Dr. Theron Baker

Just as there are so many different types of toothbrushes to choose from, each brush also has a different type of bristle! There are generally three different types of bristles; hard, medium, and soft. I always recommend that my patients, especially children and seniors, use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Using a hard and medium bristled brush can actually harm your teeth and gums by stripping the enamel from the teeth and irritating the gums so that they become red and sore, and can even cause gum recession. If you do use a hard or medium bristled brush as a personal preference, I recommend using an electric toothbrush.

Soft bristles are much gentler on your teeth and gums, and while patients of all ages are recommended to use soft bristled brushes, they are particularly great for children, seniors, patients recovering from a dental procedure, and patients wearing braces.

Soft bristles, and even extra-soft bristles are every bit as effective when it comes to cleaning your teeth; in fact, if you currently use a hard or medium bristled brush, try a soft bristled brush next time you buy a toothbrush and we bet you won’t even notice a difference.

Happy brushing!

From your very first visit to my dental office, I strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. I thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by our work? Did my team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for an appointment or your family has been visiting my office for years, I’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review on my Google Place Page. Or, you can tell me by posting on Facebook.

Thank you!

Dentistry isn’t just about teeth anymore! As I have shared in previous blog posts, oral health issues have been increasingly linked to other health concerns, such as heart disease. Studies are beginning to suggest that patients with periodontal disease are believed to have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke. Since most patients are not regularly visiting a heart specialist, their regular visits to my Seattle dental office can help detect early warning signs of heart issues or disease.

If it’s been more than six months since your last visit, give me a call!

Does the sound of a drill make you flinch or cringe? Do you worry about your twice-yearly dental checkup? Trust me when I say that you’re not alone! In fact, the Journal of the American Dental Association has estimated that 30 to 40 million people have a fear of visiting the dentist.

To eliminate some of that fear, I’ve put together six steps to help you or your child overcome your dental anxiety before visiting my dental office.

1. What are you most afraid of? Is it the sound of the drill? Do you have needle phobia? Have you been traumatized by previous dental visits? Write down your fears, one by one.

2. Don’t wait. The more frequently you visit my office, the less work needs to be done at any one visit. Simply having your teeth cleaned professionally twice a year—or as recommended—prevents many, if not most, problems.

3. Bring a distraction to your appointment. Bringing along an iPod is a great idea. Just plug in those earphones, close your eyes, and get lost in the music. Listening to music can also be a pain killer.

4. Relax. Inhale slowly, and count of five. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, and then exhale slowly to the count of eight. Repeat. It's easier if you're not totally focused on the work going on inside your mouth.

5. Ask. Before any procedure, ask me about the tools I’m using. Ask me what I’m doing, what the tool is used for, and how it will benefit you during the appointment. Also, please ask about anti-anxiety medications that I may prescribe to help you relax during your appointment.

6. I’m here to help you. Remember, I’m a health care professional who wants to improve your oral health, and will never judge you or the state of your mouth. I’ll do all that I can to ensure you have a trauma-free and pain-free experience, so please let me know if there is something I can do to make your visit more comfortable!

I hope this helps! For more on dental anxieties, I encourage you to visit this helpful article. Or, you can always ask me any questions on Facebook.

Many folks in Seattle consider the beginning of a new year a time to not only reflect on the year that was, but also to set personal goals for the upcoming year. How are you planning to improve your health and happiness in 2012? I recommend that you make a New Year’s resolution to benefit your oral health!

It is important that New Year’s resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life—for example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent periodontal, or gum, disease? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

Be sure to give me a call if you need a few suggestions on ways to improve your oral health, or visit this helpful article from my friends at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). After all, your oral health is about more than just a beautiful smile.

Happy New Year!

Maintaining a healthy diet over the holiday season can prove a difficult task. After all, who can resist the tasty treats of Christmas? With Grandma and everybody else offering you candy, chocolate logs or Christmas pudding, you just can’t say “I’ll pass” each time. But trouble lurks: every time you chow down on that chocolate or candy, the bacteria in your mouth have a feast on the sugar—at your expense. The sugar turns into acid, and the acid eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Then, you start getting cavities.

Instead, my friends at the American Dental Association recommend nuts or dried fruit, which are nice alternatives to sugars and have greater nutritional value—also satisfying your sweet tooth! Both nuts and fruit are a great source of fiber and act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, nuts are a great source of Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B9, nutrients that contribute to a healthy immune system. Nuts are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked with reducing heart disease and lower blood pressure.

