Top Dental Tips For the Holiday Season

Top Dental Tips For the Holiday Season

Blog Single

Maintain your regular cleaning routine

Despite office parties, big family gatherings, and late nights, it’s essential to maintain a regular oral maintenance routine. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once. If you’re going out of town, pack all your essentials, including any specialized dental supplies you might need. 

Dental professionals recommend brushing your teeth approximately 30 minutes after eating (not sooner, as this could damage your teeth). If you’re at an event, and can’t brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with still water and chew some sugar-free gum. 

Consider the sugar content.

Sugar rules the holiday season. Eggnog (particularly store-bought!), sweet baked goods, and cookies are easy high-sugar examples. The list is endless when we move on to the puddings, fudge, and hot cocoa. Even food we don’t consider sweet can be loaded with added sugars, such as in the glaze on cooked ham, cranberry sauce, and dressings. So, the recommendation is to do everything in moderation.  

Sweet drinks such as soda and lemonade significantly increase sugar intake, but some alcohol, such as ciders and cocktails, can also quickly push up that sugar counter. If you do want alcoholic or sugary drinks, make sure to also stay hydrated by drinking plenty of still water.

If, in addition to the festive fun, you also want food that is good for your teeth, consider adding these ingredients to your menu

Treat your teeth well.

Everyone can get a bit silly over the festive season, but don’t take it out on your teeth. Be careful of doing anything that might crack or damage them, such as opening beer bottles, cracking nuts, or playing contact sports without a mouth guard. Plus, don’t forget crunchy or sticky food; candy canes, rocky road, or caramel, for example, can all be nightmares for your dental well-being.

And if your tooth does get knocked out, or if it falls out? The recommendation is to pick it up (don’t touch the root), wash it gently if dirty, and place it back in the socket if possible. Make sure to gently hold it in place, keep it moist, and see a dentist within half an hour of the injury. This leads us to our final point:

Be prepared if something happens.

Many dental practices will be closed over the holiday season, so be prepared if you need medical attention. If your dentist is unavailable until the new year, ask him for a dental referral or emergency dental practice, just in case. 

Do You Have Your 2023 Appointment Lined Up?

Make sure you’re at the front of the line for the 2023 dental check-ups. Contact us to schedule an appointment for the new year.

Share this Post:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Related Posts:

The Best Ways to Fix Bad Breath

Blog Single

Do you find yourself constantly reaching for mints or gum throughout the day? As a dental studio, we are well versed in how embarrassing, uncomfortable, and difficult bad breath can be. Luckily, at Cakmes Dental Studio, we also know the cures for it. 

Good Oral Hygiene

Pretty much everything comes back to having good oral hygiene, so much so that we’ve detailed it in previous blogs! As a refresher, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day (don’t forget your tongue!) and floss at least once for the healthiest mouth. If you’re finding that this isn’t enough to fight off that halitosis, try brushing your teeth after every meal or strong drink, such as coffee; try to limit the amount of coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks you consume.

Also, ensure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day, as this can help prevent bacteria build-up. Water is the number one stimulator of saliva, which also helps to fight off bacteria. You may notice that your breath smells and tastes worse when your mouth is dry, and these are the reasons why! 

Home Remedies

If these daily routines still aren’t cutting it, there are more things that you can do at home to help reduce your halitosis. The first is to get a new (and possibly better) toothbrush. In 2021, we recommend using an electric toothbrush and tossing the manual brush to the side. The electric toothbrush helps reach more places than a manual toothbrush; it can remove more plaque buildup from your teeth and gums and ensures that you brush for a full two minutes each time. 

Ensure that you replace your toothbrush head every three to four months; new brushes remove more plaque than a heavily used one and firm bristles are more effective against preventing bacterial growth. Using an older toothbrush or toothbrush head could easily contribute to your bad breath, as you are essentially brushing your teeth with extra bacteria and fungal particles. 

Visit Your Dentist

You should schedule routine cleanings twice a year to ensure that your teeth and gums are in the best health possible. If all of the above remedies don’t work, let your dentist know! Our tools can provide a deeper cleaning and more plaque and bacterial removal. In addition, we know other tricks of the trade for fighting bad breath, such as discontinuing the use of specific medicines (as mentioned in a recent Ted Lasso episode!).

No one wants bad breath, and luckily, there are many ways to fight against it. If you or someone you know is suffering from halitosis, give these at-home remedies a shot! If you’re still not happy, head to our Knoxville, TN studio for a deeper look and a more personalized diagnosis. We’re here to help your oral hygiene be the best it can be, and minty fresh breath goes right along with that. Give us a call to schedule your next appointment or ask any questions you may have about fighting halitosis or any other ailments your mouth may present to you.

