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If you’ve got a dental cleaning scheduled, it can help to know what to expect to alleviate any stress you might experience. While many people dread going to the dentist, it might surprise you to know that most dental cleanings are painless and simple. Here are 5 things you can expect during a normal dental cleaning. 1. A Physical Examination Most of the time, a dental hygienist is the person who cleans your teeth, but before starting, they will begin by physically examining your entire mouth. They will use a small mirror to check your teeth for signs of decay and your gums for gingivitis. If necessary, they may call the dentist to look at a potential problem before proceeding. 2. Plaque and Tartar Removal After the physical examination, your dental hygienist will then use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth. While this is happening, you’ll hear scraping sounds, which are completely normal. For many people, this is the worst part of a dental cleaning. If that’s you, remember that brushing and flossing regularly help make this part go more quickly. 3. Gritty Toothpaste Once your dental hygienist has used the scaler to remove the tartar and plaque from your teeth and gums, they will brush your teeth using gritty toothpaste to help remove any remaining tartar. This toothpaste tastes and smells like regular toothpaste, but the gritty consistency helps to scrub your teeth more deeply than regular toothpaste. It’s safe to use twice a year, but it’s not something you would want to use every day, because it is too hard on your enamel. 4. Professional Flossing Next, your hygienist will floss your teeth. While you may be diligent with flossing your teeth, the hygienist can give you a professional floss job. This also gives them the opportunity to spot any areas of trouble. 5. Thorough Rinsing and Fluoride Treatment After flossing, your hygienist will have you rinse your mouth to remove any debris. The rinse usually includes liquid fluoride to help strengthen your teeth and prevent decay. The last step in a dental cleaning is usually a fluoride treatment. This treatment will protect your teeth by fighting decay for several months. The treatment involves filling a mouthpiece with a foamy gel and fitting it over your teeth for one minute. Then, the hygienist will paint a fluoride varnish onto your teeth with a small brush. This varnish hardens when it comes into contact with your saliva. Final Thoughts If you take good care of your teeth and see your dentist regularly, your dental cleaning will be a simple, painless, and fairly quick process. If it’s time for a dental cleaning or if you have any questions, feel free to contact the office of Dr. Barry H. Buchanan. We’re happy to help you keep your smile bright! Image: Freepik

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Your dental health is a big part of your overall health, and one of the most important tools you can use to maintain your dental health is your toothbrush. But there are a lot of toothbrushes out there, so how do you know which one to choose? We’ve put together this handy guide to help you select the right toothbrush. Let’s take a look at what you need to know. Toothbrush Bristles You might think that choosing a toothbrush with hard bristles would clean your teeth better. Most dentists, however, recommend that you opt for a toothbrush with soft bristles. Hard bristles can actually damage your teeth and gums. Additionally, many people already brush too hard, and if they also use a brush with hard bristles, it can cause abrasions and even a loss of enamel as well as gum irritation. Aside from the stiffness of your toothbrush bristles, you also need to consider the tips of the bristles. Ideally, they should be rounded to gently remove debris from your teeth while preventing any damage. Toothbrush Shape and Size You may be wondering if a long, rectangular toothbrush head is best or if a small, round head is better. As far as the shape of the head goes, it’s really a matter of what fits in your mouth most comfortably. This is also true regarding the handle of your toothbrush. Choose what you feel comfortable holding and maneuvering. Generally speaking, a smaller toothbrush head is often more effective at cleaning your teeth, especially for children and adults who have smaller mouths. It’s not that the size is making them more effective, but the smaller size allows you to reach the back of your mouth and all of your teeth more easily. Electric versus Manual Toothbrushes Another consideration these days is whether to choose an electric toothbrush or a manual one. Both are effective at cleaning your teeth when used properly. Electric toothbrushes have become more popular in recent years, and there is research that demonstrates they are more effective at removing plaque. But if you don’t want to use an electric toothbrush, your manual brush will still be effective. How to Use Your Toothbrush Sometimes how you use a tool is as important as the type of tool you use. When brushing your teeth, it’s important to hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the surface of your teeth. Brush in a circular motion on each tooth’s surface. Ideally, you should brush for a minimum of two minutes, twice a day. It’s even better if you can brush after every meal. Final Thoughts You need to have the right tools to do any job effectively, and when it comes to your toothbrush, a soft-bristle brush that is small enough to comfortably reach all of your teeth is just right. If you have any questions about oral health care, the professional staff at Dr. Barry Buchanan’s office are happy to answer them. Just give us a call today! Image: Freepik

