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A new patient recently called the offices of Huszti Dental Care. She told us she thought she might have a cavity and wondered what to do about it. While we don't generally encourage people to self-diagnose dental problems, or look up solutions on search engines, we did applaud her reaching out to see what was causing her pain. We set her up with an appointment and when we saw her a few days after she called she did, indeed, have a good-sized cavity that needed to be addressed. She had put off going to a dentist because she hadn't had one since she was a child and she was afraid of a dental drill. (As an aside here, Huszti Dental Care uses the newest technologies and practices that make cavity repair painless for most patients. But that's not what this post is about.) Here are the symptoms she noticed and a few others she did not experience, that may mean a cavity needs filling. Tooth sensitivity — Discomfort or pain when drinking hot or cold liquids might indicate a cavity. Sometimes people also feel pain when eating sweet foods. Toothache — A throbbing pain that won't go away, especially if it's always the same tooth. Discolored areas — Dark spots, or sometimes white spots on your teeth, often where two teeth meet. These would have to be pretty advanced cavities to show up like this. Pits in your teeth — Feeling a rough area of your tooth, usually with your tongue, that is new may also be a sign. Bad breath — Bacteria growth caused by cavities can cause this. Ask someone you trust to let you know. Of course the best way to ensure you stay cavity free is to find a dentist you like and make regular visits; the standard is every six months. We know what leads to a cavity and what to do when their is one. We often see issues long before they become cavities and can offer advice — like flossing or more complete brushing or paying special attention to a particular part of the mouth — to stop it in its tracks. The patient mentioned earlier in this post was treated with no pain and was on her way in less than an hour. Happy enough with her treatment that she made another appointment before she left, because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Sorry to say, but summer is almost officially over. Long, lazy days at the beach or picnicking are coming to an end and school schedules are starting up for many people. In the spirit of new beginnings, here's a brief back-to-school lesson on oral health myths we at Huszti Dental Care hear all the time. 1: Brushing harder gets teeth cleaner: Nope. Brushing aggressively might make it feel like you are doing a good thing, but in general firm and gentle wins the race. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush, unless one of our team suggests the need for a stronger bristle brush. Harsh brushing can be detrimental to enamel and, especially, the gums, which can get worn down and recede. Those two conditions bring their own sets of problems. So be nice to your teeth. Slow and thorough beats rough and fast every time. 2: Baby teeth don't need much care, since they are going to fall out anyway. This is another dangerous myth. Healthy baby teeth mean healthy adult teeth. In fact, the healthier the baby teeth, the healthier the adult teeth are when they start coming in. Also, starting children on a good oral health care routine early means they will be more likely to carry it on as they grow. 3: If your teeth aren't bothering you there's no need to go to the dentist. Yes, some people believe this and it couldn't be farther from the truth. Many dental issues don't cause pain in the early stages, which is when treatment is most effective. So taking care of these things early will prevent pain later. It also prevents more invasive treatments. And pain. And who wants pain? 4: A dentist or hygienist can't tell if you haven't been brushing properly. This is one of the most believed myths. People around the world step up their brushing the day or two before a dental visit. They may even break out that floss they swore they would use daily after that last checkup. This is simply not true. We can see your puffy, tended gums which tells us you haven't been flossing, and the amount of tartar buildup shows you haven't been brushing. You are not fooling anyone but yourself. 5: Chewing gum is a good substitute for brushing. Well, not really. Chewing gum — sugar free gum — can have some health benefits, including addressing bad breath, but it is not a solid substitute for brushing. Sure it gets the saliva flowing, and may even be a sensible substitute for when you have a craving for something sweet, but it does not remove food particles or plaque from teeth. We hope this helps put a few myths to rest. And remember: Don't get oral health advice from social media. Come to Huszti Dental Care, we are professionals and we will answer any questions you may have about oral hygiene based on our many years of experience and decades of science and research. Happy brushing!

Losing their first tooth is a big deal for children—and often for their parents, too. It marks a step toward becoming a “big kid” whether they are ready for that or not. Whatever emotions stirred by a lose tooth—excitement, trepidation, impatience—one of them doesn’t have to be fear. Here are some tips from Huszti Dental Care in Milford, Mi., on the right way to deal with a loose tooth. Right around the age of 6, sometimes earlier sometimes later, children begin losing their baby teeth to make way for their permanent teeth. It starts with just a little wiggle and children can’t help but push against it with their tongue. If left alone, the tooth will come out on its own, sometimes when the child is eating. But it might be best to not let it go that far. If a tooth wiggles easily and if it’s becoming a nuisance, you might want to think about helping it out, literally. But when? One absolute sign that it’s time to pull a loose tooth is when it’s, as they say, hanging by a thread. Start by washing your hands well. Then sit down with the child to make her comfortable and talk through the process. Use a facial tissue or some toilet paper to help you grab the tooth firmly and gently pull straight down. It might be uncomfortable or, at the very least, unfamiliar to the child, but it shouldn’t be painful. If it doesn’t come out easily, don’t force it. Wait a day or two and try again. While it is not common, there might be reasons to see a dentist instead of removing the tooth yourself. If the child is feeling pain or there are signs of infection such as redness or swelling, you should contact our Milford dental office immediately to ensure no further complications. If you notice a permanent tooth breaking through while the baby tooth is still firmly in place, you should make an appointment for us to take a look at it. Similarly, if your child has had previous dental issues, or you just have a feeling that something isn’t right, it doesn’t hurt to bring us in. And one last, very important step, don’t forget to notify the Tooth Fairy!

