Wednesday, January 29, 2020

How to Select the Best Dental Floss for You


Are you a dental floss connoisseur? Didn’t think so. But walk into a drugstore, and you have choices to make. It’s not just waxed or unwaxed anymore. There’s super floss. Dental tape. Electric flossers and water flossers. Green options include natural floss and biodegradable floss.

Don’t fret. Dental hygienists say the best floss is the one you find easiest to use—and therefore habit forming.

But if you are like many new mothers, you want all the information about getting dental x-rays while pregnant and breastfeeding, before making a decision.

Unwaxed floss: Best for tight spaces
Are your teeth set close together? Traditional, unwaxed floss is made of thin nylon strands and fits into tight spaces. Its non-slip grip makes it easy to hold. Some dentists believe that unwaxed floss cleans better by absorbing more plaque and food particles. Unfortunately, unwaxed floss can fray or break. If that becomes a problem, you can switch to the sturdier waxed floss.

Waxed floss: Best for rough edges
For teeth with rough or irregular edges, waxed floss is the ticket. The waxed coating allows floss to slide rather than snag and it strengthens the material, preventing the floss from fraying or breaking in use. Additional benefits: waxed floss comes in flavors including cinnamon and mint, as well as whitening options, welcome incentives to floss. More importantly, you can also find fluoride-coated floss, allowing you to strengthen your enamel as you clean your teeth and gums. Fluoride-coated floss is particularly recommended for people living in rural areas or who drink bottled water regularly.

Dental tape: Best for larger gaps
Do you have larger gaps between your teeth? Try dental tape. It’s wider and flatter than regular floss and is sold in both waxed and unwaxed versions. Because it glides between teeth at their full height, it’s very effective in removing bits of leftover food.

Water flossers: Best for gentle care
If your teeth or gums need gentle care, try a water flosser. This electric wand shoots a thin stream of water between teeth and around the gum line. Water flossers are quite effective, removing food particles and plaque with ease. Of course, they’re more expensive than other dental floss options and they aren’t as portable.

Super floss: Best for braces and bridges
Water flossers are also good for maneuvering around braces, bridges, and implants. You can try super floss, too. Super floss is a pre-threaded flosser that comes in pre-cut segments. It has a stiff end that helps guide it through tight spaces and hard-to-reach areas.

Electric flossers: Best for when you need a helping hand
If you have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or for any reason find it difficult to maneuver dental floss by hand, consider trying an electric flosser. Electric flossers use a sturdy fishing line-like nylon that vibrates between the teeth in an oscillating motion. Don’t overdo it, though. Overzealous use of an electric flosser can wear down your gum line.

Natural and biodegradable floss
Some brands make dental floss out of silk, which will biodegrade in a landfill or even your back yard. However, silk floss isn’t as strong as other floss.

PTFE floss: Not recommended
PTFE floss, made of polytetrafluorethylene, slides with ease between crowded teeth and through complicated dental work. However, PTFE contains suspected carcinogens as well as compounds that may disrupt hormone levels and compromise the immune system. Many oral health professionals recommend selecting a non-PTFE floss. Read package labels before you buy.

Talk to your dentist and try different dental floss options until you find the one that works best for you. If you’re not sure, start by looking for products with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. That way, you’ll know it’s safe for your teeth and will get the job done

Article Source: https://www.deltadentalwa.com/blog/entry/2019/how-to-select-the-best-dental-floss

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Do Bad Teeth Run In the Family?


“Bad teeth don’t necessarily run in the family, but bad dental habits do,” says ADA dentist Dr. Ana Paula Ferraz-Dougherty.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

White Spots on Teeth: Causes and Treatment

white spots on teeth

If you’ve ever wondered about those tiny white spots on your teeth, you aren’t alone. White spots on your teeth are a form of acute discoloration known as decalcification. It sounds a bit scary, but it’s actually a common cosmetic dental problem that most people will experience at some point in there life. Here, we’ll explain the common causes and treatment for those pesky little white spots on your teeth and how you can prevent them in the future.