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Brushing and flossing are vital habits for taking care of your oral health, but that’s not all you can do to ensure your teeth and gums are clean and healthy. Your diet is also an important element of oral health. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 5 foods to eat for good oral health. 1. Fruits and Vegetables Rich in Fiber According to the American Dental Association (ADA), fiber-rich foods can help to clean your teeth and gums. What’s more, these kinds of foods also stimulate the production of saliva. That makes foods that are full of fiber — such as apples, bananas, and beans — one of the best natural defenses against both cavities and gum disease. Saliva is helpful for oral health because it contains traces of calcium and phosphate which both restore some minerals to areas of your teeth that have been affected by bacterial acids. Saliva also reduces the enzymes that attack teeth. 2. Dairy Products Promote Good Oral Health Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and plain yogurt are also very good for your oral health. Cheese stimulates saliva production, and the calcium and phosphates found in all dairy products replace lost minerals in your teeth. Additionally, these types of foods help to rebuild your tooth enamel. 3. Green and Black Teas Green and black teas have substances known as polyphenols that help to kill or reduce plaque bacteria. That helps to keep the bacteria from growing in your mouth or producing acids that can attack your teeth. Additionally, it’s possible the water source in your house has fluoride which helps prevent tooth decay. 4. Foods with Fluoride are Good for Oral Health Speaking of fluoride, there are also some foods that contain fluoride as well. These include certain commercially prepared foods like poultry products, seafood, and some powdered cereals. Moreover, if your water has fluoride, then any kind of powdered juices you would make with that water would also contain fluoride. Of course, if the powdered juice has a lot of sugar, that’s not good for your oral health. 5. Sugarless Chewing Gum Sugarless chewing gum is another food that helps clean your teeth and gums, and it also stimulates saliva production. When you chew gum, it mechanically cleans food particles and plaque from around your teeth. Once again, it’s important that gum be sugarless, as sugar is not good for your oral health. Final Thoughts As with your overall health, there are several ways to promote good oral health. Of course, you want to brush your teeth twice a day for a minimum of two minutes each time, and you need to floss your teeth every day as well. But it’s also important to practice good nutrition to help clean your teeth and produce saliva. Saliva reduces the acids and enzymes that help to promote tooth decay and gum disease. If you have any questions about taking good care of your oral health, give the office of Dr. Barry Buchanan a call today. We’re happy to answer all of your questions and help you take care of your teeth and gums. Image: Freepik

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The best kind of oral hygiene is preventative oral hygiene. You don’t want to have to treat a problem after it is bad; you want to prevent it in the first place. What can you do to prevent problems with your oral hygiene? Here are 4 things you can do:  1. Brush twice a day. You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. If you really want up your game, brush your teeth after every meal.  When brushing, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush with it at a 45-degree angle. That way, you can get into those cracks and crevices where plaque builds up. It also helps to use a circular motion when you’re brushing.  2. For good preventative oral hygiene, floss, floss, floss! You don’t have to floss all of your teeth — just the ones you want to keep! Good oral hygiene means flossing every day. You can floss in the morning, in the afternoon, or in the evening, but just make sure you’re flossing.  Flossing lets you get the plaque that builds up between your teeth and at the gumline. This is a vital part of good oral healthcare.  3. Use a therapeutic mouthwash. A therapeutic mouthwash will help keep bacteria in your mouth under control. A good tip is to use mouthwash in between brushing to protect your teeth.  Moreover, therapeutic mouthwashes have antibacterial agents and fluoride to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. That makes it a great preventative oral hygiene practice.  4. Get a dental checkup twice a year. No matter how much you brush and floss, even if your technique is perfect, you’re going to need to see your dentist twice a year as part of a good, preventative oral hygiene routine. Your dentist can clean your teeth in ways you can’t at home.  Additionally, your dentist can take X-rays to see any problems that might just be starting. Catching any problem early is key to stopping it from becoming more serious.  Final thoughts on preventative oral hygiene. Taking care of problems before they become problems is ideal. Preventative oral hygiene means brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, and getting regular checkups. If you would like to learn more, please call the office of Barry H. Buchanan today for a consultation. Image: Freepik

