Author: Kara Urland

Mouthguards are an essential piece of safety equipment for kids engaged in contact sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse. Not only do they protect the teeth from trauma, but also the lips, tongue, face, and jaw. Without a proper mouthguard, kids could suffer serious dental injuries including broken or knocked-out teeth that require expensive treatment.

Mouthguards also provide cushioning to reduce the risk of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. They absorb shock that would otherwise be transmitted to the teeth or head when a player is hit with a ball, puck, stick or other hard objects. By providing this extra layer of protection, mouthguards can prevent serious long-term issues that may arise from concussion-related injuries.

Kids should also wear a mouthguard to protect them from the bacteria and viruses in the mouths of other players. A properly fitted mouthguard creates a barrier between the teeth, gums, and lips, which helps reduce the risk of infection or disease transmission during contact sports.

Finally, wearing a mouthguard can help reduce the time a child spends recovering after an injury. If a kid has been wearing one, they will likely recover faster than those who haven’t because the shock-absorbing properties of the guard will have minimized damage to their mouth and jaw.

Given all the benefits, it is clear that kids should wear a mouthguard whenever they are participating in contact sports. Not only will it help keep their teeth safe, but it can also protect them from bacterial and viral infections as well as reduce the amount of time needed to recover after an injury. This extra step can save kids a lot of pain and expense in the long run.

Contact Noll Family Dentistry to get a custom mouthguard for your child.

Amy King, the practice administrator of Noll Family Dentistry, will answer the most frequently asked questions in the dental office.

Q: “Do you take my insurance?”

A: We need all your information to verify that for you so when you call in or if you’re requesting information online you will need to give us that information. We will need the carrier name, your ID number, and your group number. We need this to verify on our end and make sure we participate with your plan. With this info, we can also notify you if we think you’ll have any out-of-pocket expenses so you’re aware of that.

Q: “How long is my first appointment?”

A: For new patient adults we schedule 90-minute appointments. Some people think that’s a little excessive but we want to dedicate that time to you and your dental concerns and anything that you might want to discuss in the appointment. We don’t want our new patients to feel rushed or on a time schedule for the doctor to get in and out and on to the next patient, so we like to dedicate that portion of time to you, investing in our new patients. Subsequent adult appointments for cleanings and checkups would be 60 minutes. For children, it would be age dependent on the length of the appointment.

Q: “How soon can my first appointment be?”

A: If you’re not having any dental concerns and you’re just looking for a cleaning and check-up, we are at times, scheduled several months out into the year but we work in an active cancellation list and we’re always contacting patients to try and move those appointments up sooner. I take great pride in making sure that we utilize our cancellation list every day to move your appointment forward so even though we schedule you a little further out typically we will get you in prior to that scheduled appointment and then of course if you are having a problem, or you have a toothache, or you’re concerned about something that can’t wait we get you in to see one of the doctors as soon as possible.

Q: “Do you need my x-rays from my old office?”

A: We need your x-rays if they exist at another office. If you have insurance, they will only pay for certain services within a certain amount of time so your insurance company might have a “one per three year” limitation so that service is only eligible to be paid by them every three years. So we run a history check with your insurance and if you have something on file that we need to obtain from another office we’ll go through the process of getting that sent from your previous dentist.

Q: “Can I do everything online?”

A: A lot of people would prefer to do all the interactions online. We try to do as much as possible but there are limitations so at some point in time we do need to verbally speak with you regarding your appointment. You might get a reply as a new patient to please call the office and we do have one evening that we’re here unill 7 P.M. On Wednesdays and Fridays we start at 7 A.M. and we also have Saturdays every 3rd week. So there are some times that you’ll be able to call if it doesn’t suit your business schedule.

We’re excited to have new patients, we’re growing in the Carlisle area and we have a five-star review from our patients. We enjoy getting to know you and taking care of you and your family members!

Want to learn more or schedule an appointment? Visit https://nollfamilydentistry.com

Cosmetic bonding is a process where the dentist attaches or “bonds” materials directly to your tooth in order to change the color and shape. If you have a chipped, cracked, or discolored tooth, a cosmetic dental procedure like tooth bonding can give you the confidence to flash those pearly whites.

Why would I need Tooth Bonding?

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, tooth bonding is most useful for repairing chipped teeth. That’s because the bonding materials and porcelain used are natural in color, and allows for a finished product that closely matches your surrounding teeth.

