Sports are a great way to stay fit and active, especially if you aren’t a fan of going to the gym. Unfortunately, you may be placing your smile at risk of serious damage if you aren’t wearing an athletic mouthguard. 1 in 6 Americans has a dental emergency annually. Although it can happen to anyone, athletes have a higher risk. Whether riding a bike or playing football, here are the top 3 dental emergencies for athletes and what you can do to safeguard your smile.
3 Most Common Dental Emergencies for Athletes
May 3, 2022
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5 Things to Expect at an Emergency Dental Visit
April 13, 2022
No one ever expects a dental emergency to happen to them, but it’s more common than you might realize. 1 in 6 Americans has a dental emergency annually. If you need a dentist in a hurry, you might be a little anxious about the road ahead. Don’t worry, your dental team is there to help. Here are 5 things you can expect during your emergency dental visit.
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Does Dental Sensitivity Require Emergency Care?
March 21, 2022
Every morning, you brew a fresh cup of coffee to start your day out on a good note. One morning when taking the first sip, you experience a jolt of pain. You didn’t do anything differently when making your favorite morning beverage, so what could be causing this sudden discomfort? Read on to learn about a few common causes of tooth sensitivity as well as whether it warrants an emergency visit to the dentist.
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Family Dentist Offers Treatments for Every Situation
July 28, 2017
Many patients take their children to one dental office and they visit another for their own oral health care needs, and while this may seem like a great way to handle treatment, the fact is it can be inconvenient and time consuming. A number of adults end up letting their own oral health care visits fall by the wayside due to lack of time. Comal Dental of New Braunfels would like to offer you an alternative solution – family dentistry. Our dentist and team have experience working with patients of all ages, we offer a wide range of treatment options, and we can even schedule a block of appointments to see the whole family on the same day. We promise convenient, effective, family-friendly care all in one place. Contact us to schedule an appointment and experience the difference a family dentist can make.
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What You Should Consider when Choosing a New Dentist in New Braunfels
July 17, 2016
If you are new to New Braunfels or the surrounding area, then welcome! We know you’re going to love living here. As a newcomer, you’ll need to find a dentist in New Braunfels who can care for your family’s smiles. Dr. David Earnest and his staff at Comal Dental would like to help. Here are some suggestions for what to consider and questions to ask.
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How Stress Can Affect Your Oral Health
June 6, 2016
DID YOU KNOW THAT STRESS can have an effect on your oral health? As if you needed any more on your plate! Knowing how stress and oral health are connected can help you combat any problems that might arise.
Stress May Contribute to Teeth Grinding
Bruxism is the technical term for habitual teeth grinding and jaw clenching. For some people, clenching and grinding are natural responses to stress and frustration. Teeth grinding, however, usually occurs during sleep, meaning that people are often unaware of the problem. Flatter tips of the teeth and a sore jaw are common signs of bruxism.
Stress Can Worsen Symptoms of TMD
TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, affects the jaw joint and associated muscles used in moving the jaw and neck. Similar to bruxism, stress is thought to be a contributing factor in TMD, causing jaw clenching, joint pain, headaches and even popping and clicking of the jaw.
Your Immune System Is Weakened During Times of Stress
Stress can actually compromise your immune system, increasing your risk of oral infections. Some people experience dry mouth, putting them at a higher risk of developing cavities. Others contract canker sores when stressed. Stress can even increase your chances of experiencing gum disease.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene and Health, Even During Difficult Times
Keeping your oral health routine in tip-top shape, especially when you are stressed, is essential! Continue to practice good oral hygiene and you will protect your mouth from infection and decay.
For most people, it’s difficult to see the effects of stress on their bodies until something happens. That’s why it’s important to visit your dentist regularly, as he or she can detect the telltale signs of stress in your mouth and help you to remedy any problems.
We Want To Make Life Easier For You
When you’re under a lot of pressure or life gets tough, the last thing you think about is your oral health. We want to make things easier for you by helping you to avoid any oral health issues not only when you’re stressed out, but all the time!
Learning to deal with the inevitable stresses of life in a positive way will boost your oral and overall health. However, if you do feel you are experiencing any symptoms of bruxism, TMD or other oral health problems, call us and schedule an appointment. We have solutions for you!
Keeping our patients happy and healthy is our priority!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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Extra Floss? Try These Tricks!
May 24, 2016
WE KNOW, WE KNOW… We ask you about flossing every time you come visit us! It is an integral part of your oral hygiene routine and essential for healthy gums and teeth. But did you know there’s more to floss than cleaning between your teeth? Dental floss can actually be used for a lot of other things!
