Composite fillings, or tooth-colored fillings, are becoming increasingly more popular for patients with cavities who want a better option than metal. Even patients who already have metal fillings often choose to replace them with tooth-colored ones to improve their smiles. Yet, the benefits of tooth-colored fillings extend beyond their appearance. The resin used to create them is also a more effective solution to treating cavities and preventing them from recurring.
How Professional Teeth Whitening Works
Teeth whitening is perhaps the most popular form of cosmetic dentistry, but how it works isn’t as widely understood. This misunderstanding is the reason why people still question if professional treatment is needed, considering the vast amount of products available over the counter. The truth, though, is that there are important differences between professional and OTC teeth whitening – mainly the results, which are typically unsatisfactory with store-bought products.
When You Grind Your Teeth Too Much
Grinding your teeth is natural, especially when you’re stressed, distraught, or angry. But for some people, it’s more than just an occasional thing – it’s a condition (known as bruxism) that should be addressed as soon as possible. When you grind your teeth too much, the action can become a threat to your dental health in more ways than one. Fortunately, your dentist has an answer, and it’s usually as simple as wearing a custom-designed night guard to protect
3 Long-Term Benefits of Dental Implants
When you lose something, it’s natural to want it back. When that something is as important as a permanent tooth, then wanting it back is more than natural; it’s necessary. With dental implants, patients who’ve lost teeth finally have a strong, highly-lifelike option for replacing them, complete with prosthetics to replace their lost teeth roots. By closely mimicking your natural teeth, dental implants offer a number of long-term benefits, such as providing a way to truly rebuild and preserve your smile following tooth loss.
Why Gum Disease Shouldn’t Be Taken Lightly
It’s one of the most common dental diseases today (next to tooth decay), and gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. However, that’s only the beginning why gum disease shouldn’t be taken lightly. Aside from losing teeth, severe gum disease can also lead to increased risks of other chronic health conditions, especially those that involve unchecked inflammation. Fortunately, you have a number of options for preventing gum disease, even if its precursor – gingivitis – has already settled into your gums.
Teach Kids to Brush Their Teeth by Making it Fun!
If you’ve ever tried teaching a child to brush and floss, you know it isn’t always the easiest thing to accomplish. With a short attention span and often little interest in anything that seems like work, children might not immediately take to the idea of good hygiene. However, you might find it easier and more successful to teach kids to brush their teeth by making it fun!
Practicing Preventive Dentistry at Home
Taking care of your smile requires teamwork between you and your dentist. The goal is to prevent harmful issues from developing, and though you might not realize it, much of your preventive dental care takes place at home. Every time you brush and floss, you’re preventing plaque from calcifying into tartar, and therefore preventing the bacteria it contains from harming your teeth and gums. Today, we explore what it means to practice preventive dentistry at home, and why personal and professional dental cleanings are so important.