Oral Care Habits Change as You Age

The mouth you have today is not the one you had long ago.  Your teeth’s nerves have become smaller, so that they are less sensitive when cavities and other problems develop.  Regular dental checkups can prevent these problems so that they can be corrected before it is too late.  Some people feel that losing one’s teeth is inevitable, but properly cared for teeth can last a lifetime!

Staying healthy is the first step towards feeling your best. And the good news is that a healthy mouth makes all the difference in how you feel and how you look.  At the office our office, our mission is just that: to preserve the health of your teeth and gums for a lifetime!

Take charge of your oral health:

You can keep your teeth for a lifetime whether you have your natural teeth, implants or dentures by developing good oral habits, choosing a healthy diet and lifestyle, and seeking regular dental care.  At our office we can offer the highest level of dentistry under one roof.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, give us a call today.

Tooth decay. In the dental world, it’s public enemy #1 — a condition that affects both children and adults, and one that requires attention. Statistics back this up: 90 percent of adults over age 20 and 78 percent of children ages 17 or younger have had at least one cavity in their lifetime.

At the offices of our office, our team of skilled professionals is here for you. Regular visits with us will ensure small problems can be addressed before they become big ones, and we’ll educate you on what you can do at home to take good care of your teeth to keep cavities and other conditions at bay.

You probably know when you have a cavity before you even visit a dentist: you might experience mild or sharp pain when you bite down on something sweet, hot or cold. You may see holes or pits in your teeth. Cavities are caused by a buildup of plaque, a sticky film that gathers inside your mouth along with bacteria that can be harmful to your teeth and gums.

Professional teeth cleanings can get to the bottom of any buildup of plaque in your teeth and gums. While brushing at home is certainly a first step, professional cleanings by qualified hygienists are more thorough, reaching areas inside your mouth that you may have missed. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments may be given to children to further reduce their risk of developing cavities.

At our office, we utilize the most advanced approaches to stop the onset and progress of tooth decay. To treat a cavity, we gently and precisely remove the decay, then restore the tooth with a durable, tooth-colored dental filling, which will blend seamlessly with your smile for aesthetically pleasing results. For more information on our services, give us a call today.

Many of us have a case of it when we wake up — morning breath. But for some, morning breath sticks around all day, every day. They suffer from halitosis, or bad breath, which can take a toll on one’s self-confidence and social life.

Bad breath is typically the result of poor dental hygiene — not brushing regularly or not brushing correctly, such that food particles get stuck in the teeth, allowing bacteria to throw and odors to thrive. At our office, we want all of our patients to have healthy teeth and fresh breath, so we offer you these tips to keep you feeling confident: At our office, we care about the oral health of all our patients and offer these tips to help keep your breath smelling fresh — and you feeling confident!

The state-of-the-art offices at our office consistently offer the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care. Our professionals pride themselves on handling all aspects of family dentistry with the utmost skill and care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call today.

When was the last time you tossed your current toothbrush for a new one? If you can’t remember, then you definitely must read on. Your toothbrush is the top tool in your arsenal of dental-care products. A wide variety of toothbrushes are sold at just about any chain or independent drug store, so finding a new one is a cinch. If you’re still not into changing out your toothbrushes on a regular basis, consider these facts.

Bacteria cling to toothbrushes’ bristles and dried-up toothpaste. The longer you use a toothbrush, the more bacteria it contains. And considering the fact that you brush your teeth at least two times a day, lots of icky stuff builds up quickly. This is especially true if your toothbrush is clustered near the toothbrushes of everyone in your household and/or if it’s near the toilet. Yikes! It’s time to start fresh with a new one.

Not to get too personal here, but what do the bristles look like? If they’re frayed or flat in some or many places, then they’re barely useful in removing particles of food, plaque and bacteria, the main causes of decay and gum disease. A new brush’s bristles stand up straight so they can reach all of those nooks and crannies.

You can upgrade your smartphone and computer, and the same holds for your toothbrush. Manual toothbrushes in good shape clean your teeth and gums well, but power-operated toothbrushes are also efficient and effective. They deliver many more strokes per minute, and they’re great for folks who have problems with dexterity.

As you know, bristles come in soft, medium or hard. Many people don’t realize that hard bristles can damage gums and enamel, and they don’t do well in reaching the abovementioned nooks and crannies. It’s best to stick with medium or soft bristles. Ask your dentist which is best for your oral-care needs.

