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Hello everyone!

Where does the time go? This week in clinic, we are continuing to practice our skills on each other. We are grouped in pairs of two and clean each other’s teeth. At the beginning of February, I get to put those skills to use in the community, which is very exciting. I am participating in a program called “Give Kids a Smile”. This program allows any child that does not have the opportunity to see a dentist a chance to get their teeth cleaned.

The classes this semester have kept me very busy. Trying to study at home is almost impossible when you have such a fun-loving kid. My son Kayden loves to run around playing tag, throwing/rolling a ball, and climbing all over everything including me. So, I do most of my studying when he is asleep, which has been a transition for me to get used to since I am not a night owl. But we are making it work.

I hope you guys have a great week!

Brittney

The effects of bad oral habits are something our team sees all too often. You might have bad oral habits that stem from childhood, possibly because your parents did not know about proper oral care or force you to follow it. Or, your bad habits could develop gradually, like slacking on your frequency of brushing.

Bad oral habits can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and consequences such as losing teeth and experiencing bad pain. They may be deeply ingrained and easy to continue, but you can break them with a little effort. Focus on developing good habits to replace your current ones, and eating a diet that is healthy for your teeth.

Replace Bad Habits with Good

Breaking your bad oral habits may not be as difficult as you expect when you focus instead on developing good habits. These new good habits can naturally replace your bad habits.

• Brush your teeth after each meal or at least twice a day.
• Visit a dentist every six months for an exam and a professional cleaning.
• Floss your teeth every day.

These good habits may not seem natural, so you can take steps to make sure you follow these behaviors. For example, make a daily checklist with your scheduled sessions of brushing and flossing your teeth and using mouthwash. You can also set a timer to be sure you brush your teeth for the full recommended two minutes.

Eat Properly

Poor eating habits can be detrimental to your teeth. A common mistake is to let food, especially carbohydrates such as starch and sugar, stay on your teeth for a long time. You can stop doing this by rinsing your mouth with water after each meal or snack. Also, avoid candy and soft drinks between meals, since the sugar sits on your teeth.

A healthy diet provides the nutrients you need to maintain strong teeth. The mineral calcium is key for healthy teeth, so try to get your three daily servings of high-calcium foods, such as low-fat milk or yogurt, canned fish, or fortified soy or almond milk. Also include vegetables and fruits, which have a high water content.

If you need more tips about breaking your bad oral health habits, contact our Grand Forks office and speak with Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson or a member of our team.

Brittney Goes to School

Hello everyone!

School is back in business, and so far, it is going well.  This semester we begin cleaning teeth. The nerves are kicking in, but I know it will be just fine as our instructors are here to help with any questions or concerns that may arise. The more practice I get, the more confident I will become.

In addition to clinic hours three days a week, we have four lecture classes. Two classes are on campus and two via zoom.  The lecture I am the most excited about is the principles of dental hygiene. It explains the principles and philosophy behind dental hygiene, and why it is important for a patient’s overall health.

Now that I am back at school, Kayden is back at daycare full-time. I dropped him off this morning and he had absolutely no tears. He walked up to the kid's table, pulled his chair out, and sat down. He was ready for breakfast. He is becoming such an independent little guy.

I hope you guys have a great week!

Brittney

Biofilm is a protective home for bacteria that’s composed of microorganisms. Biofilm can be found in wet places such as ponds, sewers, and bathroom drains, and it also grows on metals and minerals.

But biofilm can also be found in your mouth, in either healthy or diseased form. Both are composed of the same compounds, but when they combine with certain amino acids or chemicals, diseased biofilm will begin to destroy your enamel. You might notice this as a slimy yellow buildup of dental plaque on the surface of your teeth.

Biofilm takes form when free-swimming bacterial cells land on a surface and attach in a cluster. The cells begin to multiply and form a micro-colony that promotes diverse bacterial species to grow. To prevent biofilm from settling in your mouth to begin with, make sure to keep up your daily oral routine.

Any mouth appliances you use should also be scrubbed or soaked in cleaner as often as possible. You should pick a toothpaste that has antibacterial ingredients, rinse with mouthwash, and floss daily.

There are many ways to treat diseased biofilm. One is to kill the microorganisms through the use of chlorhexidine, triclosan, and mineral agents that reduce the degree of plaque formed in your mouth.

Another way is to make sure to go to your regular cleanings every six months with Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson. During your cleaning, we remove excess biofilm that’s accumulated on your teeth over the past six months.

Don’t forget that it’s also essential to keep a healthy amount of biofilm in your mouth, though. This type of biofilm protects your body from disease and is replicated every twenty minutes. If you have a healthy amount of good biofilm, the chances of your mouth producing harmful bacteria decreases.

Ask about biofilm during your next appointment at our Grand Forks office if you’ve noticed any irregular yellow-colored buildup on your teeth. Dr. Roger and Scott Amundson will make sure your mouth has a healthy balance of biofilm.

The best way to create a healthy environment in your mouth is to stay on track with your oral health regimen. Prevention is the best method when it comes to your dental hygiene and fighting diseased biofilm.