Eight Useful Dental Floss Hacks
Have some extra floss lying around? Don’t have the right equipment and need to get a job done in a pinch? Try these cool dental floss hacks.
- Use floss for perfectly sliced cake. Ever slice a cake and the knife comes up with half of the cake on it? Use flavorless dental floss to make the perfect slice by stretching it taut and gently pressing through the cake. Pull it out when you reach the bottom and voila!
- Don’t have any kitchen twine? Floss will do. Some foods like meat and bacon need to be bound when cooked. Usually kitchen twine takes care of this but what if you run out? Floss (again, flavorless) has got you covered!
- Floss can help you start a campfire. Believe it or not, waxed dental floss burns well! Wrap dental floss around a match or a dry piece of wood to increase burn time.
- Floss can clean out those hard-to-reach spots in your furniture. You know those small cracks and crevices in your wooden furniture that you can never manage to clean? Well, dental floss is meant to get into nooks and crannies! Try it on your wooden furniture. You’ll thank us later.
- Floss is great for sewing. Whether you’re out of thread or in need of something more durable, floss works well for sewing on buttons and patching up holes on the fly.
- Are your freshly-baked cookies stuck to the baking sheet? Floss ‘em!Dental floss can unstick your cookies without leaving anything behind.
- Dental floss can even help in the garden. If you’re training a vine to grow a certain direction, floss can help! Use it to attach the vine loosely to the structure you want the vine to climb.
- Floss makes for an easy DIY clothesline. If you’re camping, in a hotel, or simply don’t have room in the dryer, floss can be used to create your own clothesline. Yes, it’s that strong!
Let’s Be Honest, Floss Is Awesome
Whether you’re using floss to patch something up or slice your birthday cake, always remember to use it for what it was made for, to clean in between your teeth! Daily flossing protects your beautiful smile from periodontal disease and tooth loss, so yeah, we’d say it’s pretty awesome!
Know some more flossing hacks? Post them in the comments below or on our Facebook page! We’d love to hear from you!
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Your Child’s Baby Teeth Are Important
May 23, 2016
“DO I NEED TO FIX my child’s baby tooth since it’s going to fall out anyway?” This is a question we get asked a lot as dental professionals. The answer is a resounding YES! Primary, or “baby,” teeth serve an important purpose in your child’s present and future oral health.
Baby Teeth Have Three Main Functions
Besides providing an aesthetic appeal to your child’s smile and boosting their self-esteem, primary teeth have three main functions:
- They aid in proper chewing, fostering good nutrition
- They promote proper speech development
- They reserve a space for permanent teeth to grow in
If a primary tooth falls out or must be removed before its time due to decay, the surrounding teeth may shift into the gap, causing dental crowding and future orthodontic problems. In some cases, untreated infections in baby teeth can even affect the developing permanent teeth.
Taking care of those primary teeth not only prevents decay, but also helps your child get into the habit of good oral hygiene and sets the stage for their future oral health.Baby teeth may fall out but they’re still very important!
Regular Dental Visits Make For A Lifetime of Healthy Smiles
Your child’s first dental visit is an important milestone! Children should visit the dentist when their first tooth appears or around their first birthday.
A February 2005 Children’s Dental Health Project report found that children who visited the dentist by age one were less likely to visit the emergency room for oral health problems. They also found that children age five who had their first dental visit by the age of one incurred less oral health-related costs than their peers who didn’t see a dentist until age five.
On your child’s first visit, we will check their mouth for decay and other problems as well as show parents proper cleaning techniques. Another benefit of early, regular dental visits is that we can determine if a child is at a higher risk for cavities and implement appropriate intervention.
Baby Teeth Matter
Even though they’re temporary, your child’s baby teeth are essential to their growth and development. Teach children to take care of their baby teeth and set them on a lifelong path of good oral hygiene. If you have any questions, call us or comment below!
We love our patients and their beautiful smiles!
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Do I Need a Checkup with the Dentist New Braunfels Prefers Twice a Year?
November 16, 2015
For many patients, twice annual visits to the dentist are an ingrained habit, but for some, these visits are a dreaded task. The American Dental Association recommends patients visit the dentist every six months, and the Comal Dental team typically makes the same recommendation. However, it’s important to note that, as in all dental care, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for how often patients should visit the dentist. Twice a year seems to be an adequate interval to diagnose and treat even the most detrimental oral health concerns in their early stages. However, patients with chronic gingivitis, smokers, and those with immune compromising illnesses should likely visit the dentist much more frequently to maintain oral health. At Comal Dental, our New Braunfels dentist and team offer patients an opportunity to develop and customize a preventive dentistry treatment plan that meets their unique needs and smile goals.
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