family dentist

  1. Benefits of Digital X-Rays

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    For over 100 years, the utilization of x-rays in dental care has provided dentists and patients alike with a way to see tooth decay, bone issues, and other unseen problems from the inside. There are, however, drawbacks to the radiation necessary for this inside view; in addition, the technological limitations of printable x-ray sheets are evident in the low-quality and timely upload and download t…Read More

  2. Consider Pouring Out the Mouthwash

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    Nearly every US bathroom has the same things sitting on the sink each morning. It is common to expect toothpaste, toothbrushes, and, of course, mouthwash. Of all oral health care products, perhaps the most heavily marketed of the bunch is this last one. While we do see advertisements for toothpaste, it is far more common to see the litany of mouthwash ads that run nearly all the time. Listerine, f…Read More

  3. Alcohol & Oral Health: Duller Smile

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    In our previous blog, we talked about the dangers associated with increased oral cancer rates from alcohol abuse. Many of us, however, don’t habitually misuse alcohol; still, by drinking beer, mixed drinks, and even wine, you could be diminishing your smile in a number of ways. Alcohol & Common Oral Health Damage While alcohol doesn’t directly create oral health problems for those that cho…Read More

  4. Alcohol & Oral Health: Cancer

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    It is no secret that alcohol, especially in excess, is unhealthy. Many people (correctly) associate alcohol consumption with liver damage, some still point to reduced healing times and brain damage, yet very few understand the emerging link that is being identified between alcohol excess and oral cancer. Why might alcohol, in contrast with other drinks, cause havoc in your oral health? Understandi…Read More

  5. Toothpaste: How Much is Too Much?

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    We all know how to brush our teeth, right? For most people, proper brushing was taught to them by their parents, which was taught by their parents, and so on. Yet, the truth is not quite that spot on. In Missoula alone, we have found that many adults, when asked by our dentist, cannot agree upon the actual amount of toothpaste recommended for usage. After all, we all know how to brush our teeth, s…Read More

  6. Fluoride Myths Part 2: Rinsing

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    As we’ve briefly explored in our previous blog, Fluoride Myths Part 1: Drinking Water, the integration of trace amounts of fluoride can have tremendous benefits for overall dental health. T fluoridation of our drinking water supplies has had a dramatic impact on our dental health, it is not the only myth abound regarding fluoride. Another major fluoride myth is centered around rinsing after brus…Read More

  7. Engaging Kids in Dental Care

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    Parents routinely struggle with teaching children proper dental habits that will translate into lifelong oral health. Your friendly, local Missoula dentist at Bitterroot Dental has some key tips and techniques that can help to engage children of all ages with their own oral health. Start Young As with any habit, the earlier you begin to reinforce the importance of oral health, the more likely posi…Read More

  8. Fluoride Myths Part 1: Drinking Water

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    It seems as though the only time that fluoride concerns arise, the issue it at hand is on one of two things: A city’s water supply and household toothpaste. In both instances, there are far more misconceptions abound than actual data. We’ve heard that fluoride is a poisonous and dangerous substance, which is an exaggerated truth. The fact of the matter is that it tends to scare people when the…Read More

  9. Teaching Childhood Tooth Brushing, Part 1

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    Just about every parent understands the importance of having their children brush their teeth, however many do not ensure that their children know the correct way to effectively brush their teeth. While many parents believe that they are teaching their children effective oral habits, the reality is that many parents were not trained properly themselves as children, and could actually pass on less-…Read More

  10. Avoid Dental Local Anesthesia

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    It is common to hear someone returning from the dentist to complain of the facial numbness or drooping caused by the novocaine injection used to mitigate the pain during a procedure. However, novocaine has been replaced in most family dental offices with a more modern anesthetic called lidocaine. While lidocaine carries less inherent risk than novocaine, the best solution for risk-free dentistry i…Read More