Ten to Fifteen Years

Your veneers, with proper placement, care, and maintenance, will likely last ten to fifteen years. This will depend on your oral health habits as well as the placement of your veneers. Getting your veneers installed by a dentist who takes the time and care to understand your mouth and give you the perfect placement of your veneers is important. You have a role to play in the lifespan of your veneers, too, though. With proper care, your veneers could last up to twenty years or maybe even longer! How can you extend the lifespan of your dental veneers?

How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Veneers

You can maintain your veneers by keeping up with regular oral health practices—you’ll still need to brush, floss, and visit your dentist. It’s important to brush properly and not brush your teeth hard. Hard brushing could damage your veneers (as well as your natural teeth) over time. Gentle brushing with a quality toothpaste is important. Avoid drinks that can be destructive to your veneers, namely soda and alcohol, as much as possible. You can also protect your veneers by not misusing your mouth. Your mouth was meant to bite, chew, and grind up food—it’s not meant to chew ice, crack nuts, or bite on inedible objects like pencils and pens. Engaging in all of these practices can be very damaging to your dental veneers.

You and Your Dentist Make a Good Team

While you can engage in healthy oral practices to make your veneers last longer, you’ll also need to team up with your dentist in order to create a longer lifespan for your veneers. Your dentist can give youthe care you need during regular checkups, and ensure that your veneers are doing fine. Your dentist may look for cracks or chips, and your dentist should also check whether or not you’ve been grinding your teeth. An improper jaw bite can be very damaging to dental veneers, therefore creating grinding or improper use of your veneers. If you grind your teeth, your dentist should be able to tell, and can talk with you about how to protect your teeth from grinding and even help prevent it. Grinding can cause headaches, jaw pain, and it can crack or chip your veneers, leading to early replacement.

Your dental veneers were meant to last at least ten years, but could last as many as twenty! By taking care of your oral health and visiting your dentist, you can ensure that your dental veneers last a long time, and keep your smile looking great for years.

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Linked to Other Health Ailments

The inflammation is what ties gum disease to other health ailments. The inflammation in your mouth when periodontal disease is present is linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and premature birth in women who are pregnant. These are all serious health conditions that affect your quality of life and your lifespan—and let’s not forget that heart disease is the primary cause of death in men and women in the United States. Gum disease is linked to all of these health problems by the common factor of inflammation. By treating the gum disease in your mouth, you’re making it easier for your body to maintain health and eliminate the inflammatory response that comes with infection. By alleviating inflammation in your body, you can help reduce and prevent your risk of heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. Not to mention you can help save your teeth! Be aware of the signs and symptoms of gum disease—this includes bleeding gums when brushing, chronic bad breath, red gums, loose teeth, and buildup of plaque that looks brown along the gum line.

How to Treat Gum Disease?

Gum disease happens when plaque builds up on your teeth over time and eventually turns into tartar—a very hard substance that can only be scraped off and removed by a dentist. This tartar will affect the space where your gums meet your teeth, causing the gums to pull back from the teeth, infection to breed in this space, and inflammation. Inflammation of the gums is simply gingivitis, but gingivitis is a serious condition that can easily lead to periodontal disease. You can treat gingivitis or periodontal disease by visiting your dentist—he or she will properly clean your teeth and gum line to get rid of the tartar and help reduce the infection. Prevention is the best measure to take when it comes to gum disease or gingivitis. Brushing regularly (and properly), flossing to get at the hard-to-reach areas in between your teeth, and visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups are all important practices for your oral health—and your body!

Being aware that inflammation in your mouth in the form of gum disease is linked a variety of other serious health ailments is important. Taking care of your oral health is just as important as taking care of your body. One affects the other and by taking care of your oral health, you help to decrease inflammation in body. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease, visit your dentist today!

