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There are many side effects to pregnancy. We all have heard of morning sickness or the late night cravings that some women can get. However, pregnancies can also bring another change in a woman’s body: a heightened risk of gingivitis.
Some women will notice between the second and eighth month of pregnancy that their gums can become inflamed, redder, and bleed when brushing their teeth. This is often referred to as “pregnancy gingivitis” and typically settles down after the mother gives birth.

There are several reasons why pregnant women may experience an upsurge of gingivitis symptoms. One reason is that pregnant women receive an increased level of the hormone progesterone, a hormone specific to helping gestation. This hormone, however, can enhance the growth of bacteria that can cause gingivitis. Secondly, because the woman’s body is experiencing so many changes, the immune system has to recalibrate and focus on new concerns with the body. Much of that concern is taken away from the gums and the bacteria that can cause gingivitis.
To avoid irritated and inflamed gums from gingivitis, Water Tower Dental recommends a solid routine of proper oral hygiene. This includes brushing at least twice a day for two or more minutes, flossing, and using an antimicrobial mouthwash. We also recommend a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables that can help keep your mouth salivating and washing away any bad bacteria. Make sure to talk to your doctor about proper diet techniques, specific to you, that can help keep your mouth and gums stay healthy.
While the gums are usually of biggest concern during a pregnancy, there are other potential issues that can arise. Some pregnant women often experience an increase in cavities due to more adventurous snacking, especially at nighttime when saliva production is low. Often the snacking can occur after the woman has brushed her teeth, which then leaves potential for bacteria growth as plaque and tartar build through the night.
Another concern for pregnant women is that often acid erosion can make teeth, gums, and lips sore. Vomiting that’s associated with morning sickness and acid reflux causes this. However both of these concerns are much less severe than the amount of pregnant women who can experience gingivitis.
It’s wise to continue to have regular dental check ups during a pregnancy, especially if you’re experiencing inflamed, red gums. Often a detailed cleaning by a professional technician can help reduce the effects of gingivitis and in some cases, completely stop the bacteria in its tracks. If you have any concerns about your gums and oral hygiene during your pregnancy, do not hesitate to contact Water Tower Dental we are happy to help.

Did you know that when you smile while talking on the phone, the person on the other end can tell and will respond positively? It’s true. It seems wild that someone might be able to tell if you’re smiling over the phone, but is it really that far-fetched? Think of how many times you’ve answered the phone in a bad or angry mood. The other person on the other end will almost immediately ask you what’s wrong. So why wouldn’t they be able to tell when you’re in a good mood?

Though we may not realize, we are able to interpret the tone of someone voice and can detect if someone is smiling or not. And in turn, it can help send a positive mood to the person you’re talking to.
The trouble is, how do you remember to consciously smile all the time? It’s hard to  think about smiling while on the phone while talking, and probably doing other activities like typing, walking, or (if you’re a parent) wrangling up your children.
If you want to keep a positive smile on your face, while on the phone, or just throughout the day, you need to consciously work on smiling until it becomes a natural reflex. A great time to reinforce your smile is while you’re brushing and flossing your teeth. Give yourself a big smile in the mirror, and decide how you like to smile. Remember that natural feel you get and keep that smile up!
As well, to help keep a smile on your face, you need to have the confidence of a bright smile and white teeth. To do that, you must keep a consistent routine for oral hygiene which includes brushing at least twice a day for two minutes, flossing once a day, and using a mouthwash to give you a fresh breath. When you feel confident about your smile and your teeth, you want to smile and show off those pearly whites.
If you feel self-conscious about crooked or discolored teeth, you can talk to Water Tower Dental about helping correct your smile for the better. Procedures including Invisalign and porcelain veneers can help give you the smile that will bring a new sense of confidence and self-esteem. Your smiles will look more natural and people will respond in a positive way, if they can see you or not.
Smiling while on the phone or in person will help people respond more positively to what you’re saying. However, people can tell the difference between a real and forced smile. That’s why confidence and a positive attitude is so important when it comes to a smile. You need to know that the smile you’re presenting is the face you want people to remember. Great oral hygiene and trusted dentists that can help you achieve the smile you want will help you succeed in your social life just as much as a good haircut and a clean pair of slacks.
Don’t doubt the power of a smile. For more information on how you can achieve your perfect smile, contact Water Tower Dental today, we’d be happy to help you get on your way to a more confident and positive look.

A burnt mouth: we’ve all done it before, and we all know how awful it feels. From a slice a pizza that just came from the oven, to a steaming cup of coffee, we’ve all experienced the awful pain. The sensitivity that your mouth must endure for the next day is often much more annoying than the original burn. There are a few remedies that can help sooth the pain, and make it go away a little faster. Here our tips.

