Dental Tips for a Happy Thanksgiving

Dental Tips for a Happy Thanksgiving St Pete Dentist

Dental Tips for a Happy Thanksgiving

There’s something comforting about Thanksgiving – the gift of family and friends, as well as a nice heartwarming meal together with classic Thanksgiving staple dishes. However, it is essential to take care of your dental health during this holiday. Today on the blog, our Dentist in St. Petersburg shares dental tips for a happy Thanksgiving.

Dental Tips for Thanksgiving From 4th Street Family Dentistry

Of course, we must also be kind with our teeth and gums, which can take a hammering over the holiday season. Below, Dr. Brain Leeson, the best dentist in St. Petersburg, shares straightforward techniques for Thanksgiving.

Reduce Sugar Consumption

Thanksgiving dinners are well-known for their high sugar content. It doesn’t matter if it’s pecan pie or cranberry sauce. However, avoiding or reducing the excess sugar in these recipes would have the reverse impact, benefiting your teeth.

According to the California Dental Association, avoiding, limiting, or substituting sugar with sugar substitutes such as xylitol and erythritol, which do not induce tooth decay, is an effective approach. When eating sweet meals and desserts, use portion management. After that, our dentist 33704 rinse your mouth with water to remove any sugar or food particles that may have stuck to your teeth or gums.

Watch Your Starchy Meal Intake

Our dentist in St. Pete explains starchy meals are quiet tooth destroyers. They don’t appear to be hazardous at first glance, but starch transforms into sugar, which feeds the bacteria in your mouth. Breaded stuffing, mashed potatoes, potato chips, cornbread, and dinner rolls are popular offenders, and this issue may be rectified by complementing them with fiber and protein items.

Enjoy A Well-Balanced Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinners aren’t all horrible. There is a wide variety of healthy food options to choose from. This includes leafy greens high in calcium, fruits, and vegetables high in various vitamins and minerals that are good for your teeth and gums. Another example, St. Petersburg FL dentist explains that raw carrots that make natural teeth cleansers, and turkey aids in tooth development.

Choose Your Snacks Wisely

It’s not just the Thanksgiving feast that might harm your teeth; it’s also the snacks you eat throughout the day. Instead of sweet cookies and candies, eat nuts, dry fruits, and cheese to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Our friends over at College Hill Dental, Easton PA Dentist, explain that assorted nuts are another fantastic snack since they help to strengthen your teeth. Chewing the nuts stimulates saliva production, which washes away dangerous germs and helps to prevent tooth decay.

Maintain Good Dental Hygiene

Brush and floss your teeth as usual on Thanksgiving Day, and increase your regimen if necessary. There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to your oral health.

When eating acidic foods, however, wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. After a meal, you can sip water, chew gum, and floss.

On D-day, you can use toothpicks instead of brushing, flossing, or chewing gum. It is effective for removing sticky food particles and loosening plaque buildup, but you must be careful not to injure your gums in the process.

Schedule a Dental Cleaning With 4th Street Family Dentistry

Finally, schedule a post-Thanksgiving day appointment with your dentist for a checkup and teeth cleaning. It also allows your dentist to identify and address any dental concerns that arise early on.

Contact 4th St Family Dentistry today to book your cleaning!

Tooth Pain Relief

Tooth Pain relief st petersburg fl

What to Do When You Have Tooth Pain

If you’ve ever had a toothache, you know how painful it can be. Today on the blog, the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL, Dr. Brian Leeson discusses tooth pain relief.

Typically, a toothache or tooth pain occurs when the nerve in the root of a tooth or the area around a tooth is irritated. Dental (tooth) inflammation, rotting, fracture, or removal of a tooth are the most frequent sources of dental pain. Pain can also occur following an extraction (tooth is pulled out). Pain can originate in other places and radiate to the jaw, giving the appearance of tooth pain. Bacteria in your mouth can lead to gum disease and tooth erosion, all of which can cause discomfort. Mostly, gum disease does not cause much harm. Thus, flossing, cleaning with fluoride toothpaste, and getting your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist twice a year will help you avoid the majority of dental issues. Sealants and fluoride can be applied by your emergency dentistry St. Petersburg, which is sometimes necessary for children’s teeth.

Toothache Causes


First off, let’s start with the basics. What causes a toothache? Toothaches are caused by inflammation of the pulp, the core part of the tooth. The pulp includes nerve endings that are very vulnerable to pain. Inflammation of the pulp, also known as pulpitis, may be caused by oral cavities, trauma, or infection. You may have toothache symptoms due to referred pain from the jaw.

Symptoms of Toothache


Is your toothache in your tooth? Is it in your jaw? Regardless, you’ll want toothache pain relief. If the pain gets more intense as the region of inflammation becomes larger, it can radiate to the cheek, lip, or jaw. As follows, other signs and symptoms that can prompt you to seek medical attention include the following:

  • Chewing pain
  • Exposure to heat and cold
  • Bleeding or leakage from a tooth or gums
  • Swelling around a tooth or in the jaw
  • Injury or trauma to the area

These signs and symptoms are often associated with dental decay, tooth fracture, or gum disease (periodontal disease). Dental deterioration or a region of redness around the tooth’s gum line may indicate the cause of the pain. Messing with an infected tooth can aggravate the pain, making it essential to see your St. Petersburg FL dentist immediately. Even if the tooth looks fine, this sign may indicate a problem tooth.

