Beautiful smiles

Here at the Murray dental blog, we never like to be the bearers of bad news, but we are devoted to our patients’ dental health in Murray. So, today we offer an important warning about a lesser-known danger of sticky candy.

Most people probably know that sugar is not your teeth’s friend. Eating candy creates the perfect environment for harmful cavity-causing bacteria to thrive in your mouth. If you do eat candy, remember to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth afterward to prevent cavities from forming.

Dangers of Sticky Candy to Dental Health in Murray

Did you know that the physical toll of chewing on sticky candy can aggravate a condition in the temporomandibular joint called Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)? The jaw is a delicate joint and sticky candy increases stress and the possibility of taking the jaw out of alignment.

Worried about giving up the sweet stuff? Remember that when you stop eating highly-sweet things, your taste buds adjust and you will enjoy foods with more subtle flavors, such as fruits. So don’t give up! Your taste buds will change and your teeth and jaw will thank you!

Schedule an Appointment

At Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, we care about our patients’ dental health in Murray. If you notice any tooth pain or redness in your gums, call 801-506-6009 to make an appointment today. In addition to general dentistry services and treatments, our practice offers the following services:

• Wisdom teeth removal
• Invisalign
• Sedation dentistry
• Porcelain veneers

Along with healthy teeth, we also want you to have an exceptional smile that you can be proud of. If you have any questions about teeth whitening, smile makeovers, or other cosmetic dentistry procedures, give us a call today at 801-506-6009. Our friendly staff hopes to hear from you soon!

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

Have you lost teeth? It’s a lot different than when you lost your baby teeth way back in the day. Unfortunately, these don’t grow back and a gap-toothed smile doesn’t look as cute as it did when you were in kindergarten.

If you have had teeth extracted or if your teeth are compromised by staining, decay, chipping, or brittle aging, then it’s time to visit with Dr. Clint Blackwood at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS. Since 2005, Dr. Blackwood has built a practice teeming with experience, filled with kindness, flowing with a gentle touch, and carrying all the wisdom of expert professionals.

When it comes to the prospect of losing your adult teeth, the preference is always to preserve your natural teeth. If this is not possible, we offer several ways to maintain your ability to eat, drink, speak, laugh, and smile in selfies with aesthetic dentistry in Murray.

Dental Veneers

If you still have your teeth but are dissatisfied with them, these might be your answer. Stunning porcelain veneers offer a competitively-priced approach to aesthetic dentistry in Murray. They also allow for adjustments such as color, size, or shape. These are very thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth. They improve unsightly, but structurally sound teeth.

Dental Bridge

A dental bridge is used where a tooth is missing. It “bridges” a gap between teeth. It is a restoration with a false tooth (or teeth) attached to the surrounding teeth. Dental bridges have been used with success for generations of dental patients who have lost teeth for various reasons.

Dental Implant

A dental implant is a more extensive replacement for a missing tooth. An implant consists of an artificial tooth plus an artificial root. With local anesthesia, the artificial root is actually inserted into the jaw bone where it integrates with the bone tissue. There are three parts to a dental implant: the artificial root, the connecting abutment, and the final crown or denture. An implant is often the ideal restoration as it offers beauty, strength, natural function, and protection from bone recession that often occurs at the site of a missing tooth.

Dentures

Most Murray residents have heard of dentures. It is a plate holding artificial teeth that can be removed by the wearer. These are custom fitted and can contain varying numbers of teeth. Sometimes the entire set of upper and lower teeth have to be pulled and a denture created. Modern dentistry offers a myriad of custom dental implant-denture combinations to restore missing teeth.

Don’t worry about losing your grip on the adult teeth you’ve been enjoying all these years. We have experience and training in many vital services to meet your dental needs including sedation dentistry, wisdom teeth removal, porcelain veneers, and Invisalign.

