Dental Info

Before we begin talking about the changes pregnancy can cause in your mouth, we want you to know your smile is entirely unique and will remain so during your pregnancy, and your Gwinn dental team does not want you to be alarmed. We’re here to answer questions and address concerns as you need, and wish you a smooth, happy pregnancy!  Pregnancy and becoming a parent changes everything, so it’s not surprising you might experience oral health changes while you carry a bun in the oven. Speaking of buns in ovens, you’re probably more sensitive to smells and tastes, right? Your gums and teeth are more sensitive due to hormonal fluctuations, too. Along with sensitivity, you may experience swelling during pregnancy; the swelling might be localized to your ankles, which is common, or it could include your gums. Swelling of the gums may indicate pregnancy gingivitis ( gum disease ), so if you notice this symptom, you should definitely schedule a visit with Dr. Gwendolyn Buck for their care...

Breakfast is always being touted as the most important meal of the day—and for good reason! It’s important for families to kickstart their day with nutrients that will help them power through school, work, socializing, sports, homework… does anyone else feel exhausted just thinking about it all?  The right foods in your child’s lunch can help boost their energy and keep those brains, bodies, and mouths going all day! Alternatively, lunches full of sugary, sticky, acidic foods and beverages can accelerate tooth decay and cause your child to feel sluggish both physically and mentally. Dr. Gwendolyn Buck of Northern Trails Dental Care loves to share ideas on what to include in your child’s lunch to keep their smile safe and their health optimal… and perhaps what to leave out and have as an occasional treat for good behavior.  But First, Hydration About 65% of a child’s body is made up of water (60% for adult men, 55% for adult women), and it’s important for this balance to b...

According to the American Dental Association , at least 13% of all injuries to the mouth occur during sports activities. While helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards, and the like do a great job of protecting most of the body, Dr. Buck would like to make sure that every athlete knows how to keep their teeth safe from harm. No parent should have to worry about their child’s teeth during games, so Northern Trails Dental Care would like to talk about how to take sports safety to the next level. Mouthguards & Sports Safety In Gwinn, we live for a good game. Our athletes train hard to win, so it’s not hard to imagine why they don’t shy away from contact. However, that doesn’t mean that your family has to suffer the consequences of a sports-related oral injury. Mouthguards are the key to oral safety in sports. When to Get a Mouthguard Let’s say your child has decided to sign up for a high school team, or maybe you’ve joined a local sports league. Now you’re wondering – do I really ne...

Accidents are never planned and rarely anticipated, but good dental care is always ready and available 24/7. Like all medical emergencies, dental emergencies require quality care, and fast! Here’s what to do if you think you have a dental emergency on your hands. What is a Dental Emergency? If you are in a lot of pain or have experienced trauma that puts your oral health at risk, you should seek emergency dental treatment immediately. Sports impact, chewing hard food, using teeth as scissors, and infections can all cause a dental emergency.  Pain and swelling, discoloration of gums or teeth, or a broken or knocked-out tooth should send you to the dentist immediately. Dental emergencies can lead to complicated health issues if left untreated.  What to Do in a Dental Emergency In any dental emergency, call your Gwinn dentist and make an appointment right away. Even if the office is closed, our dentists are on call and available to help. At the same time, clean and treat...

If you’ve visited our blog before, you know that we love to talk about tooth decay. The chances are, everyone has had or will have tooth decay at one point. It is classified by the National Institutes of Health as the most prevalent disease in the world. Today we’re going to talk about a few of the factors involved in causing tooth decay and what you and Dr. Buck can do to protect your smile. The Unique Makeup of Your Teeth  Even within your own mouth, teeth vary widely in shape, size, and enamel quality and consistency. Some teeth are harder than others, and some—especially molars—may have deep fissures that can trap bacteria, causing decay. Additional defects in enamel formation can cause yellow or brown areas on your teeth that are more susceptible to caries (tooth decay). The pH Level in Your Mouth Research indicates that acidity in your mouth plays an important role in developing tooth decay. A low pH (an acidic state) allows decay-causing bacteria to thrive. Acidity is...

