Everyone wants their smile to last, but sometimes we fall into bad habits and risk permanent damage to our teeth. Following some simple rules and avoiding bad habits can help you keep your smile healthy and beautiful for a lifetime. One – Diligent At-Home Care Don’t: Skip a brushing or flossing – The plaque on teeth can turn to tartar in as little as 24 hours. Leaving plaque on teeth also allows bacteria to spread, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Slacking on your home oral hygiene routine also leads to the discoloration of teeth and bad breath. Do: Brush in the morning and before bedtime, and floss daily. Add an extra brushing after consuming foods high in sugar or carbohydrates. To prevent a missed brushing or flossing when away from home, keep a toothbrush in your car and at school or place of work. Two – Visit a Professional Don’t: Forget to see your dentist twice per year – Regular dental visits are essential to maintaining a healthy smile. It is at these appointments that your dentist can find early signs of decay and treat emerging issues. Your teeth need professional cleaning at least once per year to remove the stubborn tartar that harbors harmful bacteria. Missed dental visits invariably lead to dental emergencies or complex problems that may require more invasive procedures to correct. Do: Set reminders every six months to schedule your dental appointment. Help yourself remember to make your oral health a priority by creating reminders that activate twice a year. Communicate with your dentist and let him know about any concerns you have, even if they seem minor to you. If you have crowded teeth, your dentist may suggest orthodontic treatment. This is always a good idea, as a straighter smile is a healthier one. Three – Protect Your Smile Don’t: Participate in sports without wearing a mouthguard. – Injuries to the teeth are common and can usually be avoided by protecting them with a professionally made mouthguard. Make sure to store your mouthguard in a bacteria-free environment. Do: Talk to your dentist about a custom mouthguard made if you are very active. Store-bought guards may offer some protection but are not as effective as those provided by your dentist after obtaining an impression of your teeth. While some oral health issues are hard to avoid (like the consequences of certain illnesses, trauma, and medications), abiding by these three basic rules are your best bet for keeping your smile healthy and avoiding high dental costs.
For many of us, improving the way we look helps us go through life with more confidence. Cosmetic dental care is usually associated with superficial or unnecessary treatments that only have an aesthetic value. The truth is, these services do much more than that. Some procedures do double duty as both restorative and cosmetic. When you are proud of your smile, you are more motivated to take care of your teeth, which promotes overall oral health. Teeth Whitening One of the most common cosmetic services is to whiten discolored teeth. Teeth are stained by particles of food, darkly pigmented beverages, and smoking. Staining can also be caused by genetic factors or as a result of taking certain medications. Professional whitening treatments can lift external stains from the enamel and drastically brighten the color of your smile. When you love your smile, you share it more often, and you are more diligent about brushing twice a day, flossing, and visiting your dentist for check-ups. Although there are many whitening products available in your local grocery or drugstore, a professional dental care provider can provide stronger and more effective treatments. Veneers In some cases, stains originate from inside a tooth resulting in a discoloration that cannot be lifted with traditional whiting treatments. Veneers are thin shells that can conceal internal stains and modify a tooth’s shape and spacing, creating a natural-looking, uniform smile. Teeth that have small chips or minor alignment issues can be quickly and easily corrected with veneers to resolve multiple problems in one treatment. Gum Contouring Excess gum tissue creates the appearance of short teeth and a “gummy smile.” Gum contouring is typically performed using advanced laser technology. The extra tissue is removed to reveal more of your natural dentition and give you a full, balanced smile. This selective removal of excess gum tissue gives your teeth an appearance that matches their actual health. Gum contouring can also reduce your risk of gum disease by decreasing places where bacteria like to hide. The procedure is safe and permanent, and with the extra gum tissue out of the way, your brushing and flossing will be more effective. Porcelain Restorations Cosmetic dentistry is not only about looking your best but also making sure your teeth are healthy enough to remain beautiful and functional. Porcelain crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, and bridges are durable and can be customized to match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. Porcelain restorations do double duty by protecting and strengthening your teeth as well as enhancing your smile. Straight Teeth are Healthier Teeth Crooked or crowded teeth create more tight spaces where bacteria can hide and contribute to swollen, red, or bleeding gums. Properly aligned teeth can be brushed and flossed without difficulty, lowering your risk of periodontal disease, cavities, and infection. Teeth that are misaligned are more likely to be chipped, cracked, or broken during an accident or sports-related injury. Straight teeth will improve your bite and prevent excessive wear on your teeth, as well as help you avoid jaw problems and even breathing issues. Mild to moderated orthodontic problems respond well to clear aligner systems like Invisalign® or ClearCorrect® while more severe cases can be treated more effectively with traditional metal braces. Your smile is a reflection of you, and a beautiful, healthy smile can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Achieving and maintaining optimal oral health is good for your body and good for your self-esteem and worth the investment of both time and money.
