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You’re probably not thinking about your dentist on Valentine’s Day, but with all the candy, kissing, and primping that takes place on this holiday, you probably should. True, it’s not very romantic to think about your hygienist when you’re on a date, and children really don’t want to hear about cavities when they open up a carton of candy Red Hots, but there’s sense in thinking about your mouth and practicing some care. Tooth fillings and gum disease are the least romantic things that can result from a little Valentine’s Day indulgence. Here are some things to consider. Go Easy on the Sweets Message hearts, candy roses, boxes of chocolates – Valentine’s Day is full of sweet goodies. The trouble is these treats are full of sugar. When we eat sugar, it reacts with the living bacteria in our mouths to create acid, which in turn decays teeth, causing a cavity. While not eating sugar is the surest way to avoid a cavity, on a day like this, that’s probably not possible, especially for children. Practicing some restraint and hygiene can help prevent cavity formation. Indulge in sugar free candy, or candy that melts quickly in the mouth. The less time the sugar is inside our mouths, the less time it’s interacting with bacteria. Try to limit the treats to one time, rather than extending over a period of days. This way, there’s only one incident, which lowers cavity risk. After eating sugar, do a mouth rinse with water or mouthwash (if your child is old enough), or better yet, brush and floss. Immediately flushing sugar out of the mouth prevents it from sitting around with the bacteria for a long time. Kissing This is a popular Valentine’s Day activity, and thankfully, your dentist would approve. Kissing increases saliva production, which in turn fights cavities. Add this to your post-candy routine! The down side is if your valentine has poor dental hygiene. The germs and disease in their mouth will get transferred to yours. Yuck. Both of you would do well to swish some mouthwash before a night out. It kills bacteria and freshens breath, so that way you don’t give your date an unpleasant gift of oral disease. A Clean Mouth is a Sexy Mouth No one wants to kiss someone with bad breath, so chew some sugarless gum. It increases saliva and freshens breath. Regular brushing and flossing regulate bad breath and keep bacteria at bay, so make sure you keep up this routine. That said, make sure you don’t share a toothbrush with your partner as this is a prime way to transfer germs. Want to dazzle for your date? Consider some whitening strips to make your smile glow. Dentists can professionally whiten your teeth as well, a great option for a long term solution. The worst thing you can do for your mouth? Smoke. It shouldn’t come as much surprise that smoking makes your breath smell bad, your teeth stain yellow, and it makes you twice as likely to develop gum disease and oral cancer. Not exactly a recipe to win over your date. Both children and adults should visit their dentist twice a year to keep mouths clean, healthy, and looking great.
At Wash Park Dental we are frequently asked questions about chipping a tooth. “Is it big a deal? Doesn’t it depend on how big the chip is? While for most people a chip may seem mostly a cosmetic concern, it is important to know that any time that you chip or otherwise damage a tooth it is important to have your tooth and gums evaluated by a dentist to rule out any underlying damage and to protect your tooth from additional harm. For example, if dental pulp at the center of the tooth has been exposed, your tooth could become hypersensitive to temperature and pressure, causing recurring discomfort. The pulp could also become infected, resulting in a need for root canal treatment. In most cases, you should plan to have your chipped tooth repaired. The treatment how deep the chip runs. A chipped tooth equals a significant loss of tooth structure and can even contribute to new chips in the future and cracks in the enamel over time. Very small chips at the edges of teeth may be fixed simply by polishing them with dental instruments to remove rough edges. Over time, however, the bonding material can chip or stain, and therefore may eventually need to be replaced. A dental veneer can be used to hide smaller areas of missing tooth. This is a thin, custom-made shell placed on the front of the tooth to give it a new façade. Some removal of existing tooth surface may be necessary to fit a veneer so it is flush with the surfaces of surrounding intact teeth. Dental cosmetic bonding is the quickest and lowest-cost option to repair a chip. Bonding involves an application of a composite filling material that your dentist will color and shape to match the original tooth. Little to no removal of existing tooth surface is needed.If a substantial part of the tooth has chipped off, it should be recovered and saved if possible. In some cases, your dentist may be able to reattach it via bonding. Otherwise, depending on the extent of tooth loss, the bonding material can be used to replace the lost portion. In rare cases, a dental extraction and tooth replacement may be necessary to repair your tooth. For minor chips, dental bonding or a veneer may be available to cosmetically repair your tooth. It is also important to learn how to avoid chipping a tooth. Of course, accidents happen, but there are steps you can take to substantially reduce the risk of ever experiencing a chipped tooth — for example, wear a dental bite guard while playing sports, don’t grind or clench your teeth, don’t crunch on ice chips or hard candies, and don’t use your teeth as a tool for opening things! The most important thing to remember is that if you chip a tooth, you need to see a dental professional for a proper evaluation and treatment remedy. Contact us to learn more today!
