Maintaining good oral health during the holidays

It’s Christmas, a time to make sure you give yourself the most significant gift of all: a beautiful healthy smile! Maintaining proper oral hygiene is more important during the holidays, advise the experts. Holiday parties and get-togethers lead people to consume alcoholic beverages and sugary treats. Moreover, with their hectic schedules and soaring stress levels they forget the basic oral hygiene habits that can counter the effects of drinks and sugary snacks.

If all you want this Christmas is to keep your gums and teeth intact then these tips on how to save your smile should be helpful.

Wine

The high acid levels of red and white wine have a tendency towards eating away at the enamel of the tooth. Tooth enamel is important for protection against cavities and decay. To avoid such damage, it’s best to refrain from swishing the drink too much, and drinking water frequently to wash off the acid.

Sugary Treats

Bacteria thrive on sugars found in chocolate, candy canes, and cookies, increasing the odds of developing cavities. In case you can’t floss and brush after munching on sweets, try chewing a sugarless gum or drinking a glass of water. This will automatically boost the flow of saliva inside your mouth and will help in washing away bacteria.

Stress

Holiday stress can lead to grinding and clenching of teeth causing headaches, jaw pain, and chipping. Finding out ways to lessen your anxiety levels can help, but it is also important to visit your dentist regularly. A professional can offer solutions such as a customized night guard. Wearing a guard at night can prevent you from grinding your teeth while sleeping.

Smoking:

It’s best to keep away from smoking as much as you can. The tar and nicotine in a cigarette does not just turn the teeth an unattractive yellow shade, it also tends to eat away the gums. Smoking also creates a suitable environment for plaque and bacteria on the teeth and gum line. This harms tissue, degenerates bones and increases the chances for tooth loss.

Use a good toothbrush:

Always choose a brush with soft bristles. With the correct technique, your brush can last for more than three months. Also, during the holidays, you may have to brush a little more than usual so make sure you replace it when it gets blunted so that no injury is caused to the gums and teeth.

Finesse flossing:

Flossing promotes healthier gums and teeth. But like brushing, there's a correct way to floss because flaws in flossing can lead to damage and friction of the gum line. Take approximately a foot of floss and wrap it around your finger. Keep about an inch in between your fingers. Roll out a fresh floss section for every tooth, and keep the floss against the projection to break the plaque up while leaving the gums in shape.

Teeth whitening:

If you want to get a quick bright smile then there is nothing like teeth whitening. Either use a good at home kit or get the treatment done by a professional. There are several clinics in California that deal specifically with cosmetic dentistry.

You probably know that you should brush your teeth twice a day, but you most likely don't give much thought to it. It is important to make sure you are regular with certain tasks such as brushing, flossing and washing your mouth with Listerine. A healthy smile should always be on top of your wish list. Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and scheduling an appointment to see your dentist bi-annually is sure to keep your teeth and mouth in good shape.

Is Your Smile Ready For The Holidays?

It’s that time of the year when friends and families come together to enjoy a drink or two. Businesses hold team lunches and dinners. Basically, social calendars are packed with party invites and dates. Because there is so much socializing to do, it’s only obvious that people want to look good doing it. One of the best ways to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward is by taking extra care of your smile. Here are a few ways through which you can enhance the color and quality of your teeth.

Procedures:

Advances in orthodontics have enabled doctors to give their patients a perfect set of pearly whites. Dentists usually start by getting their patient’s teeth straightened followed by whitening, to transform yellow smiles to perfectly gleaming and straight projections. Straightening is usually done through braces. Dental braces have made several advances and can now be lingual or transparent brackets that are set at the back of the teeth so that they don't show.

Dental bleaching: dental bleaching and teeth whitening are two great aesthetic alternatives. Whitening helps to restore the natural color of the tooth while bleaching helps to whiten beyond the natural hue. Modern whitening techniques accelerate the process of bleaching with reduced sitting time.

Dental implants: dental implants are being used increasingly as substitutes to partials, bridges, or dentures to fill gaps. These are artificial roots created with titanium metal. They act as anchors to hold replacement teeth in place. As implants are located inside the jawbone they are comfortable and look a lot like real teeth.