If you must go for the chocolaty goodness this Christmas or holiday season (and probably all of us will), it’s a good idea to decide what you’re going to indulge in and then eat it all at once instead of grazing. Every time you eat something sugary, you increase that enamel-eating acid in your mouth for about 15 minutes. So, if you eat a piece of candy every 15 minutes your mouth will be in a constant state of elevated acidity. It is better for your teeth to eat your sugar all at once and then let your mouth return to a more enamel-friendly state. Also remember to brush your teeth about 15 minutes after eating sugary treats (once the acidity level has returned to normal). Happy holidays!

Dental health is closely connected to your overall health. I also know the mouth can oftentimes be the first place to indicate signs of health issues in the body. Recently, I found a helpful article that outlined seven warning signs that indicate it might be time to check in with my team.

Flat, worn teeth plus headache (sign of stress)

Grind, grind, grind .... grind. If you live with a teeth grinder, you’re probably familiar with this unpleasant sound. Emotional or psychological stress can definitely contribute to teeth grinding. In addition, headaches, which are caused by spasms in the muscles, can radiate from the mouth and head down to the neck and upper back. Night guards, which I proudly provide, may relieve the symptoms, as well as protect your teeth.

Cracking, crumbling teeth (sign of Gastroesophageal reflux disease)

As we age we may notice that the enamel on our teeth starts to chip at the edges of our front teeth or form hollowed out “wells” on the surface of our molars.  These symptoms may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which is a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid—and occasionally, bile—flows back into your food pipe. Other signs and symptoms of GERD include acid reflux, dry mouth and heartburn.

Sores that won’t go away (sign of oral cancer)

More than 21,000 men and 9,000 women are diagnosed with oral cancer annually, according to the National Cancer Institute. Those most affected include the elderly (most are over the age of 60) and smokers. The survival rate for oral cancer is 35 percent. When an open sore in the mouth doesn't go away within a week or two, or when you experience unexplained bleeding or numbness, it’s always a good idea to visit my dental office so that we may rule out oral cancer. A lot of sores and ulcers may lurk underneath your tongue, where they are difficult to find.

Gums growing over teeth (sign of medication problems)

If you notice your gum growing over your tooth, and you're taking a prescribed or other medication, please give me a call as soon as possible. Certain medications may cause the gums to overgrow; the dosage will need to be adjusted, but it’s important I take a look.

Dry mouth (sign of Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes)

Many things are known to cause dry mouth, but a lack of sufficient saliva is also an early warning of Sjogren's syndrome, as well as diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 17 million Americans suffer from type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which is a metabolic disease caused by high blood sugar. Other signs of diabetes include excessive thirst, tingling in the hands or feet, frequent urination, blurred vision and weight loss.

Sjogren's syndrome, which affects approximately anywhere between 1-to-4 million Americans, causes white blood cells of the body attack—for unknown reasons—their moisture-producing glands. Symptoms also include dry eyes, as well as the mouth, but the rest of the body is affected by the disorder.

White webbing inside cheeks (sign of Lichen planus)

Lichen planus, the cause of which is unknown, is an inflammatory skin disease that usually affects the skin, mouth, or both, according to the Mayo Clinic. On the skin it manifests with small purplish bumps while in the mouth it takes the appearance of a whitish, lacy pattern on the insides of the cheeks. The disease can't be passed from one person to another. Lichen planus may require relatively simple at-home care or no treatment. When symptoms are severe, such as pain or significant itching, please give me a call.

Crusting dentures (sign of pneumonia)

Older folks are known to inhale debris around the teeth and dentures, and inadvertently breathe in other materials into the lungs and airway, causing dangerous (even fatal) inflammation. Be sure to remove and wash dentures on a regular basis.

Dental emergencies are never convenient or timely. If you are a patient of record, I am committed to your dental health and more than willing to see you!

As your dentist, I am here to help you, any time, any day. When your dental health is at risk, I’ll do everything I can to make sure that you’re treated as soon as possible. While dental emergencies are rare, I know they can happen at any moment and it’s important to know how to take care of your teeth no matter what.

Common dental emergencies include:

• A bitten lip or tongue
• Broken or cracked tooth/teeth
• Broken jaw
• Permanent tooth that has been knocked out
• Object caught between teeth
• Severe toothache

If you have a dental emergency after regular office hours, please give me a call. If you are calling us after hours, please follow the emergency prompts. I proudly serve patients from downtown Seattle and other surrounding communities.

