We all know the importance of taking preventative measures to make sure we don’t cause damage to our teeth. These include small things like avoiding excessively acidic, sticky or gummy foods. The decline of oral health can come from tooth enamel demineralization. Have you ever noticed small, frosty-looking white spots on the surface of some teeth? That is a representation of enamel demineralization, often caused by excessive exposure to acid.

On the other end of the spectrum is the idea of teeth restoration. Just like we avoid things that cause harm, are there ways to restore health to our pearly whites if some damage has already been done?

The short answer is yes, teeth restoration is possible! With small lifestyle changes, you can improve your oral health and see tooth enamel restoration from minor erosion. Here are some easy things you can start doing today to see improvement:

1) Start By Being Mindful Of What You Are Drinking

Your oral health is hugely dependent on the fluids in your mouth. Acidic beverages, such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, coffee and tea, can erode teeth over time. To start seeing natural teeth restoration occur,  rinse your mouth out immediately after exposing your teeth to sweets and acidic drinks.

2) Remineralize Teeth Through Your Diet

When teeth are demineralized, their pores are larger and more susceptible to damage. Foods and beverages that are high in beneficial minerals will insure your tooth pores are minimized. When mineral-rich foods are introduced to your diet, your saliva, too, will be mineral-rich and facilitate tooth enamel restoration.

3) Use Remineralizing Gel and Fluoride Toothpaste

It is incredibly important to be mindful of dietary changes that encourage teeth restoration, but aiding in the process with remineralizing gel can also become a part of your daily oral health routine. You should consult your dentist before starting a new tooth regimen, but using fluoride toothpaste can make your teeth more resistant to acid and aid restoration of teeth.

The best tip will always be to prevent the damage before it is done, but we all know that life can make perfect habits difficult. Teeth restoration can be a tedious process, but making sure you are being mindful of your oral health is key to your overall well-being and adjusting small day to day habits can have huge long-term benefits. As always, make sure you schedule regular check-ups with your dentist. Furthermore, ask any questions you have when consulting with your dentist before making any major changes to your dental routine!

A dental restoration is a broad term that refers to many different types of restorative dentistry procedures. While there are many reasons that dental restorations may be necessary, the procedure can be divided into two general categories: direct and indirect restorations. If any of your teeth require restoration, it is important to understand the differences between these procedures. Doing so will set proper expectations for before, during and after the restoration.

Direct Restorations procedures

Direct dental restoration refers to a technique in which a filling material is placed directly into the prepared tooth cavity. The biggest benefit of direct restorations is time. Because the materials used harden quickly, the procedure can be completed within a single office visit.  Another benefit in placing a direct restoration is that these types of restorations are typically far less invasive than indirect restoration.  There are several filling materials your dentist can choose to repair your tooth; typically an amalgam or composite substance.  The dentist will decide what material is best to repair a specific tooth based on the amount or size of the defect and location of the damaged tooth.

Indirect Restorations procedures

Indirect dental restorations most commonly refer to crowns, onlays, inlays, bridges and veneers. These types of restorations will require customized replacements made in a dental lab. After your tooth is prepared, your dentist will take an impression which is used to mold the replacement. Due to the lengthy process, you can expect more than one visit to your dentist before your tooth is fully restored. There are a variety of materials that are used to make these fitted restorative pieces. There are many options including gold, ceramic, and porcelain.

Why Get Restorative Dentistry?

Dental restoration is most commonly required when repairing damaged or decaying teeth. However, there are a handful of reasons why a person may seek out any one of these procedures.

Dental Pain

Dental restoration can be a great option for those who suffer from dental pain due to circumstances other than tooth decay. If you are experiencing dental pain, consult your dentist to determine the source and whether or not dental restoration is the appropriate solution.

Close Unattractive Spaces

While having large gaps between teeth won’t affect your health or wellbeing, it can be embarrassing. Restorative dentistry in most cases can be an excellent option for improving your smile and overall confidence.

Improve or Correct an Improper Bite

It may surprise you that improper bites are common among older generations due to natural wear.  Improper bites can make eating difficult. Restoration dentistry can help improve or correct improper bites.

Reduce Missing Teeth

Much like improper bites, missing teeth can make eating difficult and often results in low self-esteem. There are many restorative options for replacing missing teeth including dental bridges, dental crowns and, dentures.

Replace Old Dental Restorations

Many times old dental restorations can become damaged due to either outdated procedures or normal wear and tear.   If you are unhappy with the way an old restoration looks, replacing it with new one can be a great option.

Is dental restoration right for you? Visit us at www.devotedfamilydental.com for more information. Devoted Family Dental is Washington’s favorite family dentist!