With about 10,000 Baby Boomers in the U.S retiring every single day. often the loss of dental benefits goes hand in hand with the retirement process. Dentists caution that maintaining good oral health during retirement is as critical as taking care of any other part of the body. “Dental coverage, even basic care, is not and never will be provided under Medicare or the Affordable care act, and supplemental private policies are very expensive,” said Dr. Steve Mascarin. “The result is, over 70% of retiring baby boomers have no dental insurance. This is significant because that mass of boomers is highly unlikely to return for the vital regular six-month cleaning visit.” People are living much longer today than in just the most recent generation—in some cases three decades or more—It’s important to ask your dental provider to educate you on best practices to take care of your teeth as you age. Ignoring oral health can lead to poor overall health too. “The inability to chew leads to malnutrition, warped speech, pain, social isolation due to embarrassment, and is a contributing factor to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “The most important cost effective habits that boomers must continue into retirement are regular home care, 3-6 month professional cleanings and annual check-ups from a dentist.” Maintaining good oral health needs to begin as soon as retirement does, if you aren’t already, because that is when teeth are in the best condition. “Most baby boomers have received regular dental care for most of their lives and thus go into retirement with most or all their own teeth. But many lose their dental benefits when they retire and unfortunately stop their regular cleaning and maintenance appointments. This is a huge mistake. Three to six-month cleanings are necessary not only to prevent major problems but to identify and treat potential problems in the early stages to avoid the need for implants, root canal or oral surgery. Who wouldn’t rather have an easy small filling than one of the big league treatments?” The importance of regular checkups and cleanings can also have a huge impact on overall health . Periodontal disease and gum infection worsens when you miss a cleaning. “This occurs in 80% of the population. Bacteria, which is always present in every human’s mouth, are given the chance to fester and grow below the gum line where home brushing and flossing don’t reach. Incidentally, this is what your dental hygienist cleans at your cleaning appointment where you can’t reach. The infection slowly grows, eating away supporting bone, causing severe bad breath and most notably, significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and erectile dysfunction. And now we are finding links with Alzheimer’s disease. Thousands of studies are proving that gum infections are a contributing factor to heart disease, stroke, adult onset diabetes and erectile dysfunction.” In an article for Medical News Today, Honor Whiteman described a study by researchers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK who found that people with poor oral hygiene or gum disease could be at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those who have healthy teeth. Researchers had discovered the presence of bacterium called Porphyromonas gingivitis in the brains of patients who had dementia when they were alive. This bug, they wrote in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, where the study was published, is usually associated with chronic periodontal disease. The university’s study adds to previous findings by New York University in 2010 that linked poor oral health to Alzheimer’s disease. Those researchers asserted that gum disease could increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction. Prof. StJohn Crean, executive dean of the College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences and the School of Medical Dentistry at UCLan, was quoted by Whiteman on this most recent research: “Whereas previous studies have indicated a link between dementia and other bacteria and viruses such as the Herpes simplex virus type 1, this new research indicates a possible association between gum disease and individuals who may be susceptible to developing Alzheimer’s disease, if exposed to the appropriate trigger. Research currently underway at UCLan is playing an active role in exploring this link, but it remains to be proven whether poor dental hygiene can lead to dementia in healthy people, which obviously could have significant implications for the population as a whole. It is also likely that these bacteria could make the existing disease condition worse.” The Alzheimer’s Society concurs that there are two main types of dental disease—gum (periodontal) disease and tooth decay (commonly known as cavities)—when these diseases worsen, the confusion associated with dementia grows. Technological advances in Dentistry have come a long way since wooden dentures. Dentures in the 21st century are usually made from various types of acrylic resin or porcelain with implants or posts surgically placed to the upper or lower jaw to anchor a replacement tooth, several teeth or a full set of dentures, are made of titanium and other materials that are easily accepted by the human body. With materials closer to natural teeth than ever before, dentures have become more translucent, as opposed to ceramic or cheaper acrylic and is becoming increasingly less expensive. When looking for a for a dentist who caters to aging teeth, consider asking questions specific to the needs of baby boomers. Washington Park Dentists are versed in all matters that are most important during retirement.