Finding a dental practice that’s dedicated to providing the highest standard of personalized care. Look no further than our office. We offer an extensive menu of high-quality dental services for people of all ages. Our skilled team has your needs in mind, which makes it easy to schedule your dental visits at our convenient, state-of-the-art location. For more information about the many services we provide, please contact us today!

This muscular organ does more than help to churn up food. It’s also an important component in your complete oral health. Most people don’t associate tongues with medical maladies.

That’s why at our office, our dental experts pay close attention to your tongue to ensure that it’s healthy. Of course, we also take immaculate care of your teeth and gums. Everyone on our team is a friendly, highly trained specialist who helps you and your family feel comfortable and relaxed, while providing the very best in oral healthcare.

Cancer can show up on tongues. The most conspicuous form of tongue cancer starts in the thin, flat squamous cells that line the tongue’s exterior, where it’s more likely to be perceived. This type of tongue cancer tends to be diagnosed when the cancer is small and more simply removed through surgery.

White patches on your tongue imply that you are a smoker. The patches, which are also called lesions, are made up of the growth of excess cells. There’s a 17 percent chance that they could develop into cancer. Your tongue is actually doing you a favor in that it’s telling you that your prolific consumption of cigarettes is making the cigs’ bad chemicals overproduce the cells that make up those white patches.

If you notice that it looks like cottage cheese is covering your tongue, whether you’re male or female, you probably have a yeast infection called thrush. Thrush crops up for a variety of reasons, but it’s often due to using antibiotics because antibiotics kill certain types of bacteria in your body. (Your body has untold types of “good” bacteria, which are used to keep your body running smoothly.)

Thrush or other kinds of yeast infections upset the normal balance of microorganisms in your mouth. Thrush can cause a disagreeable taste in your mouth and sometimes a little pain. While it sometimes disappears on its own, other times medication in the form of prescription tablets and mouthwash are required.

At our office, our compassionate and highly educated staff of professionals enthusiastically provide our patients with personal and superior care in all aspects of your oral health. Whatever your needs, please call us today to schedule an appointment!

Think of it as the key to keeping everything flowing in your mouth and digestive system. Saliva may be something we have always taken for granted, but a decrease in its production can have significant consequences.

At our office, our holistic approach takes into consideration every aspect of your health. Our attentive, highly skilled staff delivers state-of-the-art care in a setting that provides our patients with maximum comfort.

Dry mouth, a lack of saliva also known as “xerostomia,” can make everyday oral functions like chewing, tasting, swallowing, and even speaking more difficult and cause germs to collect in your mouth — leading to bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and creating fertile conditions for numerous oral infections. It can result in a sticky or burning feeling in the mouth, sore throat, hoarseness or a roughness on the tongue.

Did you know that there are hundreds of salivary glands in your mouth working to produce about two to four pints of this precious liquid every day? And it’s not just water; your saliva also contains electrolytes, enzymes, and proteins, all mixing together to cleanse and protect your teeth and the surrounding soft tissue. What causes the drop in the amount of saliva we produce? There are a host of reasons, including our age (this condition is often seen in the elderly), side effects of medications we have taken, our use of tobacco, dehydration, disease, an injury or surgery, and treatments for cancer.

Don’t let xerostomia cause you to lose the enjoyment you get from eating, or leave you at risk for developing myriad dental or digestive problems. Our staff at our office know the best approach is to be proactive about dry mouth. We’ll identify its underlying cause and provide the most up-to-date treatments to keep your good oral health flowing.

When you’re faced with a dental emergency, it’s important to act fast. As experienced providers of care, we are well-equipped to provide the prompt, compassionate treatment you require. At our office we prioritize dental emergencies and provide skilled and reliable care to get you back on the road to excellent oral health. New patients are always welcome to our state-of-the-art facility, your resource for the highest quality of skilled and reliable care.

A dental emergency can be an uncomfortable and stressful event. As your trusted dentist, it is our goal to provide you with peace of mind and effective care without delay. We recommend you call us right away if you experience a toothache, a traumatic injury, or if you’ve broken your dental prosthesis. A toothache typically encompasses a range of unpleasant sensations, including sensitivity to hot and cold, pain when biting down or a dull ache that worsens over time. After diagnosing the cause of your discomfort with a thorough examination, we will develop a personalized treatment plan that alleviates your discomfort and restores your oral health. If your tooth has been fractured, knocked out or otherwise damaged in an accident, it’s important to seek care right away. Timely care at our office is the best way to reduce your risk of irreversible damage to your oral health as well as complications for your overall well-being.

