a non-alcohol mouth rinse.

Q. What health conditions can result in bad breath?
A. As discussed before, any condition that lessens saliva production can cause halitosis. It is also a persistent side effect of diabetes, kidney failure, and liver failure. Of course, if your kidneys or liver is failing, you have bigger problems.

Q. Why did my breath become appalling when I went on a strict low-carb diet?
A. Ketones were most likely the culprit. Ketones are produced when the body digests fat—which is usually the goal of a low-carb plan. On the flip side, sounds like you weren’t cheating!

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, the dental health of each of our patients is always our top concern. Our services include dental implants and clear braces from Invisalign. Schedule an appointment today.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

Proper nutrition can benefit you in a number of ways: increased energy, improved immunity, glowing skin, mental clarity, and a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, we ask: how often do you consider how your diet influences your oral health?

What you eat affects your risk of cavities, enamel health, and gum condition. Healthy foods provide an environment that can prevent inflammation and infection. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts are the best choices for oral health. Calcium-fortified beverages, milk, and other dairy products provide vitamins, minerals, and calcium that aids in keeping teeth, bones, and gums healthy. Eating crispy fruits and vegetables, such as apples and celery, will help clean your teeth and gums.

A healthy diet contains all the essential vitamins and minerals, and the most important mineral for teeth is fluoride – especially for kids. Between the ages of 6 months and 16 years old, both the primary and the permanent teeth come in, therefore adequate fluoride is critical.

Don’t forget that too much fluoride is harmful. We can guide you on the perfect dosage of fluoride for your child, taking into account whether your municipal water is fluoridated.

Even though adults’ teeth have already formed, fluoride aids in remineralizing weakened enamel to a degree. This powerful mineral is applied to teeth during comprehensive dental cleanings at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry and daily with fluoride toothpaste.

Bacteria that causes enamel-destroying plaque love a steady diet of sugar—from soda, candy, and even fruit juices. When enamel wears away, the teeth become vulnerable to cavities, damage, and staining.

Sugary foods that are especially detrimental are those that get trapped in the spaces between teeth and the small pits and cracks in the molars. Candies that are chewy or hard can lodge in these spaces and allow for the harmful sugar to have direct contact with enamel until brushing occurs. Sticky candy can also damage braces and retainers. More than one retainer has fallen prey to sticky caramel or hard taffy.

Be sure to brush after each meal and before bed. In addition, remember to floss or use a water irrigating method to dislodge food particles trapped in spaces. By eating well, brushing properly, flossing regularly, and avoiding foods that stick to your teeth, you can have a beautiful smile for life. (And, hopefully, the physical energy to complement that pleasing smile and the energy to enjoy both.)

Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo offers a full range of dental services, including specialties like dental implants and porcelain veneers. Call to schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

A smartphone or tablet could be another vital tool to help kids create effective dental hygiene habits. In this post from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, we want to tell you about a game called Toothsavers, an app that focuses on dental health.

In the exciting Toothsavers game (designed for ages 3 – 6), children try to save characters from an evil sorceress who inflicts cavities and other oral ailments on residents of her kingdom. Players use their fingers to ‘clean’ the characters’ teeth in the game.

The game is designed to encourage pre-teens to brush correctly for two minutes twice a day, and to create awareness of the importance of proper oral hygiene.

Toothsavers was created by the American Dental Association and Ad Council in partnership with 35 other organizations.

“Mobile technology plays a major role in influencing young people’s behavior and is a great fit for this campaign,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “We’re thrilled to release our first mobile game, which represents our ongoing efforts to use technology to promote health, education and well-being. We look forward to using this app to help kids maintain healthy oral health habits, and have fun while doing it!”

The game allows young children to time and log their toothbrushing. It also has alerts to remind them when it’s time to brush. As part of the game, users watch engaging two-minute instructional videos while they brush their teeth (in the real world). A new character is unlocked each day a player watches a video while brushing morning and night. Best of all, the app is free! It can be downloaded at the App Store or Google Play.

Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo gives a thumbs-up to anything that encourages kids to develop good dental hygiene habits. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and more. Make an appointment for you or your kids today!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

Whenever you’re in the Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry office in Provo, we make sure to remind you to brush and floss every day. In general, we say brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss at least once. Too many patients heed that first bit of advice, but unfortunately ignore the second.

Flossing between your teeth is every bit as important to your dental health as brushing is, but it has a different role. Where brushing removes plaque from the surface of the teeth and along the gum line, flossing gets into the tight spaces between your teeth. It loosens the debris that always gets wedged in, and any plaque building up.

In short, it gets those places that your toothbrush can’t.

Should you floss before brushing, or after? The jury is out on that one. Some research suggests that flossing first can make brushing more effective. The idea is that after flossing, there is less gunk between your teeth. The fluoride in your toothpaste is able to get in there better.

Before or after – do whatever you prefer. Just don’t forget to floss!

We think of flossing as the detail work. Brushing gets most of the work done, but it takes floss to get into those tight places, and leave your mouth as clean as it can be.

That’s why, for the best of dental health, Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo urges you to brush AND floss. We provide a full range of dental services, including dental implants and porcelain veneers. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604