Understanding the Actions of Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a chemical compound with the formula N20. At room temperature, it is a colorless, non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen and inhaled through a small mask that fits over your nose to help you relax. In Fairfield, CT, Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS only administers this pain-relieving formula to eligible patients.

Nitrous oxide is the most commonly used form of sedation in dentistry. It is administered by having the patient inhale the gas, which is carefully monitored by Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS. You will fall into a euphoric state and feel completely relaxed. All feelings of fear and anxiety fade away, leaving you to sit back peacefully while your dental procedure is performed. In most cases, all dental work can be completed in one visit while you are sedated. Once the procedure is over, the nitrous oxide will wear off fairly quickly and you will probably be able to drive yourself home and return to your daily activities.

You will need to have a preliminary visit with your dentist to make sure that you are an eligible candidate for nitrous sedation. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533. 

Soft Food Diet for TMJ Relief

If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, you may notice a clicking or a popping in your jaw when you try to eat your favorite foods. This is because symptoms of TMJ disorder can include jaw discomfort and tenderness or pain when opening or closing the mouth. At the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph DDS, we don’t want you to live on a soft diet, but incorporating soft foods into your diet may alleviate your discomfort.

Soft foods give your jaw and temporomandibular joints the opportunity to rest and heal. Some excellent (and healthy) foods to eat include cooked vegetables and fruits, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies, soup, and yogurt. If you must eat food that requires a heavy amount of chewing, we recommended chopping it up into small pieces. If you have a sweet tooth, soft cakes, cobblers and cheesecake are good things to choose from.

If you have questions about TMJ/TMD, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

TMJ Foods to Avoid

Your temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. Problems with your jaw in the muscles of your face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders. TMJ disorders can affect your jaws range of motion while talking, chewing, and yawning. If you’ve been diagnosed with a TMJ disorder, Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS recommends adjusting your diet to avoid certain foods that might worsen the condition.

Hard vegetables like carrots and celery can also cause pain in the jaw because of the intensity with which you need to bite down on them. Crunchy foods, including popcorn, chips, and other salty snack foods may also be too difficult to chew when you have a TMJ disorder. Other types of food to avoid include chewy snacks, fatty foods, and foods that are cut into large pieces. To summarize, any type of food that allows you to open your mouth wide or chew for long periods of time may aggravate your TMJ. Instead, we recommend incorporating more soft foods into your diet, such as cooked veggies, soft bread, and yogurt.

If you notice yourself experiencing jaw pain, or hear a clicking sound when you chew, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Flossing with Traditional Braces

As Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS will tell you, flossing can be difficult when you have braces, but it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. We’ve already taught you how to brush with braces, so it’s only fair that we share some tips for flossing effectively and keeping those brackets and wires clean.

• Use waxed floss because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions about oral care, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is commonly called nature’s cavity fighter and there’s a good reason for this. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the entire tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks from the bacteria that live in the plaque on your teeth. Fluoride also promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before a cavity forms in the tooth. Here at the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS he can provide patients with fluoride treatments to help them protect their pearly whites.

Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, foods, and several minerals. When present at the right level, fluoride in drinking water has two beneficial effects: preventing tooth decay and contributing to healthy bones. The type of fluoride we utilize at our office is called topical fluoride. Topical fluoride is applied directly to and absorbed by the surface of the teeth. It may be applied as a foam or gel after a professional cleaning and can additionally be found in personal oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses.

If you have questions about fluoride treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Xylitol and Dental Benefits

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When we eat food containing ordinary table sugar (sucrose), it gives bacteria on your teeth energy to thrive, allowing them to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on teeth. This “acid attack” causes the tooth decay process. This is when xylitol comes in to save the day. Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants and Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS wants you to learn all about it.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can be found in gum, mints, or candy. It can also be found in dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Aside from slowing down the tooth decay process, dental benefits of xylitol also include a decrease of bacteria. Xylitol enhances the remineralization of teeth, particularly in small decay spots just developing in the tooth enamel. So next time you decide to sweeten your coffee or tea with some sugar, add a little some cavity-prevention with xylitol.

If you have questions about xylitol, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533. 

What is a General Dentist?

General dentists are the primary dental care providers for patients of all ages. They can treat you and your entire family and care for your overall health. Dentistry is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. When looking for exceptional and quality general dentistry services, look no further than the practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS.

Instead of specializing in just one area of dentistry, general dentists, such as Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS provide plenty of different services for you and your family, such as: cosmetic procedures, crowns and bridges, dental implants, dentures, gum disease treatment, home care instruction, root canal therapy, teeth cleanings and many more.

If you are searching for a general dentist, look no further and give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.