What is your favorite toothpaste flavor? Do you like tangy or sweet? There are so many choices out on the market that it is hard to pick just one flavor. The traditional mint, cinnamon and spearmint are now considered “classic” flavors. But as you may have experienced already, sticking to the same flavor day in and day out can get boring pretty quick. And if you don’t enjoy the flavor of your toothpaste chances are you won’t brush your teeth as long or even as often. Consider adding more flavors into your routine.

Changing up your basic oral care routine can improve your health in many ways. Changing something as simple as your toothpaste flavor can add new spice into your regular routine. By switching it up a little you trick your mind into thinking it is a brand new experience. When we do this we naturally want to try the new experience more. If you pick a toothpaste flavor you love then you may even brush your teeth longer and even more often. Which means better overall health care, lower dental bills, and a bright white smile. Making small tweaks to your health routine can help you feel better about your choices as well.

We recommend trying a new flavor every year. And make sure to bush your teeth at least twice a day. Toothpaste helps remove plaque build up on your teeth and it also removes food particles that stick around long after you eat. Finding a flavor that you enjoy will help you enjoy brushing your teeth. In fact you may even look forward to brushing your teeth. Just as kids, love cotton candy or bubble gum flavor, there is a new category of toothpaste for adults that have people craving their toothpaste. Are you craving bacon, a mocha or a cupcake? Well now you can brush away that craving with fancy unique flavors.

We searched around the world to find the craziest flavors. Check out the most unusual toothpaste flavors.

Cupcake Flavor

Bacon Flavor

Coffe Flavor

Jasmin Flavor

Photos from http://www.buzzfeed.com/babymantis/20-unusual-toothpaste-flavors-1opu

When it is time to take your children to the dentist, preparation is very important.  Let your child know that a visit to the dentist’s office is like a visit to their doctor, but a lot happens at the dentists, that will be brand new for them. You can help your child look forward to visiting by informing them about what to expect. The more preparation you can give your children about this new experience, the happier they will be! Doctor Sue Chadwick Walker has some tips to help you prepare your child for their first visit, here they are.

Good Health Makes Us Happy

Regardless of how you feel about visiting the dentist, it’s important to communicate that a dental appointment is a great thing for your child. When we take care of our teeth at home, we have a better, more relaxed and enjoyable experience at the actual dental office. Prevention is an easy thing to practice and teaching your child to take care of their teeth all the time will help them see the benifits when they come to see us. Doctor Sue Chadwick Walker gives her patients a quality experience. She enjoys making people happy by providing them with good health.

Be a Good Example

Kids watch everything you do, and – more importantly – everything you don’t do. If you want your children to visit the dentist regularly and cooperatively, then you should do this yourself. Showing them by example is the best way to teach and lead. It’s also vital to have a good attitude not only about going, but about the different activities like getting x-rays and your teeth cleaned.

Don’t Leave Any Surprises

Understanding that this will be a new experience, try to have as many conversations as you can with your child about what to expect during the dental visit so there are no uncomfortable surprises when they get there. Some of the more important details include:

•    the dentist chair that tilts back

•    the bright light and the sunglasses

•    the fact that your child’s mouth needs to be opened for the dentist
•    the special toothbrush the dental hygienist will use, as well as the water sprayer and suctioned

By being happy and positive when you talk about the experience will also help your child feel more relaxed.

Relax and Have Fun

The more relaxed you are about the experience the more easy going your child will be about it as well. You can prepare your child by asking if they have any questions, engage them and help them feel more at ease by sharing your own experiences with the dentist. If your child has concerns make sure you let the dentist know. Doctor Walker is here to help and her ultimate goal is your happiness and health.

I love working with kids and they really seem to relate to me too.

As patients of Dr. Walker and her friendly staff well know, good dental hygiene means brushing and flossing regularly. The American Dental Association recommends that people brush at least twice; one of which should be right before bedtime. Individuals who consume a lot of sugary foods and drink may find it helpful if they brush more often throughout the day.

However, despite someone’s good intentions, finding the time to brush regularly can at times prove difficult, since spending only a few hurried seconds brushing won’t clean your teeth as needed to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. With this in mind, here are a few helpful suggestions of when to find a little extra time to brush.

Watching T.V.

While dentists recommend brushing before bedtime, nothing says it must be the last thing you do before you turn off the lights. Since most people watch their favorite shows right up until bedtime, brushing while watching T.V. can give you the time needed to give your teeth a proper scrubbing. Since your focus will remain on what you’re watching, spending the necessary two minutes to properly brush will no longer feel tedious and boring.

Surfing the Web

It takes the average reader one minute to read 100 to 150 words. Brushing while reading an article, watching a video, or just browsing through the headlines can once again take your mind of the task at hand so you don’t mind spending the time needed to brush properly. Sit down and brush while reading an article, and by the time your done reading, you’re also done brushing.

Brush with Your Kids

Good dental hygiene practices need to start at a young age so every child can have a healthy and beautiful smile as they grow into adults. Taking the time to brush your teeth along with your child can provide you an opportunity to offer instruction on good brushing technique, while making sure he or she actually brushes instead of just wetting the tip.

