When my Utah County dental patients ask me if mouthwash cures bad breath, I tell them that treating bad breath with a mouthwash is like drenching yourself with cologne instead of taking a shower. Mouthwash is only a temporary mask for odor caused by poor oral hygiene, tongue bacteria, or digestive problems.

The best-selling mouthwashes in Utah County have a significant amount of alcohol, which can even exacerbate bad breath by drying out the mouth. Some bacteria grows even faster in a dry environment.

To eliminate bad breath, you need to find the cause. To get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between teeth, pay more attention to thorough flossing and brushing.

A haphazard thirty-second brushing won’t prevent halitosis (or cavities). Try to brush for at least three minutes. It may seem like overkill if you have been a speed-brusher but remember that there is a lot of area to cover on multiple planes.

Devise a system to brush every reachable surface of every tooth. Then floss carefully around every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides. Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also.

Schedule a deep dental cleaning at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry with the best hygienist in the Utah County area and request a refresher (no pun intended) course on brushing and flossing.

If your tongue is the culprit, you might want to start using a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping has become quite popular in Utah County, especially among the college crowd.

A tongue scraper is a cleaning tool that works like a squeegee to scrape bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

I am Drs. Chris Hammond of Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we treat many Utah County dental patients with bad breath. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. (Leaving bad breath untreated can be more embarrassing.)

Schedule an oral exam and halitosis consultation by calling 801-374-0070. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, our specialty is cosmetic dentistry and we also provide family dentistry. Thanks for visiting our blog.

Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry patients use the word “cavity” often when discussing oral health practices. Along with teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, cavities are a hot topic.

At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry we think it’s great that people in the Orem area are so conscious of their teeth, and we feel that having a better understanding of exactly what a cavity is will help them take better care of their pearly whites.

Cavities can also be called caries or tooth decay. When a tooth is permanently damaged in the hard surface, tiny openings occur. These little holes are cavities. Different factors that contribute to tooth decay are:

Frequent eating
Consuming sugary beverages
Oral bacteria
Insufficient tooth brushing and flossing

Cavities may get so bad that you will see pits or holes in your teeth, but symptoms may be more subtle, such as sensitivity, pain when biting, or a toothache. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should call your Utah County, American Fork, or Lehi dentist today for an appointment.

If you are in the market for quality dental care in the Provo area, give Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry a call. We have been treating dental patients in and around Orem since 1967. We can also answer any questions you have about cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers and dental implants.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E
Provo, UT
84604

Ouch! No Orem dental patient wants the pain and inconvenience of a cracked tooth, so today in the Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry dental blog we are going to focus on how to avoid this preventable problem.

The first thing to remember is that avoiding a cracked tooth is not rocket science; you should steer clear of chewing on hard things if you don’t want a cracked tooth! This includes ice, hard candy, and (sorry Lehi cinephiles) popcorn.

Also, protect against any impact to the mouth that could be experienced during sporting events. If you are a member of a local Utah County or American Fork rec center basketball, ultimate frisbee, or flag football league, pick up a mouth guard at a Orem area sporting goods store or get fitted for an Under Armour performance mouthguard at your dentist’s office.

Tooth grinding is never a good thing, and it can even lead to a cracked tooth or temporomandibular conditions. Talk to your dentist, doctor, or physical therapist and try some stress reduction techniques to keep your jaw nice and relaxed.

Be sure to keep your regular check-ups with your Lehi dentist because your dentist can spot possible problems that could predispose you to a cracked tooth such as an uneven chewing surface or brittle teeth.

If you have a cracked tooth, you’ll want to pursue the correct course of treatment and, if needed, explore some cosmetic dentistry procedures to fix any visible damage such as veneers, a porcelain crown, or a dental implant.

Hi. We’re Dr. Hammond of Provo. We practice general and cosmetic dentistry. Our practice, Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, offers the following services:

Sedation dentistry
Invisalign
Mini implants
Dental crowns

If you are in the Utah County, American Fork, or Lehi area and are in need of dental care or have questions about teeth whitening or smile makeovers please give us a call at 801-374-0070.

Most Provo residents brush their teeth (at least we hope so). However, there are many who brush improperly but don’t realize that their dental hygiene practices may be contributing to oral problems. They may pride themselves on their diligence, but frequency does not make up for incorrect methods. One of the most common errors – especially for young Orem dental patients – is quick, aggressive teeth cleaning with a hard bristle toothbrush.

