What is a Dry Socket?

Like any part of your body, your mouth has its own way to heal and recover itself after accidents or treatments. If you have a tooth removed, your gums will make a blood clot over the hole where the tooth was. The spot in your gums where the tooth once was is called the socket. This clot, like a scab, protects the vulnerable tissues underneath and aids healing.

If the blood clot gets removed (usually by accident), it leaves a painful and fresh wound. Where the tooth once was is now bare bone and nerves, and it hurts when they are exposed. Dry sockets increase your chance of infection and will increase your pain and prolong your healing after surgery.

Symptoms & Causes of Dry Socket

A dry socket is the most common complication following oral surgery such as tooth extraction. If you have had an extraction, the symptoms of dry socket include:

• Losing some or all of the blood clot from the socket
• Intense pain in the socket, as well as pain radiating up into other parts of your mouth and face
• Visible bone in the socket
• Unpleasant taste and odor

Things that put you at risk for developing a dry socket include:

• Smoking and tobacco use (both the chemicals and the physical action are likely to compromise the blood clot on the socket)
• Oral contraceptives (high estrogen level may delay the healing process of the first blood clot)
• Tooth or gum infection (infection around the socket can delay healing)
• Failure to care for the wound after surgery (be careful to follow your dentist’s instructions once you return home)
• If you’ve had a dry socket in the past

Treating a Dry Socket

Dry sockets can be very painful and will prolong your healing process. Some amount of pain is to be expected after a tooth removal, but if you’re in serious pain and/or experiencing any of the symptoms of a dry socket, you should call us immediately.

The dentist can treat your dry socket by:

• Cleaning the wound
• Applying topical numbing medicine for instant relief
• Applying medical bandages to protect the socket
• Prescribing pain medication
• Giving you clear instructions on cleaning and dressing the socket at home

Pain from the dry socket will likely subside within a few days, but the dry socket will take some time to fully heal. Be sure to drink lots of water in the days following surgery to help yourself recover and eat only soft food per your dentist’s instructions. Continue to brush your teeth after tooth removal, even with a dry socket, but be very careful around the socket area.

Advanced Dental is here to help with any dental needs you have. Make an appointment today if you have more questions about oral surgery, dry socket, or any issue for oral health!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Sources

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dry-socket

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-socket/home/ovc-20305925

The post Can Dry Socket be Deadly? appeared first on Advanced Dental.

Has it been so long since your last dental appointment that you’re not even sure how to find a dentist you can trust? Or perhaps you know and love your dentist but you dread the idea of trying to catch up on life with the hygienist while your mouth is being propped open by a tiny plastic jack. (Yes, we think about that too!)

Lebanon dentist, Dr. Cox, and our staff are happy to help you prioritize your dental health, which is why we go to great lengths to remove any barrier that might keep you from stepping through our doors.

Sedation options, flexible payment plans, plentiful office hours, and a skilled dental team can help you achieve your best smile. Our relaxed office is comfortable from the waiting room to the dentist chair. Advanced Dental is completely up to date with the latest technology for any service from a regular cleaning to professional whitening services and tooth repair.

“I am embarrassed of my smile.”

“It has been too long since my last dental cleaning.”

What’s keeping you from the dentist now can end up being what brings you back in later. Remember, dentists are also human. They have teeth and sometimes need to be reminded to floss, just like you.

Advanced Dental wants to hear your concerns and do everything we can to help you work through them. We can even offer a warm neck pillow, just to make sure your visit is a little more comfortable. Avoiding the dentist is nothing to be ashamed of, but dental check-ups are still an important step in oral cancer screening and preventing gum disease.

Oral health is not only essential for strong teeth and fresh breath, it can also dictate other lifestyle and wellbeing factors such as heart health and self-esteem. We can think of so many reasons (beyond just keeping your teeth in your head) that make seeing the dentist worthwhile.

In a world that rewards multitasking and instant results, it can be difficult to think ahead and prioritize seeing the dentist. Contact Advanced Dental today to allow us to serve you and your dental health needs. And after your appointment, let’s go right ahead and schedule that next visit!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

The post Have You Been Avoiding the Dentist? appeared first on Advanced Dental.

