When Was the Last Time You Saw Your Dentist?

An astounding 100 million Americans put off a trip to the dentist each year, even though regular dental checkups and proper oral hygiene will prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

Regular trips to the dentist are imperative as your dentist can spot problems with your teeth and gums before they get worse. If spotted early, that cavity will most likely not be a root canal costing you less time and money.

According to the American Dental Association, you should visit your dentist if your teeth have become sensitive to cold or hot temperatures.

If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, or if they are swollen, make an appointment with your dentist today.

Other signs that you need to see your dentist include chronic bad breath and a persistent bad taste in your mouth.

If you have dentures, dental implants, crowns, or fillings, regular dental checkups are vital to make sure that your dental restorations are still doing their job and functioning properly.

See your dentist if you have problems swallowing or chewing or if your family has a history of tooth decay or gum disease.

Folks with cardiovascular disease, HIV, or eating disorders should also see their dentist on a regular basis.

If you smoke or are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or hormone replacement therapy make an appointment with your dentist.

That popping sound that you hear when you open or close your mouth could have something to do with your TMJ, otherwise known as your temporomandibular joint.

Even if you do not have any of the above symptoms, you should see your dentist regularly as preventive care is the best care, especially when it comes to your teeth and gums. Recent research indicates that poor oral health could cause additional health problems including heart disease.

In-between dental visits, it is important to brush twice each day for two minutes. Flossing once a day is essential for everyone regardless of your age. Good oral health habits are the best way to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

If you cannot remember the last time you saw your dentist, schedule an appointment today. Remember, and ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

Dental Sealants Can Prevent Tooth Decay

Dental Sealants can help prevent tooth decay in infants, kids and teenagers, but are also being used for adults who have teeth without restorations. Talk to your dentist if you want to prevent cavities.

When your dentist applies Dental Sealants to the top of your back teeth the fine pits and grooves are protected from plaque. These grooves and pits are hard to reach when you brush, and when you floss, you just slide over the top of them. If left untouched, cavities will develop leading to an unnecessary trip to the dentist’s office. Dental Sealants prevent tooth decay from developing as the coating that is painted on to each tooth allows you to brush off the plaque easily and effectively.

Web MD describes Dental Sealants as plastic coatings that are thinly painted on to the places where you chew. Your dentist paints the thin solution on to your back teeth, or pre-molars and molars, into the grooves and depressions in order to form a strong and tough shield over your teeth.  

Because it is likely that your kids will develop tooth decay before they reach adulthood, Dental Sealants can ease the likely hood by providing a protective defense against cavities.

Dental sealants are perfect during the cavity prone years. When your children are between the ages of 6 to 14 you may want to consider Dental Sealants to prevent tooth decay. Babies may also be good candidates for Dental Sealants. It is imperative that your infant’s baby teeth are healthy as they provide the right spacing for their adult teeth.

Applying Dental Sealants is painless and quick. A few minutes is all it takes for a dentist or dental hygienist to paint the special dental sealant on to each tooth.

After each tooth is cleaned thoroughly, it is dried and wrapped with cotton. An acidic dental solution is then painted on to the back teeth where you chew to roughen, which helps the Dental Sealant seal the tooth. Once the teeth are rinsed and dried your dentist or hygienist will paint the Dental Sealant into the pits and grooves in your back teeth. Occasionally a special curing light may be used to cure the Dental Sealant.

Dental Sealants can help prevent tooth decay for up to a decade as long as you practice good oral hygiene. Brushing twice, flossing once a day, and seeing your dentist for regular checkups will prevent unnecessary trips to the dentist for replacement Dental Sealants.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Dental Sealants, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. Practicing preventive dental care now will prevent unnecessary and expensive dental appointments in the future.

Smoking and Oral Health

Most people are aware of the health problems that can occur if you smoke or chew tobacco, but your lungs and heart are not the only things that can be affected if you light up.

According to your Dentist in Chicago, Dr. Genaro Romo, smoking can have a lasting and distinctive impact on your oral health and can lead to some serious dental issues including, but not limited to: 

• Tooth discoloration
• Halitosis
• Salivary gland inflammation on the roof of your mouth
• Bone loss in your jaw
• Build up of tartar and plaque
• Increased risk of white patches, or leukoplakia on the inside of your mouth
• Gum disease
• Delayed healing after periodontal treatment or extractions
• Lower dental implant success rate
• Higher risk of oral cancer

Smoking, even with pipes and cigars, can lead to gum disease as it affects the soft tissue around your teeth. According to your Chicago Dentist, smoking will interfere with normal gum tissue cell function making you much more susceptible to infections. Smoking can also impair the blood flow to your gums.

Just like cigarettes, cigar and pipe smoking can cause dental problems. A study conducted by the American Dental Association, showed that cigar smokers experience bone loss and tooth loss at the same rate as cigarette smokers. Pipe smokers and cigar smokers are also susceptible to throat cancers even though they do not inhale.

If you chew tobacco, you are not safe either. Snuff contains at least 30 chemicals that can increase your risk of throat and oral cancer. Your Dentist in Chicago will tell you that chewing tobacco products contain more nicotine than cigarettes making it more difficult to quit. Most people have no idea that one can of chewing tobacco has as much, if not more, nicotine than sixty cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco will irritate your gum tissue. This causes your gums to pull away or recede. Once this occurs the exposed roots become more sensitive to irritants making drinking and eating uncomfortable.

If that isn’t enough, your Dr. Romo will tell you that flavors are added to some brands of chewing tobacco in order to improve the taste. Those flavors contain sugar that can drastically increase tooth decay. In fact, a study by the ADA has shown that those who chew tobacco are four times more likely to develop tooth decay.

Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation and don’t forget to schedule an appointment with the best Dentist in Chicago, Dr. Romo.