The way you care for your teeth at home doesn’t just affect your oral health – it can impact your overall health as well. In recent years, researchers have found clear links between the mouth and other parts of the body, and the evidence is especially impactful for people with diabetes.

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, and a great time to learn about how keeping your mouth healthy is vital to your overall health, too. If you are one of the nearly 26 million Americans currently living with diabetes, there is some good news: you can protect your gums and teeth from the effects of diabetes by visiting my dental office for regular check-ups and cleanings. Most people should have at least two dental appointments per year, but those folks living with diabetes may require additional visits to make sure their dental health remains in top shape. Many insurance plans provide expanded benefits for diabetic patients. During your next appointment, I can tell you how often you need to come in for your dental visits.

For more information on how I can help, please give my office a call!

Here in Seattle, I know most folks enjoy a hot-brewed coffee or tea in the morning, followed by a cola (or more coffee) in the afternoon. But what many don’t know is that both coffee and tea are especially tough on your teeth, because tannic acid (the substance that makes the dark color) etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel, and can stain your pearly whites brown.

So, if you can't give up that morning cup o’joe, what can you do? I suggest rinsing with a glass of water after every cup. If you enjoy iced coffee or tea, drink your beverage with a straw so that tannins don’t make contact with your front upper and lower teeth. Even if you’re not a big coffee drinker, I encourage you to swish and swallow some water at the end of each meal. Water, after all, helps neutralize acids left in your mouth after eating and also reduces cavity-causing bacteria.

I also invite you to visit my convenient downtown Seattle office for whitening options. I can help bleach your teeth with proven and professional products. Please give me a call to learn more about Zoom! teeth whitening at my office.

I hope you are not a part of the 51 percent of Americans who don’t floss every day. And I definitely hope you're not part of the 10 percent who never floss at all. I’m sure that you’ve heard before that proper flossing is just as important for your dental health as brushing regularly. Flossing, you see, cleans food and plaque that builds up between teeth and below the gumline, key areas that brushing simply cannot reach.

Flossing 3-to-5 minutes each day is recommended, but even 60 seconds of flossing has a great benefit over not flossing at all. Also, make sure to always brush your teeth after you floss, and to rinse with water or mouthwash. When you begin flossing you may experience gum pain or bleeding, but with daily flossing and brushing this should stop within a week or so.

Lastly, has it been at least six months since your last dental checkup? If the answer is yes, I encourage you to schedule an appointment!

Everyone loves fun facts and dental tips. Fun, fun, fun! Today, I wanted to share a few dental fun facts that I recently came across. Enjoy!

• The second most common disease in the United States is cavities. The first is the common cold.
• There are almost 9,000 accidental pokings and piercings with toothpicks per year.
• X-rays may be an effective tool in preventing strokes.
• A child will have 20 baby teeth by the time he or she is 2 years old. Through childhood, kids gradually lose baby teeth and grow 32 permanent teeth, including wisdom teeth.
• According to consumer reports, dentists are among the 5 most trusted professionals in the United States.
• Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products like toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss.
• The average American spends about 38 days brushing teeth over his or her lifetime.
• Kids in North America spend half a billion dollars per year on chewing gum.
• Approximately 94 percent of Americans say they brush nightly while only 81 percent say they brush first thing in the morning.
• Grand Rapids, MI was the first American city to fluoridate its water.
• Earliest record of a toothbrush was found in Chinese literature about 1600 AD
• The natural bristles of early toothbrushes were taken from the necks and shoulders of swine, especially pigs living in colder climates like Siberia and China.

It’s nearly winter, and it’s cold. But, believe it or not, there is a growing trend of brides choosing to tie the knot in the winter wonderland. If you are gearing up for a wedding this winter, consider matching that white dress to a perfectly white smile!

Did you know that my practice offers in-office instant tooth whitening for the bride, the groom, and the entire wedding party? The girls get together to get their nails done, and now you can get them together to get their teeth done as well!

Zoom! teeth whitening is the quickest, most effective way to achieve a whiter teeth. Because I am a dental professional, I have the expertise to offer patients higher percentages of whitening agents than the at-home systems allow. You can get a brighter white, usually in just one visit!

