Bluffdale Dental

How Flossing Can Improve Your Gum Health       Benefits Of Flossing Make flossing your teeth a regular, daily part of your dental care routine, and you may be more likely to keep your teeth and less likely to need dentures later in life. While periodontal disease is not the primary cause for pulpal death, chronically unhealthy gums can increase your risk of losing your teeth or needing a root canal. And even though twice-daily tooth brushing is essential for good oral hygiene, brushing alone may not protect you from gum disease and the tooth loss that can result. Many people who suffer from sensitive or bleeding gums may be tempted to avoid flossing for fear of making their bleeding gums worse. But in fact, flossing can improve the health of your gums, thereby helping to prevent them from bleeding. In a 2006 study, researchers compared the effects of brushing alone vs. brushing and flossing on bleeding gums in 51 sets of twins

ORAL CANCER           Oral cancer kills one American every hour of every day, according to the National Cancer Institute. The death is higher than many better known cancers such as melanoma. Only 50 percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer will survive more than five years. Early detection of oral cancer offers the best chance of survival, yet only one-third of oral cavity cancer is found in the earliest stages when treatment is most effective. Men and women are both at risk. In the 1950s, men older than 40 were six times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than women. By 1997, this male-to-female ratio was 2 to 1. One-third of oral cancer now occurs in patients younger than 55. One in seven people newly diagnosed with oral cancer were younger than 40, according to recent Johns Hopkins studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine. 25 percent of this group had no traditional risk factors. Strong association exists betwe

        Dental Facts & Myths   * Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body; however, we do NOT recommend that you use your pearly whites to open bottles! * The plaque found on your teeth is home to more than 300 different species of bacteria. Listerine, anyone? * The average person spends about 48 seconds per day brushing their teeth, but dentists recommend at least 2 or 3 minutes. * 6 is the magic number–magic number of feet away from your toilet you should store your toothbrush in order to avoid airborne particles from toilet flushing making their way to your bristles, yuck! * In 1994, a West Virginia prison inmate braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall, and escaped! We suggest that you use it to clean the 35% of your teeth’s surfaces that you are missing when only brushing, rather than to escape from any prisons (better yet, just don’t go to prison, ok?)   * The common practice of placing a cap on your toothbrush is actually mo

                What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? And How To Prevent It! Even though they are temporary, your child's baby teeth are important, and are still susceptible to cavities. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, or Early Childhood Caries. Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile. Their first teeth also help make sure their adult teeth come in correctly. It’s important to start infants off with good oral care to help protect their teeth for decades to come. What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Baby Bottle Tooth Decay most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected. There are many factors which can cause tooth decay. One common cause is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar. Tooth decay can occur when the baby is put to bed with a bottle, or when a bottle is used as a pacifier for

                  IS IT SAFE TO GET DENTAL WORK DONE DURING PREGNANCY?  Pregnant woman don’t need to have any qualms about undergoing a dental procedure that requires anesthesia, according to a new study. The Journal of the American Dental Association study showed no evidence that dental treatment with anesthesia causes harm during pregnancy. Despite this finding, many women don’t visit the dentist when they’re pregnant. The research team analyzed the pregnancy outcomes for a group of women exposed to dental treatment with anesthetics and a control group that did not have any treatment. The study showed that exposure to dental care and local anesthetics during pregnancy did not cause an increased risk for medical problems in newborns. Some of the problems they looked for were cerebral palsy, cleft lip and heart defects. This study also explored the rates of miscarriages, premature deliveries and birth weight between the two groups. The results were the same and dental proc

Soda and fruit juice are 'biggest culprits in dental erosion'     Soft drinks are the most significant factor in severity of dental erosion, according to a new study published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry . The most severe cases of dental erosion in the study were among people who regularly drank sugary soft drinks and fruit juices. Dental erosion is when enamel - the hard, protective coating of the tooth - is worn away by exposure to acid. The erosion of the enamel can result in pain - particularly when consuming hot or cold food - as it leaves the sensitive dentine area of the tooth exposed. The enamel on the tooth becomes softer and loses mineral content when we eat or drink anything acidic. However, this acidity is cancelled out by saliva, which slowly restores the natural balance within the mouth. But if the mouth is not given enough time to repair itself - because these acid attacks are happening too often - the surface of the teeth is w

        Is Your Dentist Ripping You Off?   A person near and dear to me came home from the dentist with an ugly diagnosis. He has two cracked crowns and needs replacements. I'm not sure what's more painful -- what's been going on in his mouth or the bite out of the family finances. Cost of the crowns: $1,395 apiece. Cost of foundation fillings, or "cores" to put the crowns on: $326 apiece. Total bill, if you're scoring at home: $3,442. His dentist sold him membership into an office savings plan for $319 for the year. So that saves him 20% on all dental procedures and gives him two free cleanings. Knock off 20% (but add back in the $319) and we're down to $3072.60 on this bit of drilling. When I look at this bill, I wonder why I obsess about the weekly price fluctuations of Cheerios or the shrinking size of a can of tuna. All the economical choices a family makes in a year can be wiped out by a trip to the dentist. No wonder people ar

Dental amalgam or resin composite fillings?  Thanks to technological advances, dentists and patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to fill cavities. Among the choices are natural tooth-colored materials such as resin-based composite fillings and more traditional dental fillings such as those made of metal amalgam. The advent of new materials for fillings has been beneficial, especially in terms of aesthetics, but does not eliminate the appropriateness of traditional dental materials that are stronger, more durable and less expensive. These materials are best in situations where restored teeth must withstand extreme forces that result from chewing, such as in the back of the mouth. What is dental amalgam? Most people recognize dental amalgams as silver fillings. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Mercury, which makes up about 50 percent of the compound, is necessary to bind the metals together to provide a strong, har

