Food and Drinks that Stain Your Teeth

If you’re determined to keep your pearly whites actually white, then you probably already brush your teeth daily and see your dentist periodically, but brushing can often times not be enough to keep your smile bright. This is because a lot of the food and drinks we consume can stain our teeth.

The staining power of food and beverages depends on two factors, and the first is the color of the food. Intensely colored foods and beverages tend to be the worst for our teeth. If you would be worried about spilling a certain food or drink on a white tablecloth, you can bet that it has the potential to stain your teeth. The color in food comes from chromogens, which are highly pigmented molecules that have the tendency to latch onto tooth enamel. The second factor that determines staining power is a food or beverage’s acidity level. Acidic food and drinks, even those that are not brightly colored, can promote stains by eroding the dental enamel, temporarily softening teeth and making it easier for chromogens to stick.

The top teeth-staining foods and beverages that you should avoid for whiter teeth are wine, tea, soda, sports drinks, berries, sauces and sweets. To minimize staining without forgoing your favorite foods and drinks, you can try using a straw, swallowing promptly and swishing your mouth with water after consumption. This minimizes the amount of time the acidic and colorful food is in contact with your teeth.

If you’re still unhappy with the color of your teeth after practicing good oral hygiene, you can also come to our practice in Fairfield, CT for teeth whitening services. Dr. Keith Rudolph offers the tray-whitening system, which can whiten your teeth up 4 to 8 shades in only a matter of days. To schedule an appointment, call 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Oral Cancer Screening in Fairfield, CT

In recent years, people without traditional risk factors associated with oral cancer have been experiencing an increase in occurrences, which means that absolutely everyone should be screened for abnormal mouth tissue during their regular dental visit. At our office in Fairfield, CT, we take oral cancer seriously, and we are dedicated to keeping all of our patients safe with thorough screenings.

While everyone is at risk for oral cancer, certain factors can increase your risk of developing the disease. Lifestyle choices, such as heavy drinking or smoking, can greatly affect the health of tissues in the mouth, so those that partake in these activities. If oral abnormalities are caught early, it will not only expand your treatment options, including less invasive and less radical treatments, but it will also increase your chances of beating oral cancer.  

Screening for oral cancer can be done during routine checkups by Dr. Keith Rudolph, who uses an ultraviolet light to spot abnormal tissue months or even years before they become identifiable by the unassisted eye. By shining a safe blue light into your mouth, he can expose suspicious tissue. If the dentist thinks it might be cancer, he will order a biopsy.

Oral cancer is a serious issue, and we are all at risk. Make sure to ask about an oral cancer screening during your next appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 203-930-1214. For more information on the dentist or his services, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com. 

Enamel Erosion and Fluoride

Tooth enamel is the semi-translucent, hard, outer layer of the teeth, and although it is the strongest substance in the human body, it is not impervious to everyday wear and tear or acid erosion. Tasked with protecting our teeth from the daily damage of biting and chewing, as well as from the temperature extremes of hot and cold foods, tooth enamel is important for keeping our teeth free of decay and pain. But if the enamel begins to erode, intervention is necessary for protecting your oral health.

Tooth enamel erosion can be caused by a number of factors, from drinking too many soft drinks or fruity juices to not cleaning your teeth often enough. Other contributing factors include eating lots of sour foods or candy, dry mouth, acid reflux disease, bulimia, teeth grinding, heaving drinking and even brushing teeth immediately after consuming acidic food or beverages. When the tooth enamel erodes, you may experience sensitive teeth, irregular or rough tooth edges, yellowed teeth and cupping or dents.

At our practice in Fairfield, CT, Dr. Keith Rudolph recommends fluoride treatment to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in our water and many of our foods and can help remineralize tooth enamel that has eroded and protect it from acid in the future. Especially important to children between the ages of 6 and 16, fluoride treatment is a common part of dentistry. The mineral can be applied as a foam, gel or varnish and is a much stronger dose than found in toothpastes and mouthwashes.

To see if fluoride can help you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Rudolph by calling 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Pediatric Dentistry from Dr. Keith Rudolph

If you want your child to form lifelong habits that will help them maintain good oral health and beautiful smiles, you must begin developing good habits in their infancy. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children see a dentist by the age of 1, and it is important for their first dental experiences to be positive ones. At our office in Fairfield, CT, children can receive the care they need to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth, healthy gums and a beautiful smile.

The first step to setting your child on the right path toward lifelong oral health is a fearless introduction to the dentist. Our dentist Dr. Keith Rudolph strives to establish a personal bond with every family and child to create a pleasant experience for all parties. You can help him provide an anxiety-free appointment to your child by only using positive language about the dentist and avoiding negative language. Phrases like “the dentist isn’t going to hurt you” or “you won’t feel pain” end up being counterproductive since it probably never occurred to the child to be scared of the dentist in the first place.

