Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly?

For most people, brushing their teeth is simply something they do. It’s ingrained into their routines. They wake up, brush, go about their day, brush, go to bed. The fact that they’re brushing should be good enough, right? At Dr. Shirley Cagle’s dental office in The Woodlands we don’t think so, and you shouldn’t either.

Brushing your teeth isn’t so much about whether or not you do it -- although that is pretty important -- it’s more about how you brush.

By correctly brushing your teeth, you’re effectively removing plaque, tartar and bacteria, which protects your pearly whites from cavities, gum disease and a variety of other dental problems. Proper brushing also helps keep your teeth free of dangerous surface abrasions and can aid in keeping your gums healthy.

To correctly brush your teeth, it’s important that you follow some basic rules.

●      Brush at least twice a day

●      Use a soft-bristled toothbrush

●      Aim the bristles at a 45-degree angle

●      Use a soft, circular motion instead of a horizontal “scrubbing” technique

●      Clean every surface of each tooth, including the front, back and chewing area

●      Be sure to brush your tongue each time as well

Practicing optimal brushing techniques is sure to help protect overall oral health. However, it’s still very important to maintain regular visits to your dentist in The Woodlands and get professional cleanings as recommended. If you’re due for a cleaning or checkup, call Dr. Shirley Cagle to schedule an appointment today!

How to Choose the Best Toothpaste in The Woodlands

Choosing the best toothpaste isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Although the aisle in in the supermarket is confusing with all of the different brands, flavors, features and ingredients, The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle wants to make the process of choosing the right toothpaste a bit easier.

Most products in the toothpaste aisle will help keep your teeth clean and healthy, but there are some key things you should take into consideration when choosing a toothpaste.

First, you need to like the flavor, texture, and the toothpaste overall. Choosing a paste that you enjoy helps encourage you to brush everyday, twice a day – that’s the most important part of having healthy teeth and gums.

Another thing to look for to make sure you’re using the right toothpaste is the all-important ingredient of fluoride. Fluoride has been proven to protect tooth enamel from decay and is crucial to a healthy mouth. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice daily can reduce tooth decay and cavities by as much as 40%.

In addition to fluoride, toothpastes are also created to individual needs and can include speciality features that can help with sensitivity, tartar control, whitening, and breath-freshening.

Although choosing a good toothpaste is important, good oral hygiene goes beyond the kind of toothpaste you select. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush twice a day and make regular trips to our dental office in The Woodlands. If you’re overdue for a checkup or professional cleaning, give us a call today to schedule your appointment.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush in The Woodlands

Walking down the toothbrush aisle at the local supermarket can be an overwhelming experience –  especially if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for. When choosing the right toothbrush for your smile, there are a few important characteristics to take into consideration other than simply your favorite color or the one that’s on sale. At The Woodlands dental office of Dr. Shirley Cagle, we want to go back to the basics and discuss a few of the things you should look for when buying your next toothbrush.

Size and Shape

The size and shape of your toothbrush is a good starting point when choosing the ideal toothbrush for you. The head of the toothbrush should easily fit into your mouth without any strain or discomfort. The toothbrush should also fit comfortably in your hand and should feel as natural as holding a fork.

Bristles

The bristles of your toothbrush are also important and should be taken into consideration. While many people tend to think that harder bristles will be better for cleaning teeth, it is, in fact, the opposite. Hard bristles can irritate the gums and even damage teeth. Our dental office in The Woodlands prefers and recommends soft-bristle toothbrushes.

Manual or Powered?

According to the American Dental Association, both manual and powered toothbrushes are effective and thorough at cleaning your teeth. However, some individuals have difficulty using a manual toothbrush to successfully reach all areas of the mouth and find that powered toothbrushes are easier and more comfortable.

Whether you decide on manual or powered, it’s ultimately more important to make sure that your toothbrush is easy to use and that you’re comfortable with it. Dr. Shirley Cagle also recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day and to visit our dental office in The Woodlands regularly for professional cleanings and exams.

Foods That Can Damage Smiles in The Woodlands

There are many foods that can cause damage to teeth and some are more obvious than others. While it’s never surprising to hear dentists talk about how bad sugar is for your teeth, there are other foods that should also be covered when discussing healthy eating habits for your smile. At The Woodlands dental office of Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD, we want to educate our patients on the other types of food that can be harmful to your oral health.

Sticky foods, including sticky sweets, are some of the most dangerous foods for teeth. Sweet sticky foods are not only harmful because of the sugar, they’re also bad for teeth because of the texture. The stickiness of foods like caramel and taffy tends to cause the food, and the sugar found in the food, to linger on teeth. This can cause teeth to become more susceptible to decay and cavities. Sticky foods can also cause trouble for dental restorations, even pulling out fillings or loosening crowns.

Hard foods, like popcorn or ice, can also damage teeth. While teeth are strong and made to help us chew, they can’t withstand everything. Chewing on crunchy foods can put a lot of stress on your teeth and can even result in broken teeth in The Woodlands. Habitually crunching ice cubes or accidentally finding that hidden popcorn kernel can also cause tooth cracks, chips, and damaged restorations.

