Healthy Smiles

How important is flossing TRULY?

Why does my dentist say flossing so important and that everyone should floss daily? I floss irregularly and my dentist never notices... So I ask, Is it really necessary? I did a little bit of research and here is what I found.

Here’s something interesting to consider when thinking about this question:

Your mouth is like a door to your body. Everything that constitutes your body has to come in from your mouth, whether it is food, liquids or bacteria. Bad and harmful bacteria, which are located in dental plaque, cannot be removed by brushing alone, and if it remains in your mouth, it can find its way into your body!

Plaque is a soft and white accumulation of micro-organisms. It contains about 400 different species of bacteria, and billions of individual germs in each milligram of plaque. Most of these germs are harmful, but some can be damaging for the teeth or the gums when they gather in thick layers.

Dentists and dental hygienists always insist on the importance of flossing, and recommend doing it twice a day. Here are 6 very good reasons why you should listen to them:

1. To prevent tooth decay

Dental plaque can cause cavities if it’s left between teeth. When mixed with sugar, the bacteria that live in plaque can start the process of tooth decay. This is why it’s bad for plaque to be left in your mouth. Brushing alone does not clean in between teeth, only dental floss can remove plaque in those areas. Click here for some simple tips.

2. To prevent gum disease

Gingivitis (inflammation of gums) is the first stage of gum disease (periodontal disease). It is caused by an accumulation of plaque around gums and between teeth. Plaque also contains bacteria that are harmful for the gums. Flossing is therefore important to remove all plaque accumulated after a meal.

3. To prevent halitosis

Dental plaque is one of the causes of halitosis, and if it’s left between your teeth, it will generate a bad smell in your mouth. This odour comes from the metabolism of the bacteria contained in plaque. Bad breath can also be caused by gum disease and tooth decay which are also primarily caused by plaque.

4. To prevent tartar build-up

Tartar is actually dental plaque that has become hard from the saliva’s calcifying action. Good oral hygiene measures, which include brushing and flossing, can slow down the accumulation of tartar, but does not actually remove it. Some people produce tartar more than others. Regular dental cleanings are recommended to remove tartar.

5. To reduce the risk of heart disease

As mentioned earlier, the mouth is an entry point to harmful bacteria that may eventually reach the body organs, including cardiac tissue. Dental plaque, which contains dangerous bacteria, must be therefore eliminated to prevent those micro-organisms to reach the heart through the blood stream and cause heart disease complications.

6. To avoid the complications of diabetes

There is scientific evidence that people who suffer from diabetes can have their condition complicated by gum disease. Diabetics usually have a weaker immune system and take more time to fight inflammations and infections, including the ones that start in the mouth. That’s why oral hygiene, which includes daily brushing and flossing, is very important to prevent diseases, or disease complications, such as diabetes.

Click here for some simple tips on HOW TO FLOSS correctly

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! Click here to schedule an online appointment today, or simply call 1-800-32-SMILE

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Oral Cancer Month - Find out what is is and how to prevent it

April is oral cancer awareness month. Close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 36,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years. Help us spread awareness.

What is oral cancer?

Cancer is defined as the uncontrollable growth of cells that invade and cause damage to surrounding tissue. Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore that does not go away. Oral cancer — which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheek, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat) — can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer?

The following are the common signs and symptoms:

• Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth
• The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth
• Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
• Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
• Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within two weeks
• A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
• Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or changes in the voice
• Ear pain
• A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together – a change in your "bite"
• Dramatic weight loss

If you notice any of these changes, contact your dentist immediately for a professional examination.

I recently noticed a whitish patch in my mouth. Is this oral cancer?

This whitish patch could be leukoplakia. Leukoplakia, a condition caused by excess cell growth, can form on the cheeks, gums, or tongue. Leukoplakia is commonly seen in tobacco users, in people with ill-fitting dentures, and in those who have a habit of chewing on their cheek. This condition can progress to cancer. Red patches in the mouth (called erythroplakia) are less common than leukoplakia but have an even greater potential for being cancerous. Anywhite or red lesion in your mouth should be evaluated by your dentist.

