Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Tracy Dentist - Care of Dental Braces - Smiles by Design in Livermore





Care of Dental Braces
If you are taking the steps to improve your healthy smile by the use of dental braces, then you should certainly take care of them to ensure that you get the results you desire.
Follow these steps in taking care of your braces and teeth:
1) Brush after every time you eat
2) Clean between your teeth and around each bracket daily
3) Try an electric toothbrush to clean hard to reach areas
4) Use a fluoride toothpaste
5) Brush your teeth thoroughly
6) Inspect your teeth in a well-lit mirror
7) Floss with a floss threader
8) Use a proxy brush to clean between teeth
9) Use a mouth rinse
10) Get your teeth cleaned by your dentist every six months
 
 
 
 

Monday, July 29, 2013

Livermore Dentist - Different Types of Dental Braces - Smiles by Design in Livermore



Types of Dental Braces
Advances in technology today mean that you may not need to have a mouth full of metal to straighten your teeth. There are a variety of braces types all ranging in prices, aesthetics and comfort. Below is a list of pro’s and cons for each type.
Ceramic Braces
Work similarly to traditional braces but brackets are tooth-colored
Pro’s
- Blend in with most teeth and are not very noticeable
- More comfortable than metal braces
- Very strong
Cons
- Elastics can stain, but are changed monthly during adjustments
- More expensive than traditional metal
- Treatment may take longer
- A bit larger than metal braces
- Can not be used in all cases
Sapphire Inspire! Brand Braces
Like ceramic braces but more white in color and do not stain
Pro’s
- Blend in with most teeth and are not very noticeable
- More comfortable than metal braces
- Very strong 
- Do not stain
Cons
- More expensive than traditional metal
- Treatment may take longer
- A bit larger than metal braces
- Can not be used in all cases
- Are very white in color and can be seen on teeth that are not very white
Invisalign Braces
 Teeth are moved using clear moulds which are pre-manufactured for self-adjustments
Pros
- Virtually invisible
- Easier to clean
- Less irritating to gums
- Do not stain
- Aligners are numbered so you can see exactly how long your treatment will take
- You receive computer simulation showing you the change in your teeth at the end of each phase
- Fewer visits to the orthodontist as you complete your own bi-weekly adjustments
Cons
- Cost more
- May still require braces for a few months after use to correct certain problems
- Not a pain-free treatment
- Orthodontist has limited control over the treatment because the plastic trays are computer-fabricated
- Takes six weeks for the aligners to arrive from the factory
- Can not be used in severe cases
- Move the back teeth before the front teeth so results are not visible immediately
Lingual Braces
Braces are installed behind the teeth rather than in front.
 
Pros
-         Other people can’t see the braces at all as they are installed behind the teeth rather than in the front
 
Cons
-         Can hurt the tongue
-         Speech is difficult at first
-         More expensive
-         Treatment can take a few months longer
-         Orthodontist must be specially trained in lingual treatment
-         Can not be used in severe cases
 
Metal Braces
 There are a variety of types of metal braces. Some types require a rubber band to be wrapped around each metal bracket to hold the wire to the brackets. Others are specially shaped to move the teeth more quickly and with less pain. There are a variety of metal brackets which are designed to hold the wire to the teeth without the use of rubber bands, and now there is a new self-ligating bracket which is tooth-colored so that they are less visible than the standard metal brackets.
 
Pros
-         Least expensive
-         Take the least amount of time
-         You can chose a darker ligature that will not show food stains
-         Strong and rarely break
-         Option of gold or silver brackets
-         Certain types can shorten treatment time with less pain
 
Cons
-         More visible than some other types
-         Tend to be less comfortable at first
-         Cuts in the mouth are easily irritated by the metal brackets
 
 
 
 


Friday, July 26, 2013

Pleasanton Dentist - Swimmers Teeth And Dental Problems - Smiles by Design in Livermore




SWIMMING
A study of 500 swimmers found 66 per cent of them had damaged teeth as a result of chlorine.
Chlorine affects the pH of the water and makes it acidic, so swallowing it can lead to tooth ­erosion.

