Although you usually hear the phrase, “you’re never fully dressed without a smile,” that hasn’t been the case over the last year. Instead, you’re never fully dressed without a face mask. While face masks have been doing their part in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, dentists and orthodontists are now seeing a decline in oral hygiene due to the increase in face mask wear.

From wearing masks to staying home and eating more snacks to postponing dental visits, our oral health has taken a big hit over the last year — increasing the likelihood of patients experiencing tooth decay, gingivitis, and cavities. Even while we continue to wear face masks to protect ourselves from the coronavirus, it’s important to upkeep your oral hygiene to prevent problems from cropping up.

Today, the team at Taylor Dental is here to talk to you about maintaining your oral hygiene while wearing a face mask and ways you can keep your teeth clean when brushing isn’t available to you.

What Is Mask Mouth?

A newly coined term in the dental hygiene community is “mask mouth,” which refers to individuals who had healthy teeth and gums before the pandemic but are now exhibiting oral problems due to wearing face masks regularly.

Wearing face masks is part of our everyday routine and has caused an increase in the dryness of our mouths — and a dry mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Without the protective layer of saliva that our mouths usually have when mask-free, our mouths aren’t naturally protecting the teeth or gums from this buildup of bacteria. Along with the decrease in salvia, frequent mask wearers are less likely to stay hydrated throughout the day, impacting the mouth’s dryness.

Not only does this dry mouth lead to bad breath, but when unresolved, the bacteria growth can lead to problems such as gingivitis and tooth decay.

Lack of Brushing

Dentists have also found that many kids are skipping critical parts of their oral hygiene routine, including brushing their teeth at least twice a day. Because the child or individual wears a mask when leaving their home, they may not think they need to brush their teeth since no one will be smelling their bad breath.

However, skipping brushing their teeth is causing an increase in bacteria and plaque on their teeth, causing problems to their teeth and gum lines — which can lead to irreversible damage if not treated.

If you are having a hard time getting your child to brush their teeth, there are a few ways you can help them clean their teeth without the use of a toothbrush:

• Pack crunchy vegetables in their lunch – Include crunchy vegetables such as celery, carrots, broccoli, or cucumbers in your child’s lunch because they can help scrape plaque from the teeth, removing some of the odor-causing bacteria.
• Make mouthwash readily available – Mouthwash is an easy and effective way to rid the mouth of bacteria that can wreak havoc on your child’s teeth and gums.
• Pick up sugarless gum from the store – Sugarless gum not only can improve the smell of bad breath but can help release food particles that get stuck between teeth. It also promotes the production of saliva, which is helpful when dealing with dry mouth from wearing a mask.

Call Taylor Dental for Preventative Dental Care

If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth, Dr. Taylor and his highly trained staff can help you determine the steps to take to improve their oral hygiene. Contact Taylor Dental in Billings, MT, to schedule an appointment for preventative care. We look forward to helping you improve your family’s oral health!

When you think of your bi-annual visit to the dentist, you probably expect them to clean your teeth and send you on your way. While a traditional approach to dentistry is a tried and true approach to promoting oral health, holistic approaches, known as whole body dentistry, are becoming increasingly popular.

Oral health impacts your overall health — and this connection goes both ways! For instance, if you have an oral infection, it can spread to your bloodstream and cause other health issues. With a holistic approach to dental care, your dentist will not only look at your teeth but will factor in your entire body. By improving your overall health through a holistic approach, you’ll see improvement in your oral health as well.

Taylor Dental specializes in whole body dentistry and can help you with a customized treatment plan to improve your oral health and your overall health.

What Is Whole Body Dentistry?

When it comes to your oral health, it’s about more than just the individual teeth that make up your smile. A holistic dentist practicing whole body dentistry understands the connection of the mouth to the rest of your body, allowing them to not only treat oral health but simultaneously affect your body’s overall wellbeing.

If you’re suffering from oral infections, your teeth are spreading toxins throughout your body that can cause it stress and inflammation. The goal of your whole body dentist is to provide you with holistic treatment to your teeth or gums with the following factors in mind:

• Nutrition – Holistic dentists believe that incorporating the right foods and supplements into your diet can naturally cure problems of the mouth, gums, and body. Not only does proper nutrition help prevent dental diseases, but can help reverse some of the damaging effects they have had on your health.
• Toxins – To reduce the introduction of toxins into your body that can cause inflammation and other issues, whole body dentistry switches up some of the materials used for dental work. For instance, holistic dentists do not use amalgam when filling cavities due to mercury content. Whole body dentistry also recommends against using fluoride or root canal treatment due to their impact on your health.
• Supplements – In many cases, a holistic dentist will make recommendations for supplements rich in vitamin C that can help treat and prevent gum disease.

