Tips for Stopping Bad Breath from your Family Dentist

If you have bad breath, your family dentist can help. Bad breath is a common problem that can impact people of all ages. Whether you are healthy and in shape, or sick, you can be plagued with stale or foul smelling breath. Gum, mints, and mouthwash are common ways to freshen your breath and mask the smell, but they don't solve the root of the issue.

Halitosis (severe bad breath) can impact people to such a degree that it hurts self-confidence and makes them embarrassed to speak to people in general or in a confined area like a car. Even children can suffer from halitosis, making teenage years even more difficult than they already are.

As a family dentist, we treat patients of all ages and have multiple ways to treat bad breath and help your family to stay in optimal oral health.  Follow these tips to improve your breath now and in the long run.

Stop smoking. If you are a smoker, plaque is being deposited onto your tongue, gums, and teeth. This increases your risk of cavities and gum disease along with bad breath.  Stop smoking to instantly improve your breath.

Avoid garlic and other strong foods. There are certain foods that will leave a lingering smell in your mouth for the entire day, garlic is one of them.  If you notice that your breath is particularly bad after eating a certain dish, adjust your eating habits by removing that ingredient from the recipe.

Brush after meals. Instead of brushing twice a day, brush after every meal.  Use a soft toothbrush and be gentle so as not to irritate your gums. Even light, quick brushing can help to remove bad breath caused by the food you just ate. Brush regularly before bed and when waking up in the morning.

Floss your teeth. Food particles, bacteria, and plaque can build up in between your teeth and along your gum line. These are more difficult to remove with brushing alone and are often left to sit inside of your mouth for weeks, or however long it takes to floss again.  When you do floss, you may notice a terrible smell on your floss and fingers. That is a sign that you are not flossing enough. Do this every day.

Use an antiseptic mouthwash. Rinse your mouth at least once a day with an antiseptic mouthwash. This will kill lingering bacteria that can cause a smell or infection.

Scrape your tongue. Bacteria can linger on your tongue, and a toothbrush is often unable to remove all of it. This can directly cause bad breath so use a tongue scraper once a day to remove bacteria and the smell.

Drink water. Stay hydrated so that your body produces enough saliva to keep your mouth moist and to wash away bacteria.

Visit the dentist. It is important that you see your family dentist at least twice a year for teeth cleanings and checkups. We can remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from your teeth and gums so that you stay healthy, avoid gum disease, and tooth decay.

Follow these tips and schedule your teeth cleaning in order to prevent bad breath so that you can speak with confidence.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Dental Restoration

Ouch! If You Have Tooth Pain Call an Emergency Dentist

You never know when you will need an emergency dentist. A dental emergency, as with any health emergency can strike at any time and without warning. For some people, they will feel a moderate level of pain that all of a sudden escalates into unbearable tooth pain. For others, they need an emergency dentist after being in an accident. Regardless of when or why you need a dentist, we are available to help.

Two common reasons for needing an emergency dentist are injuring a tooth while playing sports or getting into an accident. According to the American Dental Association, the majority of adult tooth injuries are due to playing sports. Most adults don't have the time to play in an organized league so the likelihood of your tooth getting injured during a neighborhood game of basketball is actually fairly high. You can reduce your risk by keeping your teeth healthy in the first place or wearing a mouth guard while you play.

If your tooth was injured in a car accident or on the job, there typically isn't much you can do to prevent it. Scheduling regular dental exams and teeth cleanings will help your teeth to be healthy enough to withstand damage but there is no guarantee that your tooth won't become cracked, chipped, or even fall out during an accident. If this happens to you after business hours or on the weekend, you need to call a 24-hour dentist.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that the emergency room staff can treat tooth injuries. They can't and don't because they are trained in how to treat the rest of your body, but not in how to treat your teeth. This is why you need to visit a doctor of dentistry, not just a medical doctor. In fact, if you go to the ER, they will direct you to an emergency dentist instead.As a 24-hour dentist, you can call us at any time day or night.

