Shadow Valley, your Maumee Dentist, has compiled a quick tip sheet on how to brush your teeth the right way.

Tip 1:  Choose the Right Toothbrush

Make sure your toothbrush is the right size, with the correct bristles, and a comfortable handle.  The more suitable your toothbrush is, the more likely you are to use it.

The Right Size:  Ensure the toothbrush is the right size for your mouth.  Some people have smaller mouths, and may have trouble opening their mouths.  In this case, a smaller sized toothbrush is appropriate.

The Right Bristles:  It doesn’t necessarily matter if the bristles are angled or straight, when it comes to bristles, it’s the stiffness that counts.  Pick a toothbrush with soft bristles, to avoid irritating the gums.

The Right Handle:  This is easy – does it fit comfortably in your hand?  That’s really all you need to worry about when it comes to the toothbrush handle.

Tip 2:  Brush the Right Way

Many people struggle when it comes to the length of time, and the intensity of brushing.

The Right Length:  The optimal length of time to brush teeth is between two and three minutes.  Turn on the radio or TV to make the time go faster.

The Right Intensity:  Easy does it!  Don’t brush too aggressively, or you may injure your gums.  Excessive brushing may erode tooth enamel, or expose the tooth root.  Instead, brush gently and consistently for the right amount of time.

Tip 3:  Brush the Right Places

It’s important to brush all your teeth, and to clean all tooth surfaces.   It’s simple to accomplish this with a few handy reminders.

The Right Variations:  Vary your routine by starting in different places each time you brush.  Instead of always starting with your front teeth, try starting with the side teeth.  This helps ensure each tooth is brushed thoroughly.

The Right Surfaces:  Don’t forget your inner teeth!  The most commonly skipped area is the inner surface of the lower teeth, according to Web MD.

Tip 4:  The Right Way to Care for Your Toothbrush

There are a few things to remember when it comes to the care of your toothbrush.  Taking care of your toothbrush is essential to optimum oral health.

The Right Rinse:  Rinse your toothbrush after each and every brushing.  Bacteria may grow on your toothbrush if it isn’t rinsed properly.

The Right Way to Dry:  Again, don’t encourage bacteria growth on your toothbrush.  To avoid this, ensure your toothbrush dries thoroughly between brushings.

The Right Change:  Replacing your toothbrush is vitally important to ensure a good brushing.  Inspect your toothbrush for frayed or broken bristles.  If it looks worn, replace it.  A good rule of thumb is to get a new toothbrush every three to four months.

Shadow Valley Dental

At Shadow Valley Dental, we care about your oral health.  Our entire staff is committed to providing exceptional care to all patients.  We encourage you to ask us questions if you’re unsure of any aspect of tooth health, care, and maintenance.  Simply contact us at 419-865-3085 to speak with one of our staff members.  You may also Ask the Doctor a question online.  If you’d like, you may schedule an appointment online, or by calling our office.  We look forward to serving you!

The BMJ Open has recently published a study in which dental plaque has been linked to certain types of cancer of the mouth. In fact, dental plaque is an extremely harmful substance that attaches to the surface of your teeth. Once this happens, gum inflammation and tooth decay are soon to follow amongst other various dental issues. Without treatment, permanent tooth loss is very possible. If you’re looking for a great dentist in Maumee, Ohio to prevent possible tooth loss, look no further than Shadow Valley Dental.

Dental plaque is a bio-film substance that usually appears as a pale yellow on the tooth. Formations of bacteria can colonize in an attempt to attach themselves onto a tooth’s smooth surface. Certain speculations have been expressed that dental plaque forms as a defense system that assists an individual in prevention of a colonization of microorganisms. It is known that these microorganisms may be pathogenic.

The study conducted by the BMJ Open involved 1,400 individuals between the ages of 30 and 40 years old. The attempt was to conclude that patients with dental plaque possessed a higher risk of contracting cancer. Although dental plaque is suspected to assist in the fight against certain pathogens, it is possible for individuals who experience dental plaque to have permanent tooth loss when it continues untreated.