The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry’s Titans for Teeth Mobile Clinic recently visited Hoover Elementary School in Highland Park, bringing smiles and essential dental care to students right where they learn. Among the volunteers was Sophia Huszti— a Milford High School alumna and future dentist at Huszti Dental Care in Milford, MI—who is training to become one of the next generation of dental leaders. Staffed by dental students and faculty, the mobile clinic provides preventive and restorative services, oral health education and more to underserved communities across metro Detroit. It's all part of Detroit Mercy Dental's mission to expand access to care and instill healthy habits in young patients—one school visit at a time. The Titans for Teeth School Based Mobile Dental Clinic is a 38-foot mobile dental coach. It has eight chairs, four inside the van and four portable units that are set-up on-location. Throughout the academic year, the clinic travels to local participating schools in Detroit and Wayne County to provide comprehensive care for K-12 children. Treatment is performed by dental students under supervision of a licensed dentist and/or dental hygienist faculty. The Titans for Teeth School Based Mobile Dental Clinic was funded in large part by a grant from the Delta Dental Foundation. Detroit Mercy Dental has been taking oral healthcare on the road since the 1970s, providing dental care to populations that often don't have access to it. Today, the School's mobile programs provide services to children, adolescents, adult and geriatric populations in underserved areas in southeast Michigan. Thousands of patients receive necessary treatments and procedures through these free outreach clinics. In addition to helping the community, it also provides community health experiences to the dental students to build competence and confidence in interacting with a diverse patient base. These personal interactions lead to better trust and more effective communication about oral health. Finally, the clinics keep many patients out of emergency rooms because issues are addressed early on, before they become major problems. It's a great program where everybody benefits!

A new patient came in to Huszti Dental Care recently for a cleaning appointment. He had not been to the dentist for many years — and only came because his wife insisted — because his teeth are very sensitive and he didn't think he could handle the exam. "They hurt when I drink something cold and they hurt when I drink something hot. Sometimes even chewing and even brushing my teeth set it off," he said. This is not uncommon. While sometimes a hidden cavity, an old filling, a chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain. It could also be a recessed gum that exposes the root. When you tell us your teeth are sensitive, these are the first things we look for, because they are easily fixed. But there are other causes of sensitive teeth and there are ways to make you feel more comfortable. First the causes: If you don't have any of the issues listed above, you may be brushing your teeth too hard. Or you may be using products to whiten or bleach teeth. These actions can expose your dentin — the layer of your teeth just beneath the enamel. Dentin is not as hard as enamel, so it is naturally more sensitive. Grinding your teeth at night can also cause sensitive teeth. One thing we can't do much about, though, is that teeth sometimes get naturally more sensitive as you age. But don't worry, there are many ways to combat tooth sensitivity. Desensitizing toothpastes or mouthwashes can help a great deal. If you're brushing at least twice a day — and you should be — use one of the American Dental Association-approved desensitizing toothpastes. You'll know it by the ADA logo on the box. Not all are alike, so if your first choice isn't doing the trick, try a different one. And always use a soft-bristled toothbrush and don't push too hard: It's the brush, not your muscle, that does the cleaning. Use fluoride rinses and toothpaste with fluoride in them. You can also receive professional fluoride treatments from Huszti Dental Care. If you are using tooth-whitening products — especially any home remedy you saw on social media — you may want to lay off for a while to see whether that is the cause. Many of these products are highly acidic and can damage the enamel. (This was, in fact, the case with the patient who prompted this post and he said he would stop using them to see if it makes any difference.) Are you grinding your teeth at night? You probably don't know since you're asleep. But we can determine whether you are by the wear pattern on your teeth. We might suggest wearing a mouthguard at night to protect the enamel. Other things to consider are cutting down on acidic drinks like pop and wine. You can also use a straw, which effectively bypasses the teeth. As always, it is important to let us know. We can help you find the cause of your sensitive teeth and the solution!