Healthy Teeth for the Rest of Your Life

Your dentist explains that keeping your mouth healthy throughout your entire life doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you follow good oral hygiene habits and know what to expect at any age.

Mothers who are expecting can give their kids a healthy start by taking calcium supplements and eating healthy foods. According to the American Dental Association, folic acid supplements also help to decrease the risk of your child being born with a cleft palate or cleft lip. Once your baby is born, wipe the gums using a damp and soft cloth. Doing so after feeding helps prevent bacteria build up. Your child’s teeth usually emerge around six months. Once this occurs brush the baby’s teeth using a baby tooth brush twice a day. Begin taking your baby to the dentist when they are about 12 months old. Other important habits to establish throughout childhood include a diet full of fresh fruits and veggies and calcium rich foods such as kale and cheese to help protect the tooth’s enamel.

According to the ADA, an astounding one third of American adults have tooth decay. It is imperative that you see your dentist twice a year, as early detection is vital. Tooth decay can be painless, especially during the early stages, and can only be detected during a dental checkup. Gum disease, which can lead to the periodontal disease, can cause bone loss and should be taken care of as quickly as possible. If your gums bleed and are red or swollen, schedule an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible. If you have diabetes, suffer from epilepsy, or have high blood pressure, you may need to see your dentist more often. If you drink bottled water, ask your dentist about fluoride supplements as fluoride can help strengthen your teeth.

Older adults need to pay close attention to their teeth and gums and see the dentist on a regular basis for oral cancer screenings. Older adults, especially those who drink alcohol on a regular basis or smoke, have an increased risk of oral and throat cancer. Older adults are also more susceptible to dry mouth thanks to certain medications that could affect oral health. If you wear dentures schedule regular appointments with your dentist so they can be checked periodically for fit.

These days’ people are living longer, but that all starts with good oral hygiene, which includes brushing twice and flossing once each day. Schedule an appointment with your dentist today.   

Make a Dental Checkup part of Your New Year's Resolution

If you have a habit of making New Year’s resolutions, be sure that you put healthier teeth and gums on your list. Your teeth and gums are the gateway to the rest of your body, and if you haven’t had a dental checkup for a while, make an appointment today.

Seeing your dentist twice a year is imperative if you want to keep tooth decay and gum disease in check. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular dental appointments are just as important as brushing twice and flossing once a day when it comes to preventive dental care.

During your comprehensive dental examination, your dentist, or dental hygienist, will clean your teeth while evaluating your gums looking for bone loss, swelling or inflammation and redness. Your dentist may also use a probe to gently poke your gums. If bleeding is present, your dentist may recommend scaling and planing or refer you to a specialist, also known as a periodontist.

Other evaluations that will be included during your dental examination include a check of your mouth, neck and face for abnormalities. Your dentist will also evaluate your risk for tooth decay and other oral health issues. X-rays will also be taken so that your dentist can check for problems with dental restorations, such as cavities underneath existing fillings and crowns and other problems that cannot be seen during a visual dental examination.  

Your dentist will talk to you about your oral hygiene habits and your diet. What you eat and drink is just as important as brushing and flossing when it comes to your teeth and gums. If signs of gum disease are present, your dentist may also show you how to brush and floss properly. During this part of your comprehensive dental examination, your dentist will ask about any medications that you may be taking. Smoking, tooth loss consequences, and the benefits of dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, and implants will also be discussed.

Take stock of your health this year and include a comprehensive dental examination on your New Year’s resolution list. 

How to Cope with a Dental Emergency

Even if you had thought you had taken care of everything and are ready for your big ugly Sweater Christmas party, the thought of a broken veneer probably hadn’t even crossed your path. Unfortunately, things quickly changed when you decided to open the champagne with your teeth.

Accidents are part of life and invariably happen at the most inopportune times. A lost filling cracked tooth or other dental emergency should be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid further damage. Putting a piece of cotton over that old silver amalgam filling that you lost when you were having dinner should just be a quick fix until you get to the dentist.

According to the American Dental Association, a broken bridge, or any other dental emergency can cause serious problems. Ignoring a dental issue will increase your risk requiring more expensive and extensive therapy later.  

