general dentistry

In this post from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, we review some details about brushing your teeth. It bears repeating that brushing and flossing are the best ways to maintain good dental health.

One key to activating the value of toothpastes is creating foam when thoroughly brushing.

Working up a good foam is achieved by pre-wetting the toothbrush, then attacking at a 45 rather than 90 degree angle. The foaming assists in dislodging food debris from nooks and crannies in the mouth. Go ahead and swish it around at the completion of brushing to pick up any stragglers. The abrasives in toothpaste are designed to polish the teeth without damaging the enamel.

Because of the abrasives, soft toothbrushes are best for proper brushing. Harder bristles can put the enamel and gum line at risk. When the gum line recedes from aggressive brushing (or any other cause) a patient may see tooth pain, increased build-up and decay, tooth structure weakening, and in acute cases, tooth loss.

The fluoride in the toothpaste promotes remineralization when the paste has been rubbed around on all surfaces of all teeth in the entire mouth. This takes time so make certain you brush for at least 2-3 minutes.

Furthermore, remember that flossing is vital and rounds out the 5 minutes each day to give you healthy, pain-free chewing for years and years to come.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we want all our patients to brush and floss twice a day, and see us for a checkup twice a year. Our services include general and family dentistry, and restorative dentistry. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

Filling cavities with a resin composite material is increasingly popular in dentistry. They are commonly called “white fillings,” and they’re what we use at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO.

One of the things that makes composite fillings so attractive is the color. They easily blend in with the color of your teeth, making them all but invisible. For that reason, we get requests to replace old silver fillings with composite.

Traditional silver fillings have been used in dentistry for more than 150 years. Often called amalgam fillings, they are made from a mix of different metals.

More and more people are concerned about the safety of those old-style silver fillings. And make no mistake, they still have the approval of the American Dental Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and the World Health Organization.

Yet many patients are concerned that in addition to silver, copper and tin, silver fillings contain mercury, a known toxin. They release low levels of mercury in the form of a vapor that can be absorbed by the body.

The FDA has reviewed the best scientific evidence and concluded that dental amalgam fillings are safe. Clinical studies have not established any links between silver fillings and health issues.

But at Boulder County Smiles, we would rather be safe than sorry. And besides, white fillings look so much better! We use them exclusively, so there are no safety concerns whatsoever. We offer general and family dentistry, and special services like dental implants. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

In the Internet age, our patients at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayetete CO are better-informed than ever before. There are tons of information about dental health and treatment online.

We think this  is a good thing. Proactive self-education can be beneficial for you and your family, especially if it aids in living a healthy lifestyle. But we caution you not to count on online dental information exclusively. Always ask us to confirm or refute what you’ve read about.

Misconceptions about medical treatment in general, and dentistry in particular, began circulating long before the Internet emerged. But it has greatly accelerated the speed and distance it can travel.

Some of the most prevalent dental myths are focused on the safety of x-rays, the risk of root canals, and the facts about fluoride. Sometimes patients delay or avoid needed dental treatment because of something they read online. We encourage our patients to discuss all areas of concern with us.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, we are committed to keeping the smiles of our patients healthy and beautiful for life. We offer a full range of general and family dentistry services, and treat issues like sleep apnea. Call us to schedule an appointment today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, the dental health of each of our patients is important. Too often dental health is not taken seriously enough, even by people who should know better. In this post, we are going to review some of the most important reasons for taking good care of your teeth and gums.

First, let’s get to the most obvious ones. A healthy mouth helps to prevent:

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Bad breath

Those are three pretty good reasons. But there are other really good reasons why you should make brushing and flossing your teeth a practice you wouldn’t dream of skipping.

Poor dental hygiene may put you at greater risk of the following:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Diabetes

You may wonder: why does my mouth have so much to do with my overall health? If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the mouth is a window to the rest of your body.

An examination of the mouth, and saliva in particular, can reveal the presence of systemic conditions such as AIDS and diabetes. Incredible as it may seem, more than ninety percent of systemic diseases reveal themselves in the mouth. Saliva testing can also reveal the presence of environmental toxins that indicate hepatitis and other serious illnesses.

Brushing and flossing may not help you ward off systemic conditions, but they can be detected by a dental exam.

We’ll wrap up this post with a predictable reminder: never go to bed without brushing and flossing your teeth first. Remember to brush for at least two minutes and to thoroughly brush the inside and outside of your teeth. And don’t forget your tongue!