During this study, all participants were asked to answer questionnaires in which they were required to divulge details about any habits they possessed that could affect their health; these habits including smoking and drinking alcohol. Each patient was subjected to a thorough dental examination in which dentists checked their dental plaque levels and if they were a candidate for gum disease.

Need Help?

It is crucial to keep your teeth free of dental plaque to prevent any sort of cancer. In order to achieve this goal you will need to find a quality dentist that can meet your every need. Shadow Valley dental does just this. We are able to provide honest communication and prompt service while giving personalized treatment to our patients. Contact Shadow Valley Dental today!

Do you want to find a dentist that suits all of your needs? If so, you are not alone. Although the dentistry field can be tricky to navigate, there are plenty of dependable, trustworthy dentists ready to serve you.

So how do you find the perfect dentist in Maumee, Ohio?  Luckily Shadow Valley Dental provides excellent service in a welcoming environment.

If you’re not sure what you should look for in a dentist, we’ve put together Top 5 Tips on how to find a great dentist:

1.  Seek Trustworthy Advice: Ask your friends, family, and co-workers and see whom they recommend. If they like a particular dentist, chances are you will too. If nothing else, seek advice from a family doctor or local pharmacist or conduct online research for extra reassurance.

2.  Don’t Let Titles & Labels Confuse You: You may come across two titles given to head dentistry professionals: doctor of dental surgery (DDS) and doctor of dental medicine (DDM). Although these titles differ, both will equally fulfill your dentistry needs as long as each dentist carries a license to practice.  When it comes to labels, don’t be fooled with names such as “cosmetic” and “family dentistry.” Generally, these practices are not geared towards any specialized dentistry in particular.

3.      Look for Thorough, Quality Services: The ideal dentist should provide treatment that covers all areas in and around your oral cavity such as your teeth, gums, and face (if needed). In the field of general dentistry, the most common services offered include: teeth cleaning, extractions, root canals, dental bridges, and dental crowns.

 4.      Establish A Relationship with Your Dentist: If you want to feel more comfortable while visiting your dentist, it is important to establish a sound relationship with her. Your dentist will provide information regarding procedures, to give you peace of mind. In addition, make sure your dentist knows her boundaries when specialized treatment is needed. A quality dentist will refer you to another professional that can meet your specific needs.

 5.      Find A Reliable Dentist: Whether it’s an emergency or a general checkup, your dentist should be available when you need her. Look for a dentist that makes you feel comfortable so that you can voice your questions and concerns easily. She should also have her contact information readily available so that you can contact your dentist at any time of the day.

Need Help?

It is crucial to keep your teeth and mouth in good condition. In order to help you achieve this goal, the trick is to find a quality dentist that can meet your every need, like Shadow Valley Dental.  We provide honest communication, prompt service, and personalized treatment for our patients. Contact Shadow Valley Dental today!

Good oral hygiene positively influences overall health, not only for kids, but for adults too.  We recently wrote a blog called, “Maintaining Oral Health Helps with Overall Health.”  In it, we covered the correlation between a healthy mouth and a healthy body.  This is especially important for parents to be aware of regarding their children.  Our Shadow Valley dentists in Maumee, Ohio, are concerned for our young people’s oral health.  We want to encourage parents and caregivers to help children 12 and younger to brush their teeth thoroughly, for at least two minutes twice a day.

Campaign on Children’s Oral Health

A study released by the Ad  Council August 2012 reports that only 44% of parents report that their child brushes his or her teeth twice a day or more.  That’s less than half of parents in the US.  Now, the Ad Council, along with The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, are joining together to debut Kids’ Healthy Mouths, a multimedia public service campaign to, “teach parents and caregivers, as well as children, about the importance of oral health and the simple ways in which they can  help prevent oral disease.”  (ADA, www.ada.org).

