Breaking Bad Brushing Habits

Brushing your teeth is something you (hopefully!) do every day, twice a day, which means the habit can become so ingrained in our daily routine, that it can be easy to just go through the motions and get sloppy, which can lead to poor brushing habits. And you guessed it! That leads to cavities, gum disease, and a host of other oral health problems that Krengel Dental tries to protect you against.

Here are some common bad brushing habits and how you can break them:

1. Not brushing long enough. Most people bush their teeth for only a minute, but experts say you need at least two minutes to eliminate the entire bacterial film in your mouth. Nowadays many electric toothbrushes are timed. To ensure you are getting to two minutes, time yourself. You may need two cycles of the automatic setting.

2. Only Paying Attention to One Side Right -handed people tend to clean the right side of their teeth better and left handers the left side. Make sure you are giving equal attention to both sides no matter which hand you brush with. And don’t ignore the gum line because that’s where the most tartar and plaque buildup.

3. Using a side-to-side motion. A side-to-side or sawing motion can actually hurt the enamel of your teeth. Instead, use a circular motion.

4. Being too aggressive. Be gentle but energetic while brushing. Having a heavy hand can again damage the enamel or irritate your gums.

5. Using the wrong toothbrush. You should use a toothbrush with soft bristles with a head that fits into your mouth and can reach back to those hard-to-reach places. Having a toothbrush that is the right size and with a comfortable handle will make you more likely to use your toothbrush regularly and use it properly.

With these helpful tips, we know you’ll be better equipped to tackle that plaque and protect your teeth! Visit West Bloomington’s Kengel Dental if you need a refresher on how to brush. We’re glad to give you a few pointers! 

Common Questions About Cosmetic Dentistry

In addition to preventative oral health care, Dr. Krengel offers a full range of dental services, including cosmetic dentistry. When you are happy and excited about your teeth, it’s easy to take good care of them. Cosmetic dentistry brings together science and art to create a mouth that functions as it should while being comfortable and beautiful.

Cosmetic dentistry includes crowns and composite filling that match existing teeth, but also includes whitening, veneers, and laminates. If you have chipped, stained, discolored, unevenly spaced, or slightly crooked teeth, whitening, veneers, or laminates can give you the smile you have always wanted!

Here are some common questions about cosmetic dentistry we have answered for you:

Does Bleaching Damage the Teeth?

No. When carbamide peroxide, the active whitening agent, contacts water, hydrogen peroxide is released which whitens the teeth. Bleaching does not soften, demineralize or weaken the teeth.

Do Over-the-Counter Bleaching Products Work?

There is some evidence that over-the-counter bleaching products do whiten teeth, however, many of the products are too abrasive and can damage the teeth with extended use or misuse. Supervision by your dentist is always the safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth.

What Are Porcelain Veneers and Why Are They Used?

Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material which are bonded to the front of the teeth. This procedure can be an ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth by masking discolorations, whitening teeth and/or reshaping a smile.

Dentists Ranked Number One Best Job in the US: Why We Love What We Do

At Krengel Dental, it’s no surprise that we love what we do!

Recently, US News ranked Dentists as the number one out of the 100 best jobs in the United States for 2013!  In addition, dental hygienists were ranked in the top ten. It’s safe to say that everyone at Krengel Dental agrees with these rankings!

We are very lucky to have jobs we love and to have such a positive impact on the health and lives of our patients every day. Here are just a few of the reasons why we love what we do:

We get to create great smiles and help prevent oral health problems

The most important service we offer is preventative dental care. We don’t want you to think of us as just the people to come to when there’s a problem, though we’ll always be available when you do. Working together, we can maintain your smile in a healthy, comfortable, attractive state throughout your life. We also offer cosmetic and restorative dentistry to ensure you love the way your mouth functions and the beauty of your smile.

We love working with families and children!

We have a lot of experience working with families and children. We love working with children on their dental health, including helping them to relax and creating a playful atmosphere in our office. We often work with whole families, which is a rewarding experience. Families often share conditions including food intolerances and periodontal weaknesses that can be better managed when multiple members of the family are aware and supporting each other.

Most importantly, we love our patients!

We wouldn’t love what we do as much as we do if we didn’t have such great patients! At Krengel Dental, we strive to be the dental office you look forward to visiting. Our main focus in on you, the patient. If you need a dentist in the West Bloomington area, contact us today!  