Halloween is the start of the sugary season! We know you are going to indulge, and by all means, you should! Just remember, moderation is key when it comes to maintaining a healthy smile. Below are our suggestions to take into consideration for both you and your kids this Halloween and through the New Year.

Moderation is Key. Like we stated before, moderation is key. It won’t be the end all be all if you eat a few pieces of candy or other sugary treats, just make sure you don’t overdo it! Set a specific “sweet time” for children to help them fight the urge to indulge in sweets throughout the day. Don’t forget to follow up your sweet time with proper brushing and flossing!   During the holiday season, cut back on drinks with added sugar as much as possible. This will help off-set the increased consumption of sugar.

Stay Away from Sticky Candy. Sugar already sticks to teeth so it is best to not make matters worse by eating gooey or sticky candy. Sticky candy such as taffys, gummy bears, and carmel take longer to be washed away by your saliva, resulting in an increased risk for tooth decay. These types of treats are also known to pull off sealants or dislodge an already loose crown or filling!

Avoid Hard Candy. The longer sugar is in your mouth, the bigger your chances of tooth decay. Sucking on hard candy involves a prolonged exposure of sugar which greatly increases your chance of developing cavities.  Chewing on or biting into a hard candy can lead to cracked or broken teeth.  If hard candy is your thing, opt for sugar free versions and be careful not to break a tooth!

Chocolate is Best. Solid chocolate may be your best option when it comes to eating sweets. Chocolate is very soluble and has an easy time washing away with your saliva.  Make sure you avoid chocolate treats with carmel or other added stickiness.

Gum Can Curb Cravings. Sugar is addictive, so it can be hard to resist this season. Choosing sugar free, ADA approved gum will not only help curb your craving for sugar but can also help reduce tooth decay. Gum increases saliva flow and helps loosen wedged food. For best results, chew sugar free gum for 20 minutes after a meal.

Eat Candy with meals. The best time to indulge in some sugary goodness is with meals or shortly after. During this period, saliva production is high, helping to minimize the acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth.

Drink More Water. Water can help wash away sugar that is clinging to your teeth, helping reduce the chances of developing cavities. Encourage your kids to drink a large glass of water after consuming candy or sweets to rinse their teeth as much as possible if a toothbrush is not available.

Brush and Floss. While brushing and flossing are important every day of the year, it is especially important during the holiday season. Make sure you and your children are brushing and flossing at least twice a day or no more than 30 minutes after a sugary binge.

Dental Hygiene is extremely important for not only your oral care, but also your overall health. Poor dental hygiene has been linked to many common illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. In fact, during a recent study, numbers suggest that people with serious gum disease were 40% more likely to also have a chronic health condition. Below are our 10 good dental hygiene tips for boosting your oral health.

Floss Daily. In 2013, 50.5% of Americans say they floss on a daily basis. That means nearly half of the U.S. population is missing 40% of their teeth’s surfaces. Flossing is high on our list of good dental hygiene tips because it is the number one most ignored dental hygiene tool and is just as important as brushing on a daily basis.

Brush Your Teeth Daily.  It is recommended by the ADA to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Your toothbrush should fit comfortably in your mouth and be easy to maneuver around, reaching all areas of your teeth and mouth.

Eat Crunchy Veggies. If it is hard to find time to brush your teeth after lunch than our 3rd suggestion in our good dental hygiene tips is just for you. Try eating low acidic fruits or crunchy veggies such as carrots or celery. These foods are natural tooth cleaning aids and can help scrub sticky food residue of the surface of your teeth. Furthermore, celery’s stringing fibers can act as natural floss, helping remove enrooted food between your teeth.

Chew Sugar Free Gum. Much like our third suggestion in our 10 good dental hygiene tips, chewing sugar free gum can help clean your teeth after meals. The stickiness of gum helps remove wedged food between your teeth and can pull plaque from the surfaces. The ADA also says that chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth, helping to neutralize acids. Saliva also carries calcium and phosphate which helps strengthen tooth enamel.

Quite Smoking. Smoking not only affects your lungs, it affects your teeth and gums as well. Nicotine and tar in cigarettes creates the perfect environment for bacteria and plaque to breed. Smoking dries your mouth by decreasing saliva flow.  Tobacco can also cause mouth sores, making you more at risk for mouth cancer.

Eat Better. Coming in at number 6 on our good dental hygiene tips list is healthy eating. Eating nutritious and balanced meals while limiting snacking can do wonders for your dental hygiene. Foods with high levels of carbohydrate such as candy, breads and chips will stick to teeth and remain on the tooth surface until brushed off. This can increase your risk of cavities.

