Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Regular Dental Visits Are Crucial to Your Health


Regular dental visits are crucial for maintaining not only your oral health, but also your overall health in general. The typically suggested regularity with which you should visit your dentist is once every six months, and this timeframe is not accidental. The time frame of about six months is the period that a typical American person who brushes and flosses their teeth twice daily will begin to fall behind in their ability to remove plaque and tartar that is building up below the gum lines and between teeth. The typical process of brushing and flossing is generally effective at removing plaque that is on the vertical surfaces of the teeth, but over time the crevices in teeth and between them collect a buildup of decaying food and bacteria that is not able to be removed by a toothbrush alone. At these times, the bacteria will begin to decay the tooth surfaces as well as to begin impacting your overall health, and it should be removed by the special tools and processes that are available only to your dentist. While these timeframes are certainly speculative and some will see buildup faster than others, it is good to keep to a regular schedule in order for the routine itself to benefit you. Most people need these kinds of routines or they will continually put the process off too long.

The other reason for regular visits is that the dentist can look for signs of diseases like gum disease and oral cancer. These conditions show early warning signs, and can potentially be diagnosed early in the process by a dentist during a regular exam. Catching the disease early is many times the difference between effective treatment and more dire consequences, so by establishing a routine of an exam every six months will give your dentist the ability to notice differences between the inside of your mouth now vs. six months ago. If it is noticed that there may be a condition developing, then no more than a few months has gone by and a treatment plan can be enacted immediately, thus helping to reverse the progress of the disease with minimal damage.

Visit your dentist every six months for an exam and cleaning, and brush and floss every day. Always visit your dentist immediately if you notice any changes to the inside of your mouth or to your health in general. Your dentist may be able to find the signs of disease and help your overall health, but you must play a role as well.

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Saturday, July 28, 2018

Do Electric Toothbrushes Work Better Than Regular Toothbrushes?



They both clean your teeth, but does one do a better job? ADA dentist Dr. Richard Price breaks down the benefits of electric and regular toothbrushes in this “Ask an ADA Dentist” video.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

5 Incredible Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry That You Need to Know


The first thing that people tend to notice about others is their smile. However, people who are not happy with the way their smile appears will always be smiling less. This may affect their self-confidence and how they enjoy their lives. However, this can be corrected using cosmetic dentistry. There is a wide variety of dental procedures that can be carried out to help you look and feel beautiful whenever you smile.

Whiter teeth

Cosmetic dental procedures involve teeth whitening, which is meant to get rid of any discoloration. Whitening involves the use of bleaching gel on the teeth, which is activated using a curing light, a process that takes approximately one hour. Permanent stains on the teeth can also be removed by applying a layer of shell on the outer part of the teeth.

Enhance smiles

Chipped teeth tend to have a bad appearance that can ruin your smile. However, cosmetic dentistry can correct this problem. A thin layer of resin is usually applied on the tooth to cover up the structure that is lost. Dental crowns can also be placed on fractures, broken and decayed teeth.

Replace missing teeth

Most people who lose a tooth may have problems chewing food and some end up feeling self-conscious. Artificial teeth are manufactured from porcelain and appear natural. This will enable you to smile again because you will not have noticeable gaps on your gums. Most of these porcelain teeth can last for over ten years. Therefore, you would not have to worry about anything for several years to come.

Restores confidence

Most people who have broken teeth or discolored teeth are never happy about their smile. This means that they smile less often so as to hide the issues with the teeth. However, one can boost their self confidence and enhance the quality of their lives through cosmetic treatments. This way, you will not be afraid of people seeing your crooked, chipped, missing or stained teeth.

Boosts health

Cosmetic dentistry is not just about enhancing your appearance. It can also help you maintain healthy gums and teeth. Reshaping, whitening and straightening of crooked teeth can motivate individuals to put more effort on their dental hygiene. This is because individuals tend to alter their drinking and eating habits to evade staining or darkening of teeth. Overall health is improved because people avoid sugary drinks, excess coffee, junk foods and cigarettes.

Cosmetic dentistry has evolved over the years to be painless, successful, effective and faster procedures. Continuing studies and research in this field ensure that individuals get their desired look in an effective and safe manner. Most procedures can even be done in one session, for example, teeth whitening. Therefore, you do not have to hesitate to get that beautiful smile that you always dream about.

