Here’s how you can best protect your teeth and have a beautiful smile this holiday season!

Make Friends with Water

Water is going to be your ally throughout the holiday season. Staying hydrated not only helps your body, but can help your smile immensely. Adequate water intake ensures that your oral bacteria are balanced, therefore cutting down on your risk for cavities.

Water also acts as a buffer between teeth and harmful substances you may have eaten, such as sugar. Combine this with the fact that water can help replenish your saliva and fight bad breath and you just made a new best friend to help you and your beautiful smile make it through the holidays.

Be Aware of Bruxism

The holidays aren’t a happy time for everyone. In fact, they can be quite stressful for some people. Increased stress that’s not being managed could turn into an oral health problem through bruxism, which is the term for teeth grinding.

Teeth grinding is immensely damaging to your smile. It wears away enamel, can cause
inflammation in the gums, and could eventually lead to tooth loss if not treated. Be mindful of your stress load this holiday season. If you’re experiencing headaches, jaw pain, or tooth sensitivity, you could be grinding your teeth and not even know it!

Be Ready to Travel

If you’ll be traveling to see friends or family this holiday season, be sure to pack everything you need to properly care for your teeth. It can be easy to leave behind your toothbrush, floss, or mouthguards for your bruxism.

To ensure you’re ready to travel, keep a spare toothbrush in your suitcase or in your handbag. Floss is small and can easily travel with you, making it ideal to store practically anywhere. Having spares on hand can help you be ready to care for your teeth despite the stress of traveling.

Watch Your Sugar Intake

There are few things that are as damaging to your smile as sugar is, and unfortunately, the holidays tend to be full of sweets! It’s important to watch your sugar intake, as sugar is best consumed only minimally or not at all. If you do choose to enjoy sweets this holiday season, be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward and wait at least 30 minutes to brush.

This holiday season, you want to be able to show friends and family your most beautiful smile possible. You can help protect your smile throughout the season by drinking plenty of water, keeping an extra toothbrush on hand, consuming sugar in moderation, and being aware of any symptoms of bruxism. Happy Holidays!

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They Last for Life with the Right Care

Dental implants have a 95% success rate among patients. This means the chances for rejection or infection of your new dental implant are very slim. Since the titanium post is inserted into your jaw, dental implants help facilitate bone growth so your appearance and functionality are the best they possibly can be without your natural tooth. Your dental implants will last for life if you take proper care of them. What this means is brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly to ensure your implants are healthy. You may never need to replace your dental implant as long as it doesn’t become loose, damaged, or infected.

Crown Replacement

The actual implant plant of your dental implant is only part of what completes your smile. The other part is a dental crown, which is affixed to the end of your dental implant to complete the restoration. Although extremely durable and a great replacement for natural teeth, your dental crown will not last forever. On average, crowns will need to be replaced every 15 years. They may last longer if you take proper care of them. Since teeth in the rear of your mouth tend to wear more than your front teeth, any dental implants placed in this area may need a crown replacement sooner.

Things That Impact the Life of Your Dental Implant

Once your mouth fully heals after the procedure, your new dental implant won’t require much more maintenance than your other teeth do! However, in order to keep your dental implant healthy and to make it last for the longest possible time, you need to know about the things that could impact the life of your dental implant.

These things include gum disease—which could affect your gum tissue and cause the implant to loosen—as well as chewing on objects like pencils or ice that can damage your dental crown. Making your implant last will include regular dentist visits, proper care of your smile, and giving up smoking to keep your implants at their healthiest!

From mini dental implants to traditional implants, these effective tooth replacers allow you to fully enjoy your smile again. The great thing about dental implants is that they’ll last for life with the right care! Your dentist can help ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to sustain the implant as well as advise you on when you’ll need a crown replacement. Consider dental implants to replace your missing tooth for your best smile!

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Dental bridges will require that teeth on either side of your gap have a small amount of enamel removed in order to support the bridge. Your dentist will fix crowns to these teeth, which will effectively support a dental crown in the middle, therefore closing your gap. If your adjacent teeth will eventually need dental crowns anyway, a bridge is likely your best option.