‘This can result in yellowing teeth – because the acid strips the enamel and starts to reveal darker-coloured dentine underneath. It is not a ­common problem, but may be an issue for regular swimmers who spend a long time in the pool each day.’

REDUCE THE RISK: Try to keep your mouth closed while swimming. Don’t brush your teeth straight after your dip because at this time the surface of the teeth could be softened by the acidic chlorine and could be more easily brushed away.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1334266/How-going-swim-drinking-herbal-tea-ruin-smile.html
by Lucy Elkins

http://www.smilesbydesigninlivermore.com

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Tracy Dentist - How to Remove and Prevent Tartar Buildup on Teeth - Smiles by Design in Livermore



How to remove and control tartar buildup on teeth


Tartar or calculus is plaque that hardens on teeth, just above the gum line or in between teeth gaps to form a brown solid. The solid changes color to gray or black in some people, when food particles accumulate on the solid deposit. Tartar buildup is not necessarily caused by poor dental hygiene; one common cause of tartar buildup is bleeding of the gums which might have other grounds like poor nutrition or infection of the gum line.

Tartar removal
There is no "safe" way to remove tartar buildup on teeth at home because one can easily hurt their gum, furthering the bleeding process. This can lead to a gum infection when bacteria from food bounds on to the wound. It is therefore not advisable to poke teeth with sharp objects in an attempt to remove the tartar. Physicians are only allowed to remove tartar buildup above the gum line; one technique they use to get rid of tartar is the scaling and polishing method. The advantage of using the scaling method is that it makes the gums firmer hence reducing risk of gum disease. It is important to have your physician remove tartar as soon as possible because studies show that pathogens can easily infiltrate into the blood stream from an infected tooth, leading to conditions like kidney disease. After you've had the tartar removed you can now be concerned about how to prevent further buildup.

Ways to prevent tartar buildup
Eat hard fruits and vegetables
Hard foods like carrots make the gum line firmer hence reducing the risk of bleeding in gums. These foods also promote healthy teeth because they do not stick on after consumption; in fact they aid in scraping off some of the soft carbohydrates that might have accumulated on teeth. So eating a hard fruit after a main meal is advisable.
Eat sour/acidic fruits

Acidic juices from fruits like lime and lemons are natural bleaching agents, so they keep teeth whiter when consumed regularly but not excessively. The acid also reacts with some of the foods that buildup on teeth hence preventing plaque or tartar buildup. Eat acidic fruits sparingly because when consumed in excess they can corrode the enamel.
Floss teeth at least twice a week.

Tartar buildup is prevalent in some individuals who brush their teeth everyday because the toothbrush does not always reach the gaps in between the teeth. Frequent flossing gets rid of food particles between the teeth hence reducing tartar buildup in teeth. When flossing, avoid abrading the gum because it might lead to bleeding.
Have your teeth checked at least twice in a year

Many people don't pay visits to the dentist's due to lack of health insurance; dental checkups can be expensive. Saving some money for dental checkups at least twice a year is worthwhile because you do not want to lose all your teeth by age 50. Teeth weaken and fall off the gum line after excessive tartar accumulation

Cut down on smoking cigarettes
The tar from cigarettes accumulates on teeth leading to yellowing and tartar buildup. This could be your motivation to quit smoking.

Brush teeth frequently and consistently
I had bleeding gums in my teenage years. I realized that the bleeding would surge whenever I didn't brush my teeth on time; even thirty minutes late. Frequent and consistent brushing is recommended to stop bleeding of gums; hence preventing tartar buildup from blood accumulation. The type of toothbrush one uses can also injure the gums leading to bleeding. You may want to invest in a quality toothbrush, and replace it every 3 months to reduce risks of gum diseases like gingivitis.

