When you look at your gums, what colors do you see? If your gums are healthy, the color you will see is a healthy and uniform pink.
If your gums appear more red than pink, you should contact your dentist immediately and schedule an appointment to find out what's causing the redness. The most common causes are periodontis, or gum disease, which is often signaled by red, bleeding or swollen gums. Even if the redness you see is limited to right after you brush, when there's a little "pink in the sink" you should take red gums seriously!
White gums are a cause for alarm as well. White gums can signal the presence of infection elsewhere in your body due to increased white cell activity.
The color of your gums is a good indicator of overall health as well as dental health. Because a healthy system has the correct balance of red and white blood cells and is free of infection, a healthy mouth will have clear pink gums. If you see any other color when you look in the mirror, call your dentist and make an appointment to find out why and to correct the problem now!
Smoking is a lot of things. In the past, it was thought to add glamor and sophistication to a person's image. Remember those old movies that portrayed devil-may-care beautiful people smoking at cocktail parties?
Though the glamor surrounding smoking is long gone, it remains a great way to do several other things. Exposing yourself to nicotine, which is the most addictive substance in the world, or making your clothes, your hair and your breath reek of tobacco. In addition to these dubious "benefits" smoking can also ruin your teeth and gums.
After years of smoking, the stains that nicotine leaves on your pearly white teeth can be practically impossible to eradicate. In addition, toxic gas and other substances you take into your mouth when you smoke can do lasting and sometimes irreversible damage to your gums, which is why long-term smokers so often end by wearing false teeth.
Smoking is not your friend. However soothing the immediate effects of nicotine are, they are terrible for your health and appearance. If you smoke, do your pearly whites a favor and stop immediately. If you don't smoke, don't start—your teeth and gums will thank you!
The difference between those highly-advertised one hour whitening treatments and professional tray whitening at your dentist's office is one of success and degree.
You see, dentists have to be licensed and trained to use the professional strength bleaching chemicals used for tray whitening, which are more potent than anything consumers can buy on their own. When correctly and carefully handled, these chemicals are perfectly safe. But their greater strength brings with it greater potential for mishandling and abuse by inexperienced people, which in turn could create problems.
Handling powerful whitening agents is among the many abilities that professional, licensed dentists must satisfactorily demonstrate in order to be granted a license to practice dentistry. You can rest assured that they know what they are doing and how to handle these bleaching agents in a manner that will safely get your teeth as pearly white as you want them to be!
How important is clear communication? Hmmm…let's see.
When you go to a restaurant, do you give your order to the waitperson or expect that he or she will read your mind and automatically bring you whatever you'd like to eat? How about when you visit your financial services provider? Do you let him or her know that you had a baby two years ago and want to start a 529 savings plan for the college expenses you know will arise 16 years from now, or do you keep those facts secret and hope for the best?
Not communicating clearly in either one of these examples would be pretty silly—and it's every bit as silly not to communicate openly and honestly with your dentist!
If you want to get what you want in life, you've got to ask for it. Strangely enough, some people think that just because a dentist examines your teeth, that dentist will know what you want without any input from you.
Not going to happen! Your dentist undoubtedly assumes that if you have questions, you'll ask, if you have fears, you'll reveal them and that overall, you'll communicate what you believe needs to be done with your teeth.
Make your dentist right about that. After all, your dentist graduated from dental college, not from Madame Wu's School of mind reading!
A big question for most parents is when a child should first see their dentist for a preliminary dental examination.
An answer answer to this question is that your child should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry agree that children who are at potential risk of getting early childhood cavities should visit a dentist by the time they are 1 years old. Formerly the answer to this question was after a child's first tooth came in, but national public health groups have updated their advice.
Because more than one in four children in the United States today have cavities by the time they reach the age of four, and sometimes as early as the age of two, children should visit a dentist sooner rather than later. Parents can help at home by managing a child's diet to avoid sugary snacks and assist a child with good oral hygiene such as brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and flossing daily.
By taking your child to the dentist early, you encourage healthy dental habits and help to prevent problems before they start for a lifetime of great smiles.
With modern cosmetic dental procedures that are painless and quick, a whiter and brighter smile is available to everyone.
If your teeth are dingy and yellowed, consider having your dentist perform professional tooth whitening right in the dental office. A hydrogen peroxide based gel is applied to your teeth and is often activated with heat to product stellar, sparkling results. You can leave your dentist's office in just a couple of hours with teeth that are five to ten shades whiter.
For more damaged, stained teeth that may even have chips or cracks, dental bonding is your answer. A tooth colored dental material is sculpted to your teeth by the dentist and hardened with heat. The results of dental bonding are natural and attractive and only take an hour or two at the dental office.
