Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Alarmingly, one American dies every hour from oral cancer, and this has remained unchanged for the last 40 years. Often, oral cancer is discovered too late in stage development, which is the main reason for the consistently high death rate.

With early detection, the chance for a cure is high. And now it is easier than ever to detect it. With early detection and diagnosis life expectancy can be increased; it is 90% curable when found in the early stages but 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages.

Most often occurring in those who use tobacco in any form, oral cancer can also occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors. Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth: the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate. It can also cause a change in the way the teeth fit together.

Signs of Oral Cancer include:

• A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
• A color change of the oral tissues
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.

If you believe that you or someone you care about may have oral cancer, it is important to have that spot checked. Please contact Dream Smile Dental for a consultation.

Of course, not every case of bleeding gums is directly related to gum disease. In less common circumstances, certain medications, or hormonal changes can cause the gums to become more sensitive to stimulation and may bleed.  However a common reason that gums bleed is due to  gum disease.  Also known as gingivitis or periodontal disease, gum disease is an infection of the gums, teeth and in advanced cases, the bones and ligaments that support the jaw. This infection is estimated to affect nearly 80% of Americans at some point during their lifetime.

With better brushing techniques and more regular flossing, along with regular cleanings and evaluation by a dental professional, the majority of cases of gum disease can be minimized and managed easily. The cause of gum disease is simple; bacteria. Full of warmth, moisture and an environment full of food to thrive upon, bacteria inside the mouth can reproduce rapidly. Food particles and residue that are left inside our mouths after meals provides optimum opportunity for bacteria to grow out of control. As they grow they release toxins that irritate and inflame the gum line. A bacteria's preferred food source is in the form of plaque.

Plaque residue forms a sticky and sometimes hard substance on the teeth and around the gum line. Bacteria feed on the plaque and work deep into gum tissues causing irritation, swelling and bleeding gums. This irritation may be painless but where there is bleeding there is most likely an infection that will need to be treated.

It is very important to see a dentist regularly and get your routine check-ups. Be sure to contact us today to set up your next appointment to avoid any major cases of oral problems.

Open communication with your child is the best way. Talk to your child about your personal experiences with dentists, proper brushing, and other oral hygiene practices so your child can relate to what you're saying. Your child's oral health sometimes depends on the attention you give so make sure that you give your child enough time.

Appearance is everything today. We all yearn for the latest trends, always trying to look our best. We pay for expensive manicures, haircuts and facials. But do we pay enough attention to our teeth? We are obsessed with everything else that we often forget to pay enough attention to our teeth. This makes dental problems one of the most neglected issues of today.

So just what are some of the common dental problems that we overlook today? Plaque is the most common and the one that is the most overlooked. Dental plaque is caused by bacteria in the mouth that wears away the enamel and gum. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day removes plaque and prevents cavities from forming. Another significant dental problem that is ignored by people is bad breath. Bad breath is mainly caused by insufficient oral hygiene. However, it can also be caused by spicy food. Bad breath can be easily taken care of by regularly brushing your teeth. Flossing along with brushing your teeth is key to keeping your teeth healthy and strong. Avoiding products containing tobacco will also help in keeping bad breath away. Another common dental problem is stained teeth. This is caused by things like drinking tea or wine and, by activities like smoking.

If you consume many acidic things, such as soda, you may be suffering from tooth erosion. Tooth erosion is a dental problem caused by acid wearing away the enamel. To solve this problem rinse your mouth after consuming something acidic so the acid does not stay in your mouth. Another solution is using a straw when drinking beverages like carbonated drinks. Doing this prevents acid from running over teeth while you drink. If your mouth is constantly dry, you might be suffering from dry mouth or xerostomia. This is caused as a result of insufficient saliva being produced and, can lead to mouth cancer if the condition is not attended to. The easiest way to prevent this is to drink plenty of fluids.

For discolored or unsightly teeth, the simplest solution is using whitening toothpaste. However, due to the increase of dental technology there are many whitening products available that we offer to make your teeth pearly white. Should you be interested in whitening products please make an appointment and schedule a check up first to make sure this is the best solution for you. Contact us today should you have any questions regarding dental hygiene, whitening products, or cosmetic dentistry.

Most people only visit the dentist when there is a problem with their teeth. The mentality is "My teeth don't hurt. Why go to a dentist?" However, visiting a dentist regularly can actually help to prevent tooth pain before it becomes a problem.

The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every six months. During these regular checkups, your dentist will perform an oral cleaning, X-rays, and a physical examination of your teeth. These measures are taken to prevent tooth decay and catch potential problems early on, before they get out of hand.

You may be saying, "But I take good care of my teeth". This may be true, but despite your efforts to keep your teeth clean by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash, there are still areas of your teeth that you cannot effectively clean. Visiting a dentist regularly can help to ensure that these areas are cleaned properly preventing tooth decay that often leads to tooth pain.

Tooth pain is an unnecessary situation. The dentists at Dream Smile Dental can ensure that your teeth are healthy and well cared for. However, tooth pain can sometimes be the least of your worries if you continuously skip visits to your dentist. Tooth pain is usually a sign of tooth decay. Although you may not realize it, this can be a very serious situation. Decaying teeth often develop pus-filled pockets called an abscess. An abscess, if addressed early on, can be cured by either antibiotics or by treating the affected tooth. If left untreated, you may risk losing your tooth which can lead to an unhealthy bite as well as digestive problems

Visiting your dentist twice a year can help to prevent problems with your teeth in the future. It also ensures that any existing problems are addressed before they become serious. If you have not seen your dentist recently, consider making an appointment today.

