How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Improve Your Life

Is your smile the way you want it to be or are there significant flaws that keep you from showing it off to the world?

Most people can identify at least one characteristic of their smile that falls short and where improvements can be made.

While restorative dentistry can get your teeth and gums into tip-top great health and proper function, cosmetic dentistry can make them look their best.

Cosmetic dentistry can achieve the following smile enhancements:

• Whiten teeth
• Reduce or eliminate tooth discoloration and staining
• Repair small chips and fractures on teeth
• Reverse tooth wear by improving the support and structure of teeth
• Correct misshapen teeth
• Reduce or fill in spacing or gaps between teeth
• Lengthen teeth
• Correct the symmetry of one's smile Strengthen and reduce the pain of sensitive teeth

Some patients may be hesitant at the idea of undergoing cosmetic dental procedures, seeing them as unnecessary. For others, it might be the cost. Is cosmetic dental work worth the price?

Cosmetic dentistry often gets put into a box that encompasses such procedures as teeth whitening and veneers. However, cosmetic dentistry is much more than that. Dental implants, for instance, is a cosmetic dental procedure.

Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way and can now not only make teeth look great, but can also refine the tooth's functioning.

Regardless of your concerns and views of cosmetic dentistry, many patients have had their lives changed as a result of a cosmetic dental procedure.

Here are ways cosmetic dentistry can change your life:

Improve your self-image and self-confidence. Cosmetic dentistry can whiten, reshape and smooth teeth, giving you a flawless look that you'll not be ashamed to show the world.

People who feel good about how they look are happier and smile more often. In addition, those who smile are seen as more welcoming and confident.

Smiling and showing off your pearly whites is also a great way to make a positive first impression.

Always look good and turn heads. Some patients opt to undergo cosmetic dental procedures because of an upcoming event such as a wedding, high school reunion or job interview. A white, straight, symmetrical smile will help you get the attention and praise from others. However, with the lower costs of cosmetic dentistry and the ease and quickness of many of the procedures, patients don't need a special occasion to give their smiles a needed facelift. Looking good every day can be just as powerful.

Improve your oral health. After your smile makeover is complete, you'll want it to last as long as possible. To retain the new bright, straight smile, good dental hygiene, and lifestyle and dietary changes are required.

A lack of proper oral hygiene will make the pearly white fade as well as the lifestyle choice of smoking. Certain foods and drinks such as coffee, tea soda, citrus, candy, and bread can sabotage your new, perfect smile.

Live with reduced pain. Crooked, misshapen and misaligned teeth can cause potentially severe pain in your jaw, neck, face, and head. Veneers and dental implants can help lengthen and reshape teeth as well as fill in gaps between teeth. Properly aligned, proportional and straight teeth can reduce or eliminate pain, which can improve your quality of life.

You can live a longer, happier life. Want to learn another benefit of smiling? A longer, happier life. A confident, pain-free smile can add years to your life. Smiling reduces stress which has a negative effect on the body. Besides reducing stress, smiling also boosts the immune system.

Teeth whitening, implants, veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures can bring about significant, positive changes to your life. Cosmetic dentistry can beautify your smile by whitening, lengthening, and reshaping teeth as well as fill in embarrassing gaps. Besides making your smile look the best it can be, cosmetic dentistry can make your life happier and longer by improving the health of your mouth and reducing pain and discomfort.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9926833

7 Tooth-Friendly Halloween Treats

Do dentists give out candy for Halloween? You’d be surprised how many do! The American Dental Association asked dentists what they give trick-or-treaters each year, and most of them—76 percent—say they hand out some type of candy. Some paired their candy with a reminder to brush and even a toothbrush.

However, many people choose to give something other than candy, whether it be for health reasons or allergy awareness. If you're looking for sugar-free Halloween handouts, here are some frightfully fun treats that aren’t terrors for teeth.

Things That "Glow" Bump In the Night
Little ones scared of the dark? Light up the night by handing out glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces in place of sugary treats. In addition to being a fun add-on for the kids’ costumes, they’ll also help parents keep track of their little ghouls.

Trick-or-Treating Thirst Quenchers
Running from house to house in a heavy monster suit is thirsty work! Offer your trick-or-treaters small bottles of water to wash away any sugar they might be snacking on between houses. (Some bottled water brands contain fluoride, which can help fight cavities. Check the label or contact the company to see if it’s in the bottles you buy.)

Sweet, Without the Sugar
Here’s one treat that’s actually good for your teeth! (Just make sure to check with parents before handing it out that they are old enough to chew gum.) Research shows that chewing sugarfree gum after meals, or after chowing down on Halloween candy, stimulates saliva production, which helps prevent cavities. Look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Trick-or-Trinkets
Keep the fun going long after Halloween with these non-edible treats! You can buy small toys like kazoos, yo-yos, bouncy balls, monster finger puppets and other goodies in bulk online or in discount stores. Or add to your trick-or-treaters’ costumes with inexpensive accessories like plastic spider rings, vampire teeth or pirate eye patches.

Stamps (or Stickers!) of Approval
Spooky stickers and pre-inked stamps let kids leave their mark on just about anything. Pair them with copies of this downloadable brushing calendar so they can celebrate National Brush Day on Nov. 1 as they brush away the sugar left behind by the rest of their trick-or-treating haul.

A Disappearing Act
Give your little visitors some (soon-to-be-invisible) ink this year. Look for Halloween-themed designs like pumpkins, ghosts and witches.

On-Point Pencils
Pencils with a festive design—not those boring yellow ones!—and erasers shaped like pumpkins or ghosts are a fun and useful treat kids can take to school after the Halloween fun is over.