We can provide the immediate relief you need when the pain becomes unbearable or restore your tooth after an accident. If your tooth has fallen out it is extremely important to see a dentist right away because we may be able to save it. Waiting until the morning is not an option when you are trying to do so. Instead, find your tooth, rinse it off and put it into a glass of milk. Once you get to our office, we will see if the tooth can be saved. If not, we will make other recommendations for replacing it such as installing a dental bridge or dental implants.

Likewise, if your tooth is in major pain, you can call our dentist office. We will examine your mouth and determine the reason you are experiencing pain before making treatment recommendations. By restoring your damaged tooth or treating an infection, we can correct your dental problems and help you to feel better in no time.

Tooth Extraction  >  Cosmetic Dentist

How Dental Implants are Placed in the Jawbone

Most people know dental implants are tiny prosthetics that are used to create a new fake tooth. Few people, outside of patients who have received one, are aware of just how great a dental implant can be. For starters, dental implants are based on a simple grounding philosophy. Since the root of the tooth is the grounding for the tooth, the dental implants we use provide the same level of strength and security to the new dental crown that we place over them. Additionally, the root has a very important and symbiotic relationship with your jawbone, which works to help in stabilizing the tooth itself. Our tiny titanium implants mimic this relationship perfectly. What this does for you is it creates a circumstance where your new fake tooth is strongly grounded in an implant that is literally a perfect non-biological imitation of your root. As such you can eat anything that you would normally eat, without fear of causing unnecessary damage to your new implant or crown. This also means that you do not have to engage in special cleaning activities. Simply brush your teeth, and floss, like you would normally do and the new tooth will also get clean.

Did you know that dental implants come in two different types? Most people, even those who have dental implants, are usually not aware of this fact. There are two types of dental implants because in order for a traditional dental implant to be successful there is a prerequisite for the jawbone to be healthy. The jawbone and the dental implant have a symbiotic relationship, which means the jawbone has to have sufficient density, or bone mass, to sustain and support the implant. We will typically find this out during our initial consultations and examinations, where we will take x-rays. If your jawbone can sustain an implant, we will use the traditional implant. Also known as an Endosteal implant, this implant is a cylindrical shaped device, often a screw, made of titanium. It is inserted directly into the jawbone for maximum stability and to ensure the relationship between the two.

For other patients, however, they may not have the jaw bone density that is required to place an Endosteal implant. In cases like this the patient, you, have one of the two choices. You can have reconstructive surgery on the jaw to make it stronger and able to withstand and support the implant. The other option, for those that do not want to or cannot undergo reconstructive surgery, is to use an implant known as a Subperiosteal implant. A Subperiosteal implant functions much the same way as an Endosteal implant, with one notable exception. A Subperiosteal implant is placed into the gum but not into the jawbone. It is placed on top of, or slightly above the jawbone itself. This provides the security and stability that the dental crown needs, without putting added pressure on the already weakened jawbone. The initial examination will tell us what kind of implant you need, and we can make sure you have all the information you need to make a decision.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Tooth Extraction

Dental Veneers Fast Facts That You Should Know

Before you get dental veneers, you may be interested in learning more about this great dental service. When it comes to covering flaws, veneers are a wonderful product that creates amazing results. You will be impressed with how much better your teeth will look once you have your veneers placed. Veneers can cover many dental flaws with minimal effort. For a few more important and quick facts about them, continue reading.