At Work

Portable toothbrushes don’t only work while on vacation. When you need a break from your desk, get up and walk to the bathroom and give your teeth a thorough brushing while you stretch your legs. Brushing at work can be useful if you have a habit of drinking soda throughout the day, and it also gives you an important chance to clean your teeth after lunch. If you feel self conscious about brushing in front of coworkers, use fresh water to give your mouth a thorough rising after eating lunch or consuming any higher sugar sodas.

Welcome to the office of Dr. Sue Chadwick Walker, a leading dental care practice in Milwaukie, Oregon. We understand the importance of good dental hygiene and oral care and are committed to providing you the best care in a fun, pleasant environment.

From common problems to gum disease, we provide an array of dental services to meet your needs all in one convenient location. Using the latest technology, our experienced staff works together as a team to give you exceptional quality treatment from the time you walk in for your initial visit.

We thank you for your interest in our services and the trust you have placed in us. Please contact us if you have any questions.

A child’s first set of baby teeth play a pivotal role in how their adult teeth form when they get older. Baby teeth allow your child to eat solid food, speak clearly, and smile spectacularly during family photos. Baby teeth are also necessary for holding the space in the jaw where adult teeth will form. When baby teeth are lost at too young an age, developing teeth may shift inside your child’s mouth and drift toward these empty spaces. This can cause your child’s adult teeth to come in crooked or crowding each other. Preventing baby tooth decay starts by cleaning your child’s teeth regularly around the time they turn six months of age.

Causes and Symptoms

Your child’s teeth are at risk for baby tooth decay the moment they begin to appear. Dentists generally refer to tooth decay in young children as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. Often this form of decay attacks your child’s upper front teeth, but in some cases the whole mouth can be affected. In extreme cases the damage caused by baby tooth decay cannot be repaired and the child’s teeth must be removed.

In infants and young children, tooth decay begins when cavity-causing bacteria is transferred through the exchange of saliva from the mother or father’s mouth to the child’s. This commonly occurs when parents clean a child’s pacifier by sticking it into their mouths, or when placing a spoon used to feed the child into their mouths.

Continued exposure to liquids containing sugars, such as fruit juice, sweetened water, and, in some cases, milk and formula can also cause baby tooth decay. Putting a child down to sleep with a bottle, or using a bottle as a pacifier, can also cause baby tooth decay to occur. The sugars in these types of liquids form around your child’s teeth as they sleep. The bacteria in your child’s mouth, called plaque, use these sugars as food to produce acids that damage the baby teeth for at least 20 minutes after each feeding. Tooth decay occurs after multiple attacks by plaque on the enamel of your baby’s teeth.

Prevention

Baby tooth decay is easily preventable, as long as parents take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of bacteria.

•            Parents should consider improving their own oral health by brushing, flossing, and using mouth wash to decrease the amount of tooth decay causing bacteria in their own mouths, or stop placing anything into their mouth they plan on placing into their child’s mouth.

•            Wipe your child’s gums after each feeding with a clean, damp cloth to remove pieces of food and plaque that can build up after a meal.

•            Handle brushing your child’s teeth yourself until they reach the age of six. Children who are left to brush their own teeth at a young age often miss important areas that need to be cleaned regularly.

•            Resist placing juice or any other sweetened liquid into bottles. Use bottles only for formula, breast milk, or milk.

•            Finishing feeding your child before bedtime, and do not give your child a bottle as they fall asleep.

Treatment

Schedule your child a cleaning with Dr. Walker as soon as their first teeth begin to appear. While parents would never think of missing a routine checkup with their pediatrician, they can often neglect taking their child to the dentist until a problem arises. If you make visits to the dentist as routine as physical checkups, your child can avoid baby tooth decay and grow up with a healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net. 

We are especially interested in making all our patients feel right at home! We put your needs first to achieve efficient and comprehensive treatment. Our staff is trained and skilled, and we strive to provide energetic and fun-loving service to each patient.

Our assistants and hygienists have EFTA and expanded duties certifications, and our office staff has years of experience in treating patients with the highest level of care. We strive to improve our skills by regularly attending continuing education courses and seminars in CPR, office safety and medical emergency training.

This dental practice provides quality dentistry for people of all ages. We offer a wide range of dental services, including preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry and reconstructive dentistry. We pride ourselves on our patient-centered practice. We do everything possible to make dental visits pleasant for our patients.

We have earned the loyalty of our patients, many of whom have been with us since our inception in 1957 with Dr. Orville Boyle and continue with Dr. Sue Walker, who has continued the practice since 1995.

Regular dental should include attention not only to the teeth, but also the gums that support them. Periodontal disease, or a chronic bacterial infection along the gums and jaw, are tricky issues to resolve once they set in, and Dr. Walker recommends a healthy ruotine of proper tooth brushing and flossing to protect patients from this painful condition.

