While you may not think the health of your teeth and gums affects your overall health, an increasing body of scientific evidence indicates that they may be associated. The bacteria and inflammation associated with severe periodontal disease, or gum disease, have been linked to a variety of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and low birth-weight and pre-term babies.

Given the potential link between periodontal disease and systemic health problems, prevention may be an important step in maintaining overall health. In order to avoid developing periodontal disease, make sure you follow these guidelines:

• Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day.
• Use an ADA accepted toothpaste with fluoride to help prevent decay.
• Clean thoroughly between your teeth daily with floss or another interdental cleaner.
• If you need extra help controlling plaque, we can discuss the use of an ADA accepted, anti-microbial mouth rinse.
• See me for regular dental appointments.

Please call to make an appointment so I can check your teeth and gums.  It is my pleasure to provide you with outstanding preventative dental care.

Dr. Guter

As your dentist, I often view myself as a member of your oral health team.  The success of you having no cavities and healthy gums is mainly determined by how well you practice good oral care at home.

Brushing your teeth twice a day with an ADA accepted fluoride toothpaste and flossing your teeth once a day is essential. Patients often say that they just don’t have time to floss. You can floss your teeth at any point in the day. Flossing is easier than ever thanks to the variety of flossing products, such as interdental cleaners, floss picks, and power flossers. These healthy habits are worth incorporating into your daily life.

Your choice of foods and beverages is another key to good oral health. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. A steady diet of sugary foods and drinks, including sports drinks, can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Sugar mixes with the bacteria in your mouth to produce acid. This acid attacks the enamel on your teeth for up to 20 minutes. When sugar is consumed regularly, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. Once a tooth decays, the enamel does not grow back. The only option when decay occurs is to see me to have the tooth treated. 

Smoking or using tobacco in any form also damages your oral health. Not only does smoking and chewing tobacco place you at higher risk for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, but tobacco use can also cause periodontal (gum) disease. If you smoke and you are interested in quitting, we can talk about available treatment options and determine the best course of action for you.

By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and having regular dental visits, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile for life. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the office.

Dr. Guter

We understand that day-to-day life can be very hectic. Between work, family, and social commitments, it’s tough to make that extra effort to care for your dental health. At The Guter Center, we want to make your regular dental visit a relaxing and positive experience.

Regular dental care is important. We can detect tooth decay early, which can save time, money, and your teeth!  Even if you thoroughly brush and clean between your teeth each day, your teeth need professional cleanings at the dental office. Professional cleaning helps remove stains, plaque, and tartar from your teeth to keep your smile bright. It also helps prevent periodontal (gum) disease.

Periodontal disease affects the tissues and bones that support teeth. Left untreated, severe periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. In addition, research suggests that there may be a link between severe periodontal disease and other health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke and increased risk of pregnancy-related problems. Although it’s not clear if treating oral disease will improve specific health problems, we do know that oral health is important for overall health and vice versa.

At your dental appointment, we check the health of your gums to ensure that all is well. Some diseases or medical conditions, such as oral cancer, vitamin deficiencies, and hormonal irregularities, have warning signs that can appear in the mouth. By identifying changes in your mouth, we can help detect health problems at an early stage when they can be treated most successfully. Regular dental visits are also important for denture wearers to ensure a proper fit.

Please give us a call to schedule your examination and cleaning appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Dr. Guter

Being a parent is a full-time job. As your family dentist, it’s my job to send preventive dental care reminders about how to care for your child’s developing teeth and gums. 

Below are some tips on good oral care for your child from the American Dental Association, plus information on thumbsucking and teething. Post these on your refrigerator or in another handy place so your family and babysitters can also see them:

• Infants should finish their bottle or breastfeeding before going to bed. Frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth to liquids containing sugar, like sweetened water, fruit juice and potentially milk, breast milk and formula is a risk factor for early childhood caries, sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay.
• Do not dip pacifiers in sugar or honey.
• Wipe the baby’s gums with a wet gauze pad or with a washcloth or towel after each feeding. 
• Begin brushing your child’s teeth with water as soon as the first tooth appears. 
• To reduce the chances of tooth decay, children should be encouraged to drink from a cup by their first birthday. 
• Your child’s first dental visit should occur within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than the baby’s first birthday.
• Aggressive thumb sucking may cause problems with children’s primary (baby) teeth, so please mention to me on your next visit if your child has this habit.  I can check his or her mouth for any changes and give you techniques to help curb thumbsucking. 
• As baby teeth erupt, your child may become fussy, sleepless or irritable. One way to comfort your baby is to gently massage the gums with a clean finger, a small cool spoon, or a clean, wet gauze pad, washcloth or towel.
• Consult with your pediatrician, family physician or dentist on the most appropriate water to use in your area to mix with infant formula.

As always, we are here to answer your questions. Please feel free to call our office to schedule your first “well-baby” dental appointment. 

Dr. Guter

Halitosis, or bad breath, is an embarrassing problem that nearly everyone knows, yet few care to talk about. Our office can help you get to the bottom of this problem and provide simple solutions to prevent bad breath.

Bad breath has many causes: odor-causing foods, tooth decay, gum disease, bacteria growing on the tongue, dry mouth, use of tobacco products, sinus or respiratory infections, some medical disorders, improperly cleaned dentures, inadequate oral hygiene, or some medications. We can help find the cause of bad breath and if it’s due to an oral condition, we can set up a treatment plan to eliminate this problem. Treatment may be easier than you imagine.