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Sunday, July 22, 2018

What You Need to Know About Receding Gums


Dr. Andrew Greenberger, participating Delta Dental dentist, shares what you need to know about receding gums, including its causes and treatments.

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Why Should a Toothache Be Taken Seriously?


Chances are you've experienced a toothache. These dental conditions are common and have a variety of causes. Sometimes they are no more than tooth sensitivity. Other times they may cause debilitating pain.

If you have an aching tooth, you can either shake it off as tooth sensitivity if it isn't too severe or you think something is terribly wrong when the pain is excruciating. Sometimes you may be tempted to stick it out as long as you can, bearing with the pain and thinking it will go away on its own. However, this isn't always the case.

Sometimes toothaches may be the result of a chronic condition that has hasn't been properly dealt with. Instead of clearing up on its own, it spreads, causing further damage to your teeth and gums.

As much as you may dislike the dentist, there are some circumstances whereby immediate attention by a dental professional is important. If your tooth, for instance is causing constant, unbearable pain, will likely cause you to break down and seek immediate professional dental care.

A broken, cracked or chipped tooth can create a toothache that suddenly starts. When a tooth experiences trauma, such as being broken or chipped, the enamel of the tooth becomes weakened and compromised. The tooth enamel is the hard, translucent outer layer. It protects the inside of the tooth from infection and decay and it gives the tooth the stability and hardness to function properly. When the tooth enamel becomes compromised, the nerves inside the tooth and the roots of the tooth become exposed, leading to pain and sensitivity. In many cases, a broken, cracked or chipped tooth can be repaired.

Another source of toothache pain can come from a tooth that is abscessed. Tooth abscesses are the result of an untreated oral health condition that creates an infection. A tooth abscess is usually the result of an untreated cavity whereby the germs and bacteria from the tooth decay spread down (or up) into the root of the tooth. Abscessed teeth can be saved with a root canal. In instances where the tooth abscess is too great, the tooth will need to be extracted. You'll know whether you have an abscessed tooth or not. These often cause excruciating pain and can be accompanied by a host of other unpleasant symptoms including: fever, swollen, red gums, sore, swollen glands in the neck, unusual tastes in the mouth, bad breath, a stiff and swollen jaw and open sores on the gums that may drain. Abscessed teeth can lead to lost teeth and destruction of the gum tissue and jaw bone. The germs and bacteria that is in the pus that is excreted from the open sores of the gum can get into the bloodstream causing life-threatening health conditions such as a blood infection.

One's tooth sensitivity is often the result of an underlying oral health issue. It may stay at a temporary tooth sensitivity such as when a tooth is broken or chipped. In other instances, the pain can become worse, to the point where the pain is nearly unbearable. Regardless of how severe or not your tooth sensitivity is, it is worth it to have it looked at a dental professional. Your dentist will be able to diagnose the cause of your tooth sensitivity and apply the appropriate treatment.

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Monday, July 16, 2018

Crest Gum & Enamel Repair: Healthier Teeth Start at the Gum Line


Gum problems are the root of some key oral health issues. Crest Gum & Enamel Repair toothpaste targets the gum line to neutralize plaque bacteria and penetrates the tooth's surface to repair weakened enamel.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Why Preventative Dentistry Is Better Than Restorative Dentistry


Going to the dentist may be the last thing you'd want to do. The dentist office is the last place you'd ever want to be. Maybe you've had a traumatic past experience at the dentist office. Maybe you're scared of pain or something going wrong at your appointment. Maybe you're too ashamed to step into the dentist office fearing what the dentist will find after not having seen a dentist in many years. Maybe you're just starting out on your own and don't want to deal with the hassle of shopping around for dental insurance, so you avoid the dentist.

You may think that your mouth is healthy. After all you have a stellar at-home oral hygiene routine and you avoid those taboo foods and drinks such as candy, bread, soda and coffee. You eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. You may think that the dental office visit is optional or unnecessary. You only see the dentist only in those times something isn't right.

There are many fears and reasoning that keep people from regularly going to the dentist and getting the preventative dental care they need. Many patients treat the dentist like they do their doctor. They forego the routine, preventative appointments and instead only go when they notice something abnormal or are experiencing pain or discomfort.

This way of going about one's overall and oral health is not the best. In fact, it can be putting your overall and oral health at risk.