You did it! You got the consultation, booked the appointment, and you actually showed up on the big day. You saw the dentist and now all that has left you hungry! The question is: what can you eat after having dental work done? You need some soft food recipes!  For some of us, it’s nostalgic to remember having a frozen treat after the dentist when we were kids. Depending on how extensive your dental work is (be cautious of what you consume in the days following major dental work!), you’ll find that milkshakes only get you so far. Many foods can be troublesome after dental surgery or extensive dental work. Ask Dr. Buck for recommendations about specific foods and how long you should avoid them. Northern Trails Dental Care in Gwinn can be an especially helpful resource for patients navigating what to eat after dental restoration services . Here are some soft food recipes that will treat your mouth and your body well. Breakfast For a warm breakfast, oatmeal topped with tin...

Dentistry is serious medicine, and daily oral hygiene is a top priority. But teeth can be pretty fun, too—not to mention fascinating. For starters, have you ever seen the full sets of baby teeth and adult teeth present in a child’s head x-ray? Go ahead, look it up. There are tons of interesting dental facts out there! Northern Trails Dental Care in Gwinn treats our patients professionally and joyfully—our team thinks teeth are cool. Take Dr. Buck’s word for it, there’s much to learn and admire about even the most average set of teeth. Facts About People & Teeth According to a survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather visit the dentist than listen to one end of a cell-phone conversation. By age 17, 78% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. Tooth prints are as unique as fingerprints. About 2 million teeth per year fall out due to sports-related accidents. Babies have 20 teeth bu...

Headaches in Gwinn are a dime a dozen. We all know the frustration of having your day interrupted by throbbing, shooting pains in the head. If you suffer from frequent headaches that never seem to go away, Dr. Buck would like you to know about bruxism , or teeth grinding. At Northern Trails Dental Care , we love spreading the news about all things dental health, so here is some headache information that just might change your life. Bruxism & Headaches You may not be aware of it, but everyone clenches and grinds their teeth at some point and to some degree. It’s a natural reaction to stress. During the day, you might catch yourself doing it and make a conscious effort to stop, but during the night, you are unaware of it and will naturally grind much harder. Unfortunately, some people in Gwinn have such problems with bruxism that they may experience: Frequent, painful headaches Damaged, worn-down teeth and surrounding tissues TMJ/TMD According to Dr. Noshir Mehta, chairman ...

For a long time, we’ve been told to brush our teeth right after we eat, but conventional wisdom might be changing on that. Thanks to your mouth’s powerful and natural ability to clean itself, rinsing with water might actually be the best way to freshen your breath and prevent cavities after you eat. In addition to your everyday hygiene routine, rinsing with water is a free, easy way to maintain oral health throughout the day. To understand this, read below about what happens in your mouth after you eat and why water is so great for your teeth. Digestion Begins in Your Mouth You might think that digestion starts in your stomach, but it actually starts in your mouth! The combination of chewing your food and the special bacteria in your mouth are essential to swallowing and digesting your food. Probiotics are specific bacteria that live in your mouth every day and begin the whole process of digestion by breaking down your food on a microscopic level. In our world today, we’re trained ...

The first known dental crowns were made as far back as 200 A.D. when Etruscans used gold to create crowns and bridges . Can you imagine what the process must have been like without the technology we have now? If you’d rather not, we can’t blame you! Thanks to digital x-rays and impressions, dentists today can create crowns that blend in so well with the rest of the mouth, you’ll forget you weren’t born with them. The updated materials appear very natural, especially ceramic and porcelain. But I Love Gold! Gold is still an option for crowns today, and it’s not a bad option in terms of durability—they’re extremely fracture-resistant and seal well to prevent recurrent tooth decay. However, gold is usually the most expensive material for the creation of crowns, and most people want their dental restorations to be a secret only they know—especially if the tooth in need of crowning is an incisor or canine. For those anterior (front) teeth, porcelain and ceramic are excellent crown opt...