Here are some quick tips for preventing bad breath:

1. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkup. Keep a log of what you eat. Avoid constant use of breath mints and other hard candies containing sugar.  They will only temporarily mask bad breath and can lead to tooth decay.
2. Make a list of over-the-counter and prescribed medications that you take. Some may play a role in causing bad breath.
3. Look for oral hygiene products that display the ADA Seal of Acceptance, a symbol of safety and effectiveness.
4. Brush twice a day with an ADA accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove food and plaque.  Brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth. 
5. If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night. Clean them thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth the next morning.
6. If you feel you must constantly use a breath freshener or mouthwash to hide unpleasant breath, see me so we can get to the root of the problem.

Please call our office to schedule an appointment for a professional cleaning and checkup. We are happy to help restore confidence in your oral health.

Dr. Guter

August is here and it’s almost back-to-school time. This means it’s also time for your child’s dental appointment. We want to make sure he or she kicks off the school year with great oral health!

We also want to remind you of the importance of packing healthy snacks and meals in your child’s lunch bag. As you may know, many schools offer sugary snacks or beverages for purchase in the school cafeteria or at vending machines, and this easy access to sugar can lead to tooth decay. There is a strong link between diet and dental health. A combination of balanced nutrition and regular dental visits will help preserve your child’s smile for a lifetime.

Please call our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.  Our back-to-school schedule fills up quickly, and we want to arrange a time that works best for you.  As always, it’s our pleasure to provide you and your family with the very best in dental care.

 Dr. Guter

You have seen the commercials.  Toothpaste whitens, brightens, desensitizes, and deodorizes.  But did you know toothpaste can be used for other things around the house?  Toothpaste can make other things sparkle and smell fresh other than just teeth.  Think twice about reaching for soap and stain remover the next time you need it.  Try out your non-gel, white toothpaste on these tricks.

1. Garlic, onion, fish, and peppers have been known to leave odors on hands while working in the kitchen.  Wash your hands and fingertips with toothpaste and remove those smelly odors.
2. Out of stain remover?  Toothpaste can be used on clothes and carpet.  Rub the stain with toothpaste until it is gone and then wash clothes as usual.  Be careful using some whitening toothpastes on fabric that may bleach out color.  Use a scrubbing brush on carpet with toothpaste to remove stains, then rinse.
3. Get rid of the soured-milk smell in baby bottles by using toothpaste and a baby bottle scrubbing brush.  Be sure to rinse well with warm water or sanitize afterwards.
4. If you have found crayon marks on your walls don’t panic.  Use a little toothpaste to gently rub colorful marks away.
5. Clean up old white flip flops or white tennis shoes with a scrubbing brush and whitening toothpaste to remove dirt and stains leaving them look like new!
6. Irritated, weeping, itchy bug bites, sores, stings, and blisters benefit from a drop of toothpaste.  My grandmother used to say after getting stung by a bee that it would take the sting away.  True, and may also stop any itching and decrease swelling.

Many parents worry about when their children will sprout their first baby tooth, also knows as primary teeth.  The average time to expect a first tooth is between 4 and 7 months of age.  However, every child is different and timing and appearance will vary among each one.  The two, front bottom teeth usually appear first.

Most parents do not look forward to teething babies expecting they may be fussy or uncomfortable.  Cold teething rings or washcloths to chew or suck on may help.  Teething gels are sold over the counter but should be followed by the directions on the label.

Brush or clean your baby’s teeth as soon as they appear twice a day.  Safe gels and toothpastes for babies are sold over the counter should your baby swallow. 

Dr. Guter recommends a child’s first dental visit should occur within six months of the eruption of the first tooth or around their first birthday.  A child’s first visit is recommended to be a well visit, to establish a good relationship between the child and dentist.  However, if a problem should arise at anytime schedule your child for an evaluation.

Baby teeth commonly fall out in the order they came, with the center incisor teeth first, and then first baby molars, and canines, followed by the second molars.  Most baby teeth fall out on their own naturally making room for permanent teeth.

The Baby Teeth Eruption Chart shows when to expect primary teeth to erupt and loosen.

Summer is in full swing with camps, sports, and outdoor activities.  Could the drink you’re choosing to quench your thirst be wreaking havoc on your teeth?  Choosing sports and energy drinks full of acid may be at the cost of your teeth.

The study in General Dentistry published in May/June 2012, studied the effects on enamel by testing nine energy drinks and 13 sports drinks.  Human teeth samples were immersed into each drink for 15 minutes, and then followed by soaking in replicated saliva for two hours, four times per day over a five-day period. 

It was determined that the acid levels varied among brands and certain flavors.  Research concluded only after five days of the test period irreversible damage to the tooth enamel was evident.  Also, energy drinks caused twice the amount of harm to teeth than sports drinks caused.

According to the academy of general dentistry, 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens consume energy drinks and as many as 62 percent drinks at least one per day.  Without protection of enamel, teeth can become cavity prone, sensitive, and more likely to decay.  Damage caused to tooth enamel is irreversible.

If you must drink a sports or energy drink it is suggested to chew sugar-free gum or rinse afterwards.  Chewing gum and rinsing prompts saliva flow which neutralizes acid production by bacteria.

Dr. Guter

There has been a recent recall for Crest and/or Arm and Hammer Spinbrush.  The FDA reports that while turned on, brush heads have either “popped off” or broken off in the user’s mouth or near the face, causing cuts to the mouth and gums, chipped or broken teeth, swallowing and choking the broken pieces, and injuries to the face and eyes.

 Crest reports a Safety Notice: Please remember to replace your brush head after 3 months of use, or if the brush is damaged, or if parts become loose. Extended usage, loose parts or excessive wear could lead to brush head breakage, generation of small parts and possible choking hazard. Inspect brush for loose parts before use.

 For more information visit: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm292239.htm

 Or

 http://www.spinbrush.com/important_information.html

Dr. Guter