A Dentist Helps Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy

Family dentistry practices specialize in the prevention of tooth problems, restoring any troublesome areas, and maintaining dental health overall. They are trained to treat every member of your family, at any age. These dentists have been trained in a wide range of techniques that can provide care for many different issues.

If you or one of your family members have a dental problem, are experiencing pain, or desire a cosmetic dental service, contact a family practice to address your oral health needs. The ADA, also known as the American Dental Association, recommends that patients visit the dentist for a checkup a minimum of two times a year. These checkups can help detect oral health problems before a patient even experiences any symptoms. This not only saves the patient from considerable distress, it can also mean that teeth that would have been lost due to decay or other problems might be able to be restored.

During your visit, exams may be provided in order to detect cavities or other problems. If they find a cavity during your checkup, they may provide you with treatment such as a filling before it develops into a more serious problem. It may be tempting to put off getting a filling is the pain is not too bad, but the sooner you act in this situation the more of the tooth you can save, which preserves its overall structural integrity. Some of the other preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dental services you may be able to receive include dentures, implant crowns, root canal therapy, teeth whitening, veneers, and much more.

Going on regular visits to your dentist is an important aspect of staying physically healthy. There are many overall health issues that are connected to the deterioration of oral health. Your regular dental visits can help problems such as gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss for adults in the United States. Gum disease can be painful, damages your teeth and gums, and can even cause you to experience loss of bone, among other problems. Gum disease has been connected to a number of other issues such as lung disease, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer.

With regular visits to your dentist, you can discover the early signs of cavities, check for oral cancer, reduce emergencies, and maintain good oral health. It is not enough to floss, brush, and rinse to prevent oral health problems. It is essential that you visit a dental practice on a regular basis. You can call and schedule an appointment with a skilled and professional family dentist today to get the oral health care services you need.


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Bite These 7 Habits for Better Oral Health

Seemingly minor actions can significantly impact your oral health. Brushing quickly, clenching your jaw when you're stressed, gnawing on pens, ripping things open with your teeth-you might do these things without thinking twice.

Pay attention to how you use-or abuse-your teeth, then make some changes. Chances are, if you're like most people, you've succumbed to several of these oral health no-no's:

1. Poor technique
You're in a hurry or thinking about something else. And so, you brush fast, hard, or not at all. Brushing too quickly often results in missing surfaces and wind up with a poor cleaning job. Brushing too hard can damage gums and cause the gum line to recede. It can also wear down tooth enamel, resulting in sensitivity.

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends holding your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle and using a gentle, circular motion. Brush twice a day for 2-3 minutes at a time. If, for some reason, brushing just isn't an option, chew sugar-free gum and swish your mouth with water following a meal-but don't make it a habit.

2. Skipped care
Tempting as it may be, skipping daily brushing and flossing sessions doesn't pay off. Doing so can get you out of the habit and mean enduring additional, unpleasant plaque at your next checkup. Over time, the omissions may just add up to decay and cavities.

And remember to floss! Don't just slide floss in and out of the spaces between your teeth, make sure to gently rub it up and down against their sides. Consider using floss picks or wands, if that makes the job easier-whatever ensures you do it daily.

3. Shoddy tools
For optimal "mechanical effectiveness," the American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months-earlier, if you notice wear. Also make the switch following illness.

4. Clenching and grinding
A lot of people grind their teeth at night or clench their jaws when tense Most of us don't notice these habits until they create pain. Grinding and clenching wear down tooth surfaces; they can also lead to tooth fractures, as well as tension headaches and jaw pain.

Discuss these problems with your dentist. He or she may recommend a mouth guard for nighttime protection. For daytime problems, start practicing awareness. Trying to catch yourself in the moment will help you stop. Check your posture, too; a hunched back and high shoulders create tension. Stress-reduction and relaxation techniques can also help diminish-and even get rid of-these harmful habits.

5. Nibbling
It's easy to mindlessly gnaw on a pen or chomp on ice cubes. But catching yourself in the act may prevent chips, cracks and worn enamel. Reach for sugar-free gum or sip on some water instead.

6. Unintended use
Your teeth are not scissors, pliers or nail clippers. When used to stand in for these tools, they are subject to harmful wear, breaks and fractures. The end result: expensive and possibly painful dental work, as well as unsightly appearance. Keep a small multi-tool or scissors on hand, so you won't be tempted to use your teeth.

7. Sweet tooth
Grabbing for sugary foods and drinks may provide temporary comfort or energy, but they also erode enamel and facilitate plaque buildup. Substitute a short walk or stretch when you hit that afternoon lull. If you can't shake your sugar craving, reach for fruit. And, if it's about refreshment, choose water, low-fat milk or juices made with 50 percent fruit juice and no added sweeteners.

