It seems there’s one in every family. The minimizer. You know who I’m talking about. These stoic souls who say things like “it’s just a scratch” when you’re applying direct pressure to a serious wound. Or “it’s just a little toothache” when you can see pain etched deeply in the person’s eyes and grimace. Maybe that person is you. Whomever your family minimizer is, this handy guide can help you identify what is truly a dental emergency. And if it is, you need to call us and get in for some help!

A Loose or Missing Tooth

A loose or knocked-out tooth is usually the result from an injury in adults. Likewise, in children. Both are emergencies. If your tooth is knocked out, clean the tooth carefully with milk or water by holding the tooth by the crown (never by the root). Carefully place the tooth back and hold it in place with a rolled-up piece of gauze. A cold compress will help with swelling. If you can’t place the tooth back in its socket, place it between your cheek and gum until you get to the dentist. Contact us immediately.

A Severe Toothache

A severe toothache is one symptom that tells you something is wrong with your tooth. If the severity of the pain affects your ability to function normally, call us.

Tooth pain may be caused by a cavity. Cavities generally get more painful when heat or cold hit them. Chewing also causes pain.

Abscesses are another cause of severe tooth pain. An abscess is when a pocket of infection has developed around the tooth or at its root structure. Emedicinehealth.com notes other symptoms that may accompany an abscess are:

• Fever
• Swollen gum
• Pus and/or fluid present in the area of the painful tooth
• Redness or swelling of your gum, cheek, or face near the tooth

Severe tooth pain combined with these signs of infection need to be addressed by one of our expert dentists ASAP.

A Lost Filling or Crown

Losing a filling or crown can be extremely painful, because the underlying tooth will be sensitive to temperature. Pain is your emergency marker. If you lose a filling or crown, you can dab the sensitive area with oil of cloves. You may also wish to take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol. Contact us right away to get either a filling or crown replaced. You don’t want to be in pain.

An Impacted Tooth

An impacted tooth is a tooth that tries to break through the gum but can’t quite make it. Wisdom teeth and canines are the most common culprits for this problem. A child might get an impacted tooth if a baby tooth fails to fall out when it should or if a permanent tooth erupts in the wrong place. This crowds other teeth and can harm the roots of healthy teeth.

If biting and chewing become difficult, or swollen gums and pain accompany chewing, it’s time to see a dentist. Usually impacted teeth don’t arrive all at once, so regular dental care with X-rays will likely detect any potential teeth that could become impacted. But when it happens, it’s painful, and you need help. Call us.

A Cracked, Chipped or Broken Tooth

Whether it happened while binge-watching GOT with a bowl of popcorn or catching an elbow in a pick-up game of basketball, a cracked, chipped or broken tooth needs treatment ASAP. If your tooth damage is the result of a head injury, you should visit the emergency room first.

Cracked Tooth: your tooth may be sensitive and it is weakened. Although you may not need to come in immediately if you’re not in serious pain, call us to make an appointment to get it assessed and fixed. Be careful about chewing on this side or hot or cold liquids.

Chipped or Broken Tooth: It helps to rinse your mouth out with warm salt water. If there is bleeding, apply a rolled-up piece of gauze to tooth and gently bite down until bleeding stops. You may wish to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. A small chip is probably not going to cause you much pain, but it needs to be fixed to keep the tooth strong and prevent decay. A broken tooth may be jagged and sharp. Either can be painful. Call us ASAP.

Don’t Wait Until You’re in Serious Pain

It’s not just minimizers who too often ignore tooth sensitivity, hoping it will go away. We get it, you have busy lives. But tooth sensitivity can result from a variety of factors including worn tooth enamel and exposed tooth roots. Other causes include undetected cavities, cracks, chips, a worn filling, or gum disease.

If you have sensitivity, although it may not constitute an emergency, it is a red flag. Tooth sensitivity is your body’s way of asking you to make a dental appointment. And at Albuquerque’s Davis, Gribble, and Hollowwaa, we’re here to prevent dental emergencies when we can and treat dental emergencies when they disrupt your life.

Whether you are currently one of our patients or not, we’re here to help you in an emergency. Call us at 505-898-1976.

You know how it goes. A perfect day. The kids are running around having a great time. You’ve just stretched out under a shade tree with all children in your sights. You crack open your summer thriller, and within two pages—the SCREAM! Your son flies to you. Blood runs from his mouth. Excited children stream toward you. All have a story and need calming. Your son is now gulping tears in his panic. And you see it. A bloody hole where his front tooth used to be.

You’re a parent. An emergency expert. But even pros who pack the 3-Bs in their purses (Band-aids^®, Benadryl^®, and Bactine^®) can use the following pro tips to cope with kids’ dental emergencies.

When a Tooth is Knocked Out

The above scenario is a common one. In fact, nearly 50% of kids have some type of injury to a tooth during childhood.

Primary Teeth: If your child’s primary tooth (usually a front tooth) is knocked out, soothing the tears is the first and biggest job.

1. Don’t try to put the tooth back in. Doing so could harm the permanent tooth underneath. If you can’t find the tooth, your child may have swallowed it or even inhaled it. Inhaling a tooth is rare, but if choking or wheezing accompanied the injury, make sure you get your child to an emergency room for an X-ray.
2. Control the bleeding. Have your child gently bite down on a rolled-up piece of gauze or clean cloth.
3. Reduce swelling. You may also wish to apply a cold compress to the area.
4. Bring your child into the office for an exam. We’ll ensure the other teeth and underlying permanent teeth are okay.

Permanent Teeth: If your child loses a permanent tooth, you need to act quickly.

1. Recover and gently clean the tooth. Be careful to hold the tooth by the crown and not the root. Gently rinse off any dirt or debris without scrubbing or scraping the tooth.
2. If your child is old enough (and calm enough), carefully insert the tooth into its socket and have your child hold it there with gentle pressure. (Although this sounds like adding trauma to an already traumatic situation, putting a tooth back in within 5 minutes is your child’s best chance of saving that tooth. In fact, one report in the United Kingdom found that 85% of teeth reinserted within 5 minutes survived.) If the socket is too tender, placing the tooth in your child’s cheek pouch on the way to the dentist is fine, too. If your child is younger, place the tooth in a container of saliva or a bit of milk. Moisture is critically important for reimplantation.

Some things not to do:

1. Don’t wrap the tooth in a napkin or paper.
2. Don’t let the tooth dry out.
3. Don’t clean the tooth with soap or any sterile agent.
4. Roll up a piece of gauze and have your child gently bite down on it to help keep the tooth in place and control the bleeding.
5. Reduce swelling. Apply a cold compress to the area.
6. Call our office and get here ASAP!

Broken, Chipped, or Cracked Tooth

For any tooth fracture, it’s important to call our office. We can help you decide the seriousness of your child’s situation.

Primary Teeth: Broken primary teeth need to be assessed to determine if the tooth’s nerves and/or blood vessels are also damaged.

1. Collect any tooth fragments you can. Don’t try to put the fragment back in your child’s mouth.
2. Rinse your child’s mouth with lukewarm water.
3. Control the bleeding. Have your child gently bite down on a rolled-up piece of gauze or clean cloth.
4. Reduce swelling. You may also wish to apply a cold compress to the area. If the area isn’t too sensitive, you may give your child ice chips or a cold ice pop for swelling.
5. Call our office!

Permanent Teeth: Follow the steps for the primary teeth. Retrieving the broken piece is even more important for permanent teeth.

1. Retrieve the broken piece of the tooth. Make sure to briefly rinse the bit of tooth bit and place it in milk to transport it to the dentist.
2. Rinse your child’s mouth with lukewarm water.
3. Control the bleeding. Have your child gently bite down on a rolled-up piece of gauze or clean cloth.
4. Reduce swelling. You may also wish to apply a cold compress to the area. If cold doesn’t irritate the area, you may give your child ice chips or a cold ice pop to quell swelling.
5. Call our office!

Loose Permanent Tooth

A permanent tooth loosened by trauma needs prompt treatment.

Yay! Your child didn’t lose his tooth, but that loose permanent tooth may require stitches or splints.

1. Rinse your child’s mouth with lukewarm water.
2. Control the bleeding. Have your child gently bite down on a rolled-up piece of gauze or clean cloth.
3. Reduce swelling. Apply a cold compress to the area. If the area isn’t too sensitive, ice cubes or a cold ice pop can also help reduce swelling.
4. Call our office ASAP!

Cuts and Wounds of the Mouth and Lips

There will be blood.

The mouth is endowed with a rich blood supply. When trauma occurs to the lips, gums, and mouth, small wounds can really bleed and heighten anxieties about the severity of the wound.

1. Calm your child. Remember, your verbal and non-verbal communication will either help your child relax or elevate the panic. It’s time to act like blood is no big deal, even when your inner mother or father is having a full-tilt freak out.
2. Apply pressure with a clean cloth—any clean cloth. Do this for several minutes. Don’t rub.
3. Wash your hands as soon as you can
4. If the wound is on the outside of the mouth, clean it gently with soap and water once the bleeding has stopped.
5. Apply antiseptic lotion or cream.
6. Reduce swelling with a cold compress. Good time for an ice pop or ice chips to suck on.

Tongue Bites or Inside Lip Bites

If the wound is inside the mouth:

1. Rinse your child’s mouth with water. Examine the extent of the injury. Injuries that may require stitches include a cut that extends through the lip or across the edge of the tongue. For these kinds of wounds, you should seek emergent care.
2. Stop the bleeding. Apply pressure with a rolled-up piece of gauze or clean cloth.
3. Reduce swelling. Wrap a piece of ice in gauze or a clean cloth and hold it next to the wound. If the wound is small, an ice pop is a bonus.

A Word about Head Injuries

Most dental emergencies aren’t tied to serious head injuries. However, if your child’s dental emergency is the result of a head injury, that head injury takes precedence over dental concerns.

The Mayo Clinic provides a good list of symptoms to watch for. If your child experiences any of these symptoms after a head injury, call 911 immediately and keep your child still until help arrives.

• Bleeding or fluid leakage from the nose or ears
• Severe headache
• Change in level of consciousness for more than a few seconds
• Black-and-blue discoloration below the eyes or behind the ears
• Cessation of breathing
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Weakness or an inability to use an arm or leg
• Unequal pupil size
• Slurred speech
• Seizures
• Persistent crying
• Refusal to eat
• Bulging in the soft spot on the front of the head (infants)
• Repeated vomiting

An Ounce of Prevention

Kids are going to be kids. We can’t protect them from all harm. Having said that, some dental accidents can be prevented.