Tips for Overcoming Your Fear of the Dentist

Does thinking about going to the dentist strike fear in your heart? Do you keep rescheduling your upcoming dental appointments? Not only is ignoring dental visits and routine checkups and cleanings bad for your oral health, it’s not necessary when you come to Krengel Dental! We have created an office where you can relax. One of our top priorities is to keep our patients relaxed and pain free. We make sure that you’re properly numbed and comfortable before a procedure.

If you’re still having fear of the dentist, here are some tips that can help:

Tip #1: Ask your dentist to explain what is going to occur during your visit. Dr. Krengel is always happy to answer any questions you may have!

Tip #2: Talk with your dentist about your past experiences and fears. Open communication is important.

Tip #2: Ask you dentist about tools or sedation option to help you relax and calm your nerves.

Tip #4: Complete dental work over multiple visits. Begin with just an exam to make you feel comfortable with your surroundings at Krengel Dental.

Tip #5: Bring a friend or family member with you to your dental appointment.

Tip #7: Listen to music to help relax.

We have computers and satellite radio in our rooms so that you can choose to listen to music or watch movies on headphones or aloud. We know that for some people a trip to the dentist can seem like the worst hour of the year and we strive to change that and be the dental office you look forward to.

Above all: Relax! Our service is fast, friendly, and gentle. We also welcome questions so please feel free to call or connect with us online.

The Tongue and Its Role in Oral Health

The human body’s strongest muscle, the tongue, is also a heavyweight in your oral health. With over 10,000 taste buds, the tongue is responsible for identifying tastes and is a major indicator of health conditions depending on its color. A healthy tongue should be a pinkish color and generally smooth. Germs and bacteria often live on the tongue and can sometimes even become trapped. These germs can then lead to discoloration of the tongue or other symptoms like bad breath. 

Don’t ignore your tongue when it comes to daily cleaning!

Your tongue is covered in tiny bumps, called papillae. The surface of the tongue can harbor a lot of bacteria. The bacteria and trapped germs on the tongue can lead to bad breath, affect your sense of taste, and even travel to other parts of your mouth. Overgrowth of bacteria can turn your tongue yellow, white, or even black and hairy-looking! You should always be on the lookout for color changes in your tongue, as this can signify a problem.

Make it a habit to thoroughly clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth. You can use a tongue scraper, a small tool designed to scrape the tongue and get rid of bacteria and germs. Your regular toothbrush will also do the job. Use it to scrape your tongue all the way to the back of your mouth.

If dry mouth is an issue, brushing or using a tongue scraper may be difficult. To prep the tongue for this type of cleaning, a spray or mouth gel can be used to soften the residue and protect the muscle from tissue damage.

To maintain good oral hygiene, it is recommended to regularly examine your tongue and alert your dentist of any sores, cuts or colorations that are taking a long time to heal or go away. Visit West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for a checkup. Dr. Krengel also screens for oral cancer and many of the warning signs of oral cancer be discerned by the tongue. 

Oral Health: A Window To Your Overall Health

Good oral health is intrinsically related to one’s overall health. Just look at the facts:

• A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and summarized in the National Post newspaper showed that those reporting to brush less that once a day had a 65% increase in the incidence of dementia versus those who brushed daily.
• Because the mouth is a pathway to the body, people who have chronic gum disease are at a higher risk for heart attack, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)
• Up to 91% of patients with heart disease have periodontitis, or gum disease, according to WebMD.
• A study found that people who never or rarely brush their teeth are 70% more likely to suffer heart disease as those who brush twice a day. 
• A study found that by brushing your teeth, you are getting rid of bacteria and therefore decreasing your risk of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

Moral of the story: Visit West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for a regular checkup every 6 months, brush your teeth and floss twice a day, and contact Dr. Krengel if you have any concerns regarding your oral health!

The Daily Grind: How Grinding Your Teeth Can Cause Permanent Damage

Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time, most commonly at night while sleeping. Teeth grinding, medically referred to as bruxism, is not usually harmful but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis, the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.

Since grinding often occurs during sleep, you may be unaware you even grind your teeth. Here are some warning signs of teeth grinding:

• Dull, constant headache
• Sore jaw
• Loved one hearing you at night
• Stress
• Worn-down teeth

While it may not seem teeth grinding is doing much to your mouth, chronic grinding can have lasting effects including fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth and in extremes cases can affect your jaw, result in hearing loss, cause TMD/TMJ disorder (a disorder of the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw), and even change the appearance of your face.