Here are a few frequently asked questions about periodontal disease, with answers patients should keep in mind as part of their healthy dental routine.

How Does Periodontal Disease Start?

Periodontal disease is the result of a building of plaque between teeth that nestles its way into the deeper recesses of the gums, where tooth brushes and floss cannot reach. Because of this, it is important to clear away any gunk that could lead to plaque buildup following meals, as well as taking care to brush and rinse before heading to bed.

What are the Signs of Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease can first be noticed if a patient experiences gum inflammation and swelling that sticks around for days at a time. Unlike a canker sore, periodontal disease swelling will persist and keep hurting until directly addressed. Because of the sensitive nature of gums, it is not recommended that a patient just floss or brush like mad in a possibly infected. Rather, the best plan is to set up an appointment with Dr. Walker and address the issue with a long-term solution.

What Causes Periodontal Disease to Persist?

In most cases, periodontal disease begins and continues if a patient gets out of a regular dental hygiene habit that includes brushing two times per day, flossing once per day, making use of fluoride rinse and attending regular check-ups at Dr. Walker’s office. Overnight attack by plaque is a major contributor, and it is a particualr concern since it has to track when it happens but also hard to reverse once the effects are felt. Going to sleep and waking up with a funky taste in the mouth is a bad sign, so if brushing and flossing are not addressing this issue, be sure to mention it at your next visit.

What Options are Available for Periodontal Disease Treatment?

Scaling and root planing are methods for removing plaque deposits that are non-surgical. They help reduce swelling and are very effective if Dr. Walker’s office is able to catch the signs of periodontal disease.

There are also some options for regenerative surgery, though they are invasive and will lead to some recovery time. Grafts and donor tissues are part of these procedures, so the best bet is to just keep up a good dental care routine and avoid these steps altogether.

Any questions about periodontal disease are best answered in person, so be sure to voice concerns to Dr. Walker during a visit and learn more about the best way to ward off any painful swelling.

Our goal is to help patients maintain a healthy smile for life. The best way to do that is through regular visits and prevention. Some common problem patients may experience include:

Tooth Decay

Caries, or tooth decay, is a preventable disease. While caries might not endanger your life, they may negatively impact your quality of life.

When your teeth and gums are consistently exposed to large amounts of starches and sugars, acids may form that begin to eat away at tooth enamel. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as candy, cookies, soft drinks and even fruit juices leave deposits on your teeth. Those deposits bond with the bacteria that normally survive in your mouth and form plaque. The combination of deposits and plaque forms acids that can damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth decay resulting.

Sensitive Teeth

Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Hot and cold food and beverages can cause pain or irritation to people with sensitive teeth. Over time, tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating nerve endings. Just breathing cold air can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth.

Gum Disease

Gum, or periodontal, disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss and bone damage. Gum disease begins with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Gums in the early stage of disease, or gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth may fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Gum disease is highly preventable and can usually be avoided by daily brushing and flossing. One indicator of gum disease is consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent the buildup of food particles, plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth deteriorate and cause bad breath. While certain foods, such as garlic or anchovies, may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem.

Canker Sores

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often recur. Generally lasting one or two weeks, the duration of canker sores can be reduced by the use of antimicrobial mouthwashes or topical agents. The canker sore has a white or gray base surrounded by a red border.

Orthodontic Problems

A bite that does not meet properly (a malocclusion) can be inherited, or some types may be acquired. Some causes of malocclusion include missing or extra teeth, crowded teeth or misaligned jaws. Accidents or developmental issues, such as finger or thumb sucking over an extended period of time, may cause malocclusions.

Keeping a regular dental care schedule is important for everyone, because it is usually like car maintenance or home repair projects in that most people do not worry about it until something is going wrong. Our staff is here to help each patient and their children keep a regular dental care schedule throughout the calendar!

First, it is important for our dental care patients to keep to a daily schedule of brushing and flossing, and this could include setting little reminders such as notes near the restroom sink or on top of clothes dressers. Any time you plan to travel, be sure to include dental care products with your belongings so the schedule is maintained and the risk of tarter, plaque and other issues is kept to a minimum.

Next up, be sure to ask you dentist about keeping a regular routine of check-ups that include a fluoride rinse and cleaning, as these are the meetings that help reduce any chance that teeth and gums may need surgery to repair. There are different requirements for each patient, so while each appointment should follow a routine, it is also the best time to ask particular questions a patient has about anything related to their dental care.

In any situation where it may be required to have surgery, such as pulling a tooth or filling a cavity, the dental care schedule will probably change up a bit. These sort of procedures are usually required when the daily schedule gets missed out on, or when a patient has difficulty keeping up with eating and drinking things that promote good dental care. As soon as there are toothaches or sudden pains, a dentist should be consulted immediately to address the pain and set up a plan to prevent future concerns from coming up.

Overall, a dental health schedule is all about keeping on top of daily brushing and regular visits. To set up an appointment, please go here or contact the office . In the case of a severe pain, contact us immediately to determine if dental surgery is required.