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Dentist - Newton
400 Allison Street
Newton, KS 67114
 

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  • 2021
      • January (1)
        • What Tara Lipinski Does to Protect One of Her Most Valuable Assets - Her Smile
  • 2020
      • December (3)
        • This Laser Procedure Promises Big Benefits for Gum Disease Treatment
        • How to Ensure Your Child's Teeth and Gums Stay Healthy Now and Later
        • Some Bite Problems May Require the Help of Other Tools in Conjunction With Braces
      • November (3)
        • Vivica Fox and Zendaya Have This in Common: A Gorgeous Smile
        • Here's What To Do If Your Child Complains of a Toothache
        • Keep Your New Straightened Smile Straight With an Orthodontic Retainer
      • October (3)
        • If You Thought the Last Century Was Amazing for Dental Care, Just Wait
        • What You Can Do About Bad Breath (Unless You're a Famous Actress Pranking Your Co-Star)
        • Far From a Safer Alternative to Smoking, Vaping Could Ruin Your Oral Health
      • September (3)
        • Eliminating an Infant's Lip or Tongue Tie Can Make Breastfeeding Easier
        • Improve Your Smile With These Dental Enhancements
        • How Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus Got Their Stellar Smiles
      • August (4)
        • We Need to Act Quickly to Save Your Loose Tooth
        • Mouth Breathing Can Lead to Serious Oral Problems, Especially for Children
        • 4 Simple Things You Can Do to Stop Bad Breath
        • Bruins' Zdeno Chara Breaks His Jaw During 2019 Stanley Cup
      • July (3)
        • Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
        • Replace Your Teeth in Stages With the Help of Dental Implants
        • Enjoy Your Ice Cream - But Just a Little for Your Dental Health's Sake
      • June (3)
        • Why Kathy Bates Chose This Alternative to Braces and so Might You
        • 3 Reasons a Root Canal Treatment Might Fail and What You Can Do About It
        • Instill These Habits in Your Child for a Lifetime of Great Dental Health
      • May (3)
        • 4 Ways to Avoid Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
        • You Can Have a Straighter Smile - Just Like the Queen of England
        • Reducing Your Child's Dental Anxiety Now Could Benefit Them for a Lifetime
      • April (3)
        • Clear Aligners Make it Easier for Teenagers to have Their Teeth Straightened
        • 4 Things You Can Do to Avoid Damage From Gum Recession
        • Miley Cyrus's Little Secret: Straightening Her Smile With Lingual Braces
      • March (3)
        • Removing One or More Teeth Could Improve Orthodontic Outcomes
        • One Visit May Be All You Need to Restore a Chipped Tooth
        • Something Between Your Teeth? Don't Use Anything Else but Dental Floss
      • February (3)
        • Lady Gaga Wasn't "Born This Way?"
        • 3 Things You Should Do to Avoid Harm From Gum Disease
        • Why Vaping isn't a Safe Choice for Your Oral Health
      • January (3)
        • Veneers May Not Be the Best Option for Your Teenager's Teeth
        • Find Out How These Famous Celebrities Protect Their Smiles From Teeth Grinding
        • Is There a Better Way to Manage Pain Without Narcotics?
  • 2019
      • December (3)
        • Lasers are Making an Impact in Treating Gum Disease
        • Cleft Defects Can Be Overcome, Thanks to Advanced Surgical Procedures
        • The Real Truth Behind Ed Helms' Missing Tooth in "The Hangover"
      • November (3)
        • New "Behind the Teeth" Braces Could Give You the Advantage of "Invisibility"
        • Eating the Right Carbs Helps Keep Your Gums Healthy
        • Getting a 'New Tooth in One Day' Will Depend on Your Bone Health
      • October (3)
        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
        • The Before, During and After of Root Canal Treatments
        • How to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk From Halloween Candy
      • September (3)
        • You May Need an Endodontist for a Tooth With Interior Decay
        • Janet Jackson: Even pop stars get insecure about their smiles!
        • How Early Dental Visits Can Improve Your Child's Oral Health
      • August (3)
        • Despite Some Online Sources, Root Canals Don't Cause Disease
        • "Tooth, Heal Thyself" May Soon Be a Reality
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
      • July (3)
        • Your Age Doesn't Have to Keep You from a Straighter Smile
        • See Your Dentist if You Have one of these Top 3 Oral Problems
        • If Appropriate, Antibiotics before Implant Surgery Could Reduce Infection Risk
      • June (3)
        • NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
        • Tooth Type and Condition can Affect Root Canal Therapy Effectiveness
        • Smoking Could Shorten Your Implants' Longevity
      • May (3)
        • Dentures with Implants Could Help You Avoid Bone Loss
        • Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
        • Simple Steps to Follow if Your Child has a Toothache
      • April (3)
        • Beat Dental Plaque While Wearing Braces with These Tools and Tips
        • To Detect Oral Cancer Early, See Your Dentist
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
      • March (3)
        • 3 Things You Should Know About Teeth Grinding
        • Here's How to Manage School Snacks and Your Child's Dental Health
        • Spring Into Better Oral Health
      • February (3)
        • Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
