We only get one set of teeth and tooth loss is permanent, so it is important to exercise proper oral hygiene every day.
The toothbrush was invented by the Chinese back in 1000 A.D. and has been an integral part of maintaining smiles ever since. Today the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice a day with an ADA approved toothpaste that contains fluoride. The majority of people use a toothbrush with soft bristles to minimize damages to the teeth and gums. The proper way to brush is to hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your gum line and brush down in sweeping strokes. Then use circular motions throughout your mouth to get every part clean, including your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Proper brushing not only removes plaque from your teeth to prevent the formation of tartar, but stimulates your gums to make them healthier. Ideally, you should replace your toothbrush every three or four months.
Flossing is also important and should be done every day to remove plaque between your teeth that brushing cannot reach. Avoid having too many snacks in between meals, especially sugary ones.
Finally, have a dental check-up and cleaning twice each year to maintain proper oral hygiene and minimize plaque buildup. After all, you only get one set of teeth so you need to take care of them!
The original dentures were created over 2,000 years ago. Up until the last couple of decades, dentures tended to look like updated versions of the infamous George Washington wooden teeth, which made many folks hesitant to even consider them.
However, modern technology has greatly improved the functionality and appearance of today's dentures - they are not your granny's false teeth anymore! Besides, it is certainly easier to eat with dentures than with missing teeth.
Over 45 million million Americans wear partial or complete dentures
Partial dentures replace some teeth and complete dentures replaces all the teeth. Dentures are beneficial for both your health and appearance so you can chew and smile with confidence.
Materials used to create dentures today include a possible combination of acrylic, fiberglass and metal. They look and feel more natural than ever and are available in a wide choice of tooth and gum colors because of the use of updated materials and technology. Improved processing methods ensure that your dentures function properly and feel comfortable in your mouth. Teeth are even individually positioned to make dentures like more like your own teeth for a more realistic appearance.
Today's dentures can make a visible difference in your overall well-being.
Tartar, also called calculus, is actually plaque that hardens on the surface of your teeth. When plaque turns into tartar, it begins to eat away the surface of your teeth and can cause cavities. Tartar also forms along and underneath the gum line, which irritates the tissues and could cause gum disease, referred to as gingivitis. Further, because tartar is porous, stains are absorbed more easily, which causes your teeth to become discolored more quickly. For people who smoke and drink coffee, this can become quite serious in a short period of time.
To prevent tartar from building up on your teeth and gums, you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Flossing is also important and should be done several times a week to remove plaque from in between your teeth.
Professional Cleaning is Essential
Although you must brush and floss everyday, nothing replaces a professional cleaning at your dentist's office. Your dental hygienist can quickly and effectively remove the unhealthy tartar and plaque in your mouth. This process is referred to as scaling and special instruments are used to remove tartar from your teeth and gum line.
Your smile says so much about you. Every time you grin at someone, you cannot help but expose your teeth for the world to see. Keep your teeth clean, healthy and brilliant. A few minutes a day, and two visits a year to your dentist does wonders!
The dental wand offers painless, computer controlled anesthesia delivery for dental patients who are particularly sensitive to pain. Because the wand delivers a dosage controlled by a microprocessor as opposed to thumb pressure, a slow, steady injection is delivered that is comfortable for the patient.
The hardware for the device resembles a small computer tower and the hand piece looks a lot like a ballpoint pen. Because of the shape of the hand piece, it is easier for dentists to have a straight path for a more accurate injection. The hand piece is clean because it is disposable.
The immediate benefit a patient derives from receiving an injection through the dental wand is painlessness. After the injection, the patient will notice that their lips, cheeks, tongue and face are not numb for hours. This is because the dental want allows the dentist or dental technician to hit exactly the right spot and numb only the tooth or teeth being worked on. Further, the technique is so painless that it is even comfortable for use on the sensitive palate.
If you fear the sting of the injection before dental work, ask your dentist about the dental wand today for a painless, direct numbing method.
Whether they work in private offices or in public health, dental hygienists are important members of dentists’ oral health teams. Though professional dental hygienists still clean teeth by removing tartar caused by plaque buildup patients didn’t remove by brushing and flossing, they are also educators, researchers and agents for change.
Professional dental hygienists in private practice are also responsible for instructing patients about preventive dental care and counseling patients about dietary choices. They take patients’ medical and dental histories, apply sealants and fluoride and process X-rays.
Those working in the public health system conduct dental screening exams, demonstrate new preventive dental methods and procedures, help plan community dental health programs, and may also be involved in seeking funding for dental health care provided to low income people.
Though most dental hygienists work with dentists in private practice, an increasing number are working as researchers in hospitals and schools of dentistry.
Regardless of where they work, dental hygienists must be graduates of an accredited dental hygiene program, pass a state board examination that includes both written and clinical tests and be licensed by the state in which they practice.
Periodontal disease is one of the most serious dental problems people face. Good oral hygiene habits—brushing after every meal and flossing at least once a day—are essential to maintaining good oral health, but should not replace seeing your dentist.
Periodontal disease begins with gingivitis, a gum inflammation that produces bleeding and soreness, and is usually triggered by bacteria in that sticky film called plaque that accumulates on teeth. People often don’t take the presence of a “little pink in the sink” seriously enough. Without regular dental visits, gingivitis can blossom into periodontal disease that causes destruction of the tissues that surround and support teeth and the bone and fibers that hold teeth in place.
Not only does periodontal disease rob your oral health, it may well make you sick in other ways. Dental problems have been linked to heart problems, including stroke, and to lowered immune system function.
Preventive dentistry is especially important for children. Children with good oral health chew more easily and get more nourishment from their food. They also learn to speak more quickly and clearly, have better general health and experience fewer dental problems down the line.
Want to know how get a gorgeous smile and keep it for life? Find and build a good relationship with a cosmetic dentist whose personality fits well with yours.
A good relationship with your cosmetic dentist is important because dental care is very personal. Feeling uncomfortable with the person whose works on your teeth is far worse than feeling uncomfortable with the mechanic who works on your car. The more comfortable you feel with your dentist, and with his or her dental hygienist and office policies, the greater the likelihood that you’ll do whatever is necessary to resolve dental problems and maintain good oral health.
It pays to choose your cosmetic dentist carefully. Check out several offices before making your choice. Asking family and friends for references is a good way to start, but the deciding factor should be your feelings.
Give yourself permission to change dentists if it turns out that the choice you made isn’t working for you. If you find you need to move to another dental office, be gentle with yourself and with the dentist you’re leaving. Don’t take a poor personality fit personally—sometimes two people just don’t hit it off no matter how hard they try.
Want more info about what a great cosmetic dentist truly is? Visit the Richmond Smile Center.
Cosmetic dentistry is a lot more than just cosmetic! Though twice-yearly visits to your dentist will keep teeth white and smile bright, they can also keep numerous health problems at bay. Researchers have determined that poor oral health is associated with heart disease, stroke and reduced immune system efficiency. The condition of the mouth often mirrors the condition of the body as a whole!
Establishing good oral health should begin early. Parents need to instill good oral hygiene health habits in their children and be sure to take them to a cosmetic dentist at least every six months. In addition to giving kids’ white teeth, dentists can correct oral problems that can lead to chewing or speech difficulties and adversely impact a child’s self-confidence and school performance later on.
Good oral health and treating oral diseases and conditions significantly improve the quality of life. Brush and floss after every meal to reduce plaque, the sticky white substance that contributes to dental cavities and gum disease. Go easy on black coffee and tea and sodas. And don’t use tobacco—both smoking and chewing can lead to gum disease and lost teeth!
Check out this case study on smile transformations…