Who gets oral cancer and what are the risk factors for oral cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women, and men who are over age 50 face the greatest risk. The rate of development of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx began to decline in the late 1970s and has continued to decline throughout the 1990s in both African Americans, and white males and females.

Risk factors for the development of oral cancer include:

• Cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking — Smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop oral cancers.
• Use of smokeless tobacco products (for example, dip, snuff, or chewing tobacco) — Use of these products increase the risk of cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol — Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in non-drinkers.
• Family history of cancer
• Excessive exposure to the sun — especially at a young age

It is important to note that more than 25% of all oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol occasionally.

Other Oral Cancer Facts

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer among men.

About 75% to 80% of people with oral cavity and pharynx cancer consume alcohol.

People who smoke and drink alcohol have an even higher risk of cancer than those who only drink or only use tobacco products.

The risk of developing oral cavity and pharynx cancers increases both with the amount as well as the length of time tobacco and alcohol products are used.

Survival

The overall 1-year survival rate for patients with all stages of oral cavity and pharynx cancers is 81%. The 5 & 10-year survival rates are 56% and 41%, respectively.

How is oral cancer diagnosed?

Your dentist will conduct an oral cancer screening exam, which is a routine part of a comprehensive dental examination. More specifically, your dentist will feel for any lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and oral cavity. When examining your mouth, your dentist will look for any sores or discolored tissue, as well as check for or ask you about the signs and symptoms mentioned above.

Your dentist might perform an oral brush biopsy if he or she sees tissue in your mouth that looks suspicious. This test is painless and involves taking a small sample of the tissue and analyzing it for abnormal cells. Alternatively, if the tissue looks even more suspicious, your dentist might recommend a scalpel biopsy. This procedure usually requires local anesthesia and might be performed by your dentist or a specialist referred by your dentist. These tests are necessary to detect oral cancer early, before it has had a chance to progress and spread.

How is oral cancer treated?

Oral cancer is treated the same way many other cancers are treated; that is with surgery to remove the cancerous growth followed by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy (drug treatments) to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

What can I do to prevent oral cancer?

You can take an active role in preventing oral cancer or detecting it early, should it occur.

• Conduct a self exam at least once a month. All SmileCare locations now offer ViziLite oral cancer screening. Make an appointment at the office nearest you. Using a bright light and a mirror, look and feel your lips and front of your gums. Tilt your head back and look at and feel the roof of your mouth. Pull your checks out to view the inside of your mouth, the lining of your cheeks, and the back gums. Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces. Examine the floor of your mouth. Look at the back of your throat. Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of your neck and under your lower jaw. Call your dentist’s office immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.
• See your dentist on a regular schedule. Even though you might be conducting frequent self exams, sometimes dangerous spots or sores in the mouth can be very tiny and difficult to see on your own. The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screening exams every three years for people over age 20 and annually for those over age 40. During your next dental appointment, ask your dentist to perform an oral exam. Early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment.
• Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products and drink alcohol in moderation. (Refrain from binge drinking.)
• Eat a well balanced diet.
• Limit your exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure increases the risk of cancer on the lip, especially the lower lip. When in the sun, use UV-A/B-blocking sun protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.

© Copyright 1995-2009 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.my.clevelandclinic.org

10 Interesting and very random facts about your mouth

1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are

left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.

2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.

3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.

4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it.

5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”.

6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.

7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing.

8. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.

9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.

10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear. 

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! Click here to schedule an online appointment today, or simply call 1-800-32-SMILE

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Dental Health- Dental Implants

Dental implants these days have become quite popular and incredibly easy to get. Simply due to the amount of technology that we have at our fingertips, it is easy to get procedures done such as getting dental implants. But what exactly is a dental implant, and what would cause a person to actually need to get dental implants? These questions, will all be answered below.

A dental implant is basically an artificial tooth that you would get in order to replace an old tooth that was beyond repair and filled with decay. This pretty much means that the tooth is dead, and there is no use for it. Because the tooth is dead, in order to keep anymore bacteria from forming, your dentist needs to get inside of your mouth, take out your dead tooth and replace it with a dental implant. Look at dental implants as the future of tooth replacement. Say good by to gross retainers and uncomfortable dentures.