Implants Are Best for Durability

Your dentist may suggest a dental implant to replace your missing tooth because of their durability. Dental implants have become an excellent option for missing teeth—in fact, they last for life! A titanium screw will be inserted into your jaw to fuse with your jawbone. This will require some healing time, but when you’re ready, your dentist will fix a crown onto the end of the implant. While your crown will eventually need to be replaced, your implant never will.

Dental Bridges When Jaw Bone Is a Problem

Since dental implants require that you have enough bone in your jaw to support proper healing of the implant, you may not qualify for this procedure. If you’ve been missing your teeth for a while, your body may have already compensated for the missing tooth by actively losing bone in your jaw. When you don’t have enough jawbone to support a dental implant or even mini dental implants, bridges will likely be best choice for speedy healing and a great look!

Great Oral Health? Consider Dental Implants

While dental bridges can be ideal when neighboring teeth have large cavities or will need crowns anyway, dental implants are an ideal choice when you have great oral health. This is because your dental implant will not affect your other teeth. Your dental implant will actually work to support the adjacent teeth because it stimulates bone growth in the jaw. Your adjacent teeth should be healthy as well as your gums in order to facilitate proper healing of the implant.

How to Decide?

Talk with your dentist, who can help you make a decision based on look, cost, and your neighboring teeth. While dental bridges are less expensive up front, they will need to be replaced after about ten years, whereas dental implants last for life. Bridges require less time to be completed, but dental implants are resistant to decay and disease.

Bridges were your only choice in the past, but now you have dental implants! Ask your dentist which will be best for you based on your unique smile, and don’t hesitate to get your teeth replaced as soon as possible so that you have all of your options when you make your decision!

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Although lots of food will be available, it’s important to still eat well in order to maintain your healthy smile. Sweets in moderation are fine, but avoid constantly snacking on sweet treats or sipping on sweet drinks. The longer your teeth are exposed to sugar, the more damage your teeth can incur.

It can feel difficult to be choosy about foods during a time when you have so many options—but you can help your body and your smile by still eating healthy. If you want to sip on sweet drinks, using a straw can help the sugary liquid to bypass your teeth, therefore limiting your exposure!

Water Is Your Friend

Not only does water help combat sugar’s effect on your teeth, but it can also prevent the staining that comes with drinking red wine or coffee. Staying hydrated also helps to keep your mouth’s vital oral bacteria in balance, therefore reducing your risk for cavities!

If you’re eating sugary foods or drinking sugary drinks, try to sip on water while doing so. Rinsing with water after consuming sugar can help hugely, as it prevents sugar from clinging to your teeth and damaging your enamel. If you’re drinking wine, remember that red wine can stain your teeth significantly more than white. Drinking water can help to minimize staining of your teeth and damage from the acidic alcohol.

Keep to a Routine

As busy as things can get during the holidays, don’t skip brushing or flossing just because you’re short on time. Always make it a habit to brush in the morning and brush and floss before bed. Keep a travel toothbrush in your bag and some floss just in case you forget these items while traveling or end up spending the night at a relative’s house.

If you can’t brush for whatever reason, keep a pack of sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol with you. Chewing on gum sweetened with xylitol can help increase saliva flow, therefore helping to reduce bad bacteria and prevent cavities. Keeping to a routine during the holidays isn’t only comforting, it benefits your smile as well!

Be Prepared

Always be safe with your teeth—remember that they are not meant to open packages or crack nuts. Your beautiful smile needs to last you for life, so treat them with care and take care of them. You can be prepared for any type of dental emergency by asking your dentist for an emergency referral before the holidays. This way, should something happen, you’ll have an expert to look after your smile despite the fact that many offices are closed during the holidays.

This holiday season, you can protect your smile and keep it healthy with these easy tips. Simply by eating healthy, drinking enough water, and keeping to a routine, you can show people your beautiful pearly whites all holiday season long. Impress your dentist in the New Year by taking care of your smile during the holidays!

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You may experience more cavities than the normal person if you have weak enamel, or maybe you have extreme tooth sensitivity. Weak enamel should be addressed by your dentist as it can cause serious problems in your mouth. Without your enamel, your teeth are largely unprotected! What are some of the top signs that you have weak enamel?