1. Insist on mouthguards for sports. A broad analysis of mouthguard effectiveness showed that players who did not wear mouthguards had a 1.6-1.9 times greater risk of dental injury.
2. Teach your children not to walk or run with objects in their mouths.
3. Teach your child not to suck or chew on hard or pointed objects.
4. Model for your children that your teeth are not scissors.
5. Keep your children’s teeth strong and healthy with regular brushing, flossing, and checkups. Also, don’t let a small pain go unattended. That could be a cavity that ends up weakening your child’s tooth.

We’re Here When You Need Us

At Davis Gribble Hollowwa Dental, our emergency dentists are on call.

Our administrative team is thoroughly trained to assist you by phone in an emergency. If you’re not sure your child’s situation warrants an immediate office visit, our staff will talk to you to determine if your child needs to be seen immediately. If your little one does need to be seen, we will contact one of our caring and experienced dentists to help treat the emergency and alleviate your pain as soon as possible.

And don’t worry if you’re not one of our existing patients. Nobody should be in pain.

Experiencing a dental emergency? Call us immediately at 505-898-1976.

Learn more about our emergency services

Your eyes may be the window to the soul, but your mouth is the window to your overall health. Believe it or not, your general health is directly affected by the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums. Good dental health is essential for a high, pain-free quality of life.

Maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile starts early. Since children are more at risk than any other age group for tooth decay, it’s important that your child has regular dental check-ups. Although a trip to the dentist may not be on your agenda for the summer, here are a few reasons why you should schedule your child’s summer appointment sooner rather than later.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Regular dental checkups can help prevent painful and costly restorative work down the road. Taking your child to the dentist every 6 months may seem unnecessary, especially if they practice good dental hygiene, but frequent visits are essential to the health of developing teeth. Most importantly, these appointments check for more than just cavities. During each checkup, dental hygienists and dentists examine your child for a variety of oral health issues including:

• tooth decay
• oral cancer
• gum disease
• TMJ disorder

Besides daily brushing and flossing, regular dental checkups are one of the best ways to prevent expensive problems from developing.

Starting Young Creates Excellent Dental Habits

Dentophobia, or fear of dentists, is a real phobia among people of all ages. While getting over this fear is difficult, preventing it is easy. By taking your children to the dentist frequently, and starting at a young age, your children will build a relationship with the dental staff and learn that the dentist’s office is not a scary place.

Cavities often appear in hard-to-brush places and are usually caused by improper tooth brushing. During regular checkups, dentists help educate your children on oral hygiene habits such as the importance of flossing, how to brush teeth properly, and brushing techniques. These lessons promote lifelong habits that children will carry with them into adulthood.

Wisdom Teeth Removal is No Walk in the Park

Getting wisdom teeth removed is almost like a rite of passage for teenagers. Although no one ever looks forward to wisdom teeth extraction, not removing them can be even more unpleasant. Wisdom teeth can cause other teeth to become misaligned or overcrowded. You don’t want to spend money on braces for your teen just to have their wisdom teeth ruin the results!

Wisdom teeth extraction is a very common procedure, but every case is different. Most teens recover in three to four days, yet other teens can take up to a week. Recovery from wisdom tooth removal can involve facial swelling, bruising, and post-operative pain. These side effects are much easier to handle at home during the summer when your teen doesn’t need to worry about missing school or facing their peers with chipmunk cheeks.

It’s Not Too Late – Schedule Today

Summer is a great time for fun activities, vacations, and dental checkups. At Davis Gribble Hollowwa Dental, our family dentists will create a comfortable and relaxing dental experience for your child. Contact us to schedule your child’s summer appointment today!

The pain started during her favorite movie–Casablanca. She needed to relax, so with a bowl of popcorn, she settled in with the characters at Rick’s Café Américain. While immersed in the 1941 lives of expats, refugees, Vichy French, Nazi scoundrels, and resistance heroes, she noticed her jaw ached. Soon a sharper pain began radiating up to her ear on one side. By the time Rick put his beloved Ilsa on that plane to Lisbon, the jaw joint seemed to click hard, almost locking. She found it difficult to open her mouth very far. How could a little popcorn and a favorite movie cause all that? She had heard about TMJ. Was it that?

Although there isn’t a standard definition for TMJD, which stands for temporomandibular joint disorder, at first glance our Casablanca-loving popcorn muncher appears to be one of over 10 million Americans who suffer from TMJ Disorder. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves with an Internet diagnosis. Let’s discuss what the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is, what can cause problems with the TMJ, symptoms of TMJ Disorders, and how we can alleviate these symptoms.

Of All The Temporomandibular Joints In All The World…

Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are true engineering marvels. You’ve got two, one on each side of your head. Not only do these joints connect your lower jaw to the bones at the side of the skull, they also act as flexible sliding hinges. Place your fingers on both sides of your head about an inch in front of the bobble of your ears. Move your lower jaw up and down and side to side. Those simple actions require muscle, ligaments, the rounded ends of the lower jaw called condyles, and way-cool elastic cartilage shock absorbers called articular discs to work together.

TMJ Disorder Causes–As Time Goes By

It should be no surprise that the older this engineering marvel gets, the more likely some parts will go awry. After all, it’s the most used joint in the body. Although TMJ disorders can occur at any age, the risk increases dramatically between the ages of 20 and 40. According to Tooth Wisdom, age-related factors that affect how well the temporomandibular joints work include:

• Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis which affects your body’s joints.
• Dental changes. As you age, you are more likely to have dental work, such as tooth replacement, crowns, dentures, etc. People’s teeth also wear down as they age, which can change their bite and chewing patterns.
• Medical conditions that cause pain and muscle spasms in the head, neck, and jaw.

Other Causes Of TMJD–Round Up The Usual Suspects

Trauma Can Lead To TMJ Disorder

• Bruxism. Teeth grinding can often result in muscle spasms, specifically the muscles that control the temporomandibular joint. People who grind their teeth usually do so when sleeping. Jaw clenching often accompanies bruxism. Over time, this stresses the temporomandibular joint and tooth height and alignment. Inflammation and pain follow.
• An impact to the jaw. Any accident, punch, break, or dislocation of the TMJ can cause damage to the shock-absorbing disc that is integral to the working of the jaw’s movement. Pain in the TMJ can be brought on by dental work whereby the joint is stretched open for extended periods of time. Massage and heat application after the dental procedure can be helpful.

The Fundamental Things Apply—Symptoms And Women

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, TMJ disorders affect 5 to 12 percent of the population at any given time. Extensive research suggests that the disorder is 1.5 to 2 times more prevalent among women, who comprise 80% of the patients who seek treatment. For women, TMJ pain often occurs after puberty and peaks in the reproductive years, with the highest prevalence occurring in women aged 20-40. And 85% of patients with TMJ disorders also experience other painful conditions. To name a few, these include chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. Because women are exclusively or over-represented in these as well as TMJD, researchers are looking for common threads like hormones that underpin these conditions.

The Mayo Clinic lists the following as the most common symptoms of TMJ disorders:

• Pain or tenderness of your jaw
• Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
• Aching pain in and around your ear
• Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
• Aching facial pain
• Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth

The good news is that if you experience any or some of these symptoms, know that the pain is usually temporary.

How We Treat TMJ Disorders

We believe in taking a conservative approach to treating the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder. However, pain isn’t fun. Make an appointment to see one of our dentists. In the meantime, we recommend soft foods, ice packs, and an over-the-counter pain medicine such as Tylenol or Advil. Avoid gum and crocodile yawns.

1. Initial Evaluation. We will look at your jaw to see if your pain is coming from the bones, the joint, the muscles, the teeth, or any combination of the four.
2. Jaw splint. If we determined you are suffering symptoms of TMJ disorder, we may use a splint for your jaw. This is really a type of mouth guard that stabilizes your jaw and reduces your discomfort.
3. Aqualizer. If you have a more acute case, we may recommend wearing a device called an Aqualizer for one to two weeks. This is a fluid filled pouch–similar to a tiny waterbed that fits inside your mouth. The Aqualizer helps stabilize your jaw like the splint. This can help decrease the pain.
4. Medication. We may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug or muscle relaxant to help decrease inflammation or relax the muscles around the jaw.
5. Heat therapy. Sometimes we use a laser to focus heat directly onto the region of the jaw muscle or joint. This increases blood flow to ease pain and tension.

I Think This Is The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship

If you are suffering from jaw pain, contact us to set up an appointment. We will create a treatment plan for TMJ disorder that can help reduce the pain, so you can get back to living your life. We’ll get you back to your favorite activities and films quicker than you can say “here’s looking at you, kid.”

I’ve been thinking I may need to break up with sugar.

“But, you and sugar have been together for decades,” friends say. “You love sugar! Wasn’t sugar there for you at every holiday? Isn’t it sugar you turn to when you’re tired or stressed out? I can’t believe you’re thinking of abandoning the very partner that sweetened every calamity and triumph in your life!”

Yeah, but I’m feeling like sugar fatally attracts me. Even when I’m not seeking it out, there it is, lurking in my ‘healthy choices’ like low-fat yogurt, granola, and protein bars. The other day, I found sugar hiding in my vitamin water–after I’d just worked out! And yet, the more I try to break away from sugar, the more I crave its sweet charms.

It’s Time to Reassess our Relationship with Sugar

Any healthy relationship has balance. Some sugar in the diet is not a problem. But Americans now consume on average 57 pounds of added sugar per person annually. That translates to 17 teaspoons every day. That’s nearly triple the American Heart Association (AHA) recommendation of 6 teaspoons for women and nearly double the 9 teaspoons for men. And when your teen power slams a 12-ounce can of Coke, which contains about 9 1/3 teaspoons of sugar (39 g), your child has not only exceeded the AHA recommended daily limit (less than 6 teaspoons per day), but also the no more than 8 fluid ounces of sugary beverages per week recommendation. The sad truth is that toddlers now consumer more sugar than the recommended amount for adults.

Added sugars. Processed foods and beverages have sugars and syrups added to them. These added sugars do not include sugars that occur naturally, like those in milk (lactose) and fruits (fructose).

Sugar is Sneaky

We eat sugar when we don’t know we’re eating it.

