Advice from Houston Dental Implants Experts: Seven Secrets for a Healthier Smile, PART 2

This two-part article series provides professional tips as well as at-home advice for keeping your teeth and gums - and smile - in great condition.

Welcome back to this two-part article on the Seven Secrets for a Healthier Smile! In the first installment, the Houston dental implants experts we consulted with discussed the importance of flossing as well as going for regular, scheduled appointments with your family dentist and oral hygienist. It was explained that if your fear of the dentist is keeping you from seeking professional healthcare, then it might be time to find someone a little more gentle and compassionate. Last, but not least, readers were cautioned that no amount of pre-appointment brushing and flossing will be able to mask the damage done by your bad habits! Dentists can tell from the appearance of your teeth, gums and other soft tissues just what you’ve been up to!

Now, let’s check out the remaining three secrets for a healthier smile.

5. If you wait until a problem causes you pain, it’s probably too late to fix!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t have an oral problem unless it hurts. Oral bacterial infections by their very nature don’t tend to cause pain other than some mild localized sensitivity. A cavity also won’t hurt until it actually exposes the delicate insides of your tooth, at which stage infection and decay could require you to have a dental implant placed by a Houston specialist! In addition, oral cancer (which could present as a strange lump, white patch or other abnormality) can be totally pain free. Regular appointments with the dentist are the only thing that can help in the early detection and treatment of potentially severe, or even fatal oral maladies.

6. Seeing the dentist about an oral problem could actually save your life!

Few people truly realize just how closely linked their oral health is with their general health. According to Houston dental implants specialists, gum disease can be a sign of serious diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease! Bacteria that are commonly found in the mouth are also present in the plaque that lines the heart’s arteries. By having oral ailments diagnosed and treated promptly, you not only help to prevent the development of other health problems, but you could actually have potentially fatal conditions diagnosed and treated too. Good oral health is imperative for good general health, so take both very seriously!

7. Understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cosmetic dentistry

Wish you had George Clooney’s teeth or Keira Knightley’s pearly whites? Here’s something to bear in mind when asking your dentist about veneers, crowns or dental implants in Houston: there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Everyone’s teeth are different and will respond to cosmetic treatments, such as whitening or bleaching, differently. Don’t undergo extensive work because you think it will make you look more like your favorite celebrity. Those big teeth may suit Julia Roberts, but they might not suit you!

Aim to keep your teeth clean and healthy and, should you wish to have a cosmetic procedure done, don’t expect to walk out looking like George Clooney or Keira Knightley. Rather, expect to look like you, just with a much more beautiful and radiant smile!

Dental Implants Experts in Houston: Seven Secrets for a Healthier Smile, PART 1

This two-part article series provides professional tips as well as at-home advice for keeping your teeth and gums - and smile - in great condition.

We all want the benefits of a fabulous and sexy smile. What’s great about oral healthcare is that a healthy smile IS a beautiful smile; so really, by looking after your teeth and gums you’re killing two birds with one stone! In this two-part article, dental implants experts in Houston will be discussing seven professional and at-home secrets for a sexier and healthier smile!

1. See your dentist more often!

When last did you pay a visit to your dentist and oral hygienist for a check-up and a professional cleaning? Too many people allow years to lapse in between visits to the dentist. You may not think you have a problem that requires professional attention, but when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums, prevention is ALWAYS better than cure. You do not want to face the prospect of an appointment with the Houston dental implant specialist before you start taking your oral health seriously.

Additionally, many oral ailments do not present with obvious symptoms until it is too late. You can avoid the discomfort and expense of the dental surgery generally needed to fix problems that are wholly preventable in the first place by going for regularly scheduled appointments with your dentist.

2. If your fear of the dentist keeps you from going for regular appointments, you’re just not seeing the right one.

If your current dentist doesn’t make you feel comfortable enough to keep regular scheduled appointments, it’s not necessarily your fault! Many people put their fear of the dentist down to some deep-rooted psychological aversion or fear. While this may be the case for a select few truly phobic patients, in most cases, fear and anxiety can be totally abolished by a gentle and compassionate dentist. If your dentist’s bedside manner doesn’t put you at ease enough to keep regular appointments, perhaps it’s time to find yourself another dental healthcare professional!

3. Nothing replaces the value of regular flossing.

Flossing is an absolutely essential component of your oral healthcare regime. Not flossing is like getting into the shower and only washing the top half of your body. You’re leaving the lower half dirty! Brushing alone is not effective enough to remove all the plaque (bacteria) and food debris from between your teeth, which is why it’s important that you floss every day, especially before you go to bed at night.

“If patients could see what remains on and between their teeth even after they’ve brushed, they’d be truly shocked,” says an expert in the placement of dental implants in Houston. “Try it: have a good and thorough brush and then floss. You will be amazed at all the food and plaque that you excavate from between your teeth. You’ll become a flosser for life!”

4. Your mouth doesn’t lie!

The appearance of your teeth, gums and other soft tissues in your mouth tells the dentist everything he or she needs to know about your lifestyle. Reconsider lying the next time they ask you whether or not you floss, smoke or drink a lot of coffee! Your mouth doesn’t lie, so better you get to work improving your habits before your next appointment with the dentist.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more advice from Houston dental implants experts on how to keep your teeth in excellent condition for life, stay tuned for the second installment of this two-part article series.

Dental Implant Specialists in Houston Explain the Signs of Gum Disease

This article describes the symptoms of gum disease so that patients, upon recognizing these signs, can seek prompt attention for this oral ailment in its infancy.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of the American population presents with some form or stage of gum infection and disease. “As much as 80% of the population is walking around with an oral ailment that, if left without treatment, could eventually cause them to lose all of their teeth,” explains a specialist in the placement of dental implants in Houston; the dental technology used to replace teeth that have gone missing as a result of tooth decay and gum disease.