Schedule your initial consultation by calling 801-506-6009. We are perfectly situated for our neighbors throughout the Salt Lake City area. Your consultation will include a customized treatment plan for restoring teeth, an outline of the cost of desired services and a schedule for completing the work. Come with questions and leave with answers about advanced aesthetic dentistry in Murray. 

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

At Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, something that we are proud of is that we have been providing excellent dental care and modern dentistry in Murray for our patients since 2005. Today in our blog, we’re going to discuss an overlooked aspect of modern dental health, toothpaste.

Finding the Right Toothpaste

One of the critical habits of good oral health is daily tooth brushing with an effective toothpaste. There is a wide variety of toothpaste available. We recommend you use one with fluoride and make sure it has the ADA seal. This ensures that the toothpaste has been tested, claims are being met, and the ingredients are correct. Just because a toothpaste claims to have a ‘whitener’ in it, doesn’t mean it has fluoride.

A Brief History of Toothpaste

Toothpaste as we know it has only been in existence since the late 1800’s. Fluoride was added in 1914. The earliest evidence of toothpaste or dental cream dates back to 3000-5000 BC. The Ancient Egyptians pulverized oxen hooves, egg shells, pumice, myrrh, and water creating one of the earliest forms of toothpaste.

The Greeks and Romans began adding crushed bones and bark to the mix. The taste most likely was not very pleasant. During this same time the people of China and India were using a similar paste, but adding flavorings, like Ginseng and herbal mints making it a bit more palatable.

Schedule a Cleaning with Modern Dentistry in Murray

Salt Lake City toothpaste users have no excuse for not brushing their teeth daily with the toothpaste we have available today. The experienced staff at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS wants to help all Utah smiles be whiter and healthier. Contact us today at 801-506-6009 so we can answer any questions you may have about tooth whitening, invisible braces, cosmetic dentistry, and modern dentistry in Murray.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

At Salt Lake Dental Care in Murray UT, it’s not uncommon to see patients with stress-related dental issues. You might not realize it, but stress can do a number on your oral health and your perfect smile.

Mouth sores, clenching and grinding, gum disease, and poor oral hygiene can all be exacerbated by stress.

People who have difficulty managing stress need to realize it can increase the risk of getting mouth sores such as cankers and cold sores. Most canker sores only last 7-10 days, but for relief from the irritation, we recommend an over-the-counter topical anesthetic.

Clenching and grinding the teeth is common, and many people do it unconsciously. We can determine whether a night guard or other dental appliance is appropriate to reduce grinding.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is exacerbated by stress because stress can result in an increase in dental plaque.

As a final note, many people are more likely to neglect their dental health routine when they are under stress. They also tend to eat more sugary snacks when they’re under stress.

Protect your perfect smile! If you’re concerned about the effect stress is having on your teeth, schedule an appointment at Salt Lake Dental Care in Murray UT. We offer general and family dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry procedures like teeth whitening. Make an appointment today.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin said that long ago, but at Salt Lake Dental Care in Murray UT, we know it still applies to many aspects of modern life, like keeping your smile beautiful and healthy.

Keeping your teeth healthy is done most effectively with preventative measures. Some of the most important guidelines are highlighted here.

1. Make a habit of brushing your teeth. Do it twice a day for 2 minutes. Be sure to use an ADA approved toothpaste and toothbrush.

2. Don’t forget to floss! Flossing between your teeth daily will do wonders for your smile, and keep your gums healthy too.

3. Wear a protective mouthguard whenever you play sports, or are engaged in an activity where your mouth could be damaged.

4. Don’t smoke. As if you needed yet another reason not to!

5. Avoid piercing your lips, tongue, cheek, or any other part of your mouth. Piercings put you at greater risk for chipped teeth, infection and nerve damage. It’s a dubious fashion that you should avoid.

6. Stay away from snacks that have a lot of sugar or starch.

7. Schedule regular dental visits, of course!

At Salt lake Dental Care, helping our patients establish good habits is important. So is helping them achieve the smile they want with cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and dental implants. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107