Yellowing Teeth

Teeth that have a yellow tinge or are becoming yellow should be addressed by your dentist, because this could be a sign of weak enamel. This is because as the enamel is stripped away, the softer layer underneath (called dentin) will become exposed, therefore giving your teeth a yellow appearance. If you notice your teeth are looking yellow, schedule a visit with your dentist to get an exam to check whether or not this color change could be an enamel problem rather than just normal teeth staining.

Transparent-Looking Teeth

Transparent or translucent-looking teeth could be a sign of weak enamel. This type of color means that your enamel hasn’t properly developed, meaning you may have thin or weak enamel. Since your enamel is weak and doesn’t have the proper mineralization to support healthy teeth, your teeth can suffer. People who have transparent-looking teeth may also have a condition called hypoplasia, which may create white spots on the teeth in addition to the odd coloring. There is treatment for this condition, so see your dentist!

Rounded Teeth

Teeth that appear rounded at the edges in addition to being yellow or sensitive could be a sign of enamel erosion or weak enamel. This is usually a sign of early enamel erosion, so visiting your dentist to see about a change of appearance in your teeth is crucial. These rounded edges could be a sign that something is amiss with your enamel, so if you notice any changes in the shape of your teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist to see if weak enamel could be the cause!

Cracks in Teeth

Cracks around the edges of your teeth could be a sign of advanced enamel erosion. These cracks may actually indicate damage to your enamel and should be evaluated by a professional dentist. Whether your teeth have been cracked as a result of an accident or you just happen to notice little cracks on your teeth, you should be evaluated for the condition of your enamel before it leads to bigger problems!

If you’re experiencing any of these top signs of weak enamel in addition to symptoms such as tooth sensitivity, cavities, or even gum disease, you could be seeing the mouth of someone with weak enamel. Talk to your dentist about weak enamel and what it means for your smile. There is treatment available for your smile!

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The plaque that plays a crucial role in oral diseases such as gum disease and tooth decay causes inflammation in your mouth. This same plaque has actually been found in the plaque that’s responsible for clogging the arteries—a condition also known as arteriosclerosis. These bacteria can not only cause hardened arterial plaque and inflammation, but it can also be taxing on the heart, making it work harder to pump blood through restricted arteries. This increases your risk for heart disease, which could lead to a heart attack or a stroke!

Diabetes Increases Risk for Gum Disease

If you have gum disease, this means your gums are inflamed and you may experience symptoms such as bleeding or tender gums, bad breath, and loose teeth. When diabetes is present and unmanaged or poorly managed, blood sugar levels can increase your risk for gum disease and tooth loss. The better controlled your diabetes is, the less risk you have for gum disease. If you have undiagnosed diabetes or blood sugar problems, see your doctor—diabetes treatment could help your oral health and prevent gum disease!

Inflammation Influences Cognitive Decline

The same bacteria that are involved in the inflammation of the gums that is characteristic of gum disease can end up in your brain and influence cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s! Researchers have linked rapid cognitive decline with the presence of gum disease in patients with Alzheimer’s. This research supports the notion that chronic inflammation in the body can affect the entire system—even the brain and cognitive performance in people with preexisting cognitive decline.

Bacteria Cause Upper Respiratory Illness

Upper respiratory infections such as pneumonia or the common cold are more common in people who have poor oral health! Experts reason that the introduction of poor mouth bacteria into the lungs from breathing could cause the inflammation and illness associated with upper respiratory problems. Keeping your mouth clean and free of plaque could result in less instances of the cold or upper respiratory illness throughout your life!

One part of your body is not separate from the other. By taking great care of your mouth, you can help to influence a healthy body! Simply by brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist can improve your chances for avoiding diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and sicknesses like pneumonia. You can also help keep your mouth healthy by better managing your diabetes. Your dental health affects more than just your smile—visit your dentist to learn more about how you can keep your mouth and body healthy for life!

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The Appearance of Longer Teeth

You know your smile. But would you notice if your teeth gradually got longer over time? Many people don’t realize that their appearance has changed and that their teeth actually look bigger or longer than they did before. The appearance of longer teeth is one of the signs of gum recession and can be indicative of gum disease. Take a close look at your teeth—does it look like there’s more of the tooth and less of the gum visible? You could be looking at gum recession!