Schedule a Smile Makeover with Taylor Dental

Ready to improve the health and appearance of your smile — and your overall health? The team at Taylor Dental is trained on the holistic approach of whole body dentistry to provide you with the necessary treatment and recommendations that will leave you feeling your best.

Our top-rated dentists will be able to help you determine if whole body dentistry is the right approach for you and are happy to walk you through our process and answer any questions you may have.

At your appointment, Dr. Taylor and his highly trained staff can help you determine the steps to improve your oral hygiene using a holistic approach. We will work with you to provide a well-rounded treatment plan, from nutrition and supplement recommendations to alternative treatment methods. With our whole body dentistry services, you can have peace of mind knowing we are factoring in all aspects of your body, not just your teeth and gums, to improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Contact Taylor Dental in Billings, MT, to schedule an appointment for whole body dentistry. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health!

After a long day at the office, there’s nothing more relaxing than coming home, putting on a pair of comfortable pajamas, washing your face and brushing your teeth, and getting in bed to watch the latest show on Netflix. But you may find it hard to relax and get some shut-eye if, even after you brushed your teeth, they still feel dirty! If you notice that your teeth still have that “fuzzy” feeling after brushing them, you don’t want to ignore it.

Having a buildup of bacteria and plaque can lead to oral health issues like gum disease, gum recession, and tooth loss — which is why it’s important to get to the bottom of the issue and get your teeth cleaned properly!

To ensure you’re thoroughly cleaning your teeth and removing plaque every time you brush, Taylor Dental has put together a few helpful teeth brushing tips for both adults and children.

Brush for Two Minutes

You may be surprised to find that you aren’t brushing your teeth for long enough. One of the most common reasons why teeth don’t feel clean after being brushed is because the process was rushed.

You should be brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes every time. We recommend breaking your mouth up into four quadrants (top-right, top-left, bottom-right, bottom-left) and spending at least 30 seconds in each of these sections. Not only does this help to make the two minutes go by faster, but it ensures that you’re spending equal time in all areas of your mouth.

Keep in mind that it’s easy to underestimate how long two minutes is, which is why there are a few ways you can guarantee you’re brushing long enough every time. Try using your phone timer, purchasing a toothbrush with a built-in timer, or playing music and brushing for the duration of an entire song. Brushing for at least two minutes will help make sure you remove all the leftover food particles from your teeth.

Throw Out the Old Toothbrush

Do you only change your toothbrush when you get a replacement from your dentist during your bi-annual preventative care visit? If so, you may not be changing your toothbrush as frequently as you should. It’s recommended that you swap to a new toothbrush every three months or when your current toothbrush begins showing signs of wear and tear.

Take a look at the bristles on your toothbrush. Are they bent or showing signs of damage? Or worse, are the bristles beginning to fall out? If the bristles aren’t in their normal upright position, they aren’t able to reach between your teeth with enough force to adequately clean your teeth. You may not even be removing any of the food particles or plaque buildup from your teeth at all — defeating the purpose of brushing your teeth. Proactively change to a new toothbrush every three months to ensure your toothbrush can effectively clean your teeth and gum line.

Change Your Brushing Technique

Next time you brush your teeth, take note of how you do it. Are you brushing in a side-to-side or an up-and-down motion? It’s a common misconception that you should be brushing side-to-side — which could be leaving you with teeth that don’t feel clean since your brushing may not be cleaning the gum line properly.

Side-to-side brushing can also remove the enamel from your teeth! Instead, you should brush from your gum line, moving in a circular, up-and-down motion to give your smile the deep clean it deserves.

Call Taylor Dental for Preventative Dental Care

If you’re still not satisfied with how your teeth feel after brushing them, Dr. Taylor and his highly trained staff can help you determine the steps to take to improve your oral hygiene. Contact Taylor Dental in Billings, MT, to schedule an appointment for preventative care. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health!

It’s no secret that smoking isn’t good for your health. But when you think of the health risks associated with smoking, your mind likely automatically thinks of lung cancer and oral cancer.

However, smoking wreaks havoc on many parts of an individual’s body — including their teeth! Smoking and tobacco products cause significant damage to your smile, and the longer you smoke, the more damage you’ll likely experience.

Before you can repair some of the damage to your teeth, Taylor Dental is here to explain how smoking and tobacco products cause cavities and what you can do to avoid causing future oral hygiene problems.