While dental emergencies are often painful, they can also come in the form of a broken denture, dental bridge or crown. Our caring office staff understands the everyday challenges presented by a broken dental prosthesis and will schedule you for a prompt repair or replacement at your earliest convenience.

At our office we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care. For more information on our office and the many services we provide, give our office a call today.

Once you lose your baby teeth and your adult teeth come in, you might figure that’s that – they’re in for life. Not so! Studies show that by age 50, a large majority of adults will have lost one or more teeth due to disease or injury. With today’s dental technologies, there’s no need for anyone to suffer with troublesome or missing teeth. At our skilled professionals use state-of-the-art techniques to restore the look, feel and function of your teeth.

Beyond appearances, missing teeth can have a negative effect on oral function, in addition to weakening the support of the natural contours of your face. Once placed, dental implants can be used to secure custom crowns, fixed bridges or implant-retained dentures, and can even be placed to support an entire set of upper or lower teeth. Dental implants can also be placed to restore missing teeth.

Our office combines state-of-the-art dental technology with the personal touch — a knowledgeable and compassionate staff that will work to restore your smile and your self confidence. We’ll give you the individualized attention you deserve, and educate you on ways to get the most out of your dental implants.

From a routine exam and cleaning to full-mouth rehabilitation, the state-of-the-art office consistently offers the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care. For more information on dental implants or to find out about the many services we provide, give us a call today.

Did you know that according to statistics, more than 90% of adults ages 20-64 have had a cavity in their lifetime? And, tooth decay doesn’t just affect grownups. Cavities also affect the youngest members of the population; with 78% of children having had a cavity by the time they’re 17 years of age. While these percentages are alarmingly high, tooth decay is an almost entirely preventable condition. With routine checkups and care, our dentist can help reduce your risk of dental disease. We utilize the most advanced technology and methods of care to help patients of all ages enjoy optimal oral health.

Tooth decay is caused by plaque, which is a sticky biofilm that gathers continuously on your teeth. The problem is that plaque harbors thousands of colonies of bacteria, some of which are responsible for cavities and gum disease. While brushing, flossing and limiting your intake of sugar, are important steps for preventing any buildup of plaque and protecting your teeth from cavities, it’s also important to see your dentist for routine care. Plaque can gather in the difficult to reach areas between the teeth and gums where it can only be reached with a professional teeth cleaning. As part of our comprehensive program of preventive care, we thoroughly remove any residual plaque and tartar, and offer guidance as to how you can improve your daily oral hygiene at home. As an added level of protection against tooth decay, we offer pediatric patients periodic fluoride treatments, and dental sealants.

For patients of all ages, our team of dentists and hygienists perform a comprehensive examination, assisted by advanced digital radiography, as needed. In this way, we can monitor the ongoing oral health of our patients. If a cavity is detected, our dentist will gently and precisely remove the decay, then restore the tooth with a dental filling. At our practice, we utilize the latest generation of tooth-colored restorative materials, for the most natural looking and seamless results of care.

Our team is dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate dental care. For more information on our practice and the various dental services we provide, give our office a call today.

You’ll know, and your dentist certainly will, when you have tooth decay. It is a real problem that can lead to serious complications if not attended to. That’s why, with early detection, our knowledgeable staff can offer you ways to prevent or stop tooth decay. We use state-of-the-art technology and ways to keep your teeth cavity-free right from the start, and to identify tooth decay early, when it is easiest to treat.

Cavities are small holes that form in the teeth produced by the bacteria found in plaque. This sticky film is where harmful bacteria that feed on sugar tend to reside. The acids produced by the bacteria wear away at the hard outer surface of your tooth. In order to prevent cavities from forming, plaque must be removed before it builds up to cause damage to the teeth.

It can’t be stressed enough that daily brushing and flossing are ways to maintain a clean mouth, free of plaque. But plaque can also be present in areas that only a dental healthcare professional can reach. A tooth cleaning by a professional, who administers a complete oral hygiene routine, is important for preserving a cavity-free smile. Children are especially prone to developing cavities due to their eating habits, and protecting their teeth with dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and checkups prevent the onset of tooth decay.

We will conduct a thorough examination of the teeth, gums and their supporting bone structure. In treating a cavity, we make use of the most cosmetically pleasing and durable tooth-colored fillings made of the highest quality composite resin materials. These fillings look natural and blend seamlessly with the rest of your teeth for a smile you can be proud of.

We are committed to helping you and every member of your family enjoy problem-free mouth problems and a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles. Count on us to provide the highest quality care for all of your dental needs. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call today.