Interdental Cleaners

Flossing between the teeth is important to remove food particles that have been left behind. If these food particles aren’t removed by thorough brushing or flossing, they will linger and cause bad breath and potentially lead to gum disease. Most of our patients tend to stick with basic floss, but interdental cleaners are gaining popularity. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, would like to explain how an interdental cleaner differs from threaded floss.

Interdental cleaners are thin, round, or cone-shaped devices that come in different shapes and sizes. These devices have a small head with bristles held on by wire, and they are designed to gently be inserted between the teeth. People who benefit from interdental cleaners include those with braces, those who have gapped teeth and for people with limited mobility. Also, if you don’t feel comfortable using floss, an interdental cleaner may be a better option.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dental services or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Why Must We Brush For Two Minutes?

You’ve heard the rule before. The American Dental Association recommends brushing the teeth for at least two minutes, after every meal, to prevent dental diseases and tooth decay. Brushing for two minutes will give your teeth and gums the attention they need and this will boost your oral health overall. If you get bored easily and find it difficult to brush for two minutes, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, suggests utilizing these tips.

Brushing the teeth for two minutes will eliminate more plaque than it would if you were to brush them for 30 seconds. When you brush your teeth, you should be reaching for the front of the teeth, the sides closest to the cheeks, the back of the teeth, and the sides of the molars closest to the tongue. It may help to play a song that lasts two minutes, watch something on TV for that duration of time, or simply time yourself and reward yourself with something healthy once you finish the task.

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dental services or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

When to Replace Your Toothbrush

A toothbrush is a primary instrument we need to keep our oral health in optimal condition. Though we may know when to replace old shoes, and old clothes, you may not realize that it’s time to replace your toothbrush. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS encourages patients to get in the habit of replacing a toothbrush several times throughout the year. How often a person changes their toothbrush will depend on several factors, but it’s always good to have a new one on hand.  

According to the American Dental Association, a toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. You should consider replacing your toothbrush sooner if you’ve been sick, or if your toothbrush is kept in close proximity to one that may be contaminated with a virus, or germs. You should always keep your toothbrush away from others to avoid cross-contamination. Be sure to store your toothbrush in a vertical position, with the bristles positioned so that they can air dry.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health or oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Hookah Tobacco and Teeth

Smoking a hookah has become super trendy in restaurants, cafes, and bars. Though people have tried to pass it off as a safer way of smoking tobacco, this has been proven false, and hookah tobacco can wreak just as much havoc on your teeth and gums as regular cigarettes. Research shows that periodontal disease increases by fivefold in water pipe smokers. Dr. Dennis, Morehart, DDS doesn’t want to put a damper on your fun, but he wants you to be aware of the risks associated with smoking hookah.

Though a hookah as a water chamber that filters smoke, this isn’t safe for the teeth and gums. It’s true that filtering tobacco through water removes some of the dangerous toxins, however, the smoke itself contains levels of nicotine that are three times the amount of actual cigarettes. Overall, the act of smoking provides no benefits to your oral health, therefore if you only smoke hookah as a recreational activity try to find something else to do that will be better for your smile.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Brush Before Bed

Bad habits are hard to break and good habits can be hard to start. Think about how long your day is and the foods you are consuming at work or on-the-go. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS understands that his patients lead busy lives, but he hopes that each of them is taking care of their dental health throughout the day. It’s recommended to brush your teeth at two times a day, one being before bed.

Every time we eat a meal, the bacteria reside and feast on the leftover food particles. Just like every other living organism, these bacteria excrete waste. This waste is highly acidic and attacks tooth enamel causing cavities. Brushing your teeth before bed can reduce the yucky feeling that morning breath leaves behind. If you’re too exhausted to brush before bed, leave a toothbrush in the nightstand because even a little cleaning goes a long way.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral hygiene or dental health, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Drink More Water!

If you want to protect your teeth from decay, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS hopes you’re staying hydrated. Our bodies are made of 60% water, and it’s no secret that it keeps our system healthy. Drinking beverages that contain sugar may taste good, but they do more harm for your teeth. Instead, water cleans your mouth with every sip, leaving you with a healthy, fresh smile.

