You remember the last time you had a real Coke or Pepsi?  You sipped it, swished it around a little to enjoy the fizzy feel. Chugged a couple more gulps. And then you noticed your teeth felt different. They’re not slick anymore. Maybe rough to your tongue. Or even a strangely dry feeling. That, my friends, is the power of soda acid.  It strips the protective, mucousy sludge off your teeth.  You heard me. Protective. Your slimy drool has VALUE! We know that people who suffer dry mouth disorder or have chronic soda or sports drink habits, or eat lots of… [ Read More ]

Straight out of the hygiene center, Dr. Rafoth gives some advice for how to neutralize your risk for tooth decay. Chris Rafoth is the owner of Lyons Creek Dental Care, providing medical dentistry, dental implants, and facial esthetics since 1998 for Shoreline and greater Seattle areas, as well as communities in King and Snohomish counties. Any questions or comments? Contact him at chris@lyonscreekdentalcare.com today! [ Read More ]

I’m Chris Rafoth, the dentist at Lyons Creek Dental Care. This video explains the patient benefits of high tech dentistry. The first time you encounter high technology is in your examination. We can use digital x-rays, which are much more accurate than conventional x-rays. We use intraoral cameras that are high-resolution digital cameras that provide us a tour of your mouth much more clearly in real time. We also use laser and light fluorescent technology to discover tooth decay. We take the guess work out of deciding whether or not you got a stain on your tooth or a true… [ Read More ]

My wife showed me an article the other day. It’s called "Your dentist may be ripping you off. Here’s how to avoid that.” I read it, and had a ton of opinions about the site, the author, and the quality of the journalism(?) that went beyond the topic. But I took a breath, and focused on the content so I could give my readers and patients actual facts about the issues presented. There are a few statements in the article that actually have merit. You likely don’t need all your fillings ripped out. You should be careful of bait-and-switch offers… [ Read More ]

What your dentist used to say to you about getting cavities was misleading. What your mother used to say to you about staying away from the cookie jar was true. I’ll fill you in on what I mean. Long ago, the theory of how patients contracted tooth decay went something like this: You had bacteria swimming around your teeth and gums. You ate some candy, and it fueled the growth of bacteria. The bacteria used this fuel to create acids that corroded your teeth. And that corrosion was, in fact, a cavity—a hole in your tooth from the bacteria and… [ Read More ]

Sensitive teeth can happen for many reasons. In this post, Dr. Rafoth addresses the 4 main causes of tooth sensitivity he sees in his practice. 1. Diet “Sometimes the diet we choose can make teeth sensitive. Foods and drinks that are higher in acids strip the protective layer of sludge (called the pellicle) from our teeth, exposing our teeth to more sensitivity with sweets or temperatures.” 2. Grinding and Clenching “Tooth grinding or clenching also makes teeth sensitive, because the supporting tissues of the teeth become inflamed. Inflammation can make teeth sensitive to biting, temperatures, sweets, sours, and spicy foods.”… [ Read More ]

In times of stress, it may be difficult to add your oral health to your list of things to remember, but is important to know how stress can affect your smile and oral health. Dr. Rafoth speaks to the effects stress can have on your teeth. Immune System Breakdown “Stress can directly cause immune system breakdown, which can be connected to deterioration in dental health,” says Dr. Rafoth. “Prolonged stress needs to be managed for your overall health.” Canker Sores “We most commonly see canker sores (apthous ulcers) emerge in times of stress.” While canker sores are generally harmless in… [ Read More ]

Tooth decay has reached epidemic proportions around the world, and notably where I practice, it’s never been clearer. I know it’s my livelihood to fix people who have tooth decay, but that’s not the job I signed up for. I signed up to help people eliminate the disease as best as possible.  So take a minute or two to consider what is at stake when you think about your mouth and your risk for tooth decay. You may not like what I have to say, but here goes. People get cavities for 2 main reasons: they decide to, or there… [ Read More ]

A recent local news report on King5.com’s Healthlink, illustrates how serious the problem of dental decay is in children. It also shows a simple strategy for parents to reduce the risk of tooth decay in their kids: “Tooth decay is largely preventable, but it remains one of the most common diseases of childhood — five times as common as asthma, and seven times as common as hay fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC says 42% of children ages 2 to 11 have had cavities in baby teeth; 21% of those ages 6 to 11 have… [ Read More ]