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Why You Shouldn’t Use Toothpicks

  • February 25, 2019
  • 11:33 am
  • FAQ
  • Dental Health, Flossing, Gum Disease

Eating foods like corn on the cob, popcorn, and poppy seeds can land you with a piece of food stuck in your teeth. While your first instinct may be to reach for a toothpick, Parkcrest Dental believes there is a safer method to remove food than using toothpicks.

Why shouldn’t I use a toothpick?

While toothpicks are okay to use if you have no other options available, they shouldn’t be used regularly. When using a toothpick, it’s possible the toothpick can break and lodge bits and pieces of wood into your gum tissue. Some of them may not even be visible to the naked eye. When the gum is pierced or torn, bacteria can make its way into the open wound and infect the area. If you’re an avid toothpick user, your dentist can probably point out extra damage to your gums.

What should I use instead of toothpicks?

The ideal way to remove food from your teeth is with a type of dental floss. Flossing once a day can remove harmful plaque hiding in the hard to reach places in your mouth. Along with brushing, flossing is great at helping prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. If using regular nylon floss is difficult for you to use, there are many other different types of floss available to make flossing easy for you.

Who can help me with my dental health in Springfield, Missouri?

At Parkcrest Dental, flossing isn’t just for clean freaks. Clean gums and teeth helps prevent the risk of gum disease and oral health issues later in life. If you’re not sure how to floss, we’ll make sure you leave fully educated on flossing procedures. Contact us today or visit our location in Springfield, MO.

 

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Meet Some Dentists in Springfield, MO

Some of the doctors at Parkcrest Dental Group

Dr. Stuart Scott (top left) is our pediatric dentist. He earned his degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry before completing a two-year residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Steven Harrison (top center) is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Harrison, our orthodontist, graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He’s been with Parkcrest Dental Group since 1986.

Dr. Chanin Ropka (top right) attended UMKC before joining the United States Navy, where she served as the only dentist on board the USS Germantown and at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Dr. Ropka began at Parkcrest Dental in 2001.

Dr. Daniel Fannin (bottom left) graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1997. He completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency in 1998 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group that same year.

Dr. Steven C. Sponenberg (bottom center) has been a Springfieldian his entire life. He graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2004 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group immediately after.

Dr. Jason Hall (bottom right) is also a native Springfieldian. He earned his DDS from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Dental School in 1997. He came to Parkcrest Dental Group in 2010. Dr. Hall’s father, Stan, is also a dentist.

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