Dr. Sarah Brent DDS and the team at KC Family Dental are pleased to provide professional and caring dental services to their patients from Fairway KS, Kansas City, Roeland Park, Prairie Village, Mission, The Plaza, Mission Hills, Shawnee and the surrounding communities. Our dental services include: adult, children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, laser, orthodontic, preventive, restorative and sedation dentistry.
Good Habits Can Produce a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth
Introducing good habits early, in an atmosphere that’s comfortable and fun, is a fundamental building block for producing a lifetime of good oral health. Children’s teeth can be extremely susceptible to cavities even at a very young age for many reasons:
Children struggle to brush well on their own. Because of this, it is essential for parents to assist in their child’s daily dental care. This allows for thorough cleaning and encourages the development of proper dental habits.
Little kids like to eat all day long. This habit produces a prolonged exposure to acid (every time you eat you make acid), which may bring about more cavities. A dirty tooth causes the generation of more acid, which increases enamel vulnerability.
The good news is that recognizing poor dietary and hygiene routines, along with applying fluoride to the mineralizing teeth, can considerably reduce the risk of your child developing a cavity. KC Family Dental Sarah Brent, DDS 4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway Fairway, KS 66205 Kansas City (913) 220-2209 KCFamilyDental.com
You know good dental habits can help prevent things like cavities and gingivitis, but you may not know what conditions like these really look like or how they can affect your mouth. Use this visual guide to learn more about some of the most common dental health issues, symptoms to watch for and the potential treatments that are available. Please note: This content is for informational purposes only. Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can make a diagnosis. Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)
Cold sores are fluid-filled
blisters that erupt on your lips, under your nose or around your chin caused by
a virus known as herpes simplex virus type 1. Once you have them, you’re likely
to get them again. Extremely contagious, they can be passed to others from the
time you feel the first symptoms (like itching or tingling by your mouth) to
the time they heal completely. Cold sores are often red, yellow or gray and
usually heal within a week or two on their own. Your dentist can prescribe
antiviral drugs within the first few days of an outbreak to help it heal more
quickly. Over the counter drugs are available to help with pain, itching and
burning they might cause. Cavities
One
in four adults has an untreated cavity, and according to the
CDC, nearly every adult
will have tooth decay at some point. You might have a cavity if you experience
pain, food gets caught in your tooth, your tooth feels rough to your tongue or
it hurts to eat something cold or sweet. Depending on their severity, cavities
can be treated with fillings, crowns or root canals. If the damage is too
extensive or involves nerve damage, the tooth may need to be removed. To reduce your
chance of developing cavities, brush twice a day, floss once a day, drink water with
fluoride,
use a fluoride toothpaste, stay away from sugary
food and drinks and see your dentist
regularly.
Chipped Tooth
If
you regularly chomp on hard foods like nuts
or ice cubes, grind your teeth or have a mouth piercing, you’re at a higher
risk for a chipped tooth. You might feel pain, depending on how much tooth has
been lost. You may also feel a rough edge when you run your tongue along it.
If this happens, see your dentist. A small chip might be able to be smoothed
down. Your dentist can use a tooth-colored filling, a veneer or crown to shape up your
smile after a larger chip. Teeth Grinding
Grinding
your teeth (bruxism) is most likely to
happen when you’re sleeping, though it can occur anytime during the day if
you’re stressed, have a new filling or crown that’s higher than
the rest of your teeth or have an abnormal bite. Over a long period of time,
the surface of your teeth will become worn. You could experience toothaches,
dull headaches or earaches, and jaw pain (TMJ). Your teeth may also appear more yellow
because the white outer covering is worn away.
A custom mouthguard from your dentist can
protect your teeth during sleep and correct bite issues. If stress is the
cause, find a way to relax. Meditation, counseling and exercise can help reduce
stress and anxiety (and the likelihood that you will grind your teeth).
Dr. Brent is pleased to provide white bonded fillings for patients who need a cavity filled or restoration of minor damage to a tooth. These fillings aren’t like the traditional ones you may be familiar with. They are a natural-looking white to match the color of your teeth, contain no metals, and can actually strengthen your teeth. The way they bond tightly with the healthy part of the tooth allows her to save more existing tooth structure, and there is less chance of decay in the future. KC Family Dental Sarah Brent, DDS 4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway Fairway, KS 66205 Kansas City (913) 220-2209 KCFamilyDental.com
Introducing good habits early, in an atmosphere that’s comfortable and fun, is a fundamental building block for producing a lifetime of good oral health. Children’s teeth can be extremely susceptible to cavities even at a very young age for many reasons: 
