While the practice of oil pulling may be thousands of years old, oil pulling for improving oral health has only become a widespread trend in the past few years. Advocates of oil pulling claim that by swishing coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil around in the mouth for 10-20 minutes each day, you can remove plaque and prevent, or even cure, caries (commonly called cavities). How much of this claim is true? A lack of thorough clinical studies stops experts from …
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If you think that fluoride treatments are only important during adolescence, you are probably not alone. In the past, fluoride was used primarily to protect teeth during their initial eruption and development which is why you probably remember fluoride treatments when you visited the dentist as a child. However, fluoride is still important as we age and should not be forgotten about after the age of 18. One reason that many patients stop receiving fluoride treatments as adults is because they are …
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Over the past 10 years, personal care products that contain small plastic beads have grown dramatically in popularity. While these products are approved by the FDA, most consumers aren’t even aware that they are using products with plastic in them. They also don’t realize the effect that these small plastic beads could be having on their bodies as well as the environment. Plastic Beads in Toothpaste Some toothpaste companies, such as Crest, have been adding polyethylene beads to their toothpaste …
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If you aren’t currently brushing with an electric toothbrush, we highly recommend that you give it a try. Electric toothbrushes (sometimes referred to as power brushes) have a number of benefits and many patients report that once they start using an electric brush they never want to switch back to a manual brush! Even though power brushes are typically more expensive and must be recharged, we believe that the benefits of power toothbrushes far outweigh the negatives. 1. Electric Toothbrushes …
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We would like to extend a tremendous thank you to the Richmond community for voting in the 2015 Style Weekly Readers Choice Awards. We are excited to announce that Rusnak Family Dentistry was named one of the Best Dentists in Richmond! The Readers Choice Awards are a chance for Richmond to vote for their favorite people, places, and things. Over 45,000 ballots were cast by members of the community between February 1 and March 14 of this year. Votes were …
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For most of us, we tend to keep our oral hygiene rituals relatively simple. Often we stop at brushing and flossing our teeth, making it easy to overlook key steps we could be missing. One important addition that gets overlooked is mouthwash. By routinely using mouthwash, you can greatly improve your oral health and smile. But for such a simple step, there are many questions people have on how to best use it. Should you rinse before or after you …
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Night guards can be a valuable tool when it comes to protecting your teeth from the harsh effects of grinding or clenching. If your dentist suspects that you are grinding or clenching in your sleep, a night guard may be recommended in order to prevent future damage. Once you get a night guard, it’s important that it’s cared for properly so that it can continue protecting your teeth for as long as possible. Your daily oral health routine should include …
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When playing contact sports, teams often require the players to wear protective headgear and pads. Yet one of the most important areas, your mouth, is generally left exposed. Organized sports teams do not typically require you to protect your teeth with a mouth guard, but doing so can save you from serious dental trauma. If you play any of these sports, the American Dental Association recommends wearing a protective dental mouth guard: Hockey Baseball Softball Basketball Football Field Hockey Skateboarding …
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An implant supported denture is a prosthetic dental appliance that is essentially a hybrid of dentures and dental implants. As the name suggests, it is a denture that is secured by dental implants for stability instead of just resting on the gums, as a traditional denture does. Many people aren’t aware of this treatment option and have many questions when their dentist recommends an implant supported denture. Implant Supported Dentures Are More Comfortable One of the biggest complaints of denture …
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Your doctor suggested a dental implant to replace a tooth. You immediately have many questions about dental implants including the process, total cost, and what to expect from the surgery. You can always ask your dentist these questions, but you may not think of important questions until you have already left the office. To ensure all your questions are answered before you get a dental implant, read our comprehensive list of the common questions (and the complete answers) prior to …
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