Red or Swollen Gums

Gums affected by gum disease and gum recession are often red and swollen. Your gums should be firm and pink, but if your gums have a puffy appearance and look to be swollen out from your teeth at the gumline, you could be seeing a sign of gum recession, especially if red or irritated gums are present in addition to these other signs. Red or swollen gums may also bleed when you brush or floss.

Brown Spots at the Gumline

This is a sneaky sign of gum recession that often isn’t noticeable until it’s a large enough area for you to spot! When your gums begin to recede, a brown area can form at the top of your tooth near the gumline. This means that the root of your tooth could be exposed—this can lead to extreme sensitivity to hot and cold, pain, and even a tooth infection. If you notice that your gums are pulling back and are seeing some root exposure, get yourself to a dentist as soon as possible!

Larger Spaces Between Teeth

Teeth are meant to fit together evenly, but when you begin to notice that there are larger gaps in-between your teeth than there were before, your gums could be pulling away from your teeth. These larger spaces between teeth could mean the absence of vital gum tissue, which protects your teeth just as much as your tooth enamel does. When spaces begin to get bigger or you notice gaps in your smile (especially at the roots of your teeth), you may be experiencing gum recession.

The earlier gum recession is identified, the easier your treatment will be. If your gums progressively recede, you could even need surgery for gum grafting to repair your affected gums. Schedule a visit with your dentist to talk about gum recession and gum disease. As a common oral health problem, you could be experiencing signs of gum recession and not know it—but your dentist will be able to tell and can help you treat the condition before it gets worse!

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How Periodontitis Affects the Mouth

When you have periodontitis, bacteria slip underneath your gumline and create pockets where an infection is left to damage your gums, the ligaments that help hold your teeth securely in your mouth, and can even lead to tooth loss. You likely have red or irritated gums that are painful when periodontitis is present. The bacteria that cause gum disease are protected underneath your gums because your toothbrush can’t reach these spaces!

In order to combat periodontitis, your dentist will need to clean out these pockets and remove the infection. If your periodontitis isn’t severe, you likely won’t need surgical treatment. Non-surgical treatment for periodontitis is also called root planing or scaling. This deep cleaning can help to remove the infection and restore your gums.

What Is Root Planing and Scaling?

When your gums harbor infectious tissue and bacteria, root planing and scaling is often the first step your dentist will take to help get your mouth back to normal. During this procedure, you’ll receive local anesthesia to help with any discomfort you may feel. Your dentist will then conduct a thorough cleaning using special tools to remove plaque, infection, bacteria, and tartar that are causing the inflammation from your teeth and gums.

Your dentist will also smooth the roots of your teeth back into place, which helps your gums maintain their normal shape and therefore protect your teeth and gums from harmful bacteria that may try to re-enter areas below the gumline. Oftentimes, this treatment is the only treatment that’s needed for periodontitis!

Effectively Treat Periodontitis

If your gum disease has progressed to the point that it’s causing your gums to become inflamed and harbor infection, you can effectively treat periodontitis the first time with root planing and scaling. With regular dental checkups and great home care habits for your smile, this may be the only treatment you need! Generally, the gums respond well to this treatment and are able to heal. Your dentist is able to help prevent further damage and protect your smile with non-surgical treatment for periodontitis.

If your gums are tender, bleed when brushing, or look “puffy” and swollen out from your teeth, it’s time to visit your dentist to check for gum disease. Periodontitis can often be easily treated with root planing and scaling by your local dentist, and with some oral health care changes, your gums can be restored and healthily support your teeth for life!

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Wisdom teeth themselves often aren’t the problem: it’s their location in the mouth that can be troublesome. Wisdom teeth may not have enough room in the mouth, so they come in at odd angles or push against the second molars, which can cause pain on the adjacent teeth and shifting of the top and bottom rows of teeth. These are called impacted wisdom teeth and they often need to be removed.