How Smoking Impacts Your Teeth

Smoking and tobacco products cause several issues to your oral health, ranging from gum recession to bone damage. Today we’re going to look at a few of the ways smoking damages your teeth and oral cavity.

Tooth Decay

More often than not, people assume most oral issues related to smoking-related to gum damage or cancer, but that’s not always the case. Your teeth can become significantly damaged as well, often beginning with tooth decay. Over time, smoking will cause large cavities to show up around the individual’s gumline, which weakens the teeth and often damages the root. It can also lead to tooth infections.

Periodontal Disease

Also known as gum disease, it is an infection in your mouth that impacts the gums. While the irritation may start as irritation, bleeding, and inflamed gums, it eventually leads to gum disease. When this happens, the individual will notice their gums receding, which exposes more of their teeth to potential damage.

Additional Oral Problems

Along with tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease, there are other issues that smokers may experience. These include:

• Tooth discoloration – Tobacco products often lead to stained teeth that are a dark yellow hue. Over time, it can stay your tongue as well.
• Mouth sores – Smokers are more likely to experience mouth sores and ulcers when compared to individuals who don’t smoke or use tobacco products.
• Oral cancer – Tobacco products, cigarettes, and cigars contain harmful chemicals exposed to your mouth every time the product is used. Exposure to these chemicals causes mutations in the cells of your mouth and throat, which increases the risk of oral cancer.

How Smokers Can Reduce the Risk of Cavities

Stopping smoking and using tobacco products is the best way to minimize the risk of cavities. Other recommendations include:

• Preventative care – Regular dental visits are an absolute must for maintaining healthy oral hygiene to find minor problems before they become more prominent and painful issues.
• Flossing and brushing – Along with flossing and brushing twice a day, consider doing so every time you smoke or use a tobacco product to help remove the harsh chemicals from your mouth.
• Tweaking your routine – At your preventative dental appointment, ask your dentist what other tactics you can do to improve your oral hygiene, such as using an electric toothbrush, mouthwash, or a water pick.

Fix Your Cavities with Non-Metal Fillings At Taylor General & Cosmetic Dentistry

If you’re a smoker or tobacco product user and are looking to create a picture-perfect smile, non-metal fillings might be the solution you’re looking for. Following your appointment for fillings, it’s important to schedule preventative care to ensure you’re protecting your teeth from further damage. Contact the team at Taylor Dental to schedule an appointment for non-metal fillings in Billings, MT.

We look forward to helping you reach the smile of your dreams!

A missing tooth or multiple teeth doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful smile. To restore your pearly whites, your dentist may recommend dental implants to replace your missing teeth. With dental implants, an artificial tooth is implanted directly into your jaw with a dental implant. Once the implant is embedded within your jawbone, it is used to secure a singular or group of artificial teeth in place to create the appearance of a perfect smile.

If you’re considering dental implants to get you the smile you’ve always dreamed of, there are a few aftercare tips for you to be aware of. Here are six aftercare tips for peace of mind with your dental implants.

Brush with a Soft Bristled Toothbrush

Have you bought the same brand of toothbrushes for the past ten years? Do you rely on the toothbrushes your dentist gives you as your bi-annual cleaning? After getting dental implants, you may need to change up the type of toothbrush you’ve been using to brush your teeth twice a day.

Using a toothbrush with stiff bristles can scratch the exterior of your dental implants. Instead, opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush that will offer the same clean but with much gentler bristles. When browsing the toothbrush aisle at the store, look for a toothbrush labeled with nylon bristles to ensure you’re choosing a toothbrush soft enough to do no damage but still provide a thorough cleaning.

Use Products for Sensitive Teeth

Because your mouth has undergone surgery to get the dental implants attached to your jaw, it’s essential to take precautions against anything that may cause you additional discomfort. When selecting your mouthwash and toothpaste, opt for less abrasive options. The best way to handle this is to use toothpaste and mouthwash specifically designed for those with tooth sensitivity. Anything too abrasive can cause you extreme discomfort with repeat use.

Floss Your Teeth Every Day

How often are you currently flossing your teeth? If you aren’t flossing your teeth daily, then you aren’t flossing enough — especially when you have dental implants. Flossing is more important than ever when you have dental implants because of the plaque buildup around the implant. If the plaque isn’t removed, it can lead to infection and eventually cause a problem with your dental implant.

Watch the Types of Foods You Eat

This probably won’t come as a surprise, but there are certain types of foods you would avoid or limit when you have artificial teeth. Sticky and hard foods are known to cause damage to dental implants, so be mindful when eating any of the following foods:

• Carrots
• Apples
• Caramel
• Hard candy
• Gummy candy
• Chips
• Steak
• Ice

Avoiding or reducing the intake of these foods will help ensure your dental implant remains healthy and intact.