Tooth bonding is a procedure where the natural tooth enamel is fused together with bonding materials such as porcelain and resins to create a strong structure that still feels like your original tooth. 

It’s a cost-effective solution because it’s considerably less expensive than other cosmetic dental procedures, such as crowns and veneers.

​​Are there any risks of teeth bonding?

Dental bonding does not have any major risks. The composite resin used in this procedure isn’t as strong as your natural teeth so it is possible for the material to chip or separate from your real tooth. Chipping or breaking, however, doesn’t occur as often with a crown, veneer, or filling.

Overall, a healthy smile is a confidence booster. If you have a chipped tooth, discoloration, or a gap that you’re looking to improve, contact our office for a consultation.

Your dentist can determine whether this procedure is right for you, and if not, recommend other options to improve the appearance of your teeth.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums, the soft tissues in your mouth that surround your teeth and jawbone. This infection is caused by harmful bacteria that is housed in plaque, which is a soft & sticky film that builds on our teeth every single day.  

How Can I Fight Gum Disease At Home?

The best way to fight gum disease is to prevent it in the first place. Bacteria that forms in your mouth daily can cause gum disease, which is why good brushing & flossing is so important. If you already have any level of gum disease, what you do at home becomes even more important.

While home remedies cannot fix periodontitis, the gum infection that damages your gum tissue and jawbone, you can improve discomfort associated with it by establishing a faithful home care routine that includes:

• Brushing with a soft toothbrush or power toothbrush twice a day for two minutes.
• Cleaning in-between your teeth using floss, interdental brushes/picks, or water flossers.
• Rinsing with an antibacterial rinse especially before bedtime.
• Practicing lifestyle choices that reduce your risks such as quitting smoking, reducing stress, and eating a healthy diet.

What Is The Best Home Remedy For Gum Disease?

While there is no home remedy to cure gum disease, patients may want more natural products to help fight the bacteria and reduce inflammation. While many sources claim to help your gums naturally, many lack peer-reviewed research to back those claims.   

Here are some common ‘home remedies’ and linked information:

• Oil Pulling 
• Salt Water Rinses 
• Peroxide Rinses 
• Turmeric 
• Tea Tree Oil 
• Oral Probiotics 

While anecdotal evidence may show some positive results from home remedies, they all lack the clinical evidence of peer-reviewed research to show they fight gum disease. Because of that, the American Dental Association does not recognize them as reliable dental hygiene practices. However, none show any serious side effects if used as directed.  

If you are considering trying a ‘home remedy’, it is always best to consult your dental professional for advice before using it to make sure that they are safe for you.

To best maintain your gum health, it is best to see your periodontist to discuss your own level of disease, personal risk factors, treatment options, home care routine, and maintenance schedule that will help you stabilize your disease and offer continued periodontal management. Contact our office with any questions or to make an appointment!

Yes, baby teeth can get cavities, in fact, research shows that 42% of children ages 2 to 11 have had cavities in their primary (baby) teeth. Since baby teeth are just going to fall out many parents think they can just let it go if their child has a cavity. It’s true that these teeth don’t last forever, but they are not expendable and untreated cavities can cause serious immediate harm, and negatively affect how a young mouth develops. 

What Can Happen If A Cavity Is Left Untreated?

– Impact children’s nutrition, and impede them from eating healthy food. 
– Cause overbites, and bite alignment problems that require oral appliances to fix.
– Hinder adult teeth from growing in straight and healthy.
– Impede proper speech, and negatively affect self-esteem.
– Cause severe tooth pain, that worsens without treatment.
– Lead to infections that affect nearby teeth, and cause more cavities.  

How to Prevent Tooth Decay & Cavities

Cavities are the most prevalent childhood disease in the United States, but it’s also the most preventable. You can help your child to prevent cavities and tooth decay by encouraging them to get into a proper oral health routine, which means brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time and flossing once per day.

You can also take easy dietary measures to prevent cavities, too. Try removing sugary beverages from their diet, and substitute them for fluoridated water, which is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cavities.

Get Sealant

The American Dental Association recommends dental sealants for everyone, including kids. Your child’s first molars will appear around the age of 6 and second molars break through around age 12. It’s important to protect these teeth as early as possible which can keep them cavity-free and save time and money down the road.

