Cosmetic Dentistry

Visit Your Dentist

Nearly half of the adults in the U.S. don’t see their dentist yearly.  Sometimes finances are the reason, they may dread the cleaning process, or they just forget.  Ideally, we need to have our teeth examined and cleaned twice a year to keep them in top form and also to catch any problems early when they are easily treated.

Difficulty Brushing

For senior citizens who may have decreasing production of saliva, the risk of problems increases including tooth decay, gum disease, loss of teeth, and discomfort when wearing dentures.  Arthritis can make brushing and flossing difficult, so it especially important to visit the dentist to discuss any problems you have keeping your teeth clean.

Drinking Soda

Sometimes you just want the sweet, zippy taste of a good cold soda, but there are two ingredients in the stuff, phosphoric acid and citric acid, that eats away at the surface of your teeth.  Frequently drinking sodas softens your tooth enamel and makes them more susceptible to cavities.  Try some fruit infused water or cold green tea with lemon.

Ditch the Sugar

With numerous safe sugar substitutes on the market today, everyone should be able to lower or eliminate their sugar intake.  Sugar fuels bacteria and acidity in the mouth, causing plaque to form and eat away at your enamel and gums.  And, it’s not only table sugar that is the culprit, but any foods with high carbohydrates in them, like bread, pastries, muffins, pasta, etc. turn to sugar when saliva starts the digestive process in the mouth.  Learn to read labels and avoid high sugar products.

Quit Smoking

For your overall health, if you smoke quit.  Nicotine and tar in cigarettes turn your teeth yellow and eat away at your gums.  Smoking feeds bacteria that create plaque on your teeth and gums and chemicals in tobacco can lead to oral cancer.