If you’ve got a toothache, skip the painkillers, including aspirin and get to the dentist. If you are swollen, grab a cold compress and place it on your cheek or mouth. Rinse your mouth and floss in order to remove any food particles.

Make sure you save all of the pieces if you break or chip a tooth. Rinse your mouth and be careful looking for remnants of the tooth. If you’re bleeding, apply gauze until the bleeding stops. Place a cold compress on the outside of your mouth, lip, or cheek near the chipped or broken tooth to help reduce swelling and relieve any pain.

If you have partially dislodged or knocked out your tooth this is a dental emergency and you need to call your dentist right away. If it has been partially dislodged, take Advil or Tylenol to help with the pain and apply a cold compress on the outside of your mouth. If you have knocked it out, gently rinse being careful not to remove or wash away attached tissue fragments. If you can, put the tooth back without forcing it into place. If this isn’t possible, place the tooth in a container of water with a pinch of salt, or milk without the salt. See your dentist immediately as chances are your tooth can be saved.

Take your time during the holidays and be sure and brush, floss and see your dentist as needed, especially if you are experiencing a dental emergency. 

Whiten Your Teeth for the Holidays

The holidays are here and if you have been neglecting your teeth and gums, there has never been a better time to schedule an appointment for a checkup with your dentist.

During the festive season most people have their hands full with planning, shopping and entertaining, and if your smile is less than bright, you may want to consider tooth whitening.

Your pearly whites are the first thing people notice when they see you and if you greet folks with a closed mouth smile, see your dentist today.

Of course, you can purchase over the counter tooth whitening products such as toothpastes, gels, mouthwashes and whitening strips, but most will not get your teeth white before Christmas and New Year. Your dentist has tooth whitening products that can get your teeth white and bright just in time to show them off at your next holiday party.

According to Web MD, tooth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the world with people spending billions of dollars each year for a whiter, brighter smile.

Teeth that are stained can benefit from tooth whitening, but if you have dental restorations such as tooth colored fillings, stains from root canals, crowns or bridges, tooth whitening products will not work.

If you do have dental restorations, talk to your dentist about dental bonding with CEREC. This quick cosmetic dental procedure can repair chips and cracks and even fill in that gap between your front teeth.

Dental bonding is a less expensive alternative to veneers and looks just like your natural teeth. Dental bonding will not be as strong as porcelain veneers, but if you want a quick fix to repair previous dental restoration procedures, dental bonding could be the answer.

When it comes to a beautiful smile for the holidays, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help you come up with a plan to turn your frown upside down.

What You Might Not Know about Toothpaste

Although most people refer to teeth cleaning products as paste, toothpaste can also be a powder or gel that you use to clean your teeth. Brushing your teeth twice each day, along with flossing and seeing your dentist regularly, helps improve your overall oral health and get rid of food particles, bacteria, and plaque.

The American Dental Association explains that toothpaste plays an important role in oral health as it helps to fight tooth decay and gum disease. These days most toothpastes, powders and gels contain fluoride, which helps keep the enamel on your teeth healthy while fighting tooth decay.

Although the composition in toothpastes may vary, with some touting the benefits of gum inflammation reduction and tooth whitening, your dentist explains that all toothpastes contain the same ingredients.

Whatever brand of toothpaste you use, it will contain gentle abrasives including hydrated aluminum oxide, magnesium carbonate, phosphate salts, and dehydrated silica gels.

Known as, “Humectants, sorbitol and glycerol are added to the toothpaste to keep it from drying out.  

Natural gum, synthetic cellulose, mineral colloids, or seaweed is used to thicken toothpaste giving it a homogenous texture and appearance.

According to your dentist, fluoride is added to the toothpaste to make your teeth more resistant to dental carries and helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth.

Flavoring is often added to toothpaste. These flavorings, such as saccharin will not promote tooth decay.

Sodium lauryl sarcosinate is a detergent additive that is used by manufacturers to make toothpaste foamy.

Your dentist explains that one of the toughest decisions when it comes to buying toothpaste is deciding what one is the best for you. With so many brands to choose from you almost need to have a degree in toothpaste to make a selection.

