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.

Don’t Let Plaque Pester You

If you’ve ever licked your teeth after eating a meal that’s high in carbohydrates, then you know what plaque feels like. This sticky, colorless, film of bacteria makes teeth feel “fuzzy” to the tongue and is most noticeable when teeth are not brushed. When left untreated, plaque can develop on the tooth roots underneath the gum and cause breakdown of the bone supporting the tooth. Plaque that is not removed daily by brushing and flossing between teeth can eventually harden into tartar, which only Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS will be able to remove.

When you eat, the bacteria in plaque use the sugars in your food to produce acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. Repeated attacks cause the enamel to break down, eventually resulting in tooth decay. Since plaque is a sticky substance, you must brush and floss to remove it. In addition to brushing and flossing at least twice a day, Dr. Dennis Morehart recommends visiting him twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams.

If you have plaque or tartar buildup and 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.

The Proper Brushing Technique

You’ve known how to brush your teeth since childhood and have likely stuck with the same brushing technique into adulthood. However, many of us would be surprised to learn that we are brushing our teeth incorrectly. There are different ways to brush correctly, but Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS suggests utilizing this technique the next time you clean your teeth:

• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.


• Move the brush back-and-forth gently in short strokes.


• Brush the outer surfaces, the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces of all teeth.


• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh and don’t forget to floss!

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine or have questions about how to properly brush your teeth, please give us a call. To learn more about services provided 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. 

Sensitive Teeth Causes and Treatment

The winter months are upon us and if you are experiencing tooth pain when the cold wind blows, you may have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are caused when your gums pull back and expose the surface beneath, called the dentin. This soft layer makes up the inner part and roots, which have thousands of tiny tubes that lead to the tooth’s nerve center (the pulp). Proper oral hygiene is the key to preventing sensitive-tooth pain. This is why it’s important to visit Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS for regular dental checkups.

Fortunately sensitive teeth can be treated. The type of treatment will depend on what is causing the sensitivity. Having a conversation with Dr. Morehart is the first step in finding relief from your discomfort. After he determines the reason for your sensitivity, treatment may be as simple as applying an in-office fluoride gel to help you manage the sensitivity.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about root canals as well as other services provided 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. 

The Root Canal Procedure

Signs you may need root canal therapy include: severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures (after the heat or cold has been removed), discoloration of your tooth, swelling and tenderness in nearby gums, and/or a persistent or recurring abscess on the gums. Fortunately, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, can save any tooth that is badly decayed or infected.

After taking X-rays or examining existing x-rays to show where the decay is located, the procedure starts off with the patient being administered a local anesthetic. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, will then drill down into the tooth to create an opening into the canal. He will then be able to remove infected tissue and clean the infection and unhealthy pulp out of the canals. The canals are filled with a permanent material called gutta-percha to keep them free of contamination. After this is done, the filling remains until the tooth receives a permanent filling or a crown. The first few days after your root canal, the tooth may be sensitive, but the over results will be pain free.

If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about root canals as well as other services provided 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. 

Beware of Cavities

Only Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS can tell you if you have a cavity, and although he has all of the required materials in his office to fill said cavity, he would rather his patients avoid them altogether. “Cavity” is just another way of saying “tooth decay,” and tooth decay is influenced by lifestyle, what we eat, how well we take care of how teeth, and the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste.

Many people think only children get cavities, but changes in your mouth as you age make them an adult problem too. As you get older, your gums pull away from your teeth. This exposes the roots of your teeth to plaque and if you eat a lot of sugary or high-carb foods, you’re more likely to get cavities. Cavities are very serious. Left untreated, a cavity can destroy your tooth and kill the delicate nerves at its center which may result in spending extra time and money in the dentist’s chair down the line.  As always, preventive care can keep micro problems from turning into major ones, so remember to brush at least twice a day and floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth and below the gum line.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call. To learn more about the services provided 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.

Pregnancy and Teeth

Pregnancy comes with a lot of bodily discomforts. Swollen ankles, weight gain, and morning sickness only name a few. You may not expect to experience changes in your oral health during pregnancy; however, if you already have gingivitis, the condition is likely to worsen during this time. Because this time is critical for teeth, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS encourages patients to schedule appointments if any changes in the mouth appear during pregnancy.

Primary changes in your oral health are due to a surge in hormones – particularly an increase in estrogen and progesterone – can exaggerate the way gum tissues react to plaque. If the plaque isn’t removed, it can cause gingivitis – red, swollen, tender gums that are more likely to bleed. To help minimize any risks during pregnancy, make sure you give your teeth and gums extra special attention. Regular tooth brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, eating a balanced diet and visiting the dentist regularly will help reduce dental problems that accompany pregnancy. If morning sickness is frequent, rinse your mouth out with water to keep the acid level under control.

If you are pregnant, please notify us when making your next appointment. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.