Although you may think of general health and dental health as two completely unrelated categories, they are much more connected than the average person suspects. Just as the information you share with your general practitioner assists them in keeping you healthy, your Gwinn dentist, Dr. Buck , depends on your input for optimal dental health. When it comes to overall health, your dentist needs to see the big picture to best assist you with keeping your teeth vital. Most patients might not think to inform their dentist about their general physical health, but would be surprised at the potential impact that information can have on their oral care. The Northern Trails Dental Care team likes to go above and beyond for our patients, but we depend on your participation to make sure you get the quality dental care you deserve. Here are a few reasons why: Diabetes & Dental Health 750,000 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, but few diabetes sufferers realize the full extent...

If you’ve tuned in to any crime scene investigation shows, you’ve probably heard of salivary testing, but did you know it’s becoming increasingly common in dental offices? Salivary testing has a bright future in medicine because of how much it can tell us about your state of health—both oral and overall. One of the reasons it’s especially important in the dental office is because we screen for oral cancer , and the number one culprit for diagnoses in recent years is human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be detected through saliva. Should I have my saliva tested? In a word, yes! Frankly, there are many conditions that can lie latent and manifest themselves in dangerous ways (such as heart disease and stroke, which both have links to gum disease ), but if you have your saliva assessed, you can take steps toward decreasing your risk. If you’d like to know more about why we recommend oral DNA testing and salivary diagnostics , we would love to speak with you. If you have questions or w...

Electric toothbrushes have been on the market for years now, and whether you’re a devout user or a critical skeptic, you may still be wondering: do they really work better , or have we all been duped? Dr. Gwendolyn Buck is here to break down some of the myths and separate fact from fiction to give us the spin on electric versus manual toothbrushes. What’s Wrong with Ol’ Trusty? Well, nothing… really. People have been brushing manually since the Middle Ages and continue to use manual toothbrushes effectively today. So why reinvent the wheel if it already rolls? Simple—technology and innovation drive us forward. Wheels today aren’t made of stone, they’re made from high-tech metals and rubber because we’ve discovered better materials and designs that fit our modern needs. Yes, they both accomplish the same end goal, but one is clearly more efficient than the other. So, the question becomes not what is wrong with manual toothbrushes, but what’s wrong with how we’re using them? With th...

At Northern Trails Dental Care , we take pride in staying ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest and greatest in dental treatments and technologies. That’s why we think dental “lasers” are truly smashing. And if you’re worried about paying one million dollars, rest assured laser treatments are more accessible and affordable than ever. Austin Powers jokes aside, we’re here to tell you how lasers work in dentistry and how they can benefit your smile—and make for a more comfortable dental experience! How do dental lasers work? Advanced laser technology has been one of the most important improvements in modern medicine and dentistry, allowing us to hang up our other tools while providing treatments that are less invasive, more comfortable, and with healthier results than ever before. All lasers work by creating energy in the form of light, but the precise function in dentistry depends on the type of procedure. With surgical and other types of restorative dental treatments, the...

There is a law of nature that states: “function follows form.” This saying means that how something appears determines how it works. For example, you may own many screwdrivers of different sizes and shapes (form) to loosen all different kinds of screws (function). Think of a watering can with a long spout that’s perfect for pouring water right where you want it, versus one with a broad spout meant to cover large areas more quickly. When you think about it, this principle also applies to your smile. A mouth with missing teeth isn’t nearly as functional as a mouth with a full set of chompers. Enter: cosmetic dentistry. While the word “cosmetic” makes these treatments sound optional, many times they are necessary to improve physical function or mental and emotional well-being. Read more from Dr. Gwendolyn Buck to learn about cosmetic dentistry and the positive impact it can have on your life. Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Whitening  — an absolute favorite when it comes to confiden...