What Causes White Spots on Teeth?
White spots on teeth can happen to anyone. In general, these spots are primarily caused by the process of decalcification. Decalcification, also known as demineralization, is a process where important minerals like calcium and phosphorus are removed from the structure of your teeth because of acids formed by bacteria. During this process, bacteria dissolves tooth enamel and leaves you with unwanted, chalky white spots that can appear permanently on your teeth. The most common cause of white spots on your teeth include:

Bacteria Overgrowth
The presence of too much bacteria in your mouth can contribute to the formation of white spots on your teeth. It’s because bacteria’s favorite place to grow is on our teeth. This is mostly due to the fact that our mouths check all the boxes that bacteria need to thrive - specifically a highly acidic environment that becomes even more acidic each time we eat or drink something.To avoid bacteria overgrowth in your mouth, make sure that you’re brushing and flossing every single day. It only takes 12-24 hours for plaque to start building up enough to support bacteria growth, making brushing and flossing even more important if you want to avoid white spots.

Too Much Fluoride
Exposing your mouth to too much fluoride can cause white spots to develop on your teeth. The technical term for this is fluorosis, and it typically occurs in children during the time when their teeth and tooth enamel are still forming, between the ages of one and eight years old. The end result of fluorosis is enamel hypoplasia, a defect of tooth enamel that only occurs while teeth are still developing. A child affected by enamel hypoplasia may have permanent, discolored teeth with white spots or deep grooves. Common causes of fluorosis include drinking too much fluoridated water, swallowing fluoride toothpaste, and taking certain medications.

Your Diet
Your diet can cause white spots to appear on your teeth. This is especially true if you have a diet low in foods containing calcium. As we learned earlier in this post, calcium is the foundation of teeth. When our teeth are deprived of that calcium, they don’t have the nutrients needed to build strong, healthy tooth enamel. Foods rich in calcium that may help you build tooth enamel include cheese, almonds, and leafy greens. Avoiding super acidic foods can also help reduce the chance you will develop white spots on your teeth, as acid reflux can trigger acid production and breakdown enamel.

Medications
Some medications may cause white spots on your teeth. Specifically, studies show that antibiotics like amoxicillin can impact the way your mouth builds tooth enamel, making it easier for bacteria to eat through tooth enamel. This happens because antibiotics have the potential to interfere with the way your body absorbs nutrients. Children are the most at-risk group when it comes to the impact of medications on tooth enamel.

Smoking While Pregnant
Smoking tobacco during pregnancy can cause white spots to appear on your child’s teeth. This happens because smoking tobacco during pregnancy can accelerate and promote the process of enamel hypoplasia. As discussed above, enamel hypoplasia ultimately thins the protective enamel on children’s teeth, making them vulnerable to infection and discoloration.

High Fevers
High fever can cause white spots on your teeth, although children are the most susceptible. This is because when you have a fever and feel dehydrated, your mouth and teeth usually take a back seat to feeling better. That means during the spell of a fever, acid has an opportunity to take advantage of a dry mouth and cause damage in the form of white spots on teeth. The best way to avoid this is to ensure your kiddo stays hydrated during a fever and to double down on oral care during their battle with whatever may be causing their fever.

Braces
Having braces can cause white spots on your teeth. If you have had braces at any point in your lifetime, you may notice faint white spots or thing white lines around the edges of where the brackets were glued to your teeth. This happens when minerals are stripped from the tooth due to a high amount of acidity present in the mouth. To avoid white spots popping up, it’s crucial to remove all food particles and debris from your braces as often as possible. In general, good oral hygiene can help reduce the chances of you being left with white spots on your teeth once your braces are removed.

How to Get Rid of White Spots on Teeth
Treating white spots on your teeth can only be done with the help of your dentist. Luckily, there is more than one way to get rid of these annoying little spots.

Enamel Microabrasian
An enamel microabrasion treatment can help you get rid of white spots on your teeth. A microabrasion treatment on your teeth is a process that has similar results to teeth whitening, except the treatment is executed mechanically versus chemically. The process typically involves the use of tools including a rubber cup and a rotary mandrel. It sounds scary, but it’s a common process that dentists use to remove these white spots with the least amount of enamel loss.