Composite bonding: Composite bonding is another procedure that can help in repairing chipped, broken, discolored or decayed teeth. Bonding involves attaching dental materials such as, enamel and dentin, permanently to the teeth, molding them into shape and then polishing them.

Dental veneers: dental veneers can also be utilized to disguise discolored teeth or close gaps. These are ultra-thin laminates that are fixed directly to the projections. Porcelain is also being utilized extensively for onlays and inlays as a favored alternative to metal fillings.

Using any of the above cosmetic dentistry procedures, in combination with the latest advances in cosmetic and general dentistry, an experienced cosmetic dentist can transform the ill-shaped teeth and help patients achieve a brighter, whiter smile. People with damaged structures do not have to rely on unattractive metals to substitute decayed teeth. Dental experts now make use of high quality, advanced porcelain and resins for filling up deep cavities. Such modern materials mimic the appearance, function and feel of natural teeth.

Benefits:

Cosmetic dentistry techniques do not just enhance our facial appearance, they also give an important boost to our confidence and self esteem.

Cosmetic dentistry can help us:

Ø  Enjoy well aligned teeth.

Ø  Have dazzling, beautiful, more confident smile

Ø  Restore damaged or decayed teeth

Ø  Enjoy effective and safe cosmetic treatments

Ø  Regain the lost beauty of our smile with the help of dental implants

Ø  Boost our self-esteem with healthier, newer, pearly whites

     Ø  Have almost pain-free dental work with the help of latest dental equipment and technology

Cost:

The total cost of cosmetic dentistry treatment differs from procedure to procedure, state to state and also from quality to quality. However, there are several reputed clinics in California that offer cost-effective cosmetic dentistry procedures using best quality material and techniques. The best way to narrow down to a good clinic is by researching well over the internet. It also helps to get in touch with a family doctor for suggestions.

California’s affiliation to Hollywood and glamour has left all its citizens conscious of the way they look. If you too are looking to brighten your dull smile during the holidays then

get in touch with a reputed dental clinic.

The Effect of Sugar on Dental Health

Most of us indulge in bad food habits. Unhealthy foods don’t just hamper the functionality of important organs, but also compromise our oral health. Sweet foods, soda, and bad habits such as, smoking lead to adverse effects such as gum disease and dental caries. Hence, choosing a healthy diet is very important. In fact, it outweighs all the sacrifices we may have to make later, just to save our teeth and gums from deteriorating any further.

Eliminating Sweets:

Eliminating sweets from our diet is one of the most effective steps we can take towards good oral health. Any drink or food that is high on sugar has the tendency to feed bacteria that produce acid in our mouth. This acid rots our tooth enamel, leaving our teeth to decay. Due to this, it is important to reduce the intake of soda, cookies, cakes and chocolates. In fact, these foods should be substituted with vegetables or other healthy alternatives. However, if it is difficult to avoid sweets completely, at least attempting to reduce our weekly intake is recommended.

Follow a proper diet plan:

Some of the suggestions to help keep the starch and sugar consumption in balance and protect teeth are:

Ø  Never snack on unnecessary starches and sugars. These compounds are very high in foods such as turkey sandwiches.

Ø  Substitute dried fruits with fresh fruits. Although fresh fruits contain acid and sugar, the excessive chewing they take to digest increases the production of saliva which in turn dilutes harmful acids inside the mouth and gets rid of the food efficiently.

Ø  Chew sugarless gum instead of those that are extremely sweet. Again, this helps in keeping sugar from staying inside the mouth and generates saliva that cleans the mouth.

Consuming important nutrients:

Apart from avoiding unhealthy foods, it is also essential to consume foods that maintain good dental health. We must realize that once our enamel is destroyed it cannot be repaired. But consuming a diet which is high on nutrients helps in preventing any further harm to the enamel, keeping the loss to a minimum. Most of the vitamins and nutrients found naturally in foods include:

Ø  Calcium - Calcium is extremely important when it comes to maintaining great dental hygiene as it helps in forming strong bones and teeth. This chemical element is particularly important for pregnant women looking to keep their bones healthy. Calcium can also be found in sardines, dark green leafy vegetables, low-fat milk and almonds.