Water contains fluoride – nature’s natural cavity fighter. Fluoride fights against cavities by strengthening tooth enamel and remineralizing teeth that have been damaged by acidity. Drinks like juice, soda, or sports drinks will leave unwanted sugar on the teeth and will eat away at the enamel if not brushed away. Since dental health is linked to overall health, you can’t go wrong with drinking lots of water.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your oral health, give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Oral Piercings and Oral Health

Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS understands that oral piercings are a form of self-expression. While we don’t want to discourage you from expressing yourself, we’d like to inform you how oral piercings can affect your oral health. Sometimes we don’t realize that the things we do to “look cool” can be a potential health hazard. As long as your mouth stays frees of infection and your oral health is not compromised, these piercings are allowed to stay in your mouth until you choose to remove them.

Oral piercings are self-explanatory as they include any form of metal in the mouth that isn’t orthodontic related. Oral piercings can be dangerous because your mouth has millions of bacteria, and often, swelling and infection can occur after a new piercing. By choosing to pierce your tongue, lips, or cheeks, you should be aware that you have an increased risk of chipping a tooth. This is because the jewelry can easily bump a tooth when talking or eating. If you already have oral piercings you should be maintaining a rigorous oral hygiene routine to keep the mouth clean. We encourage patients to contact us at any sign of infection.  

If you have questions or concerns about oral piercings and how they affect your oral health, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Why Do We Have Morning Breath?

How often do you wake up with a bad taste in your mouth? Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS assumes daily. The foul smelling breath that we start our day with, also known as morning breath is a universal condition and although it is not fully preventable, we would like to explain why it happens and how you can manage it.  

You arise from a good night’s sleep and before you can even rub the sand from your eyes you’re overwhelmed by the smell of your own breath. Morning breath is nothing to be ashamed of; it’s simply one form of bad breath. Bad breath, no matter what time it occurs at, is caused by lack of saliva, or leftover food particles that gather on the tongue and in between the teeth. To minimize this condition, it’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. It also helps to stay hydrated and avoid eating foods that contribute to bad breath, such as garlic and onions.

If you have questions or concerns about your oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Choosing the Correct Mouthwash

Mouthwash or rinses are used for a variety of reasons: to freshen breath, to help prevent or control tooth decay, to reduce plaque, to prevent or reduce gingivitis, to reduce the speed that tartar forms on the teeth, or to produce a combination of these effects.  Mouthwash has a few beneficial properties and Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS would like to explain some of them.

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor causing compounds.

If you have questions about oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Choosing a Toothpaste That’s Right for You

When stepping foot into the oral hygiene aisle at the drugstore, our staff at the dental practice of Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS understand that the selections of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control, fluoride, sensitive or whitening toothpaste? When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs. The best way to discover what those are is by scheduling an oral exam with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS. In the meantime, here are some options to consider while browsing:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Antigingivitis toothpaste helps reduce oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exact what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have any questions about oral hygiene, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Invest In a Tongue Cleaner

Bad breath can have a negative impact on a person’s life, relationships, and self-esteem. It can also be an underlying cause for more serious oral health issues, such as gum disease. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS recommends scheduling professional cleanings and oral exams twice a year as a preventive measure against serious gum conditions, however, in addition to using a toothbrush to clean your teeth, you can improve your mouth’s freshness by using a tongue cleaner.

Do yourself a favor and step in front of a mirror. Do you spot a coated tongue? If you do, tongue scraping may be helpful. Tongue scrapers, which are available in most drugstores in various shapes and sizes, have been deemed a way to reduce or eliminate bad breath. To use it, all you need to do is place the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue and gently bring it forward along your tongue, repeating as often as needed. Although there’s no harm in trying a tongue scraper to treat bad breath, you should remember that it’s just as important to practice good dental hygiene overall. Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day, floss in between your teeth at least once a day, and rinse or gargle with mouthwash to help keep your breath fresh.

If you are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about services we provide at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.