Buying fluoride toothpaste is imperative with fluoride toothpastes, gels, and powders regulated by the FDA or Food and Drug Administration. All of these products will have a drug facts panel somewhere on the packaging.

Look for toothpastes, gels, and powders that carry the American Dental Association seal of approval. You can find a complete list of toothpastes that are ADA approved on the American Dental Association website.

If your teeth are sensitive, look for toothpaste that contains strontium chloride of potassium nitrate.

In order to fight the buildup of tartar or gingivitis, your dentist recommends toothpastes with ingredients such as tirclosan, pyrophosphates, or zinc citate.

If you are still unsure what toothpaste, gel or powder is best for your needs, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

Boost your Confidence with Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain Veneers can improve your smile and boost your self-confidence, in fact, a healthy grin is good for your self-esteem.

According to the American Dental Association, Veneers are thin shells that are custom made to fit over your own teeth. Directly bonded to your natural tooth they can improve the appearance of your smile and can actually change the length, size, shape, and color of your teeth giving you a perfectly proportioned smile.

Dental Veneers are made from resin composite or porcelain materials. Porcelain Veneers are more resistant to staining and mimic the natural reflecting properties of your own teeth. Resin Veneers are thinner and require less removal of your natural tooth. Your dentist will be able to decide what type is best for your situation.

Porcelain and Resin Veneers can fix teeth that have been discolored because of medications such as tetracycline. Veneers can also be used to fix root canal treatments, excessive fluoride use, and large resin fillings that have discolored the entire tooth. Other fixes include:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Worn down teeth
• Misaligned, irregularly shaped, or uneven teeth
• Fill the gap between two teeth

If the thought of Porcelain or Resin Veneers appeals to you, it will require three appointments with your dentist. Of course, your teeth and gums need to be healthy before the veneering process begins.

During your treatment planning and diagnosis, your dentist will ask you what results you want to achieve. X-rays and impressions may also be made of your teeth.

In order to prepare your teeth for veneers, your dentist will remove ½ millimeter from the surface of your tooth. That amount is about the thickness of a dental veneer and may require a local anesthetic. After this procedure, your dentist will make a model of your tooth before sending the impression to a dental lab. Your dentist may also recommend temporary veneers.

When your permanent Resin or Porcelain Veneers are ready, your dentist will check for color, fit and placement, before etching and cleaning the surface of the tooth. Your dentist will then cement or bond and complete the process with a light that cures or hardens the cement.  

Dental Veneers can last for years as long as you practice good oral hygiene. If you would like more information regarding Porcelain or Resin Veneers, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

Stop Hiding Your Smile

The holidays are right around the corner and will be here before you know it, and thanks to your restorative dentist, you don’t have to hide your smile.

Schedule an appointment for cosmetic dentistry today and you can have a stunning toothy grin that you will be happy to show off at during the festive season.

Not everyone has a perfect smile. In fact, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the majority of people in the United States cover their mouth when they talk, but thanks to the wonders of modern 21^st century dentistry, you can fix that gap between your front teeth, brighten your dull smile, or fix that vampire fang that is the result of a chipped tooth.

Traditional dentistry is more focused on prevention, diagnosis, oral hygiene, and treating oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Cosmetic dentistry will improve the look of your mouth, teeth, and most importantly, your smile.

With cosmetic dentistry in Corona, you can have your silver fillings replaced with tooth colored resin, porcelain or one of the best materials available, CEREC. By replacing those old fillings in your molars and front teeth, your entire appearance will be enhanced.

The advancements of dental procedures and techniques have certainly changed over the years. These days your dentist can create a new smile using tooth-colored dental materials that are as durable as your natural teeth, best of all, your new smile will look completely natural.

Dental Care of Corona has more than 40 years of combined dental experience and has the dental technologies in office to give you a brand new smile in as little as one dental appointment.

A smile makeover is much more comfortable than it used to be with dental veneers, replacement fillings and dental bonding taking place in one location whether you are considering tooth whitening or have had your heart set on fixing your short teeth.   

Give yourself a new smile for the holidays and schedule an appointment with the experts from Dental Care of Corona. Your smile may only take one dental visit and really is just a phone call away. Call now!