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Bagley, Goodwin, & Hrinda Dental Blog

Food Enhancements that Might Stain Your Teeth

April 8, 2013

Filed under: Patient Education,Teeth Whitening — bghdental @ 2:55 am

WhiteTeethA white smile is the equivalent of a more youthful and vibrant appearance. No wonder teeth whitening has become one of the most highly requested cosmetic dental services available. Your Greenfield dentists offer more efficient and effective whitening and brightening solutions than the over-the-counter methods. Our professional in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments can produce maximum results to refresh and invigorate your gorgeous grin. After you have taken the time to whiten your teeth, you may want to be cautious about what you consume. Here are a few suggestions of foods to stay away from if stains are a concern.

Are You a Sushi Fan?

Soy sauce goes with rice as well as cheese goes with crackers, or ketchup goes with fries. The Japanese identified what has become known as the fifth taste – umami. The salty liquid known as soy sauce might go great as a dipping sauce when eating certain foods, but that dark brown color is not so hot for your teeth.  If you simply can’t give up your favorite Japanese condiment, consider swishing water around in your mouth in between each soy sauce drenched sushi roll, so the dark color does not remain in contact with your teeth.

Mama Mia…Be Careful of Tomato Sauce (more…)

Invisalign FAQs Answered by Greenfield Dentists

March 31, 2013

Filed under: Invisalign,Patient Education — bghdental @ 4:19 am

shutterstock_73029832We are very proud to be able to offer our patients the innovative orthodontic solution that has a “clear” advantage over anything else. If you want straight teeth, Invisalign is a terrific solution. Many of our patients have questions brewing in their heads about these clear aligners that can straighten crooked teeth without the disadvantages of traditional metal braces. Your Greenfield dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, will answer FAQs on Invisalign.

Invisalign FAQs

Q1. Are Invisalign aligners the same for every patient?

A1.A great choice for people that have teeth which present with over-crowding, cross-bites, poor spacing, under-bites, and/or over-bites, the clear aligners are customized to each individual patient. Your Greenfield dentists will start by taking detailed measurements and impressions of your teeth. Three dimensional computer imaging will allow you to see a projection what your straightened teeth will look like before treatment even starts. A professional lab will manufacture your personal series of customized clear plastic aligners. (more…)

Greenfield Family Dentists Ready to See Your Children

March 18, 2013

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Preventive Dentistry — bghdental @ 3:33 am

Toddler BrushingYour Greenfield family dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda are crazy about our young patients. Through our experiences as dentists and parents, we are well aware how frightening a child’s first dental appointment can seem. Developing good dental habits early on in life can translate into optimal oral health throughout all of your years. We dedicate our practice to providing warm, friendly, compassionate, and extra gentle care to our patients that are children. Our hope is that they will be loyal to our practice, as we are to them, for years to come. If you’re wondering more about dental habits in the earliest days of your child’s development, read on for more information.

The First Dental Appointment

Many parents ask when their baby or toddler should first go to the dentist. The general rule of thumb is that as soon as their first tooth erupts, you should schedule an appointment. This may seem counter-intuitive since most toddlers don’t have very many teeth to even be cleaned. However, dental checkups at this stage are for more than just preventive care. The jaws and teeth of babies and kids are still growing, so six month checkups can help us detect developmental problems in early (and more treatable) stages. Early diagnosis and intervention can prevent or reverse issues such as over-crowded teeth or (more…)

Greenfield Family Dentists Quiz You on Xylitol

March 11, 2013

Filed under: Just for Fun,Patient Education — bghdental @ 2:16 am

TrueOrFalseBlocksDo you enjoy chewing on a stick of sugarless gum after a meal, or whenever your breath doesn’t feel fresh? Over the years there have been some concerns about the long term health effects of various artificial sweeteners. Xylitol, however, is derived from natural substances, making it a safe means of sweetening gum without added calories and detriment to your dental health. In fact, not only does xylitol make gum taste good, but it can actually protect your teeth from decay and gum disease. Your Greenfield general dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda would like to challenge you to a quiz on xylitol facts.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Xylitol has been used as a sugar substitute for the last 20 years.

Q2. True or false – Xylitol is derived from fruits and vegetables.

Q3. True or false – Xylitol can halt tooth decay and repair tooth enamel damage. (more…)

Living with Gum Recession from Greenfield General Dentists

March 3, 2013

Filed under: Gum Disease,Patient Education — bghdental @ 4:34 pm

Gum DiseaseHealthy gums are crucial in maintaining dental health. Natural aging brings a number of general health concerns, and gum recession is on that list. Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee prevention of gum recession, but you can turn to dental hygiene and preventive dental care to stave off the oral health complications that come along with growing older. Your Greenfield general dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, will explain more about receding gum tissue.