Research has shown that kids who get sealants are up to three times less likely to develop tooth decay compared to their peers who do not. Great oral hygiene for your child can even have an impact on your child’s performance in school. When a child experiences issues with their teeth this can affect their ability to eat and sleep, which can have negative impacts on their success in school. Although there is maintenance required as sealants aren’t permanent, they only need to be reapplied every 3-5 years. 

Conclusion

Your child’s mouth will go through a host of changes, from that cute, gummy smile when they’re a baby to having a full set of choppers to bite at you with. At each stage of development, there are unique challenges you’ll need to address. Not all of it is obvious and it’s good to have resources to lean on. If you have questions and need them answered or simply need to bring your child in for a visit. Contact our office and we’ll help to set you on the path of good oral health for your child.  

Whether you should or shouldn’t rinse your mouth out after brushing has become a quite controversial topic. There are reasons on both sides of the argument so we have laid them out below:

Why Some Argue You Should Rinse Your Mouth:

After brushing your mouth is filled with a foamy flavored toothpaste so many people reach for a cup of water, gargle, and spit the remaining toothpaste out. By rinsing with water you’ll get rid of the excess toothpaste along with any food or bacteria that could have been stuck in your teeth.

Also rinsing with water helps avoid swallowing the toothpaste which can cause an upset stomach.

Arugment On Why You Shouldn’t Rinse Your Mouth Out With Water:

If you rinse after brushing you’re removing all the fluoride that was just in your mouth. Fluoride is the chemical found in toothpaste; that’s what makes it work!

The reason that dentists tell you to brush for 2 minutes is that it gives the toothpaste enough time to properly work. However – most people don’t brush for the recommended length of time. In fact, most people spend less than a minute brushing their teeth. So they say when you rinse with water, you’re potentially washing away any remnants of toothpaste, including the fluoride that makes it work. That could mean that even though you are brushing your teeth, it might not be as effective as it should be.

So, if you don’t rinse and just spit out the excess toothpaste, then the remaining fluoride will get to work and protect your teeth and you’ll enjoy cleaner and healthier teeth that are naturally strong against cavities and tooth decay in the future.

What Should You Do?

Both arguments make good points and ultimately this answer might not be what you want to hear, but it really depends on your preference!

While there have been studies on the effectiveness of rinsing vs. not rinsing and the results only indicate that there is possibly an advantage of one method over the other.

It all comes down to the fact that some people are just prone to cavities or might have poor dental health. If your teeth chip, crack or break easily, it’s strongly recommended that you do not rinse after you brush to allow for the fluoride to do all that it can to help. Similarly, if you consume a lot of sugar, you should probably avoid rinsing. If you don’t fit into these categories, then it’s really based on your own preference.

Dentists say it’s good to let the fluoridated toothpaste set in your teeth for a few minutes regardless if you do decide you want to rinse with water or not. While rinsing doesn’t harm you, it prevents the toothpaste from working to its best ability.

If you want to make further improvements to your daily oral care routine, consider these tips from the Mayo Clinic and the ADA:

• Eat a well-balanced, tooth-healthy diet.
• Limit high-sugar foods and drinks, such as candies and sodas.
• Avoid frequent snacking.
• Drink fluoridated water.
• Change your toothbrush every three to four months‚ or sooner if it looks worn or frayed.
• See your dentist regularly for checkups.

We want the best oral care for you, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or schedule an appointment!

Crown placement is necessary for a variety of conditions related to your dental health, placed usually when fillings or other methods are unable to be used. They help protect, restore, stabilize, and keep your teeth aesthetically pleasing to look at. There are some procedures that may be uncomfortable or painful at the dentist, you may be wondering if crowns are painful or not. 

Is Getting A Crown Painful?  

Crown placements are used to help prevent further damage and protect a tooth. A majority of the time you should have no problem with a crown placement other than a slight amount of discomfort for a short period of time after the operation. Despite this, it is possible for crowns to become damaged and cause pain to you in the affected area. 

Under normal circumstances receiving a crown should not be a painful operation. A crown can eventually cause pain depending on a variety of factors. These include the way your crown was placed, the amount of care taken of the tooth, and the amount of pain tolerance you have.

It is possible that the crown may cause you to experience some sort of discomfort or pain. There are a variety of reasons this could be happening. Here are some of those:

• Cavities – Though used as a preventative measure to cavities, it is still possible for them to occur after a crown has been placed. This could be due to previous unknown cavities or poor care for a prolonged duration after the crown placement. When a cavity gets large and harmful enough without being discovered or taken care of, a root canal may be necessary. 