What is a cavity?    Cavities, or tooth decay, is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of your teeth. It can be a problem for children, teens and adults. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugars, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth and over time the enamel can break down. This is when cavities can form. A cavity is a little hole in your tooth. Cavities are more common among children, but changes that occur with aging make cavities an adult problem, too. Recession of the gums away from the teeth, combined with an increased incidence of gum disease, can expose tooth roots to plaque. Tooth roots are covered with cementum, a softer tissue than enamel. They are susceptible to decay and are more sensitive to touch and to hot and cold. It’s common for people over age 50 to have tooth-root

  Brushing When and how often should you brush your teeth? The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day. When you brush your teeth, you help remove food and plaque — a sticky film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria. After you eat a meal or snack that contains sugar, the bacteria can release acids that attack tooth enamel. Repeated attacks can break down tooth enamel and lead to cavities. Plaque that isn't removed also can harden into tartar, making it harder to keep teeth clean. In choosing when to brush your teeth, you might also consider your diet. If you've eaten an acidic food or drink, avoid brushing your teeth for at least 30 minutes. These acids weaken tooth enamel, and brushing too soon can remove enamel. If you know you're going to eat or drink something acidic, brush your teeth beforehand. In addition to brushing your teeth, the American Dental Association recommends that you: Floss daily Eat

    Flossing Benefits     Flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day to help remove plaque from the areas between your teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. This is important because  plaque that is not removed by  brushing and flossing can eventually harden into calculus or tartar. Flossing also helps prevent  gum disease and cavities . What Is The Best Time to Floss—Before or After Brushing? A Spring 2015 MouthHealthy.org poll asked readers if they brush before or after they floss. The results were close: 53% said they brush before, while 47% said after. So who’s right? Technically, everyone. The most important thing about flossing is to do it. As long as you do a thorough job, it doesn’t matter when. Pick a time of day when you can devote an extra couple of minutes to your dental care. People who are too tired at the end of the day may benefit from flossing f

    What Is a Sealant?   A dental sealant is a thin plastic film painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent cavities.   How effective are sealants?   Studies have proven that properly applied sealants are 100-percent effective in protecting the tooth surfaces from cavities. As long as the sealant remains intact, small food particles and bacteria that cause cavities cannot penetrate through or around a sealant. Sealant protection is reduced or lost when part or all of the bond between the tooth and sealant is broken. However, clinical studies have shown that teeth that have lost sealants are no more susceptible to tooth decay than teeth that were never sealed.   Why can't I just brush and floss?   While brushing and flossing help to remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, toothbrush bristles often can't reach into the teeth's depressions and grooves. Sealants protect those areas a

  Fluoride Natures Cavity Fighter     Fluoride is a mineral that helps fight tooth decay. It is found in public water supplies, toothpaste and many other dental products. Often called, “nature’s cavity fighter,” fluoride helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay can be seen. Research shows that fluoride helps prevent cavitie s in children and adults by making teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. When you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, or use other fluoride dental products, you are preventing cavities and strengthening your teeth’s enamel. If you have a good chance of getting cavities, your dentist will apply fluoride varnish or fluoride gel during your dental visit. Your dentist might also tell you to use a special fluoride rinse, paste or gel at home. The American Dental Association recommends that children and adults use fluoride toothpaste displaying the ADA Seal of Acceptance. For children younger than

  Basic Nutrition Information important for you and your pearly whites! Everyone knows that a balanced, nutritious diet is essential to healthy living. But did you know that eating patterns and food choices play an important role in preventing tooth decay and gum disease, too? You may eat with your eyes first, but your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing—the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your oral health. Your individual nutrition and calorie needs depend on your age, gender, level of physical activity and other health factors, but according to MyPlate, a website from the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an agency of U.S. Department of Agricultu

David Babcock, DMD, is originally from West Jordan, Utah.  He is the fifth child in a family of ten children.  David Graduated from West Jordan High in 1993 and served an LDS mission in Alberta Canada.  David then attended BYU where he graduated with a degree in Zoology with an emphasis in human biology. He also met his wife Sheryl while attending University. They moved to Nevada where David received his Doctorate of Dental Medicine.  Next, life took them to the Islands of Palau, where David worked as senior dentist in the National hospital and in rural clinics.  After a year of diving, kayaking, spear-fishing and traveling to remote tropical islands, the Babcocks returned home to Utah to welcome their first child. The Babcocks now have two children and have been living in and loving Bluffdale for years. David loves Dentistry as a job and a hobby and spends much of his free time in different classes and courses, updating and enhancing his skills and knowledge.  He has dedicated his

  Valentines Day is just right around the corner, and you're probably thinking about all the sweets you and you're loved ones will be enjoying. But did you know that chocolate is reported to be good for not only your heart, in moderation, but also good for your teeth? Theobromine is a compound in the cocoa bean, which has been shown to actually harden tooth enamel. According to the American Dental Hygienist’s Association (ADA) chocolate can inhibit Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that cause cavities. Of course, if you want to enjoy chocolate for dental and overall health benefits, the darker, plain forms of chocolate are your best choices. Happy Valentines day, from Dr. David Babcock and your friends at Bluffdale Dental!