You only get one set of adult teeth; use them wisely and properly, and treat them with care!


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All You Need to Know About Tooth Sensitivity

There is nothing worse than looking forward to your favorite treat, only to find that eating it causes pain to your teeth. A bite of ice cream, a sip of hot coffee, or even a healthy snack of citrus fruit can be painful.

Unfortunately for those with extremely sensitive teeth, this happens all too often.

Teeth are comprised of many layers, the strongest of which is the enamel. When the enamel has worn away and dentin that coats the nerve of each tooth is left exposed, painful tooth sensitivity is experienced.

Teeth sensitivity- also known as dentin hypersensitivity or root sensitivity- can be caused by a number of things, including age, vigorous brushing, and injuries, among other causes. Dentin hypersensitivity affects more than 40 percent of the adult population world wide, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

Certain foods can lead to tooth sensitivity. Highly acidic foods such as sodas, citrus juices, and pickles can cause enamel to wear out and expose sensitive areas of the tooth. Bodily acids can damage teeth as well. Those who suffer from bulimia or gastroesophageal reflux disease must pay special attention to their dental care routines, as bodily acids can cause tooth erosion and sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity can also be caused by facial injuries and chipped teeth. Wearing a mouthguard can help avoid this by keeping teeth from smashing together and causing major oral injuries. Protecting teeth with a mouthguard during sports and physical activity can also lower the risk of concussion.

Sometimes tooth sensitivity cannot be avoided. The aging process comes with receding gum lines and years of vigorous brushing, which can contribute to tooth sensitivity. Those who have undergone orthodontic treatment such as dental braces, have had routine teeth cleanings throughout their lives, or had cavities filled might also experience tooth sensitivity during and after their procedures.

Braces are made to guide teeth into alignment, which will naturally cause discomfort to patients. Those with braces must take great care to thoroughly clean their teeth and braces because trapped food can create acid that can eventually lead to cavities, decalcification and increased tooth sensitivity.

Patients who have sensitive teeth and are undergoing orthodontic treatment might fear the day their braces come off. While the procedure of removing braces simply feels like intense pressure on the teeth to most people, those with sensitive teeth might have a harder time enduring it. However, orthodontists are highly trained to reduce discomfort to all patients.

Once braces have been removed, patients can finally treat tooth sensitivity on the entire tooth surface, focusing on what was covered by the braces.

There are a number of home remedies and in-office procedures that can help alleviate tooth sensitivity.

At Home

Simple modifications to your everyday oral hygiene routine can help tremendously. First, a soft bristle toothbrush is recommended, as well as gentler brushing strokes. We also recommend patients double check the proper way to brush teeth, as improper brushing can cause unnecessary scratching of the enamel.

Second, special toothpastes exist to protect teeth from tooth sensitivity. You don't need to sacrifice fluoride or whitening, because several toothpastes made for tooth sensitivity come with whitening and fluoride capabilities. There are special rinses and mouthwashes that also come made for sensitive teeth.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends using products that have their seal of approval to ensure the product you use has passed the ADA criteria for effectiveness.

At the Office

Dentists can offer a fluoride gel to strengthen enamel. They can also offer to "seal" sensitive teeth with a plastic material. Covering teeth mends the exposed dentin and worn enamel and reduces sensitivity.

No matter the level of sensitivity, make sure to bring it up at your next visit to your dentist or orthodontist so they can advise the best solution for your oral health.

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What Are Veneers? An In-Depth Overview of Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are wafer-thin shells of tooth-colored materials, which are used for covering the front surface of teeth for cosmetic purposes and are also known as porcelain veneers. Veneers are used to change the color, length, shape or size of teeth and are bonded to the front surface of teeth.

Either porcelain or resin composite is the material, which is used for making the veneers. In comparison to resin veneers, stains are better resisted by porcelain veneers and the light-reflecting characteristics of natural teeth are better mimicked by them. Veneers made of resin are thinner and less of the tooth surface needs to be removed to place them. So, when it comes to deciding the best choice, it is better to consult your dentist.

What Types of Problems Can Be Fixed with Dental Veneers?

Typically, the following problems can be fixed using dental veneers:

Broken or chipped teeth

Discolored teeth

Gaps between teeth

Irregular, misaligned or unevenly shaped teeth

Worn down teeth

How Are Dental Veneers Applied?

You will have to visit your dentist thrice if you want to get dental veneers, one for consultation, the second for making the making the veneers and the third for applying them. Veneers can be applied to one tooth or simultaneously to multiple teeth.

Before your dentist prepares your teeth and makes veneers for them, you will have to explain what sort of a result you want to achieve. Your teeth will be examined by your dentist during your first appointment, and your dentist will determine if dental veneers are suitable for you. Your dentist might possible make impressions of your teeth and mouth, and might also take dental X-rays.