The leading common chronic childhood disease is dental decay.  More than 16 million children suffer from untreated tooth decay in the United States.  Unfortunately, untreated dental decay is linked to other diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.  According to an article on ada.org, US children miss 51 million school hours annually due to oral disease.  Tooth decay affects low-income families the most:  children in low-income families suffer from twice the number of untreated tooth decay compared to the rest of the population.

Kids’ Healthy Mouths is targeted at parents and caregivers throughout the US, especially low-income individuals.  It promotes brushing a child’s teeth for two minutes, twice a day.  The campaign highlights activities children engage in, such as texting, watching TV, or playing video games, and suggests children spend less time doing these activities, and more time brushing their teeth.

Amazing Stats

The Ad Council’s survey found the following stats:

• 60% of parents with kids ages 12 or younger do not help their child brush his or her teeth and do not check to ensure the child has brushed properly
• 31% of parents argue with their children about brushing their teeth
• Kids spend about 2 hours a day on ‘unnecessary’ activities (watching TV, playing video games, texting)

Kids’ Healthy Mouths

The PSAs for Kids’ Healthy Mouths encourage parents and caregivers to visit a website:  www.2min2x.org, to watch videos and music while kids brush their teeth.  Cartoon Network and My Kazoo!, amongst other media partners, donated videos and songs to this website.  Social media, like Facebook and Twitter, will also be used to encourage parents and kids to brush for two minutes twice a day.

“The prevalence of oral disease, and its impact on youth in our country, is astounding,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “We are proud to join this wonderful collaboration to provide parents and children with simple and fun things they can do to improve children’s oral health.”

Need Help?

Do you worry about your child’s brushing habits?  Do you struggle to get your child to brush her teeth?  If you’d like tips or advice, simply contact Shadow Valley Dental!  We’re here to help you.

Maumee Dentists, like Shadow Valley Dental are raving about the success rate of 98% for dental implants nation-wide. They are a much-welcomed improvement compared to dentures and provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth. They even match the color of your natural teeth!

Advantages of Dental Implants

Improved Appearance: They look and feel like your own teeth. Since they are infused with bone, they hold permanently as well.

Improved Speech: Unlike poor-fitting dentures that often sip within the mouth, dental implants are slip-free and help improve your speech.

Improved Comfort: Implants are attached to the bone and become part of you. This eliminates all of the discomforts dentures caused before.

Easier Eating: Teeth become painless while eating and act like natural teeth.

Improved Self-Esteem: A new and improved tooth comes with a new and improved smile.

Improved Oral Health: Since there is no need for a tooth-supported bridge, this prevents tooth reduction caused when nearby teeth are touched. With dental implants, nearby teeth are left unaltered and individual teeth are accessed therefore easily cared for.

Durability: The implants are durable and last for a long period of time. With the proper care, many last a lifetime.

Convenience: No more messy adhesives and tedious denture maintenance.

Dental Implant Involvement:

• Set up an individual treatment plan addressing your personal needs. A team of professionals usually prepares this for you.
• A small post made of titanium – call a tooth root implant – is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. When the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post and anchors itself in the jaw. Healing takes place afterwards and lasts anywhere from six to 12 weeks.
• When the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post – called an abutment – is attached to hold the new tooth securely. The dentist then makes a molding of your teeth based off an impression and a crown is formed. The coloring process usually follows made to match your natural tooth. The crown then becomes attached to the abutment and the implant is secured into the jawbone.

Are Dental Implants Painful?

Patients who have received dental implants say that there is very little discomfort involved during the procedure. Anesthesia can be used during the process, but most say that a tooth extraction is far worse.

Interested in Dental Implants?

For dental implants in Maumee make an appointment with Shadow Valley Dental today! Call us at 419-865-3085 or make an appointment online.  We look forward to your visit!

Did you know that one in every ten children in school suffers from mouth pain? It is issues like this that the U.S. National Oral Health Alliance exists. Their mission is to create viable solutions for improved oral health through prevention and treatment for everyone in our country. This affects Shadow Valley Dental, and all dentists in Toledo, Maumee, and Perrysburg, because we take oral health care very seriously.