Sugar in cookies and ice cream comes at us in honest garb. Unwrap a Reese’s 2-pack of Peanut Butter Cups, and you’re fully prepared for that 5 ½ teaspoons (22 g) of sugar. But a lot of our daily sugar comes disguised as highly processed foods. Worse yet, sugar goes by different names like glucose, sucrose, or the hip HFCS for high-fructose corn syrup. Busy people drop their guard when grabbing quick a jar of Ragu Chunky Tomato, Garlic, & Onion pasta sauce, which packs a whopping 3 teaspoons (12 g) of sugar per ½ cup serving. Sugar even sneaks into your canned soups. If you lovingly complement your kids’ grilled cheese sandwiches with Campbell’s Slow Kettle Style Tomato & Sweet Basil Bisque, you’ve just offered up 10 ¾ teaspoons (43 g) of sugar in just the soup alone! And sugar hides in healthy organic soups, too. A one-cup serving of Amy’s Organic Black Bean Vegetable Soup contains 1 ¾ teaspoon of sugar (7 g).

Condiments are a sweet cover.

Although you’d never sprinkle sugar onto your hotdog, when you squeeze Heinz Ketchup onto that dog, you’re adding 1 teaspoon of sugar (4 g) for every tablespoon serving. Prefer barbeque sauce? Kraft’s Bulls-Eye Barbeque Sauce will add 3 teaspoons of sugar for every 2-tablespoon serving.

Sugar hides in even the healthiest sounding salad dressings.

Who would suspect you’d find 3 teaspoons (12 g) of sugar (high fructose corn syrup) per serving in the benign-sounding Ken’s Fat-Free Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette? Or Ken’s Steak House Fat-Free Raspberry Pecan that courts you with its fat-free promise, but delivers you 2 ½ teaspoons (10 g) of sugar per serving?

After surveying these covert ways sugar hides in our foods, it should be no surprise that the United States is top among nations in daily sugar consumption. And it’s damaging our health.

Sugar and Your Teeth

With all the foods we eat throughout the day that contain sugar, it’s no wonder that 92% of adults in the U.S. have experienced tooth decay. Here’s how it works. You eat sugar. The bacteria in your mouth like sugar, too, and they gobble up sugars or carbohydrates. Within about 20 seconds, the bacteria have digested those sugars, discarding acid onto your teeth. That acid not only attacks your tooth enamel, it lowers the pH level in your mouth. The lower the pH, the better the acid can work to weaken the enamel.

It takes about 20 minutes for our saliva to recalibrate and neutralize this sugar-caused pH drop. So, with every sip of soda, every snack, every bite of sugary processed food or even salad dressing, your hard-working saliva has to start all over. Meanwhile, while the pH is low, the acids are wearing away at your enamel. Your teeth are under attack the entire time you’re grazing on high-carb sweets or drinking sweet drinks.

Sugar and Your Health

Sugar may be breaking your heart.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found a “significant relationship between added sugar consumption and increased risk for CVD [cardio-vascular disease] mortality.” Even among children, a diet full of added sugar increases a child’s risk of “developing obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity-related cancers, and dental caries.”

Sugar may be sabotaging your attempts at maintaining a healthy weight.

Why? Because sugar spikes your blood sugar and then tells your body to store all that excess energy as fat. In fact, in a recent review of 68 studies published in the British Medical Journal, researchers found the more sugar a person consumed, the more they weighed. Plus, these studies evidenced a “consistent association” between a high intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and the development of obesity.

As bad as it is, sugar doesn’t cause diabetes.

If you’re consuming a lot of calories (including those from sugar), you’re likely to gain weight, and weight gain increases your risk for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a number of factors including genetics and lifestyle factors. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and factors that are still being researched.

How to Limit Sugar’s Power Over You

Whether you guzzle Coke when barbequing or a binge queen who straightens pie edges until they’re gone, you’ve probably developed some specific behaviors with sugar that you may wish to reconsider. Here are recommendations by the American Heart Association that will help you reduce your sugar intake:

1. Drink water instead of soda. Keep an insulated water bottle handy wherever you go, so you’ll always have the option of a cold drink when a soda tempts you.
2. Eat fresh or frozen fruits instead of fruit juices. Fruit juices are acidic and often have added sugar, which lower the pH of your mouth, making your teeth vulnerable to damage.
3. Read food labels! Look for healthy fats and lower amounts of added sugars.
4. Add fresh fruit instead of sugar to your oatmeal.
5. Try spices like fresh ginger to enhance food flavor.
6. Use unsweetened applesauce instead of sugar in recipes.
7. Toss the table sugar. Cut back on the amount of sugar you add to coffee, tea, or cereal. Start by using half as much as you usually do, and then wean down from there.
8. Beware of relying on artificial sweeteners. These create a host of other problems.

Your oral health is integral to your overall physical and mental health.

If sugar is negatively affecting one part of your health, it’s time to rethink your options. Small changes can lead to big improvements.

At Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we can help you jump-start your new take-charge lifestyle with a dental cleaning and/or fluoride treatment. We are here to support you as you strive toward optimal health! Call today for an appointment.

Holiday joy often arrives with stress. After all, you’ve searched for and wrapped “just the right gift” for each family member. The house is drop-in-guest spotless and decorated so tastefully that Martha Stewart would want a selfie in your living room. Guests! Your in-laws arrive Thursday to be followed by your brother and his new gluten-free girlfriend. And do you have enough extra coats for these relatives who think December in Albuquerque is like Palm Springs?

While standing in a grocery checkout queue, your jaw aches up into your ear. You’re grinding your teeth. And what’s that new bump on your tongue? Ugh, a canker sore. A Ramones’ Christmas song blares suddenly over the store’s loud speakers, following a sedate Silent Night. The woman in front of you has a stack of coupons. Your jaw tightens. You love the holidays. The Ramones. You love your family. Reindeer. Lights. All of it! But your teeth are telling you, honey, you are stressed out!

Your Teeth Say You’re Grinding Them Down, Too

While you’re grinding yourself down to make the holidays perfect for everyone, you may be doing the same to your teeth. Bruxism, teeth grinding and jaw clenching, can occur when asleep or awake. It is a common sign of stress, and it’s hard on your teeth. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of bruxism include:

• Flattened, fractured, or chipped teeth
• Worn tooth enamel
• Tooth sensitivity
• Tight jaw muscles and jaw pain that feels like an earache
• Problems sleeping

Unfortunately, drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages only make teeth grinding worse, so that glass of wine you’re dreaming of once you get those groceries unpacked may be counterproductive. Also, smoking makes bruxism worse. But then, smoking makes your health worse all the way around. Another good reason to stop.

Don’t let possible bruxism go on too long. Our dentists can evaluate any indicators of bruxism and whether you have tooth damage or enamel erosion. Sometimes a simple mouth guard for sleeping will help. Of course, getting to the root of the stress is key.

Studies Show Stress Linked to Canker Sores

It should be no surprise that canker sores often show up for the holidays. The small lesions, called aphthous ulcers, are non-lethal warnings that your ignored body is sick of you offering up too little sleep and too much food while prancing around like a reindeer on Red Bull. Although various studies link stress to canker sores, research has identified no single cause. Studies do identify factors that can trigger canker sores:

• Anxiety and depression. One study in the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine found a high correlation between anxiety, depression, and psychological stress with symptoms of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) or canker sores. Other studies have likewise found stress associated with RAS.
• Soft tissue injuries. And the injury doesn’t have to be caused by something as dramatic as a broken tooth or dental restoration. Sometimes food as benign as a tortilla chip can poke soft mouth tissue and trigger a canker sore.
• Biting the inside of your lip or cheek can also trigger an attack. You might do this inadvertently when chewing. Or, if you bite the inside of your cheek when anxious, you may develop canker sores as a result.
• Spicy, overly salty, and acidic foods. Watch out if you over-do it on satsumas that are popular during the holidays, for the citric acid can make you more susceptible. Other highly acidic foods include pineapples, lemons, grapefruits, fresh figs, tomatoes, and strawberries. A deep dive into the Chex Mix won’t help either.
• Vitamin or mineral deficiency. You may need to add more iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid to your diet. A balanced diet of dark leafy greens, lots of green vegetables, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, lentils, and nuts help.
• Medications. Talk to your doctor if you start getting canker sores when on a new prescription to treat cancer, heart disease, hypertension, or inflammation.
• Being female. Hormonal fluctuations tied to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can trigger canker sores.

The good news is that most canker sores hurt for a short time (7 to 10 days) and usually heal completely within three weeks. Simple home remedies can alleviate a lot of your discomfort. Try rinsing your mouth with a solution of 1 t. of baking soda and ½ c. of warm water. While at parties, let ice chips from your drink slowly melt in your mouth against the lesions. No one will know. They’ll think you’re in deep thought.

Over-the-counter and prescription products can also help relieve pain and speed healing. If you’re really miserable, the Mayo Clinic recommends considering products with:

• Benzocaine
• Fluocinonide
• Hydrogen peroxide

Talk to your doctor or make an appointment with one of our dentists for advice on which product may be best for you. And, remember, canker sores inside the mouth are not the same as highly contagious cold sores, which occur outside the mouth and are caused by the HSV-1 virus.

Manage Stress During the Holidays by Giving Yourself a Present

When stress negatively affects your health, including your oral health, you need to act. Don’t wait until the holidays are over. Give this PRESENT to yourself—every day.

• Pretty Good: Shoot for pretty good instead of perfect. Perfectionism has stolen more holiday joy than the Grinch. Cut yourself some slack. No holiday is perfect.
• Respect: Respect your time and your energy by politely saying ‘no’ sometimes. If you need a reminder, put on Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” She’ll remind you.
• Exercise: Walk the dog, swim, do yoga, dance around your house while you clean. Just get moving! You need the endorphins.
• Sleep: Get enough sleep. Respect your body. Get to bed earlier.
• Eat One Healthy Meal Daily: You’re going to nosh. It’s the holidays. Taste the treats, just don’t make a meal out of them. Nourish yourself with at least one healthy meal daily. Brush frequently.
• Nightly Routine: Keep your nightly oral care routine, no matter how tired you are. That means brushing long enough and flossing.
• Thankfulness: Show people in your life you’re thankful for them. Showing others appreciation and gratitude can change attitudes and lives. And doing so makes you feel better, too.

Happy holidays from all of us at Davis, Gribble, and Hollowwa! We are thankful for the smiles our patients bring us every day.

