Diet and Dental Health

Most people don’t realize that they may be able to prevent two of the most common diseases of modern civilization, tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease, simply by improving their diet. We all love our fair share of junk food, but what we eat and how often we eat are important factors in maintaining good oral health. In addition to being your dentist, Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS can’t be your nutritionist, but he can recommend foods that are healthy for your teeth.

Decay happens when the teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth are destroyed by acid products from oral bacteria. Certain foods and food combinations are linked to higher levels of cavity-causing bacteria. Foods that cling to your teeth promote tooth decay. So when you snack, try to avoid soft, sweet, and sticky foods such as cakes, candy and dried fruits. Instead, choose to munch on cheeses, chicken or other meats, nuts, and milk. Other excellent food choices include firm/crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and celery. These foods help protect against decay by buffering the acid that demineralizes teeth.

If you have further questions about how diet affects your dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our dental health as well as services we provide at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Do You Need a Night Guard?

Life, in general, puts a lot of stress on our shoulders, but it can put more stress on our teeth. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaws, this is a condition called bruxism and it is caused not just by stress and anxiety but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked. If Dr. Keith Rudolph diagnoses you with bruxism during a dental appointment, the treatment solution he will suggest is a custom-fitted night guard, made for you and only you.

A night guard is an appliance that is typically worn while sleeping through the night. The night guard that Dr. Keith Rudolph prescribes is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes and provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards are custom-fitted for comfort and to allow proper breathing. If you are a night guard candidate, Dr. Rudolph will take an impression of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab. These appliances are very durable and can last up to 10 years.

If you notice yourself waking up with jaw pain, please give us a call. To learn more about our night guards as well as other services we provide at the office, 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 Orthodontics?

 

At the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS our orthodontic options include Invisalign, a technique that uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth. Good oral hygiene is essential before any orthodontic work can begin, but you might be wondering what orthodontics consists of. Orthodontics itself is a branch of dentistry that specializes in treating patients with improper positioning of the teeth when the mouth is closed (malocclusion), which results in an improper bite.

Some children’s jaws and teeth do not develop properly and orthodontics assists to improve this issue. Orthodontics includes treating and controlling various aspects of facial growth and the shape and development of the jaw. Only Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS can determine whether you can benefit from orthodontics. Based on diagnostic tools that include a full medical and dental health history, and a clinical exam, Dr. Rudolph can develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. 

If you are searching for a straighter smile, please give us a call. To learn more about our orthodontic options as well as other services we provide at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

At the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS our orthodontic options include Invisalign, a technique that uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth. Good oral hygiene is essential before any orthodontic work can begin, but you might be wondering what orthodontics consists of. Orthodontics itself is a branch of dentistry that specializes in treating patients with improper positioning of the teeth when the mouth is closed (malocclusion), which results in an improper bite.

Some children’s jaws and teeth do not develop properly and orthodontics assists to improve this issue. Orthodontics includes treating and controlling various aspects of facial growth and the shape and development of the jaw. Only Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS can determine whether you can benefit from orthodontics. Based on diagnostic tools that include a full medical and dental health history, and a clinical exam, Dr. Rudolph can develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

If you are searching for a straighter smile, please give us a call. To learn more about our orthodontic options as well as other services we provide at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

 

The Proper Flossing Technique

Each time you visit the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS our staff gifts you with a goody bag after each professional cleaning, but how many of you actually go home and use it? We’ve heard every excuse in the book as to why our patients aren’t flossing enough. One of them being, “I don’t know how to.” Fortunately, after you follow this proper flossing technique, you won’t need to use that excuse anymore.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture that Dr. Keith Rudolph uses to restore decayed teeth. Composite resins, or tooth-colored fillings, provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing. They are an excellent choice for people who prefer that their fillings look more natural.

Many people are more conscious about the way they look, therefore they don’t want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile. It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than it does for a metal filling and that’s because composite fillings require the tooth be kept clean and dry while the cavity is being filled. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes. Although no filling lasts forever, maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine can help your filling live up to it’s maximum potential.

If you have further questions about the type of fillings we offer, give us a call. To learn more about tooth-colored fillings as well as other services we provide here at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Oral Cancer and Screenings

Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues inside your mouth. Heavy alcohol use, sun exposure, HPV infection, or a personal history of oral cancer are just a few examples. At the practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS, oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure.

Mouth cancer is one of several types of cancer grouped in a category called head and neck cancers. Some symptoms may include: red or white patches on the inside of the mouth or lips, loose teeth, difficulty or pain when swallowing. Some screening tests are used because they have been shown to be helpful both in finding cancers early and in decreasing the chance of dying from these cancers. It is important to remember that just because Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS recommends an oral cancer screening doesn’t mean that you have cancer.

If you have further questions about oral cancer or oral cancer screenings, give us a call. To learn more about oral cancer screenings as well as other services we provide here at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.

Dentistry for the Entire Family

At the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS, we offer a full range of procedures to restore and maintain the oral health of children, adults, and seniors. After stepping foot into the office, our staff provides each of our patients with a friendly greeting, in addition to a thorough exam and evaluation to create a unique treatment plan suitable to your personal needs.

In addition to general dental care, we offer dental implants, orthodontic care using Invisalign, endodontic treatment, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and much more. In fact, we take pride in ensuring that plaque buildup around the teeth is kept to a minimum, that tooth decay is eliminated, that cavities are filled, and that gums remain healthy. Visiting us for a preventive dental checkup can help with the detection of oral health problems long before the onset of symptoms, so schedule yours today!

If you or a relative are due for a dental checkup, give us a call. To learn more about our practice as well as services we provide here at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.