4 Tips For A Younger Looking Smile

THERE ARE COUNTLESS methods we use to try and turn back the clock on our appearance. Whether it’s hip wardrobes and hairstyles or costly cosmetic surgeries, people go to great lengths to recapture the look and feeling of their youth.

Despite all of these anti-aging fads and gimmicks, studies show your smile can do more to make you look younger than anything else!

Good Oral Hygiene Keeps Your Smile Looking Younger, Longer

The simplest thing you can do to keep Father Time at bay is to practice good oral hygiene habits. Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly promotes healthy teeth and gums and keeps your smile looking and feeling clean. If we ignore these simple habits, we put our smiles at risk of harmful bacteria which can lead to unsightly effects such as:

• Cavities,
• Tooth discoloration or tooth loss,
• And periodontal disease.

Maintaining good oral health throughout your life doesn’t just preserve the appearance of your smile, but it can preserve your overall health too. Bleeding gums caused by periodontal disease can allow bacteria from your mouth to enter your bloodstream and affect other parts of the body. Research suggests gum disease can increase our risk for serious health problems, including…

• Diabetes
• Endocarditis and cardiovascular disease
• Osteoporosis
• Strokes
• Alzheimer’s Disease

For a few tips on how to floss properly to fight off that harmful bacteria, check out the video below!

Brighten Your Smile With Professional Tooth Whitening

Even when you take good care of your teeth, over time they naturally yellow. Micro-fractures, thinning enamel, and built-up stains all make your teeth look duller and older. But, that can be changed with tooth whitening!

There are several tooth whitening solutions, each with their own unique benefits. From over the counter whitening strips to in-office whitening treatments, we can help you decide which whitening solution is best for your smile.

Cosmetic Dentistry Can Give You The Look You Want

Whether you need just few touch-ups or would like an amazing dental makeover, cosmetic dentistry can provide exactly the look you want. Cosmetic dentistry has both therapeutic and aesthetic benefits. Treatment can repair your teeth and correct your bite, and at the same time give you the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted!

Be Confident In Your Smile

One of the best ways to appear more youthful is to smile more! This can start a wonderful cycle too! Smiling more can actually make you happier, and make you want to smile more.

We love our patients and love seeing your bright shining smiles each day. If you have any questions about how we can give you a healthier, more beautiful smile, give us a call and set an appointment to visit our practice or let us know in the comments below!

Thank you for brightening our day.

Top image by Flickr user Sean_Wright used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions

Plaque vs. Tartar: What’s The Difference?

WE OFTEN GET THE QUESTION from our patients, “What’s the difference between plaque and tartar?” Many people think they are the same thing. There is an important difference between the two, however, and it can help explain just why a daily oral hygiene routine is so crucial, as well as twice-yearly visits to your dentist.

What Is Plaque?

Dental plaque is that soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and under your gums throughout the day. And guess what? It contains millions of bacteria! When you eat—especially carbohydrates or sugar—you’re not the only one getting a meal, so are the bacteria on your teeth. After “eating,” these bacteria produce acids that erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities.

That’s why good daily oral hygiene is essential to preventing tooth decay and protecting your smile from the bacteria in plaque. To prevent plaque buildup, remember to brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Drinking water and chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can also help!

ADA Dental Plaque

What Is Tartar?

So if that’s plaque, what’s tartar? Tartar is what accumulates on your teeth when plaque is not removed. If plaque is left on your teeth for too long, it will harden into tartar and is much more difficult to remove. In fact, tartar can only be removed by a dental professional–you can’t get rid of it with regular brushing and flossing. Tartar removal is one of the reasons that visiting your dentist every six months is so important!

Plaque buildup that hardens into tartar can cause more than just cavities. It can cause tooth discoloration and sensitivity as well as gum recession and periodontal disease. To reduce plaque buildup and tartar from forming, make sure you are brushing and flossing daily.

Come And See Us Every Six Months

No matter how great your oral hygiene is, plaque and tartar formation are inevitable. So come in to see us every six months! Our job is to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile that’s plaque- and tarter-free!

Thank you for your trust and loyalty.