Vampires, pirates, and even T-Rexes will soon roam Albuquerque’s streets. As frightening as that prospect sounds, it’s what’s in their bags that’s truly scary. On average, each bag packs around 3 cups of sugar. A high achiever with a variety store plastic pumpkin could conceivably fill a 10-quart container with as much as 9 pounds of candy. That’s extreme, of course, but the average American downs 3.4 pounds of Halloween candy over the Halloween holiday. As a parent, you’re up against a tradition that works against the healthy habits you try to reinforce. And your kid’s teeth suffer. Don’t despair. Here are 6 tips to protect your family’s teeth and health during this Halloween season.

Tip #1: Focus on Activities, Not Treats

In Albuquerque, we have great community activities to take your family members’ minds off candy. The Galloping Grace Ranch’s Annual Pumpkin Patch is open daily in October for $4 per person (little ones under 2 are free). That buys you something for everyone: a harvest maze, duck races, pumpkin bowling, mud pie kitchen, scarecrow dress up, and fall décor for the decorator in your house. The petting zoo and paintball target arena are extra.

ZooBoo is another fun option at the Albuquerque Bio Park Zoo. On October 27, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., your family can enjoy games and haunted habitats. Wear your costumes.

Run or walk in the Run Fit’s Annual Great Pumpkin Chase on Saturday, October 27. Don a costume and follow the flat 5K, 10K, or Kids’-K course that suits you. Awards will be given per age group and for Best Costume. Check it out. Hydrate with water, not sugary sports drinks.

If you’re a tread head, get your bikes and pedal to Day of the Tread on Sunday, October 28. This charitable cycling event is for all ages and skill levels. Choose from a variety of rides: 9, 12, 26, 60, 64, or 100 miles. Of course, there’s a costume contest and a post-event party at Civic Plaza. Make sure your children have quick energy snacks for the ride like bananas and sliced apples. Both are quick-energy carbs loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Let’s not kid ourselves. There will likely be candy at Halloween events. So, carry sugarless gum and water, and make sure your kids brush and floss after these outings.

Tip#2: Break the Sugar mold

Steering kids away from enamel-damaging sugar and candy means rethinking what we take to school or community functions. When you receive an email requesting treats for your child’s school Halloween costume party, browse Pinterest for “Healthy Halloween.” You don’t have to spend hours. You need only a couple small Halloween cookie cutters, some sliced cheese, crackers, and some apple slices. And, voila! You’re a “cool mom” arriving with ghosts on crackers. If you have a bit more time, cheesy witches’ broomsticks will be a big hit at any event.

Tip#3: Hand out non-food ‘treats’ halloween night

When deciding what to hand out Halloween night, consider something other than candy. If you are conscious of plastic pollution, that leaves out fun items like glow stick bracelets and spider rings. Yet there are great alternatives. Have kids choose from a cauldron of fun Halloween pencils, which you can pick up in large variety packs. Kids also love temporary tattoos and fun stickers. Sure, you’ll see some crestfallen if not stricken looks, but more even children’s faces will light up as they find stickers or tattoos they love. Don’t be afraid to buck Halloween expectations.

Tip #4: Choose Candy Wisely

Perhaps you are of the mind that learning to eat candy in moderation is an important part of developing balanced and healthy eating habits. If that’s your perspective, then another option is to choose candy wisely.

Candy that does the least amount of damage to children’s tooth enamel.

• Dark chocolate has the least amount of sugar, and it doesn’t adhere to teeth like other candies.
• Milk chocolate is not as good as dark chocolate, because it has more sugar. Even so, it will wash away with saliva better than most other candies and cause less damage.

Avoid candies that are harmful to children’s tooth enamel.

• Sticky candies. Avoid any candy with caramel or sticky, gooey centers. That means no taffy, Tootsie Rolls, chocolate-covered caramels, Milk Duds, or gummy candies. Even if the gummy candy says it’s made from real fruit, if it sticks to teeth, it invites bacterial growth that creates acid, which breaks down tooth enamel.
• Boxes of raisins. Offering a well-intentioned “healthy alternative” of fruit leather or a box of raisins is terrible for a child’s teeth. According to Professor Liz Kay of the British Dental Association, dried fruit that has lost its water “is concentrated juice, basically just sugar.” Raisins are especially bad, as they stick in teeth crevices. Avoid them.
• Sour candies are especially acidic and hard on tooth enamel. A healthy mouth has a neutral pH of around 7. Acidic foods lower that pH level, creating a hostile environment for tooth enamel, which can begin to erode at a pH level of 4. A mild sour candy like Sprees, often sold in individual packs as Halloween treats, has a pH level of 3. Sour Skittles, which are not only sour but sticky, have a pH of 2.2. These levels are terrible for children’s tooth enamel.
• Hard candies or suckers. These allow sugar to linger on the teeth for longer periods of time. Hard candies can also break teeth.
• Mexican candy. Chamoy candies fuse salty, sweet, sour flavors with the spice of powdered chilies. Sometimes in a sugar form, sometimes in gummy or sucker forms, these candy flavors erode tooth enamel.
• Popcorn balls. These are well-intentioned treats that are fun to make and often end up at Halloween parties. They’re loaded with sugar, which adheres to kids’ teeth. Popcorn balls also harbor teeth-cracking kernels. There are better alternatives.

Tip #5: Don’t keep halloween candy in the house

If you decide to hand out candy on Halloween, don’t buy it way ahead of time. It seems like a great idea to buy bulk bags, especially if you live in a neighborhood with a lot of trick-or-treaters. But on stressful days, it’s all too easy to hear that bag’s siren call from a high cupboard. Or even a garage freezer.

Likewise, once your children have returned home with their treat bags filled with candy, have a strategy for getting that candy out of the house. Here are some creative ideas for getting rid of that candy:

• Instill the tradition of a candy swap. Children leave their bags of candy out, only to find a fun gift from the Great Pumpkin the next morning.
• Donate leftover candy. Groups like Operation Shoebox accept unopened candy and distribute it to troops missing the holidays while deployed.

Tip #6: Brush and Floss after Eating candy

In the season of candy consumption, more brushing and flossing is your final weapon against cavities. Help your children by providing them with fun new themed toothbrushes, and make sure they floss daily. If your child is going through a Star Wars phase and wants to be a Jedi for Halloween, find a Star Wars toothbrush or toothpaste. And parents, don’t forget to take care of yourselves. You do nobody in your family any favors by harming your own health by over doing, over-consuming candy, or getting too little sleep. Your oral health matters as well. Model the behaviors you want your children to adopt. Brush and floss often!

August 17, 2018

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Dr. Steve Grant, a longtime dentist of Grant Davis & Gribble, announced this week that he will retire after 30 years of service to the Albuquerque area.

“We thank Dr. Grant for his years of dedicated service to the families of Albuquerque and wish him well as he focuses on spending time with his wife and family,” Said Dr. John Davis, dentist, and partner at Davis Gribble Hollowwa.

Grant earned his doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio and has been in practice in Albuquerque since 1988.

The dental care team members from Grant’s team have remained with the practice including the dental hygienist, dental assisting team and front office professionals to provide a consistent continuum of care.

About Grant Davis & Gribble

Specializing in family, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry, Grant Davis & Gribble is a trustworthy practice equipped with the latest technologies like intra-oral cameras and X-ray machines to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Their caring staff regularly participate in continuing education to ensure the best service possible. For more information, please visit us at abqdentist.wpengine.com or call 505-898-1976.

Parents, you’ve organized a fun Albuquerque summer for the family. You’ve set a limit on video games, late nights, and have a summer chore list on the refrigerator. You have planned tons of family activities: Isotopes home games and Zoo Concerts. Everyone is looking forward to summer. But your teen is balking at a scheduled wisdom teeth extraction. “Why summer?” s/he challenges. Here are five reasons for why summer is the season for wisdom teeth removal that you can present to your teen skeptic:

1. Wisdom teeth can cause other teeth to become misaligned and overcrowded.

The sooner these problem teeth go, the sooner the other teeth can take their positions without competition for space. For teens that have had braces, this reason might be enough.

2. Summer gives your teen time to recover.

Although wisdom teeth extraction is a common procedure, every case is different. Most teens take only three to four days to fully recover. For others, recovery can take up to a week. If your teen’s teeth are impacted, recovery may take a bit longer. During summer, your teen won’t have to worry about missing school and extra-curricular activities.

3. Chipmunk cheeks

It’s no fun to go out in public, let alone sit in AP Calculus, while recovering from oral surgery. Wisdom tooth removal, in particular, can cause facial swelling and bruising. This is easier to handle at home during the summer.

4. Post-Operative pain

Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) with an ice pack help keep the swelling and pain contained. That’s easiest to manage at home. If the wisdom teeth were impacted, the oral surgeon may even prescribe a small number of prescription pain meds. Due to the current drug crisis, codeine blends are now prescribed more prudently. These are medications that you should take at home and certainly not at school.

5. Popsicles, milk shakes, and smoothies

While recovering, your teen has an excuse to indulge in soft, non-acidic cold foods. Summertime foods. Remember, no straw! Add chilled apple sauce, yogurt, and Jello. Smoothies are healthy, but be careful of small seeds from fruit, which can get lodged in the healing wound.

If you have not yet scheduled an appointment to have your teen’s wisdom teeth assessed, it’s not too late. Call our office today at 505-898-1976, or fill out our convenient online scheduling form, and our staff will call you to set up an appointment that works for your schedule.

A common New Year’s resolution story

Vowing my 2018 New Year’s resolutions would stick, I pursued a healthier lifestyle. Daily flossing. Exercise. Healthy foods. More sleep. I charged into my new routine with a new pack of floss and a Fit Bit. Like Khaleesi claiming her right to the Iron Throne, nothing would stop me!

Nothing but homemade chocolate chip cookies and a who-done-it novel that sucked me deep into the plot until 2:00 A.M. Characters, flossing, and sleep suffered that night. Then, tired the next day, I skipped my after-work walk. Instead, I binged on CNN and the last of the Christmas peppermint bark. From there I spiraled to familiar ground. Within a week or so, I’d relegated my Fit Bit to the bathroom drawer, where it sat by my sporadically used floss. Now, when I open that drawer, I hear the Talking Heads refrain: “Same as it ever was, same as it ever was…”^[i]

Chances are, you have a similar story

According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, in 2017, only 9.2% of people felt they were successful in achieving their resolutions. That means that a lot of you can relate to my story. But it also means that the 9.2% that are successful are worth studying.

If the only exercise you’re getting is kicking yourself, stop

For a long time, psychologists believed that 9.2% possessed super willpower. Now neuroscientists and psychologists better understand how our brains turn repeated behaviors into habits. According to Wendy Wood, provost professor of psychology and business at the University of Southern California, it’s not about willpower. It’s about teaching your brain to take a repeated healthy behavior and program it to automatic pilot.

