Oral Health

Here’s a question from Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati: how do you maintain your dental health? The first things that come to mind are probably brushing, flossing, and getting regular dental cleanings. You might also think of diet factors such as limiting sugary drinks and getting enough calcium.

When men and women are quizzed about preventative dental care, they rarely mention athletic mouth protection. But it’s a biggie.

Don’t Be a (Grim) Statistic

Did you know that over five million people per year experience tooth injury playing sports? Many of those injuries cause a tooth to be completely knocked out. Ouch!

Not only is it painful and traumatic, but a knocked out tooth is also time-consuming and expensive to restore.

An Indispensable Part of Your Sports Gear

An inexpensive protective mouthpiece can protect teeth during sporting activities. At Endres Gateway Dentistry, we advise our patients to include mouthguards as a key part of their sports equipment. That’s right. Your mouthguard should be in your duffel along with your football cleats and pads.

Mouthguards work:

Starting in 1962, high school and collegiate football players were required to wear face guards and mouth protectors. Since this requirement, the percentage of orofacial injuries in football has dropped from approximately 50% to one-half of 1%, depending on the study cited.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry counsels parents have children use mouthguards for all organized sports. That means gymnastics, skiing, and lacrosse—not just basketball, football, and wrestling.

Kids who complain about wearing mouthguards are more likely to wear one if it is comfortable and custom-fitted. If you or your child participates in sports, speak with us about custom athletic mouthguards. It may be the most critical dental decision you make this year.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, we offer family and cosmetic dentistry, and serve patients in Blue Ash, Loveland, Montgomery OH and the surrounding area. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242

It happens to everyone from time to time. Your teeth become sensitive to cold drinks. A tooth develops a dull ache. A sore on the gums doesn’t heal up. An injured tooth darkens. A pain develops in your lower sinus area. At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, we see these issues all the time.

They are definitely not situations where the “ignore it and it will go away” mentality is wise. If the pain is the result of a harmful infection, there are grave consequences of postponing treatment. Oral bacterial infections can destroy teeth, gums and jawbone and even lead to life-threatening sepsis. In fact, prior to the 19th century, tooth decay-related infection was a leading cause of death.

An oral infection doesn’t always cause pain. Bad breath, fever, swelling in the gums, glands or jaw, or a strange taste in the mouth can indicate the presence of an infection.

If an infection is caught and treated early, there may be no additional problems. However, usually the infection is the result of a dental trouble that needs to be treated. If the infection is caused by tooth decay, the decay will have to be removed and the tooth filled. If the decay has penetrated to the pulp of the tooth, a root canal may be necessary.

The infection may be the result of a pocket of undrained pus called an abscess. Pus is a by-product of the immune system’s efforts to fight infection and consists of dead white blood cells.

Mouth sores have various causes including an infection or virus. White patches in the mouth can indicate thrush (an oral yeast infection). All of these conditions can be treated – but you need to see your dentist.

If you have any signs of oral infection, or haven’t had a dental exam in the past year, please give us a call at Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati. We offer family and cosmetic dentistry, and serve the Blue Ash, Montgomery, and surroundings areas.

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242

Here’s a question for you, from the team at Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati: What comes to mind when you hear the term “healthy living?” A dinner plate with a grilled chicken breast and steamed vegetables? The sound of your feet rhythmically hitting the ground on your favorite jogging trail? A cholesterol test indicating that your arteries are in great shape?

If you pictured a white, healthy smile or a dental X-ray showing no dental caries, we salute you. We want everyone with a smile (that includes you!) to include dental health in your definition of “healthy living.”

When done properly and consistently, brushing and flossing are an essential component of everyday dental hygiene. Brushing should be done at least twice a day. We recommend a soft-bristled toothbrush to guard your gums. Brush your teeth in small, circular motions for 2-3 minutes and be certain you reach all the surfaces.

Flossing should be done once a day and is required for reaching the areas where a toothbrush cannot. A wide variety of floss can be found at Cincinnati stores, so experiment until find one you like.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, the dental health of each and every patient is our top priority. Services include family and cosmetic dentistry. We also serve the Loveland and Blue Ash areas. Schedule your next appointment today.

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242

At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, we urge people to come in twice a year for a dental checkup and cleaning.  If you skip twice-yearly dental checkups because you don’t believe you have any cavities, perhaps getting an oral cancer screening is a more persuasive reason to see your dentist regularly.

In the last few decades, lung and breast cancer have had a lot of public attention. There is relatively less awareness of oral cancer, even though it claims almost 10,000 lives every year in the United States. If you smoke or have tested positive for HPV, you have a higher risk for developing oral cancer.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry, we work to increase awareness of oral cancer and the importance of early diagnosis. Courtesy of the CDC, Oral Cancer Foundation, and Johns Hopkins Medicine, here are 5 important things to know about oral (mouth) and oropharyngeal (back of mouth and throat) cancers.