Share this Post:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Related Posts:

Your Guide to Choosing the Right Dentist in Knoxville, TN

Blog Single

If you’re new to Knoxville, or if you’ve lived here for years and are still looking, finding the right dentist is an important decision to make. Cakmes Dental Studio is a family dental practice that is home to Dr. Nick and Dr. Steven Cakmes, a wonderful father-son duo who love their job and their patients. If you’re looking for the best dentist in Knoxville, TN, look no further than Cakmes Dental Studio for all of your dental needs – from general dentistry to cosmetics, and more.

 

There are many qualities, qualifications, and personality traits to consider when searching for the right dentist. Your dentist should have incredible attention to detail, they should be trustworthy, they should have intimate knowledge of teeth and gums, and they should have impressive manual dexterity. 

 

Dr. Nick and Dr. Steven possess all of those qualities and are both experts in their field. When it comes to general dentistry, they are skilled in many services – from cleanings to tooth-colored fillings, crowns and bridges to dental implants, root canals, tooth extractions, and more, you won’t find a better dentist to handle your procedure. 

 

Cakmes Dental Studio takes it a step further with cosmetic dentistry services, such as veneers, teeth whitening, and aesthetic contouring. Dr. Nick and Dr. Steven’s attention to detail is unparalleled. As dentists, they know that even the smallest details can make the biggest difference, and that is why they are so good at what they do. They know every detail of every project or procedure they tackle, and the results make that obvious. 

 

Whether you’re looking for bi-yearly cleanings, help with a crooked tooth, teeth whitening for summer, or anything else, Dr. Nick and Dr. Steven are here to answer your questions and fix your problems. 

 

Dr. Nick and Dr. Steven love their patients, many of whom have been treated for years, or even decades, and their patients love them back (check out the reviews to see for yourself!). Not only do they have the proper schooling and knowledge of every detail of dentistry, but they are also quite passionate about it. They attend conferences, seminars, and more, to ensure that they are always learning, staying up to date with best practices, and providing the best for their patients. 

 

If you’re looking for a wonderful dentist in Knoxville, TN, know that the superb dentists and staff at Cakmes Dental Studio are all you need. Their skills, work ethic, and personalities combine to create the perfect dentist, twice over! We are blessed to create an environment in which our patients feel happy, calm, and satisfied with their cleanings, procedures, and more. If you’re looking for a lifelong dentist, schedule an appointment today. 

Share this Post:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Related Posts:

Veneers: Are They Right For You?

Blog Single

Have you always wanted a better and brighter smile but found that whitening and braces or aligners weren’t enough or were too hard to keep up with? Veneers could be the answer you’ve been looking for. Dental veneers can protect your teeth while improving your overall appearance. There are many reasons someone may want veneers: crooked teeth, gaps between the teeth, stained teeth, and broken or damaged teeth. Veneers are a natural-looking and healthy option for anyone experiencing issues with their smile due to these common areas of concern. 

Porcelain Veneers

There are two types of veneers that we specialize in: porcelain and composite resin. Porcelain veneers are tooth-colored shells that fit over the front-facing side of each of your teeth. These shells are made in-house and have long been known for their durability and their striking similarities to natural teeth.

At Cakmes Dental Studio, we offer DURAthin porcelain veneers – an extremely thin, custom-made shell piece. Our patients’ favorite part of the DURAthin veneers is that these shells eliminate the need to drill, grind, or shave down the existing tooth. Many people have heard horror stories or seen images of veneers before the shell is replaced, oftentimes resembling sharp, chipped baby teeth, and are turned off by the idea of veneers. Utilizing our advanced technology eliminates any of the fear of shaved teeth, resulting in an improved and enhanced smile while keeping the healthy structure of the teeth. 

Composite Resin Veneers

Composite resin veneers have gained popularity due to their advancements in recent years. When going this route, the resin (a tooth-colored restorative material used to replace decayed portions of a tooth and its overall structure) is applied directly to each tooth in layers, in order to give the look and feel of natural teeth. While composite resin veneers have come a long way, they must be taken care of with extreme care and detail, more so than even natural teeth. If not properly maintained, these veneers will stain or wear at a much faster rate than porcelain veneers. 