CEREC machines use CAD/CAM technology–computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing. They allow your Lebanon dentist to make and install a dental crown–and other restorations–all in the same visit. This is very good news if you have a chipped tooth or very bad cavity that needs to be treated immediately.

So what exactly is CEREC? How does it work? And more importantly, what does it do for you? Dr. Cox from Advanced Dental explains more below.

Benefits to Patients

The main benefits of CEREC same day dentistry include:

• Faster service with fewer appointments
• Fewer injections for numbing the area
• No messy impressions with digital technology
• No temporary crown or waiting period
• Accurate, detailed, biocompatible molds

Using a CEREC machine allows your dentist to do all of the dental restoration work in the same office, on the same day. As much as we like you and enjoy spending time with you, we know you have other places to be. Your teeth have important work to do all day long and it’s hard to be without any of them if they are cracked or severely decayed. We want to see your smile returned to full health and beauty as soon as you need it – today!

Anyone who has played the game Telephone knows what it means for something to be “lost in translation.” Sometimes this happens when dental offices need crowns to be made in an off-site laboratory where they send impressions. By keeping the whole process in-house, CEREC technology increases your chance of getting the perfect crown the very first time.

If you’re interested in holistic dentistry, CEREC can also help you get more a biocompatible crown. This means the dental piece will work as smoothly as possible within the whole system of your mouth and body.

CEREC Crown vs. Traditional Laboratory Crown

Almost any smile restoration you need can be completed or aided with the help of CEREC. So how does it work exactly? Let’s first look at the traditional way dental crowns get made.

Traditionally, to install a crown, the dentist will:

• Clean the tooth and prepare it for a crown
• Take impressions of the tooth using trays
• Pour liquid stone into the trays to create a unique tooth mold
• Send the mold to an off-site lab
• Fit you with a temporary crown to wear for the next few weeks
• A lab tech then creates the crown by using layers of dental porcelain on the mold
• The crown goes through a firing finishing process
• The crown is sent back to the dentist office for installation
• The temporary is removed, and the final crown is fitted

The whole process takes weeks and at least two separate visits for patients.

With CEREC, the dentist is able to take very accurate scans and photos of the tooth, and create and place the crown on the same day:

• Your tooth still gets cleaned and prepared
• Using a very light layer of reflective dust on your tooth, and a scanning wand picking up the reflections, the dentist gets a digital picture of your tooth and all its surfaces
• The scan creates a perfect 3D digital model
• The digital model helps the dentist be sure the tooth is properly prepared, as well as creates a mold for the crown
• The milling machine then carves the crown out of a block of ceramic in about five minutes
• The dentist can be sure the crown perfectly fits your tooth right there
• The crown is glazed and finished
• The crown is installed, restoring your tooth’s natural appearance and function the same day

What Can CEREC Do For You?

CEREC can create perfect models of your teeth for crowns, veneers, fillings, and bridges.

If you have any need for restorative dentistry in Lebanon, contact us to make an appointment today!

Sources

https://naturaldentistry.us/1790/what-is-cerec-and-why-does-it-matter/

http://www.deardoctor.com/articles/creating-in-office-dental-restorations-with-computers/

The post Same Day Dentistry – Too Good to Be True? appeared first on Advanced Dental.

When you think about it, this principle also applies to your smile. A mouth with missing teeth isn’t nearly as functional as a mouth with a full set of chompers. Enter: cosmetic dentistry. While the word “cosmetic” makes these treatments sound optional, many times they are necessary to improve physical function or mental and emotional well-being. Read more from Dr. Cox to learn about cosmetic dentistry and the positive impact it can have on your life.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry

• Whitening—an absolute favorite when it comes to confidence-boosting cosmetic dentistry. Whitening is safe, simple, has a huge impact on your smile, and a dentist can give you the best results.
• Alignment—braces and orthodontics can truly transform your smile. Crooked teeth or a poorly aligned jaw increase your risk of headaches, tartar and cavities, bad breath, and many more undesirable conditions. Straighter teeth and a different mouth shape are as beautiful as they are healthy.
• Bonding—filling in spaces between your teeth or repairing a chipped tooth improves both your appearance and your oral health and function.
• Veneers—thin but incredibly strong covers on individual teeth that look completely natural. Veneers fix the same problem as bonding but are a longer-lasting solution.
• Crowns—a replacement for just the top part of your tooth. A crown completely covers the tooth to improve overall look and function.
• Enamel Shaping—slightly changing the shape or amount of enamel (the hard surface) on your natural tooth can give you healthier and better-functioning teeth.
• Bridges—a set of semi-permanent false teeth. If you’ve been missing a row of teeth, a bridge gives you the ability to eat and smile again with confidence.
• Dental Implants—permanent false teeth that fill in gaps where teeth are missing that stabilize your jaw and surrounding teeth.
• Gum Contouring—a little reshaping of the tissue around your teeth can greatly improve the look of your smile and help your gums accommodate future dental procedures that you may need.

Who Needs Cosmetic Dentistry?

If your teeth are hindering your overall quality of life and well-being, it’s absolutely time to make a change. When it comes to eating, speaking, smiling, laughing, and kissing, a beautiful, functional smile is essential to a happy life.

If you recently kicked a smoking habit, getting your teeth whitened is an excellent way to celebrate the milestone and restore your pearly whites.

If you are in school and preparing to face the world after graduation, braces or bonding could be the perfect way to be confident in your smile and put your best self forward.

If you have mouth or jaw pain that is preventing you from getting out and enjoying your loved ones, many cosmetic procedures can improve alignment in your mouth and get you back into the world feeling more comfortable.

Finding a Cosmetic Dentist

Most dentists should be able to perform cosmetic procedures, but some will have more experience than others. As you can see from the list above, there are a variety of treatments to address any dental issue you might have.

If you are in Lebanon, Advanced Dental would love to see you for a cosmetic dentistry consultation. Contact us today and let’s get started!

The post Cosmetic Dentistry – A Beautiful Smile is a Powerful Thing appeared first on Advanced Dental.

Advanced Dental believes that natural beauty comes first. Our priority is for you to feel comfortable in your smile, and nothing should hold you back from laughing and grinning each day. Many different dental treatments can bring you this lifelong confidence.

But we also know that the right makeup can enhance your natural beauty. It’s amazing what different products and colors can do to give you a different look and style. So, what shades of lipstick do we recommend to go with your healthy, beautiful smile? Read more below from Lebanon dentist, Dr. Cox, to learn what lipstick shades will make your teeth appear whiter, and which shades to avoid.

What Colors & Why

Fashion trends come and go. But how do you pick a lipstick color that will improve your smile and make your teeth instantly appear whiter?

The answer is to pick lipstick with blue undertones, instead of orange. Blue is the opposite of yellow-orange on the color wheel. Whereas orange-hued lipstick can bring out the yellow in your teeth, blue will balance it out and make your teeth appear whiter.

You might be thinking, “blue lipstick?”…”orange lipstick?” Not exactly. Every shade of red and pink can be a warmer or cooler shade. So another way to say it is to pick lipstick with cooler undertones. Here are some examples:

• When looking for classic red lipstick, look for blue undertones instead of orange undertones.
• When looking for pink lipstick, whether light or dark, pick berry colors instead of coral.
• When looking for dark lipstick, pick a purple instead of a brown. The high-contrast of dark lipstick usually makes teeth appear whiter, but brown will only bring out any yellow and staining.
• When looking for a nude lipstick, pick one with a little gloss instead of something matte.

Some brands that make lipstick specifically for whiter-looking teeth are:

• Wild About Beauty (for Listerine)
• Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball
• Apa Blue Lip Shine

The Impact of White Teeth

A study commissioned by Crest found remarkable results that whiter teeth improved a person’s career and dating opportunities. It’s pretty obvious that white teeth just look healthier and happier, which translates to the person as a whole, not just their smile.