Keep your Tools Clean. Keep your tooth brush clean by rinsing it with water after each use. Store your toothbrush upright and uncovered so it can air dry. Storing tooth brushes in closed containers encourages bacteria growth which can then be transferred to your mouth.

Replace Toothbrush. In order to have the best dental hygiene, it is recommended to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or if your bristles become frayed.

Purchase ADA Approved Supplies. There are many dental products out there to choose from but only ones with the ADA approval stamp should be trusted. This is especially true when it comes to mouth wash and even other things like sugar free gum.

Regular Dental Visits. Number 10 on the best dental hygiene tips list is your biannual dentist appointments. The ADA recommends having two dental visits a year.Having two dental visits a year helps keep your dental hygiene in check. Dental visits can also be used as an extra way to check up on your overall wellbeing as the condition of your gums can be a tall tail sign of other health issues.

As of 2013, 80 percent of the U.S. population has some form of periodontal gum disease. Periodontal disease can be easily prevented by taking the dental hygiene steps above. Take the first steps to having a cleaner, healthier mouth by making an appointment at your local dentist office today.

Visit us at www.devotedfamilydental.com today for more information about our 10 best dental hygiene tips. Devoted Family Dental is Marysville Washington’s favorite family dentist!

Why is Dental Hygiene Important?

A surprisingly high percentage of Americans do not practice good dental hygiene habits. In 2013, it was reported that over 75% of the U.S. population has some form of periodontal gum disease. Periodontal disease is a result of prolonged gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums which is caused by a buildup of plaque on the teeth.

It is extremely important to practice good dental hygiene in order to prevent periodontal disease. Periodontal disease causes bone and gums to pull away from the teeth, forming spaces called pockets. These pockets become infected due to bacteria and plaque spreading below the gum line. The combination of bacterial toxins along with the body’s response to infection causes your bone and the connective tissue to break down. If not treated, teeth will become unstable and could eventually become so loose that extraction may be required.

Aside from gingivitis and periodontal disease, poor dental hygiene will lead to cavities and tooth decay. Cavities can be painless at first, but when left untreated, they can lead to infections and exposure of the nerve which can result in significant pain. Furthermore, the internal structure of the tooth is likely to be destroyed and as mentioned above, could result in extraction.

There are many dental hygiene tools and products available on the market to help keep your mouth in tip-top shape. When shopping around for these products, it is a good idea to choose those that are approved by the ADA. These products will display the official ADA Seal of Acceptance. ADA approved products are not only the safest products, but also the most effective and will greatly help improve your dental hygiene.

Dental hygiene is also extremely important when it comes to children. Establishing a consistent dental routine at a young age will instill dental habits that are likely to follow them throughout their life. While baby teeth all eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent adult teeth, dental hygiene is still important. Infected baby teeth can cause damage to the growing teeth below the gums. If this happens, subsequent treatments will be required and can be painful and expensive. Help kids get excited about brushing their teeth with fun, ADA approved products. Some of these could include: fun flavored toothpaste and floss, toothbrushes that sport a favorite cartoon character and a fun toothbrush holder.

The most important part to dental hygiene is meeting the ADA recommendation of two dental cleanings a year. While toothbrushes and floss remove food from most areas in your mouth, there are still spaces that everyday dental tools fail to clean. Dentists know where these areas are and have special instruments that are designed to clean these places. The combination of two yearly cleaning appointments and a proper daily dental hygiene routine will effectively prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Visit us online today for more information about dental hygiene. Devoted Family Dental is Washington’s favorite family dentist!

Bad Food for Dental Hygiene

While many foods can help keep your dental hygiene in check, there are countless others that do just the opposite.  We all know the obvious ones: soda, candy, energy drinks and pretty much everything else that contains a large excess of sugar. While most have known about these sugary, tooth-rotting fares since childhood, there are a handful of healthy foods that can cause havoc to your pearly whites. Check out the follow bad foods for dental hygiene.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are considered a bad food for dental hygiene. Not all fruits have a high acidity level, however a majority of them do. Eating an orange at lunch isn’t enough to cause concern for your dental hygiene but for those who eat a large amount of high-citrus fruits could be at risk of permanent damage. Much like sugar, a large amount of citrus can cause your teeth to soften, eroding your enamel.

Fruits are an essential part to a healthy, complete diet so avoiding them in efforts to protect your teeth isn’t a smart solution.  In fact, vitamin C, most commonly consumed from oranges, is an essential vitamin for maintaining healthy gums. Rather than cutting fruits from your daily diet, drink a big glass of water following consumption of acidic fruits, wait 20 minutes,and then brush your teeth. Remember, citrus softens your teeth so brushing right after can cause a lot of damage and is a bad dental hygiene practice.

