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I Need Your Help . . . Anesthesia to Clean My Dog's Teeth?

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:30:15 -0700

Dirty teeth and stinky breath . . . no thanks! North lets me brush his chompers (since I got him used to it when he was just a pup) so he's never gone in for a professional cleaning. But one furry family needs our help with this matter – I'm calling on you to share experiences with getting your pets' teeth cleaned by a doctor using anesthesia.TeamSugar member, moco is concerned about having her eight-year-old Cocker Spaniel rescue "go under" for this procedure as recommended by the vet. While she understands the necessity of this treatment, her boyfriend is against it because he's worried about their beloved, Lola simply not waking up.

What do you think about this? Please share any advice and thoughts in the comments below.

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Does Your Pet Have Bad Breath?

PetSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:00:25 -0700

Guess they don't call it doggie breath for nothing! How's your pet smell when he comes in close for a kiss - super stinky or super sweet?

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Dental Swipes: Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:00:57 -0700

It's hard to keep those chompers clean, especially if your pets aren't too fond of the toothbrushing process. Now, the concept of these Fast and Fresh Dental Swipes ($16) sounds great . . . kinda like a disinfecting wipe for your pets' teeth. The pre-moistened pads have an all-natural combo of peppermint, parsley, and baking soda to fight plaque and bacteria and promote healthy gums and teeth. But do you think the 50 pads a pack are worth the price . . . or the application process?

Quick Tip: Carrots for Clean Teeth

PetSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:00:01 -0800

In the spirit of National Pet Dental Health Month, try a different approach to cleaning a pet's teeth – feed him a carrot instead! Although not meant to eliminate the need to get teeth cleaned professionally or do it yourself, a raw carrot can also help scrub away plaque. Who knew?!

North had never tried a carrot so I was excited to test this out. I washed it off and offered it to him. In typical North fashion (with no trepidation), he snatched the yum right out of my hand and brought it to his bed . . . and I followed to observe. He started out licking and nibbling on it before eventually gnawing off small pieces and eating them. I didn't have any full-sized carrots in my fridge so I gave him a baby carrot and he seemed to get the idea that he was supposed to break off pieces but, as with any edible bone or toy, monitor your pet to make sure he's not biting off more than he can chew (or not chewing at all). I think a larger carrot may work better or even a frozen one – I think it was the gnawing that helped his teeth the most! To learn the other benefits, read more.

After this success, I did a little more research about the crunchy, orange veggies. In addition to helping combat plaque and tarter, carrots are a good source of vitamins A and C and fiber. It's important not to feed them to a pet too often as vitamin A can build up in their system and sometimes cause runny poo – I'd say as a treat no more than once or twice a week.

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Clean Teeth With a Brush?

PetSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:00:28 -0800

Back when North was still a rascally pup, his "gamma" (aka, my mother) sent me a doggie toothbrushing set as a present. Before I could get down to the business of snatching him, my phone rang. I had already put the puppy paste on the brush, set it on the coffee table, and came back to a chewed-up toothbrush. Oops. Guess he liked the toothpaste flavor though the brush itself wasn't salvageable. For February's Dental Health month, I've provided some toothbrushing tips, dental chews, and mints for your furry friend, but now I want to get the real scoop from you! For my anonymous poll, I'm curious how often you actually brush your pet's teeth in the traditional manner, in addition to providing all those other options.

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Tips From the Dental Chair

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:43 -0800

Sitting in the dentist chair is never pleasant for me. Luckily, my daughters still enjoy the experience - they think a cleaning is like having their teeth tickled. Inspired by their enthusiasm for oral health, I compiled a list of simple tips to make the experience of dental work a little less anxiety provoking.

Keep your eyes open; the visual stimulus will distract you from discomfort or pain.
Even with all those hands in your mouth, try to focus on your breath.
Bring your iPod to block out the noise of the drill.
Come up with a hand signal to alert the dentist when you're in pain, because a sudden movement or twitch can complicate matters.
Be sure to tell the dentist if you are sensitive and/or afraid. Most will be accommodating; if not, I suggest finding a new dentist.
Take a written list of questions and concerns so you don't forget them due to the stress of the visit.

Confused About Floss - Which Type Is Best?

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:00:40 -0700

Brushing your teeth removes food particles and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth, but we need floss to clean in between your teeth. "You cannot effectively vacuum a house with only one attachment," says American Dental Association spokesman Richard H. Price, DMD. "You need other attachments to get into the nooks and crannies. That's what floss does.”

When picking up floss at the store, it's astounding how many varieties there are. If you're confused about which one works best or is right for your teeth, read more.

Unwaxed: This floss is perfect for teeth that aren't too tight together.
Waxed: If the spaces between your teeth are tight, waxed floss will glide easier.
Tape: This ribbon-like floss is meant for those who have wider spaces between their teeth.
Ultra floss: If the spaces between your teeth vary, this floss is right for you. This yarn-like floss stretches thin to fit between tight teeth but also springs back to be slightly thicker for teeth that have wider spaces.
Flossing picks: If it's tough to reach your back teeth or it hurts your fingers to wrap the floss around, these picks have convenient handles to make flossing easier.