Specifically, here are some reasons why preventative dentistry is better than restorative dentistry:

Save Money

The most noticeable advantage preventative dentistry has over restorative dentistry is the money one will save on dental procedures. A routine, six-month professional teeth cleaning and dental examination will cost less than a filling or a crown. In fact, many dental insurance plans cover two semi-annual dental check-ups and cleaning, but they won't give you "free" crowns or fillings.

Save Time

When you go in for a dental check-up, you're in and out within minutes and you won't leave the dentist office with pain or discomfort. There is no complicated procedure, no ordering or dental appliances and no recovery time needed. On the flip side, while most restorative dental procedures have become routine and easy and quick to perform, they may entail a follow-up appointment, entail a longer dental appointment and involve a waiting period for a needed dental device.

If you're busy, chances are you want to get back on your regular routine and schedule as soon as possible.

Become Comfortable With Your Fear

Patients who make it a point to come and see their dentist for a preventative check-up to stem the possible occurrence of future dental health issues, will more likely have more pleasant, quick and hassle-free appointments. Associating the dental office with these pleasant experiences will initiate a change of attitude towards the dental office and may even start breaking down those negative past dental office experiences. In addition, the more frequently you come into the dentist office, the quicker you'll get use to the unpleasant smells and noises.

The dentist may not ever become your favorite place to visit, but if you make it a goal to regularly visit for a check-up and cleaning, you'll better insure a healthy mouth which in turn lowers your risk of expensive, more intensive and time-consuming restorative dental work.

If you haven't been to the dentist in many years for any reason, and have not kept up with preventative dentistry, it is still important to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Sometimes restorative dental work is necessary to ensure the best dental health for the patient.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2018

What Are Dental Sealants and Why Should My Child Get Them?


You may have taken your young child to the dentist office where the dentist suggests your son or daughter get sealants. Sealants are great ways to protect your child's teeth, in addition to daily, proper oral hygiene.

Dental sealants are usually recommended for young children who are in the early stages of learning to properly brush their teeth. They can, however, be placed on adult's teeth. Seniors who have arthritis and other issues that keep them from properly brushing and flossing their teeth can also benefit from sealants.

Brushing their teeth can be challenging for small children. Comfortably gripping the toothbrush, learning the right toothbrush motions and resisting the urge to swallow the toothpaste can make teeth brushing very difficult. As a result, children can get frustrated and not brush as well as they should.

Sealants won't make teeth brushing fun, though it is important for your child to enjoy brushing his or her teeth, but they can provide a safety buffer to make up for their inadequate, less-than-ideal teeth cleaning.

When children are first learning to brush their teeth, there are many areas where they may miss, such as brushing the back molars or the backside of their front teeth. When those hard to reach places aren't cleaned, the trapped food particles can breakdown and form cavity-causing plaque.

Sealants help protect a child's teeth by covering the teeth with a thin, plastic covering. Sealants can't be felt and their transparent nature makes them unnoticeable. Usually, sealants are placed over the molars as those teeth get a lot of chewing action and they are hard to reach when brushing and flossing.

Sealants are most effective when they are placed over the molars shortly after they erupt, or come up from the gumline, which is typically at ages 6 and 12. The process of placing sealants is quick, easy and pain-free.

Sealants are often made from clear plastic that fits snuggly around individual teeth, making them virtually unnoticeable to the child and others.

Why Sealants?

As mentioned previously, dental sealants block out cavity-causing debris, germs and bacteria. While your child should learn daily, proper oral hygiene, sealants help protect their teeth from decay by complimenting their established teeth cleaning routine.

Cavities are one of the most widespread and preventable childhood diseases. The over-indulgence of unhealthy, sugary snacks as well as inadequate oral hygiene are the two major causes.

Sealants prevent food particles, especially sugar, from getting embedded onto the surface and crevices of teeth. With the teeth (mainly molars) being protected from cavity-causing plaque and food debris build-up, your child will have a significantly lower chance of tooth decay.

Tooth decay in children is often overlooked. It isn't uncommon for the health of a child's primary (or baby) teeth to be neglected. Many parents think that the baby teeth are unimportant because they will all eventually fall out. However, cavities in the baby teeth can filter down into the up-and-coming permanent adult teeth. Children who start off with cavities risk other oral health issues such as crooked or misshapen teeth and misaligned bites. The psychological block a child may develop from early cavities may make him or her apathetic towards proper, daily oral hygiene and he or she may even dislike and resist properly caring for their teeth and gums later in life.

