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My Blog
Posts for: September, 2017
Sending the kids back to school means it's time to start packing those lunch boxes! What your children eat and drink can have a big effect on their oral health. So it's important to know what the best choices are… and what to avoid. Here are some tips for sending your kids off with a tooth-healthy school lunch every day.
Tip 1: Avoid Sugary Drinks
The scientific evidence is overwhelming that sugar is the most important dietary factor in causing tooth decay, and soft drinks are the largest source of sugar in many kids' diets. Even natural fruit juices have unhealthy amounts of sugar. So when it comes to beverages, keep it simple: H₂0 is the way to go!
Tip 2: Get Creative With Shapes & Flavors
Healthy food that's low in sugar doesn't have to be boring! You can use cookie-cutters to shape calcium-rich cheese and whole-grain bread into flowers, stars — even dinosaurs. Unbuttered popcorn can be flavor-boosted with a dash of cinnamon or parmesan cheese. There are all kinds of ways to get creative.
Tip 3: Sweeten The Deal With Fruits & Veggies
While fruits and vegetables do have some sugar, they are a good choice for a healthy smile — and a healthy body. That's because they also contain plenty of water and fiber, which slows the body's absorption of the sugar… and even helps clean the teeth! Kids enjoy the naturally sweet taste of bite-sized fruits and vegetables like cherry tomatoes, baby carrots and seedless grapes. And the cheerful, bright colors of these nutritious little nuggets make them even harder to resist!
Of course, even with a healthy diet, your kids still need to practice good oral hygiene at home, and have regular professional cleanings at the dental office. If you have any questions about nutrition or oral hygiene, contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. And have a happy, healthy — and delicious — return to school!
Get to the bottom of your pain so you can find the relief you deserve.
Dealing with a nagging, painful jaw is nothing to scoff at. Anyone who deals with jaw pain on a regular basis may find it difficult to enjoy their favorite foods or may experience soreness just chatting with friends. If this is happening to you, our Andover, MA, dentist Dr. Richard Hopgood may have an explanation for what’s going on.
There are a few different reasons why you may be experiencing jaw pain, so it can be difficult to pinpoint the issue on your own without a little help from our Andover, MA, general dentist. Here are some common reasons your jaw may feel sore.
You are a Teeth Grinder
Most people don’t know that they grind their teeth, often because they do it in the middle of the night while they are asleep. Of course, during your routine dental cleaning, we may be able to see some signs that you grind your teeth such as excessively worn areas of a tooth. If you don’t get the treatment you need to stop this nasty habit then you may face other issues like sore, achy or painful jaws. Luckily, teeth grinding can often be managed by wearing a custom-made mouthguard while you sleep.
You Have a TMJ Disorder
This is another common problem that may occur for a number of reasons, from traumatic injuries to the jaw to structural imbalances. Along with jaw pain, you may also notice a popping or clicking sound when you open or close your mouth or while chewing. You may also experience headaches, earaches and even neck pain as a result.
You Have an Oral Health Problem
Of course, there are loads of other reasons why jaw pain may be present. While teeth grinding and TMJ disorders tend to be the most common, this doesn’t mean that an abscess (a dental infection), cavities or gum disease can’t also manifest jaw pain, as well. A misaligned smile may also put too much pressure on certain teeth, which can also lead to jaw discomfort.
As you can see, there are quite a few reasons why you may experience jaw pain. Isn’t it time you got to the bottom of your issues? Seek the care you need from Advanced Dental Concepts in Andover, MA. Call our office and schedule your next visit with Dr. Hopgood today.
When the multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and TV personality Jason Derulo was recently asked about his ideal woman, his answer covered a remarkably broad spectrum. "There’s no specific thing," he said, "so I think it’s unfair to say what my ‘type’ is." But it turns out that there is one thing the So You Think You Can Dance judge considers essential: A beautiful smile.
"I’m not into messy teeth," Derulo said. "If the grill has spaces and different colors, it’s not my vibe."
As it turns out, he may be on to something: A number of surveys have indicated that a bright, healthy smile is often the first thing people notice when meeting someone new. Yet many are reluctant to open up that big grin because they aren’t satisfied with the way their teeth look. If you’re one of them, consider this: Modern cosmetic dentistry offers a variety of ways to improve your smile — and it may be easier and more affordable than you think.
For example, if your smile isn’t as bright as you would like it to be, teeth whitening is an effective and economical way to lighten it up. If you opt for in-office treatments, you can expect a lightening effect of up to 10 shades in a single one-hour treatment! Or, you can achieve the same effect in a week or two with a take-home kit we can custom-make for you. Either way, you’ll be safe and comfortable being treated under the supervision of a dental professional — and the results can be expected to last for up to two years, or perhaps more.
If your teeth have minor spacing irregularities, small chips or cracks, it may be possible to repair them in a single office visit via cosmetic bonding. In this process, a liquid composite resin is applied to the teeth and cured (hardened) with a special light. This high-tech material, which comes in colors to match your teeth, can be built up in layers and shaped with dental instruments to create a pleasing, natural effect.
If your smile needs more than just a touch-up, dental veneers may be the answer. These wafer-thin coverings, placed right on top of your natural teeth, can be made in a variety of shapes and colors — from a natural pearly luster to a brilliant "Hollywood white." Custom-made veneers typically involve the removal of a few millimeters of tooth enamel, making them a permanent — and irreversible — treatment. However, by making teeth look more even, closing up spaces and providing dazzling whiteness, veneers just might give you the smile you’ve always wanted.
If you would like more information about cosmetic dental treatments, please call our office to arrange a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Cosmetic Dentistry — A Time for Change.”