Chew food properly to reduce tartar build up on teeth
Tartar buildup in gums at the back of the mouth is common because of improper chewing of food. The food that's hard to swallow accumulates in hard-to-rich places in the mouth; hence leading to tooth decay and tartar buildup.
After you've had calculus removed from your teeth; it is much easier to prevent further buildup of tartar on the teeth because there will be no rough surface for the food particles and minerals to hold onto.

source: http://voices.yahoo.com/how-remove-prevent-tartar-buildup-teeth-6234854.html
by Isabelle Lee

http://www.smilesbydesigninlivermore

Monday, July 22, 2013

Livermore Dentist - Determine The Extent Of Your Swollen Gum Line - Smiles by Design in Livermore




Determine The Extent Of Your Swollen Gum Line




It doesn’t need a lot of common sense to ratify that you need to see the dental professional directly on discovering swollen gum line. Since we’re younger, we were always acquainted by the priority of getting proper oral medical checkup to establish healthy teeth and gums. Several people tend to concentrate little concerning their oral wellness, and end up cancelling their dental dates constantly.

Knowing when swollen gum line calls for professional attention and when it is a normal occurrence is significant to garner gum secure and healthful. There are instances where gum irritation happens because of food consumption, but generally swollen gums are sign of hovering gum disease. Consulting your dental professional about these issues is what results to safe teeth and gums. Fortunately, there are helpful info that can aid you understand when you need to seek dental solutions about swollen gum line. The following five questions could help more on swollen gums.
First, do brushing and flossing result to bleeding gums?

A minor bleeding after a rigorous brushing or flossing is typical and can be explained. Though, once steady gum bleeding are observed even with considerate brushing and flossing then it could point to dormant gum disease. Search for dental assistance to address and avert the progress of gum disease.

Second, is the color of your gums red or purple?

Experiencing red or even purple in some parts of the gums can be due to likely infection. Unfortunately, your swollen gum line are needs professional oral health care. Do not make matters worse by dismissing your dental appointments.
Third, is gum recession noticed?

Swollen gums and receding gums are not commonly connected together. Yet, if you detect that after a definite gum recession there follows a certain amount of gum swelling. Be vigilant concerning the changes of your teeth and gums and consult your dentist when you are perceiving that your teeth have went longer or bigger.
Fourth, are you having bad breath?

Bad breath could be a normal dental issue, but it’s not something that could be taken in stride. Having bad breath could signal potential bacterial takeover in your mouth. See if you are experiencing bad breath and what could cause the circumstance to eliminate future dental issues.

Finally, are your teeth wobbly?

Take heed of somewhat loose tooth. Shared with a swollen gum line, you may already be at chance of gum disease or tooth loss. You don’t need to go through any extensive or pricey gum disease treatments if you take swollen gum line and loose tooth with proper attention. At the smallest changes, consult your dentist ASAP.

Gingivitis is commonly named factor by dentists. Nevertheless, additional factors are as well known to lead to swollen gums. Some gums are sensible to dental hygiene products, specifically when they hold harsh ingredients or is alcohol based. Unhealthy diet and infections could likewise lead to swollen gums. Additionally, swollen gums linked to hormonal flux aren’t equally rare as you may think. The leading choice to care for a swollen gum line is to see your tooth doctor personally.

source: http://swollengumline79.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/determine-the-extent-of-your-swollen-gum-line/

http://www.smilesbydesigninlivermore.com

Friday, July 19, 2013

Pleasanton Dentist - Dental and Oral Health During Cancer Treatment - Smiles by Design in Livermore