Brain scanners show that different parts of our brain activate as we repeat a new behavior. When we first start establishing a new behavior, our prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are active. That’s decision-making-central in our nervous system. Yet when the new behavior is repeated and rewarded, the brain creates a new neural pathway, and activity shifts to the basal ganglial areas, specifically the putamen. This part of the brain allows us to do things automatically without thinking about them. Sort of a habitat for habits. And this area is busy. For at least 43% of what we do in a day is performed automatically, or out of habit.

One reason it’s so hard to break an unhealthy habit is because once our brain establishes a neural pathway, it’s there. We can create new, healthier pathways, however, and our brains will eventually default to those instead. Once that has occurred, we have a new habit.

How to create a new habit

According to Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit, there are three steps to creating a new habit. Duhigg calls these steps “the habit loop.” They are: cue, reward, routine. I’ll illustrate a habit loop using my after-work walk.

1. Set a cue as a reminder.

• What will remind you to walk after work? The answer to this is different for everyone. Perhaps it’s taking your walking shoes with you to work. Or maybe it’s leaving your walking shoes and the dog leash where you must step over them when you return home. Whatever it is, make sure you set it up before you leave for work. That cue should be the first after-work thing you see.
• Try out a couple cues. If the leash and shoes don’t work, try something else. A friend to walk with or a reminder on your phone. Whatever it is, make sure it’s consistent.
• A cue must be visual and immediately accessible.

2. Choose a reward.

• What will motivate you? Your reward needs to be immediate and enjoyable. Maybe there’s a podcast you love to listen to when you walk. Or music you love. Or an audio book. Perhaps it’s the place you like to walk that is the reward. Even a piece of chocolate at the end of the walk is okay as long as you truly enjoy and look forward to it.
• After several days, check in with yourself. When you see the cue, do you start to crave the reward? Can you hardly wait to hit the road and listen to a next chapter or a new band? Are you eager to get to the place you like to walk? If so, you’re training your brain and creating a new habit. If not, if it’s all still a drag, you need a new reward.

3. Live your new routine.

• Write down your routine. If you’ve tested your cue and reward, and everything is working, write this new routine down as a formula. Duhigg advises writing it down like this:
  “This year when I see… my walking shoes & dog leash on the entry mat, (cue)
  I will… walk for 30 minutes (behavior)
  in order to… listen to my favorite podcasts.” (reward)

Here are 5 things to keep in mind:

1. It takes a long time to establish a new habit. Be patient with yourself.

Depending upon the behavior, the person, and the environment, creating a new habit can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days. A simpler habit like flossing will take less time.

2. Identify how your unhealthy habits serve you.

Does sugar give you an energy boost? Do you alleviate stress with food? Wine? Once you figure out what you get from these, you discover how they reward you. If you need a mid-afternoon energy boost, a banana might work. You can alleviate stress in so many ways short of food and wine. Here are 16 ideas that even include chewing gum, which is good for your teeth, provided its sugarless.

3. Get triggering temptations out of the house, and solicit your family’s support.

If you’re trying to replace a cookie habit with crisp apple slices, and you come home to find your husband bought out the local Girl Scouts’ Thin Mints, you’ve got a problem. Reinforce your process with your family, and remind them that your habit changing is about your improving your health.

4. Keep your healthy options visible and easily accessible.

• If you read too late into the night, set your phone alarm, and go to bed an hour earlier so you can read. If you have to, set another alarm to remind you to shut your book.
• If you forget to floss, get different kinds of flossing devices (dental floss picks, soft piks, flavored floss) and keep all of it in a pretty glass bowl right next to your toothbrush.
• Have sliced fruit and veggies at eye level in the refrigerator. If you have to stop and prepare these, you’ll be more likely to stray into unhealthy choices, especially when you’re tired or stressed.

5. Be a good teacher to your brain.

• Be the kind of teacher to your brain that you’d want for your child. Make sure you apply core teaching principles to the task.
• Teaching your brain new habits takes patience. Every new habit will take practice.
• Your brain needs the necessary time and opportunity to learn the new habit.
• Remember what best motivates you is what motivates your brain: positive reinforcement and a personalized reward.
• Celebrate success! Regroup and move on from failures.
• Whatever you do, don’t give up on your pupil!

[i] Talking Heads, “Once in a Lifetime,” released February 2, 1981, lead single on Remain in Light, Sire Records.

When your teeth are discolored, it makes you want to hide your smile. It can affect your confidence in all areas of your life, from dating to job interviews to everyday social situations. The good news is that there are many simple ways to achieve a brighter smile.

1. Be Cognizant of What You’re Eating

Foods and beverages with dark coloring, such as tomato sauce and red wine, produce tannins that can add chromogenic particles to your teeth. You may want to avoid them entirely if you really want to nip your teeth discoloration in the bud.

2. Brush Regularly

If you just can’t resist indulging in a glass of wine and bowl of bolognese, make sure you brush your teeth as soon as possible after consumption. Twice a day is actually the bare minimum for brushing. Three times a day and after you eat is even better if you know you’re prone to tooth stains.

3. Whitening Toothpaste or Mouthrinse

Not seeing results from brushing? Try a whitening toothpaste or mouthrinse. Usually, they contain a minor bleaching component, a light concentration that can help prevent discoloration. In many cases, they’ll deliver the low-cost, noticeable whitening boost you’re looking for.

4. Bleach Strips

You can also try bleach strips and trays at your local drug store. They have greater bleaching strength. If you use them consistently over time, they can deliver fantastic results. Just be mindful to take some time away from these products if your gums get overly sensitive.

5. In-Office Dental Teeth Bleaching

If none of the above seem to be working, or if you simply would prefer to have a professional use top-quality products to reveal your pearly whites, you can call Davis Gribble Hollowwa at 505-898-1976. Our in-house teeth whitening solutions have the greatest bleaching strength for best results. You can either sit in the office while we give you a light-activated gel treatment that takes a few hours of your time, or we can send you home with a tray that you can use and wear at night. Schedule your visit today!

When you have a dental emergency, every moment before you get into the dentist’s chair can feel like an eternity. Whether you got into an accident and knocked your teeth out or your crown broke unexpectedly, it’s important to know what steps to take.

1. Ease the Pain

As soon as a dental injury occurs, take Advil and/or Tylenol as directed. If you have different over the counter painkillers that you prefer, take those instead. Not only could this make you feel better, but it may also help keep the swelling down. If you have an infection, medicating can lower or prevent any fever that might arise.

2. Apply Heat or Cold

Use a hot or a cold compress for a few minutes at a time, and repeat. This is a simple way to immediately relieve the pressure in your mouth, especially if it’s throbbing. If one doesn’t work, try the other. Whichever alleviates the pain is the one to stick with.

3. Rinse Your Mouth Out

There is no shortage of mouthwash products out there. If Listerine is too much for your mouth to handle while it’s in pain, there are other options. Alcohol-free mouthwashes can be very effective and gentler on your mouth. Salt water is also tried and true home remedy. Simply use a combination of warm water and salt to rinse your mouth out. This will disinfect and have a soothing effect, and can help clean out any loose particles that may be irritating your gums.

4. Swish Oregano Oil Or Milk

Many people rave about the benefits of oregano oil, but if you’re in the midst of a dental emergency, you may not have it on hand. Consider purchasing some when you don’t have a dental emergency and keeping it in a cupboard in case you ever do have one. Depending on the state of your mouth, you may want to drink a glass of milk or at least swish a few mouthfuls around. It will keep your mouth hydrated, which is especially important if you have gotten your teeth knocked out.

5. Apply Pressure

By adding pressure to the affected areas of your mouth, you can lessen the pain that you’re feeling. Use a clean gauze or tissue, and try not to fuss around with the affected area too much.

6. Call a Dentist

When you’re experiencing a dental emergency, you need to act fast. If it’s the result of a head injury or an accident, go to the ER first before calling your dentist. Once everything has been checked out, it’s time to give your dentist a call.

Here at Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we’re available for dental emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll get you in quickly and prescribe antibiotics, painkillers, and antianxiety medications as necessary. Then, we’ll evaluate whether we need to schedule surgery. Click here to learn more about our emergency dentistry services.

No one likes to make an emergency trip to the dentist. It can be scary, expensive, and time-consuming. While even those who take care of their teeth can encounter an unexpected dental problem, there are some precautions you can take to prevent a dental emergency–or at least minimize the likelihood of one.

1. Regular Checkups

You should have your teeth cleaned and examined by your dentist at least every six months. If you have special dental needs, you may need to go more often. Most people schedule their next cleaning at the end of a visit, but do not keep the appointment as it draws closer. Make it a point to go through with your appointment so you don’t go longer than the recommended six months between cleanings.

2. Brushing and Flossing

Brush your teeth at least twice per day, for two full minutes each time, and floss at least once per day. Don’t cut corners. You might also consider choosing dental products based on your needs. For example, if you were prone to dry mouth and/or sensitive gums, a softer brusher and perhaps a water flosser would be the way to go. The most important thing, of course, is to stay consistent.

3. Well-Rounded Diet

Stay away from foods that are high in sugar and corn syrup, and eat your vegetables! Your diet greatly impacts the long-term health of your gums and teeth, and eating well can go a long way toward preventing dental issues. Foods that are high in calcium are especially beneficial for dental health.

4. “Nip it in the Bud”

If you feel any sort of pain in your mouth, such as a dull pain that comes and goes, make an appointment immediately. It could be something as simple as having something stuck in your gums, or it could be more serious. Acute, stabbing pain is a clear sign to visit the dentist. Why wait until the discomfort is unbearable? If your gums are bleeding when you brush your teeth, that is also cause for concern.

Regardless of the issue, the longer you wait to get things checked out, the more you’re increasing the chance that you’ll have to make an emergency dental visit.

5. Be Mindful

Your mouth is delicate – treat it as such. You should be protecting your teeth with the same consciousness that you protect your body. Whether it’s going up for a rebound in rec league basketball or opening a beer bottle with your teeth, an accident can result in a chipped or missing tooth.

Of course, if you do need to make an emergency visit to an Albuquerque dentist, Davis Gribble Hollowwa is here for you. You can make a same-day appointment, even on weekends. Click here to learn more.

You’ve finally gotten up the nerve to sit in the big chair, and for no clear reason, you’re terrified. We don’t blame you for being scared of dentists. Chances are you have no idea what any of the devices we use are called or what they’re for. Having dental treatment done is less intimidating when you know what’s what during the process. Let’s take a quick tour of a typical dental treatment room.