Teeth Bleaching
Bleaching your teeth, also known as whitening, can help get rid of white spots on your teeth. The teeth whitening process is pretty straightforward. Essentially, your dentist will use one of two bleaches that are safe for your teeth - hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The way it works is that these bleaches will break up your white spots into smaller stains, making them less noticeable and your teeth brighter. Teeth whitening is unique because that is more than one way to get it done. For example, you could try over-the-counter teeth whitening strips. You can also try over-the-counter whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. However, the best way to get your teeth bleached and whitened is to talk with your dentist.

Porcelain Veneers
Veneers can help get rid of white spots on your teeth. Dental veneers, also known as porcelain veneers or porcelain laminates, are wafer thin protective coverings for your teeth that can conceal white spots and stains. They work because a dentist will create a customized veneer designed especially for your tooth color and shape. To adhere the veneer, your dentist will bond them using specialized dental tools. In order to get veneers, a person will usually have to go through three different visits to the dentist to first get a consultation, get fitted for dentures, and then another so the veneering process can be applied.

Article Source: https://www.deltadentalwa.com/blog/entry/2019/11/white-spots-on-teeth

Monday, January 20, 2020

Health Hack: Improving Oral Health


In this week's 'Health Hack' Jane Monzures is bringing you some great tips to help you improve the health of your mouth!

Friday, January 17, 2020

Regency Dental Promo Video



If you have suffered from bad dental experiences, ask about oral sedation. It can ease your anxiety about dental treatment. We have provided this level of comfort to our patients for years. This is a family practice. We provide a complete solution to all your oral health and cosmetic needs from age 3 and up.

“Our Vacaville dental team specializes in treating people the way they tell us they want to be treated. Dr. Burton and team strive to take away the fear. We want you to obtain the beautiful smile you have always wanted." Pressed for time?

We have the technology to rebuild a broken tooth with an all-ceramic cap in one visit. Ask about our CEREC™

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

How Old is This Old Stuff


Follow the great advice that was given to Jenny Lorenzo! Leave that old toothpaste in the past and switch to Crest.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

How Veneers, Crowns and Dental Implants Help Patients


Dental technology continues to enhance and improve the dental experience for patients, giving them multiple options for common dental issues that were previously unavailable.

This is true for dental patients who have cracked, chipped, worn, rough teeth or have teeth that are missing.

In the past, patients with less than perfect teeth had to live with the embarrassment and discomfort as dental treatments were more expensive and considered unnecessary cosmetic procedures.

Over time with new technology, once-pricey, elaborate procedures have become quick, routine procedures that are no longer for the wealthy.

It is rare to naturally have a perfect smile where all the teeth are white, smooth, proportional and straight. It is the small deviations of a person's smile that makes it their one-of-a-kind smile. Many patients, however, don't see their imperfections this way. Some patients have trouble chewing, and speaking as well as headaches and jaw pain that is a result of their dental imperfections.

It is the crooked, non-proportional, jagged teeth that are most often treated by a dentist in order to ease the patient's pain and discomfort as well as enhance their confidence and self-esteem.

What kind of dental treatments are available for patients with less than desirable teeth?

The most common are veneers, crowns, and dental implants.

What Are Veneers, Crowns and Dental Implants?

You've likely heard of these before and have a vague idea of what they are and what they do. Here is a brief summary of each:

Veneers

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are placed to the front of teeth to enhance or correct their shape, size, and texture. Veneers are a quick procedure that can immediately change your smile for the better.

Crowns

Crowns are great options for patients who have moderate tooth decay or teeth that are chipped, cracked or worn-down. These gold, zirconia or porcelain coverings, go over the impacted tooth to prevent further damage and to keep the strength of the tooth intact.