        • Composite Resin Could Amp up Your Teeth's Attractiveness in Just One Visit
        • Stop Gum Disease Before it Harms Your Health
      • January (3)
        • NSAIDs Could be Just as Effective as Narcotics Managing Dental Pain
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
        • Recessed Gums Could Endanger Your Teeth
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Practice Daily Oral Hygiene to Prevent Calcified Plaque Formation
        • New Year, New Smile
        • J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
      • November (3)
        • Retain Your New Smile After Braces with a Retainer
        • Practice Caution with Energy or Sports Drinks to Protect Your Enamel
        • 3 Factors That Could Affect the Success of a Root Canal Treatment
      • October (4)
        • Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
        • Try the Conservative Path to Jaw Pain Relief First
        • What You Should Know About Antibiotic Therapy Before Implant Surgery
        • What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
      • September (3)
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
        • Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
        • A Bonded Retainer Might Work for You after Orthodontic Treatment
      • August (3)
        • Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
        • 10 Tips to Tame Bad Breath
      • July (3)
        • Get Your Vitamins the Natural Way for Optimum Dental Health
        • What You Can Do to Support Your Child's Dental Development
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
      • June (3)
        • Caps, Gowns and Smiles for High School Graduation
        • Artificial Sweeteners Could Help You Reduce the Risk of Dental Disease
        • Sealants Could Protect Your Child's Teeth From Future Problems
      • May (3)
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • 3 Things You Need to Know about Easing Anxiety Over Dental Visits
        • 4 Things You Should Focus on During Pregnancy for Optimal Dental Health
      • April (2)
        • Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory Was Not So Sweet to Cast's Teeth!
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
      • March (2)
        • Preventive Care for Your Child is a Partnership between You and Your Dentist
        • 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
      • February (2)
        • A "No-Prep" Veneer Could Eliminate the Need to Remove Tooth Enamel
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
      • January (3)
        • Professional Whitening Offers an Effective Way to Restore Your Smile's Luster
        • New Year's Resolutions You Can Keep
        • You may Need Orthodontic Work Before Getting a Dental Implant
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • Change Your Smile for the Better with Porcelain Veneers
      • November (2)
        • Regenerating Lost Bone Can Make Dental Implants a Reality
        • Not Your Granddad's Dental Care: the New Approach to Tooth Decay Treatment
      • October (3)
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
        • Use the Same Prevention Strategy to Defeat Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
        • Your New Implants Need Proper Hygiene Just as Much as your Other Teeth
      • September (2)
        • Risk Factors for Gum Disease
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
      • August (2)
        • Don't let Periodontal Disease Cause Your Gums to Recede
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
      • July (3)
        • This Young Woman's Cancer Experience a Teachable Moment for all of us
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
        • Your Child's Impacted Front Teeth can be Saved - but Don't Wait too Long
      • June (2)
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
        • Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain
      • May (2)
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Complications from Missing Teeth Could Limit Your Replacement Options
      • April (2)
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
        • Watch for These Developing Bite Problems with Your Child's Teeth
      • March (2)
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
        • The Top 3 Oral Problems in America - and What You Should Do About Them
      • February (2)
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • There are Good Reasons to Check Your Blood Pressure During Dental Visits
      • January (3)
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
        • Watch Out for Re-Infection After a Root Canal Treatment
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
  • 2016
      • December (1)
        • Having Trouble Flossing? Try Using an Oral Irrigator
      • November (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • An Assortment of Orthodontic Tools helps us Solve Complex Bite Problems
      • October (2)
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
        • Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
      • September (3)
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
        • Grafting can Help Regenerate Gum Tissue Lost Through Recession
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • August (2)
        • We may Still be Able to Save Your Tooth with a Root Canal Alternative
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
      • July (2)
        • Patchy Discolorations on the Tongue Aren't a Cause for Worry
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
      • June (2)
