Coping with dental anxiety can be very difficult. The reality is regular visits to the dentist prevent big problems in the future. Brushing and flossing at home can make a difference in the condition of your teeth, but professional cleanings by a hygienist are still necessary. If you don't get your teeth cleaned every 6 months, or as recommended, it can lead to fillings, crowns, root canals or even extractions! Many people are afraid they will be in pain at the dentist. I'm telling you, dentistry has come a long way! There is very little discomfort involved in dental procedures anymore. Numbing gel is placed in your mouth before injections to eliminate feeling the initial 'poke'. Dr. Bomstad uses a dental wand to administer injections, you can't even feel the anesthetic going in. There are also excellent pain medications that can be prescribed after the procedure. Managing pain is the easy part. Managing anxiety is a bit harder. Dr. Bomstad and his staff take plenty of time … [Read more...]
Do You Have What it Takes?
This summer Dr.Bomstad's daughter has spent time working in the office as a sterilization tech. She has been contemplating a career in dentistry, and this job has allowed her to see all facets of the office. Have you ever wondered what it takes to work in the dental field? To become a licensed dental assistant you must attend dental assisting school. Most programs are 12-18 months long. There are 15 dental assisting schools in Minnesota. A minimum GPA must be maintained and dental clinical observation hours must be completed. Once a student has completed dental assisting school, they have to pass 3 different examinations before being licensed. Onced licensed, a dental assistant may perform patient procedures; like taking x-rays or placing temporary crowns or dental sealants. There are 10 different dental hygiene programs in Minnesota. College classes in English and science are prerequisites for hygiene school, a competive GPA over a 3.0 is needed to get accepted. Some … [Read more...]
You Teeth Are NOT Tools!
It cannot be stressed enough, taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Most of us know brushing, flossing and regular check-ups at the dentist's office are crucial, but did you know it's equally important not to use your teeth as tools. It's hard to resist the urge to quickly tear or break something open, but you should take the time to get a scissors. Using your teeth compromises the tooth structure and can break your teeth. If you look at an older person who has used their front teeth as tools their entire life, they have fractures everywhere, like old porcelain dishes. A fractured tooth can usually be fixed with fillings or crowns, but a restored tooth is NEVER as strong as the original tooth. It is so important to take care of your teeth. Implants, dentures, restorations are not the real thing, so the next time you want to rip open the popsicle wrapper with your teeth, take the time to get a scissors! … [Read more...]
Receding Gums
You may notice the gap between your teeth is slightly changing, or you've started to get a lot of food stuck in your teeth. This is due to receding gums and it's a bigger problem than you may initially think. When gums recede the tissue surrounding the tooth disappears, exposing more and more tooth structure, eventually exposing the tooth's root. The bone holding the tooth becomes compromised, your tooth becomes loose and could eventually fall out. What can you do to prevent this from happening? Regular check ups at the dentist help. Each appointment your hygienist is checking for pockets that can form around your tooth at the gumline. These pockets hold bacteria which destroys the gum tissue and the supporting bone that holds your teeth in place. The pockets of bacteria are what we call periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the number one reason for gum recession. Other causes for gum recession include; aggressive tooth brushing, insufficient dental care, hormonal … [Read more...]
Sleigh Rides
If you're looking for something fun this winter, go on a sleigh ride. Earlier this winter we were looking for a way to get together with family and I stumbled across Bunker Park Stable. We went right before Christmas. Our sleigh ride became a wagon ride due to lack of snow, but it was still a ton of fun! Their wagons/sleighs can accommodate up to 14 people, but they can send out multiple wagons/sleighs if needed. There were Covid-19 restrictions when we were there. Only 3 households and a maximum of 15 people could gather together, so make sure to ask about restrictions before booking. The stable also offers pony, trail rides and bonfires. Our wagon ride lasted about an hour. Our driver was very informative and kind. The trail we traveled on was beautiful. It felt like we were up north, not in Andover. You may even see deer, we did! After our wagon ride, we reserved a bonfire site. They had the fire lit and ready for us when we returned from our wagon ride. I brought … [Read more...]
Gingerbread Houses!