Ø  Vitamin D - Vitamin D helps in absorbing calcium effectively. It is found in soy products, milk, sun exposure and salmon.

Ø  Vitamin A - Vitamin A assists in fighting disease and boosting the immune system. It is found in foods that are high in beta carotene, such as cantaloupe and carrots.

Ø  Vitamin C - Vitamin C is important in keeping our gums healthy. It can be found in citrus fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, and peppers.

Maintaining proper oral health:

Proper oral hygiene and bi-annual checkups are important components to our oral health. It is a good habit to floss and brush daily. We must also follow correct brushing techniques to ensure that the tooth enamel remains intact. If we have trouble reaching to some of the areas of our mouth, a dental water jet is a suitable choice. Also, it is important to go for cleaning appointments regularly so that any kind of decay is identified early and any problems in the future are prevented. As long as we stay proactive in maintaining our dental health, we will be able to enjoy our teeth for a long period of time.

The Importance of Dental Health Care

Oral wellbeing is one of the most ignored health areas in California. Most citizens do not realize the importance of taking good care of their teeth, gums and jaws. They believe brushing twice a day and keeping away from chocolates will suffice.  However, the truth is, brushing alone cannot help the teeth remain healthy. There is a lot more to dental health maintenance.

Common dental problems people face and their prevention:

There are a variety of dental issues that can affect an individual’s well-being. The most common are- cavities, gum disease and tooth decay. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways through which you can avoid oral hygiene problems. Here are some things that can be done to keep your gums and teeth healthy and in avoiding costly dental procedures.

Using green or black tea (unsweetened)

Green or black teas are very high in antioxidants that help in neutralizing free radicals in the oral tissues. However, it is important to make sure the tea is absolutely sugar-free.

Reducing consumption of sugary foods

It is a great idea to cut back on sweets of any sort. Bacteria inside the person’s mouth feed on glucose and produce acid that erodes enamel and cause disease and decay. More the quantity of sugar, more acid such bacteria produce. Hence, it’s important to keep the sweets minimum.

Getting enough vitamin D

Dairy products offer large doses of calcium. Calcium helps in keeping our bones healthy and strong, making it valuable for great oral hygiene. What most people fail to realize is that calcium requires vitamin D to be processed inside the body. If a person does not consume enough quantities of vitamin D, his/her body will not be able to receive complete benefits of the calcium. Fish such as tuna, salmon, and flounder have high quantities of vitamin D that help in processing calcium more effectively. Patients can also consume vitamin D supplements after consulting with a doctor.

Using Mouthwash daily

Using a mouthwash can be extremely helpful in destroying harmful bacteria. No matter how careful an individual is about flossing and brushing, it's next to impossible to reach difficult surfaces. A mouthwash can easily reach these areas and kill any bacterium that remains once the person has flossed and brushed.

Avoiding excessive smoking

Apart from the known hazards linked to smoking, the probability of throat or mouth cancer is increased greatly in those people who smoke. It is advised to quit as soon as one can and when one can.

Snacking on crunchy, fibrous fruits and vegetables

Foods such as carrots and apples do not just offer nutrients and vitamins they also act as scrubbers for teeth that are chewing on them. They help in cleaning off any debris or residue that might be sticking to teeth. They are believed to be a great option for snacking in-between meals. Several veggies and fruits also assist in providing vitamins that help in keeping one’s enamel and teeth strong.

Although taking precautions is a good idea, it is still advised to go to a reputed dentist for regular check-ups. In specialized dental clinics, patients undergo through preliminary check-up before being treated for a specific problem. Such specialized treatment does not only ensure complete relaxation but also makes sure that the problem is identified and treated properly with a lot of care. An expert squad at a dental hospital also keeps proper check on the hygiene level, the slip of which may prove to be extremely detrimental on the health of the patient. They also offer emergency services for the patients.