Don’t Let Gingivitis Keep You From Smiling

YOU’RE SITTING IN THE DENTAL CHAIR, everything going as planned at your checkup, until your dentist tells you that you have gingivitis. If you haven’t heard of gingivitis before you’re probably thinking, “What is gingivitis? Is it serious? Is it treatable?” We’ve compiled all the information you need to know about gingivitis so you can keep your smile healthy! What Is Gingivitis? Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums characterized by gum irritation, redness, swelling and sometimes bleeding. Symptoms of gingivitis are fairly mild and can even be painless. Visiting your dentist regularly is important so gingivitis can be diagnosed, especially if symptoms are not obvious. Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal, or gum disease, and should be taken seriously. If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to full-blown gum disease, which can lead to receding and damaged gums as well as bone and tooth loss. What Causes Gingivitis? Gingivitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. When plaque is not removed by proper brushing and flossing, bacteria-filled plaque hardens and turns into what is called tartar. Plaque and tartar buildup around the gum line cause gum irritation and inflammation or, in other words, gingivitis. Other factors may contribute to the development of gingivitis such as hormonal changes (especially during pregnancy), smoking, certain medications or illnesses and genetic predisposition. Is Gingivitis Reversible? Finding out you have gingivitis can be worrisome but here’s the good news: good oral hygiene habits and professional dental cleanings can, in most cases, rid you of gingivitis. Proper oral hygiene not only prevents gingivitis, but treats it as well. Professional cleanings as recommended by your dentist, daily brushing and flossing, and regular use of an antibacterial mouthwash can keep bacteria found in plaque at bay, effectively preventing and treating gingivitis. So, yes, gingivitis is reversible! By treating it early and following the instructions of your dental care provider, you can treat gingivitis and smile on! Keep Your Smile Healthy A smile shouldn’t only be happy, it should be healthy too! Your oral health is the gateway to your overall health and wellness. So if you’ve been diagnosed with gingivitis, practice proper oral hygiene care and you’ll have your healthy smile back in no time. If you have any questions regarding your oral health, call us today or leave us a Facebook message. We’re always glad to address your concerns!

Diabetes And Your Oral Health

DIABETES IS ONE OF THE MOST prevalent chronic diseases today. In fact, 29.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and millions more living with the condition don’t even know they have it. You may know that diabetes can result in other health complications such as vision loss, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. But many are surprised to learn of the impact diabetes can have on your mouth. Diabetes Is Linked To Oral Infection And Disease Periodontal, or gum, disease affects 22 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes. What’s more, one in five cases of total tooth loss is linked to diabetes. These statistics can be distressing, but a proper understanding of the association between these two diseases is the first step in preventing complications. So, first and foremost, why does diabetes affect oral health? We have billions of bacteria living in our mouths. If that bacteria is allowed to build up, it can lead to gum disease–swollen, bleeding gums as well as bone and tooth loss. Because people with diabetes have a decreased ability to fight off harmful bacteria, they are more susceptible to gum disease. Poor blood glucose control also increases the likelihood of gum problems. The relationship between diabetes and gum disease, however, is two-way. Because infected gums are an easy access point for bacteria to enter the bloodstream, bacteria from the mouth can cause blood sugar spike and fluctuate, making diabetes harder to manage. Beyond gum disease, there are other oral infections and problems associated with diabetes including thrush, dry mouth, cavities and ulcers. Keep Your Dentist Involved Keeping us involved is the most important thing you can do to prevent gum disease and other oral complications linked to diabetes. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or if there are changes in your condition, let us know. Keep us informed of your medications and your doctor’s recommended treatment plan. Come in to see us regularly–every six months or more if deemed necessary. Other things you can do to manage your oral health and diabetes include: Develop good oral hygiene habits Quit smoking Control your blood sugar Your Health Matters To Us Every aspect of your health is important to us, not just your the health of your mouth. If you have questions about how your dentist can help you manage your diabetes, contact us. We are your partners in ensuring both your oral and overall health. Thank you for being our valued patients and friends!

When Getting Dental Implants is a Wise Idea

Dental implants are one way to help resolve the dental issues that adults may struggle with. In fact, it is normal to suffer cavities and an occasional infection throughout your lifetime. However, some adults are more prone to damage, infections, and even tooth loss, than others. Very often, the root cause is genetics. Essentially, people are either born with good teeth or are not. In other cases, things like using an inhaler for asthma can actually cause oral health problems. The same is true for diabetes and taking certain medications.  If you fall in this category, there is a good chance that you are going to be struggling with oral health problems on a regular basis. Eventually, it becomes time to consider whether or not you should continue as is or take more permanent action to resolve the oral health issues.

How You Feel Matters

We like to tell patients that how he or she feels on a daily basis matters a great deal. If you find that your teeth are causing you an incredible amount of pain or discomfort, then it is often wise to consider replacing them. Discomfort to this degree can make it difficult for you to eat what you need to or to speak clearly. It can also have a negative impact on your performance at work or how you behave in social settings. This is understandable when you consider how difficult it can be to do anything when you are in pain.
For this reason, we encourage you to call our office and schedule a consultation when you are experiencing a significant degree of discomfort. This will allow us to examine you and then to determine whether or not replacing some of the teeth with dental implants is the best course of action.

Reasons to Replace Teeth with Dental Implants

• The teeth  are damaged. Dental damage can often be restored using solutions like dental veneers, dental crowns, and even fillings. In most cases, restorative solutions work excellently for solving the problem and eliminating the discomfort. However, when the damage is severe, this may not be enough. At this point, you will need to look for a better solution. Removing the damaged tooth or teeth and replacing them with dental implants may be it. Once a tooth is damaged beyond repair, regular cleaning methods will not be enough.
• The teeth may fall out.  If there is a chance that your teeth are going to fall out because they are already loose or you have severe gum disease, it may be wise for you to schedule an appointment to have them extracted. Instead of waiting for the embarrassing moment when your teeth fall out, you can have them removed in a sterile environment. During this process, we can provide patients with the benefit of anesthesia and schedule the procedure at a time frame that you control.
• Your teeth continue to get infected.  If you are constantly struggling with infection and need root canals on a regular basis, it may be better for you to replace them. We will let you know the best course of action during an examination.