        • A Retainer Helps you Keep Your New Smile after the Braces Come Off
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
      • May (2)
        • 3 Causes for Implant Failure and What You can do About Them
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
      • April (2)
        • Your Teenager may need to Wait on an Implant for a Missing Tooth
        • A Royal Fix
      • March (3)
        • Jaw Surgery may be Necessary to Correct Some Types of Poor Bites
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
        • Support Your Child's Teeth Development with Proper Hygiene and Dental Care
      • February (2)
        • A Toothless Tiger?
        • Persistent Jaw Pain After an Injury Needs Immediate Attention
      • January (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
        • Stopping Tooth Decay Could Require Root Canal Treatment
  • 2015
      • December (3)
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • Don't Delay Treatment of Gum Disease
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
      • November (2)
        • Pay Attention to Gum Disease Warning Signs for an Early Diagnosis
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
      • October (2)
        • Dental Implants Help Maintain Bone Health
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
      • September (2)
        • Don't Allow Your Age to Stop You from a New Smile with Orthodontics
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
      • August (2)
        • Weighing the Pros and Cons of Teeth Whitening
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
      • July (3)
        • Some Blood Pressure Medications May Affect Your Oral Health
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • Crown Lengthening Opens up New Teeth Restoration Possibilities
      • June (2)
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
        • Dentistry is Changing to Meet Dental Care's Emerging Challenges
      • May (1)
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
      • April (2)
        • Fixed or Removable: Deciding Which Implant-Supported Bridge is Best for You
        • How to Impress Supermodel Bar Refaeli
      • March (3)
        • Dental Hygienist - Your Partner in Preventing Disease and Maintaining Oral Health
        • Actress Florence Henderson Shares Her Secrets for Keeping Your Natural Teeth as You Age
        • Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
      • February (1)
        • Matthew Lewis's Metamorphosis
      • January (2)
        • An Early Orthodontic Evaluation May Alert to Developing Bite Problems
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
  • 2014
      • December (3)
        • Extra Care is Required When Treating Teenagers With Lost Teeth
        • 50 Cent Has His Own Style - Even in His Smile
        • Your Dentist can Help Guide you in the Best Treatment Option for Sleep Apnea
      • November (2)
        • Martha Stewart Shows Off Renovation Work - In Her Mouth!
        • Assessing Your Risk for Severe Gum Disease
      • October (2)
        • Jane Fonda Chooses New Teeth Over a New Car!
        • Other Factors Besides Hygiene Could Contribute to Gum Disease
      • September (2)
        • What Oral Appliance Does Oliva Newton-John Use to Protect Her teeth?
        • Acute Tooth Pain may be Signaling Your Need for Root Canal Treatment
      • August (3)
        • How Dental Implants Saved Taylor Hicks' Smile
        • Dental Health: Do You Make the Grade?
        • From Model to Mogul, Kathy Ireland Maintains a Sparkling Smile
      • July (1)
        • Crowns Preserve the Tooth While Offering Greater Protection Than a Filling
      • June (1)
        • Braces Are No Hurdle for Olympic Track Star
      • May (3)
        • Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Breath
        • Florence Henderson Talks About Preventative Dentistry
        • Implant-Supported Teeth: a New Option for Patients With Total Tooth Loss
      • April (2)
        • The Gap Is No More
        • Does Root Canal Treatment Last Forever?
      • March (2)
        • Jerry Rice's Advice on Protecting Your Children's Teeth
        • Reducing the Risks and Effects of Dental Sports Injuries
      • February (2)
        • Jamie Foxx Gets Into Character With Help From His Dentist
        • Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Decay and a Diseased Root Canal
      • January (1)
        • Dental Sealants: One of the Childhood Secrets TV Designer Nate Berkus Credits for His Beautiful Smile
  • 2013
      • December (3)
        • TADs Contribute to Greater Precision During Orthodontic Treatment
        • Flossing: An Important Part of TV Designer Nate Berkus' Oral Health Routine
        • Dental Amalgam Fillings Remain a Safe and Reliable Tooth Restoration Option
      • November (2)
        • Follow in Vanna White's Footsteps and Replace That Missing Back Tooth
        • Protecting Children's Teeth From Decay With Sealants
      • October (3)
        • Actress Jennie Garth Shares Tips for Making Oral Health Fun!
        • "No-Prep" Veneers may be an Option for Some Patients
        • Grandpa Knows Best: How Kristi Yamaguchi Manages Her Kids' Oral Health
      • September (1)
        • Are You an Athlete? Here Are Five Reasons You Should Wear a Mouthguard
      • August (2)
        • Actor Ed Helms' Tooth-Yanking Trick: It Was a Dental Implant!
        • Whitening is a Safe and Effective Way to get That "Hollywood Smile"
      • July (2)
        • Hilary Duff's Chipped Front Teeth Repaired with Veneers
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Posts for: March, 2019

