Having a beautiful smile takes daily commitment and dedication to practicing healthy brushing habits. Additionally, proper flossing plays a vital role in your dental health.

With many different types of floss on the market, however, you may have wondered which is the best floss for you. Two of the most common types of dental floss are waxed and unwaxed, and the truth is they both have merits.

Waxed Vs Unwaxed Floss

Although waxed dental floss is preferred by many patients, it can be too thick for some to use comfortably. Unwaxed floss is thinner and can be easier to get between your teeth. On the other hand, many say that waxed floss slides between their teeth more easily. Beyond this personal preference for waxed or unwaxed floss, there is no significant difference between the two. Instead, the most important factor in flossing is whether or not you are doing it properly.

How To Floss Properly

The most important characteristic of your dental floss is that you can use it actively, with ease and thoroughness, regardless of whether it is waxed or unwaxed. It’s just as important to floss correctly by using a strand about the length of your arm and moving down the strand after flossing each tooth, using a gentle back and forth motion. Avoid ‘snapping’ the floss between your teeth to prevent damage and curve the floss around your teeth to scrape gently at the gumline.

Choosing the floss that is best for you depends on much more than just its waxed or unwaxed quality and is more about personal preference. It needs to slide between your teeth easily, as well as appeal to any other personal preferences, such as mint flavoring. For more information about proper brushing and flossing habits, and recommended cleaning times, contact our office for a consultation.

Just like your bones, your teeth can have hairline fractures. These types of cracks can be caused by many different factors.

Eating hard foods, chewing on ice, or teeth grinding are the main causes of hairline cracks in many cases. Some people may not know they have a hairline crack, but there are ways to tell if you have one.

Things To Look Out For

One of the best ways to determine if you have a hairline crack is by the type of pain you feel in your mouth. Teeth that have hairline cracks present a unique pain compared to other dental complications. When you have a hairline crack, you will usually feel a sharp, stabbing pain when you bite down. This pain can range from mild to almost unbearable depending on how bad the crack is.

Another way to tell if you have a hairline crack is to examine your teeth. Hairline cracks may be hard to spot. However, you can spot them if you know what to look for. We recommend getting a flashlight to help you look at your teeth. Next, stand in front of a mirror and shine the flashlight towards your mouth. Hairline cracks will be more visible with the help of a light. If you have a hairline crack, you may see small cracks on the tooth that is bothering you.

It may not be possible to see the tooth with the hairline crack with just a flashlight. Fortunately, we’re here to help you. If you want to determine for sure if you have a hairline crack, call us and set up an appointment. We’ll be able to see if you have a damaged tooth and offer you solutions to fixing it. Hairline cracks can turn into larger problems if you wait, so please come in as soon as possible.

Green tea contains compounds that indeed appear to control inflammation and fight bacteria and are rich in antioxidants, which have many health properties.

Green tea is good for cavity prevention as it controls bacteria, lowers the acidity of saliva and dental plaque, and helps with bleeding gums and tooth decay. In addition, green tea’s anti-inflammatory powers help to control periodontal disease. Two similar studies found that those who regularly drank green tea had healthier gums than those who did not.

Green tea helps in the prevention of tooth loss. It makes sense that a substance that helps prevent cavities and gum disease will help keep your teeth clean. A study was conducted in 2010 in Japan. It was reported that men and women who drank one or more cups of green tea a day were more likely to keep their natural teeth and have fewer dental procedures than those who did not. Green tea has been associated with better-smelling breath. This is because the tea kills the microbes in your mouth, making your breath smell stinky. Properties in green tea outperform mints, chewing gum, and even parsley-seed oil.

Tips For Drinking Green Tea

Some helpful hints for drinking your green tea. It is safe to consume up to 5 cups of green tea daily. To receive the maximum health and flavor benefits, be sure to prep your tea correctly. Use filtered water, if possible, instead of from the tap. Bring the water to a boil, let cool for 3 minutes, then pour it over the tea leaves or teabag and let it steep, covered for three more minutes.

There are many good things about food and drinks you can eat and drink for your optimum oral health. Please call our office for some best tips and practices and any brochures and resources we may have to share with you.

You can get used to using your toothbrush for a long time. However, you still need to replace it after a while. How do you know when your toothbrush needs replacement? What are some of the telltale clues? The information below will give you what you need to know for better brushing and dental health.

When A Toothbrush Needs Replacement

A soft-bristled toothbrush is the ideal toothbrush to use to keep teeth polished and clean, and the gums and teeth free of the effects of abrasion. Soft-bristled brushes need to be replaced more frequently, because they are softer or flexible. Replace your brush if the bristles do not stand up straight or they bend over. Also look at the base of the brush. Do you see debris you cannot remove? If so, you should replace your brush. If your brush is in good shape, but you have been sick, you should replace your toothbrush.