Dental health is a topic that may be overlooked in preparation for and during cancer treatment. Dental and oral health refers to the well-being of the entire mouth, including the teeth, gums, mucosa (lining of the mouth), and salivary glands (the glands that produce saliva). About one-third of Americans diagnosed with cancer each year may develop side effects affecting the mouth due to cancer treatment, although the incidence varies depending on the type of treatment. The side effects may make it difficult to eat, talk, chew, and/or swallow.
Fortunately, most dental and oral side effects can be prevented or managed with the help of your health care team, which includes your oncologist, nurses, and dentist. Sometimes, a dental specialist, such as an oral surgeon (a dentist who specializes in surgery of the mouth and jaw), periodontist (a dentist who specializes in diagnosing and treating gum disease), or prosthodontist (a dentist who specializes in replacing teeth or other structures of the mouth) will be needed to treat specific side effects.
Regular communication among all members of your cancer care team before and during treatment is important in preventing and managing dental side effects. Before starting any treatment, ask your doctor about the possible side effects and whether these will affect any parts of your mouth. If a treatment, such as radiation therapy to the head and neck areas or high-dose chemotherapy, is likely to cause oral side effects, be sure to have a dental examination before starting cancer treatment. If you have already started treatment that is affecting or is likely to affect your oral health, see a dentist as soon as possible.
Types of dental and oral side effects
Side effects of the mouth caused by cancer treatment may include xerostomia (dry mouth), mucositis (mouth sores), caries (tooth decay),dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), infection, inflammation or pain in the lining of the mouth and tongue, and difficulty talking. Some side effects may disappear shortly after treatment is finished, while others may be permanent.
Treatments that may cause dental and oral side effects
Not all types of cancer treatment cause dental and oral side effects. To learn about your risk of experiencing specific side effects, talk with your doctor.
The following treatments may cause dental and oral side effects:
Radiation therapy to the head and neck. Dental and oral side effects from radiation therapy to the head and neck may include dry mouth, an increase in tooth decay, loss of taste, mouth and gum sores, and stiffness in the jaw. These side effects may be temporary or continue for several years after treatment. Before beginning radiation therapy for any head and neck cancer, receive an examination from an oncologic dentist (a dentist experienced in treating people with head and neck cancer). This dentist may recommend removing teeth before beginning treatment to help prevent radioosteonecrosis (jaw disease) and may prescribe a special fluoride treatment to help prevent dental decay.
Chemotherapy. More than two-thirds of patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and more than one-third of patients receiving standard doses of chemotherapy experience dental and oral side effects. Mouth sores are a common side effect of some types of chemotherapy. Other side effects include pain in the mouth and gums, peeling or burning of the tongue, infection, and changes in taste. People receiving high-dose chemotherapy (such as chemotherapy given before a bone marrow transplantation [also called stem cell transplantation] to destroy as many cancer cells as possible) are at increased risk for side effects. Side effects from chemotherapy usually occur only during treatment or for a short time after treatment ends.
Although chemotherapy may not directly cause dry mouth, some secondary medications, such as pain medications, may cause it.
Many people ask whether chemotherapy causes a yellowing or a discoloration of the teeth. Most doctors believe there is no evidence that chemotherapy causes teeth to change color. However, some mouth rinses with the chemical chlorhexidine that are used to treat infections may discolor teeth.
Bone marrow transplantation. As mentioned above, high-dose chemotherapy given before a bone marrow transplantation may cause dental and oral side effects. In addition, graft versus host disease (GVHD, a complication of bone marrow transplantation in which the immune cells in the transplanted bone marrow recognize the recipient's body as foreign and attack it) may cause dry mouth, sores in the mouth, dental cavities, sensitivity to spicy or acidic foods, and difficulty swallowing due to a decrease in saliva. For patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma receiving a bone marrow transplantation, the drug palifermin (Kepivance) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent treatment-related mouth sores. Palifermin is given intravenously (through a vein) before the transplantation.
Preventing dental and oral side effects
Keeping your mouth and gums healthy is important in preventing dental side effects. Gently brush your teeth two times a day and floss regularly. If you are receiving chemotherapy, your doctor may give you special instructions to reduce the risk of bleeding and infection.
Schedule a dental examination and cleaning at least two weeks before starting any cancer treatment that is likely to cause dental or oral side effects. If you have already started these treatments, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will look for any problems that need to be addressed before starting cancer treatment. If you need any dental procedures, such as the removal of a tooth, ask your dentist how soon after the procedure you can start cancer treatment.
Treating and managing dental and oral side effects
Let your health care team know if you experience any dental or oral side effects, including any pain, bleeding, a decrease in the ability to open your mouth, or swelling in the mouth. Here are some ways to treat such side effects with the help of your doctor:
  • Mouth rinses that contain salt and soda may help treat mouth sores. However, if you are taking high blood pressure medication, you may need to avoid mouth rinses with salt.
  • Pain medications, including narcotics, may also be used to treat pain from mouth sores. Medications may be placed directly on the sores or taken by mouth or intravenously.
  • Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and/or antifungal drugs to treat infections.
  • Drinking water and sugarless drinks may help manage dry mouth. Sucking on ice chips may also help. Avoid drinking soda and fruit juice, and don't smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol because these substances dry out the mouth.
  • For dry mouth caused by radiation therapy to the head and neck, your doctor may prescribe medications.
Bone health and dental health
Practicing habits that support the strength and overall health of your bones is also important for your dental health. Strong and healthy bones support a strong and healthy jaw, which supports strong and healthy teeth.
To promote good bone health, many doctors recommend 1000 international units (IU) of vitamin D and 1000 milligrams (mg) of calcium each day. Dairy products are good sources of calcium and, if fortified, vitamin D. Other food choices may include fortified fruit juice and fortified breakfast cereals. Talk with your doctor first before taking any supplements.
Diseases of the bone, such as osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) may cause teeth problems. Bisphosphonates (medications that slow the rate of bone thinning) may be used to treat osteoporosis and bone loss caused by cancer. Although it is a rare problem, osteonecrosis (bone loss/weakening) of the jaw is a possible side effect in patients who receive bisphosphonates intravenously. Before starting bisphosphonate treatment, visit your dentist to make sure there are no areas of infection in your mouth.
 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Tracy Dentist - What Causes Yellow Teeth and What to Do About It - Smiles by Design in Livermore