About 1/2 millimeter of enamel from the surface of your tooth will be removed by your dentist to prepare it for a veneer. Before the enamel is trimmed off, your dentist will decide and even ask you if you want local anesthetic so that the area is numbed. Next, an impression or model of your tooth will be made. The dentist will send out the model to a dental laboratory, where it will be used to construct your veneer. The laboratory will send back the veneer within a week or two.

Before permanently cementing the dental veneer to your tooth, your dentist will check if it fits properly and its color is appropriate by temporarily placing it on your tooth. To ensure the veneer fits properly, your dentist might remove and trim it a few times. Your dentist might use the cement to adjust the color of the veneer to match your natural teeth. Next, the dentist will clean, polish and etch your tooth to roughen it so the bonding process is strong.

Your dentist will apply special cement to the veneer and will place it on your tooth. After properly positioning the veneer on your tooth, a special light beam will be applied to it, activating the chemicals in the cement as a result of which it will harden quickly. In the final steps, excess cement will be removed; your bite will be evaluated, and any final adjustments to your veneer will be made as necessary.

What are the Benefits of Dental Veneers?

Getting veneers has the following benefits:

A natural appearance is provided to your tooth

Porcelain is tolerated quite well by gum tissue

Porcelain veneers are resistant to stain

Darker teeth can be made to appear whiter

A conservative approach to change the color and shape of a tooth is offered by veneers. The extensive shaping before the procedure that is required by crowns is not required when veneers have to be applied. This makes them a more aesthetic and stronger alternative.

Is Special Care Required by Veneers?

No special care has to be taken for your new veneers. Simply, the normal good oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing should be continued. Even though porcelain is stain-resistant, it is better to avoid foods and beverages that cause stain.

How Much Do Veneers Cost?

The extent of the procedure and the country you reside in are among the factors that affect the price of dental veneers. Generally, the price of dental veneers starts from $500 to $1300 per tooth. Insurance does not generally cover the cost of veneers.

What are veneers? Now you know what dental veneers are, and you can consider getting them if you have broken, chipped, discolored, irregular or misaligned teeth.

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Understand Your Dentist Visits: What Causes Tooth Decay and Why?

Everyone knows that it's best practice to visit the dentist regularly for cleanings, but many do not know why. While it would seem that regular brushing and flossing is enough to keep your teeth healthy and clean, they cannot prevent all problems that can occur in the gums and teeth. Oral hygiene is based around the growth of a few problematic germs and substances and some cleaning procedures that address them. An understanding of how these work can make cleaning at home less of a chore and take some of the mystery out of visits to the dentist.

The main causer of problems in the mouth is a substance known as plaque. Plaque is technically dental biofilm, a thin film of bacteria that forms naturally on the surface of teeth. Most of the body that is exposed to the outside world forms layers and sheds, as hair and skin do. Teeth are different in that they stay as they are once fully grown. Because teeth do not shed their outer later, plaque builds up easily on the surface and will remain there if not removed.

Plaque starts forming after only a few hours of brushing and if left untouched will harden into a substance called tartar after a few days. Tartar itself is actually a calcium buildup on the tooth, but this buildup promotes harmful bacteria and can trap them between the tartar deposit and the surface of the tooth. These bacteria will eat away at the tooth itself, causing dental cavities. These holes in the teeth can grow rapidly, destroying layers of the bone crucial to the tooth's structure and eventually burrowing into the root of the tooth. This part of the tooth is soft and connects to the rest of the body in order to provide nutrients to the bone. Left untreated, an infection this deep can cause the tooth to completely decay and be lost.

While this may sound like an oral disaster waiting to happen, there are plenty of little things that you can do to stop these problems before they even start. Regular brushing, flossing, and use of anti-plaque mouthwash can destroy most of the plaque buildup in your mouth. Still, your toothbrush and floss cannot reach all of the nooks and crannies in your mouth, so some tartar is bound to form over time. Unfortunately, tartar is too hard to be removed with a toothbrush.

Routine dentist visits treat the problem of tartar buildup. Oral hygienists use ultrasonic tools and metal scrapers to remove the hard calcium buildups. Going to the dentist every six months to a year keeps buildups from becoming too damaging, and if cavities do occur fillings can seal up the holes to keep bacteria from tunneling too far into the teeth.

The key thing to remember about plaque and tartar is that time is your biggest enemy. When problems are left unattended, little buildups can escalate into big problems. If you haven't been to the dentist in awhile, a good cleaning can get you back to a clean slate. Your teeth feel great when they're fresh and clean, and with this knowledge in mind brushing and flossing can seem more productive and enjoyable.


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