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dentist! At Northern Trails Dental Care , we know that some folks avoid the dentist’s chair like the plague. According to studies at the Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington, as many as 8% of Americans are too afraid to go to dentists and 20% are too anxious to visit a dentist for anything other than an emergency. Dr. Buck understands that dental anxiety prevents a lot of people from getting the care they need, so we’ve designed our entire practice around your comfort. Read on to find out about how we can help! Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist First of all, don’t feel bad if you fear the dentist. It’s very common and understandable. Your mouth is sensitive and private, and having someone else poke around in there can be traumatic. However, there are a ton of things we do to make sure that every patient feels safe and comfortable. That means that from the waiting room to Dr. Buck’s chair, you are in good hands! We’ll do whatever it t...

You love your teeth. You brush them twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly. Right? We love your teeth, too! In fact, there’s so much to know about caring for your oral health that dentistry has quite a few categories of specialties and different kinds of dentists. The primary dentist in your life should be your family dentist, also known as a general dentist. Your family dentist is who you will see most often for dental check-ups. But how exactly is family dentistry different from other kinds of dentistry? Gwinn dentist Dr. Gwendolyn Buck shares more below about family dentistry. Types of Dentistry All dentists have an undergraduate degree and then go on to about four years of dental school. This earns them either a doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) or a doctorate of dental surgery (DDS). To become more specialized, the dentist will need additional education and clinical experience. General Dentist : A family dentist is a general dentist. They treat patie...

Teeth are typically the first thing that comes to mind for people when they hear the words dentist or dentistry, which makes sense—the root word dent actually means tooth! However, your teeth require healthy gums to hold them in place. Did you know gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss? That’s why it’s important for us to examine your gums just as thoroughly as your teeth, and for you to remain diligent about your oral hygiene routines and cleaning visits with Gwinn dentist Dr. Gwendolyn Buck . If You Have Gum Disease First, know that you’re not alone. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. over the age of 30 experience chronic periodontitis (the advanced stage of gum disease, which starts as gingivitis). Gum disease can be treated, and one of our first steps might be scaling and root planing . If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit with Northern Trails Dental Care to ensure your teeth and gums are in good shape, contact us today! The content of...

What is the Oral-Systemic Link? You’ve always heard that it’s important to take care of your teeth. Brush and floss every day, and see the dentist for good oral health. But did you know that your oral health could directly affect your overall health? And the road goes both ways—problems with your overall health show signs in your mouth, too. Did you know that gum disease increases your risk of heart attack by 50%? Did you know that plaque buildup in your mouth can be an indicator of and contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries? These mouth-body connections are called the “ oral-systemic link ”.  Dr. Gwendolyn Buck explains the important ways your body systems work together for better or worse. Gum Disease Infection in your gums can significantly increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, low birth weight babies, bacterial pneumonia and more. In fact, gum disease is directly linked to at least 52 other systemic diseases. If you get gum disease yo...

Cancer is always a scary word—but it doesn’t have to be the last word. Equipped with good information and the best doctors, you can feel empowered to navigate whatever stands before you or your loved one. Oral cancer is common, affecting approximately 50,000 Americans every year. If you have more questions about oral cancer, read more below from Gwinn dentist Dr. Gwendolyn Buck . Signs of Oral Cancer Oral cancer is most common among people ages 41-60, and men are at a greater risk of developing it than women. Oral cancer can affect your tongue, cheeks, lips, sinuses, throat, teeth, gums, and roof of the mouth or below your tongue. Unfortunately, it is often detected later than many other types of cancer. This is one reason why it’s so important to know your body and what’s normal (or not) for you. The earlier you can detect any sign of changes in your mouth, the better.  Regular visits to the dentist include regular screenings for abnormalities that may be signs of oral cancer...