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!