 

Because of the technology that is used for dental implants, you can no longer tell which tooth is a dental implant and which of your teeth are actually your real teeth! This has become quite the breakthrough due to the fact that people tend to be a little bit on the self conscious side, they might feel a little strange smiling because of the irregularities that the old dental implants had. But, now that the new dental implants look so real, people do not mind so much anymore! Dental implants can improve the quality of your life.

WE DO:

Single Tooth Replacement

 

Multiple Tooth Replacement

   

Full-Arch Replacement

 

If you are worried about the cost of dental implants, then look at your dental insurance plan and see what you are covered under. Smilecare has amazing plans and discounts for their patients. If you do not have dental insurance, then talk to your dentist about Smilecare's Advantage Plan.

Your teeth are a very important part of your anatomy, and if you do not take care of them properly then you are going to feel the consequences, and they can be quite painful. Dental implants are needed due to the fact that you might not have taken care of your teeth, and now they have decayed and they have fallen out. If this happens, or you are worried about this happening, then talk to your dentist about how you can take better care of your teeth. The more you take care of your teeth, the better off you are going to be, and the more money you are going to save. Dental implants and dental surgery is not cheap these days and it can cause quiet the dent in anyones wallet. Smilecare offers HUGE savings on dental implants. You can save as much as $600 on implants and up to 30% on restoration. Click HERE to schedule your appointment today!

Still not convinced? Watch this video below and listen to what some of our patients have to say about dental implants.

 

 

So, take the time to take care of your teeth, make sure you brush and floss and use mouthwash. All three of these ingredients are going to make sure that you have a bright and incredibly healthy smile. If you have any questions about your teeth, sit down with your dentist and discuss it with them, they can surely answer any type of questions that you might have. The more that you know about your teeth as well as the care of your teeth, the better off you are going to be!

Related links for more info:

Dental Implants and Improved Quality of Life

$600 Off Dental Implants

Affordable Dental Insurance Plans

Schedule Appointment Now ==>>

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! Click here to schedule an online appointment today, or simply call 1-800-32-SMILE

 

Daily Dental Health Tips - Foods that are good for your teeth

In order to maintain good dental health, you should visit your dentist regularly every 6 months, but it is also important to maintain a healthy diet and good nutrition. It is important to eat from all of the food groups, including grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, meats/beans and eat some extras sparingly, like oils and fats. A balanced diet is very important in helping to prevent cavities and have whiter teeth. Cavities are a result of what we eat and how often those foods are eaten.

Eating apples, celery and carrots can help remove plaque. If you do eat sweets with sugar in it immediately brush after eating the sweets and this will help prevent cavities. Also, another interesting fact is that sweets are less harmful to teeth if eaten with a main meal, rather than between meals. Table sugar is more harmful to teeth than sugars that occur naturally in fruits and milk.

Food choices that are more nutritious for teeth include the following, fruits, vegetables,  berries, carrots, nuts, tomatoes, yogurt, chicken, eggs, melons, turkey, salad, pineapple, pumpkin seeds, pears, cereal (that is not high in sugar), sunflower seeds, popcorn, oranges, pizza, tacos, cheese, celery and sugar free gum/soda.

Food choices that cause tooth decay include the following: candy, mints, sticky foods like jelly beans or caramels, fruit juice, sugary drinks (like soda, sweet tea and sweetened juice), cake, cookies, cough drops, doughnuts, gum, honey, jams, jellies, molasses, pies, popsicles, syrup and table sugar. Also you should consider that many foods can become stuck in our teeth when we eat and that can help cause tooth decay too.

Foods, such as bread, cereals, pasta, crackers, and potato chips, if left in the mouth for long periods of time can cause tooth decay. If you do not brush your teeth after eating these types of things, the bacteria that live in your mouth breaks the food down into sugars and then the sugars create cavities and tooth decay. This is why it is so important to eat a well balanced diet, eat sugary substances only on occasion and with a meal, rather than as a snack and immediately brush teeth after eating sugary substances to cut down the risk of developing a cavity.