You should also establish a dental routine that will keep your child’s teeth healthy and white between dental appointments. Before your child turns two, you can clean their teeth and gums by wiping them with a clean, soft washcloth. When they are older and have grown most of their baby teeth, you can begin brushing with a toothbrush. As your child becomes used to regular brushing, you can let them do the brushing, but it is important for you to check that their teeth are getting cleaned. Supervise their brushing until they are five years old, and make sure they do not swallow their toothpaste.

To schedule an appointment, call 203-930-1214. For more information, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Tips for a Healthier Smile

Regular exams and cleanings with Dr. Keith Rudolph are only a small part of a good oral hygiene routine. Everyday oral care habits also play a vital role in a healthy smile, and if you want to improve your oral health, here are some simple changes you can make.

1.            Brush better. Good technique and proper duration are essential for effective brushing. To maximize your brushing, hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and make sweeping circular motions away from the gums. You should brush for at least two minutes or for the length of a song.

2.            Floss. Dr. Rudolph has probably already told you how important this is. This is because flossing can actually do a better job of removing harmful plaque than brushing, and it only needs to be done once a day. So why aren’t you doing it already? It’s the key to healthier teeth and fresher breath.

3.            Chew sugarless gum. Sugarless gum is a great way to keep your smile fresh after a meal. Not only will it improve your breath, but chewing gum increases saliva production to help wash away the acids released by the bacteria in plaque. If the gum has xylitol, it even helps reduce decay-causing bacteria.

4.            Replace your toothbrush. How long have you been brushing with your toothbrush? As your toothbrush ages, the bristles will fray and lose their cleaning ability. Extremely frayed bristles can even hurt your gums. Bacteria can also build up in the bristles of toothbrushes, so make sure you are replacing yours ever three to four months.

5.            Switch to tap water. Tap water is treated with fluoride, which is a safe and effective technique for lowering tooth decay across the nation. Plus, it’s basically free.

For more ways to keep your smile healthy, turn to Dr. Rudolph in Fairfield, CT. To schedule an appointment, call 203-930-1214. For more information, please visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Dr. Keith Rudolph and Gum Disease

While many people realize that taking care of their teeth is necessary for a good oral hygiene routine, they can often forget or neglect their gums, which are an essential part of maintaining your oral health. To stay in peak condition, your gums require periodontal cleanings and early treatment if disease does develop, and with Dr. Keith Rudolph, patients in Fairfield, CT can be sure that both their gums and teeth will be well cared for.

Since periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is vital to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease develops due to plaque build-up. As it accumulates on teeth, bacteria is able to thrive, collecting around the tooth and attacking the soft tissue. In its early stages, this disease is called gingivitis, and it can cause swollen or tender gums that bleed after regular brushing and flossing. If left untreated, gingivitis can become periodontis, a much more severe gum infection that causes inflammation and damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the tooth. If periodontis is not treated, it can cause tooth loss and even a loss of bone mass in your jaw.

It is important to prevent periodontal health or catch it in its early stages, and Dr. Rudolph is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with helping patients maintain healthy smiles. He will work closely with you to ensure that you maintain optimal oral health

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, and our office works hard to make sure you receive the dental care you need. Call 203-930-1214 to schedule an appointment. For more information, please visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.

Root Canals in Fairfield, CT

If you’re still experiencing pain after a root canal, you may be wondering why. Aren’t root canals meant to take your pain away? There are many reasons why your tooth may still hurt. It is possible that the base of your tooth root (periapical) is still slightly tender or that your pain is caused by a temporary filling that is a bit too high. In these cases, taking OTC painkillers, preferably ibuprofen, may be all you need to alleviate your pain while your root canal heals.

However, if you’ve had a root canal at our practice in Fairfield, CT and are still experiencing pain that is severe or persistent, you should call our office immediately. Dr. Keith Rudolph may need to prescribe you an antibiotic to make sure the infection does not remain, or he may need to perform retreatment.

At your follow-up appointment, the dentist will want to know what type of pain you are experiencing. Is your tooth sensitive to hot and cold? Is it the tooth root that is sensitive or the gums that are over the tooth? Is it a constant ache, or does it only hurt when biting? Is there any swelling, drainage or pus? The answers to these questions will give Dr. Rudolph the information he needs to diagnose your pain.

Root canals don’t always work, and there are many reasons for this, including fractures of the root, convoluted or twisted root structures and failure to protect the root canal after the procedure. If this occurs, you may need further treatment. If the root canal was successful, it should feel normal most of the time.

To schedule an appointment with our office, call 203-930-1214. For more information, please visit www.drkeithrudolph.com.