Highly acidic foods, like lemons and soda, are also damaging to teeth. The acid can cause tooth enamel to erode, which increases the chance of decay and cavities. Surprisingly, you shouldn’t brush immediately after eating acidic foods. It makes it easier for the acid to penetrate the enamel. Instead, rinse with water and then brush about an hour later.

At our dental office in The Woodlands, we want to help keep smiles protected and healthy. One of the best ways to do that is to routinely examine our patients teeth. When you keep your regularly scheduled appointments, we are able to monitor your oral health and protect your teeth from the damaging effects of food and drink. If you’re due for a check up - especially if you like to chew on ice or snack on sticky or acidic foods - schedule an appointment with us today. We look forward to seeing you!

Easing Sensitive Tooth Pain in The Woodlands

Having sensitive teeth is one of our patients’ most common complaints. In fact, at least 40 million adults in the US suffer from it. But why do your teeth become sensitive in the first place, and how can you ease the pain it causes? At Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD we’re here to help.

Teeth can become sensitive when the hard enamel of your teeth wears down or your gums recede, which causes the tiny tubes located in the dentin (the layer of tissue found beneath the hard enamel, containing the inner pulp) to be exposed. When this happens, the nerves are easily irritated and the result is sensitive tooth pain that is felt when eating or drinking hot or cold food, touching your teeth, or exposing them to cold air.

How to Avoid Sensitive Teeth in The Woodlands

There are some habits that make you more susceptible to having sensitive teeth. Eating or drinking foods that are highly acidic, such as citrus fruits or soda, can increase your risk of sensitivity. Avoid brushing too hard and don’t use a hard-bristled toothbrush. Also, ingredients in some whitening toothpastes may also lead to, or increase, sensitivity.

How Do You Treat Sensitive Teeth?

Easing the pain associated with sensitive teeth can be done by using a desensitizing toothpaste or by visiting our office for sealants and fluoride as both help with desensitizing. And if your teeth are really sensitive for prolonged periods and the pain becomes worse with hot and/or cold temperatures, it’s best to come see us at Shirley Cagle, DDS, FAGD as soon as possible. We will perform a full evaluation to make sure the pain isn’t associated with a cavity or abscess and we’ll help to ease your sensitive tooth pain.

If you’re experiencing sensitive teeth in The Woodlands, contact us today. We look forward to seeing you!

Together, We Can Prevent Gum Disease in The Woodlands

As we wrap up our three-blog series on gum disease, let’s take a moment to recap what we’ve discussed. You know what gum disease is. You know what symptoms to look out for. You know that it can cause greater health problems and affect your overall well-being. Now all of us at Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD in The Woodlands want to make sure you know how, together, we can prevent gum disease.

Pairing good dental habits at home with regularly scheduled dental appointments can help maintain a healthy mouth and prevent gum disease from ever occurring. Visiting your dentist in The Woodlands at least twice a year for exams and cleanings can help keep you healthy and can also help catch any potential problems before they have a chance to progress and affect the rest of your body.

In between your dental checkups, it’s important to practice good dental habits at home to ensure a clean mouth, healthy gums, and health body. Brushing your teeth at least 2-3 times a day and flossing in between your teeth and below the gum line once a day are easy and effective ways to help remove any plaque and bacteria that can cause gum disease. If you can’t brush, chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol can also help.

In addition to these simple yet very effective habits, other lifestyle factors can also help keep gum disease at bay.

●      Eat a healthy diet and limit your intake of sugar

●      Avoid bedtime snacks

●      Stop smoking - people who use tobacco are six times more likely to develop gum disease and are less responsive to treatment than those who don’t

If you’re due for a dental cleaning and checkup, or if you’re concerned about your gum health, contact our The Woodlands dental office at 855-251-4554 to schedule an appointment today and we’ll work together to prevent gum disease. If we do happen to find active gum disease, don’t worry. It’s often easily treated. And if we catch it early, it’s even easier. Don’t wait for your gums to show signs of a problem. Be proactive and call us today.

Periodontal Disease: More Than a Mouth Problem in The Woodlands

Periodontal disease isn’t only a mouth problem, it can affect the whole body! Here at The Woodlands dental office of Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD, we treat periodontal disease with a preventive approach.

Since periodontal disease originates in the mouth, the bacteria is easily transferred to other areas of the body and has been linked to some serious health conditions.

 

Research has shown a strong link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, which could lead to stroke or heart attack. In fact, those with periodontal disease are at double the risk of suffering a fatal heart attack or stroke.

In addition to cardiovascular disease, gum disease has been linked to lung disease, kidney disease, premature or low birthweight babies, and difficult management of diabetes.

While preventing gum disease with visits to our dental office in The Woodlands at least twice a year is ideal, the best approach to treating any active gum disease is early detection and treatment, before the disease progresses and starts to affect your overall health.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of gum disease including bleeding or sore gums, contact Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD at 855-251-4554 to schedule your appointment today. We look forward to taking care of your smile, and your health.