Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Hygiene Essentials for a Brighter Smile

There's no time like the New Year for reinvention and renewal. If part of your resolution this year is to obtain a healthier, whiter smile, there are steps you can take on your own to help you achieve it.

Munch on fruits and vegetables. Firm, crisp fruits and veggies like apples or broccoli are well known to help clean and whiten teeth. The texture of the produce acts like a natural toothbrush to help scrub your teeth and rid your mouth of debris or food residue. Some fruits, like strawberries, contain natural acids that can help banish stains and make teeth whiter. These acids can be harmful in large doses, though, so keep your strawberry consumption down to about a handful a day.

Don't skip the floss. We all know the importance of brushing, but many people don't floss at all. Flossing is an essential part of your oral hygiene routine. A toothbrush can't reach the tiny spaces in between teeth, and slacking on flossing allows bacteria, plaque and stains to build up in these crevices. Not only can this contribute to gum disease and decay, but the stains resulting from ignoring this hygiene step can be annoying and difficult to get rid of.

Quit smoking. Aside from the serious consequences for your health, tobacco smoke is one of your biggest enemies when it comes to white teeth. The tar and nicotine in cigarettes is extremely staining and damaging to the protective layer of enamel on the outside of your teeth. Long-term cigarette use can lead to dark gray or black stains on teeth, which are typically much more difficult to remove then yellowish stains. Smokeless, or chewing tobacco, doesn't help either- the chemicals in chewing tobacco are just as staining to teeth and still dangerous to your health.

Chew sugarless gum. The act of chewing stimulates your glands to produce more saliva. Saliva is your body's natural defense against bacteria, residue and stains. A constant flow of saliva can also help neutralize acids that can cause staining and decay. Make sure the gum you choose is sugar-free and carries the ADA stamp of approval. This means the product is proven to be effective at helping teeth stay healthy.

Drink more water. The majority of US adults aren't staying hydrated on a regular basis, and this can mean big problems for teeth. Your body is more efficient at all its processes when it's well hydrated, including keeping teeth strong and banishing bacteria. Without enough water in your system, your body can't produce enough saliva, resulting in dry mouth. Sipping on water throughout the day also provides a constant wash of acid-neutralizing, nourishing liquid instead of sugary, acidic soda or juice.

Eat more dairy. Dairy products provide your body with calcium, which is essential to strong teeth. Cheese especially is very useful for oral health, as the waxy or creamy texture tends to form a temporary protective coating over the teeth, repelling stains and bacteria. For this reason, it's helpful to eat cheese with wine or dessert, and make the cheese the last thing you eat.

Arthur Willet is a health writer on a wide variety of health and dental care topics. Discover similar high quality information from a top quality Greeley dentist. Dedicated to dental care for your family's good health, he is one of the best Greeley dentists in Weld County, Colorado and offers personalized and preventative oral hygiene services.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arthur_Willet

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8470321

Saturday, April 26, 2014

What You Need to Know About Tooth Grinding



Andrew J. Greenberger, D.M.D., participating Delta Dental dentist, shares how tooth grinding can affect your oral health, and what you can do about it.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Porcelain & Composite Veneers

What are porcelain and composite veneers?
 
Dental veneers come in different varieties with most pointing to porcelain and composite veneers as the most common. There are differences between the two but both serve the effective purpose of enhancing the way your teeth look in a significant way.

Dental veneers are designed to significantly improve one's appearance through changing a person's less than desirable looking teeth.
  
How is this done?

Essentially, custom-made mouldings are employed to cover the front of the problematic looking teeth. Once in place, veneers can truly change the appearance of the teeth. It also becomes very difficult to tell the difference between the veneers and the original teeth provided an expert cosmetic dental practitioner is at the helm of creating the moldings.

 

What are Direct and Indirect Veneers?

There are two further categories in which both porcelain and composite veneers fall under. These are indirect and direct veneers. The difference between the two is how and where they are made. With indirect veneers, the veneers are produced in a dental laboratory.

With direct veneers, they are made by a dentist when you are at the office during an actual appointment. Is one method necessarily better than another? The answer is that one is not better than another as much as one might be more appropriate depending upon the individual case and the condition of your teeth. It would be through careful deliberation with your dentist that you can decide upon which type of veneers is best used.


The Benefits of Porcelain and Composite Veneers 

  • The actual materials used to create the veneers are modern and cutting edge. This is what allows the teeth to present a bright, white, and natural smile. Again, our teeth certainly will not give the appearance they are covered up by a dental appliance. Your smile and your teeth will look indistinguishable from perfect natural teeth
  • Those that have suffered from serious dental problems along the lines of misaligned or rotting teeth, trauma injuries such as chips or fractures, genetic issues such as poorly shaped teeth or spaced between teeth or the common problem of teeth discoloration will find porcelain veneers to be the perfect solution to these problems. In fact, porcelain veneers could lead to a complete and total cosmetic makeover that improves your smile and appearance immensely
  • Porcelain veneers are often used when a serious dental mishap has occurred along the lines of cracking, chipping, excessive discoloration and other problems. Therefore, if your teeth are in dire condition it will likely be porcelain veneers that will be recommended
  • The composite version of veneers can be considered a form of bonding and they are far less costly and invasive. When you have minor problems with your teeth, you will likely find that composite veneers are generally the best solution in which to employ.

Regardless of which type of veneers you select Porcelain/Composite or Direct/Indirect the bottom line is you can certainly enhance and improve the look of your teeth dramatically through this cosmetic dentistry process. It can completely change the look of your teeth for the better and in a relatively easy manner.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Dental Advice for a Healthy Mouth

A visit to the dentist can make you feel anxious, even scared sometimes. You don't need to worry if you have good dental care habits. You can add the following tips to your daily dental care routine. 