The Start of Gum Recession

Gums serve both cosmetic and functional purposes, framing your smile and protecting the roots of your teeth from bacterial proliferation. When gum tissue recedes as a result of gum disease or aging, the spaces between your teeth become more prominent and the roots of teeth become partially exposed. This heightens the risk of tooth decay, root infection, and tooth abscesses.. It’s (more…)

Shelburne, MA Dentists Suggest Smaller Bites

February 22, 2013

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Patient Education — bghdental @ 6:03 pm

BigBiteIt is lunch time, and you didn’t have a chance for breakfast. Your stomach was rumbling so loudly in the mid-morning office meeting that three people looked at you and laughed. You are starving. You can’t wait to join your co-workers at the restaurant up the street where you can order a burger so big, you can barely fit your mouth around it. Today, you’re just hungry enough to devour the whole thing. You open your mouth wide to take that first juicy bite and you feel a shooting pain in your jaw. Your Shelburne, MA dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, will tell you why you should be careful not to allow your eyes (and mouth) to be bigger than your stomach.

Super Size Your Dental Needs

Our society is definitely wired for “bigger is better.” Why order the small sandwich, when the large one is only a dollar more? Why eat a normal sized corn dog at the fair when they’re selling some that are four times as large? Well, one answer is that taking a bite that’s bigger than the size of your mouth can simply cause damage to your jaw. So be cautious, even if your friends are cheering you on to take the challenge at a restaurant and eat the 20 pound steak. While that might make for a great picture on Facebook, over-extending your jaw in such a way can lead to problems with your TMJs (temporomandibular joints). (more…)

Deerfield, MA Dentists Discuss the Power of Smiling

February 15, 2013

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Patient Education — bghdental @ 6:51 pm

YearbookYou may expect to hear about dental based studies on various foods or extracts that can stop gum disease or tooth decay. Research on general health is an expected element of modern science. Studies on smiling might sound more frivolous. After all, a smile is just an involuntary reaction to happiness, isn’t it? Well, there might be more to the effects of smiling than we think, which is why there has been various science-based studies on the way we contort the muscles in our face, and how that might predict anything from career success to relationship success. Your Deerfield, MA dentists will tell you more.

Smiling Research in the UK

A British study recently focused on the therapeutic properties of smiling. One single smile was compared to the same endorphin release that has been pin-pointed from the consumption of chocolate. If you’re a chocolate lover, you know the (more…)

Greenfield General Dentists Suggest Heart Healthy Diet

February 8, 2013

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Patient Education — bghdental @ 7:02 pm

Whole FoodsWe’re continuing a focus on the heart for February’s National Heart Month. You also may have noticed all of those delicious looking candy choices for another heart-centric February event – Valentine’s Day. Naturally, no dentist is going to suggest that you eat all the candy you want. Sugar contributes to cavities, plain and simple, and while good oral hygiene can help, limiting sucrose in your diet will be all the better for your teeth. Your heart will benefit from a better diet, as well. Your Greenfield general dentistsDrs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda will describe some of these heart healthy foods.

Whole Foods for a Healthy Heart

When you go grocery shopping, consider sticking to the perimeters. The outer aisles are generally where the foods that are best for your heart are kept. Inner aisles boast more pre-packaged or “junk” foods that rely on preservatives and chemicals and high sodium for longer shelf lives. While you may have trouble transitioning back to healthy food when you’ve gotten used to the over-processed types, you can retrain your taste buds with will-power and diligence. Besides, when you experience how much better your body wiIl feel, you’ll have more of an incentive to keep up the good dietary work. (more…)

Greenfield Dentists Present Gum Disease Research: Protein Power

February 2, 2013

Filed under: Gum Disease,Preventive Dentistry — bghdental @ 7:46 pm

Gum Recession GuyPreventive dentistry focuses on the health of your gums and teeth so that dental issues won’t arise in the future. Think of preventive dental care as a similar concept to maintaining your car with oil changes and other such things that will keep the automobile from much more expensive and time-consuming mechanical work in the future. Periodontal disease (gum disease) consists of inflammation when gums are infiltrated by bacteria. Gum recession and tooth loss are down the road if gum disease isn’t tended to with help from your dentist. Periodontal treatments and a new outlook on prevention can help with future gum disease issues, but there’s no definitive cure for gum disease. However, your Greenfield family dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda will highlight a new study that focuses on utilizing protein filled capsules to alleviate periodontal disease.

Gum Disease Research

Dr. Steven Little presented research at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society regarding protein in relation to periodontal disease. The study began with laboratory experiments on mice. Efforts were set forth to discern if regrowth of the gingival tissues ravaged by periodontal disease was possible. Scientists focused on the periodontal response to protein exposure as a means of halting gum disease and restoring gum tissues. (more…)

Greenfield Dentists: Dental Care for Patients with Heart Disease

February 1, 2013

Filed under: Family Dentistry,Patient Education — bghdental @ 9:38 pm

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Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, on average, one in every three deaths is a result of heart disease and stroke. Many people suffering from disorders of the heart don’t realize they may require special care when undergoing even routine dental procedures. February is American Heart Month, which is why your Greenfield family dentists, Drs. Bagley, Goodwin, and Hrinda, are using today’s blog to discuss the dental care needs of our patients with heart conditions.

(more…)

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