Do you wish your smile were brighter? Over time, everything from the foods and drinks we consume to our daily habits can lead to the onset of discoloration. How do you brighten your teeth? Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry provides a number of possible solutions to teeth stains.
How Do You Know You Have Gum Disease?
Periodontitis, or gum disease, is an infection caused by plaque or tartar (bacteria) that is left untreated on your teeth. It can damage your gum tissue, bone density, and even cause you to lose teeth in severe cases. How do you know you have gum disease? Periodontitis begins with gingivitis – which usually presents with inflamed, tender, or bleeding gum tissue. Most patients experience this bleeding and sensitivity when they’re brushing their teeth. Once the infection has progressed, you may notice a receding gum line or pockets forming around your teeth. (more…)
How Do You Properly Floss Your Teeth?
Often times, patients overlook flossing their teeth. However, it’s critical that you floss at least once per day – unless you really want to floss more, then go right ahead! Properly flossing will help to ensure that all of the food particles and bacteria are removed from between your teeth. How do you properly floss your teeth? We’ve got a step-by-step guide for you to follow next time you find yourself reaching for the floss. Just like the guidelines for brushing your teeth are important, flossing is no different. (more…)
How Can You Qualify For Dental Implants?
If you’ve recently lost teeth, you may be looking at your different restoration options for getting your smile back. Dental implants are a great option functionally and cosmetically as they look very similar to your natural teeth. However, not just anyone is able to get these “new teeth.” How can you qualify for dental implants? Your dentist will need to examine your mouth to make sure your gum tissue is healthy enough and you have a good amount of bone density. Without these things, your implants may fall out of your mouth. (more…)
Do You Have A Sore Jaw?
There are a couple different conditions that may leave you with a tired feeling jaw – bruxism and TMJ disorder. Bruxism is a condition in which you clench your jaw and grind your teeth. Grinding your teeth can damage your tooth enamel and, in extremely severe cases, can even chip or break your teeth. Often times, patients will grind their teeth throughout the night while they’re asleep. For this reason, bruxism can be difficult to diagnose unless you sleep in the room with someone else. Do you have a sore jaw? This is one of the most common symptoms that indicates you may be grinding your teeth. (more…)
Are You Starting The New Year With A New Diet?
What you put into your body goes through your mouth first, so it makes sense that your diet can greatly affect the health of your mouth. Choosing unhealthy foods that contain lots of sugar or carbs can lead to poor oral health. Are you starting the New Year with a new diet? The New Year begins tomorrow – maybe it’s time to reach for the healthier foods, especially if you’re having troubles with bleeding or inflamed gum tissue. Healthier foods like vegetables or lean proteins are also less likely to stick to your teeth decreasing the chance of infection. (more…)
How Do You Treat Gum Disease?
The onset of gum disease can take time, gradually worsening the longer it’s left untreated. However, if you’re able to catch it in the early stages (like gingivitis, for example) it’s usually easier to treat. This isn’t always possible, but once you’ve noticed something isn’t right with your mouth, you should visit your dentist. How do you treat gum disease? There are several different ways your dentist may choose to go about tackling your gum disease once and for all. What they decide will depend on your individual case and how they think the infection could progress. (more…)
How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?
Brushing your teeth is a critical part of your oral hygiene routine in order to keep your mouth healthy. Although, there is a proper way to brush your teeth and a not-so-efficient way. In order to maximize your health, using a soft-bristle toothbrush works best around your gum line and on your teeth. Work in small circles to get rid of any bacteria that’s hiding and be sure to brush for an entire two minutes. How often should you brush your teeth? It’s recommended that you’re brushing at least twice per day – although if you’re prone to bacteria and infection, you dentist may recommend that you brush more often. (more…)
Do You Have Bad Breath?
Although most people wake up with bad smelling breath, it should go away after you brush your teeth and eat breakfast. If you find yourself consistently keeping your mouth shut in fear of someone smelling your breath – it could be a sign of a more serious problem. Do you have bad breath? It could be that you have periodontitis – or gum disease – because the bacteria that causes this infection is also odor-causing. Odor-causing bacteria that’s taking over your mouth could definitely be the culprit behind your terrible smelling breath. (more…)
What Constitutes A Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies should be dealt with as soon as possible – whether it’s by your dentist or another dentist who is equipped to handle such situations. However, many patients are unsure of what is considered an emergency versus a situation that could potentially wait. What constitutes a dental emergency? Generally speaking, most anything that threatens the stability of your tooth warrants a visit as soon as possible to your dentist. Usually, this includes a broken or chipped tooth, inflammation, and an abscessed tooth or gum tissue. The sooner you can get to your dentist, the less likely you are to lose your tooth. (more…)