What We Hope to Achieve:

• Prevention & public health infrastructure
• Oral health literacy
• Medical and dental collaboration
• Metrics for improving oral health
• Financing models
• Strengthening the dental care delivery system

Overcoming Issues:

The Cost of Dental Care:

Dental care is harder for those who do not have insurance to cover expenses. More than 20 million children fall into this category and are 2.5 times less likely to receive oral health care.

Access to Dental Care

It is hard to provide dental care for people who live in rural areas. What’s worse is 11 percent of the American population has never been to a dentist. Additionally, there are approximately 175,000 dentists throughout the U.S., but it is getting harder to keep up with the demand for oral health care professionals. For every three dentists that retire, there are two graduating to replace them.

Access to Fluoride

Fluoride is an essential chemical for healthy teeth. It can usually be found in tap water through most public water systems. Unfortunately, only 60.5 percent of public water supplies are fluoridated. Studies have shown that children who drink tap water regularly experience 29 percent fewer cavities than children who don’t. Once again living in rural areas is a major factor because they have less fluoridated public water supplies. A fluoride intake absence can often led to tooth decay.

Awareness

These are just a handful of issues that the U.S. National Oral Health Alliance is working to resolve. All are encouraged to share knowledge and experiences related to the first three colloquia during the fourth Leadership Colloquium. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans on November 15^th and 16^th.  At Shadow Valley Dental, we commend those who are willing to educated and create oral health care awareness. Our hope is that every American can receive proper treatment.

When was your last check-up? Stay healthy and keep that smile great with Shadow Valley Dental.   Give us a call at 419-865-3085 or make an appointment online. We look forward to your visit!

Your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. Fortunately, most of them are harmless thanks to your body’s natural defenses, but what happens if the harmful bacteria get out of control? If you are not brushing or flossing on a daily basis, you may have more than your teeth to worry about. That is why this Maumee Dentist takes oral health care very seriously and believes you should too.

Conditions Caused by Poor Oral Health

Endocarditis:  This often happens when patients develop gum disease, making it easier for harmful bacteria to grow out of control and enter into your bloodstream. Consequently, this increases the risk of infection to those who may have a weak immune system or suffer from a damaged heart valve. If the infection reaches the inner lining of your heart, it is called endocarditis.

Cardiovascular Disease: Research has linked a severe form of gum disease caused by chronic inflammation called periodontist to heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke.

Complications with Pregnancy: Gum disease has contributed to premature birth and low birth weight. Usually when a baby is born under these conditions, it complicates their lungs and heart. In addition, learning disabilities have been known to stem from poor oral health as well.

Diabetes: Having diabetes naturally reduces the resistance to infection within your body ultimately putting your gums at risk. It may be worse for those who have unstable blood sugar levels as it makes it harder for the gums to hold teeth in place resulting in tooth loss.

Osteoporosis: This is usually associated with periodontal bone and tooth loss. Usually when bones become weak and brittle, this is sign of osteoporosis at work.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Loosing your teeth before the age of 35 has increased the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Other Conditions: An immune system disorder called Sjogren’s syndrome has been connected to poor oral health as well as various eating disorders.

Prevention

Protecting yourself is easy if you practice the following:

• Brush at least twice a day
• Floss daily
• Eat healthy and limit snacks in between meals
• Replace your toothbrush at least every three to four months

If you already experience these conditions or are concerned about your oral health, please visit your dentist on a daily basis. If you need a Dentist in Maumee, Ohio, make an appointment with Shadow Valley Dental today!  Call us at 419-865-3085 or make an appointment online.  We look forward to your visit!

At Shadow Valley Dental, our motto is Exceptional Care, Beautiful Smiles!  You are our number one priority.  We take oral health very seriously, which is why our entire staff is not only highly educated and professional, but caring and compassionate as well.