 First, keep your cool:

If you can, immediately after burning your tongue or mouth, you should find something cool to apply to it. Whether a glass of ice water, an ice cube, Popsicle or ice cream, it all can help. Make sure the cold is left on the burnt area for at least a minute to help dissipate the heat and save your mouth or tongue cells from becoming too damaged.
Yogurt is a great cool food that can help revitalize the mouth and even help kill bad bacteria that might make the damage worse. If you have some available, use that to cool your mouth.

 Help It Heal

Next, you’re going to want to keep good care of your mouth to keep it from becoming infected or just having the burn last longer than it needs to. Consider using an anesthetic ointment or a mouthwash that will help maintain the bacteria levels in your mouth. This can also help numb the pain from the burn, just make sure not to use too much.
Furthermore, you’ll want to avoid goods that can upset your mouth. These include any kind of food that is high in acidity: lemons, vinegar, citrus, tomatoes, fruit juices, and so forth. These kinds of foods can make the burnt area throb with pain. As well, try to avoid foods that can be rough to bite or chew, think potato chips, popcorn, baguettes. The crispy crunch of these foods will be like sandpaper to a sensitive area of the mouth.

 Continue the Soothe

It may still take a day for a burn on the tongue or mouth to heal, so to help avoid more pain than you need, consider grabbing a few cough drops. Look for ones with menthol or benzocaine as an ingredient. These cough drops will have a cooling affect on your mouth and will help soothe the burnt area. A few of these throughout the day and you’ll barely notice the pain.

 Time is the Best Medicine

Of course, when it comes to a burnt tongue or mouth, time is going to be the best fix. Most burns take about a day to two days to heal. The mouth and especially the tongue, are very well maintaining areas of the body. Think of how many times you’ve bit your tongue, or accidentally burnt it.
However strong it may be, it can become much stronger when you apply proper oral hygiene techniques everyday. Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash help keep out harmful bacteria and plaque that can cause harm to your mouth. With a proper cleaning, good bacterias and cells can help maintain a strong and healthy mouth.
If you have any more questions about an injured tongue or mouth, contact Water Tower Dental today, we’d be happy to help.

There is a lot to say about a smile that communicates your emotions precisely. It doesn’t always mean happy, either. A smile can communicate mischief, fear, doubt, surprise, and many other emotions. So how do you know if your smile is delivering the right message? First, you must find your perfect smile: the natural way you smile that makes you feel confident you’re communicating the right message. Here are our tips to getting that perfect smile.

Practice Smiling

It may seem silly, but if you want your smile to look they way you hope, you need to practice smiling. Try practicing before or after you brush and floss your teeth. Let it come naturally, what do you like about your smile and what don’t you like? If you change the aspects of your smile (more or less teeth, higher or lower grin), do you like your smile more? Find what feels comfortable and makes you feel confident. Then, remember the way your muscles and face feel in that smile and practice it several more times.

Use Your Eyes

Many forget that the most natural smiles don’t just involve the teeth; they also involve your eyes. A natural, confident smile will draw in the eyes for what is known as a Duchenne smile. This is a smile you cannot fake; it’s your most honest smile.
Consider practicing your smile while only taking notice to the eyes. Cover your mouth even and try to find the emotion that your eyes are conveying. If they don’t look convincing, try other ways of smiling. Think of something that makes you genuinely happy and look at your eyes. When you find a smile that uses your eyes to create a Duchenne smile, practice smiling that way. Though a true Duchenne smile cannot be faked, your muscle memory can help you smile correctly when the time comes.

Smile More Often

The more you smile, the easier it will come, and the more confident you’ll look. Confidence is a main element to the perfect smile. If one is unsure of the way they smile, they can confuse others with how they’re smiling. If you have become used to the way you smile and feel confident about it, others will see that and interpret it.
As well, when you’re feeling down, smiling can often elicit happy emotions. While it may feel odd to force a smile when you don’t feel like smiling, over time, you’ll start to feel happy.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Many don’t like to smile because they don’t feel confident with their teeth and oral appearance. Practicing good oral hygiene including brushing and flossing can help melt these fears away. Other ways to boost your oral confidence are:

• Visit your dentist once every six months for regular cleanings. This will help your teeth stay white, keep plaque off of them, and help detect any further issues you may have.
• If you have constant trouble with stained teeth, first consider a few lifestyle changes before those over the counter whiteners. Slow down on consumption of coffee, red wine, and especially cigarettes. If you cut down on teeth-staining foods, but still want whiter teeth, consult your dentist for truly effective ways of whitening them.
• If you have crooked teeth that you would like to fix, consider Invisalign braces. Your dentist can fit you for a set that are much less noticeable than regular braces and can have your teeth looking perfect in no time.
• Make sure to keep your lips moisturized as to not look chapped.
• Last, make sure to address any bad breath issues. Mouthwashes and tongue scrapers are a great way of dealing with the bacteria that harbors bad breath. However, if you still experience problems, visit your dentist, as it may be a cause from a bigger issue.

Getting that perfect smile is not easy. With practice, confidence, and a little help from oral hygiene, you can make sure to have a smile that makes others want to do the same.