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If You Have Bad Breath…

The tongue can harbor plaque and bacteria just like the rest of our mouths, but since the tongue is
constantly bathed in saliva, moving against certain foods, and cleaning itself, the plaque and bacteria don’t gather on the tongue in the same way they do in the small spaces between our teeth or on the surfaces of our teeth. However, if you have bad breath, the tongue might actually be housing a lot of the bacteria that could be causing your bad breath. Many people find brushing their tongue helpful when it comes to bad breath, especially in the morning. If you find that brushing with a tooth brush makes you gag, there are certain “tongue scrapers” that you can buy. While these are not necessary for optimal oral health, you may want to consider these if you have bad breath or an unpleasant taste on your tongue from certain foods. Usually, the taste from certain foods will go away quickly as the tongue cleans itself, but for certain foods like garlic, salmon, or onions, the taste may unpleasantly linger. Bad breath can also be a sign of gum disease or tooth decay, so remember to always get routine check-ups with your dentist!

Is it Necessary?

Cleaning your tongue is not strictly necessary as long as you keep your mouth clean. This means
brushing at least once a day, flossing once a day or between meals as necessary, and visiting your
dentist. Brushing your tongue is optional. The bacteria on the tongue can spread back to the teeth and gums after brushing if the tongue is not itself brushed, but as it takes at least 24 hours for plaque to form in your mouth, you should be fine as long as you’re brushing once a day. Remember that it’s the quality of your brushing that matters over quantity—no use in brushing your teeth several times a day if you are missing the same areas every time, therefore allowing plaque to build up! Your dentist can talk with you about which areas are being missed in your mouth when brushing just by examining your teeth during your check-up.

While many people give their tongue a quick scrub, it’s not wholly necessary. If you have bad breath or frequently eat foods that feel like their taste “clings” in your mouth, you may find it helpful to brush your tongue along with your regular brushings. As always, healthy oral hygiene consists of brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist!

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Men with a Family History

Men are much more likely than women to suffer from sleep apnea, although it’s not strictly known why this is. Men who have a family history of sleep apnea are even more likely, as certain genetic factors may contribute to the disorder. Older men (age 60 and above) are particularly at risk. Men who have a family history of sleep apnea and experience any of the symptoms including loud snoring, headaches, dry mouth, and daytime fatigue should see their doctor or dentist to determine if they have sleep apnea.

People with Small-Structured Airways

People with airways in their sinuses that are smaller than normal may be at risk for sleep apnea. These small-structured airways can create an increased risk for congestion, particularly if you suffer from allergies, colds, or sinus issues, and especially if you smoke. Without treatment, sleep apnea has the potential to damage your quality of life and hinder your health into old age. Untreated sleep apnea could result in high blood pressure, an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and diabetes.

People with Certain Lifestyle Factors

There are certain lifestyle factors that will increase your risk for sleep apnea. They include:

– Obesity. People who are overweight are more at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a type of sleep apnea that occurs because excess tissue of the mouth and throat can relax during sleep and cause airways to become blocked.

– Smoking. People who make may be more at risk for sleep apnea, as the nicotine can cause relaxation among the muscles that keep your airways accessible.

– Alcohol. Alcohol and other sedatives such as sleeping medications can also relax the muscles in your airway.

Lifestyle factors are things that you can change. Take advantage of the power you have over your health and minimize your risk for sleep apnea by exercising, quit smoking if you’re a smoker, and decrease your alcohol intake.

What Can You Do?

Dentists are actually often the first people who detect there may be a problem with sleep apnea. It’s always best to be open with your physicians about what symptoms you’re experiencing. Your dentist can refer you to a specialist to confirm whether or not you have sleep apnea. If you do have sleep apnea, your dentist may be able to help you with some lifestyle changes or fit you with a dental appliance. A dental appliance can help reposition your jaw to help increase airflow and alleviate your sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that should not go undiagnosed—it can be life-threatening and damaging to your health. If you’re at risk or are experiencing symptoms, speak with your dentist or doctor today to get the treatment you need to stay healthy.

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Promotes Inflammation

Smoking irritates your airways. This can lead to a constant cough, frequent nasal or sinus infections, and inflammation. This inflammation makes your airways swell and this swelling can obstruct your airways, leading to Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea affecting millions of people all over the world. You are particularly at risk for sleep apnea if you smoke and have airways that are small in structure. This inflammation can also irritate your upper airways, therefore leading to snoring. Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea and should be checked out by your doctor.