You can get permanent teeth whitening treatments at home or at Advanced Dental for real, long-lasting results. And you can maintain whiter teeth with everyday whitening toothpaste.

If you have more questions about whitening your teeth, make an appointment to see us soon! We’ll help you look your best for every occasion.

Sources

http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/tips/a26523/lipstick-shades-that-make-teeth-look-whiter/

http://news.pg.com/press-release/pg-corporate-announcements/new-study-shows-whiter-teeth-can-lead-greater-success-work-

The post Is Your Lipstick Aging You? appeared first on Advanced Dental.

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who floss, and those who don’t. Diligent flossers everywhere inspire those of us who live with them or know them. Flossing may not be an actual virtue but it’s certainly high on the list of qualities amongst people who “have it together.” Read more below about why flossing is so important and what alternatives you have if you don’t like traditional floss.

The Point of Flossing

After you eat, tiny pieces of food are left everywhere in your mouth. Even though your saliva does a good job of rinsing a lot of food debris away, some leftovers stay stuck on your teeth and gums and must be brushed and flossed to get rid of it.

You do have tons of natural bacteria in your mouth that help break down food build up, but the bacteria leave behind a sticky film on your teeth called plaque that needs to be removed.

Everyone (even young kids) should brush for two minutes, twice a day, and floss once a day to remove food build up and plaque from the places that are hard to reach with a toothbrush.

If you don’t stay on top of it, food buildup and plaque can quickly turn into bigger problems that cause tooth decay, gum disease, and inflammation in your mouth.

Flossing Alternatives

The American Dental Association (ADA) says it doesn’t matter if you floss before or after brushing your teeth, or if you floss in the morning or at night. What’s most important is that you do it.

But what if traditional flossing is difficult for you, or you’re traveling, or if you have braces? Thankfully, you have some options that the ADA approves.

Here are some of the flossing alternatives and what they are good for:

• Interdental Brushes: Like tiny toothbrushes, specially designed to clean between your teeth, these brushes are a great alternative to flossing. Interdental brushes are usually easier to use than a thread of floss, are just as effective as floss, and are probably your best option if you have braces.
• Water Flossing: Approved by the ADA as a floss alternative, water flossing is just what it sounds like. Instead of a thread, water flossing uses a steady stream of water, aimed between the teeth, to clear away plaque. Water flossing uses a small, hand-held appliance that might be more physically comfortable for you.
• Dental Pick: Made of plastic or wood, these tiny sticks can help move plaque from your teeth and gums. If you use a wooden pick, the ADA recommends getting the pick wet first to soften it. Picks aren’t quite as effective as floss, and you risk moving bacteria around in your mouth unless you use a new pick for each tooth.
• Pre-Threaded Floss: For some people, the hardest part of flossing is actually reaching the floss into the mouth and effectively moving it between the teeth. Thankfully, a pre-threaded flosser is the simple answer to this problem. You can buy these in packets and use one with one hand. Use pre-threaded floss to more easily reach in your mouth and (like regular floss) throw it away after each use.
• Soft-Picks by GUM®: A favorite of the dental community, Soft-Picks are sort of an interdental brush/dental pick hybrid. Soft-Picks are small, disposable plastic picks with a soft tip and rubbery bristles that fit comfortably between teeth and do minimal damage to gum tissue.

A word about mouthwash: while it’s a great option for freshness and does help kill the bacteria that cause decay and gum disease in the rest of the mouth, mouthwash is not a good replacement for brushing or flossing. Mouthwash is best used in combination with these methods for optimum oral health.

Floss & Your Health

Your daily brushing and flossing is the foundation of good oral hygiene and health. Remember also to see your dentist for a professional cleaning twice per year. Some plaque and build up can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist. Plus, proactive oral care goes a long way toward your overall health and seeing the dentist is just as important as seeing your doctor!

If you’re looking for a Lebanon dentist, Dr. Cox at Advanced Dental is always welcoming new patients. Come to see us for any and all of your dental health needs.

Sources

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/plaque-and-tartar/article/dental-pick-for-plaque-removal-1216

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/article/flossing-alternatives-1016

The post Hate Flossing? – 5 Flossing Alternatives appeared first on Advanced Dental.