• Infection – If the tooth receiving a crown did not have a root canal procedure done on it, it will still have nerves which can be affected by the residue or pressure from a crown.  

• Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) – Bruxism (teeth grinding) can put pressure on and even break down your placed crown if consistent enough. This constant pressure on your teeth can cause pain, especially on a tooth which has a crown placed. 

• Sore Gums – Depending on how naturally sensitive your gums are, you may feel a temporary discomfort after the crown placement procedure. This discomfort shouldn’t last more than 2 weeks. If it does continue past the allotted time, we recommend contacting your dentist and being seen again so they can fix the issue.

• Recessed Gum Line – Pain and sensitivity can be more prevalent if the gum area around the tooth with the crown has recessed due to harsh brushing or gum disease. 

• Unfit Crown – Sometimes crowns aren’t placed correctly. You can commonly tell this if the pain you experience is prevalent when biting down. Your bite might feel out of its normal position, which can lead to jaw pain and possible headaches.  

What To Do If You Experience Pain After A Temporary Crown

The very first piece of advice we have is to schedule a visit with your local Central PA dentist. At our office, we are dedicated to providing excellent care for any patient new or old. Your dentist will be able to identify the root of the crown pain and should be able to help resolve the issue. 

To relieve your pain in the meantime, there are some methods you can try:

• Rinsing Your Mouth With Saltwater – Doing a basic saltwater rinse a couple times throughout the day for around 15 – 30 seconds can help greatly reduce pain and inflammation in the affected area. 

• Over The Counter Pain Relievers – Pain relievers such as Tylenol and Advil can help reduce the pain you are feeling for the time you are unable to see your dentist. 

• Consuming Easy To Eat Foods – You want to stray away from overly hard, chewy, and sugary foods to prevent the affected crown area from worsening. Hard and chewy foods can overwork the area and extra sugary foods can greatly increase the amount of bacteria your mouth needs to fight off. 

These methods are all temporary solutions to help hold you over until you are able to visit your dentist. If you are continuously experiencing pain after receiving a crown placement for more than 2 weeks that is when you should go back to the dentist. If the pain is so severe you can’t wait, we recommend scheduling an emergency dental visit to get the problem resolved as soon as possible. 

After parents are advised their child has a cavity, the most common question asked is: “Do baby teeth need fillings? Can’t we wait until the tooth falls out?” You should take your child’s cavities in their primary teeth just as seriously as you should take them in permanent teeth – meaning, you should seek the assistance of a dental professional as soon as possible for diagnosis, treatment, and to avoid other issues. There are several factors that go along with determining if a baby tooth needs fillings.

The size of the cavity:

If the cavity has reached the inside layer of the tooth called dentin it can spread fast. At that point, our office recommends filling the tooth.

If the cavity is bigger and on multiple surfaces of the tooth we may recommend the tooth be restored with a crown.  If the cavity is so big that a filling or crown wouldn’t fix the tooth properly, your pediatric dentist will recommend extraction.

Sometimes the tooth only has a tiny “Pre-cavity spot”.  Pre-cavity spots are areas of demineralization where the cavity- is just starting to invade and infect the tooth. In these cases, dentists will monitor these areas to see if they get bigger and recommend you improve oral hygiene.

How Soon will the Baby Tooth Fall Out?

If the tooth is going to fall out soon we may recommend just improving oral hygiene with brushing and flossing as well as coming to regular check-ups with your pediatric dentist. This will typically be recommended if the baby tooth is loose or is projected to get loose within the next 6-12 months.

We assess this by seeing how much of the baby tooth root is still present. As the adult tooth prepares to come in, it will dissolve the baby tooth root more and more over time. X-rays are necessary to answer this question.

Assessing your child’s cavity risk

Cavities are infections and our office may recommend fixing cavities on baby teeth if it is a significant infection. Cavities can pass from tooth to tooth, just like a cold. So, if you leave a cavity in a tooth long enough, your child’s other teeth can start to get cavities. 

Preventing Childhood Cavities

The power to avoid cavities in the future is in your hands, simply by practicing proper dental care and diet. To prevent your child from developing additional cavities, you should:

• Supervise their oral care routine until they are old enough to perform it properly themselves.
• Clean your infant’s or toddler’s teeth using a child’s toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Offer healthy foods and educate them on avoiding overly sugary or acidic foods and drinks.
• Schedule visits to their dental professional at least once every six months.

