Jon Frankel Dentistry

Category Archive: Flossing

  1. Prioritizing Oral Care for 2024!

    January is always filled with new goals, professional, wellness, familial and more. While many resolutions focus on physical fitness or personal growth, let’s not overlook the importance of prioritizing our oral health. As we always say, a healthy mouth promotes a healthy body! Frankel Dentistry encourages you to make a commitment to your smile and oral health this January and beyond.

    Maintaining good oral health goes beyond just brushing and flossing! It plays a crucial role in your overall health and quality of life. Poor oral hygiene can lead to various dental issues, including cavities, gum disease, diabetes, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues. By prioritizing your oral health, you’re investing in overall wellness..

    Why should oral care be a priority?

    Preventive Care Saves Money and Pain:

    Regular dental check-ups and cleanings can help identify and address dental issues early on, saving you from costly and painful treatments in the long run.

    Boost Your Confidence:

    A healthy and radiant smile can significantly boost your self-esteem and confidence. Start the year with a commitment to achieving and maintaining that confident smile. Are you or someone you know looking for restorative or cosmetic care? Frankel Dentistry is here to help you fall in love with your smile again.

    Overall Health Benefits: Studies have shown a strong connection between oral health and overall health. By taking care of your teeth and gums, you’re contributing to a healthier body. Did you know individuals with Periodontal Disease are twice as likely to have heart disease.

    Tips for Prioritizing Your Oral Health in 2024:

    Schedule Regular Dental Check-ups:

    Make it a habit to visit Frankel Dentistry for regular check-ups and cleanings. We recommend at least two visits a year! Our comprehensive exams and cancer screenings are efforts to identify any dental issues early on.

    Maintain a Consistent Oral Care Routine:

    Brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash are simple yet effective habits that can go a long way in preserving your oral health. We also suggest tongue scraping and changing out your toothbrush head every three months.

    Watch Your Diet:

    Limit sugary and acidic foods, as they can contribute to tooth decay. Instead, focus on a balanced diet that promotes overall health. Still want some fun drinks? Black coffee, unsweetened tea, and water.

    Quit Smoking:

    If you smoke, consider quitting. Smoking not only stains your teeth but also increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.

    This January, make a resolution to prioritize your oral health with Frankel Dentistry. A commitment to regular check-ups, a consistent oral care routine, and healthy habits can lead to a happier, healthier smile in 2024 and beyond. Your future self will thank you for the investment in a confident and vibrant oral health journey.

  2. Diabetes and the Dentist? 5 Connections and 5 Tips

    November 14th is National Diabetes Day. Patients know they need to monitor their blood sugar with diet and medication but what about dental care. Is there a connection?

    Five Connections Between Diabetes and Dental Health

    Dry Mouth

    A reduction of saliva because of diabetes can lead to dry mouth. Dental patients with dry mouth are at a higher risk of decay.

    Gum Disease

    Gum disease is a cause of tooth loss. Swollen, bleeding gums, and bone loss are symptoms of gum disease. Those with diabetes are susceptible to periodontitis partially due to elevated sugar levels and bacterial growth.

    Infection

    The immune system can be weakened by diabetes. Those with diabetes can be more susceptible to oral infections.

    Slower Healing Time

    Delayed healing time may mean dental patients take longer to recover from treatment. It may also increase the risk of infection.

    Blood Sugar Complications

    Uncontrolled diabetes may increase the glucose in saliva creating an ideal environment for bacterial biofilm or dental plaque formation. Bacterial plaque is associated with dental decay and gum disease.

     

    What to do!

     

    Regular Dental Check Ups

    See your dentist every three months for cleanings and checkups. Brush and floss daily. Keep your dentist informed regarding your diabetes.

    Be Aware

    Keep an eye out for signs of dental disease such as red swollen gums, bleeding, or tooth

    discomfort.

    Stay in Charge

    Visit your healthcare provider at regular intervals and keep your blood sugar at the levels recommended.

    Drink Water

    Stay hydrated to keep dry mouth under control.

    Do not Smoke

    Smoking can exacerbate disease and quitting will improve dental and overall health.

  3. Struggling with Tooth Sensitivity?

    How often do you feel oral pain after enjoying a bite of your summer sundae on a nice July night? Or struggle to enjoy a nice hot cup of soup? You could be struggling with tooth sensitivity. 

    What is tooth sensitivity?

    Tooth sensitivity is pain or discomfort as a response to hot and cold stimuli. This can be anything from hot foods to cold air.

    What causes tooth sensitivity?

    Let’s look at the anatomy of a tooth. The strong outer layer of a tooth is called enamel. The more enamel is worn down the more sensitive the tooth becomes. 

    There are many factors which could contribute to tooth sensitivity such as:

    -brushing too hard

    -Acidic foods

    -Teeth grinding

    -Tooth decay

    -Gastrointestinal issues such as GERD

    How to care for sensitive teeth?

    First and foremost visit a dentist for a full exam. A cleaning and professional exam can help detect any deeper issues which could be causing your sensitivity or any other oral health concerns. Your dentist may recommend fluoride treatments to help protect and rebuild your enamel. They may also recommend alcohol- free mouthwash and a toothpaste specialized for sensitive teeth. Specialized products often have desensitizing ingredients to help block discomfort and limited irritating ingredients. 

    Maintaining a strong, consistent oral health care routine at home can do wonders for your oral health. Invest in products which can help rebuild and protect enamel. Practice a healthy diet and try limiting acidic foods. Frankel Dentistry wants to help you achieve and maintain optimal oral health care. Visit us on our other online platforms to learn more about your oral health.