Schedule a Consultation

Remember that you do not have to live with a missing tooth or teeth that are constantly becoming infected. There are options that extend far beyond a dental crown or dentures. You can choose dental implants to give you a new smile that is durable, beautiful, and healthy. To learn more about this solution and to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants, call our dental office and schedule a consultation today.

Implant Dentist  >  Oral Surgery

How a Sleep Dentist Can Relieve Your Anxiety

Going to visit a sleep dentist is nowhere near as stressful as seeing a traditional dentist. With a sleep dentist, there is the potential for you to get relaxing medication that will help you relax during the procedure. As a sleep dentist, we want you to be completely comfortable in the environment while we can perform the procedures necessary to keep your teeth and mouth in optimum health. We also have the ability to give you the type and level of medication you need to completely relax depending on the type of procedure you will be getting.

However, you will benefit even more from attempting to set some of your dental anxiety aside before the beginning of the procedure. We find that many people psych themselves out even before they visit the dentist, regardless of whether it is a sleep dentist or not. Even worse, sometimes it can prevent people from keeping the appointment they have already made.

People have different ways of preparing themselves to go in and see the dentist. We give you an excellent advantage, in that you have the opportunity to take the necessary medication to relax and relieve your dental anxiety. In addition to this, we always recommend that you make it a habit to visit the dentist at least once every six months. With the regularly-scheduled visits, we are able to not only treat any problems that may be arising but also gives you a psychological advantage. The more often you receive dental care, the more comfortable  you will be with it over time.

One of the most important things you can do from a dental anxiety and psychological point of view is to have a positive view of the experience after you are done getting your sleep dentist treatment. In other words, celebrate the fact that you successfully completed your dental appointment and enjoy the benefits from it. This will help you to feel better about receiving dental care and ensure that  you feel better about visiting the dentist next time.

How a Sleep Dentist Can Help You

When you visit our office, we can provide you with medication that will put you to sleep during the procedure. This is ideal for anyone that needs to have major dental work done. Instead of sitting in the dental chair for hours, wide awake, you can go to sleep and wake up with everything complete. Many of our patients find this helpful when:

• Treating gum disease
• Replacing teeth with dental implants
• Having restorative work completed

To learn more about how we can help you, call and schedule an appointment.

Oral Surgery  >  Gum Recession

Read This Before Your Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is significantly more common than you would think. When people think of the word surgery, they often conjure up images of a doctor standing under an operating light, performing heart surgery. However, oral surgery can involve simple things like removing a tooth or extracting impacted wisdom teeth.  Both simple and complicated surgeries can be performed under the banner of oral surgery. However, what is important for you to remember is that when you come in oral surgery, you are in fact having surgery. As such, you will get detailed instructions from our oral surgery team as to how you should prepare for the surgery, as well as getting post-operative instructions. It is absolutely vital if you are scheduled for oral surgery that you follow the preoperative instructions precisely. Actually, we will go over all of these in the final consultation before the day of your surgery. If you have specific concerns or questions about the process, you should make sure to ask in the final consultative visit before the surgery is scheduled.

Here are a few common practices that will help you prepare for the oral surgery. These are not intended to supersede the specific instructions given by our oral surgeon but rather, to give you a general guideline of how to best prepare for your surgery.

• If you have been scheduled to have general anesthesia with your oral surgery, it is critical that you do not eat or drink anything for a minimum of eight hours before the surgery. If you have any liquid or solid food in your stomach during the anesthesia, this can pose a life-threatening situation. In the event you have actually consumed something in the eight hours before the scheduled time of the surgery, you need to let your oral surgeon know as soon as possible. Similarly, we recommend that you do not smoke or consume alcohol for at least eight hours before the surgery.
• We highly recommend that you brush your teeth prior to your appointment. Brushing your teeth will help greatly reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth and hence lower your chance of catching an infection.
• For the day of the oral surgery itself, we recommend that you wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes. It is highly recommended that you wear a short-sleeve shirt so it is easier for us to take your blood pressure and apply any necessary monitors. Many patients find that a t-shirt, sweatpants, and gym shoes are the most comfortable way to come in for surgery. It is also recommended that you bring a responsible adult with you, somebody who can drive you home while you are still under the effects of anesthesia. You will be groggy for several hours after the appointment and will be unable to drive.
• Finally, we recommend that you take care of all financial arrangements, ask any questions, make arrangements to collect your prescriptions, and use the restroom before the start of your oral surgery. You may be a little too sleepy to remember these things afterward.

We will prepare you for your surgery during your appointments but feel free to ask questions of our surgeon at any time.

Implant Dentist  >  Periodontist