3 Things You Should Know About Teeth Grinding

By Dr. Brett A. Roufs
March 30, 2019
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: teeth grinding  
3ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutTeethGrinding

Do you grind your teeth? If you're not sure, ask your family—sometimes the sound of teeth grinding against teeth might make enough noise to be keeping them up at night. You might also be waking with sore jaw muscles and joints.

If you suspect you have this habit of involuntarily grinding, gnashing or clenching your teeth, it's a good idea to get it checked. Here are 3 things you should know about this odd habit.

Teeth-grinding more prevalent among children. Children are more likely than adults to grind their teeth in their sleep, thought to be a consequence of their developing swallowing mechanism, but usually grow out of it without any long-term effects. Adults with the habit seem to grind their teeth for different reasons, one of the most significant being a response to high stress. Tobacco could be another factor: users are twice as likely as non-users to grind their teeth. Adult teeth-grinding may also be associated with high caffeine consumption, illicit drug use or Parkinson's Disease, which impairs brain nerve function.

Sleep apnea can be an underlying cause. There's one other major underlying cause to add to that list: obstructive sleep apnea. One international study of thousands of patients from different countries found both high anxiety or stress and sleep-related breathing disorders were two of the most significant risk factors for adult teeth-grinding. It's believed the physical stress generated by these temporary episodes of breathing obstruction occurring several times a night could trigger teeth-grinding.

Teeth-grinding can cause dental problems. While having a teeth-grinding habit doesn't automatically mean you'll have dental issues, your risk can increase dramatically. Due to its chronic nature, teeth-grinding can lead to excessive tooth wear, dental work damage or jaw joint dysfunction. In some extreme cases, it could cause tooth fracture.

If you grind your teeth, your dentist may be able to help by creating a custom-made occlusal guard that can reduce biting forces while you're wearing it. You might also minimize teeth-grinding by quitting tobacco and other lifestyle changes, or getting a better handle on stress management. And if you're also diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, getting treatment for that condition will not only improve your overall health, it could help put an end to your teeth-grinding habit.

If you would like more information on bruxism, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Teeth Grinding: Causes and Therapies for a Potentially Troubling Behavior.”