The Chair

The purpose of a dental chair is to keep your body comfortable while we try to make the dental treatment as painless as possible. It’s easy to adjust, so always tell us if you’re not quite comfortable. The right side of the chair has three pieces: a syringe for dispensing air and water, and two dental handpieces at two different speeds for surgical procedures.

The Overhead Light

These have come a long way over the years. At Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we use LED lights because they are not as harsh as the Nuva Lights of yore.

Hand Mirror

Contrary to the overhead light, the hand mirror has remained pretty standard for quite some time. It allows us to magnify what we’re able to see inside your mouth.

Anesthetic Syringe

This is the device we use to numb the area we’re treating, if necessary. We typically use lidocaine or a combination of other local anesthetics. Don’t hesitate to ask us what we’re using beforehand!

Panoramic X-Ray

You’re probably familiar with the 2-D “bite down” photos that dentists take inside your mouth. Those are created using an x-ray computer that allows us to see any cysts, abscesses, tumors, or other issues. It also enables us to track changes in your bone structure.

Foot Control Rheostat

We definitely want to keep our hands as free as possible while we’re working, so we use a foot pedal for a few controls.

Lasers

Lasers are used primarily as “cutting” instruments. They can also vaporize tissues, or be used to direct heat to the jaw area for patients with TMJ discomfort.

When you visit our offices at Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we’re never too busy to give you a tour and answer your questions before we get to work. Make an appointment today!

Did you know that it is surprisingly tough to find a dentist office with an in-house lab? Davis Gribble Hollowwa has one of the only in-house dental labs in all of Albuquerque. And that’s not marketing jargon; an in-house lab can dramatically enhance your experience at the dentist. Here’s how:

1. Higher Quality

We conduct extensive research on the supplies we use, in order to ensure quality and longevity. If you’ve also done your own research, we can even place a special order to meet your aesthetic and functional preferences.

2. Faster Turnaround Time

After impressions or moldings of your teeth are made it can usually take around two weeks for a mouthguard or crown to be shipped from an outside dental lab. With our in-house lab, that same process only takes about a week!

3. Human Touch

At Davis Gribble Hollowwa, it’s protocol for the lab technician to sit down with you and actually take a look inside your mouth. At most dentists’ offices, this is all done through a remote series of digital images, so whoever is developing the materials will never meet you, much less answer your questions. Our in-house technician, Richard, is one of our most valued staff members not just for his expertise, but because he helps us build stronger relationships with our patients.

4. Celebrity Treatment

Do you have a particular celebrity jawline you’d just love to have? Bring a picture in. We can’t promise you’ll look just like Chris Pratt or Angelina Jolie, but we’ll give it a try! We will work one-on-one with you to read your facial expressions and figure out how to make sure you’ll maintain your good looks after dental treatment has been done. Give yourself true star treatment by choosing a dentist’s office with an in-house lab.

5. Efficient Adjustments

Sometimes, crowns don’t end up being quite the right fit. If that’s the case, an in-house lab can make those adjustments much faster versus going to a dentist who has to reorder crowns from an outside lab. We all know the waiting game is no fun when it comes to obtaining the perfect smile.

Davis Gribble Hollowwa is constantly improving its in-house lab facility. Meanwhile, we have a team of certified lab technicians who take pride in what they do. They are up on all of the latest technology and materials so that we can provide you with the customized dental care you deserve. Getting dental implants does not have to be a long and painful process. Contact us today to set up your first appointment!

Having good dental health is an important part of having good health overall. In order to maintain your dental health, it’s imperative to have a dental insurance policy that meets your unique needs. But where do you start? Insurance can be confusing, and if you don’t know what to look for in a dental policy, they all begin to look the same.

There’s no shame in not understanding how insurance works. Many people don’t. Here are a few handy tips from Albuquerque dentists Davis Gribble Hollowwa to help you figure out which dental plan is best for you. The first step is to assess your needs based on the two basic types of care that dentists provide: preventative care and restorative care.

Preventative Care

If you practice good oral hygiene and have visited the dentist on a regular basis throughout your life, it’s likely that your teeth are in pretty good shape, and a plan that focuses on coverage of preventative care will probably be best for you. Examples of preventative care including cleanings, exams, sealants, and fluoride. These are referred to as “preventative” because they aim to prevent problems rather than simply respond to them. With frequent exams, your dentist will be able to spot an issue before it becomes something more painful and costly.

Restorative Care

If you’ve gone a while without dental coverage, or haven’t visited a dentist in a long time, a plan that provides coverage for restorative care is probably your best bet. You might be in need of some more extensive dental care, like fillings, root canals, crowns, tooth extraction, deep cleaning, or dentures.

Many employers offer dental benefits to their employees, but the plans might not always be ideal for each individual. It’s important to take some time to review what’s being offered to you and make a decision based on your own needs. If the plan being offered doesn’t work for you, it’s always possible to opt out and choose your own plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Coverage Options

When considering dental plans — whether through your employer or the Marketplace — take a look at the percentages of various procedures covered. If you’re looking for a plan that focuses mainly on maintenance and preventative care, you’ll find that there are plans offering up to 100 percent coverage on exams and cleaning. If you’re in need of a plan that involves restorative care, it’s especially important to note what’s covered and in what capacity.

For example, if you end up needing a root canal and your existing plan says it covers root canals, you don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised to learn afterward that actually only 10 percent of the cost of the procedure is covered by your insurance. In that case, the remainder of the cost comes out of your pocket!

It’s also important to keep in mind that insurance is meant to help ease the burden of the cost of dental care, not eliminate it. The amount you pay for the care you receive depends on many factors, but you will have to pay something, regardless of what plan you end up going with.

It may seem like an inconvenience among all of the other expenses that life throws at us, but having healthy teeth is definitely worth crunching the numbers for. It’ll improve your life, help you avoid health troubles in the future, and keep your smile looking bright.

Whether your dental insurance is offered through your employer or the Health Insurance Marketplace, it’s important to know the ins and outs of what your plan offers in order to avoid unexpected costs. Reading over an insurance policy, however, can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the language and terminology. So, we’ve created a brief guide to help you fully understand your dental insurance. This is however, just a guide, and you should always consult with your insurance provider regarding the following subject matter.

Premium

A premium is the amount of money you have to pay, usually per month, in order to receive coverage. It might be tempting to choose a plan with a very low premium, but these plans usually provide lower coverage. If you’re comparing different dental insurance options, don’t automatically go for the cheapest policy. Read the details and choose the best coverage that you can comfortably afford.

Coverage

Everyone has their own specific dental needs, so be sure to consider yours before you commit to a policy. Most plans cover common procedures, like cleanings and exams. But, some policies are designed for those who require additional treatment.

The cost of your monthly premium generally increases with the number of treatments covered. For example, a plan that covers braces or implants will have a higher monthly premium than one that doesn’t. If you have any questions about what’s covered in your dental policy, call your insurer and have them explain your coverage. Don’t be afraid to ask questions relating specifically to the procedures you think you might need.

Provider Access

Many insurance companies dictate which dentists you can visit to receive coverage. This can be disruptive in some situations, such as if you’re switching jobs and your current dentist is not an in-network provider for your new employer’s coverage. There are plans out there that allow you to choose the dentist you visit, so if that’s important to you, ask your insurer about this possibility.

Payment

If a dentist’s services are covered by an insurance company, it means they have a contract with that company that usually includes a set list of fees for different treatments.

It’s best to know the fees and the percentage of the costs covered under the plan before undergoing a procedure, so that you can plan your finances accordingly. If you choose to visit a dentist that is out of network for your insurance plan, you are responsible for paying the dentist’s own fee for the service, usually out of pocket.

Deductible

Your deductible is the amount of money that must be paid out of pocket before the insurance company begins to cover your dental care. An insurance plan with a low premium usually has a higher deductible, and vice versa. If you need extensive dental treatment, it is probably a good idea to choose a plan with a low deductible.Provider Access

Many insurance companies dictate which dentists you can visit to receive coverage. This can be disruptive in some situations, such as if you’re switching jobs and your current dentist is not an in-network provider for your new employer’s coverage. There are plans out there that allow you to choose the dentist you visit, so if that’s important to you, ask your insurer about this possibility.

Maximum

Most insurance plans also have an annual maximum for coverage. This means that if you exceed the plan’s maximum, additional costs come out of pocket. It may also mean that there is a limit on the number of procedures you can receive under a plan’s coverage. If you will need a lot of treatment, be aware of your maximum, and consider choosing a policy with a high annual limit.

Your dental policy is nothing to be afraid of. By discussing these issues with your insurance provider, you can know exactly what you’re covered for and how much you will pay for a given procedure. Looking for an Albuquerque dentist? Contact Davis Gribble Hollowwa today. If you have your insurance information on hand, we will be happy to tell you whether we are within your provider’s network, and how much you can expect to pay for common procedures at our office.

Temporomandibular joint disorder is, aside from a mouthful to pronounce, a condition defined by pain or discomfort in the joint area of the jaw. More specifically, TMJ disorder involves pain in the hinges that connect your jaw to your skull. These joints allow your jaw to move up and down or side to side, enabling you to do everyday actions like talking, chewing food and yawning.

While TMJ disorder affects people in all walks of life, it is most common in women between the age of 20 and 40. It is estimated that TMJ disorder actually affects between 5 to 12% of the overall population at some point in their lives. When the issue becomes symptomatic, the disorder manifests itself in various ways, ranging from a clicking or popping when stretching the lower jaw, to general discomfort and mild pain.

The Four Components of TMJ Disorder

When a person has TMJ disorder, 4 areas can be involved:

• Bone: the lower jawbone, and the skull around the ear area.
• Ligaments: the tough, flexible, and fibrous tissues that connect the jaw to the skull and hold the joint together.
• Muscle: the muscles that move the jaw.
• Teeth: sometimes dental treatment (recent fillings, crowns, or even holding the mouth open for a cleaning) can lead to a flare up of a TMJ disorder.

What Causes TMJ Disorder?

There are several things that can cause TMJ disorder. One of the primary causes of TMJ disorder is grinding or clenching of the teeth. This puts unnecessary pressure on the jaw, which leads to discomfort. Stress can also be a factor that causes a person to clench and grind their teeth.

An injury caused by a traumatic event such as a car accident can also cause damage to the jaw, joints and muscles in your back or neck. Another common cause of TMJ disorder is arthritis in the jaw joint, which causes pain in that area when moving your lower mandible.