    Facebook: Frankel Dentistry 

    Instagram: Frankel Dentistry

    Linkedin: Frankel Dentistry

  4. Who Makes You Smile?

    On May 31st we celebrated National Smile Day! As a dental practice we love any reason to share smiles. One of our Core Values is gratitude, so needless to say it’s easy for us to find reasons for us to smile. Our patients make us smile, our teams make us smile, our careers make us smile. Sharing a smile with someone can mean more than you know!

    In order to express our gratitude for the ones who make us smile, we gifted glass mugs to our patients on Friday to show our appreciation!

    As we celebrated National Smile Day a patient mentioned how smiling wasn’t always the norm, in fact it was “frowned upon”. We decided to do our research!

    In early 1600s portraits you often see individuals emotionless and lacking a positive expression. This is because people suffer tooth rot and decay from poor diet and high sugars. As dentistry developed the smile slowly became more popular. In the early 1700’s French began to show their teeth in portraits, this was quickly rejected by priests and reformists insisting smiling and laughter showed lack of self control or good manners. In the 1800s dentistry emerged, as dentistry developed so did an attitude of authenticity. By the 1950’s smiling in portraits became the norm and has developed into the smile we love to share today!

    Gratitude, encouragement, and TECHNOLOGY!

    A look and learn with NEW tech!

    Tired of those sticky, gunky impressions? So are we!

    Frankel Dentistry is excited to introduce the latest technological addition to our practice THE Itero Scanner an intraoral scanner which captures 6000 digital images in under a minute. This means we can have a full digital mold of your mouth in minutes. Popular for restorative  and orthodontic dentistry, the Itero helps us quickly and accurately identify your clinical needs, intracaries, crowns, veneers, and develop an action plan. 

  5. Where is your floss?

    Dental floss, you know what it is, but do you use it?

    Don’t tell Mom. I can’t find the floss.

    Flossing is the most effective way to remove bacteria plaque and food from in between your teeth. Technique is as important as frequency. Here’s what we know.

    -Floss your teeth as least once every 24 hours.

    -Do not see-saw back and forth against the gums.

    -Pull the floss tight against the tooth.

    -Gently slide the floss up and down the length of the tooth.

    Flossing Mama

    The patients at Frankel Dentistry have shared a few valuable hints regarding their use of dental floss.

    -Find a floss you like. Some of our favorites are Cocofloss, Dr. Tung’s, Glide and Expanding or stretchy floss.

    -Use a mirror. Several patients prefer magnified cosmetic mirrors.

    -Make it a habit.

    -Enjoy a healthier smile.

    Floss it

  6. Honey, where’s the floss?

    Dental Floss


    Toledo, Ohio dentist, Dr. Jon Frankel, wants to remind folks to floss. More time at home leaves no excuses for slacking in oral hygiene. “Make it a daily practice”, states Frankel, who admits to flossing daily in the shower.

    Jonathan Frankel, D.D.S. Toledo, Ohio

    Thorough tooth brushing and flossing disrupts the biofilm that leads to decay and gum disease. A healthy mouth promotes a healthy body. Important information in a time when a comprised immune system might lower resistance to viral infections.

    Daily Flossing


    The doctors, healthcare providers and staff at Frankel Dentistry are passionate about patient education. While demonstrating how to floss, it seems they learned a lot of nontraditional uses. Dental floss, it appears,  is the dental world’s version “duct tape.”

    Dentistry’s Duct Tape


    The many uses, and reason to always have an extra roll or two available heard at this popular Ohio dental practice include:

    Securing a button on a coat or jacket.

    Slicing watermelon.

    Substituting plumbers’ putty in a pinch.

    Removing a ring stuck on a finger.

    Trussing a turkey.

    Cutting a cake.

    Sizing a ring.

    Hanging up Halloween decorations like spiders.

    Cleaning between the tines of a fork.

    Replacing a hair tie.

    Frankel Dentistry has been changing lives a smile at a time since 1946. They love what we they do and it shows. The patients, doctors, healthcare providers, and staff are always smiling (even under their masks). There is always laughter throughout the office.

    If you have additional creative uses of dental floss, please share with them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jonfrankeldentistry

    Floss. Brush. Wear a Mask!

  7. Flossing as Easy as 1-2-3!

    Keeping your child’s mouth healthy is crucial to their total body health. As parent’s and caregivers, we need to take them to the dentist for their required exams and cleanings, ensure they receive a balanced, healthy diet, encourage a healthy lifestyle and make sure their teeth are brushed twice daily and flossed at least once a day. Children don’t need to have all of their teeth to need to start flossing.

    The flossing part seems to be forgotten about by most patients. Once teeth touch each other, they need to be flossed. Sometimes it can be the front teeth and sometimes it’s just the back molars. If you are unsure, ask your dental team!

     

     

    Dr. Frankel shares 5 tips on how to keep flossing part of your child’s routine from the start:
    1) Floss every single night – PERIOD.
    2) Decorate your box of floss with stickers to get kids engaged
    3) Make a chart  or visual image to help children remember that brushing and flossing goes hand-in-hand.
    4) Have your child try to floss your teeth – play dentist!
    5) Watch a video on how to floss teeth – try YouTube!

    American Dental Association Video

  8. Toledo Dentist asks, “When was the last time you flossed?”

    When was the last time you flossed?

    You may think you have a good oral routine by brushing twice a day, but flossing is as equally important. Brushing cleans the surface of your teeth, but flossing helps to clean food particles in between your teeth. Bacteria can hide in the gaps between your teeth which can lead to cavities, plaque and gum disease.

    Make flossing a part of your bedtime routine when you have more time in the day — take the time to floss slowly and carefully. If you have children, make it a family event so children start healthy habits early.

     

    This video shows an interesting technique for flossing children’s teeth.

    There are different types of floss available such as wax floss and floss picks – try different types to see which work the best for your mouth.

    To make sure you’re flossing correctly, ask your dental team at your next appointment if your technique is correct.