We wanted to make things feel as normal as possible at home, so we did plenty of holiday baking and that included making our annual gingerbread house! Our daughter takes charge of the house every year and I'm so grateful she still loves to participate. I'll include a recipe for a homemade gingerbread house HERE, but we chose to pick up a kit at Target this year. If you're looking for the easy way out, this is the best kit I've seen. The decorations are adorable and there is even a brace to help hold the roof together while it dries, making this kit unique to ones we have purchased in the past. I suggest decorating the side walls before standing them up. This keeps the icing from running and the candies in place. Once the icing has set, the walls can be assembled. If you end up with a kit that comes with a roof brace, you will want to wait on decorating the roof until it has been securely put in place. We made the mistake of decorating the roof before it was assembled which … [Read more...]
‘Tis the Season for Holiday Lights!
It has been way too long since I have posted, I will definitely blame it on the pandemic! The holidays, and a new vaccine, have renewed my hope and certainly my motivation. Here goes my first blog in 8 MONTHS! It was important to me to keep the spirit of the season, but what was that going to look like this year? I knew I was going to have to get creative, as so many of the things we enjoy during the holidays have been put on hold this year. What could we do that involves social distancing and keep us safe? For our first adventure of the season, we went to a drive-thru light display. I decided we would check out The Winery at Sovereign Estate, located in Waconia. I wasn't sure what to expect, but all-in-all it was a wonderful time! We went on a Saturday night; they do offer discounts on Tuesdays and children under 5 are always free. It was busy, but when we parked to walk around it didn't feel crowded at all. The gift shop is still open, the number of guests allowed inside … [Read more...]
Virtual Field Trips
Wow, that happened fast! The last two weeks have left my head spinning. I'm going to venture a guess and say anybody who was still planning on traveling over spring break when I wrote my last blog, had their plans changed rather quickly, myself included! With vacations canceled, school canceled, parties canceled, work canceled, I thought I would check out the different virtual vacations and tours the internet has to offer. Buzzfeed has a link to virtual vacations. This website has a wide variety of locations to look at, it is mostly stationary webcams, but I think the kids will really like Laikipia County, Kenya webcam and the safari animals. Here is a link from VRBO, the vacation home rental site. I enjoyed the surfing video the most on this website, but the San Diego Zoo link has a lot to offer too! 25 Amazing Virtual Field Trips When You Can't Be There In Person could be intersting?! So could 28 Free Virtual Field Trips and Activities for Families in … [Read more...]
Spring Break 2020
My plan for this weeks blog was to highlight different activities for spring break, starting with Baby Farm Animals at the Minnesota Zoo. Needless to say, I found myself quickly needing a new topic! Unless you live in a remote area of the Amazon, you've heard of COVID-19 and how it's slowly bringing the world to a halt. It's the only thing people are talking about on TV and social media. I have found it interesting (not sure if that's the right word, maybe terrifying or nerve wracking would be better choices??) watching the disease change our daily lives and habits. People's behavior has been "interesting" to watch too. It started with everyone running to buy hand sanitizer (beware it's coming), then toilet paper (watch out it's here), and now food (school's canceled, the world is coming to an end). As I watched the grocery shelves empty, I couldn't help but notice there were still quite a few vacation posts on social media. For me, it felt wonderful to see life going on as if … [Read more...]
Can Coconut Oil Improve Oral Health?
Last week, we looked at what CBD could potentially do for your oral health. This week, we are going to look at coconut oil. Dr. Bomstad noticed several patients with improved oral health and found out they started swishing with coconut oil. I am curious to know why coconut oil seems to make a difference when it comes to oral health. It turns out, coconut oil can kill the bad bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities, gum disease and bad breath. It is the lauric acid (a fatty acid) in coconut oil, along with monolaurin, that kills the bad bacteria. Monolaurin is the compound that is left when your body breaks down lauric acid. Lauric acid is special because it is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) which is metabolized differently from other types of fatty acids. Most foods contain long-chain fatty acids. It is recommended swishing 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes before brushing your teeth in the morning. Coconut oil can clog sink pipes, so spit … [Read more...]
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