  •  Smoking tremendously harms your dental health. Educate yourself about the kind of damage you are likely to see in the future if you continue smoking. Make an effort to quit smoking as soon as possible. If you need help quitting, your physician or dentist will be more than happy to advise you on the best way to do so.
  • If you feel pain because of your wisdom teeth, talk to your dentist about extraction. Most extractions can be performed very easily in your dentist's office. If you have an infected wisdom tooth, it needs to be removed. Even if you don't have one that's infected, if it bothers you because it's painful, getting it removed can help.
  • If you are taking medicines daily and suffer from bad breath, your medications may be at fault. If you do not produce enough saliva, it is more likely that cavities will develop and that you will experience discomfort. Discuss your symptoms with your physician and see if your medications are to blame. If it is, then you might need to switch medications if possible. If this is not a viable option, ask your dentist for other options.
  • When flossing, always use a long enough piece to get the job done properly. Use approximately 20 inches. This amount should be enough for cleaning every single tooth.Take your two center fingers, and wrap the floss around them. It takes about an inch of dental floss in order to properly clean each tooth.If neither you nor your kids like mint, don't avoid brushing your teeth! Mint is no longer the only flavor option for mainstream oral care products. Pick a flavor that you like. Ask a dentist or check a health food store if you need help.
  • Do not brush your teeth with hard bristle brushes. You can push your gums back and make them start to recede with these overly aggressive brushes. Over time, the bristles may erode your teeth. So, you are much better off using a medium or soft bristled toothbrush.
  • If you feel like you might not be able to handle your dental procedure, speak with your dentist about how you can signal to them that you need a break or some reassurance. A simplehand signal may work quite well. You probably wont have to use it, but it will keep you at ease to know you can.
  • You want to see a dentist right away if you are feeling any pain or discomfort in your mouth.When you try to avoid going to a dentist, more damage could be occurring. Visiting the dentist when you first notice an issue will save you a lot of money than if you wait. 

Now you know that you can take specific steps to improve your appearance. You no longer have to be embarrassed about them. Now you can feel confident about your smile. Heed this advice if you want to maintain your smile.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Regency Dental Group's April Special!

Save $25
ZOOM ONE HOUR BLEACHING

Regency Dental Group|1001 Nut Tree Rd|Ste 230
Vacaville CA
 
Offer Expires: April 30, 2014

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Spring Cleaning For Your Mouth


Spring is here and it is usually when we do some Spring cleaning around our homes. Why not think about your oral hygiene the same way?  Spring cleaning for your mouth?  If it has been a while since your last teeth cleaning, give us a call.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Sensitive Teeth - How to Make Your Teeth Less Sensitive

Oral health is an important thing to maintain, especially as you get older. Our gums tend to recede as we age, leading to gum disease and tooth sensitivity due to exposed roots. While gum recession is a common dental problem, it is one that you do not want to ignore. If left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structure of the teeth and be irreversibly damaged, and you could possibly end up losing the affected teeth.

There are a few things we need to keep in mind to not only stave off this mouth malady, but to possibly reverse the bad effects that gum recession can cause. There are things you can try at home on your own without involving dental professionals.

The first thing you can do (starting today!) to help prevent gums from receding and exposing roots, is to stop the heavy-handed tooth brushing. Roughly brushing your teeth can cause the gum tissue to become irritated and pull away from the teeth. Switch to a soft bristled toothbrush and don't push so hard while you're brushing. Hard brushing not only causes gums to recede, it also wears away your enamel, which also protects you from sensitivity.

You should also pay close attention to which toothpaste you are using. Try to avoid the whitening, tartar-control, and baking soda toothpastes. They're abrasive and can contain phosphates, which make teeth sensitive. Many over-the-counter toothpaste brands have a sensitive version that is priced just a tad higher than their other kinds of toothpaste. Try softly brushing with sensitive toothpaste, especially right after eating and right before bedtime. You can also just put a dab on your finger and rub it on the sensitive part of your teeth where the tooth and gum meet, then leave that on overnight.

Keeping your teeth clean by brushing twice a day would seem like an obvious way to stave off dental issues, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't follow this simple self-maintenance rule. Plaque, the yucky goo that naturally forms on teeth, produces an acid that further irritates your teeth and gums. Not only brushing twice a day, but adding a daily flossing will help keep plaque at bay.

Using a fluoride rinse is another way to help decrease sensitivity. Non-prescription fluoride rinses are available at your local pharmacy or in the dental health section of your grocery store. These can be used like a mouthwash, once a day, swished around in your mouth then spit out.

Teeth can also become sensitive from trauma, or bruising. If you like to crunch down on those popcorn kernels at the bottom of the microwave bag, you can unintentionally be bruising your teeth. Or if you are a habitual tooth-grinder or jaw-clamper, you may be causing a constant pressure that will spur on sensitivity as well. Sensitivity caused by situational events may only last a day or two. This is nothing to be alarmed by, however if your sensitivity continues and is persistent, you should take it seriously and schedule a dental appointment as soon as possible.

Habits that involve keeping things in your mouth for long periods of time can become abrasive to your gums and cause sensitivity as well. Sucking on hard candies constantly can cause gum recession. Chewing tobacco tucked between your teeth and gum can not only cause gum degeneration, but also mouth cancers, and should generally be abstained from for good health all around.

While some of these things are common sense, some do require a bit of testing to see if they work as a solution for you as an individual. However, if you have long-term sensitivity or unbearable mouth pain, the best thing you can do is to consult a dental professional.

By Renee Maikon DDS http://www.familycedarrapidsdentist.com/ https://plus.Google.com/117185531496915882486
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Renee_Maikon_DDS

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8093577

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Screening for Oral Cancer



Regular visits to your dentist are important for the early detection of oral cancer.