How to Treat TMJ Disorder

There are a number of dental-related treatments that can relieve the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder. Davis Gribble Hollowwa takes a conservative approach to treating the issue.

1. First, we conduct an initial evaluation, checking the patient’s jaw to see if TMJ disorder is the cause of their discomfort. We will do an exam to determine if the pain is coming from the bones, the joint, the muscles, the teeth, or any combination of the four.
2. If it is determined that the patient does in fact suffer from the symptoms of TMJ disorder, the first line of defense is a splint for the jaw. The splint functions similarly to a mouth guard, while stabilizing the jaw and helping to reduce discomfort.
3. For some acute cases, we may recommend wearing a device called an Aqualizer for one to two weeks. This is a fluid filled pouch–similar to a tiny waterbed–that fits inside the patient’s mouth to help stabilize the jaw in the same way a splint does. This can help decrease the pain and assist in diagnosis.
4. Medication is also a common option for treating TMJ disorder. We may prescribe medicine such as an anti-inflammatory drug or muscle relaxant to help decrease inflammation or relax the muscles around the jaw.
5. Finally, there’s heat therapy. The use of a laser that focuses heat directly onto the region of the jaw muscle, increasing blood flow to ease pain and tension.

TMJ disorder is pretty common among the adult population. If you are suffering from jaw pain that you think might be related to TMJ disorder, contact us to set up an appointment. We can create a treatment plan for TMJ disorder that can help reduce the pain, so you can get back to living your life.

So, you’re afraid of us? We understand, and we don’t take it personally. It’s because we’re dentists. We know. From years of experience, we’ve noticed a few themes that explain why so many people are afraid of going to the dentist. If you have a fear of dentists, we’d be willing to bet that it’s for one or a combination of the following reasons.

1. Horror Stories

Depending on how old you are, your grandparents have probably told you some pretty scary stories about going to the dentist as children. Perhaps they had a tooth pulled without enough Novocaine, or the drill that was used to fill a cavity wasn’t quite fast enough. Don’t worry, we always use the best dental materials and communicate with you to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible.

2. Privacy

Your mouth is personal and you have every right to protect it. It’s completely reasonable that you would be particular about who gets to care for, or even take a close look at your mouth. But trust us when we say that you can trust us. We’ve gone through years of school and practice, and can assure you that your mouth is in good hands here at Davis Gribble Hollowwa.

3. Uncontrollable Triggers

Logically, you know that going to the dentist is a safe and healthy thing to do, and yet without fail, you still get panicky when you sit in that chair. This is something we’ve seen a lot of patients struggle with. The sight of the big fluorescent light, the medical smell of the office, and the sound of the drill may make you feel nervous automatically. We expect it, especially from new patients, and will work through your fear with you.

4. Pain

If you have a nagging toothache, loose crown or cavity, the idea of a dentist touching your sore spots with anything can be a very unpleasant thought. You may think that there is no hope or reason to bother going to the dentist, but it’s actually the opposite. We can help you minimize or perhaps even get rid of the pain in the long run. It may take some time for you to get back to feeling 100%, but there is hope!

5. A Bad Experience

Instead of telling you that you have nothing to be afraid of, we like to acknowledge that it’s totally okay to be nervous about going to the dentist. When you show up for your appointment and sit in that chair, we are already proud of you, because many people don’t take that first step to overcome their fears.

Is it something else that you fear about going to the dentist? At Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we take the time to understand each patient before doing any dental work. It makes for a much more pleasant experience for everyone involved. The more relaxed you are, the more smoothly everything will go. Call us at 505-898-1976 to schedule your visit and conquer your fear for good.

A trip to the dentist today is much different than it was thousands of years ago, to say the least! Here are 7 fun facts about the history of dentistry that will make you appreciate all the technology in dentists’ offices these days.

1. Tooth Decay Used to Be Blamed On “Tooth Worms”

The first historical reference to dentistry that we are aware of happened in 5000 BC, according to a Sumerian text. We are not entirely sure what they meant by “tooth worms,” as it was a very different time, but it’s a pretty disturbing mental image, isn’t it?

2. Barbers Used to Pull Teeth

Back in the Middle Ages, “barber-surgeons” were the people you would visit in order to get your face shaved and your teeth pulled. While the efficiency may be something to admire, it sounds like a fairly bloody trip overall and probably made for a pretty painful afternoon for the customers.

3. Paul Revere Was a Dentist

He may be most known for his role in the American Revolutionary War, but Paul Revere was also a dentist. He was responsible for the first known case of post-mortem dental forensics, as he was able to identify his fallen friend, Dr. Joseph Warren, by the bridge he had put into his mouth before he passed.

4. The First Power Drills Were Powered by Feet

One of George Washington’s dentists invented the “dental foot engine” by turning his mother’s spinning wheel into something that could rotate a drill fast enough to get through the first president’s mouth. Sounds like quite a workout!

5. Novocaine Wasn’t Invented Until 1903

German chemist Alfred Einhorn formulated the first known local anesthetic and called it procaine, but these days we know it as Novocaine, as it is trademarked. We use dental anesthetic every day in our office and not a day goes by where we don’t think about all the people before this time who had to brave dental work without it.

6. Dentists Didn’t Used to Use Both Hands

In fact, it wasn’t until the 1960s when “sit down, four hands” dentistry became the norm. The technique that we use today is much more reliable and comfortable. We certainly wouldn’t want to turn back the clock on this technique!

7. High Speed Dentistry Started in the 1950s

The length of time needed to perform what are now considered routine procedures was decreased considerably when John Borden introduced the Airotor in 1957. It could reach speeds of up to 300,000 rotations per minute!

Has it been awhile since you’ve been to the dentist? Dentistry has come a long way, and here at Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we stay up to date to offer you the latest and best dental technology available so that your visits with us can be as painless and pleasant as possible. Learn more about our services.

Your smile is often the first thing another person notices about you and the last thing they remember. Whether you embrace Steve Buscemi-esque choppers or you desire the most polished, Courteney Cox-like pearly whites possible, it’s our job as dentists to make sure you leave our office feeling ready to take on the world with a confident smile.

From tooth coloration to shape, cosmetic concerns run the full gamut. At Davis Gribble Hollowwa, we have the technology and expertise to meet your needs and encourage you to feel comfortable opening up about your dental goals. Through in-house lab work and cutting edge technology, we take molds, photographs, and detailed measurements of your teeth and face shape to ensure that your finished smile looks as natural as possible. We even impose wax over physical molds and edit real photos of your teeth to simulate the final look of potential alterations.

But before you set your heart on a specific procedure, it’s a good idea to understand your options. Below we’ve outlined the six most common cosmetic dental procedures, with the pros and cons of each.

Veneers, For A Sparkling Smile

Technically a partial crown, a veneer is a thin material (often dental porcelain) that permanently adheres directly to the front of the tooth. Frequently used to create a Hollywood-worthy smile that reveals no fractures or discoloration, veneers are convenient because they can preserve your natural tooth structure. That said, not everybody is a candidate for veneers. If your teeth are crowded or severely mal-positioned, your bite can determine whether or not veneers are a realistic solution.

Full Crown, For A More Comprehensive Fix

Like a veneer, a crown is a permanent layer that adheres directly to your teeth. Unlike veneers, crowns cover the entire surface of your teeth, including the backs. Though they hide imperfections and strengthen a weak tooth, crowns do require attention to oral hygiene in the form of regular flossing.

For A Single Missing Tooth, A Simple Bridge Will Do

A bridge is a quick and convenient fix for an awkward gap in your teeth. A bridge works by relying on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth as support for the false tooth inserted between. Compared to an implant, a bridge is usually the quicker permanent solution for a missing tooth. That said, if either of the supporting teeth for a bridge has problems, the integrity of the entire bridge is jeopardized.

When In Doubt, Opt For An Implant

Like a bridge, an implant is used to replace a missing tooth. Unlike their permanent counterparts, freestanding implants don’t rely on neighboring teeth and can be managed as individual units. The downside is that it’s a solution that traditionally takes a bit longer to proceed. Candidates must be screened for general health. Also, the bone at the potential implant site must be fully healed before the implant can be placed.

For An Entirely New Smile, Go For Dentures

As unglamorous as they may be, if you have multiple teeth that need to be replaced, dentures may be your best bet. Though they may be the least natural-feeling solution with the longest adjustment period, dentures are the most affordable type of cosmetic dentistry. Plus, like a removable prosthetic, they’re conveniently impermanent and can be used as necessary.

Fillings, For A Natural Look

Tooth-colored fillings can be placed to repair fractures, replace missing tooth structure due to decay, or change the size, shape, or color of your tooth in order to give it the most natural appearance. Though they tend to blend seamlessly with your teeth, due to the nature of the material, it’s not uncommon to experience mild sensitivity following the procedure.

Trusted Cosmetic Dentists in Albuquerque, NM

Are you considering a cosmetic procedure to improve your smile? Visit us at Davis Gribble Hollowwa so that you can learn more about the options available to you before you make any decisions. Schedule a visit with us to have our specialists assess your goals and needs.

Red wine and coffee.

It’s unfortunate that two of life’s simplest pleasures are known to cause teeth stains. Many of our favorite foods are culprits, too, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to avoid them altogether. Read on for a few easy tips to minimize teeth stains.

Drink White Wine, Not Red

You may have seen this one coming, but here’s the science behind it: Anything that is acidic erodes tooth enamel, allowing colored compounds known as chromogens to affect your teeth. Tannins, which can be found in grape skins, tomato skins, and tea leaves can encourage chromogens to stick around, further darkening your teeth in the meantime. Red wine is a triple whammy because it is acidic, and it contains both chromogens and tannins!

White wine can be slightly less discoloring to your teeth for the time being. However, remember that white wine is acidic. It may not have the same immediate effect, but white wine’s acidity still makes teeth more susceptible to being stained by whatever you consume later.

Eat Cheese While You Sip

Now here’s something we can all get onboard with! If you do choose to drink wine, pair it with cheese. Why? Because cheese helps to neutralize the acidity of the wine, acting as a natural barrier protecting your teeth from chromogens. Also drink lots of water, both to wash away the chromogens and to take advantage of the tooth strengthening qualities in fluoride.

Order Alfredo Instead of Bolognese

The same way the grapes in red wine produce tannins, the tomatoes used to make pasta sauce are also a recipe for teeth stains. If you’re really cognizant of maintaining a white smile, it’s safe to bet that any food with dark coloring—think pasta sauce, curry, balsamic vinegar, etc.—is also high in chromogens. White sauces, on the other hand, don’t do nearly the same damage as the red options.