Our Doctors

Dr. Walkup and Dr. Hasty are our doctors at Shadow Valley Dental.  Both are Ohio natives, each having a solid education at Ohio State University College of Dentistry.  Both our talented doctors are committed to quality dental care.  Dr. Walkup volunteers for Give Kids a Smile, and Dr. Hasty volunteers at the Mildred Bayer Clinic.

Our Staff

Our staff is comprised of highly educated and professional individuals.  Kris Thielman, our office manager, has been with Shadow Valley Dental since 1993.  She is an important part of our team, coordinating appointments and making sure the office runs smoothly.

We have a full staff of dental assistants, including Christi King, Kristi Connolly, Marcia Marosek, and Lori Meiring.  We are fortunate and blessed to have these wonderful, compassionate ladies on our staff!

Our wonderful dental hygienists include Laura Abbott, Deb Smith, and Linda Delvecchio.

We are also happy to include hygiene coordinators and a financial coordinator as well, to help with our patients’ needs.

3 Easy Ways to Schedule an Appointment

It’s simple to make a dental appointment at Shadow Valley.  You have a choice of scheduling an appointment:

• Call us at 419-865-3085
• Email us at svdentgrp@aol.com
• Make an appointment online through our form

If you’ve recently moved to the area, or are looking for a Dentist in Perrysberg, Maumee, or Toledo, Ohio, then Shadow Valley Dental is for you!

3 Easy Ways to Schedule an Appointment

It’s simple to make a dental appointment at Shadow Valley.  You have a choice of scheduling an appointment:

• Call us at 419-865-3085
• Email us at svdentgrp@aol.com
• Make an appointment online through our form

Appointment Requests

New patients are welcome!  We’re more than happy to help you make an appointment that fits your schedule.  Just call our office at 419-865-3085, and one of our friendly office managers can help you find the right time and date.

Your First Appointment

The first time you visit our office, you’ll meet your new dentist.  You’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you have, or discuss concerns.  First visits include a gentle, yet thorough, exam.  Your appointment is unique to you – we will tailor your visit to meet your individual needs.

Office Tour

Would you like to see our office?  You are welcome to tour our office prior to scheduling your appointment.  Our friendly office manage is happy to show you around and introduce you to your new dentist and staff.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you need a Dentist in Maumee, Ohio, contact Shadow Valley Dental for an appointment today!  Call us at 419-865-3085 or make an appointment online.  We look forward to your visit!

At Shadow Valley Dental in Maumee, Ohio, we are committed to your dental health.  We are proud to serve patients in Toledo, Perrysburg, and Maumee, as well as other areas in Ohio.

We understand that you don’t want to travel from one office to another for your dental treatments.  That’s why we offer most procedures in our office.

Our services include:

• Cleanings
• Fluoride Treatments
• X Rays
• Gum Disease Treatments
• Crowns (Caps) and Bridges
• Teeth Whitening (Zoom Whitening)
• Invisible Braces (Invisalign)
• Veneers
• Bonding
• Fillings
• Dentures
• TMJ Therapy
• Root Canal Therapy
• IV Sedation
• Oral Surgery
• Dental Implants
• Precision Treatment Rendered Under Magnification
• Early Detection of Decay

Ask the Doctor

Do you have a question you would like to ask one of our doctors or staff members?  We’re happy to help!  We even have a form for you to fill out online.  Simply type in your question and email address, and we’ll answer your question quickly and thoroughly.

7 Reasons to Love Us

If you haven’t visited Shadow Valley Dental before, then you’re in for a treat!  Here are just a few reasons why Shadow Valley Dental is the place for you!

• Honest Communication
• Prompt Service
• Skill and Expertise
• Gentleness and Comfort
• Genuine Friendliness
• Personalized Treatment and Payment Options
• Diverse Range of Procedures

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you need a Dentist in Maumee, Ohio, contact Shadow Valley Dental for an appointment today!  Call us at 419-865-3085 or make an appointment online.  We look forward to your visit!