Limit Smoking and Alcohol

Dental implants are fully healed about six months. If your teeth are exposed to any additional trauma during this period, the healing may be delayed. Both smoking and alcohol are detrimental to the healing process for dental implants, which increases the chance of rejection or infection. When possible, avoid smoking or drinking alcohol to allow your dental implants to heal more quickly.

Schedule Regular Dental Cleanings

Regular visits to the dentist should always be on your calendar, especially if you have dental implants. Not only will your dentist be able to check on your dental implants and make sure everything has healed correctly, but they’ll also clean and check the rest of your teeth to prevent the need for additional dental implants in the future. By properly taking care of your dental implants, you’ll have a beautiful smile for many years to come.

Call Taylor Dental for Dental Implants

For dental implants or require other dental services in Billings, MT, reach out to Taylor Dental’s team to schedule an appointment.

A perfect smile doesn’t always come naturally — sometimes, you need dental implants to help you create a healthy and beautiful smile. Since dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, you can minimize any spaces or gaps in your mouth caused by lost teeth. Not only will dental implants allow you to improve your confidence, but they’ll make it easier for you to chew and speak since the crowns are anchored into your jawbone.

But how long will this investment last you? Taylor Dental is here to explain the expected lifespan of dental implants and steps you can take to help them stay in the best shape possible.

What Are Dental Implants?

If you are missing a tooth and looking for a permanent, natural-looking solution, a dental implant might be the right choice for you. An artificial tooth root is implanted directly into your jawbone with a dental implant to secure a singular or group of artificial teeth, known as dental crowns, in place.

Once the dental impact is installed, an abutment is used to connect the dental implant to the crowns and keep them in the desired spot. These dental crowns are custom fit to your mouth to blend into your existing smile. With a dental implant, you can have peace of mind.

What Is the Expected Lifespan of Dental Implants?

When considering dental implants, you’re probably wondering how long you can expect them to last. Will they allow your crowns to function normally for a lifetime? Or will they require a replacement in the next few years? You’ll be glad to know the dental implant can last your entire life when oral hygiene is maintained.

However, keep in mind that your smile isn’t only composed of the dental implant — the artificial tooth is the portion that is visible to the naked eye. While the implant can last a lifetime when taken care of, the crown tends to have a shorter lifespan of about 10 to 15 years before a replacement will be required. The location of the dental implant and crown can also impact how long they last. If the implant is in the back of your mouth, where most chewing occurs, it’s more likely to wear down quicker than an implant towards the front of your mouth.

You must follow best practices for oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing your teeth regularly, and scheduling preventative dentist visits every six months.

Will I Need Dental Implants Replacement?

In many situations, you may not need to replace your dental implants. However, if you notice that the dental implant and crown have become loose or damaged or you’re experiencing an infection, then it may be time to consult a dentist to determine if a dental implant replacement is needed.

Reasons You May Experience Problems with Dental Implants

While dental implants have a good track record for lasting upwards of two decades, some factors can contribute to the implants’ problems. Two of these reasons include:

• Peri-implantitis – This is a gum disease that causes your body to attack the implants with an infection that can cause inflammation and damage the bone surrounding the tooth. As a result, the dental implant will fail.
• Failed osseointegration – Another scenario is when your bone doesn’t grow around the dental implant as expected. When this happens, the implant isn’t secure enough to support a dental crown in place.

Along with these two conditions that lead to dental implant failure, there are other reasons why you may experience problems with dental implants. These include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions – Individuals experiencing medical conditions such as diabetes or cancer have a much higher risk of dental implant failure. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, share that information with your dentist so they can monitor your progress and detect any potential issues early on.
• Jawbone support – When considering dental implants, your dentist will need to evaluate your jawbone’s strength to make sure it can support the dental implant. If you have bone loss or lost teeth, implants might not be a viable solution without bone regeneration.
• Dental implant location – As mentioned, the location of the dental implants causes problems. If the impact is in the back of the mouth, it will be relied upon to support constant chewing. This extra use can cause the dental implant to fail more quickly than an implant in the front of the mouth.
• Teeth grinding – Those that grind their teeth at night knowing there are many adverse side effects, such as painful chewing, headaches, and jaw pain. If you constantly grind your teeth with dental implants, it can cause extra stress on the implants and cause them to chip.

If you have concerns about your dental implant or require other dental services, reach out to Taylor Dental’s team to schedule an appointment.