• A veneer is a very thin, normally porcelain shell that is adhered to the fronts of your teeth to cover flaws. 
• Dental veneers can cover and improve shaping and contouring issues, discoloration or spotting, chips or gaps, misaligned or crooked teeth, awkward lengths, and a variety of other imperfections.
• Veneers are normally made of porcelain or composite materials depending on your specific needs. 
• Before your veneers are placed, we will gently etch the surface enamel of your teeth to create a better base for the adhesive. Once your enamel is prepared, we will adhere temporary veneers while your new ones are created in the lab.  Once ready,  the dental veneers will be bonded to your teeth with a long-lasting dental glue.
• Veneers normally last 15-20 years, sometimes longer. This length will range depending how well you care for your veneers and your surrounding gums and teeth. 
• They can be easily replaced if they become damaged or worn. 
• Dental veneers can be placed in as little as one dental visit or as many as three visits depending on what type of veneers you choose. 
• Before we can place your veneers, you will need to have a dental check up and allow us to fix any cavities and remove any dangerous infections. 
• The veneers placement is a minimally invasive and highly effective cosmetic solution. 
• You should not get veneers if your teeth are still developing or if you are suffering from ongoing periodontal disease. 
• Dental veneers are customized to fit only your teeth and improve the exact flaws you discuss with us. 
• Veneers are very natural looking and not easily scratched, stained, or damaged.
• The veneers procedure is not reversible unless you plan to have another cosmetic or restorative procedure completed to cover your vulnerable teeth due to the removal of enamel before veneers are placed. 
• Regular flossing and brushing can be done once your veneers are placed. No extra care outside of the avoidance of biting your fingernails or grinding your teeth is required. 
• Normally local anesthetic application is all the pain relief that is needed for a veneers placement. You will not experience discomfort during the procedure.
• The cost range of veneers varies depending on the location of treatment and severity of dental imperfections. 
• Dental veneers from our office should blend in perfectly with your other teeth. 

Now that you have learned some fast facts about how convenient, efficient, and affordable veneers are, we hope you consider visiting our office to learn more. The benefits of dental veneers are endless, and the results are attractive and natural looking. For all your dental veneer needs, we can help.

Dentist  >  Teeth Whitening

Learn Why an Implant Dentist Uses Titanium Posts

As an implant dentist, we can replace your missing teeth.  Dental implants have been around since the first man or woman, decided that they were tired of losing teeth. They took a hammer and the materials available around them and crafted the first replacements. Usually made of bone or shells, these “implants” were hammered into the jawbone in the place of the lost tooth. Since this time, we definitely have made improvements to the way we perform dental implant surgery.  However, the idea of keeping all our teeth has endured. In fact, it has grown into a passion and a profession for dentists around the world.

Today's implant dentist has the advantage of another material, found in our surroundings, which allow people to have long lasting beautify replacements to natural teeth. Titanium is a metal that has many uses. For one, NASA uses it to build space ships, while TaylorMade designs state of the art golf clubs with it. For an implants dentist, titanium has given us the ability to craft dental implants that can, under the right circumstances, last as long as 30 years. It is no accident that we use titanium in the majority of our implants, having discovered that titanium has a unique quality that helps the body accept the replacement root.

Known as Osseointegration, titanium can form a bond with the jawbone in a completely unique way and without the need for connective soft tissue. Once the implant is completed, and healed, the titanium screw, which makes up the implant, and the jawbone form a unique and symbiotic relationship that is good for both the jaw and for the implant. The jaw for its part accepts the implant as a replacement for the removed root and begins to heal around it. Providing strength and stability for the implant, the jawbone treats the titanium screw exactly as though it were a natural biological root. For its part, the titanium screw also behaves much the same way as a natural biological root by encouraging the jaw bone to grow and develop along a natural trajectory.

Aside from Osseointegration, titanium has a number of other qualities that make it perfect for creating dental implants. For one, titanium is an extremely strong but equally light material. When you consider that dental implants are placed in the mouth, it is important for the substance used to be lightweight so as to not put undue pressure on the mouth muscles. Secondly, people depend on a strong bite. The average person has the ability to exert around 200lbs of pressure per square inch with their natural teeth. This allows us to bite through most foods and effectively start the digestive process. Studies have shown that dental implants, with titanium, gives the patient exactly the same amount of bite pressure and has little to no impact on their lifestyle. A strong, resilient, and lightweight material makes titanium priceless in the fight for perfect teeth and the choice of an implant dentist.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Teeth Whitening

Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before a Cosmetic Dentistry Appointment

Cosmetic dentistry is an excellent way to improve your smile, transforming imperfections into beautiful teeth.  With so many treatment options and a world of possibilities it is important to narrow down what your goals and objectives are before meeting with the dentist.  This will ensure that you can clearly articulate what you want to accomplish.