How Cakmes Dental Studio Can Help

If you’re looking for a way to get the smile you’ve always dreamed of, veneers could be your answer. Our team is extremely skilled in both porcelain and composite resin veneers – sometimes, even a combination of the two is what a patient needs. We’ll determine the best approach for your specific wants and needs through a consultation at Cakmes Dental Studio. Keep in mind that while veneers may be able to improve the function of your teeth, their main purpose is to improve your appearance. If you think veneers could be what you’ve been missing, reach out to our team for a consultation and more information. We would love to transform your smile into a happy and healthy one. 

Share this Post:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Related Posts:

Babies and Tooth Decay

Blog Single

Baby teeth may be temporary but they are important. If you lose them too early, the remaining teeth may move and may not leave any room for the adult teeth to come in. And if left untreated, tooth decay in babies may cause severe pain and life-threatening infections.

What causes tooth decay in babies?

Tooth decay in infants and very young children happens when the baby’s mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria. The bacteria can be passed on from the caregiver to the baby through saliva. It could be through cleaning off the pacifier in the caregiver’s mouth or sharing spoons and cups.

The biggest culprit of tooth decay in babies is the sugar that clings to the infant’s teeth for a long time. This can happen when infants are handed with pacifiers dipped in syrup or sugar and giving a sugary drink at naptime or bedtime.

Why tooth decay in very young children is an issue?

Baby teeth play a significant role in speaking, chewing, and smiling. They also serve as placeholders for adult teeth. If they are severely damaged early on, they may need to be removed. 

When babies lose their teeth too early, he or she may end up having crooked teeth, poor eating habits, and speech problems. 

How to prevent baby tooth decay?

As a caregiver, there are things you can do to prevent this from happening:

  • Don’t fill bottles with sugary drinks like fruit juice (even if it’s mixed with water) and soft drinks.
  • Never allow your child to sleep with a bottle containing anything but water.
  • Never dip your child’s pacifier in anything sweet.
  • Reduce your child’s sugar intake especially before nap or bedtime.
  • Wipe your baby’s gums teeth with clean gauze or washcloth after each feeding.
  • When the first tooth comes in, begin brushing your child’s teeth with a toothbrush without toothpaste.
  • Begin flossing when all the teeth have come in.
  • Schedule regular dental visits. 

Cakmes Dental Studio takes pride in providing high-quality dental care for families. To request an appointment, you can call us at (865) 584-6163.

 

References:

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/what-is-baby-bottle-tooth-decay

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/How-to-Prevent-Tooth-Decay-in-Your-Baby.aspx

Share this Post:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Related Posts:

What is Cerec restoration?

Blog Single

At Cakmes Dental Studio, we use the latest dental technology to help you achieve your most beautiful and natural smile. One of the advanced  technologies that we have adopted is CEREC.

What is CEREC?

CEREC or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics is a computer-aided restoration technique. It uses a machine that combines a camera, computer, and milling instrument to create tooth restorations in the dental office, in just a single visit.

Traditionally, tooth restoration takes several visits to the dentist as the process involves sending your tooth mold to an outside lab and creating a temporary crown for you. This part of the process is eliminated in CEREC. 

This system isn’t just more efficient than the traditional restoration process, but it’s also shown to be safer and more effective.

How does it work?

The process begins with your dentist preparing your tooth for restoration. Using advanced software and technology, CEREC takes a photo of the treatment area and converts that into a 3D virtual model.

With feedback from your dentist, the machine creates the final tooth restoration. The milling instrument that it comes with precisely carves a ceramic block based on the exact specifications of your restoration. Your dentist will ensure that the restoration fits well in your mouth before polishing and bonding it to your tooth.

The whole process usually doesn’t take longer than 2 hours.

What are the benefits of CEREC restoration?

Since CEREC uses advanced digital technology, the tooth restoration has a much better fit. This significantly decreases your chance of getting tooth and gum infections as gaps in the teeth and gums can be breeding grounds for bacteria. 

Metal restorations may contain some toxic chemicals that may be hazardous to your health. This won’t happen in CEREC as all of its restorations are metal-free.

Lastly, tooth restorations done through CEREC last long and feel more natural than restorations done traditionally.

Want to find out if CEREC would work well for you? Call us 865-584-6163 for more info. 

 

Reference:

Timber Hill Dental

Share this Post:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Related Posts:

We'd love to hear from you

Contact us by filling out the form below.
  • (865) 584-6163
  • (865) 588-8202
  • 6230 Highland Place Way
    Suite 201
    Knoxville, TN 37919





    Subscribe To Our Newsletter