If chips, stains, or gaps between your teeth make you feel self-conscious about your smile, consider porcelain veneers. Made from fine dental porcelain, veneers can cover flaws and revive your smile. Because the porcelain mimics the translucency of tooth enamel, no one will notice your veneers, only your stunning, new image.
Porcelain veneers can be used to:
• Close gaps
• Create a uniform appearance
• Hide permanent stains
• Restore cracks and chips
To begin the process, you will have a consultation with your dentist. Many patients bring photos of smiles they like to this appointment. Your dentist may show you Before and After shots of other cases to help determine your preferences. After listening to your goals and reviewing different options with you, the dentist will create a detailed plan for your custom restorations.
Usually, the dentist can update your smile in two to three visits. First, the dentist will prepare your teeth for the veneers as well as take impressions that are sent to the dental lab. Often, patients wear temporary veneers, providing a trial run of their new smiles. A skilled ceramist will handcraft your porcelain veneers and send them back to the dental office. You will then return for any minor adjustments and permanent placement.
Your veneers will provide years of beauty with proper care. Routine brushing and flossing are critical to protecting your restorations. Make sure to schedule regular checkups so that your dentist can examine your whole mouth and check the status of your veneers.
Separating fact from fiction is important when it comes to your dental health. You need to understand how to care for your teeth and gums to protect your smile. Dental health also contributes to overall well being, so you should know the truth about the following myths:
Myth: Baby teeth don’t matter.
Truth: Not only do primary teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth, but they also help children learn to chew and speak properly.
Myth: People naturally lose teeth as they get older.
Truth: With proper care that starts at an early age, you can keep your natural teeth throughout your life. The average lifespan is 75 to 80 years old, so teach your children to brush and floss as soon as their teeth start to erupt.
Myth: You can place an aspirin or clove oil next to a sore tooth for relief.
Truth: Both of these home remedies can burn the soft oral tissue and cause further problems. Try a warm compress, over-the-counter pain medication, or a numbing agent like Orajel. Call your dentist if the pain lasts for more than a day or two.
Myth: Extraction of teeth can weaken your eyesight.
Truth: In the past, routine checkups weren’t available. As a result, older patients typically visited the dentist only for removal of teeth. Eyesight tends to get weaker with age, so people drew an incorrect correlation between the removal of teeth and changes in eyesight.
Myth: It’s no big deal if you have one or two missing teeth.
Truth: When you lose even a single tooth, your appearance and oral health may decline. Remaining teeth often shift to fill in the gap, causing alignment and bite problems. You may also feel self-conscious about your smile.
Conservative estimates suggest that about 80 percent of adults in this country have some level of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. In many cases, people don’t realize they have a problem because the initial symptoms are so mild. Without treatment gum disease can lead to pain, bone degeneration, and tooth loss.
What is gum disease?
An infection of the gums surrounding the teeth, periodontal disease is caused by plaque and bacteria along the gum line. Gum disease is actually the number one cause of adult tooth loss in the U.S. The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which presents as swollen, bleeding gums. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, an advanced form of gum disease, pockets form and the gums separate from the teeth.
What are some signs of gum disease?
Often, gum disease begins with red, swollen gums. You may also experience bleeding when you brush. Other symptoms include receding gums, pain, and chronic bad breath.
Are there certain risk factors for gum disease?
One of the main causes of periodontal disease is poor hygiene. Brushing and flossing regularly, as well as routine checkups, can go a long way to preventing gum disease. Certain lifestyle choices, like tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption, as well as genetics and medication side effects can make you more susceptible to gum disease.
How do you treat gum disease?
If you have gingivitis, your dentist will likely recommend a thorough cleaning and improved home habits. For more advanced gum disease, you may need scaling and root planing, which removes the infection and helps promote healthy gum tissue.
Your teeth age right along with the rest of your body, so it’s a natural process for them to lose their whiteness and leave you wondering how to regain that youthful bright smile. Many dentists offer professional teeth whitening and stores sell at-home kits, but try these techniques if you’re looking for less expensive, non-chemical methods.
Treat your teeth right
Brush and floss your teeth carefully and regularly, and visit your dentist as scheduled to keep your teeth in good health.
Avoid foods that stain
Coffee, tea, cola, fruit juices, and red wine are some of the staining culprits because your teeth absorb colored liquids throughout your life. If you do drink dark beverages, sip them through a straw. Also, swishing water around your mouth for about 30 seconds after eating will help prevent stains.
Quit smoking
Tobacco of any kind can discolor your teeth, so either quit altogether or at least limit its use.
Eat crunchy foods
Try eating crunchy, crispy fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, and celery. The abrasiveness can help lift stains from your teeth.
Chew gum
Chewing gum increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which is like a natural cleaner inside your mouth. Also, gum containing the sweetener xylitol may help prevent plaque.
Brush with baking soda
The mild abrasive elements in baking soda polish your teeth, while the mixture of baking soda and water lightens stains. Dip your toothbrush in baking soda and brush with it once a week, or switch to a toothpaste that contains baking soda.
A healthy smile is a valuable asset. Brushing, flossing, and dental checkups go a long way towards preserving your oral health. Dental sealants offer another level of protection. Most of the time, dentists recommend dental sealants for children and teens. In some cases, adults with a high risk for decay on back teeth and molars may need sealants.
What are dental sealants?
Made from clear plastic, dental sealants are applied to the pits and grooves of molars and premolars. The sealants form a barrier to food particles and enamel-eroding acids.
Why don’t dentists apply sealants to all teeth?
With good brushing and flossing habits, you can remove plaque and debris from the smooth surfaces of your teeth. The fissures and pits on back teeth are difficult to completely reach. Saliva, which helps naturally rinse away bacteria, isn’t very effective on these areas either, which makes the back teeth more prone to decay.
What’s the process for applying sealants?
It generally takes just a few minutes for each tooth. First, the dental team will clean and dry each tooth. Then, the dentist will paint the sealant material onto the chewing surfaces. Often, a curing light is used to harden the sealants.
How long do sealants last?
Usually, dental sealants hold up well under normal chewing and will last several years before you need any kind of reapplication. Make sure to brush and floss teeth daily to promote good oral health. During your exams, the dentist will check the sealants to verify that they don’t need replacement.
In many households, the bedtime routine is no fun. One of the trickiest parts for some parents is getting their kids to brush their teeth. However, it’s not a part of your child’s routine that should be skipped. To help make taking care of their teeth fun for children, here are some ideas for parents.
Toothbrushes
Provide your kids with fun toothbrushes! By choosing a brush decorated with their favorite character or color, your children will think of their toothbrush more like a toy than a dental tool. Consider getting more than one toothbrush, so each night they can choose the one they want to “play” with at the time.
Toothpaste
Children are picky about their toothpaste flavors just like their foods. Select toothpaste that you know your kids will like. Some of the flavor options include bubble gum and fruits, as well as the standby mint.
Floss
If they start flossing at a young age, your kids will likely view it as part of their oral hygiene routine all of their life. Try using some of the fun flossing tools on the market today, because they may help get your child interested in flossing. There are many colors and shapes to choose from, so keep trying until you find one that motivates your child.
Rewards
Enticing your children with rewards is often an easy way to encourage them to perform a task without arguing. Consider making a rewards chart and giving them a sticker each time they brush and floss. By the end of a week filled with good dental hygiene, a special reward will await them!
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