Using your toothbrush again increases the risk that you will also get sick again. If your toothbrush sits next to another person’s toothbrush in your household and the brushes touch, replace both brushes. Bacteria can jump from one brush to the next, so keep your brushes apart.

Also, don’t use a brush that you have placed in a container or drawer, as the bacteria on the brush can grow. Replace your toothbrush if you have placed it in a place where germs can congregate. You have to remember that toothbrushes hold bacteria from our mouths. Therefore, they should be stored in an open space away from other toothbrushes.

The same is true of electric toothbrush heads. In either case, we recommend that you replace your electric toothbrush head or manual toothbrush about every three months under normal use. Doing so will prevent any problems with germs and keep your gums and teeth clean.

You can also improve your dental health with regularly scheduled office visits. Contact use today for an appointment and a cleaning. We can provide you with the professional care you need to support your at-home dental care.

Dental staining can develop because of the drinks we like. Many foods and beverages can lead to tooth staining. For example, coffee, teas, and colas cause staining and are some of the worst offenders.

If you like these drinks, you have to drink less and brush your teeth after consuming them. However, some habits are hard to break, and drinking coffee is one of them. The information below gives more details about what drinks cause staining and what you can do about it.

How To Reduce The Effects Of Stains From Drinks

You may drink coffee to give you a quick pick-me-up in the morning. However, this well-loved beverage will still stain your teeth. The acids in both coffees and teas strip away the enamel and leave dark stains in their wake. However, it is simply not practical to stop drinking tea or coffee. They are part of our daily ritual. To combat staining, you must brush your teeth after consuming a beverage, such as a coffee or a cola. You may also want to chew sugar-free gum. Doing so will remove some of the compounds that cause stains on the teeth.

Red wine is another drink known to cause tooth staining. That is because the beverage contains chromogens known to cause stains. In addition, both red and white wine are highly acidic, so even white wine can stain the teeth. Therefore, drinking wine leaves your teeth vulnerable to any other food that can also cause stains. Sugary drinks are yet other drinks that can discolor teeth. Energy drinks, sodas, and sports drinks contain acids and sugar that damage the teeth and leave them open to staining.

We can help you get rid of staining with an in-office whitening treatment. We can also suggest ways to improve the whiteness of your teeth with the use of crowns or veneers. So give us a call today for an exam and consultation. While you probably cannot give up coffee or wine, you can spend a couple of minutes brushing your teeth to prevent problems with erosion or stains.

We advise patients to take care of an impacted tooth immediately. This is a tooth that has not erupted in the gums. We have various ways to deal with the problem. Therefore, you need to come into our office and find out how we can help. The following information will also give you more insight into this dental condition.

What Is An Impacted Tooth?

An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not erupt as it should. As a result, it can be excruciating for some people. Impaction can also lead to infection and further pain. If the gum becomes inflamed and swollen, it can distress patients. An impacted tooth often results from overcrowding. Wisdom teeth called the third molars and upper canine teeth can frequently become impacted. If a tooth does not come in as it should, we have to treat the problem.

How We Treat Impacted Teeth

If you have impacted wisdom teeth, we usually extract them. Otherwise, an impacted tooth, such as a canine, is orthodontically treated. Often, we make a small cut and add a bracket to help the tooth emerge through the gum. This can become quite complex. Therefore, we need to take x-rays and plan a detailed treatment outline. If you don’t treat this problem, you can suffer from infections and, again, have issues with pain. Therefore, this is one condition you don’t want to take lightly. An impacted tooth can also lead to problems with cleaning your teeth, leading to decay and gum disease. Do you have an impacted tooth or teeth? If so, you need to see us immediately. We will do all that we can to accommodate your dental needs. Call us today to see how we can treat your impaction problem safely and efficiently.

Is your canine impacted? If so, we can help by giving you the dental relief you need. An impacted canine can affect the surrounding teeth and gums and make your teeth feel sore and uncomfortable. The following information will help you decide what to do if this dental currently affects you.

How Does A Canine Become Impact?

If your front teeth do not have enough room because of misalignment, you may not have enough room for your canines to come through the gums. When this happens, your dogs become impacted. The puppies, especially the ones on the top, are the second most common type of teeth affected. The first most common teeth are the third molars or wisdom teeth. If a wisdom tooth located in the mouth’s very back does not emerge, it is usually removed. However, the solution is not so simple when removing a canine tooth.

Why Upper Canines Need To Be Exposed And Aligned

It would help if you had your upper canines to ensure the proper alignment of the rest of your teeth. If the teeth become misaligned, you can suffer from uneven tooth wear, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, or bruxism (grinding teeth). In addition, if the canines are not exposed and corrected orthodontically, you have a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The maxillary or upper canines usually erupt when a person turns 13. They are needed to complete your smile. We create an incision before bonding a bracket onto the tooth to treat an impacted canine. The frame, affixed to orthodontic braces with a metal chain and rubber band, helps pull the upper cadogshrough the gum. The process may take a year before the teeth emerge. Would you like to get help for the misalignment of an impacted tooth? If so, contact our office about scheduling an appointment for an examination and professional cleaning.

