Our Blog

Some lucky babies wake one morning displaying a brand new tooth to the complete surprise of their unsuspecting parents! But your happy baby is irritable and drooling. Or your hearty eater doesn’t feel like finishing her food. Perhaps she finds it hard to go to sleep when she’s usually nodded off before you finish the first lullaby. A small number of children suffer little or no discomfort teething, but for the majority of babies who do, here are some helpful ways to ease their teething pain.

• Massage--Rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger or piece of gauze—gentle pressure is all you need. And do be careful of your fingers once those teeth start coming in!
• Chewing—there are many colorful and easy to grasp teething toys available, including BPA-free models.
• Cool Relief—Cool a solid teether in the refrigerator to help ease discomfort. Placing a teething ring in the freezer is not recommended, as extreme cold can be damaging to little mouths and gums.
• Comfort Food—If your baby is eating solid foods, try cold applesauce or other purees.
• Skin Care—Drooling is often part of the teething process, but try to keep your child’s face free from rash and chaffing by wiping with a clean cloth when necessary.

And while you are trying to keep your baby comfortable, also be sure to keep her safe!

• Know what your baby is putting into her mouth. All teething items should be non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals. Teethers filled with fluids may break or leak, so a solid toy is best.
• Make teething items size-appropriate. Avoid anything small or breakable that might present a choking hazard.
• Over-the-counter gels and liquids containing benzocaine, meant to reduce pain in the gums and mouth, may on rare occasion lead to serious health conditions in small children. Always check with Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin or your pediatrician before buying an over-the-counter teething medication for your baby.

For many babies, teething can be a long and sometimes difficult process. If there is anything we can do to help you and your baby in this journey, please give our Dallas,TX office a call.

When you chip a tooth badly, it can be a very nerve-wracking situation. Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, Mark Margolin, and our team want to provide you with some information that can help if you ever suffer a chipped or broken tooth. The most common ways people break their teeth are by biting down on something hard, getting hit in the mouth, falling down, or developing cavities that weaken the tooth and allow it to be broken easily. There are a few things you can do if you find yourself in this situation, however.

First, we recommend that you investigate whether the tooth is partially chipped or completely broken. Unless you are experiencing a lot of pain or bleeding, this should not be treated as an emergency. You may call our office and we will try to schedule an appointment with you as soon as possible. Once we have evaluated the tooth during your appointment, we can start to treat it. For minor chips or cracks, we may simply smooth out the area or fill in the space so the crack doesn’t spread.

If your teeth show severe damage such as a serious break, split tooth, split root, or a decay-induced break, Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin may need to take more time to fix the problem. If you need emergency dental care because a tooth has fallen out, call our practice immediately to schedule an appointment for that day. If you’re waiting for an emergency appointment, you can rinse your mouth with warm salt water and apply slight pressure to the area to stop the bleeding. We recommend using an ice pack to reduce swelling, but do not take any aspirin because that may increase the bleeding.

If your tooth has completely fallen out of the socket, hold it by the crown and rinse it under running water. Do not let the tooth become dry; instead, place it in salt water or milk until you get to our office. Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, and Mark Margolin will determine whether the broken tooth can be salvaged or will need to be completely replaced.

We know how upsetting it can be to chip or break a tooth, which is why we want to guide you through this process. Most chipped teeth are usually just cosmetic problems, fortunately, but we know that dental emergencies can come up rather suddenly. Be sure to schedule an appointment at our Dallas,TX office as soon as an emergency situation occurs.

Happy Self-Care Awareness Month! It’s no secret that self-care has a huge impact on longevity and quality of life as we get older. Taking care of yourself includes more than just eating right and exercise; you simply can’t neglect your smile! Oral hygiene is directly linked to overall systemic health, and getting into a routine can help speed things up. Let’s ensure you are on the right path for excellent oral hygiene!

For your day to day, brushing morning and night are necessary. We recommend electric toothbrushes because they have been shown to remove more plaque.  They also help prevent over-brushing. Some of our favorite toothpaste brands we recommend for our patients are Dental Herb Company Tooth & Gum Essentials, Sensodyne, Crest ProHealth.

For flossing, we recommend once a day.  Some of our favorite flossers to use are Coco Floss, a Waterpik, or a Waterpik Sonic Fusion. We are huge fans of Coco Floss! We also recommend mouth rinses for supplemental fluoride, dry mouth, or to freshen breath. Good oral hygiene should also be approached as a team that includes the patient, hygienist, and doctor.  An honest evaluation of hygiene with open dialogue is best for building great oral hygiene.  If you actively keep up your oral health routine that means less time off work to visit the dentist!

A healthy diet is also an essential part of having good oral hygiene.  Limited carbohydrates, sugars, and processed foods will decrease the possibility of cavities.  Foods that are healthy for the rest of your body are also great for gums and teeth.

Keeping your smile healthy doesn’t have to be burdensome--it only takes a few simple steps in your day to day routine. We hope you feel encouraged to keep up your oral health and we can’t wait to see you at your next appointment!

A lot of changes occur in a woman's body during pregnancy. Hormone fluctuations are responsible for many of those changes, including the need for additional attention to the teeth and gums. Women who are expecting are at an increased risk for oral health complications, including gingivitis and tooth decay, which can lead to irreversible damage. Fortunately, there are steps pregnant women can take to keep their teeth and gums in optimal health from the first trimester to delivery day. Today, Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, Mark Margolin, and Schaefer and our team at Dallas Dental Arts thought we would share them.

At-home dental care

At-home dental care should not vary much from what you did prior to pregnancy. The American Dental Association recommends brushing at a minimum of twice per day using fluoridated toothpaste. Follow up with floss to keep bacteria from accumulating in hard-to-reach spaces.

Dental checkups

It is safe and recommended to continue visiting Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, Mark Margolin, and Schaefer for routine dental checkups and cleanings during pregnancy. However, it is very important to inform Drs. Sheena Allen, Murat Ayik, Mark Margolin, and Schaefer about an existing pregnancy. Special steps must be taken to protect pregnant women from certain medications or X-ray radiation that could be harmful to a growing baby. On the other hand, avoiding teeth cleanings during pregnancy can lead to serious consequences, including advanced tooth decay and infection.

Food and cravings

It is no secret that pregnancy can cause a woman to crave specific foods. Sugary treats like candy, cookies, or sodas may satisfy a sweet tooth, but they can also cause serious dental problems when consumed frequently or without brushing afterward. Trade out these treats for naturally sweet fruits when possible, and never forget to brush and floss thoroughly after eating sugar-filled foods.

Signs of complications

It is important to know and recognize the signs of oral health problems during pregnancy; an early diagnosis usually translates to an easier, less-invasive treatment. Symptoms of potential problems include gums that easily bleed or are swollen, reddened, or painful. These are symptoms of gingivitis, which can lead to a receding gum line and tooth loss if left untreated.

Call our Dallas,TX office if you experience any of these symptoms or pain in a tooth, loss of a tooth, a broken tooth, or bad breath that does not go away with brushing.