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Here's How to Manage School Snacks and Your Child's Dental Health

By Dr. Brett A. Roufs
March 20, 2019
Category: Uncategorized
Tags: nutrition  
HeresHowtoManageSchoolSnacksandYourChildsDentalHealth

Besides daily hygiene and regular dental visits, the best thing you can do for your kids' dental health is to see that they're eating a nutritious diet. And not just at mealtime—healthy snacking also promotes healthy teeth and gums.

Healthy snack foods are quite similar to their counterparts at mealtime: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. At the same time, you should avoid providing processed snacks high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and calories.

Managing snack choices at home is usually a simple matter of discipline and follow-through. When they're at school, however, it's a bit trickier as they may encounter snacks sold on school grounds or offered by fellow students that don't meet your definition of a healthy food. Public schools follow nutrition guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on snacks sold on school grounds, but many dentists don't believe the standard goes far enough to protect dental health.

So, what can you do to combat these less healthy snack choices your kids may encounter at school? For one thing, you can work with your child's school officials to exceed the USDA guidelines or turn off snack vending machines right before lunch to lessen kids' temptation to skip lunch.

You can also interact with your children to better manage their schooltime snacking. But rather than issue blanket commands about what they should snack on at school, help them instead understand the difference between nutritional foods and less nutritional ones, and why it's important to choose healthy snacks for their life and health.

Finally, don't send them to school empty-handed—pack along nutritious snacks so that they won't seek out vending machines or their classmates to satisfy the munchies. You can supercharge your efforts with a little creativity (like a dash of cinnamon in a bag of unbuttered popcorn) that make your snacks fun and more enticing than other school ground options.

It's not always easy to keep your kids from unhealthy snack choices. But with a little commitment, interaction and ingenuity, you can help steer them toward snacks that are tooth-friendly.

If you would like more information on boosting your child's dental health, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Snacking at School: How to Protect Your Child's Teeth and Promote Good Nutrition.”


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Spring Into Better Oral Health

By Dr. Brett A. Roufs
March 10, 2019
Category: Oral Health
Tags: oral hygiene  
SpringIntoBetterOralHealth

What does spring mean to you? The season officially starts on March 20th, but depending where you live you might start seeing the signs earlier or later. We often think of spring as a time of new beginnings—when the first green buds appear and the earth wakes up from its winter sleep. Spring is also a great time to break out of those old winter routines and make positive changes in your life; for example, learning to manage stress, improving sleep habits and getting more exercise. To those worthy aims, we'd like to add one more suggestion: This spring, make it a goal to improve your oral hygiene!

Maintaining good oral hygiene often results in fewer cavities, reduced gum disease and better checkups at the dental office. But for some people it can mean a lot more. A growing body of research points to a connection between oral health and overall health—especially when it comes to systemic (whole-body) diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and others. In many instances, improving oral health can lead to better management of these diseases.

So how do you start improving your oral hygiene? Glad you asked! Here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, AND floss once a day—every day! Use a soft-bristled toothbrush for gentle, effective cleaning.
  • Limit between-meal snacks to give your mouth a chance to neutralize the acids that can cause tooth decay.
  • Stay away from sweetened and acidic drinks like soda (even diet), so-called "sports" and "energy" drinks, and other foods and beverages with a high sugar content.
  • Drink plenty of water to increase production of healthful saliva and keep your whole body properly hydrated.
  • Visit the dental office regularly for checkups and professional cleanings. This is essential for good oral hygiene. A professional cleaning can remove hardened plaque deposits that can't be cleaned effectively at home. A thorough dental exam can find and resolve small problems before they become big headaches (or toothaches)—and even help prevent them from happening!

Practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to keep your smile healthy for your whole life. And having a bright, healthy smile is a great way to greet the new season!

If you have questions about oral hygiene, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Good Oral Health Leads to Better Health Overall,” and “10 Tips For Daily Oral Care at Home.”


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Dentist - Newton, Brett A. Roufs, 400 Allison Street, Newton KS, 67114 (316) 283-2273

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