Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s important to keep it at its best. Brushing and flossing are important to overall dental health, but there are other steps you can take to keep your teeth pearly white.

Visit the Dentist
It is estimated that approximately 50% of adults in the United States do not have yearly dental appointments. One of the best ways to keep your teeth at their healthiest is by visiting the dentist twice a year. Regular dental visits will help to catch issues like decay and gum disease while they are still in treatable stages.

Brushing & Flossing
Good dental health starts with proper brushing and flossing. Bacteria and food particles can linger in your mouth long after meals. Brushing twice a day can help to remove the food build up. When brushing it is important to in gentle, short, circular motions. Flossing is the only way to reach the areas between teeth, so it is important that you floss regularly.

Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Sugar is the leading cause of tooth decay. Sugary snacks and sodas make your teeth more susceptible to cavities and cause a plaque buildup which can eat away at tooth enamel. To keep your pearly whites at their best, try to limit your sugar intake and brush after meals.

Stop Smoking
You’ve heard it before, but smoking is detrimental to the health of your mouth and body. Not only does the nicotine and tar in cigarettes cause teeth to yellow, but smoking causes gums to recede. The bacteria found in cigarettes damages the gums and degrades the jaw bone that supports the teeth. Additionally, the chemicals in tobacco are a leading cause of oral cancer.

Along with proper brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist, you can keep your smile shinny bright.

Sucking on a thumb or pacifier is extremely common in babies and toddlers. It offers a sense of safety, security and relaxation. However, prolonged sucking on a pacifier or thumb can result in a variety of dental issues. Thumb sucking or the use of a pacifier after age two can lead to a misalignment of teeth, changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth and result in problems with proper mouth growth. The risk of dental complications increases if the behavior continues after the teeth start coming in.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the majority of children will stop using a pacifier or sucking their thumb on their own between the ages of two and four. Here are a few tips to help your child break the habit:

·         Limiting the use of a pacifier can help to decrease the dependency on it.
·         There are a variety of creams found at your local pharmacy that you can apply to the thumb to help break the sucking habit.
·         Reward your child as they begin to stop the action.

Since the behavior is common and soothing, there are a few precautious that help to limit the amount of permanent damage.

·         Use “orthodontically correct” pacifiers as they reduce the risk of dental damage.
·         Never give a baby a bottle of juice at bedtime, opt for water instead.
·         Don’t use honey or sugar on the pacifier to help calm the baby.
·         Try to only use a pacifier at nap or bed times.

Breaking a thumb sucking or pacifier habit can be very challenging for some children. Consult with our Ooltewah pediatric dentist to help your little one kick the habit and ensure healthy teeth.

Age, health conditions and other factors can all put seniors at risk for a number of oral health issues. Oral health is an important component of overall health and well-being, but can often be overlooked. There are several conditions that are commonly found in senior patients:

Cavities effect all ages, not just children. As you age, the risk of tooth decay increases, simply because adults do not visit the dentist as regularly as children. When cavities go undetected and untreated for longer periods, the problem ultimatley worsens. No matter your age, you should visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Dry mouth or xerostomia, is a condition plaguing many seniors. It is estimated that upwards of 20% of seniors suffer from dry mouth. Typically it is caused by a variety of medicines. Common prescriptions such as decongestants, antihistamines, pain medicines, antidepressants, diuretics, muscle relaxers and high blood pressure medicines can all cause the condition. To help alleviate dry mouth, drink plenty of water and limit you caffeine and alcohol intake.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal disease is an infection that effects the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth causing them to become inflammed or seperate from the teeth. In the early stages, the disease is painless, but as it advances it becomes more painful, causing sore gums and pain when eating. Proper brushing and flossing can prevent gum disease. Seniors are more prone to the disease due to arthritis and limited dexterity.

Many seniors can also have difficulty eating due to cavities, missing teeth, gum disease, or poorly fitting dentures. These oral health problems can make it challenging to eat and force an adjustment in the balance of their diet.

Good oral health habits are important at any age. Regardless of age, brushing twice a day, flossing and regular visits to the dentist can keep your teeth at their healthiest.

Your smile is one of your best features, and usually the first thing people notice. If you are less than pleased with your pearly whites, cosmetic dentistry may be the answer to your dental issues. Cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening, dental veneers, and dental implants can all provide a permanent improvement and give you the confidence you need to really make your smile shine.

Like any other medical procedure, there are steps you should take to maintain the results of your cosmetic dentistry enhancements. Following your treatment, there will be instructions for care and for maximizing the benefits of the procedure. It is important that you follow these instructions and contact your dentist if a problem should arise. Additionally, there are a few other behaviors to avoid if you want to keep your smile at its best.

• To keep your smile at its brightest, you will want to reduce your intake of soda, tea and coffee. When consuming these beverages, use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth as the liquids can stain.

• Switch that sugary snack for one that is high in protein. Diets that are high in sugar can lead to tooth decay resulting in more invasive dental work, while high protein diets support oral health.

• Ice crunching is a common habit, but can lead to serious tooth damage. The crunching behavior can fracture or crack your teeth resulting in more invasive dental work.

• Wear a mouth guard at night to prevent teeth grinding. Continual grinding increases your risk of cracks or fractures in your teeth or dental veneers.

• Biting your fingernails puts excessive pressure on your teeth and can be especially harmful if you have dental veneers. Consider nail polish or acrylic tips to help reduce the biting urge.

• When you use your tongue to press against your upper teeth, you can cause your teeth to shift over time. This pressure can ultimately change the appearance of your teeth and lower face.

Keep your teeth at their healthiest and your smile at its whitest and brightest with cosmetic dental enchantments from our Chattanooga dentist.

Written by Tiffany Hutton