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So your dentist tells you that it’s time to remove your wisdom teeth. Depending on your specific problem, this may mean your dentist will remove them in their office or they might decide to refer you to an oral surgeon.In either case, removing your wisdom teeth is a fairly simple procedure, and you’ll be back to your old self in no time. Here’s what you should know if you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed? There are a number of reasons why it might be necessary to remove your wisdom teeth. Your wisdom teeth are the third molars that come in at the back of your mouth. You have four — two uppers and two lowers. They typically come in sometime between 15 and 25 years of age. When they come in, however, they can cause problems. Typically, your dentist may decide to remove them for one of four reasons. They have cavities or gum disease. They are coming in at an odd angle. They are impacted. Your mouth is too small. What to expect before surgery You’ll want to talk with your dentist or oral surgeon before the procedure. You’ll want to tell them about any health problems you have, including any drugs you are taking. This is also your opportunity to ask any questions you have and discuss the type of anesthesia required. Sometimes your dentist or oral surgeon will just numb your mouth, but in more complicated cases, they may want to use general anesthesia. Finally, this will be your opportunity to make sure you plan for the recovery period after surgery. You can make sure you have time off work or you may need to set up appropriate child care, pet care, or even arrange for a ride home. What to do after your dentist removes your wisdom teeth You may have stitches to make sure the wounds from surgery stay closed. Your surgeon will usually use stitches that will dissolve after about a week. While these stitches stop most of the bleeding, your dentist may also put gauze pads in your mouth, which you’ll notice when you wake up. After you get home, you’ll want to have some ice packs ready for any swelling, and you might also want to use a moist heat pack for jaw pain. You can help alleviate that pain by gently opening and closing your jaw, and you can rinse your mouth with salt water to keep the wounds clean. You’ll also want to eat soft foods like pasta or soup and drink plenty of fluids. On the second day following surgery, you can gently start brushing your teeth. Of course, you’ll want to take any prescribed medications as instructed and call your dentist if something seems off. Finally, don’t drink through a straw since that can loosen blood clots, don’t rinse your mouth or brush too harshly, don’t eat crunchy foods, and don’t smoke, as that can slow your healing. Final Thoughts Having your wisdom teeth removed can be a little scary, but we’ll be happy to answer all your questions and put your mind at ease if you need this done. Call the office of Barry H. Buchanan today for a consultation. Image: Freepik

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When you go in for a dental consultation, you want to make sure you are happy with your dentist and understand any procedures you might need. You shouldn’t be nervous about asking questions. You have a right to know about your dental health.  It’s important that you feel completely comfortable so that you’ll continue to take good care of your teeth. Toward that end, here are 5 things to ask during a dental consultation.  1. What do you specialize in? It’s good to know if your dentist specializes in any area, such as cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, or orthodontics. Understanding your dentist’s speciality helps you manage expectations around your results. It also helps you determine if your dentist might be able to take care of any needs you may have in the future.  2. How much will insurance cover? Before you commit to any procedure, make sure you fully understand any costs you may have to cover out of pocket. Your dentist should have someone on staff who can talk to you about the costs and explain the procedures for filling out insurance forms.  3. Do you offer any payment plans? This is particularly important if you don’t have insurance and have to cover much of the cost yourself. Many dental practices offer payment plans to help their patients take good care of their oral health.  4. What are the pros and cons of the procedures you need? Will there be possible unintended side effects? How long will any devices involved last? How long will it take? The answers to these questions will help you determine if and when you can schedule the procedure. 5. Will it hurt, and if so, how will pain be managed? You want to make sure you’re prepared for exactly what will happen, including managing any pain you may experience. Your dentist should be able to provide you with pain control measures to ensure you won’t suffer for your oral health.  Final Thoughts When your dentist recommends a dental procedure, make sure you address any questions you may have. You deserve to know exactly what will be done, how it will feel, how much it will cost, and the pros and cons of having it done.  Even if you’re just in a general dental consultation to help you choose the right dentist for you, it’s a good idea to ask about what specialties they have and why they are a good dentist for you and your family. Your dental health is important for your overall well being, and you have a right to know the answers to these important questions.  Dr. Barry Buchanan is happy to answer any of your questions. Just contact our office today! 