According to the American Dental Association, the following are recommended for good dental health: breads, cereals and other grain products that provide vitamins for healthy growth of teeth, dairy products which provide calcium and Vitamin D for strengthening teeth, fruits and vegetables which provide Vitamin C for healthy gums and lean meats, fish, poultry and beans, which provide iron and protein for overall good health and magnesium for healthy teeth.

Remember the next time you reach for a snack, pick a food that is low in sugar and low in fat. Your teeth and your body will thank you.

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! Click here to schedule an online appointment today, or simply call 1-800-32-SMILE

Dental Health Awareness Month! Tooth Anatomy - What do you know?

Did you know there were so many different parts to your tooth? Share the knowledge with your friends, family or patients to help raise awareness!

By supporting National Health Observances such as Dental Health Awareness Month, you can:

- Educate the public about health risks

- Organize successful health promotion events and campaigns

- Get new ideas, information, and resources on health topics of interest

Throughout the month Smilecare Family Dentistry will be promoting dental health! We will be providing you with oral health tips, materials for children, dental discounts such as affordable dental insurance andaffordable teeth whitening, and information on how to help others with their dental health!

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! call 1-800-32-SMILE to schedule an appointment today!

 

Dental Health Awareness Month!

By supporting National Health Observances such as Dental Health Awareness Month, you can:

- Educate the public about health risks

- Organize successful health promotion events and campaigns

- Get new ideas, information, and resources on health topics of interest

Throughout the month Smilecare Family Dentistry will be promoting dental health! We will be providing you with oral health tips, materials for children, dental discounts such as affordable dental insurance and affordable teeth whitening, and information on how to help others with their dental health!

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! call 1-800-32-SMILE to schedule an appointment today!

 

 

Dental Health Awareness Month! Smilecare Family Dentistry Brushing Tips

Here are some flossing tips for children! Smilecare Family Dentistry knows how important it is to promote good oral health habits from the very beginning. Print this off, repost this link and share it with your children, students, patients, or siblings! Help us promote Dental Health Month!

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! call 1-800-32-SMILE to schedule an appointment today!

Can You Understand Dentist Language? Take This Short Quiz!

Dentists and orthodontists use their own language. Are you smarter than a dentist/orthodontist? If you think you are, take a shot at correctly guessing what all of the following words mean. Get your mom, dad and friends to do it too, and see who gets the most right. Will you get more right than your mom and dad? Will you prove to be smarter than your dentist? The answers are at the end, but don’t you cheat! Look at the answers when you finish the quiz and share with your friends!

1. What is a mamelon?

a. A land animal

b. A bump on your lower front teeth

c. A dimple

d. A milk producing mammal

e. A sore on your tongue

 

2. What is an edentulous person?

a. A person with a peg leg

b. A person whose skin is dented

c. A person who likes to grind their teeth

d. A person without teeth

e. A person with braces

 

3. What is armamentarium?

a. Dental chairs, lights and equipment

b. Medieval body armor

c. Special masks your dentist uses to prevent infection

d. A sanatarium for people with battle fatigue

e. A coating to protect your teeth from decay

 

4. What is cementum?

a. A substance you use to fix cracks in the bricks in your house

b. A substance to hold brackets onto teeth

c. A bony substance covering the root of a tooth.

d. A special adhesive to hold in false teeth

e. A hard deposit you get on your teeth if you do not brush them

 

5. What is an alvelous?

a. A opening in your jaw in which a tooth is attached.

b. A tragic opera

c. A passage in your nose

d. A passage connecting your mouth to your nose

e. A dimple on your tongue

 

6. What is dentin?

a. A kind of chewing gum

b. A bump on your lower front teeth

c. The calcium part of a tooth below the enamel

d. The rough surfaces on your teeth

e. The cutting surfaces on your back teeth

 

7. What is frenum?

a. Pink colored skin that attaches your lips to your mouth

b. A mucous like deposit you get on your tongue when you are sick

c. A special solvent the orthodontist uses to get stains off of braces

d. Loose pieces of plaque which detaches from your teeth

e. A dental anesthetic

 

8. What is an articulator?

a. A device you wear to help you talk clearer

b. A device that changes the sound of your voice

c. A device that prevents your braces from interfering with your speech

d. A device that makes your mouth wider so you can talk better

e. A holder for models of your teeth

 

