Choosing the Right Toothbrush for You

Walking through the toothbrush aisle, there many different options. So how do you know which toothbrush is right for you? At Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we want to help our patients pick out the toothbrush that will help them get the best oral care.

Manual vs Electric

Manual and electric toothbrushes have been shown to do about the same job cleaning your teeth. However, electric toothbrushes may be better for patients who have difficulty moving their hands. This is because the electric toothbrush does almost all the work; it just needs to be held in the right spots.

The Bristles and the Head

A toothbrush with a large head can be difficult to fit in all the spaces of your mouth. Choose a toothbrush with a smaller head or one you can easily maneuver around your mouth. Also do not pick a toothbrush with stiff bristles. Stiff bristles wear down enamel and irritate gum tissue.

Singing Toothbrushes

For kids or grown-ups who love a little extra pizazz in their oral care routine, a toothbrush that plays music can make brushing fun. They also have nifty timers that let you know you have brushed for a full two minutes.

For more dental resources, visit our website, www.fairwooddental.com. To schedule an appointment with Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call our office at (425) 271-7725 or visit our website. 

What Do Our Teeth Do?

At Fairwood Dental Center, we take pride in educating you about oral health and dental hygiene. Our teeth are used every day whether we are chewing, speaking, or smiling for the camera, but have you ever wondered why all of your teeth are different shapes and sizes? That’s because they all do different things! Read on to learn about the different types of teeth you have and the purpose they serve in your mouth!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center here in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Show Off Your Smile!

Your smile is the first thing someone notices about you, so our job at Fairwood Dental Center want to help you show it off. With instant photo sharing taking over the internet, we offer teeth whitening services as an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color if you would like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we want to provide you with some smile tips to help you show off the beautiful smile you already have! 

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.

• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day. 

• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror! 

If you have questions about our whitening services, please give us a call. To learn about other services we provide at our practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center here in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Your smile is the first thing someone notices about you, so our job at Fairwood Dental Center want to help you show it off. With instant photo sharing taking over the internet, we offer teeth whitening services as an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color if you would like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we want to provide you with some smile tips to help you show off the beautiful smile you already have!

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.

• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.

•  Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

 

If you have questions about our whitening services, please give us a call. To learn about other services we provide at our practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center here in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Are You Suffering From Sensitive Teeth?

Is a sip of hot coffee or the taste of biting into a cold apple sometimes a painful experience for you? If so, you may have sensitive teeth. Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common complaints among dental patients. In fact, at least, 40 million adults suffer at some time from sensitive teeth. Fortunately, our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center offer a variety of treatments to provide you with relief so that you don’t have to be one of them.

Tooth sensitivity is caused by the movement of fluid within tiny tubes located in the dentin (the layer of tissue found beneath the hard enamel that contains the inner pulp), which results in nerve irritation. When the hard enamel is worn down or gums have receded, causing the tiny tube surfaces to be exposed, pain can be caused by eating or drinking foods or hot or cold beverages, or exposing your teeth to cold air. Luckily for our patients, tooth sensitivity can be reduced by using desensitizing toothpaste or having our doctors apply sealants and/or fluoride treatment.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

How Are Traditional Braces Applied?

Traditional braces have been around for many years and are the standard among patients looking to straighten their smile. If you’ve recently had a consultation with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center and they have decided that traditional braces are the right option for you, we’d like to let you know what to expect when it comes time for the braces to be applied to the teeth.

First the teeth are polished with a non-flavored paste and a cheek retractor is placed to provide a dry field that makes it easier to visualize the teeth. The teeth are lightly air-dried, and a conditioner is placed onto the front surfaces of the teeth for about 30 seconds. The conditioner is then rinsed and the teeth are again dried using suction and air. After this step, a primer is painted on the teeth. The bonding cement is placed onto the back sides of the braces, which are then placed onto the teeth. The brackets are then placed in a very precise position onto the teeth, and excess bonding cement is removed. The process is completed by removing the cheek retractor and placing the wires.

If you are searching for a straighter smile, please give us a call to discuss your orthodontic options. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Don’t Be Tortured By Tartar

It’s no secret that we need to brush and floss our teeth on a daily basis to keep our gums healthy and our teeth clean. The reason we do this is to prevent dental plaque – a sticky film that is left behind after we eat foods that are high in carbohydrates. Plaque is bad news, because it coats your teeth, gets under your gum line, and is the leading cause of gum disease. If left untreated, these bacteria can turn into tartar, which only our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will be able to remove.

Tartar is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. It gives plaque more surface area on which to grow and a much stickier surface to adhere, which can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease. Not only can tartar threaten the health of your teeth and gums, it is also a cosmetic problem. The most common sign of tartar buildup is a yellow or brown deposit between the lower front teeth or at the gum line. Once tartar has formed, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it through a process called scaling. During a scaling, the dentist or hygienist uses special instruments to remove the deposit from your teeth above and below the gum line.

If you have tartar buildup on your teeth and are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

What Is a Cavity?

Cavities refer to tooth decay, which occurs when specific types of bacteria produce acid that destroys the tooth’s enamel and its underlying layer, the dentin. Cavities are very serious. If left untreated, a cavity can destroy your tooth and kill the delicate nerves at its center, which may result in an abscess, an area of infection at the root tip. Only our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center can tell for sure whether you have a cavity. This is why it is important to schedule professional cleanings and dental checkups twice a year.

The reason we brush and floss our teeth every day is to remove plaque because bacteria in plaque react with sugar in the foods we eat to produce acids that can attack and weaken tooth enamel – the hard, protective covering on our teeth. Eroding enamel leaves the teeth unprotected, allowing for cavities to develop more easily. If you’ve had a cavity for a while, you might get a toothache, especially after you eat or drink something sweet, hot, or cold. Treatment for your cavity will depend on how bad the cavity is.

If you are experiencing tooth pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.