By definition, cosmetic dentistry may seem frivolous and unnecessary, but it's quite the opposite. Dentists who specialize in this type of dentistry practice general dentistry, but they pay special attention to the overall appearance of the dental work to make your smile beautiful. If you need dental work, feel free to ask us how cosmetic dentistry can be applied to your teeth and gums to enhance your face and smile.

Advanced technology in this field employs new procedures and materials that enhance the look of what once was considered general dentist work. Caps, fillings, crowns and more are all performed by exceptional general dentistry standards, but new technology is applied to ensure your teeth and gums look great in the process. Porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are now being used in cosmetic dentistry. The state of the art material works just as your normal teeth would, but with the hardness to outlast enamel. To this end, your teeth stay stronger and whiter for longer. Adjusting tooth gaps and crooked teeth are all part of these types of procedures. However, fixing fundamental problems with the alignment of your teeth can also lead to enhanced dental function, improving the way your teeth work for you. Crooked teeth are often more susceptible to having food trapped between them, and gum and tooth disease can result. Employ advanced dental practices with your dentist can certainly alleviate the possibility of damage to your mouth, while improving self-confidence with a new and beautiful smile.

Cosmetic dentists are licensed to perform all general dentistry procedures. If you have any questions or concerns about how your teeth and gums are functioning, contact us today to find out how cosmetic dentistry can work for you.

Most dental problems can be avoided by educating your children on the importance of dental hygiene at an early age. Teaching them to brush regularly is just one part of the education process. We need to teach our kids the importance of brushing and flossing, but we need to teach them how to look after their teeth in other ways as well.

We all know that sugar is bad for the teeth, unfortunately it also tastes great. It is not possible to just cut sugar out of the diet. Kids and sweets just attract each other like metal and magnets. What we can do though is teach the kids to moderate the amount of sugar they eat. We need to provide alternatives in the lunch box and teach them that fruit is also a snack.

When the kids do snack, show them that a drink of water after the snack will help remove the sugar from the mouth area. Make it a condition of the snack that they drink a glass of water after they have finished eating. Try and get them to swish it around the mouth before swallowing. It is about minimizing the time the mouth is in contact with the sugar.

Be careful of the chewy sweets as they often stick in the small gaps of the teeth causing problems. It is advisable to avoid these types of sweets, especially if it will be a long time until the next brushing and flossing. If the kids insist on these treats then get them to brush their teeth afterwards as a condition, kids will do just about anything for sweets. Encourage your kids to drink juices and milks rather than fizzy soft drinks and cordial. By drinking milk they will also get the benefit of calcium, an essential mineral to healthy teeth and bones.

The key here is to teach our children that sugar is fine, as long as we eat in moderation and take the proper steps, like drinking water after a snack. Again it is the younger kids that will pick up on this faster, but with persistence and some advice you can easily teach your children the importance of diet and how that links to healthy teeth.

Have you had your dentist ask you questions like “Are you snoring or sleeping bad?” or “Do you suffer from halitosis no matter what you eat or do?” or “Do you suffer from acidity?”Aside from Invisalign or other cosmetic procedures, don't be surprised if the dentist decides to do a sleep apnea evaluation. This is mainly because very often poor dental health is actually a pointer to other medical conditions that you might be suffering from without knowing.

Recent studies show that even heart diseases could be detected through the analysis of the condition of your oral health. Tooth infections and abscesses can influence the immune system to such an extent that the heart would be affected as well. When there are acute and continuous recurring infections of the jaw bone in particular, it is often a pointer that the heart is under threat as well.

Mouth odor which is so terrible and everyone hates, could be the result of poor digestion, bad eating habits, gastroenteritis, and many other similar problems. High acidity also causes yellowing of teeth, plaque and even cavities. Snoring is another example where oral health points to underlying health problems - in this case it is respiratory disorders.

This is why it is important to visit your dentist at least every six months so you would not only ensure the health of your teeth but also your health overall. The dentist would be able to tell you whether what you are suffering from is owed to poor dental hygiene, poor eating habits or other ailments in the body that reflect in the oral health problems.

It is very important therefore that you maintain good oral health and take the trouble to immediately remedy any problem you find with your teeth or gums. Most people still suffer from dentist phobia and would do anything to postpone a visit. If you are among this bracket of people, please note that there is help out there and postponing a visit will only worsen your teeth. Even a simple cleaning can make all the difference. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about oral hygiene or dental issues.

Some people may not enjoy going to the dentist however dentists are absolutely necessary and provide excellent services for keeping teeth healthy. Visiting a dentist every six months is a great way to protect your teeth from potential cavities and cavities that could turn into something worse like a root canal. However, in between visits with your dentist, you can do your part to prevent plaque from building up and destroying your enamel. What you eat directly affects how well your teeth will hold up.

The science behind cavities can also be related to the pH balance found inside your mouth. The most stable or neutral pH is a 7, but most foods that you eat are either more acid or more basic than that. Your teeth harbor bacteria that thrive on acidic foods, and are able to break down enamel better when mixed with acidic foods. While you can't avoid acidic foods, you can dilute your saliva throughout the day by drinking plenty of water.

If you want to protect your teeth as much as possible, the obvious thing to cut out of your diet is sugar. When sugar breaks down inside of your mouth, it immediately starts breaking down the enamel on your teeth and starts causing cavities. While having a sweet every once in a while never hurt anyone, drinking sugary sodas and candy every day will definitely create problems.

Chewing sugarless gum is also a great way to prevent cavities. When you chew gum, your mouth produces a substantial amount of saliva, which cleans your teeth and prevents cavities. Look for gum packets that have the American Dental Association stamp of approval. Contact us today if you have any other questions about dental hygiene or if you need to schedule an appointment.