9. What are caries?

a. Little sacs in your gums which hold saliva

b. Cavities

c. In astrology, people who were born on the last day of aries

d. An african neckless made out of teeth

e. Hooks to hold on your braces

 

10. What is a filtrum?

a. The piece of skin under your tongue

b. A device to keep your braces clean

c. A device to make sure that pure water goes into your dentist's drill

d. A part of your eardrum

e. The dimple under your nose above your lip 

 

 

 

What is a mamelon? 
b. A bump on your lower front teeth

What is an edentulous person? 
d. A person without teeth

What is armamentarium? 
a. Dental chairs, lights and equipment

What is cementum? 
c. A bony substance covering the root of a tooth.

What is an alvelous? 
a. A opening in your jaw in which a tooth is attached.

What is dentin? 
c. The calcium part of a tooth below the enamel

What is frenum? 
a. Pink colored skin that attaches your lips to your mouth

What is an articulator 
e. A holder for models of your teeth

What are caries? 
b. Cavities (tooth decay)

What is a filtrum? 
e. The dimple under your nose above your lip

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! Click here to schedule an online appointment today, or simply call 1-800-32-SMILE

Bone Grafting Quiz Fun - Are you Smarter Than A Dentist? Test Your Knowledge

Answers are at the end of the quiz.

1. Bone grafting
a. makes new teeth grow
b. helps prevent bone and soft tissue loss
c. is a painful procedure 
d. none of the above

2. Patients can benefit from bone grafting because
a. it preserves facial bone structure and gums
b. it assists the body in healing itself after tooth extractions
c. it helps dental prostheses fit better
d. all of the above

3. When a tooth is extracted,
a. bone growth surrounding the extracted tooth ceases
b. bone growth continues, but at a slower pace
c. there is no change in bone growth
d. none of the above

4. Tooth loss may be the result of
a. periodontal disease
b. trauma
c. extractions to make room for other teeth
d. all of the above

5. The decision to recommend a bone grafting procedure for a patient should be made by
a. the dental assistant
b. the dentist
c. the office manager
d. the receptionist

6. A bone graft should take place
a. immediately following a tooth extraction
b. within a month of a tooth extraction
c. within six months of a tooth extraction
d. anytime

7. A bone graft is appropriate for
a. healthy patients undergoing a permanent tooth extraction
b. ortho patients in the middle of their treatment
c. patients who have gaps between their teeth
d. all patients

8. Bone grafting 
a. is a complex procedure only for extreme cases
b. is usually very painful
c. is the safest and most effective method to prevent bone loss 
d. is performed before a tooth extraction

9. The bone graft material that is placed in a socket
a. stimulates new bone growth immediately
b. helps the healing process after tooth extraction
c. can be organic or a synthetic material
d. all of the above

10. Bone grafts for children
a. are appropriate only if the child can sit still for 15 minutes
b. should always be recommended
c. are not appropriate as long as a permanent tooth will replace the missing baby tooth 
d. none of the above

Answers:
1. Bone grafting
b. helps prevent bone and soft tissue loss

2. Patients can benefit from bone grafting because
d. all of the above

3. When a tooth is extracted,
a. bone growth surrounding the extracted tooth ceases

4. Tooth loss may be the result of
d. all of the above

5. The decision to recommend a bone grafting procedure for a patient should be made by
b. the dentist

6. A bone graft should take place
a. immediately following a tooth extraction

7. A bone graft is appropriate for
a. healthy patients undergoing a permanent tooth extraction

8. Bone grafting 
c. is the safest and most effective method to prevent bone loss 

9. The bone graft material that is placed in a socket
d. all of the above

10. Bone grafts for children
c. are not appropriate as long as a permanent tooth will replace the missing baby tooth

Do you live in California, Nevada, or Texas? If so, visit www.smilecare.com for more dental health information. We also have amazing discounts on cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as $99 in-office teeth whitening, $800 OFF BRACES, Dental insurance starting at $75 a year! Click here to schedule an online appointment today, or simply call 1-800-32-SMILE