Wisdom teeth can also create tight spaces where plaque and bacteria love to hide, therefore leading to tooth decay or gum disease. Finally, wisdom teeth tend to be painful and may be removed to prevent pain as well as problems in the mouth.

When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?

This will depend on the patient, but wisdom teeth are generally removed as they erupt or before or after eruption, so between the ages of 17-21. You may still choose to get wisdom teeth removed later, after they’ve fully erupted.

What Should I Expect During the Procedure?

Your dentist can extract your wisdom teeth with mild sedation, but if you want IV sedation, he or she will likely refer you to an oral surgeon. You’ll be asleep during the procedure and your teeth will be extracted. You won’t feel anything, and you’ll be quite numb for a few hours following the procedure.

Is Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed Painful?

Getting your wisdom teeth removed is not painful, but you may experience some pain in the days following the procedure as your mouth heals. Your dentist will prescribe you pain medication as well as advise best practices for taking care of your healing mouth!

What Should I Eat Following the Procedure?

Your dentist will likely advise you to not eat until the numbness of your mouth goes away. After this, you should only eat soft foods for a few days. These include foods like ice cream, yogurt, soup, smoothies, eggs, or soft fruits such as mangoes and kiwi. Be prepared with these foods at your home so you’ll be ready to eat while you rest and heal.

How Long Will It Take to Heal?

Healing from your wisdom tooth removal generally takes several days or up to two weeks. Your mouth needs to heal the sockets that your wisdom teeth were removed from. It’s important to take great care of your teeth during this time so your mouth can heal fast and you’ll be eating regular foods again in no time!

Wisdom teeth removal is a very common procedure that many people get to prevent future problems with their wisdom teeth. Your dentist can tell if your wisdom teeth are on their way in with a simple x-ray and advise if they’ll cause future problems. Talk with your dentist about wisdom tooth removal!

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An oral cancer screening is a simple exam that your dentist performs in order to ensure you don’t have any signs or symptoms of oral cancer. Every year, nearly 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer and of those, nearly 10,000 will die from this disease. Early detection can save your life—so schedule an oral cancer screening or ask about one at your next dentist appointment! What should you expect during an oral cancer screening?

Visual Exam

Your dentist will conduct a visual exam to examine your mouth for any white or red areas that could be sores indicative of oral cancer. Your dentist should also look at either side of your face for unusual lumps or changes in your facial structure. Your tongue will also be examined: this includes the top, bottom, and sides. Your dentist will also perform a physical exam in conjunction with the visual exam to check for oral cancer.

Physical Exam

A physical exam of your mouth, neck, and jaw is an important part of the oral cancer screening—any lumps or abnormalities may not be visible but be able to be detected through touch. Your dentist will also feel the inside of your mouth, including your cheeks, in order to ensure there are no abnormalities present.

Your lymph nodes can also be at risk to develop cancerous tumors. Your dentist will examine the lymph nodes that are present in your neck. Your lips will also be physically examined in addition to the place where your jaw hinges near your ears.

Questions

Your dentist will also ask you some questions during your oral cancer screening. He or she will ask if you’re experiencing any symptoms that you haven’t mentioned, whether or not you smoke, and how frequently you drink. Smoking and drinking are big risk factors that should be addressed.

People who consume alcohol in excess or smoke are more likely to get oral cancer than those who don’t. Be open and honest with your dentist so that he or she can advise you and help assess your risk for oral cancer as you age. Age is also risk factor for oral cancer!

The Symptoms of Oral Cancer

It’s important that you talk to your dentist about any symptoms you’re experiencing when it comes to oral cancer. Although some people experience no symptoms, especially in the early stages of cancer, other symptoms may include a sore in the mouth that doesn’t go away, a lump or swollen lymph nodes that don’t go decrease in size, or even facial numbness.

Since some of these symptoms are vague and difficult to notice, it’s best to get a check up with a professional. Your dentist can examine your mouth during your regular checkups to ensure no signs of cancer are present.

Have you ever had an oral cancer screening? Talk with your dentist during your next checkup about your risk for oral cancer. Prevention is the best medicine, and early detection of oral cancer can mean the difference between successful and unsuccessful treatment. Get screened for oral cancer with your dentist during your next visit!

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