The type of water you drink can affect your health. While water generally is good for the body, there is a constant debate on whether bottled water is a better choice. Your teeth and overall health can also be affected by the water you drink. It’s important to realize that bottled water has a time and a place for when to drink it. It’s convenient and portable, so it’s easy to bring around, but it’s vital not to make it your only water source.

Here’s Why Us Dentists Aren’t A Fan Of Bottled Water

There are specific contents of bottled water that can ultimately affect what happens to your teeth. Most bottled water brands have dangerous pH levels that can damage your teeth. It also generally lacks the essential fluoride that you need when staying hydrated. On a pH scale level of 0 to 14, the water you must drink should be at a 7. Going any lower could be acidic, and anything higher than an 8 is Alkaline. Enamel starts to erode at a pH level of 5.5, so avoid drinks that reach that low. Research has shown that the damage to your teeth increases with time. For example, as you continue to drink soda, it negatively affects your teeth if you sip it longer. Bottled water may seem cleaner, but general tap water will suffice to stay hydrated and avoid most dental issues.

Whether you decide to drink bottled or tap water, make it a goal to remain hydrated no matter what. Municipal water may be a better option for teeth, and you must look out for your dental health and make the necessary improvements.

Taking care of your teeth all begins with proper prevention and daily care. Our dentists will gladly work with you to help care for your teeth and for you essential knowledge on maintaining good dental health.

Pulpotomy and pulpectomy are dental procedures that remove decay or infection in the tooth pulp. However, both of these procedures are different, and it is best to inform yourself before treatment to know what to expect.

Pulpotomy Vs. Pulpectomy

During a pulpotomy, Carolina Smiles Family Dentistry will only remove the coronal pulp from the tooth. This is the top portion of the pulp above the gum line. The purpose of a pulpotomy is to ensure the tooth remains alive and vital, meaning it will have blood flow and sensation and respond to temperature.
This procedure can only be done if there is no spontaneous pain, bone loss under the tooth, or a tooth abscess. Most of the time, a pulpotomy is performed on the primary tooth, but it can also be done on permanent teeth, where the infection has only reached the top of the pulp.
Pulpectomy, however, is a procedure that excavates the entire pulp from inside your tooth, including the roots. This is done on a tooth that is non-vital and has dead or dying pulp. The goal is to clean the entire tooth chamber and the root canal and then disinfect, fill, and seal the cavity to prevent further contamination.
At Carolina Smiles Family Dentistry, and can determine whether your tooth pulp is alive and what treatment is best for you.

What To Expect During A Pulp Procedure

Both pulpotomy and pulpectomy involve a local anesthesia injection to numb the area near the tooth. We will then drill a hole in the tooth’s crown and clear out as much pulp as is required in both procedures.
After receiving a pulp procedure, you may experience slight discomfort due to the inflamed tissue. However, the pain is only mild and can easily be managed with pain medication.
Additionally, your tooth may be weakened or discolored, so you may also require an artificial crown.

The goal of both these procedures is to preserve your natural tooth, relieve pain, and restore the form and function of your tooth. So if we recommend either of these procedures, there is no need to feel alarmed.

If your tooth is severely decayed, chances are that you may require any one of these procedures. Call us at (803) 310-4707 to schedule an appointment today.

Are your gums hurting? Many people suffer from sore gums at least once a year. Your gums could be sore for a variety of reasons. While some of those reasons are normal, gum soreness could be a sign of a larger problem. Keep reading for more information on sore gums, and when you need to ask for help.

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There are several reasons that your gums might be temporarily sore. You may have a mouth ulcer on your gum, which can be very painful, but usually goes away in a few days. You may also be experiencing sore gums because you have a vitamin deficiency, or because you are pregnant. You might also get sore gums from consuming something hot or scratching your gums on something. Keep in mind, these problems are temporary and will go away on your own.

Other Causes

The major reason your gums are hurting is gum disease. Gum disease is a bacterial infection you have in your mouth. The early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, is easily treatable with good brushing, flossing and dental visits. Gingivitis will cause your gums to swell and bleed, especially when you brush or floss your teeth. You might also notice that your gums appear red or purple, and they may be swollen as well.

If you are worried that something is wrong with your gums, you will need to have them checked out. There are many reasons why your gums could be hurting, and once we figure out what the problem is, we can treat your gums. Do you have sore gums? Are you concerned about your oral health? Worry about your teeth and gums- and wondering how to fix the problem? Contact us today and let us help you figure out the cause of your gum pain.