Dental Implants

For patients who are missing a few teeth here and there, smiling can be unpleasant. You may think your smile is forever ruined and the thought of dentures scares you. Dental implants are the best solutions for your case. Implants are for patients who still have most of their natural teeth. Dental implants fill the empty space left behind with a naturally-looking tooth-like crown.

The Benefits of Veneers, Crowns and Dental Implants

Veneers, crowns, and dental implants can do wonders in restoring or enhancing your natural, unique smile. All three teeth procedures can give you your dream smile that you'll be proud to show-off. The confidence in one's smile can also improve your mood and make you more approachable as you'll be laughing and smiling away.

Besides enhancing your smile to its maximum potential, these dental treatments can correct and restore the proper functioning of your bite, allowing you to comfortably bite and chew and speak clearly. Being able to do these basic oral functions, a patient's quality of life can be greatly improved.

With modern dental equipment and technology, patients who have a less than ideal smile because of their tooth imperfections now can easily achieve the smile they've always wanted.

Patients should contact their dentist to discuss which option would best achieve their desired results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Anna_Bird/2355855

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9783237

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Throwback Toothday: Secrets to a Swingin’ Smile


Remind your teens – when you can catch them – to take care of their teeth! Join us as we celebrate 160 years of driving dentistry forward by taking a trip through the ADA’s video archive.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

ADA Science Inside: How Tooth Whitening Works



Over time, teeth can go from white to not-so-bright for a number of reasons. Find out what foods can stain your teeth, and learn why your teeth darken with age. Then, watch as Dr. Jane Gillette from the American Dental Association explains how bleaching ingredients brighten your smile and walks through the whitening treatments you can try at home or have done in your dentist’s office.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Changing Your Smile With Restorative Dentistry


Healthy teeth are something most people take for granted. It is only when we experience tooth pain or have problems that we realize how nice it is to have healthy teeth. Taking care of our teeth is a principle most adults are taught as kids, but when corners are cut, problems start to happen. This is where restorative dentistry comes in.

What is Restorative Dentistry?

This branch of specialty dentistry focuses on restoring teeth. There are all kinds of problems that happen with the mouth over a lifetime including:

· Gum disease

· Broken teeth

· Missing teeth

· Chipped Teeth

· Stained or discolored teeth

· Displaced Teeth

These are all common problems that happen from accidents, dental trauma, and neglect. Having the right help to get your smile looking great again is something a restorative dentist is trained to do. Rather than only focusing on preventative measures to keeping cavities at bay, they want to help fix your problems to restore your smile to its glory after an accident.

Common Procedures

Restorative dentists have a lot of tools available to fix the problems you see with your smile. Some of these options include:

· Root canals

· Crowns

· Bridges

· Dental Implants

· Tooth-colored Fillings

· Full and partial dentures

After an assessment to see the damage, a dentist can give recommendations on what procedure is best for your situation. For instance, if you have a tooth knocked out in an accident, your only option is not a dental implant. Other factors need consideration like the age of the patient, placement of the tooth, and condition of the mouth. These are all requirements a restorative dentist will know more about and can diagnose more quickly than other professionals.

Making a New Smile

Restorative dentistry is more than just restoring a smile that was damaged. The tools available to a restorative dentist can help improve a smile that is just needing some extra work to make it perfect. Many people are born with a smile that is imperfect and needs correcting with procedures like:

· Straightening and whitening teeth

· Restoring and strengthening teeth and jaw bones

· Repair or replace chipped or broken teeth

· Replace missing or lost teeth

These procedures can make all the difference in the way you look and feel about yourself. Having a smile that you can proudly show will boost your self-confidence. When you feel great, you look great, which is exactly what restorative dentistry tries to do for patients.

Taking the First Step

The first thing you should do is find a restorative dentist and make an appointment. During the first visit, they will give you their opinion on what work is required. They will also give you an estimate on time it will take and how much it will cost. Most are willing to help with payment plans if you can't afford the price tag up front. The focus is on getting your smile to a place where you feel confident showing it and there is no pain in chewing or talking. It's time to stop covering up your smile and get some confidence. Find a restorative dentist in your area today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9803661