A toothache must be distinguished from other causes of pain in the face. Sinusitis, ear or throat pain, or an injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jaw to the skull, can all be associated with toothache. Pressure from a deeper structure (referred pain) may travel along the nerve and be felt in the jaw or teeth.

How to Treat a Toothache at Home

If you can’t make it to our dentistry, there are a few things you can do for tooth pain relief at home. These are:

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used. Take these as instructed on the box when you schedule a dental appointment.
  • Avoid hot or cold foods as they can aggravate the discomfort.
  • You can find comfort by chewing on a cotton ball soaked in clove oil.

Of course, we’d love to see you as soon as you experience tooth pain so that we can properly diagnose you and relieve your pain. Fillings, tooth extractions, and other procedures can be done by your St Petersburg FL dentist if needed. However, we will always try to save your tooth first. Though, if the condition is serious on permanent teeth, root canal surgery and crown operations are usually performed there is a fever or swelling of the mouth. In most cases, such operations are undertaken in steps, with pain and infection treated first and reconstructive procedures performed later (weeks to months). You will be allowed to return to work or school as you recover.

Tooth Pain Relief


Regular dental treatment can help most people prevent toothaches and serious dental issues. Preventative dentistry is key to the success of your oral health. That’s why all dentists recommend getting your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year.

Additionally, our friends over at Gentle Dental Group, the best dentist in Bethlehem GA, recommend maintaining a balanced diet. Dr. Uyen Hoang explains that bacteria feed on processed sugar which can get into the enamel on your teeth. Have an eye on what you eat and be wary of food that gets stuck on and under your teeth. They also recommend brushing immediately after breakfast.
Also, the American Dental Association recommends using a smooth toothbrush containing fluoride toothpaste. As follows, floss between the teeth on a regular basis. Additionally, using an antiseptic mouthwash on a regular basis to help eliminate bacteria that cause plaque and early gum disease.

Visit Your St. Petersburg Dentist Today

As stated above, prevention is key to oral health success. That’s why we recommend visiting us every six months for a proper cleaning to help prevent tooth infections. Ready to schedule your appointment? Contact us today!

Choosing the Best Dentist in St. Petersburg FL

choosing the best dentist in St Petersburg FL

Choosing the Best Dentist in St. Petersburg FL

If the thought of going to the dentist makes you nervous, you’re not alone. However, your dentist is your oral health partner. Routine dental examinations and treatment by your St. Petersburg FL dentist can help keep your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy and prevent dental disease. Furthermore, poor oral health can contribute to other health risks, such as cardiovascular disease. How do you go about choosing the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL for you? Here are some important considerations to bear in mind.

1. Obtain Referrals

Begin by compiling a list of potential dentists in St Pete. To do so, seek advice from family, friends, and other healthcare providers. Investigate the dentists’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. As you narrow down your options, contact each dentist’s office and request a consultation appointment to meet and interview the dentist.

2. Examine the Dentist’s Credentials

When selecting a dentist, one of the most important factors to consider is board certification. It certifies that the dentist has the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide general dentistry care. Also, ensure that the dentist has no prior malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. 

3.Think about the Dentist’s Experience 

When it comes to oral health, experience counts. The more experience a dentist has with a condition or procedure, the better the outcome. Additional education is required for dental specialties such as orthodontics and endodontics. Inquire about the dentist’s experience treating patients with your specific condition. If you have dental anxiety, speak with your dentist about successful approaches he or she has used with other anxious patients. If you know you need a specific procedure, find out how many the dentist has performed and learn about complication rates—both the complications the dentist has encountered and your own risk of complications.

4. Capabilities of the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL

Dentists can use telecommunications technology, such as two-way video, smartphones, and email, to diagnose and treat some patients; this is known as telehealth explains the best dental camera manufacturer, Digital Doc. Inquire if the dentist provides telehealth services. Telehealth does not replace hands-on in-person office visits, but it does mean fewer trips to the dentist for many patients. Some conditions can be managed by sending symptoms and vital signs collected at home, as well as having a “virtual visit” with your provider. Telehealth is also useful for routine check-ups and minor complaints, making it a convenient option. Check to see if your health insurance covers telehealth services.

5. Assess Communication Style

Choose a dentist with whom you feel at ease talking and who understands your information needs. When you meet the dentist for the first time, ask a question and observe how he or she responds. Is he or she open to your questions and does he or she respond in a way that you can understand? Did you feel rushed or engaged when you left? Choose a St Petersburg dentist who is interested in getting to know you, will take your treatment preferences into account, and will respect your decision-making process.

7. Examine Patient Feedback

Reading what other people have to say about a dentist can give you an idea of how he or she practices general dentistry and runs his or her dental practice. Patient reviews typically reflect people’s experiences with scheduling appointments, wait times, the office environment, and the friendliness of the office staff. You can find out how well patients trust the dentist, how much time he or she spends with patients, and how well he or she answers questions.

Have you decided that 4th Street Family Dentistry is the right place for you? Contact us to schedule your appointment!