The primary dentist in your life should be your family dentist. They are also known as a general dentist. Your family dentist is whom you will see most often for dental check-ups. But how exactly is family dentistry different from other kinds of dentistry? Dr. Cox in Lebanon shares more below about family dentistry.

Types of Dentistry

All dentists have an undergraduate degree and then go on to about four years of dental school. This earns them either a doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) or doctorate of dental surgery (DDS). To become more specialized, the dentist will need additional education and clinical experience.

• General Dentist: A family dentist is a general dentist. They treat patients of all ages and offer a broad range of services from fillings to screening for oral cancer.
• Endodontist: They focus on the soft, inner layers of the teeth. Tooth pain, infections, and root canals are their primary focus.
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon: Specialized in emergency dentistry, the anatomy of the mouth, and anesthesia in case you ever need oral surgery.
• Orthodontist: They improve your smile for both looks and function with teeth straightening techniques and orthodontics.
• Periodontist: Treats gum disease and promotes gum health. They sometimes perform surgery and can install dental implants.
• Oral Pathologist: Can diagnosis and treat any disease in the teeth, lips, cheeks and jaws.

Family Dentistry is Preventative Care

Seeing your dentist regularly is just as important as seeing your primary care doctor regularly. A family dentist will have an ongoing relationship with you and every member of your family to help keep you healthy and navigate any potential oral health concerns.

The benefits of seeing a family dentist are many! Here are just a few:

• Convenience: Family dentists have regular office hours and can treat your whole family in one day. Whether you do all of the appointments at once or each in a row, you only have to make one trip.
• Long-term Relationship: The better your dentist knows you and your health history the better they can serve you. Your relationship with your family dentist will only improve with time.
• Preventative Care & Comprehensive Treatment: Family dentists treat people of all ages and do everything from cleanings and cancer screenings to addressing sleep issues, preventing diseases, and consulting for orthodontics.
• Prevent Disease: Regular cleanings and check-ups with a family dentist help prevent any future problems by keeping gum disease and decay at bay.
• Community: Everyone can see the family dentist! From your kids to your sister and your mom to your mail carrier and babysitter. Family dentists are a part of everyday community life and wellness.

If you’re looking for a family dentist or preventive dental care in Lebanon, make an appointment with Advanced Dental today. Bring the whole family!

Sources

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/oral-health-care-providers#2

The post Good, Clean, Wholesome Family Dentistry appeared first on Advanced Dental.

The right foods in your child’s lunch can help boost their energy and keep those brains, bodies, and mouths going all day! Alternatively, lunches full of sugary, sticky, acidic foods and beverages can accelerate tooth decay and cause your child to feel sluggish both physically and mentally.

Dr. Cox of Advanced Dental loves to share ideas on what to include in your child’s lunch to keep their smile safe and their health optimal… and perhaps what to leave out and have as an occasional treat for good behavior.

But First, Hydration

About 65% of a child’s body is made up of water (60% for adult men, 55% for adult women), and it’s important for this balance to be maintained. Water is the best choice for hydrating for the following reasons:

• Water tends to be neutral instead of acidic or alkaline, which makes it safe for the teeth.
• It helps prevent dry mouth (xerostomia), which creates a breeding ground for dangerous, decay and gum disease-causing bacteria.
• Being adequately hydrated helps aid proper digestion.
• Water regulates body temperature.
• Helps deliver oxygen throughout the body.
• Keeps joints lubricated and is a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord.
• Flushes waste from the body, mostly through urine.

Encourage your child to keep their mouth and body healthy by sending them to school with a refillable water bottle rather than a bottle of juice or soda.

Now for the Flavor

You probably guessed that Dr. Cox would recommend fruits and veggies, right? There are so many tasty options, and their vitamin and mineral content makes them an excellent choice for both oral and overall health. Our favorites are:

• Apples
• Oranges
• Limes
• Kiwis
• Cantaloupe
• Papaya
• Strawberries

Each of these fruits contains vitamin C, which can help kill bacteria and promote a healthy supply of collagen in the gums. We do suggest your child waits for at least 30 minutes to brush their teeth after eating fruits because the citric acid combined with brushing can weaken tooth enamel and cause erosion. (Everyone should wait 30 minutes to brush their teeth after eating, but especially with highly sugary or acidic foods and drinks.)