Skip The Green Tea

Coffee already has a bad rep for turning teeth darker, but did you know that the same thing that makes green tea so nutritious also accelerates teeth staining? The leaves in green tea contain a significant amount of tannins—more than coffee, in fact. Thanks to its mild acidity and dark color, green tea is surprisingly worse than coffee when it comes to encouraging chromogens to stick to your teeth.

Drink From a Straw

Though it’s not scientifically proven, drinking acidic, sugary beverages like sports drinks, coffee, wine, and tea from a straw can go a long way to protect freshly whitened teeth. Since it helps direct the beverage past the front of your teeth, a straw can serve as a great temporary (or habitual) solution so that you don’t have to give up these items altogether.

Does all of this mean that you should toss your bowl of spaghetti and swear off otherwise enjoyable beverages like green tea and the occasional glass of wine? No. Simply consume them a little less often, particularly immediately following the use of any whitening products—and brush your teeth before and after! The sooner you can clean your teeth, the less damage you will see and the whiter your teeth will stay.

Professional Remedies for Teeth Stains

Are you looking to brighten your smile? Let the professionals at Davis Gribble Hollowwa offer a personalized teeth whitening solution that fits your preferences. Our take-home kits are twice as powerful as over-the-counter brands. For those seeking a more thorough whitening, you can also schedule a visit for a one-hour bleaching.

What is the most common chronic disease for children?

Dental decay!

What is Disease

What does it mean for your child to have a chronic disease? A disease, by definition, refers to any condition that impairs the normal functioning of the body. If your child has asthma, they have a disease. Their normal body function is impaired. If your child has the flu, they have a disease. Their normal body function is impaired. Like asthma and the flu, dental decay can impair normal body function.

Tooth Decay

Dental decay is a silent process. It is silent in the sense that, many times, a decayed tooth will not cause any symptoms or discomfort until the disease has significantly progressed. Most people do not pursue treatment of a disease until their normal body function is impaired. This can be quite an unfortunate mistake when it comes to “silent diseases” like dental decay. This is an unfortunate mistake for two reasons:

1. Once dental decay has impaired normal body function, the treatment is usually more extensive, and more expensive.
2. Dental decay is not only treatable, it is preventable!

Let’s think back to the flu and the asthma examples from earlier. How do you prevent your child from getting the flu? You may have them get a flu shot. You may have them wash their hands before every meal. How do you prevent your child from having an asthma attack? You may have an inhaler for them to use before exercising. You may know their limitations and prevent asthma attacks simply by behavior control.
So, what needs to be done to prevent tooth decay? You can have your children wash their hands to prevent them from getting the flu. What about having your children brush their teeth to prevent them from getting cavities? You can monitor behavior to prevent major asthma attacks. What about monitoring behavior to limit sugar intake and minimize dental decay?

The Truth

You may be thinking to yourself right now, “my child washes their hands, but still gets the flu;” or “I try to monitor my child’s activity level to prevent asthma attacks, but they still run outside and have an occasional asthma attack.” That is reality! You may feel that same way about dental decay. “My child brushes their teeth, but still gets cavities;” or “I monitor my child’s diet to minimize sugar intake, but they still get cavities.” You are not alone if you feel that way! Fortunately, with dental decay prevention, there is more advice for you! Try these tips to help prevent tooth decay in your children.

The Tips

What are the extra tips for preventing dental decay?

1. Be aware of family dental history!

Research continues to show that bacteria can be passed from mother or father to their child. If you as a parent remember having many cavities, there is a good chance your child could have your same, or a similar, aggressive oral bacteria population! They may be more prone to dental decay from the start, and need more significant prevention methods!

2. Crackers cause cavities too!

Many parents say, “my child does not eat that much candy or drink that much soda!” Well, those are not the only kinds of sugars in our diet! Breads, pretzels, crackers, and many other seemingly harmless foods contain carbohydrates that break down into sugars and cause cavities just like candy and soda!

3. Brush, brush, then brush some more! (and help!)

Get the debris off the teeth! Your kids are going to snack. You just have to make sure they clean the debris off their teeth by frequently brushing the food particles off after eating! And make sure they are brushing properly. Do not assume a three-year-old that can barely tie a shoe has the ability to properly brush teeth!
Your children deserve the best. Be aware of what is happening inside their mouth. Do not let the disease of dental decay silently disintegrate your child’s teeth until they lose function of their mouth! Dental decay is the most common chronic disease amongst children, but it should not be! Follow the tips above, and contact our office for a cleaning and exam to prevent dental decay in your child’s teeth!

Parents always want what is best for their children. When it comes to your child’s health, it is all about creating good habits that stick with your child into adulthood. In many families, the hope is that children will be better off than the parents were. This applies to everything from finances to health. Make sure that if you are guiding and educating your children about their health, you are pointing them in the right direction. Social and technological advancements in health care, and in dentistry in particular, have created environments that are far more comfortable than they may have been in the past. Here are three tips for finding the right dental office for your child so they may establish proper oral hygiene habits that can lead to a healthy and happy future.

Care

Dentistry can create anxiety for many patients. People may experience anxiety by just saying the word “Dentist”. When you are looking for a dental office for your children, you want an office with a caring staff that will treat your child as an individual. Every child has different needs, and when it comes to finding the right dental environment for your child, you want an office that will focus on the specific needs of your child. You can find the right office by asking family and friends or by reading office reviews online. You want to begin to establish a dental home for your child by age one.

Comfort

Dentistry has advanced significantly in the last ten years. You have to remember that your child has many opportunities that you as a parent never had. Be sure when you are looking for a dental office for your child you are looking for a state-of-the-art office that strives for a clean, comfortable, and caring environment. Check out a dental office online, or call ahead to find out what services the office offers to keep patients comfortable. At Davis Gribble Hollowwa Dental, we offer dental care for children, and we offer services such as television at the dental chair and massage pads in the chair that help keep your child comfortable while they are learning what it is like to visit the dentist.

Consistency

Every child is unique. When you take your child to the dentist, you want the office to cater to your child’s individual needs at each visit. Every time you go to see your child’s dentist, you want your child to see familiar faces and a familiar environment so they can begin to associate those faces and places with positive feelings. Find an office with a consistent staff so your child can develop a reliable dental home as they grow. You want an office that will pay attention to keeping your child calm. You want an office that will track the development of your child’s dental health as they begin to lose their baby teeth and develop their adult teeth. You want a comfortable office that consistently cares about your child’s unique situation so your child can grow into a healthy young adult. Look for an office specific to your area that has dentists and staff who will be there as your child grows up.

Your child deserves the best care available. Take the time to find the right fit. Children receive great dental benefits in most states because establishing proper oral health is critical for developing overall health. Dental decay is the most common chronic disease amongst children. Take the necessary steps now to ensure the best future for your child.

Are you happy with your smile? Do you feel your smile represents who you are as a person? In social interactions, the mouth is one of the first body features other people notice. Make sure your smile represents you and accurately reflects your personal health.

Missing Teeth

The most common reasons for people to be missing teeth are dental decay and periodontal disease. Our modern diet contains refined carbohydrates, which when broken down, provide an energy source for bacteria in our mouth. If left unchecked, the unhealthy bacteria can dominate the oral environment and cause tooth decay or bone loss that leads to loose teeth. When your teeth decay or erode beyond the point of repair, or if bone loss progresses until teeth are extremely loose, treatment often requires removal of the affected teeth. Unfortunately, after we lose our baby teeth and develop our adult teeth, we do not get another chance at “growing” another set of teeth. Open spaces in the mouth due to missing teeth may not only reflect poor overall systemic health, but may also cause problems with the jaw and the ability to properly process food.

Chipped, Worn, and Broken Teeth

Teeth can also chip, wear down or break throughout your lifetime. Dental enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it gets put to work! We expose our teeth to hot coffee, cold ice cream, acidic sodas and sports drinks, crunchy almonds and a variety of other challenging substances. In one year, we can chew up to one million times! This does not include teeth grinding. As people progress through life, teeth become more prone to chipping, wearing down, and breaking. These inevitable situations do not only occur in older teeth. Sometimes accidents happen. Crashing a bike, a baseball striking the mouth, slipping on ice, or even biting a popcorn kernel can lead to problems. When teeth chip, wear down, or break it can be painful. Preventive care can reinforce cracked teeth before they break. Accidents will happen, and fortunately there are treatment options available when the accidents occur!

Treating or Replacing Teeth

The good news is that there are a variety of treatment options for missing, chipped, worn, or broken teeth. Doctors have been treating and replacing teeth for thousands of years. In fact, archeologists have found ruins from the Etruscan civilization that show tooth replacements fabricated from bone or ivory tracing back to 700 BC! Luckily, with the constant progression of modern dentistry, there are treatment options that are structurally and cosmetically superior to bone or ivory. Typically, replacing missing teeth and treating broken, worn, or chipped teeth involves a few steps.

1. Meet with your dentist for a consultation to plan and set functional and cosmetic goals that create a solution for your particular case. At Grant Davis and Gribble we have an in-house dental laboratory with a Certified Dental Lab Technician that can come to your room and provide professional chairside input on each individual case. This allows our dental team to provide you with a new smile, unique to yourself, based on color, shape, size and function.
2. Decide what option best fits your case. Broken, worn, or chipped teeth can be treated with porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, or a variety of other dental restorative materials. Missing teeth can be replaced with dental crowns, bridges, dental implants, or dentures. If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in New Mexico, our modern practice of cosmetic dentistry incorporates cosmetic dental surgery, the current materials, and expertise to provide a treatment that suits your functional and aesthetic dental goals.
3. Maintain your oral health. When you make the decision to take the steps towards improving your overall health, it is critical to maintain your health constantly. When you have dental treatment to replace or treat missing, chipped, worn, or broken teeth you must keep your mouth clean in order to insure the longevity of your dental treatment. Brush at least twice a day, floss frequently, use a mouth rinse, and see your dentist and hygienist for your regular check-ups.

Decisions, lifestyle choices, or accidents that resulted in missing, chipped, worn or broken teeth can be overcome with a commitment to your overall health. The body is a system and the mouth not only reflects and portrays your health and personality, it plays a vital role as the entry point to your entire body’s system. We wish you a healthy and happy smile and invite you to explore our website to watch animated videos that explain the treatment options listed above.