Moses Lake Dental Group

Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition. Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning. There are various reasons one may have bad breath, but in healthy people, the major reason is due to microbial deposits on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue. Some studies have shown that simply brushing the tongue reduced bad breath by as much as 70 percent.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste. Floss daily to clean between the teeth and under the gumline.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), silver fillings are safe and studies have failed to find any link between silver containing mercury and any medical disorder. The general consensus is that amalgam (silver) fillings are safe. Along with the ADA’s position, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization, the FDA, and others support the use of silver fillings as safe, durable, and cost effective.

You should have your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year, though your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend more frequent visits. Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential in preventing dental problems and maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.

Four out of five people have periodontal disease and don’t know it! Most people are not aware of it because the disease is usually painless in the early stages. Signs and symptoms include red and puffy gums, bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, new spacing between teeth, loose teeth, pus around the teeth and gums, receding gums, and tenderness or discomfort.

Brushing our teeth removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria from all tooth surfaces, except in between the teeth. Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

Our doctors at Moses Lake Dental Group have provided a plan which will help to regulate the acid levels in the mouth, and provide extra protection to the enamel and root surfaces. This includes using specific toothpaste, toothbrush, anticavity rinse, xylitol, dietary changes, professional hygiene visits, and managing dry mouth.

PÜR (Sprouts/Henry’s), Ice Cube (CVS, Target), Trident Xtra Care (Almost everywhere), SPRY (Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods), ZAPP (Online Only). Xylitol is an all-natural sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables. It looks and tastes like sugar. It is good for your teeth, stabilizes insulin and hormone levels, promotes good health and has none of the negative side effects of white sugar or artificial sweeteners.

The anesthesia will be provided by a Dentist Anesthesiologist or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. It is your anesthesia provider’s job to keep you safe and comfortable during surgery and during recovery from anesthesia. The anesthesia provider never leaves your side until you are safe and stable in the recovery area.

General anesthesia itself is exceptionally safe. Most healthy patients do not have any problems with general anesthesia, aside from small problems like being tired after, sore throat or cough, and nausea.

Your anesthesia provider will always monitor your heart rhythm, blood pressure, the amount of oxygen in your blood, the carbon dioxide that you exhale, your respiratory rate and temperature. These parameters and general visual appearance are monitored during the entire procedure.

It is very important to adhere to the fasting guidelines established by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. If your stomach is not empty, you may vomit and aspirate stomach contents into your lungs. For this reason, we recommend to not consume food after midnight. However, if the surgery is late in the day, you may eat as indicated in the table below. Additionally, please avoid breath mints and chewing gum. If criteria is not followed, your procedure may be postponed or cancelled.

Be sure to ask your doctor which medications you should take on the day of surgery. Most medications can be continued as scheduled, right up until the morning of surgery and taken with a sip of water. Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) may be taken for pain. We suggest you or your child receives his or her usual dose of any inhalers/nebulizers for asthma or reactive airway disease the day of the procedure. Diabetes medications need to be discussed. Please call your anesthesia provider at Apex Anesthesia.

With our innovative techniques, recovery is usually very quick. You will awaken and recover until you have met certain criteria for discharge home. Avoid driving, operating machinery, drinking alcohol, and making legal decisions for at least 24 hours.

Most patients begin to feel more alert as soon as the medication is discontinued. Any drowsiness or confusion will quickly dissipate as you emerge from anesthesia. During recovery your blood pressure and pulse oximetry will be checked periodically. Many patients are able to go home 30 minutes after their procedure and can resume all normal activities by the next day with very little residual effects.