High acid containing fruits:

• Lemons (Including lemon water)
• Oranges
• Limes
• Grapefruit (Drinking grapefruit is juice is almost as erosive as a soda.)
• Any kind of concentrated fruit juice

Almonds

Say it ain’t so! Any avid snacker watching their waistline knows almonds are a great healthy alternative to potato chips or other crunchy snacks. Loaded with vitamin E and full of healthy fats, almonds have always been a great source of nutrition. While they may help to improve your body figure, they are unfortunately considered a bad food for dental hygiene and can cause havoc to the structure of your teeth. Almonds are extremely hard and in many cases can cause your teeth to fracture.

In this case, the solution is quite simple. Next time you reach for almonds at the grocery store, choose the chopped or sliced option.

Coffee

Coffee has been a hot topic in the dental industry for years. First it’s bad for dental hygiene, and then a study says it is good, and the next thing you know: I am telling you it is in fact a bad food for dental hygiene again. Much like that last two foods we mentioned above, many foods have both positive and negative qualities. The important thing is to recognize both sides and take the proper actions to prevent lasting damage while still taking advantage of the benefits.

Coffee contains many beneficial antioxidants that are beneficial to the whole body, including other dental hygiene factors such as your mouth! However, coffee has a bad reputation when it comes to stains, and I’m not just talking about that white shirt you spilt on this morning! Coffee is notorious for staining your teeth and a buildup can actually attract plaque.

For a majority of the American population, asking one to stop consumption of coffee would be like asking one to limit their intake of oxygen: An impossible request without deadly consequences. Ok I admit, we’re being a bit extreme here but you know it’s true! In fact, I’m drinking coffee right now as I write this and I am not one to be hypocritical. So instead of enduring endless groggy mornings, opt for iced coffee, skip the sugar, drink through a straw, and consider adding some milk to offset acidity. And remember to brush and floss once you have finished your cup of joe!

Contact (360) 651-2900 today for more information about dental hygiene. Devoted Family Dental is Washington’s favorite family dentist!

Getting a dental exam isn’t going to be the highlight of your year. However, it is an extremely important part to your personal hygiene. Having unkept teeth not only increases your risk for gum disease but can also affect many other aspects of your health. At the least, dentists only ask for a visit twice a year, which isn’t so bad. Yet many people wonder: why twice a year?  Why not just once a year or even better, every other year?

Instead of dreading your sixth month dentist appointment, what you should be asking is: “how much do you value your teeth”?

 The Scientific Reason for Two Dentist Appointments A Year

The truth of it is there really isn’t a finite scientific reason for going to the dentist twice a year.  In fact, going to the dentist twice a year for a checkup is a relatively new medical guideline.

However, this does not mean it is ok to skip that second appointment!

A little more than a half a century ago, the United States military began giving dental exams for newly enlisted members.  Shockingly, it was clear to the military and the United States Government that American’s people had extremely poor dental hygiene.

Why It Isn’t a Good Idea to Skip That Second Appointment

The medical and dental community took action, putting in place guidelines that had never existed before in America.  Those guidelines included brushing the teeth twice a day, flossing the teeth once a day, and going to the dentist for dental exams twice a year.

These guidelines proved to be extremely reliable and sufficient in preventing cavities and gum disease. Furthermore, certain deficiencies can be detected from the condition of your gums, along with many diseases. Going to the dentist twice a year can be another way to keep your heath in check.

The reality is, no matter how well you take care of your teeth at home, plaque and tartar will still form in those deep, hard to reach places in the teeth and gums.  By getting two dental exams a year, the dentist can thoroughly clean these hard to reach areas.  This greatly helps prevent gum disease and cavities.  If left untouched, these areas will build up with bone eating plaque, which will feast on your gums and teeth.

If it’s been a while since you have had a dental exam, it is never too late to start.  The process is extremely pain free, requiring less than an hour of your time.  During the exam, the dentist will ask you questions about your dental history and current dental routines and habits. You can expect to answer questions such as: Do you have any current health problems?  Are you diabetic? What medications are you currently taking?

Then the dentist will evaluate your overall oral health including: tooth decay, stains, bite alignment and any jaw problems that may exist. After your history is documented, your cleaning will begin and before you know it, your dentist visit is complete.

While it can be hard to find time every six months to set an appointment, the consequences of skipping it all together can put you at great risk of both dental diseases and tooth loss.