Veggie Time

They may not be your child’s favorite, but veggies are full of goodness for mouth and body health. The following choices naturally scrape away plaque that can build up between meals or be missed when your child brushes:

• Carrots
• Celery
• Cauliflower
• Green beans
• Snap peas
• Spinach
• Cucumber

Sandwiches & Snacks

If you’ve been wondering: “What about protein?” we’ve got you covered. We recommend using whole grain wheat bread and enamel-building meats like chicken and turkey. Including cheese will help your child get calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate, too. You can also go with the classic PB & J!

Hard-boiled eggs are another good source of protein. For more fiber, folic acid, iron, vitamin E, potassium, and zinc, add nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts, as well as sunflower and pumpkin seeds!

We know it can be a bit more difficult if you have picky eaters at home, but these foundations are good to keep in mind. At Advanced Dental, we love to find recipes that some of these ingredients can hide in, ensuring our young ones get the health benefits without even knowing it!

A proper diet will go a long way toward keeping your child’s smile healthy, but it’s still important to bring them in for thorough, gentle cleanings and cavity prevention methods. We love seeing their smiling faces, too, so contact Advanced Dental today to schedule an appointment!

The post No Tradesies: Packing Mouth-Healthy Lunches for Kiddos appeared first on Advanced Dental.

We all know that it’s important to take care of our health, but that’s often easier said than done. Health and hygiene routines are an investment of your time every day. So, wouldn’t it be great if you could accomplish more by actually doing less?

When it comes to your oral health and heart health, you can! Taking care of one is actually taking care of the other. Count that as one less thing you have to do each day. Dr. Cox, Lebanon dentist explains how oral health and heart health are closely connected.

How Your Mouth Affects Your Heart

There are a number of ways that your oral health is directly related to your heart health. What we know for sure is:

• If you have gum disease, you have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Gum disease is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation, and it ranges in severity. Inflammation is a normal immune response in your body, but too much of it (like gum disease) is not good. Bacteria in your mouth enter your bloodstream through your gums and can cause a number of heart problems. Bacteria in your mouth can also cause your liver to overproduce certain proteins, which inflame your blood vessels.
• Signs of gum disease include red, swollen, bleeding, and receding gums. Treating gum disease can help lower inflammation in other parts of your body. See your Lebanon dentist immediately if you think you have any problems with your gums.
• If you have a lot of plaque build up on your teeth, it can be a sign that you have similar build up in your blood vessels, which is very dangerous. A number of other diagnostic tests use samples from your mouth to look for any signs of pathogens throughout your body.
• Hearts conditions might affect how you receive dental care, so it’s important that your dentist knows your full health history. If you have any background with pacemakers, antibiotics, blood thinners, heart attacks, or stroke, tell your dentist to before going into any cleaning or treatment.

The Big Picture

Dentists, medical doctors, and researchers are working hard to better understand these links between oral health and overall health. Gum disease isn’t yet proven to directly cause heart disease, but they are proven to be very closely connected and frequently happen at the same time.

Your mouth may feel far away from your heart in the whole scope of your body, but because your mouth is full of blood vessels, bacteria and germs can quickly travel from your mouth to anywhere else in the body! Seeing the dentist and taking good care of your mouth sets the foundation for good oral health and overall health.

Of course, diet is a major link between your oral health and heart health. Diets high in fat, sugar, salt, and acids will negatively affect both your mouth and your heart. So eat a balanced diet full of unprocessed foods that prevent health problems and support overall wellness.

You can protect your heart by keeping your mouth clean!

The American Dental Association says that the best ways to maintain oral health are:

• Brush your teeth twice per day
• Floss or clean between your teeth once per day
• Eat a balanced diet with limited snacking
• See a dental professional regularly

Get Healthy!