To stop grinding your teeth, West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding during sleep.  There are different types of mouth guards that we can custom fit just for you! Some other tips to help you might be attending a stress counseling class, obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants, cutting back on foods and drinks that contain high amounts of caffeine, and relaxing your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek. Dr. Krengel can prescribe muscle relaxants and in some cases, we can use Botox to reduce the muscle tone of the muscles used in clenching to decrease pain and damage to the teeth!

Unsure if you’re grinding your teeth? Visit Krengel Dental for a consultation!

Top 4 Reasons to Visit Krengel Dental

It’s been estimated that half of all Americans do not visit the dentist regularly.  It’s important to make sure you’re visiting the dentist every 6 months for a routine cleaning and checkup. If you’re part of that statistic, here are some reasons why regular dental visits are so important.

1. Catch Problems Ahead of Time

Dental problems can get severe quickly if they aren’t treated right away. Cavities, damaged fillings, and other dental problems may require intensive procedures such as a root canal down the line if they aren’t treated and prevented with regular dental checkups. By visiting the dentist regularly, you can prevent costly and invasive procedures later.

2. Prevent Oral Cancer and other health problems

Here at West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental, we screen regularly for oral cancer during standard dental cleanings. The Oral Cancer Foundation reports that one American dies from oral cancer every hour but the disease is highly treatable if diagnosed early. Dental exams can also detect other health problems you have, such as gum disease or oral health problems that can affect your overall health, such as heart disease.

3. Keep Your Smile Healthy and White

Regular dental cleanings are essential to keeping your smile white and healthy! A dental cleaning removes plaque, debris, and stains that even brushing your teeth regularly can’t do. You still need to keep brushing in between visits!

4. Visit the friendly staff at Krengel Dental!

Our top priority is to keep our clients relaxed and pain free and we make sure you’re comfortable before every procedure, even just a routine cleaning. We have computers and satellite radio in our rooms so you can choose to listen to music or watch movies on headphones or aloud. We want your trip to the dentist to be something you look forward to! 

Things NOT to do while flossing

Flossing seems so easy! Just slide some string between your teeth to clean those hard to reach areas and call it a day, right? It may seem that simple, but many people make common mistakes when flossing that can minimize the benefits.

Here are some things NOT to do while flossing:

1. Only flossing one side of the tooth.

When you floss between your teeth, you need to make sure that you are cleaning both sides of your teeth; otherwise you’re only getting 50% of the job done! Plaque is hiding in between your teeth and if you’re only removing plaque from one side of the teeth, you can still easily get a cavity on that tooth you’re not flossing.

2. Use the same section of floss for all your teeth

Flossing removes bacteria and debris from between your teeth and below your gum-line. If you use the same piece of floss for every tooth, you’re just spreading around the debris and bacteria.

3. Missing the very back of your mouth

Even though your last four teeth in the back of your mouth don’t have another tooth next to them to floss between, it’s important to get all of the way back there between the tooth and the gum-line to remove bacteria that may have made it’s way down there.

4. Quitting when your gums bleed

Blood may scare some people when they floss because they think that they are hurting their gums if they bleed.  You are not hurting them as long as you're not flossing too hard. Most likely, the reason they bleed is because they haven't been flossed in a while and the gum tissue has become red and inflamed.  This is a condition known as gingivitis. After a few days, your gums should return to health and you can floss normally without any bleeding.

5. Only using floss to remove food

Unfortunately, many people think that the only reason for flossing is to remove food that has gotten wedged between their teeth. This may be because you can see and feel food between your teeth but not plaque. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be removed! Flossing is the only way to remove that plaque that gets stuck between your teeth so even if you don’t have food stuck in your tooth, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to floss! 

By avoiding these common mistakes, you will be able floss more efficiently which will lead to greater oral health.  It is also important to visit your dentist for any other oral health issues and for routine cleanings. Come into West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental and we’ll answer any flossing questions you may have! 

The Dos and Don’ts of Toothbrushes

A toothbrush is an important tool in your daily oral care regimen. You may not think too much about your toothbrush, except when you pull it out of its container to use it; but actually, your toothbrush in an important instrument. How well you use it, its condition, and how you take care of it affects your oral health. In turn, your oral health impacts the overall health of your body. 

Do you know the dos and don’ts when it comes to your toothbrush? No need to worry! For those who need a refresher, Dr. Krengel has put together a handy list:

Do: Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months as recommended by the American Dental Association.
Do: Replace your toothbrush earlier than 3-4 months if the bristles become frayed with use. A toothbrush with worn bristles will not effectively clean your teeth and could cause damage to your gums.
Do: Replace your toothbrush each time you are sick.
Don’t: Attempt to clean your toothbrush in the dishwasher or microwave. This will damage your toothbrush forcing you to get a new one!