What Causes Yellow Teeth and What to Do About It
Yellow teeth are not a great look in an appearance obsessed society raised on the photoshopped images of blinding white smiles. But what causes yellow teeth and how can you prevent it from happening in the first place?
There are two related reasons why your teeth slowly turn from white to yellow. The first well known one is foods and drinks that stain them directly and the 8 worst offenders for doing this will be covered ahead.
The second less commonly known reason is acids in certain foods and particularly drinks that wear away your teeth’s white enamel coating. Soda for instance is highly acidic and regularly leaving it sitting on your teeth can start to wear down their protective outer layer.
When it’s at its thickest, tooth enamel is naturally white. Unfortunately as it is worn down it becomes translucent and starts to show through to the next layer of the tooth underneath called dentin.
This dentin layer of your teeth has a naturally yellower tone to it than that of the enamel that covers it, so the thinner your enamel layer becomes the more yellow your teeth will appear. This is why many elderly people have relatively yellow teeth. The longer you’ve had your teeth, the more chance you have to wear down their white protective coatings.
Ahead are a list of foods and drinks that are some of the worst culprits for making your teeth go yellow. The reason that most of them have made this list is that they not only stain, but they are also acidic and can wear away enamel, so providing a double whammy of teeth yellowing.
While some of the drinks and foods that cause your teeth to turn yellow are unhealthy anyway and worth avoiding, one or two of these are otherwise good for you and following this list is a couple of surprisingly simple things you can do to minimize the damage these foods and drinks do to your teeth without giving them up.