If you’re serious about improving both your oral health and heart health, make an appointment at Advanced Dental soon. We can be your partners in total health and wellness.

Sources

http://www.deardoctor.com/inside-the-magazine/issue-5/periodontal-inflammation-and-heart-disease/

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/heart-disease/article/how-oral-health-and-heart-disease-are-connected-0115

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/heart-disease-and-oral-health

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/heart-disease/article/cardiovascular

The post Healthy Mouth, Healthy Heart appeared first on Advanced Dental.

In addition to your everyday hygiene routine, rinsing with water is a free, easy way to maintain oral health throughout the day. To understand this, read below about what happens in your mouth after you eat and why water is so great for your teeth.

Digestion Begins in Your Mouth

You might think that digestion starts in your stomach, but it actually starts in your mouth! The combination of chewing your food and the special bacteria in your mouth are essential to swallowing and digesting your food. Probiotics are specific bacteria that live in your mouth every day and begin the whole process of digestion by breaking down your food on a microscopic level.

In our world today, we’re trained to think of bacteria as all bad and dangerous, but that’s simply not the case. Oral bacteria are natural and important for your health. Of course, bad bacteria do exist (pathogens), but you’d be lost without the help of probiotics that break down food and help keep your mouth clean. After you eat, these bacteria get their own meal from the tiny leftovers of food on your teeth and gums. The byproduct of this bacterial feast is acid, which can damage your enamel and cause tooth decay.

Cavities

It’s normal for some amount of food to be leftover in your mouth after eating, but frequent snacking and foods high in sugar put you at extra risk for cavities. The constant presence of food on your teeth, especially sugar, make the bacteria and plaque in your mouth produce too much acid. Acid can break down your enamel, especially when combined with the force of brushing.

Cavities are holes in your tooth enamel that threaten your tooth and oral health. The enamel protects and strengthens your tooth and it can’t be rebuilt once it starts to decay. Kids and adults of any age can develop a cavity. Cavities can cause pain and inflammation, and usually need a filling to restore the tooth to health.

You can prevent cavities with good oral hygiene. This includes:

• Brushing your teeth twice per day, for two minutes at a time
• Flossing once per day
• Rinsing with mouthwash or water between meals
• Seeing the dentist twice every year

Rinsing with Water Fights Cavities

A quick rinse with water in your mouth will boost your body’s natural ability to clean itself after a meal. Rinsing with water protects your enamel by removing food and sugar leftover, and about 30% of oral bacteria without the forces of brushing that, when combined with acid, can damage your enamel. Just be sure to spit out the water when you’re done, as swallowing will only introduce the bacteria into your body further and cause problems for your systemic health.

Some people may prefer the minty flavors of mouthwash, and some people are prescribed a special mouthwash for infections (gum disease) or sensitivity. But if you’re out and about, or just don’t have any mouthwash on hand, water is a great alternative for keeping your mouth clean between brushing.

So after you eat anything, it’s a good idea to quickly rinse out your mouth with water. It’s an easy and free way to instantly boost your oral health. Rinsing with water is better for your teeth than brushing them right after you eat if you wish to avoid damage to your enamel.

Drinking Water

Drinking water is also a great way to maintain oral and overall health. Saliva naturally protects your mouth by maintaining a proper pH balance that minimizes bacterial growth, and staying hydrated ensures you have healthy saliva levels. When your mouth is dry, your pH becomes acidic, and disease, decay, and bacteria can thrive. Keep your mouth and body functioning at peak performance by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.

If you have more questions or any oral health need, Dr. Cox at Advanced Dental in Lebanon is taking new patients. Make an appointment today and let our professional team give you a smile you love!

Sources

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/plaque-and-tartar/article/dental-pick-for-plaque-removal-1216

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/cavities/article/how-to-prevent-cavities-when-you-have-a-sweet-tooth-0213

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/mouth-and-teeth-anatomy/article/oral-bacteria-what-lives-in-your-mouth-0513

http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/cavities

http://www.livestrong.com/article/260192-the-best-ways-to-water-clean-teeth/

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