Benjamin Franklin once said:

It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.

This holds true for almost everything in life, including dental care. For parents in the Reno area, teaching your children good oral hygiene techniques early in life will benefit their smile throughout their life.

If you wait too long to teach your child how to brush and floss, or if you don’t make sure they are doing it enough, you’re setting yourself up for a lot of work down the road.

It’s very hard to convince an older child that they should be spending two or three times longer brushing their teeth each morning and night. But, if they’ve done it for as long as they can remember, then their habits should be sufficient to avoid excessive dental decay or the need for children’s dentistry in Reno.

I’m Dr. Shane Sykes. I know that helping children learn proper oral hygiene is an essential indicator of future oral health, and I want to help parents teach these habits to their children.

If you are looking for quality dental care in the Spanish Springs, Virginia City, or Carson City area, give us a call here at The Reno Dentist. We are currently accepting new patients, and we would love to help you learn how to teach kids good brushing habits or answer questions you have have about cosmetic dentistry or smile makeovers.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, NV
89503

 

Most dental patients in the Sparks and Virginia City area know that they can go to their local dentist for toothaches, cleanings, and bleeding gums (not to mention cosmetic dentistry procedures such as a smile makeover), but there are some lesser known oral concerns that your Carson City dentist can also help you with.

Dry mouth, technically called xerostomia, is caused by a lack of saliva and can be quite uncomfortable. It also predisposes Nevada dental patients to a host of problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. There are some treatments, but a lot of Reno residents experience dry mouth because of certain medications or diseases, so make sure to bring a list of current medications with you to your appointment.

Bad breath is usually a result of bacteria build-up in the mouth, and regular trips to your Sparks dentist can help you keep your mouth clean and the bacteria count within a sweet-smelling range. But, if you have good oral hygiene and regular check-ups and cleanings, then your dentist will be crucial in helping you discover the source of your halitosis.

Jaw clicking and jaw discomfort are symptoms you should have checked with your dentist immediately as they can be a signs of serious oral issues.

Hi. I’m Dr. Shane Sykes, an experienced Reno dentist. I want my patients to come to me with all of their oral concerns. The friendly staff here at The Reno Dentist would love to schedule an appointment with you and answer any questions you have about the ailments mentioned above, as well as questions about teeth whitening and dental implants. We would love to hear from you today!

• Root canals
• Wisdom teeth extraction
• Dentures
• Porcelain veneers
• Invisalign

Dr. Shane Sykes
The Reno Dentist
855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada
775-323-0700

1. If you have kids and your municipal water supply does not have the recommended level of fluoride, talk to your pediatrician about fluoride supplements. Fluoride strengthens both the teeth you can see and the ones still forming in the jaw.
2. Set a timer when you brush to make sure you spend at least two minutes thoroughly (but gently!) cleaning all surfaces. Don’t forget your tongue – it provides a cozy home for bacteria to flourish.
3. Floss before you brush so that tooth bristles can better reach between teeth.
4. If you can’t brush after a meal, chew some sugarless gum with xylitol. Xylitol may curb the growth of bacteria on your teeth to reduce plaque formation.
5. Eat carbohydrates with meals instead of alone as snacks. More saliva is generated while eating a meal and this can lessen the effects of carbs sitting on your teeth.
6. An oral fluoride rinse used right before bedtime adds an extra measure of decay deterrence. Fluoride rinses (not traditional mouthwash) work best when swished over teeth for at least thirty seconds after flossing and brushing. After spitting it out, don’t rinse with water. Let the residue protect and strengthen your enamel all night long. This is especially important for kids – just make sure they don’t swallow it.
7. If you have diabetes, it is important to understand that unhealthy blood sugar levels can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Your dentist can help you maintain oral health in spite of your condition. If you have already experienced dental complications related to diabetes, schedule a consultation with Shane Sykes by calling 775-323-0700.
8. Beware of the dental risks of chronic dry mouth (xerostomia). Continual saliva production is essential for keeping the mouth lubricated, washing the food from tooth surfaces, and neutralizing the acid caused by plaque. Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers are some of the medications that can cause dry mouth. Shane Sykes can help you protect your teeth if you live with this unpleasant condition.
9. Wearing a mouthguard when you participate in sports can prevent tooth injury. Many Reno dentists offer custom mouthguards that fit perfectly.
10. If you are looking for an excellent dentist in the Reno area, we invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shane Sykes at The Reno Dentist. At The Reno Dentist, we provide gentle, quality care for children and adults. Talk to us about preventative, restorative, cosmetic, or children’s dentistry. We look forward to serving you.

 

Contact The Reno Dentist:

775-323-0700

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, NV
89503

 

When my Spanish Springs dental clients ask me if mouthwash cures bad breath, I tell them that treating bad breath with a mouthwash is like drenching yourself with cologne instead of taking a shower. Mouthwash is only a temporary mask for odor caused by poor oral hygiene, tongue bacteria, or digestive problems.

The best-selling mouthwashes in have a significant amount of alcohol, which can even exacerbate bad breath by drying out the mouth. Some bacteria grows even faster in a dry environment.

To eliminate bad breath, you need to find the cause. To get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between teeth, pay more attention to thorough flossing and brushing.

A haphazard thirty-second brushing won’t prevent halitosis (or cavities). Try to brush for at least three minutes. It may seem like overkill if you have been a speed-brusher but remember that there is a lot of area to cover on multiple planes.

Devise a system to brush every reachable surface of every tooth. Then floss carefully around every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides. Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also.

Schedule a deep dental cleaning at The Reno Dentist with the best hygienist in the Spanish Springs area and request a refresher (no pun intended) course on brushing and flossing.

If your tongue is the culprit, you might want to start using a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping has become quite popular in Spanish Springs, especially among the college crowd.

A tongue scraper is a cleaning tool that works like a squeegee to scrape bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

I am Dr. Shane Sykes of The Reno Dentist. At The Reno Dentist, we treat many dental patients with bad breath. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. (Leaving bad breath untreated can be more embarrassing.)

Schedule an oral exam and halitosis consultation by calling 775-323-0700. At The Reno Dentist, our specialty is cosmetic dentistry and we also provide dental implants. Thanks for visiting our blog.

Welcome to the Sparks dental blog! Today we are going to explore the secret life of our teeth.

The shape of each tooth gives a clue to what it does. The incisors, or your front teeth, are sharp. They need to be because their job is to cut food, and their curvature helps move food inside the mouth.

Behind the incisors, you find the canine teeth. Their roots go far into the jaw bone because they are designed to hold onto food and tear through it.

Premolars, found just behind the canines, are flat on the surface. This allows them to crush your food as you chew. And, finally, in the very back are the molars. They are large and have nice, flat chewing surfaces that help them to grind food down into smaller, more digestible pieces.

I’m Dr. Shane Sykes, a knowledgeable Reno dentist. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about the different teeth in your mouth.

If you are in the Spanish Springs, Virginia City, or Carson City area and would like to make an appointment at my practice, The Reno Dentist, please give us a call at 775-323-0700. We can schedule an appointment and tell you about cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers and teeth whitening.

If you’ve ever been interested in a smile makeover, we would love to discuss the possibilities. I want my Sparks dental patients to have healthy mouths and beautiful smiles. At The Reno Dentist, we offer comprehensive dental services including: root canals, wisdom teeth extraction, and dentures.

Shane Sykes
The Reno Dentist
855 W Seventh St Ste 200
Reno, Nevada 89503
775-323-0700

We can make you look and feel great