Dental FAQs

Best Foods for Dental Health:
Foods that are high in protein, phosphorus, and calcium promote stronger and healthier enamel and teeth. These include:

• Milk, cheese, & yogurt
• Leafy greens
• Nuts
• Meat, poultry, fish, & eggs

Worst Foods for Dental Health:
Sugary or highly acidic foods and beverages can cause enamel loss and tooth decay. It’s recommended to consume these foods and drinks in moderation and to properly brush and floss your teeth afterwards:

• Candy
• Soda, sports drinks, juices, lemonade, etc.
• Baked sweets

Foods That Stain Teeth:
Consuming the following foods and beverages in large quantities may be why you have stained teeth:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Cola
• Red wine
• Berries
• Beets
• Curry
• Tomato-based foods
• Hard candy
• Balsamic vinegar

Bi-annual teeth cleanings (every six months) are essential to both your oral and overall health. During a teeth cleaning, we check for early signs of gum disease, cavities, and other abnormalities. We remove plaque and tartar buildup and help prevent decay, enamel loss, and other oral health issues.

There is another option to traditional dental insurance. Our Monument Family Dentistry dental plan can save you money. Click here to learn more.

If you are experiencing any of the following, please call our office today at 719-481-4949.

1. Persistent bad breath
2. White spots on teeth
3. Pain
4. Swelling or bleeding gums
5. Jaw problems
6. Difficulty chewing or speaking
7. Loose teeth or dental work
8. Sensitivity
9. Receding gums
10. Red or white patches in the mouth

When you’re expecting, it’s all the more important to maintain good oral hygiene to give your baby the healthiest head start in life. Take care of your teeth by brushing twice a day with an ADA-approved toothpaste, flossing between teeth at least once. It’s also essential to visit your dentist for a professional cleaning and checkup.

If you are struggling with morning sickness, Dr. Burtwistle can help you prevent stomach acid from affecting your teeth.

Talk to our dentist, Dr. Burtwistle, if you have teeth sensitivity. He can personalize a treatment plan for your unique case. In cases of mild teeth sensitivity, Dr. Burtwistle may recommend fluoride mouthwash or toothpaste.

For moderate to severe cases, we may administer fluoride treatment in our office and discuss minimizing acidic foods and beverages from your diet. If you have severe teeth sensitivity, periodontitis or teeth grinding may be the underlying culprit. In these cases, we may need to perform periodontal therapy or custom-make a mouthguard.

Your comfort is of the utmost importance to us. In some cases, we can use our Solea Laser for fillings which eliminates the need for local anesthetic.

Poor dental hygiene is a common cause of bad breath. If you don’t floss or brush daily, food particles can cause bacterial growth between the teeth and on the tongue. Smoking, chewing tobacco, and consuming foods with strong odors can lead to bad breath, especially if not followed by proper brushing and mouth rinse. Periodontitis can also cause bad breath.

We use a state-of-the-art Sirona Orthophos digital 3D panoramic x-ray machine in our dental clinic. This machine is much safer than traditional X-ray machines due to its low levels of radiation exposure.

Fluoride treatment is not always necessary for adults, but you may benefit from it depending on your unique situation. You may need a fluoride treatment if:

• You struggle with ongoing tooth decay.
• You have a dry mouth condition.
• You suffer from periodontitis.
• You get frequent cavities.
• You have enamel loss, or your teeth are sensitive.

When the tooth’s nerve becomes infected, it can cause an abscess or injury to your jawbone. In years past, when this occurred, there would be no other choice other than extracting the tooth.

Fortunately, we can now clean out and seal the interior of the tooth to prevent any further decay through a root canal. This procedure is relatively fast and painless and can be performed in one visit.

If you have a cracked tooth, make an appointment with our dental clinic. Dr. Burtwistle will examine the cracked tooth and go over your options for treatment.

We may be able to restore the area through a tooth bonding procedure. During this procedure, Dr. Burtwistle will bond tooth-colored composite resin to the tooth and then cure the area with a laser light.

Monument Family Dentistry also specializes in CEREC® CAD/CAM same-day crowns, and we may be able to protect the cracked tooth by custom making a crown to cover it.

Dental implants are an effective, long-term solution for missing teeth. A dental implant is a titanium rod that Dr. Burtwistle surgically implants into the patient’s jawbone to replace the missing tooth root. Over time, the implant fuses to the jawbone, and once it is stable, there are a few different options to complete treatment.

For a single missing tooth, we can place a dental crown over an implant. We can also insert a bridge over an area where there are multiple missing adjacent teeth. Dental implants can also anchor full or partial dentures in place.

Both manual and electric toothbrushes remove plaque and keep gums and teeth healthy with proper brushing and oral hygiene habits. However, studies suggest that electric toothbrushes are more effective at removing mild to moderate plaque and cleaning tough-to-reach teeth. Electric toothbrushes are also gentler on the gums, whereas it’s easier to brush harder and more abrasively with a manual toothbrush.

There are two types of gum disease. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease that is easier to treat. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease that can cause tooth loss and other complications.

These are the signs of gingivitis and periodontitis:

• Bleeding gums
• Red to purplish gums
• Tender or swollen gums
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth and newly-formed spaces between teeth
• Pain when chewing or changes in the way you bite
• Receding gums
• Pus between teeth

Are you self-conscious about having stained, discolored, or yellow teeth? While over-the-counter whiteners can yield short-term results, professional teeth whitening can help you reverse years of discoloration and restore the natural glow of your pearly white smile.

Monument Family Dentistry offers comfortable professional teeth whitening of lasting value that’s customized to the natural color of your teeth. In as little as one visit, you’ll experience beautiful, noticeable results. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for teeth whitening.

If you have crooked teeth, we offer SureSmile clear aligner therapy. With SureSmile clear aligners, you can straighten your teeth discreetly and often in less time than traditional metal braces. SureSmile clear aligners can also correct overbites, underbites, crossed teeth, and gaps between teeth. Ask us about SureSmile aligners for which you may be a candidate.

We can also help you create a straighter, fuller, and more uniform smile with porcelain veneers. Each thin porcelain shell is custom-made to fit and enhance each natural tooth. Dental veneers can also enhance the color, shape, or size of the tooth.

We all know it’s important to brush our teeth twice a day, but many of us still forget to floss at least once a day. When brushing, use soft, circular strokes. It’s also important to use toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride.

Make sure you see your dentist twice a year for a routine teeth cleaning and checkup. Avoid smoking and consuming lots of sugary foods and beverages.