Sealants not only help protect childrens' teeth from cavities, but it also gives them added self-confidence and have a greater joy of properly caring for their oral health.

If your child may need sealants, schedule an appointment with your child's pediatric dentist.

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Saturday, July 7, 2018

What You Can Do About Bleeding Gums


Bleeding gums are often a cause for concern as well as they should be in most cases. Bleeding gums are often caused by something not right with your gums. Your gums have become weak and injured. Some of these causes are cause for great alarm, such as the beginning of periodontal disease. Others, are easily preventable and reversed, such as brushing or flossing too vigorously. Sometimes bleeding gums are caused by hormones that can be outside of your immediate control.

Treatment Options for Bleeding Gums

Whatever the cause may be, the first step in getting them treated is to see your dentist. He or she will be able to assess whether your bleeding gums are the result of gum disease or by something else.

Periodontal Disease Treatment

If your dentist determines you have periodontal disease, there are many courses of action they may recommend depending on the severity. If you have the early stages, it can be easily reversed with good dental hygiene and regular visits to the dental office.

In more severe cases, where the periodontal disease has advanced, your dentist may recommend scaling or root planing to limit the build-up of plaque and slow down the progression of the disease. Ongoing periodontal therapy may be needed to keep it at bay. In the most extreme cases of gum disease, surgery may be required to maintain the structure of the mouth and jaw bone and to save the teeth.

Other Bleeding Gum Treatment Options

If you find out that your bleeding gums are not caused by the beginning of gum disease, less extreme treatment options will be recommended.

If your dentist determines that your bleeding gums are the result of improper oral hygiene practices, he or she will recommend changes to your dental hygiene routine. These recommendations may include:

Using a soft toothbrush. Hard (or stiff) bristled toothbrushes can scratch, damage and weaken both your gums and the enamel of your teeth. This can make your gums and teeth more vulnerable to gum disease and cavities. A soft-bristled brush won't irritate, scratch or injure your gums in a way that causes them to bleed.

Practice proper brushing techniques. Brush too hard, using the wrong brushing pattern or not brushing your teeth and gums long enough can cause your gums to get injured, irritated and weak to the point where they bleed. The proper teeth brushing technique recommended by dentists include using gentle, circular motions over your teeth and gums for two minutes twice a day.

Implement daily flossing. Many patients shy away from flossing for fear of causing their gums to bleed. If you practice daily flossing, your gums will eventually strengthen to the point where they will stop bleeding. Bleeding gums when you first begin flossing is normal as it is a result of weak gums, which if not addressed and strengthened, can lead to gum disease. It is recommended you floss at least once a day.

Choose a quality mouth rinse. If your mouthwash contains alcohol, throw it out. Alcohol dries out the mouth which accelerates the development of plaque that causes gum disease. An alcohol-free mouthwash won't dry out your mouth and will destroy gum disease and cavity cause bacteria and plaque.

Avoid tobacco products and a poor diet. The harsh chemicals in tobacco products can irritate gums, causing them to weaken and bleed. Tobacco also discolors teeth. A diet heavy on sugars and simple carbohydrates increases the growth and formation of plaque which accelerates the progress of gum disease and bleeding gums. Constant snacking throughout the day is also not recommended because it leads to the accumulation of plaque build-up on the gums and teeth.

Have an aligned bite. If your bite isn't properly aligned or you have crowded or missing teeth, there is a greater chance for plaque to build-up between teeth and on the gums, which can cause them to bleed. Habits such as teeth grinding or jaw clenching can put additional force on the teeth and gums, wearing them down to make them more vulnerable to decay and disease. Regular visits to your dentist are recommended if you have braces or dentures, or have TMJ. He or she can properly adjust your apparatus to ensure a proper, straight bite.

Bleeding gums are not anything to ignore. The cause of your bleeding gums can be a symptom of gum disease which can lead to additional, severe oral health issues.

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Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Happy 4th of July!


“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore!” 
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Ready, Set, Rec! JULY


In this episode of Ready, Set, Rec! Recreation Manager Reggie Hubbard shares with us the many fun events and activities taking place in July with the City of Vacaville Recreation Department!