8 Foods and Drinks That Cause Yellow Teeth

1. Black Tea
black tea
Black tea is full of tannins that promote teeth staining and it is considered one of the most problematic drinks for teeth discoloration.
It’s particularly bad if you have it with other staining foods and drinks (anything you’d have trouble washing out of a white shirt counts) as these tannins tend to increased the way other heavily colored compounds adhere to the dental enamel surface.
Green tea and herbal teas are believed to be much less likely to cause problems so making the switch to them could be a good thing to do for your future smile.
2. Cola, Soda and ‘Sports’ Drinks
The phosphoric and citric acids in colas and many other sodas, along with their massive amounts of acidic sugar, all wear down tooth enamel.
The old tale about a tooth left in Coke overnight dissolving completely has been disproven, but the experiments I’ve seen did leave teeth heavily discolored after one night and black after a week. Cola is clearly not something you want sticking to your teeth too long.
If you’d like to give up Coke for the many other health reasons beyond what it’s doing to your teeth, then here’s a page with 7 Steps to Replacing Diet Soda with Something Healthy.
While cola with its ammonia based caramel coloring and significant acid levels is worse, even lightly colored sodas are acidic enough to damage the enamel of your teeth. Recent studies have also shown that many so-called sports drinks have significantly higher levels of destructive acids than even Pepsi or Coke.
3. Sugary Sweets
Hard candies and brightly colored sweets that you chew are a big problem for teeth staining, not just because of their high sugar content, but also because of the length of time they stay in your mouth.
The longer it is the more damage they can do to your teeth’s defenses and the general rule with these sweets, and any other foods and drinks on this list, is if it can stain your tongue, it’ll probably be slowly staining your teeth.
4. Red and White Wine
Red wine is well known teeth stainer due to its deeply colored polyphenols and tannins. White wine is also a problem as its tannins and acidic nature primes your tooth enamel for staining from any other of the foods and drinks on this list if you have them around the same time.
5. Curry and Other Sauces
condiments are  bad for your teeth
Brightly colored sauces like curries and tomato sauce can attach to porous dental enamel so you probably don’t want to leave them sitting on your teeth for too long.
Interestingly, having a starter of salad greens or steamed vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower has been shown to create a protective layer over your tooth enamel to lessen the chance of them staining.
So eat your greens, especially at the start of your meal. They’re really good for you and your teeth.
6. Condiments
Table condiments like soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and ketchup are believed to contribute to teeth staining and you’d definitely want to follow the simple suggestions coming up ahead after using any of these.
7. Fruit Juices
While not quite on a par with cola or bizarrely colored sports drinks, commercial fruit juices are actually much more acidic than most people realize and particularly the brightly colored ones are a problem if you want to keep your teeth white.
Freshly made juices aren’t processed in the same way so aren’t as much of a problem acid wise, but you still don’t really want them lingering on your teeth for a long time.
8. Brightly Colored Fruits and Vegetables
While very healthy for you, some fruits, berries and vegetables like pomegranates, blueberries and beetroot are loaded with strongly colored compounds such as polyphenols. These substances are very beneficial inside our bodies, but not so much on our teeth.
Rather than avoiding the most healthy category on our list, let’s have a look at 2 ways you can minimize the staining potential of any of these foods and drinks.