Relaxes Airway Muscles

The nicotine in cigarettes is known to give smokers that “relaxation” effect, although in reality it actually increases your heart rate, not to mention is highly addictive and is actually an insecticide, meaning it’s used to kill insects. Exposure to nicotine can greatly affect your central nervous system and can hinder your growth. Nicotine also relaxes the muscles that keep your airways open while you’re sleeping, therefore leading to obstruction of the airways, and hence, Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This, in addition to the irritation, inflammation, and fluid retention that cigarette smoke can cause in the airways, can hinder your breathing and cause sleep apnea.

How Quitting Can Help

Quitting smoking is not easy—thanks to the highly addictive ingredient nicotine—but it is possible and there is help. Quitting smoking can help your sleep apnea almost immediately. You’ll be able to breathe better both while awake and while sleeping. The inflammation and fluid retention in your airways will decrease, and there’ll be no nicotine present to relax your airways, therefore helping by keeping them open and operable. You’ll be less likely to have obstructed airways during sleeping and therefore quitting smoking combined with other lifestyle changes such as exercise and decreased alcohol intake can help you overcome your sleep apnea.

Visiting your regular physician when trying to quit can also help, as they’ll be able to offer you support for helping you quit, including nicotine patches and gum to help ease cravings. Your dentist can also help you overcome sleep apnea while you’re trying to quit—dental appliances that help reposition your tongue or jaw may be able to help you breathe easier at night.

Smokers are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, so quitting is your best option if you’re at risk or already have sleep apnea. Deciding to quit is the first step. By quitting smoking, you can breathe easier and work with your doctor and dentist to treat your sleep apnea, and hopefully one day be free from the disorder altogether.

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Injury to the Mouth Resulting in Tooth Damage or Loss

If you’re in an accident in which one of your teeth is knocked out completely, partially removed, or dislodged from its natural position in your mouth, this is a dental emergency and you should get yourself to a dentist within 30 minutes. Getting to a dentist as soon as possible could mean the difference between keeping and losing your damaged or lost tooth. If you have the tooth, take it with you—it’s best if the extracted tooth is kept in your mouth in the socket it was in, but if this is not possible, try to keep it moist with saliva, and never handle it by the root. If your tooth is dislodged or hanging, it’s best not to touch it and get yourself to a dentist.

Cracked or Fractured Teeth

If one of your teeth becomes cracked or is fractured, this constitutes a dental emergency and you should see a dentist as soon as you can. Save any pieces of the tooth and take them with you. Cracked or fractured teeth may indicate damage inside the tooth as well as outside, so in order to prevent further damage to help save the tooth, you’ll need dental attention immediately. If you simply chipped a tooth, this is not technically a dental emergency and not the same as cracked or fractured teeth. If you do chip a tooth, save any pieces, schedule to see your dentist soon, and be careful when chewing to help prevent further chipping.

Situations That Can Wait (But Not for Long)

If you’ve lost a crown or filling, getting yourself in to see your dentist is really important, but this isn’t a strict emergency and you don’t need to rush off there in most cases. For lost fillings, you can use dental cement (available over the counter) until you can get to your dentist. For lost crowns, you’ll need to keep the crown and, if possible, get some dental cement and place the crown back over the tooth. Another situation that can wait is broken or damaged braces. Brackets or bands could be loose or maybe your braces themselves or the wires are broken. You can wait in these situations—although the sooner you get to your orthodontist, the more comfortable you’ll be. In the meantime, apply orthodontic wax over the problem area and never cut the braces yourself!

Dental emergencies are not fun but you can be prepared for them. Keep a list of local dentists in your dental emergency kit, as well as gauze for bleeding, a container with a lid for extracted teeth, and a compress that can be frozen if needed to help with swelling. Remember—getting yourself to the dentist quickly in an emergency can save your teeth!

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