Do your teeth need straightening? Have you been considering braces or another similar treatment to get them back into line to improve your smile? Invisalign is one of the best options on the market for fixing misaligned teeth, but you may have a lot of questions about it. Here are 11 things you may not know about Invisalign: 1. Invisalign Usually Costs More Than Traditional Braces The higher cost is because of the lab fees charged for Invisalign are typically more than those charged for regular braces. The fees are paid directly to the manufacturer of Invisalign. 2. Millions of Happy Invisalign Clients Each day, more people choose Invisalign treatment, and the number continues to rise. Advancements in digital technology have made the process very effective and very convenient. 3. Flexibility & Comfort You can remove your Invisalign trays, which allows you to have flexibility and freedom in terms of what you eat and drink. This also allows you to brush and floss just as you usually would without the Invisalign trays. 4. No Specialist Needed Invisalign is a streamlined process that can be done by a general dentist or an orthodontist. The popularity of the treatment encourages more oral health professionals to offer the service as one of their cosmetic dental procedures. If a dentist is experienced in the use of Invisalign, they are very likely to be successful in helping you treat your misaligned teeth. 5. Fewer Appointments and No Hardware With Invisalign, no metal brackets or wires are used. This reduces the need for frequent visits to your dental office for adjustments or repairs. With Invisalign, you are not required to go in for as many dental appointments as with traditional braces. With checkups scheduled every six weeks, you can apply three different sets of trays yourself without going in to see the dentist. This has a significant convenience advantage. Most patients love the fact that they don’t have a mouthful of metal and can still attend social events without embarrassment. 6. Same Process, Same Results Invisalign trays are about the same as traditional braces because both are specifically designed to provide consistent pressure to specific teeth to create the most effective realignment of teeth that have grown out of place. For mild to moderate alignment problems, Invisalign can be just as effective as traditional braces. For severe malocclusion, traditional braces will be the more appropriate treatment and provide more comprehensive treatment. 7. Do Your Homework It is a good idea to research several Invisalign treatment providers and to select the best one. Check their reviews online, as well as their credentials, experience level, and reputation. 8. Diligence is Important You will be required to wear the Invisalign aligners for between 20 and 22 hours every day. If you do not wear the aligner trays for the specified amount of time, you may not achieve the results you desire with this treatment. You will need to change your Invisalign aligner trays every two weeks. Each set of Invisalign aligner trays is shaped slightly differently, with the teeth moving each time slightly, getting a little bit closer to your desired alignment goal. 9. Follow Up is Necessary You will likely require a retainer after Invisalign treatments to prevent your teeth from shifting back into the position they were In before the treatment procedure. Wearing your retainer every night will ensure that your teeth stay in an optimal position. 10. Quality Materials are Essential Invisalign aligner trays are made from a thermoplastic material that is soft and comfortable. They look similar to the trays used in teeth whitening. Your final set of aligners can often be used for whitening treatments in the future. Each Invisalign tray is correctly shaped individually to move your teeth in the sequence that has been determined by your treatment specialist. 11. There is a Time Commitment Invisalign trays control both the timing and the force of the application. During each 10-day to 3-week treatment cycle, only individual specified teeth are adjusted. Over time, all of the desired teeth are gradually moved into position by the sequential application of trays, each of which is a slightly different shape. Call Our Office to See if Invisalign is Right for You Invisalign is a tool for correcting misaligned teeth. The company that makes Invisalign, Align, Inc. does not diagnose or treat individual cases. The success or failure of its use will depend on the skill of your dental professional, and you. Overall, Invisalign can be an effective treatment option and can help improve your smile!