Did you know that October is National Dental Hygiene Month? For my team, that means only one thing: Reminding you that your teeth are an important part of your body, and keeping them clean helps keep your mouth and your body healthy. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting our convenient Seattle dental office on a regular basis, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile throughout your entire life.

Check out the official National Dental Hygiene Month website, which provides pointers on keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Lastly, has it been six months since your last dental checkup? If the answer is yes, I encourage you to give my office a call now, while you’re thinking about it, to set up an appointment!

I have some exciting news for you. Knowing that so many of my patients are on-the-go, I recently launched a new mobile version of my site! No matter where you are…work, school, traveling or shopping at the mall, you will be able to access my website with speed and ease to request or change an appointment, refer a patient or simply view my blog. You will even be able to dial my office right from the site on your phone, all with a single touch.

The next time you are on-the-go, you won’t be disconnected. Access my website with your iPhone, iPad, Droid, or the smart phone of your choice!

All of us as at my Seattle dental office constantly strive to provide the very best treatment in a relaxing, comfortable environment. It is my goal to offer an advanced approach to dentistry, utilizing the latest technology to put you at ease. Have you had a great experience with us?

Share your story with the world!

Just select the "Write a Review" button above to write a review on my Google Place Page. I look forward to receiving your feedback!

Thank you,

-Dr. Baker

In order to stay up-to-date with all of the latest treatments, techniques and technology, I frequently attend continuing education conferences and seminars. These sessions keep me on the cutting edge of current dental treatments, so that I can always offer our patients the highest level of dental care and the most sophisticated treatment options. Recently, I participated in a course at the OBI Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry at OHSU in Portland. The course focused on traumatic occlusion and TMD using intraoral orthotics (eg. sleep guards).

Many patients at my practice suffer from the effects of a malocclusion (problems with the way the teeth bite together). Although the treatment for these patients is quite complex and incorporates several aspects of dentistry (orthodontics, crown and bridge work, etc) the foundation is TM joint stability. The class that I attended at OHSU focused on new techniques to treat these conditions.

I’ve also recently attended courses that focus on Invisalign, OSHA/WISHA/HIPAA compliance, emergency medicine in the dental office, Botox (certification) and dental implants. My team also makes it a priority to take a CPR training course every year.

At my office, we’re always striving to utilize the latest technology to better serve you, our wonderful patients. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more about some of the upcoming conferences that I’ll be attending. I’m always happy to share my passion for continuing education with patients!

Have you had an exceptional experience at our office? Has our team exceeded your expectations? Do you consider our office the BEST? If so, please share your story by voting for my office in The Best of Western Washington. Simply visit the King5 website to cast your vote!

Thanks in advance,

-Dr. Theron Baker and team

As a parent, I know getting kids and teens to eat healthy isn’t always an easy task, especially when they’re busy with school and after-school activities. At the school cafeteria, it's just too easy for kids to snack on french fries, chicken nuggets and other fried foods and unhealthy snacks, which is why I’d like to pass along five delicious, smile-healthy, and nutritious snacks that my kids love.

1. Cheese – Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheese stimulates the body's salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. One study showed fewer cavities in kids who ate pears with cheese than in those who ate pears alone. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

2. Blueberries - These tiny nutritional powerhouses are loaded with Vitamin C, as well as folic acid, minerals, fiber and disease-fighting phytochemicals, which have shown to help prevent cancer and diabetes. My kids love them plain, added to muffins and pancakes.

3. Whole wheat bread or cereal – From bread, kids get their iron, vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. With vitamins, calcium, and fiber, a bowl of enriched whole grain cereal with milk—and even fruit—is a power-packed snack or healthy start to the day.

4. Almonds - They’re rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals and Vitamin E, and also have good amounts of fiber, iron, and calcium. Let your kids eat them raw. (Note: Whole nuts are a choking hazard for children under 3 years old.)

5. Yogurt - Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy smile. Low-fat yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, especially when whipped up in a parfait with berries and granola. Homemade fruity yogurt pops sure beats sugary store-bought frozen treats. Just punch a plastic spoon through the lid of a small yogurt container and freeze for an easy, healthy treat!

I encourage you to check out this article for 15 other healthy snacks your child can enjoy at any time of the day! For more information about which foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy, please post your question here on our blog, give our team a call or ask us on Facebook! I hope your child had a great first week of school.

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, says Dr. Baker. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Baker is a certified Invisalign provider in Seattle, WA. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.