Latest News

From Dr. Keith A. Hoover

TODDLER TOOTHBRUSHES PROMOTE GOOD BRUSHING HABITS

July 1, 2024Hygiene

Many parents don’t know that children’s teeth must be cleaned as soon as they start coming in. What they also may not know is that traditional toothbrushes may not be safe for toddlers to use themselves because they can be over-inserted in the mouth or even swallowed.

Today, safer toddler toothbrushes are available that prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria. Using toddler toothbrushes can help children establish good oral health habits at an early age. It resembles an oblong-shaped teething toy, with one wide end for easy gripping and a narrow end with a small head of bristles. The shape prevents it from being over-inserted in the mouth or swallowed, and some models have bumps around the gripping end on which infants can teeth.

Even before children’s primary teeth come in, parents should start promoting oral health in infants by wiping inside the baby’s mouth with a washcloth or gauze pad to prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria.

Adults should supervise children while brushing. Adults can also help children have fun with oral care by singing songs to keep them brushing longer or making brushing a game by naming the individual teeth being cleaned.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

USING FLOSS ONCE A DAY HELPS FIGHT DECAY

June 24, 2024Hygiene

Some people loop. Some people spool. Others simply refuse. But like it or not, flossing is one of the best things you can ever do to take care of your teeth. The benefits of flossing include decreased risk of gum disease; better breath; removal of plaque from between teeth; and polishing tooth surfaces.

Flossing every 24 hours to break up plaque is imperative for good oral health.

Flossing is the single most important factor in preventing periodontal (gum) disease, which affects more than 50 percent of adults.

Flossing, which is just as important as brushing, helps remove the plaque and debris that stick to teeth and gums between the teeth. It also helps polish the tooth’s surface and control bad breath.

Dental floss can be waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, and wide or regular. All floss helps clean and remove plaque. Wider floss, also known as dental tape, may help people with a lot of bridgework and is usually recommended when the spaces between teeth are wide. Waxed floss can be easier to slide between teeth with very little space between them. Unwaxed floss makes a squeaking sound, which lets users know their teeth are clean.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

DECLINING OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS

June 17, 2024Health Prevention

Americans who have a tooth pulled or another painful dental procedure in the United States today are far less likely to get opioid painkillers than they were just a few years ago, a new study shows. That’s good news since research shows that opioids are not necessary for most dental procedures.

In all, dental opioids dispensed to U.S. patients of all ages declined 45% from 2016 to the end of 2022. But even with the decline, 7.4 million dental patients of all ages filled opioid prescriptions in 2022.

Fortunately, opioid prescriptions to teens and young adults — who face especially high risks related to opioids — kept declining at a rapid rate after the pandemic pause in dental care, the study finds. But for other groups, the rate of decline slowed after June 2020.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

SKIN BY ANY NAME

June 10, 2024Health

Q: Is the skin in my mouth less susceptible to disease than the rest of my skin?

A: Essentially, skin is skin, whether it’s in your mouth or on your arm. Therefore, the skin in your mouth is also vulnerable to skin issues. For instance, a rash in the mouth may be related to a rash on another part of your body. In some cases, a rash related to some medical disorder may first appear in the mouth and your dentist may be the first health-care professional to detect and diagnose a problem.

Dentists are trained to perform head and neck cancer checks. If a lesion is on the skin on the outside, generally a referral to a dermatologist is made. If the lesion is inside, then a referral to an oral surgeon is likely made.

Dermatologists and oral surgeons are trained to identify and remove skin lesions. Your lips, because of their tenderness and unprotected position on the face, are a common location for skin cancer.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

STRESS AND DENTAL TREATMENT

June 3, 2024Health

Q: With the stress in my life, I just can’t think about the dentist right now. Is that okay?

A: Economic downturns, work pressure, family uproar, all these things can bring added stress into a person’s life. These factors can force lifestyle changes. But if one or more of these pressures is forcing you to drop something, don’t let it be the regular visits to your health care providers. In fact, increased stress — whatever the cause — can manifest itself in health problems, including some in your mouth.

Stress causes surges of energy, which the body uses to fuel its fight-or-flee mechanism. Stress takes a toll on your body and can take a toll on teeth, as well. Stress can contribute to a condition called bruxism, excessive clenching, and grinding of teeth. It’s an activity your body will engage in at night to burn off the excess energy generated by the stress. Bruxism can result in cracked or worn-down teeth, jaw pain, and headaches. Normal chewing can put pressure of 20 to 40 pounds on each tooth. Bruxism can put as much as 250 pounds of pressure on a tooth.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

THE ROLE OF SALIVA

May 27, 2024Uncategorized

Q: What role does saliva play in your mouth?