When scheduling an appointment with our office, we recommend that you have your teeth cleaned and examined at the same time.  This way we can help to keep your teeth healthy and be sure that there are no lingering health issues that need to be addressed prior to starting any cosmetic work.  Once the examination is complete, pull out your list of notes and let us know what you don't like about your smile.

Before your appointment consider the following:

How much time do you have available?  Any type of dental work comes with a time commitment.  Whether it is one appointment or five, we need to know how much time you have available along with if you are on a deadline. For example, if you are getting married in six months we will want to know about it so that all of your treatments can be scheduled accordingly.  This may influence which treatments we recommend.  Simultaneously, if it is hard for you to take time off of work we will want to know so that we can look for appointment times that would work for you and allow for recovery over the weekend.  There is no right or wrong answer; we just need the information to plan accordingly.

How white do you want your teeth?  It is important for you to feel comfortable with your teeth.  In our cosmetic dentistry office, we need to know how white you want your teeth to get.  Whether completing a teeth whitening procedure or applying dental veneers or crowns, we need to know the shade you are comfortable with so that they can be created accordingly.

What don't you like about your smile?  Come with a list of the things that you would improve if you could.  This should be as specific as possible so that we can be sure to address each issue.  For example, “I don't like my smile” makes it difficult to provide treatment recommendations.  On the other hand, “I don't like the gaps in between my teeth or their color” is easy to understand and to identify treatment solutions.  We can easily see what issues are preventing your smile from looking perfect, but it is unnecessary to treat something that isn't bothering you.

Do you like the appearance of your gums?  Many people suffer from a gummy smile where too much of their gum tissue shows for comfort.  Others struggle with a receding gum line.  We can help you with both problems and need to know how you feel about your gums.

Our cosmetic dentistry office has a plethora of options for treating your teeth and correcting any imperfections in your smile.  By coming prepared to discuss what you want, we can make more thorough treatment recommendations.

Teeth Whitening  >  Spanish Speaking Dentist

Tooth Loss and the Need for Dentures

As a dentures dentist, we know that few people ever consider life after losing teeth. Even fewer considered life with dentures. In fact in a recent survey more than 60% of the responders stated that they had never even considered or given serious thought to dentures. Most people are confident about the quality and health of their teeth. With over 97% of people now brushing their teeth at least once per day, it is understandable why so many people feel like they will never lose a tooth.  While avoiding tooth loss is a great goal to work towards, most adults will experience some tooth loss in their lifetime. For example, you might be surprised to learn that around 20 million women, over the age of 40, wear dentures in the United States today. According to the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, the number of people that will be wearing complete dentures will be around 37.9 million by 2020. While we strongly encourage all of our patients to take good care of their teeth, be careful what they bite down on and have a healthier diet, we also know that sometimes DNA or age just catches up with you.

Preventing tooth loss -

Nobody suddenly needs dentures one morning. You will, almost, never wake up one morning with a gaping hole in your teeth and needing to come see the dentist for dentures. Instead, the way it usually works is that there are underlying symptoms, which people tend to ignore. Your body will tell you if you have an infection or gum disease, and give you the opportunity to come see us and have us fix the problem before it leads to tooth loss. Naturally the best way to avoid ever getting to that place is to be part of the 53% of Americans that make it a habit to visit the dentist at least twice each year. When you do this, we have an opportunity to catch any underlying problems before they fester too long and become severe. In between appointments, or if you are part of the 48% that doesn't visit us regularly, there are a few signs to look for that may indicate an infection or diseases that require medical attention.

One of the most common, and often ignored, signs of gum disease is a loosening of teeth. Your teeth were never meant to be loose and when they start to shift inside your mouth of their own accord, this is an indicator of a deeper problem. Another indicator of gum disease is a toothache. While people do get toothaches from eating too much sweet, if you cannot control the toothache with over the counter medication, if it lasts longer than a day or two, or if it comes back frequently this could be an indicator of a deeper infection or gum disease. Since gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss, these symptoms require immediate dental care.

While we will try to prevent tooth loss, if you do lose a tooth - we can help.  We can create a comfortable set of dentures that will look natural and function perfectly, allowing you to smile with confidence.

Teeth Whitening  >  Alexandria Dentist