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...]
What Kind of Orthodontic Treatment is Right for You?
Today there are many orthodontic treatment options. There are traditional or metal braces, ceramic or clear braces, self-ligating braces, lingual braces and clear aligners. The most common orthodontic treatment uses traditional or metal braces. Metal braces do a wonderful job moving your teeth, tend to be the most affordable and allow you to change the rubber band color to add some personality to your braces. The only drawback is they are the most noticeable. Ceramic or clear braces are the less noticeable option in the "traditional" braces category. They do an excellent job moving teeth and move the teeth quicker than clear aligners. Clear braces do require more care as they can stain easily, are more brittle than metal braces and are more expensive than traditional braces. Often they are only used on the top teeth and with older patients. Self-ligating braces are similar to traditional braces, but they do not require the use of rubber bands. Self-ligating braces … [Read more...]
Is Foreign Dentistry Worth the Cost?
Traveling to Mexico for medical and dental procedures is increasing in popularity. Who wouldn't want to combine a tropical vacation with some unwanted dental work, but just how wise is it to trust your healthcare to another country? It's true, you can save a significant amount of money, but is it worth the cost? Here are some things to keep in mind before you decide Mexico is the best place for your dental care. You must factor in your travel cost when determining how much money traveling to Mexico will save you. Don't forget to add in the cost of a US passport if you don't already have one, they run $145 currently. These costs may negate any savings you'd have by traveling out of the country for dental work. This may be obvious, but there can be a language barrier. Not all Mexican doctors and staff speak English, or English well. It is not uncommon for your doctor and staff to speak Spanish while you are in the room. This can put you at a disadvantage if things aren't … [Read more...]
Vaping and Dental Health
Vaping is quickly taking over as a "healthy" alternative to smoking, or at least that is what we are lead to believe. E-cigarettes are relatively new to the market, they have been around for only 15 years or so, making the long-term effects fairly unknown. Recent studies have found e-cigs/vaping to be just a harmful as smoking to the cells in your mouth. Vaping can contribute to gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer. As with traditional cigarettes, the vapor in e-cigarettes makes contact with your mouth when the vapor is the hottest. This heat can irritate and cause damage to sensitive gum tissue. Nicotine, often found in e-liquids, is highly addictive. When you stop using it, you can go through withdrawal, feeling depressed and crabby. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it reduces blood flow to tissue, which inhibits the tissue's ability to repair itself. Research also shows it harms the developing brains of kids, affecting memory and attention. Nicotine damages … [Read more...]
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