The bottom line is that it really doesn't matter which type of floss you use - as long as you use it. Choose one you like that doesn't damage your gums and use it at least once a day. Flossing not only removes leftover spinach and pesky poppy seeds from in between your chompers, but it's also essential for healthy gums. So the next time you go to the dentist, ask for some samples of different kinds so you can try them out and see which you like best.

I'm Asking: Do You Keep Up With Routine Dental Care?

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 -0700

Fresh off the news that dentists have noticed an uptick in client visits, a new study suggests many Americans forgo routine dental care because it is considered a "luxury item."

A consumer adviser for the American Dental Association warns (just like your mother!) that prevention is always cheaper than fixing problems later, so anyone attempting to skimp out on routine visits is only hurting herself down the road.

I happen to be a little compulsive about dentist visits and take advantage of my dental coverage every six months, but I know many people don't have coverage and struggle to make room in their budget for routine work. Have you let it slide?
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What's the Deal With the Dental Dam?

DearSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0800

A dental dam, also called an oral dam, is a square piece of thin latex or polyurethane, the same that's used to make male condoms. It's placed over a woman's vulva and/or anus during oral sex to prevent the spread of STIs. They get their name from their use during dental procedures to keep teeth dry (my dentist totally uses these).

They come in a variety of sizes and flavors, but in order for them to work, they must be used consistently and correctly. They're really easy to use even though they may seem a little awkward at first. Just open the package, rinse it off under water (they come with a powdery talc on them), and you're good to go. The person performing oral sex just holds the dam over his or her partner's private parts and that's it, you're safe and protected. The receiving person can apply a water-based lubricant on their vulva or anus, and this should help keep the dam in place and increase sensations.

This may be obvious, but when you use a dental dam, only use one side. Don't flip it over as this can transmit fluids, and never reuse a dental dam.

Where can you find them? Some drug stores may carry dental dams, but your best bet is to order them online. Sheer Glyde Dams are approved by the FDA and come in Wildberry, Vanilla, or Strawberry flavors. Buy them in packs of four ($5.95) or packs of 12 ($12.95). This may not be the most glamorous thing to keep in your nightstand drawer, but anything that keeps you protected against STIs gets a thumbs up in my book.

Dental Anxiety: You're Not Alone

DearSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:00:00 -0700

Who likes going to the dentist? I don't like going whatsoever, and I even asked my dentist if she likes to go and she admitted that it's not always fun, but it is necessary. So we force ourselves to go, but many of us may not like it one bit.

Some people on the other hand have such severe fears and anxieties about going to the dentist, that they won't even go. Here are some common reasons people won't go to the dentist:

Fear of pain.

Fear of needles.
Fear of the Novocaine and going numb.
Fear of NOT going numb - what if the Novocaine doesn't work?
They're worried about what may or may not happen - fear of the unknown.
Fear of the drill and things near their mouth and brain.
The scraping and drilling sound.
Bad past experiences.
They're worried about receiving bad news.
They're embarrassed or ashamed of their teeth and worried the dentist will make fun of them.
Fear of gagging, choking, or throwing up.
Fear of panicking or crying.
The cost. Even with dental insurance, the bill can be excruciatingly high.

If these sound familiar, you're not alone. Many people suffer from dental phobia or dental anxiety so much that they refuse to step foot in an office. This can be detrimental to a person's pearly whites. Want to know how to get over your fears? Then read more

If you are paralyzed by the mere thought of going to the dentist, there are a number of things you can do.

Identify what your specific fears are and try not to dwell on them. Then you and your dentist can figure out ways to deal with them.
Find a caring and compassionate dentist that makes you feel comfortable. Explain all your fears and map out what your perfect dental visit would be like. Get recommendations from friends or co-workers for dentists they like.
Some dentists may recommend that you take anti-anxiety medicine (like Xanax) the night and or a few hours before your visit. It will help you to feel calm and relaxed.
Your dentist may also recommend Nitrous Oxide. It's a gas you inhale that puts you in a state of ultimate relaxation and contentment. Just like with the anti-anxiety meds, this method won't do anything for pain, so if you need to be drilled, you'll still need to get a shot of Novocaine, but you may feel less anxious about it.
Another option is IV Sedation. You basically get anti-anxiety drugs administered into the bloodstream. You'll remain conscious and be able to understand and respond to requests from your dentist, but you may not remember much of what happened while you were in the chair. Time will feel like it passes quickly, almost like you were asleep.
If you are literally crippled by the anxiety, you may be a candidate for General Anesthesia.

Being fearful of dental visits is not at all uncommon, but at some point you will need to face your fears. You can't go through your life not seeing a dentist, and the longer you put it off, the more problems you can have. I hope these ideas help.

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