Article Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/non-candy-halloween-treats?utm_source=mouthhealthyorg&utm_medium=mhtopstories&utm_content=non-candy-treats

Could Humans Ever Regrow Teeth?

98% of American suffer from tooth decay, but scientists may have found a way to fix that. Is there a way to regrow your teeth?

What Are the Symptoms of Teeth Grinding?

Dr. Christina Friis-Moeller talks about the causes and symptoms of teeth grinding (bruxism).

Throwback Toothday: A Dental Pop Quiz

Put your dental IQ to the test! Can you tell the facts from the fallacies? Join us as we celebrate 160 years of driving dentistry forward by taking a trip through the ADA’s video archive.

Enamel: The Shield for Your Teeth

Tooth enamel is perhaps the most important aspect of your oral anatomy. Tooth enamel is the hardest and most mineralized substance in the body and serves as a shield on your teeth. However, enamel does not grow back, so it is vital to understand what it is and how to protect it.

Kid-Tested, Dentist-Approved: 6 Teeth Cleaning Tips from Dentist Parents

As a parent, you may have more in common with your dentist than you think. Many moms and dads—even dentists—struggle to keep their children’s mouths and teeth clean. ADA dentist Dr. Gene Romo is a father of four – ages 13, 10, 8 and 2. “As you can imagine, there can be a wide range of behavior on who wants to brush and who doesn’t in our house,” he says. “I’m not just a dentist, I’m their dad, so making sure they’re establishing good habits early on is important to me.”

To keep your family’s smiles strong, try some of tricks of the trade from dentist moms and dads:

Establish a Fun Family Routine

In Dr. Romo’s house, there’s one rule everyone follows: “You have to brush before bed, and you can’t leave the house in the morning until you brush,” he says. “The most important thing is to make sure your family is brushing for 2 minutes, twice a day.”

Young kids love to imitate their parents, so take the opportunity to lead by example. “One thing I did with all my kids was play a game with them, kind of like monkey-see, monkey-do. We all have our toothbrushes, and they follow what I do,” he says. “When I open my mouth, they open their mouths. When I start brushing my front teeth, they start brushing their front teeth – and so on all the way until it’s time to rinse and spit. It’s just a fun way to teach them how to brush properly, and we get to spend a little time together, too.”

Making brushing a family affair also helps you keep an eye out for healthy habits. “Some kids want to do everything themselves, even toothpaste, so you can watch to make sure they’re not using more than they should – a rice-sized smear for kids 2 and under and a drop the size of a pea for kids 3 and up,” he says. “You can also do a quick final check for any leftover food when brush time is done.”

Try a New Angle

When her daughter was only 6 months old, ADA dentist Dr. Ruchi Sahota asked her husband to hold her while she brushed or brushed when her daughter was laying down. “You can see their teeth from front to back the best at that time,” she says.

If your child is old enough to stand and wants to brush in the bathroom, ADA dentist Dr. Richard Price suggests a different method. “Stand behind your child and have him or her look up at you,” he says. “This causes the mouth to hang open and allows you to help them brush more easily.”

Bigger Kids, Bigger Challenges

Checking up on your child’s daily dental hygiene habits doesn’t end as they get older. It’s more challenging when they get their driver’s license and head off to college, says ADA dentist Dr. Maria Lopez Howell. “The new drivers can drive through any fast food spot for the kinds of food and beverages that they can’t find in a health-minded home,” she says. “The new college student is up late either studying or socializing. They don’t have a nightly routine, so they may be more likely to fall asleep without brushing.”

While your children are still at home, check in on their brushing and talk to them about healthy eating, especially when it comes to sugary drinks or beverages that are acidic. After they leave the nest, encourage good dental habits through care packages with toothbrushes, toothpaste or interdental cleaners like floss with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. And when they’re home on break, make sure they get to the dentist for regular checkups! Or if school break is too hectic– you can find a dentist near campus to make sure they are able to keep up with their regular visits.

Play Detective…

As your children get older, they’re probably taking care of their teeth away from your watchful eye. Dr. Romo asks his older children if they’ve brushed, but if he thinks he needs to check up on them, he will check to see if their toothbrushes are wet. “There have been times that toothbrush was bone dry,” he says. “Then I’ll go back to them and say, ‘OK, it’s time to do it together.’”

If you think your child has caught on and is just running their toothbrush under water, go one step further. “I’ll say, ‘Let me smell your breath so I can smell the toothpaste,’” he says. “It all goes back to establishing that routine and holding your child accountable.”

…And Save the Evidence

It could be as simple as a piece of used floss. It sounds gross, but this tactic has actually helped Dr. Lopez Howell encourage teens to maintain good dental habits throughout high school and college.

To remind them about the importance of flossing, Dr. Lopez Howell will ask her teenage patients to floss their teeth and then have them smell the actual floss. If the floss smells bad, she reminds them that their mouth must smell the same way. “It’s an ‘ah-ha’ moment,” Dr. Lopez Howell explains. “They do not want to have bad breath, especially once they see how removing the smelly plaque might improve their social life!”

Above All, Don’t Give Up

If getting your child to just stand at the sink for two minutes feels like its own accomplishment (much less brush), you’re not alone. “It was so difficult to help my daughter to brush her teeth because she resisted big time,” says ADA dentist Dr. Alice Boghosian. Just remember to keep your cool and remain persistent.

“Eventually, brushing became a pleasure,” Dr. Boghosian says. She advises parents to set a good example by brushing with their children. “Once your child is brushing on their own, they will feel a sense of accomplishment – and you will too!”

Article Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/tips-for-parents?utm_source=mouthhealthyorg&utm_medium=mhtopstories&utm_content=parent-tips