Tooth Pain From a Heavy Bite

Lately I've seen a number of patients that seem to have tooth pain related to their bite being "off".  The history of a patient's tooth pain is just as important as the objective testing I do such as taking an x-ray and tapping on the tooth.  The story I usually get is one that includes a history of a filling done within the last 6 months.  I typically test the tooth with cold air, pressure, and checking the bite.  I've found that a tooth that is heavy in occlusion(the bite is high) will lead to a pain in that very tooth or the one opposing it.  If you have issues with your bite or merely have questions about your dental health in general or want a cleaning, please give our office a call or follow the link below to our website to schedule an appointment.

-Dr. Cooper

859-266-2570

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Toothpaste Allergy or Taste Sensitivity to Toothpaste

It's not very common, but sometimes I run across a person who has an allergy to an ingredient in toothpaste. And, sometimes I find people, especially kids, who don't like the flavor of toothpaste.  In the past I know companies have tried cinnamon flavor in toothpaste to remedy that, although cinnamon can cause irritation to gums and cheeks occasionally.  An 'old-time' recipe for toothpaste we recommend at our office is:

1 part baking soda
1 part salt

Mix the 2 together and wet the mixture enough to make it a paste.  This mixture also works well for inflamed gums, but remember is no substitute for visiting your dentist for a checkup.  Flavor is obviously compromised here.  But, You can find flavoring online at Ebay or Amazon, as well as in stores like Michael's that sell cake making products.  This is a way to make toothpaste that is effective and also tastes like pina colada.
If you have further questions about your dental health or need a checkup, visit our website or give us a call.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Electric Flossers

I've pointed out the importance of flossing in recent blog posts.  Flossing keeps cavities from forming between teeth as we as keeps bone loss and gum inflammation(gingivitis) from occurring.  Some individuals need extra help flossing from lack of ability to clean adequately.  Some people love flossing aides such as Reach's Flosser or Plackers that are very portable.  Electric flossers are used primarily at home in front of your sink.  They use a stream of water to flush debris from between teeth much like a water gun could.  Being either a/c powered or battery powered gives the user the ability to push a button making flossing much easier.  Waterpik is a classic example.  Typically, Waterpiks come with a high pressure and a low pressure tip for the user's preference.  Waterpiks work well under dental bridges or around teeth that have significant bone loss.  If you have any more questions about a Waterpik or about improving your oral health and scheduling a regular checkup, please give us a call or visit our website at the link below.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Partial Dentures

Partial Dentures are an affordable way to replace teeth that you are missing.  This is because whether you are missing 1, 2, or 6 teeth, the price of the partial doesn't change.  By definition a partial denture is a denture that replaces as many teeth as needed right short of a complete denture.  I have made partials for people that replace only 1 tooth, and partials that replace most of a person's teeth.  Partials are custom made to fit your mouth and feel as natural as possible.  If you're interested in getting a partial to replace teeth, have further questions about partials, or need to get a dental checkup, please check out our website at the link below or give us a call.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Tongue-tied and Ankyloglossia

Is your tongue or your child's tongue attached to the floor of their mouth?  Ankyloglossia is a term that explains that a tongue is tongue-tied.  This extra tissue that holds the tongue down tends to affect speech quite a bit.  Sometimes this extra tissue is found connecting the upper lip to the gums above the front 2 teeth.  This causes a separation of the front 2 teeth called a diastema.  A simple procedure called a frenectomy, or frenulectomy, can be done that cuts the extra tissue so that it is not a problem in the future.  Typically it is something insurance pays for as well.  The frenectomy can be done with either a scalpel or a laser.  At my office we have used a laser for this procedure.  There's less pain and healing is easier with a laser.  If you are interested in finding out more about dental health and need more information, please call us or visit our website at the link below.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.