1. About 80% of people with oral cancer use some type of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).
2. 40% of people who receive late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer pass away within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.
3. In many cases, it is extremely difficult for the individual to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers because they can produce indistinct symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be examined by a dentist or doctor.
4. HPV (the most frequent sexually transmitted disease in the US) is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the various strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most regularly linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
5. Black males have a higher risk of dying from oral cancer than whites.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry, serving Cincinnati, Loveland, and the surrounding area, oral cancer screenings are part of our family dentistry. Other services include cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment with us today.

Sources:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/oral_health/oral_cancer_and_tobacco_85,P00900/

HPV / Oral Cancer Facts

https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242

Body piercings are a common form of self-expression seen around Cincinnati. This post from Endres Gateway Dentistry is for those who currently have an oral piercing or are considering one.

Since this is a dental blog, you probably expect us to raise all sorts of alarms warning of the dangers of piercings. You are right. Unfortunately, these piercings and the jewelry they accommodate can lead to serious problems with not only your teeth and mouth, but your entire body. These piercings can lead to tooth damage, dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, bone recession, compromised immune system function and, in rare cases, death.

In general, any oral piercing is going to open you up to an array of dangerous infections and complications. The mouth is full of germs and introducing foreign objects permanently is not natural for your body’s health.

A tongue piercing can bring about difficulty chewing with unnatural chewing patterns that may lead to swallowing problems. The jewelry produces excess saliva from the salivary glands, which throws off the natural balance of your oral cavity. Permanent nerve weakening, excessive bleeding, and allergic reactions can also occur.

Metal jewelry also can easily come in contact with your teeth, leading to cracked, chipped, or damaged teeth. Your teeth are built to last a lifetime. Chips, cracks, and enamel erosion compromise their strength and shorten their lifespan.

Complications with some piercings develop by the introduction of hepatitis and herpes simplex viruses, and even more complications have occurred with bacteria entering the bloodstream and eventually lodging in the heart valve. In rare cases, such infections are fatal.

Though not technically a piercing, some people drill small holes in their teeth to place rhinestones or other jewelry. Drilling into a tooth is harmful for many reasons, including damage that can make a root canal required. The jewel also can attract bacteria that can directly go into the drilled cavity of the tooth.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati and Loveland, we encourage ou patients with oral piercings to remove their jewelry before it puts their health at risk. However, if you have an oral piercing and plan to keep it, have scheduled dental cleanings and check-ups. Our services include family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment today.

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242

Even if you value a healthy smile, it’s easy to become somewhat lax about smile-friendly lifestyle choices. In this blog post from Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, our goal is for you to assess where you stand and examine whether you could step it up a notch. Committing to oral health best practices can prevent future problems and improve your quality of life.

Brushing

Good: Brush teeth once a day.
Better: Brush teeth correctly after each meal.
Best: Brush after each meal and floss properly before bed.

Dental Checkups

Good: See us if you get a toothache.
Better: See us once a year even if you don’t notice any problems.
Best: Twice-yearly, have an intensive dental exam and professional dental cleaning at Endres Gateway Dentistry.

A White Smile

Good: Use a whitening toothpaste.
Better: Use an over-the-counter whitening product at home.
Best: Schedule in-office teeth whitening treatment.

Missing Tooth

Good enough for some people: Ignore it. (We don’t recommend this.)
Better: Get a quality dental bridge.
Best: Restore your smile with a sturdy and natural-functioning dental implant.

Smile-Friendly Nutrition

Good: Eat a sensible diet.
Better: Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary snacks and beverages.
Best: Eat a nutritious diet, limit between-meal snacking, eat lots of calcium-rich foods, limit sugary snacks, abstain from energy drinks and soda, and sip water throughout the day to keep acid at bay.

For Young Smiles

Good: Never put your child to bed with a bottle. When your toddler starts drinking from sippy-cup, don’t let them sip juice or milk all day.
Better: Follow the previous advice and schedule his/her first dental checkup before the first birthday.
Best: In addition, ask us about dental sealants when your child is young.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati, we are dedicated to the best in dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242

This blog post from Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati explains how specific foods and eating habits influence our teeth.

The Sugar Problem
Sugars get converted by bacteria in the mouth to acids. It is the acids that begin to attack enamel and initiate decay for individuals of all ages. Fruits have high water content which can dilute the effects of the sugars they contain and get the saliva flowing so they aren’t really worthy of banishment. It’s the chocolate bars, hard candies, cookies, cakes and pies that are.

Acidic Food Coupling
Oranges, tomatoes, lemons and the like should be eaten as part of a meal to minimize the acidic effects. It is wise to eat a variety of healthy foods such as cheeses, chicken, other meats, nuts and milk. The calcium and phosphorus will encourage tooth remineralization.

Timing of Meals
The more often you eat the more frequently your teeth are subject to the decay process. This can be eased by selecting healthy snacks. And keep in mind, the later at night you eat the more likely you are to not only eat unhealthy foods, but to skip oral hygiene altogether.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry in Cincinnati we the dental health of each of our patients is our primary concern. We offer family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Endres Gateway Dentistry:

513-791-8880

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9380 Montgomery Rd Ste 204
Cincinnati, Ohio
45242