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Selecting a dentist in Texas is an important part of taking good care of your health in the Lone Star state. You want someone you can trust to take good care of your teeth for a long time. After all, once you get comfortable, it’s difficult to change. What should you think about if you’re looking for a dentist in Texas? Let’s look at the several things you want to consider before making this important decision. 5 Things to Consider When Looking for a Dentist in Texas 1. Friendliness Going to the dentist can certainly provoke a little anxiety, so you want your dentist and their staff to be friendly. A little friendliness goes a long way in setting your mind at ease even if you have to make some difficult decisions. You want to feel like your dentist cares. 2. Comfortable and Relaxing Environment Another important part of improving your experience at the dentist is the environment of their office. It should be clean, comfortable, and inviting. It helps to put your mind at ease when you’re getting your teeth cleaned or any other procedures done. 3. Convenient Location You don’t want to have to go a long way or have to park your car a long way from the office. You want an easily accessible office that you can find without any problems. You also want a place to park that’s right at the office. It’s all part of making your dental visit convenient and hassle-free. 4. State-of-the-Art Technology Your smile is an important part of your appearance, and you want the dentist in Texas that you choose to be up-to-date on the latest technology and cosmetic techniques. You want your smile to positively shine, and a dentist who knows what they’re doing is critical for making that happen. 5. Dentistry for the Whole Family One-stop-shopping for all your dental needs is another important consideration when you’re looking for a dentist in Texas. You want a professional who can help teach your children how to take proper care of their teeth while at the same time providing dental implants for your beloved grandmother. Having it all in one place is the most convenient option for the entire family. Final Thoughts There are a lot of dentists to choose from in Texas, but if you’re looking for an experienced dentist to treat your whole family in the Dallas, Texas area, no one compares to Dr Barry Buchanan. With over 25 years of experience, a convenient location, the friendliest staff, and all the latest technology, your smile will be beaming in no time! Call our office for an appointment today. Image: Freepik

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If you have a toothache, you might think you’ve got a cavity, and you’re probably right. Sometimes, however, it can be a little trickier to know if the problem is a cavity or something else. Let’s take a look at the most common signs you’ve got a cavity as opposed to another problem. 5 Common Signs You’ve Got a Cavity 1. Toothache A toothache is probably the number one sign you have a cavity. This doesn’t mean that your tooth aches constantly; in fact, the pain may be intermittent. Sometimes, you might not feel anything at all, but don’t be fooled. Not having any pain doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. If you have a toothache, you need to see your dentist. 2. Tooth Sensitivity Sometimes your tooth doesn’t ache, but instead, it is sensitive to things you eat or drink, particularly cold, hot, and sweet foods. Furthermore, it will likely become increasingly uncomfortable over time as the problem worsens. While tooth sensitivity does not always mean you’ve got a cavity, you still need to get it checked out before the problem gets worse. 3. Pain When You Bite Down Another sign you’ve got a cavity is if you experience pain when you bite down. This is usually a sharp kind of pain. What’s happening is that you’re grinding food particles into the cavity. That irritates the nerve inside your tooth and causes you pain. You might not feel pain every time you bite down, but if you experience pain even occasionally when biting, it’s one of the signs you’ve got a cavity. 4. A Visible Hole If you can see a hole in your tooth, it’s likely a cavity. Sometimes, developmental anomalies on teeth appear similar to a hole, but they’re not. These are usually on the occlusal (biting) surface, but if the hole is on some other part of the tooth, it’s a cavity. Even if it is on the biting surface, you should still get it checked out. 5. Black, White, Yellow, or Brown Staining Black, brown, yellow, or white staining on any tooth surface is another indicator you’ve got a cavity. The discoloration is caused by tooth decay and can also indicate another problem, a tooth abscess. If you see this kind of discoloration anywhere on your teeth, you should see a dentist right away before the problem gets worse and results in the need for more extensive treatment. Final Thoughts Taking good care of your teeth means paying attention to the messages your body is sending. If you have a toothache of any kind, tooth sensitivity, a visible hole, pain when biting, or discoloration, it’s time to see your dentist to keep your smile bright. Call our office to make an appointment today! Image: Freepik

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