Get the Tooth Evaluated

If your child has a high risk of getting even more cavities, your dentist may recommend fixing the tooth so the others are protected. If you think your child may have cavities, please call our office at 717-243-9020 for an appointment.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is a good start, but regular brushing may not be enough to clean out food particles, plaque, and bacteria from between teeth. Interdental cleaning, such as flossing, is recommended by the American Dental Association.

You may be trying to decide which is better for cleaning in between teeth: dental floss or a Waterpik water flosser. Getting input from your dentist is always a good place to start.

Who should use a Waterpik?

Waterpik water flossers are also referred to as dental water jets or oral irrigators. Water flossers use a pressurized stream of pulsating water to clean away food particles, bacteria, and plaque between teeth and under the gumline.

You may prefer to use a Waterpik instead of floss if you:

• wear braces
• have nonremovable bridgework
• have crowns
• have dental implants

A Waterpik may also be easier to use than standard floss for people with arthritis, or for anyone who finds string floss difficult to maneuver and work with.

What are the pros and cons of a Waterpik?

Pros:

• Helpful for getting into hard-to-reach areas of the mouth
• Easy to use
• Cleans tightly spaced teeth, and periodontal pockets that may be caused by early gum disease

Cons:

• Messy
• May not remove all plaque- Some people like to use string floss first, to scrape off and loosen plaque. A Waterpik can then be used to efficiently rinse out residue and plaque left behind.
• Can be costly

Flossing: Pros and cons

Dental floss dates back as far as prehistoric times. Everyone should floss. Flossing is an important part of dental hygiene to reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Pros:

• Easy to control- Flossing manually allows you to meticulously wipe down each tooth
• Able to clean each tooth in full- Using floss also allows you to wipe each tooth clean of sticky plaque before it can turn into tartar.

Cons:

• Unable to reach some areas
• Can cause your gums to bleed- If you floss too far down below the gum line or too forcefully, your gums may bleed.

It’s important to rinse your mouth after you floss. This helps remove plaque and residue scraped free from teeth.

The bottom line

The best dental hygiene method is typically one you’ll stick to, enjoy, and can see yourself using daily. Both Waterpiks and flossing are good ways to take care of teeth and gums, in addition to brushing. The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and cleaning in between the teeth once a day.

Be sure to speak with your dentist about any concerns you may have. They can also help you determine the best option for you.

Just like clockwork, when you go to visit your dentist they’ll always ask you about your flossing habits. You also know you’ve got to be honest with them since they can easily tell whether or not you’ve been flossing. At some point, you might have wondered whether all of this worry about flossing every day is even worth it. There is very good research to suggest that flossing is necessary. 

Floss for the sake of your gums

A report highlighted by the Associated Press showed that flossing does not help to protect against cavities. Despite this, there’s also evidence that suggests there’s a benefit to flossing when it comes to protecting your gums.

One of the biggest signs that your gums may need attention is if they’re prone to bleeding. This can often be a sign that there’s a build-up of plaque beneath your gum line which can cause your gums to become inflamed. You might notice your gums bleed after eating certain foods or brushing your teeth. 

If you’re noticing these signs, it may be an indication that you have gum disease. Flossing can help protect your gums from inflammation. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, can lead to issues in other parts of your body if left untreated. So even if you feel it’s not necessary to floss in order to protect against cavities, flossing can have a big impact on the health of your gums and consequently your overall health. 

Flossing tips:

Flossing is important for most people. Anyone who still has most of their teeth, people without teeth that are jammed together, and those whose gums have not receded leaving triangular gaps between the teeth should absolutely be flossing. Flossing can also be complicated by certain dental appliances and implants. In this case, consulting with your dentist is the best way to ensure you’re keeping your mouth clean. 

Once you’ve decided to incorporate flossing back into your routine, there are some tips you’ll want to follow. You should be flossing at least once a day and you should floss right before brushing to ensure debris is washed away. You’ll want to cut about 12 inches of floss and wrap the ends of the cross around your fingers. Then, slowly move the floss towards the gums to ensure you clean between both teeth. If you have any hesitation or would benefit from a demonstration, schedule an appointment with us and we’ll be able to help you keep your gums healthy.