A: Saliva is a mixture of water, mucous, protein, and enzymes. It is the lubricant for your mouth and as such performs a variety of roles. One of its main roles is to aid our nutrition. It moistens and begins to break down the starch in food. It also helps bind chewed food into a ball, so you can swallow it.

Saliva also plays a role in our sense of taste. Taste buds do not respond to dry food. Three major pairs of salivary glands and numerous smaller glands in your cheeks and lips generate saliva. The glands generally secrete a small but steady amount of saliva constantly. The presence of food will trigger a heavier flow. Sometimes, particularly when you’re hungry, just thinking about food can trigger a heavier flow, hence the term “mouth-watering” in relation to a particularly good meal. Saliva also washes away particles of food that may be left in the mouth after eating, thereby helping you avoid tooth decay.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

DON’T RUSH THE BRUSH, BRUSH TO THE BEAT!

May 20, 2024tooth brushing

Despite the variety and advancements in toothbrushes today, people don’t brush long enough to get the best results, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Brushing teeth for three to four minutes is necessary for a thorough cleaning, but the average person brushes for less than a minute. This is not long enough to reach all areas of the mouth and scrub off cavity-causing bacteria.

Since many people brush during the morning or at night with the radio on, one piece of good advice is to brush for one song. That’s about three minutes—the right amount of time to get the best results from brushing.

Generally, a toothbrush should have a long, wide handle and soft bristles. Be sure to brush both sides of the teeth and the tongue. Change toothbrushes every three to four months before their bristles become frayed. Toss the toothbrush after an illness to avoid harmful bacteria harbored in the bristles.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

DENTAL OFFICE CONCIERGE PLANS

May 13, 2024Services

While we certainly have many patients who have traditional dental insurance plans, there is a new method of paying for dental services that is becoming very popular. A Concierge Plan is an in-office plan that helps patients afford their needed dentistry. It is not traditional dental insurance, but rather a “membership plan”, very similar to plans like Costco, Amazon Prime, Sam’s Club, etc. For one very affordable annual fee, a patient in our office receives a comprehensive exam for new patients, two professional clean

ings and two periodic exams per year, an emergency exam if needed, a full-mouth series of x-rays every five years, one set of bitewing x-rays per year, two fluoride treatments per year if needed and 15% off any other dental treatment they have done within that year. There is no limit on how much dentistry can be received. We have other plans too for families and for periodontal patients who need more frequent cleanings.

These are obvious benefits for patients who do not have dental insurance. But many people who have dental insurance have found that our in-office Concierge Plan works better for them…less out-of-pocket expense for many, no yearly cap, no insurance company dictating what treatment they will pay for, or which doctor you’re allowed to see. There is no deductible. No Claim forms to submit. No pre-authorizations are required. No restrictions for pre-existing conditions. Free consultations. No waiting periods. No interference with the doctor-patient relationship. Quite a few advantages over traditional dental insurance…might be worth comparing with your dental insurance plan.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

BENEFITS OF EARLY DETECTION

May 6, 2024Health

Q: If my teeth feel and look fine, do I still need to see a dentist?

A: If you want to keep your teeth feeling and looking fine, the best way to do it is to visit your dentist every six months. And should an issue develop in your mouth — a cavity, say, or gum disease — it won’t have the chance to develop into something serious (and expensive!) if it’s nipped in the bud at a regular visit. Spending a relatively small amount on regular maintenance of your oral health is a lot better than having to pay later for a major problem.

As education and the techniques of dental care have improved over the decades, the incidence of decay is down. However, the incidence of gum disease, called periodontal disease, is up. Even if your teeth appear to you to be sound, they can be undermined by gum disease. Gum disease can erode both the tissue and the bone that support the teeth. And the early stage of gum disease is not something you’re going to notice at home. It takes a dental exam.

The rule of thumb is that you should see your dentist for a checkup twice a year. But only your dentist can determine what the proper schedule is for your situation. So, visit a dentist soon, even if your mouth feels fine.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

WHITER TEETH

April 29, 2024teeth whitening

Q: How can I make my teeth whiter?

A: The market is loaded with offers that claim to be able to give you a whiter smile if only you would buy and use their miracle product! So, the first step to take in your quest for the perfect smile is to talk with your dentist and find out about the legitimate products and treatments that are available.

For instance, whitening toothpastes that carry the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance have been tested and approved for what they claim to be. The ADA also approves of bleaching, which can be effective in some cases, although not all. For instance, if you have bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth, those materials will not whiten and may stand out.

If bleaching is an appropriate option for you, your dentist may do it for you in the office or recommend to you an ADA-approved home-bleaching kit. In most cases, teeth that have yellowed will respond well to bleaching. Those that have gone brownish may not improve noticeably and those that have turned gray may not improve at all. In some cases, veneers or bonding may be the only way to substantially change the appearance of a tooth. As mentioned above, talk with your dentist about options right for you in pursuit of the best smile.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.