80% is a huge number! How is this possible and we don’t even know about it?

A Closer Look at Bacterial Gum Diseases

The problem with bacterial infections of the gums - known as ‘gingivitis’ in the beginning stages and advancing to periodontitis - is that they seldom cause much pain. Other than general sensitivity of the gums, the symptoms of this grave disease can quite easily be ignored for many years. It’s only when the more severe symptoms of tooth loss set in that people are forced to acknowledge that they have a serious health problem, by which stage they face the need for dental implants. This explains why few people, in the beginning stages, go for the prompt treatment they need in order to have a good standard of oral health and hygiene restored.

“Increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of gum disease is the best place to start if we’re to reduce the incidence of this ailment in our country,” explain dental implant specialists in Houston. “By abolishing ignorance surrounding these major oral health issues, more patients will come for treatment before the disease is allowed to progress to a stage where it can do permanent damage, leaving patients in dire need of rehabilitative techniques, such as All on 4 implants.”

So, what should we be on the lookout for?

Symptoms to look out for

In the initial stages of periodontitis (at which stage the disease is referred to as ‘gingivitis’), patients can present with one or more of the following symptoms:

• Red and inflamed gums,
• Gums that are swollen and have encroached upon the crowns of the teeth,
• Chronic bad breath,
• Gums that tend to tear and bleed easily when brushed.

In the advanced stages of periodontitis (gum disease), patients can present with both the above-mentioned symptoms and any number and combination of the following:

• Visible accumulations of plaque and tartar (calculus) on and between the teeth,
• Gums that have receded abnormally from the crowns of the teeth,
• Oral sores and lesions that take a long time to heal, if at all,
• Brown mottling on the teeth and gums, especially at their margins,
• Loose teeth,
• Ultimately, tooth loss, at which stage dental implants become necessary.

“The important thing to realize is that none of these symptoms are normal. If your gums bleed when you brush them, you could already be on your way to having a serious problem,” explain dental implant experts in Houston. “You should seek prompt professional attention, even if it is just to rule out the possibility that you might have an oral bacterial infection.”

A Final Note: Good Dental Health

The only way to prevent oral bacterial infections is to maintain a rigorous home oral hygiene routine and to seek regular professional attention from your dentist. If you have noticed any of the above-mentioned symptoms, immediately book yourself an appointment with your dentist or you may find yourself facing the immediate need for All on 4 implant surgery!

Disastrous Dentures! Reasons You May Want to Consider Houston Dental Implants, PART 2

This two part article series presents compelling reasons why patients should consider dental implants as their tooth replacement solution instead of traditional removable dentures.

If you were aware of the effects of removable dentures or false teeth on the health of your remaining teeth and underlying jaw bone, chances are you’d shell out the extra cash for a better and more sophisticated tooth replacement technology - Teeth in a day. In our previous article post, we discussed the serious effects of wearing removable dentures on jaw bone health, as well as the general short-comings of this archaic hardware. In this article, the second half of the series, we shall move on to talk about the cost differences and functional discrepancies between All-on-4 dental implants…

… and removable dentures.

The Cost of Dental Implants in Houston versus Denture Costs

There are tens of millions of Americans currently living with dentures because they have lost most, if not all of their teeth to periodontal (gum) disease. These people frequently complain about how uncomfortable and even painful dentures can be. But what’s more interesting to note is that they complain about how much it costs to maintain a set of dentures and to keep up with the daily expenses!

Most patients opt for removable dentures because they believe they cannot afford dental implants. While your initial price tag may be greater for dental implants than it is for dentures, the former typically provides a one-time solution to rampant tooth loss… one that can last several decades without the need for restoration or replacement. Denture-wearers on the other hand frequently find themselves shelling out dollar bill after dollar bill to have their dentures refitted and for daily expenses, such as overnight soaking solutions, cleaning pastes, anesthetic gels and adhesives.

These costs add up in the long run. And to add insult to injury, most denture-wearers end up requiring dental implants anyway because their jaw bones have atrophied to such an extent that only bone grafting and implant surgery are considered viable treatment options. The message here is, if you thought you were saving yourself money by opting for dentures rather than Houston dental implants, you’re wrong!

Save yourself the expense AND the daily hassles of dentures by choosing the best and most sophisticated tooth replacement technology from the outset.

Your Ability to Manage and Enjoy Your Food

Last, but certainly not least of all the reasons patients should opt for dental implants instead of traditional removable dentures: mealtimes. Eating is one of life’s greatest pleasures and this only becomes truer with age. By the time you’re finally prepared to let go of your figure and just eat all the delicious foods you love and have waited your whole life to indulge in, you are quite literally not able to.

Dentures are built to enable patients to eat properly, but the menu is substantially limited! Because dentures rest on the gums and are not supported directly by the jaw bone (as is the case with natural teeth and dental implants), they cause quite a bit of pain and inflammation of this delicate soft tissue. This can make eating very uncomfortable. In fact, of all the patients who wear dentures, 50% say they eat better without their false teeth!

Dentures also:

• Reduce bite strength by 75%. After 15 years of denture-wearing, bite force can be reduced by a shocking 97%, leaving patients with very few foods they can actually manage.
• Trigger the gag reflex because of their bulkiness.
• Impede a patient’s ability to taste their food and sense temperature and texture variations properly.
• Decrease nutritional intake.

A Final Note on Houston Dental Implants

All on 4 Dental Implants promote a much greater quality of life, better oral health and higher levels of self-esteem. You cannot put a price tag on either of these things.