There is a certain logic to this method; when you want to clean smooth surfaces like bathroom tiles, you scrub with a hard brush, right? The problem is that teeth and gums have special characteristics that require finesse. While enamel is durable, the soft tissues in the mouth are not designed for intense scouring.

If you use hard bristles against possible cavity makers, froth at the mouth, speed through those 30 inches of tooth surface, and spit everything out in less than a minute, this post is for you.

Effects of Quick, Hard Brushing:

• Decay from overlooked food particles
• Damage to teeth through abrasion
• Weakened enamel
• Tooth sensitivity
• Gum recession
• Damage to existing dental work
• Tartar build-up

The friendly dental hygienists at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo teach patients the proper way to brush teeth. With a slow, deliberate two minutes twice daily, you can take control of your dental hygiene, improve your oral health, and lessen the risk of future problems.

Smart Brushing Trumps Aggressive Brushing:
Plaque is soft enough to scratch off with a fingernail, so brush accordingly with soft bristles
Angling the toothbrush requires little effort with consistently cleaner results
Proper tooth brushing can prolong that fantastic professional-cleaning feel
Flossing is easier without sore, bleeding gums

If you have already damaged your teeth or gums through aggressive or haphazard brushing, it’s essential to fix those problems and get back on track. Call 801-374-0070 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chris Hammond of Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry. At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we provide individualized treatment for every patient’s dental issues and goals.

Ask us about any of the following services:

• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Dental Implants
• Porcelain Veneers
• Dental Crowns
• Invisalign Clear Braces
• Teeth Whitening

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604

The goal of preventative dentistry is to maintain oral health so that no restorative dental work ever becomes needed. In other words, preventing cavities, gum disease, and enamel wear. Dr. Hammond says, “Brushing your teeth and flossing is a good beginning to preventative dentistry. It is also imperative that you get bi-annual exams and dental cleanings. With little ones, dental sealants might be a good option.”

Dental sealants are a thin plastic covering, commonly used on the very back teeth. These teeth are especially susceptible to trapped food particles, and at the same time tend to be the hardest ones to brush. The goal of a sealant is to safeguard a tooth against decay, which is always preferable to filling a cavity.

Despite efforts to keep children’s teeth healthy, many Provo kids develop several cavities during their childhood years. Since the rate of tooth decay ordinarily declines with age, if teeth remain intact during childhood, there is a better chance that these teeth can stay healthy for decades.

Fillings, inlays/onlays and crowns do a great job at saving teeth from extraction, but they don’t last forever. When a 10-year-old gets a cavity in a brand-new permanent tooth, that tooth will probably need periodic attention throughout his life – even if no additional decay develops. Once the enamel has been eaten away by acids, the tooth is forever weakened.

Sealants act as a barrier between food particles, plaque, and the teeth. The good news is that sealants are easy to apply and last for years. After Dr. Hammond applies the sealants, they will be checked with each visit and re-applied as needed. If you are interested in sealants for your child (or yourself), check your dental insurance policy – they may be a covered benefit. Even if not covered by your dental insurance, sealants are a wise investment.

Brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings help ensure that teeth are strong and clean and will last a lifetime. Changing your toothbrush every few months and using a toothpaste with fluoride are also vital components of proper oral care.

Children should be taught how to properly brush while young. However, parents should still supervise brushing and go over the teeth after the child brushes. If your child struggles with flossing, a water irrigation tool may be useful. Floss picks can also be easier to handle than a string of floss. Traditional flossing done correctly, however, is the most effective way to clean between teeth.

Don’t believe that dentures are inevitable for people when they reach their golden years. We have some patients in their seventies with all teeth intact. Call Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry for an appointment. We can help you develop a plan to keep your teeth in top shape. Healthy, white, strong teeth are the foundation for a lifelong, unforgettable smile.

If your teeth and gums are healthy, but you don’t like your smile because of cosmetic issues, call 801-374-0070 to schedule a cosmetic dental consultation. Dr. Hammond offers cosmetic dentistry, along with sedation dentistry and Invisalign. Come learn about revolutionary cosmetic dentistry available at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604