Start the New Year off Right With a Goodlettsville Dentist

Too much good food and drink can be just as dangerous to your waistline as your teeth, and if you are trying to stick to your New Year,’s resolution, why not add another must to your list and pay a visit to your dentist.   

Remember, regular check-ups are the best way to keep tooth decay from ruining your smile. If you are not true to your teeth today, they will be false to you tomorrow.

Seeing Dr. Rick Barkley is a pleasant experience and because he believes in preventive education and care, you can feel confident knowing that your mouth is safe.

During your appointment, the two of you will sit down and discuss your medical history in order to determine if anything could be affecting your overall oral health. After a thorough examination of your teeth and gums checking for early signs of gum disease and tooth decay, x-rays may be necessary.

Preventive dental care is more than just check-ups. Regular cleanings, flossing, sealants and fluoride treatments are all part of a regular routine and if adhered to will help keep you from having unnecessary fillings, root canals and more invasive dental procedures.

Of course, if you do need a thorough cleaning, your dentist will perform a scaling and planing treatment in order to prevent further gum disease. If gingivitis is not taken care of right away your gums will not heal on their own. Without scaling and planing gingivitis will quickly get worse. If allowed to progress gingivitis will become periodontal disease. If your dentist discovers that plaque and tartar have formed below the gum line he will begin the healing process with a deep cleaning. A follow up appointment will be made to check on the progress of your teeth and gums.  

Improve your smile, add another item to your New Years checklist, and schedule an appointment with your dental professional today.

Foods That Can Stain Your Teeth

What you eat and drink can stain your pearly whites. Dr. Rick Barkley will tell you that if it can stain the white T-shirt that you are wearing, it will most probably stain your teeth as well.

Visit your local cosmetic and family dentist who can brighten your teeth and whiten your smile, but if you want to keep your teeth white, it may be a good idea to avoid some of your favorite foods, or at least not indulge so often.

Black tea and coffee can really stain your teeth. The fact of the matter is, the darker the drink the darker the stain. You can minimize the effect by adding extra milk to your tea and coffee.

If you thought you were better off with white wine, you would be wrong. Red wine will stain your teeth, but the acidic composition in white wine can cause tiny groves making your teeth more porous and susceptible to staining.

Sports Drinks and soft drinks are acidic and will make your teeth extremely porous, so much so that sports drinks and soft drinks promote more staining that any other food or drink.

Raspberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, and strawberries are great for a well-balanced diet, but will stain your teeth. If you must indulge, rinse your mouth after enjoying these delicious fruits.

Tomato sauce, soy sauce and red pasta sauce are hard to resist, but have the potential to stain your teeth. Acids that cause the enamel on your teeth to become porous. Drink lots of water while digging into that plate of spaghetti or bowl of fried rice with soy sauce.

Fruit juices contain sugar, which is never good for your teeth, but darker juices like cranberry, pomegranate, and grape have lots of pigment, which will stain your teeth. If you must drink dark colored fruit juices, rinse your mouth with water or try drinking your dark colored juices with a straw, as it will bypass the front of your teeth.  

Pickles and ketchup go together like bacon and eggs, but unfortunately when consumed together or alone can open up the pores in your tooth enamel temporarily, which can stain your teeth. Drink lots of water after you tuck into that cheeseburger and fries.

If you have been avoiding blue cheese and ranch dressing by switching to balsamic and oil you may be doing your waistline a favor, but not your teeth. The acidic content in all vinegars can wreck havoc with your teeth. Try eating vinegar with lettuce as it has the natural ability to give you a protective layer over the top of your teeth.

Of course, stains can be lightened with a whitening technique.  Schedule an appointment today, especially if you have been indulging in all of the above and more.

Schedule a Goodlettsville Dentist Standard or Comprehensive Check up Today

Your dental care needs change throughout your life, and if you have not been to your local dentist lately, it is never too late to schedule an appointment. 

After graduating from the University Of Tennessee College Of Dentistry, Dr. Barkley has practiced dentistry in Rivergate, Madison, and Goodlessville since 1976. As a member of the American Dental Association, the Nashville Dental Society, and the Tennessee Dental Association, Dr. Barkley can help you with the best oral care available regardless of your your age.

According to Oral B and your Goodlettsville Dentist, it is important to be prepared for your next oral exam in order to get the best out of your trip to the Goodlettsville Dentist. Even if you are just visiting your Goodlettsville Dentist for a regular checkup, it is important to let Dr. Barkley and his team know if you are dealing with any tooth or gum sensitivity or if you have been experiencing any abnormal symptoms such as swelling or a problem with chewing. If you are having problems before your regular check-up, make sure that you schedule a special appointment in order to prevent more serious problems. It is also imperative that you tell your Goodlettsville Dentist if you are dealing with any new medical conditions that may have occurred since your last dental visit. If you are taking medications, be sure and bring a list with you to show to your Goodlettsville Dentist.

There are two types of dental visits. Your standard regular check up and a comprehensive dental exam. The standard check up with includes teeth cleaning, which involves tartar and plaque removal. You will also be checked for oral cancer and periodontal issues.

If it is your first visit to a new dentist your neck, head, mouth and of course, your teeth and gums will be examined. The dental assistant will also take x-rays if necessary. Most dentists recommend that you schedule a regular check up at least once or twice a year in order to catch problems early on.

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that is certainly the case when it comes to dentistry in Goodlettsville. Schedule an appointment with the best Goodlettsville Dentist, Dr. Rick Barkley. 

Goodlettsville Dentist Discuss Sensitive Teeth

Dr. Rick Barkley and his entire dental office team strive to provide the most relaxed and caring experience possible for all patients.  Providing optimal oral-health care for everyone we see if our top priority.  We get asked a lot about Sensitive Teeth and here is some info.

Is the taste of ice cream or a sip of hot coffee sometimes a painful experience for you? Does brushing or flossing make you wince occasionally? If so, you may have sensitive teeth.

Possible causes include:

• Tooth decay (cavities)
• Fractured teeth
• Worn fillings
• Gum disease
• Worn tooth enamel
• Exposed tooth root

In healthy teeth, a layer of enamel protects the crowns of your teeth—the part above the gum line. Under the gum line a layer called cementum protects the tooth root. Underneath both the enamel and the cementum is dentin. 

Dentin is less dense than enamel and cementum and contains microscopic tubules (small hollow tubes or canals). When dentin loses its protective covering of enamel or cementum these tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth. Dentin may also be exposed when gums recede. The result can be hypersensitivity.

Sensitive teeth can be treated. The type of treatment will depend on what is causing the sensitivity. We may suggest one of a variety of treatments, but will have to see you in our Goodlettsville Dental office first.  

• Desensitizing toothpaste. This contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve, and usually requires several applications before the sensitivity is reduced.
• Fluoride gel. An in-office technique which strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the transmission of sensations.
• A crown, inlay or bonding. These may be used to correct a flaw or decay that results in sensitivity.
• Surgical gum graft. If gum tissue has been lost from the root, this will protect the root and reduce sensitivity.
• Root canal. If sensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means, your dentist may recommend this treatment to eliminate the problem.

Proper oral hygiene is the key to preventing sensitive-tooth pain. If you have any questions about your daily oral hygiene routine or concerns about tooth sensitivity, contact us anytime.  Here are some more resources from our website.