Finally, if your teeth are extremely stained and possibly damaged or misaligned, porcelain veneers can give you the smile you always wanted. Thin, tooth colored shells are bonded to the fronts of your teeth to totally transform their appearance and recreate your smile.
If you want to get rid of those yellow teeth, call your dentist today to discuss the various options for immediate, incredible results that will make you really want to smile.
What qualities do you find appealing in a professional office when you yourself pay a visit to your doctor or dentist? These qualities are the exact same ones your patients will find appealing when they visit your office!
Perhaps tops on everyone's list of positive qualities is being treated politely and with respect and courtesy. This includes such things as being addressed by name, not having to wait very long before getting into the appointment begins, being handled gently and with consideration when in the dentist's chair and having procedures explained in layman's terms, among others.
So many people have anxiety around visiting their dentist that another important quality in a successful dental office is decor and ambiance that support calm and relaxation. Make sure that your office is decorated in soothing colors, that your dental staff and you yourself are pleasant and calm, and that any music played is peaceful.
Offering your patients the option of headphones while the dental work is being done is an excellent way of helping them to relax while the dental procedures they need are being performed. Making certain that your waiting room contains a selection of up-to-date periodicals patients can peruse while waiting, keeping fresh flowers or plants and pleasing art work on the walls are excellent ways to develop the qualities that make patients comfortable and ensure their willingness to return again and again and again.
Dental implants are overtaking dentures in patient popularity because of vast improvements in dental technology. More than ever before, dental implants offer a natural looking, long lasting solution to tooth loss and replacement.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw that holds a replacement tooth or bridge. Whether you are missing one tooth, several teeth or all your teeth, dental implants can replace those teeth. Dental implants are a great option for people with generally good oral health who want a natural looking way to replace missing teeth, no matter whether they were lost due to injury, periodontal disease or another reason.
Dental implants look and feel just like your own teeth and give you a smile to be proud of both personally and professionally. Although getting dental implants may require several lengthy visits to a periodontist, the results are incredible. Once you have dental implants, you simply take care of them like your own teeth. With proper maintenance and routine checkups, your dental implants can last you a lifetime.
Although high end dentures are greatly improved in appearance and functionality, dental implants are gaining in popularity because they work and look just like your own teeth – and they don't need to be removed.
When you visit your dentist, why not inquire about educational materials to teach your child about healthy oral hygiene habits? This literature is often a very helpful way to effectively education your child about dental issues and gives your dentist an opportunity to stress the important of good oral hygiene to your child.
Dental offices frequently have a great deal of educational materials that are provided to them by various companies that make toothpaste, toothbrushes and a variety of other dental products. Usually there is special literature that prevents dental facts and information in a child-friendly manner. This may include coloring books, stickers, toothbrush kits or other educational packets that a child will find interesting and fun. While offering a enjoyable item to your child, these educational materials will also present valuable information in a way your child will understand. From learning proper tooth brushing techniques to flossing daily to proper eating habits, educational materials from your dentist' office will offer a world of useful facts about taking good care of your teeth.
The next time you go to the dental office, make sure to pick up educational material for your child to check out. Your dentist and your child will be glad you remembered – and so will you when you see how well your child learn to take care of their teeth for a lifetime of good oral health!
Acidic foods can be quite harmful to your teeth because they erode your tooth enamel. The enamel n your teeth is a strong, protective coating that helps to prevent decay. Once the enamel is softened and eroded, you can't get it back and your teeth become more vulnerable to decay.
The saliva in your mouth is meant to neutralize acid. However, continually consuming sugary foods such as soda, cookies and fruit juices causes excessive amounts of acid to form in your mouth and increase the possibility of tooth enamel erosion. Dentists recommend that your reduce the amount of soft drinks, sports drinks and fruit juices you drink to minimize tooth enamel erosion. If you cannot brush your teeth after eating a sugary snack, rinse with water for 30 seconds to remove some of the sugar left behind. The best way to remove sugary debris is to brush your teeth with an ADA approved fluoride toothpaste after snacking. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. Also, daily flossing is imperative to remove the particles that get stuck in between your teeth and may cause enamel erosion.
Remember to schedule routine visits to your dentist's office for checkups and professional cleanings. A professional cleaning can help to remove stubborn plaque and tartar that compromises the enamel on your teeth. Additionally, your dentist will be able to detect early signs of decay to keep them at bay.
The best way to keep your teeth healthy is to avoid acidic foods, eat healthy snacks, brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist for routine checkups.