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, we want all our patients to have happy mouths – in other words, good dental health. Services include general and family dentistry, and restorative dentistry. Schedule your next checkup with us today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

Whether you are one of those who goes willingly to the dentist or are hesitant about getting work done, the team at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO wants you to make and keep regular appointments for cleanings and checkups.

Regular dental appointments are important because they help keep your teeth and gums healthy. For most patients, we recommend a visit to our office every six months. We occasionally need to see a patient more often.

Appointments, Parts 1 & 2

There are two parts to a typical dental appointment: a cleaning and a checkup.

• During a cleaning, one of our dental hygienists inspects your teeth and gums, and uses special tools to remove any plaque and tartar that have built up. It also includes polishing your teeth, which removes any surface stains. The last step is flossing.
• During a checkup, the dentist checks your overall dental health. If there are any issues, like a cavity or signs of gum disease, we’ll usually schedule a follow-up appointment. It will be planned for your convenience, of course, but sooner is better.

What you do between your six-month visits is really important. Plaque is contantly forming on the teeth, so we recommend – and we cannot say it strongly enough! – that you brush and floss your teeth every day. Ideally, you’ll do it twice.

You have a lot of toothpaste choices. The flavor is up to you, but be sure to choose one with fluoride.

By seeing us twice a year, and maintaining a good dental health regimen at home, you can have confidence that your teeth and gums are in great shape. At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, our services include general and family dentistry. We also treat issues like sleep apnea. If you haven’t already, schedule your next appointment today!

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

Are electric toothbrushes any better at cleaning your teeth than manual toothbrushes? The answer depends on who you ask, because both have their advocates. In this article from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, we aren’t going to recommend one over the other. We’re just going to take a look at the world of the electric toothbrush.

Electric toothbrushes have been commercially available in the United States since the 1960s. But they first appeared in Switzerland, where they were invented. They caught on quickly, and have evolved considerably since then. When it comes to electric toothbrushes, there is a lot of choose from.

Those earliest electric toothbrushes did not have rechargeable batteries; you had to plug them in. That wasn’t really much of an issue, unless you like to walk away from the sink while you brush.

Rechargeable batteries are standard in most modern electric toothbrushes. In fact, they have features that those 1960s inventors probably never dreamed of. Some models have:

• Timers, so you can make sure you brush at least two minutes
• Digital alerts, to remind you it’s time for a new brush head
• Pressure sensors that tell you if you’re brushing too hard
• Multiple brush head capability, so different types fit
• Variable brushing features like pulsing and oscillating capability

Sonic

And then there’s the sonic toothbrush. Sonic toothbrushes take electric brushes to a whole new level. Toothbrush manufacturers consider them a subset of electric brushes, but they are in a class by themselves.

Sonic toothbrushes can deliver up to 40,000 strokes per minute. Compare that to an ordinary electric toothbrush, which deliver between 2,500 and 7,000 strokes per minute. That’s quite a difference. For some people, that’s over the top. But advocates say that sonic toothbrushes out-perform any other type of toothbrush you can find.

When all is said and done, it depends on the person doing the brushing. A manual toothbrush used properly does a fine job cleaning your teeth. But you can always take it to the next level with a standard electric, or even a sonic, toothbrush.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, what we really want is for each of our patients to brush and floss their teeth twice a day. It’s the best way to ensure good dental health. Our services include general and family dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

The common household toothbrush. Every home has at least one, and at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we hope all our patients brush after each meal.

Daily brushing is still the most important thing you can do for your oral health. There is no better way to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

It has been said that each toothbrush can contain millions of bacteria. But don’t worry, those bacteria come from our mouths, which harbor equal amounts of bacteria. For a person with a healthy immune system, these bacteria pose no threat.

However, a few common sense tips might keep any unnecessary germs from affecting your toothbrush.

First, be sure to store yours as far away from the toilet as possible, and close the toilet lid before flushing. Each flush of the toilet releases a spray of bacteria into the air, so it’s best to just eliminate the spray.

Next, since bacteria like a moist environment, store your toothbrush upright and without a travel case so that it can dry completely between uses.

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. We agree. After three or four months, the bristles on any toothbrush are showing signs of wear, and you won’t do as effective a job brushing.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we want each one of our patients to enjoy excellent dental health. Our services include general and family dentistry, and specialties like dental implants. Schedule an appointnent with us today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026