Don’t: Share your toothbrush.

Do: Use a toothbrush that properly fits the size of your mouth. Choose a small head, for example, to be able to reach your back teeth. 
Do: Rinse your toothbrush after each use.
Don’t: Store your toothbrush in a closed container. This can cause the growth of germs on your toothbrush.
Do: Store your toothbrush standing upright allowing it to air dry.
Don’t: Store toothbrushes together. This can cause the spread of germs.
Do: Store toothbrushes separated from one another.

Do: Contact West Bloomington’s Krengel Dental for a cleaning and oral checkup. There are some things even your toothbrush can miss and we’re here to help!
Do: Follow the guidelines listed above and enjoy your healthy, beautiful smile! 

The BEST foods and drinks for your teeth

We’ve focused on the food and drinks that are bad for your teeth, but what about the ones that support healthy teeth and gums? Here’s how eating right can help you fend off plaque, gum disease, and gingivitis and keep your gums healthy and your teeth strong!

1. Milk

Your teeth get stronger and healthier when your drink milk, just like your bones. Milk contains calcium, which helps protect your teeth against gum disease, and keeps your jawbone strong and healthy.

2. Salmon

Salmon is a great source of Vitamin D, which is critical in oral health care since it allows your body to absorb and use calcium, a nutrient that protects your teeth and gums from disease. The Vitamin D found in salmon makes it easier for your teeth and bones to get the full power of calcium from the foods you are eating.

3. Strawberries

Strawberries are full of Vitamin C which is required for production of collagen, a key protein that maintains your gum strength and integrity. Just a half a cup of strawberries delivers more than 70 percent of your daily value of Vitamin C! Also, strawberries have a mild bleaching action and can help to remove superficial stains. Be sure to rinse your mouth out after eating strawberries since they are very acidic and acids can erode tooth enamel.

4. Water

Water helps wash away food debris and keeps your saliva levels high. Saliva is your mouth’s best defense against tooth decay because it contains proteins and minerals that counteract enamel-eating acids. Saliva is made up of 95 percent water, so stay hydrated! Water is also a great substitute to sugary drinks, which can damage your teeth and promote decay.

5. Tea

Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins that reduce the body's inflammatory response to the bacteria that cause gum disease. A study found that a daily cup of green tea significantly lowered Japanese men's risk of developing gum disease. The polyphenols in black tea can also help destroy the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.

6. Yogurt

Yogurt has probiotics, which are believed to aid in the protection of your gums. 

Do I Have Gingivitis?

Gingivitis ("inflammation of the gum tissue”) is a non-destructive periodontal disease. The most common form of gingivitis, and the most common form of periodontal disease overall, is in response to bacterial biofilms (also called plaque) adherent to tooth surfaces, termed plaque-induced gingivitis. In the absence of treatment, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis, which is a destructive form of periodontal disease. So if you’ve ever asked the question, “Do I have gingivitis?” here’s how to tell:

What Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an infection of gum tissues caused by bacteria present in the saliva and tissues of the mouth. This disease is more prevalent in the presence of plaque or tartar buildup on teeth. Gingivitis can be painless and even harmless in the very early stages, but can grow steadily more dangerous over time.

Sign and Symptoms

Normal gums should be firm and pinkish, and should not bleed when you brush your teeth normally. Gingivitis primarily affects the gums. Signs and symptoms include:

·      Painful or tender gums

·      Swelling in the gums

·      Soft gums

·      Gums become dusky red instead of healthy pink

·      Gums bleed after brushing or flossing teeth

Dangers of Gingivitis

In the early stages, gingivitis is easily reversed with proper brushing and flossing of the teeth. But as gingivitis progresses it can lead to periodontitis, in which the bacteria that began by infecting the gums cause gum tissue to pull back from the teeth, exposing the periodontal bone. Bacteria then have access to affect bone directly, causing pitting and shrinking of the bone and an eventual loosening of the teeth.

Treatment and Prevention of Gingivitis

To effectively treat gingivitis, you have to remove the source of the infection. By brushing teeth regularly, plaque buildup can be kept to a minimum. Flossing is very important when it comes to gingivitis treatment and prevention. Flossing helps remove plaque in between teeth that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. Regular checkups with your dentist are also important. Here at Krengel Dental in West Bloomington, we can remove plaque that is too dense to be removed by a toothbrush or floss.