2 Simple Ways to Prevent Yellow Teeth

 
what causes yellow teeth
You might be tempted, after reading about how staining and acidic to your teeth some of your favorite foods and drinks can be, to reach for your toothbrush straight after eating them. That would be a mistake.
Dental enamel actually becomes softer after eating one of these foods or drinking one of these drinks for at least half an hour afterwards. Brushing during this time may actually make things worse by wearing away the weakened enamel. Fortunately it should harden again within the hour so you can brush your teeth with a soft bristled toothbrush then if you like.
A better way is to remember to do 2 simple things after eating or drinking any of the suspects on the list above.
The first is to have a big sip of water after you’ve finished your meal or drink and swirl it around your mouth to clear away any acids or staining compounds. Just remembering this alone can make a big difference to how white your teeth stay.
The second is to actively try and get more saliva into your mouth after eating and let it move over your teeth. It’s easy to do after a sip of water and saliva is your mouth’s natural defense against enamel erosion, staining and cavities.
You’ve probably heard of chewing sugar-free gum after a meal for the same reason but it isn’t needed (most sugar-free gum contains potentially dangerous aspartame so it’s best avoided). As long as you swirled water around first, you should be easily able to build up a little extra saliva and do the same again with it.
Before long this will become a habit that will keep your teeth strong, white and protected, even if you eat and drink some of the things on the list fairly often.

Conclusion

The purpose of this page isn’t to say never have any of these foods and drinks (but dropping the hard candies and cola is a good idea for many other reasons).
Rather, just to make you aware of what causes yellow teeth over time and to provide a simple little ritual you can do after eating or drinking them to keep your teeth, if not as dazzling as the airbrushed models in magazines, at least white enough that you’re not afraid to show them off with a smile.
by Jim Dillion
 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Livermore Dentist - What is Tooth Enamel Erosion? Smiles by Design in Livermore



tooth enamel erosion and dental plans ma
I chose this topic this week because I seem to be seeing a lot of television ads about enamel erosion.  I wanted to look into it a little further so that I could check the facts on these ads and also try to find out if I can prevent my own erosion.  I do have sensitive teeth which is one of the symptoms.
Here are a couple of facts:
  • Enamel is said to be the strongest substance in our bodies.
  • Enamel is what protects the less dense dentin and other parts of the tooth.
My question is: Why does it appear to be able to erode so easily if it’s so durable?  Acids in the mouth consistently erode away at this hard substance.  Are we eroding it away so quickly because of the diets we have?  That appears to be much of the problem.  Any acidic foods such as orange juice, sour candy and sodas facilitate the erosion process.  Any foods that produce acid like those with sugar do the trick as well.  There are a number of medical conditions that can also help with a faster process of erosion such as dry mouth, acid reflux, bulimia and alcoholism.
stop bacteria with dental plans in maSo what can we do to prevent it?  Research says that we should mitigate the acid in our mouths once these foods are consumed.  The first thing is to not eat those foods – Duh!  One interesting suggestion is to drink a glass of milk or eat a piece of cheese after eating your meal.  Others are:
  • Drink water throughout the day to rinse any acids off;
  • Use a very soft toothbrush.  Overly vigorous brushing can create weak spots which allow acid to seep onto the dentin;
  • Use a straw to drink the junk drinks that you must consume.  The straw helps to bypass the teeth a little;
  • Brush your teeth after you eat acidic foods, but wait an hour.  The acid softens the enamel, so by waiting, it will harden up a bit so you don’t scrub more of it away;
  • Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol; and
  • Floss regularly, but do not use a toothpick.  You could chip away the enamel with any hard object such as opening packages or bottles or chewing ice or seeds.
Once the enamel is gone, it does not grow back.  So even if you chip your tooth, there’s no going back.  When we erode away this protective covering, there is no way to get it back, regardless of what new and exciting products are now on the market.  By rinsing with a fluoride rinse, you can strengthen the dentin inside the tooth if there is a way in.  The only other way to restore your teeth’s strength is to have your dentist bond them or put a crown over the tooth.  Modern dentistry has certainly provided better looking restorations.  I’m sure we all know an elderly person with off color or strange looking tooth coverings!
So, in conclusion, I think the best and most practical solution is to mostly avoid the acidic foods if we can.  For me, the easiest solution I can do is to drink more water throughout the day and to chew a piece of gum after my meals since that provides more than one benefit to my breath and my teeth. You can read about these benefits in one of our previous blog posts!
How are you going to prevent enamel erosion?
Remember to have your teeth cleaned twice a year!
by Jenny Bickford-jessie