Wisdom teeth appear between the ages of 17 to 25 and unless something is wrong with them, people barely notice that they are coming out. Unfortunately, problems with wisdom teeth are very common considering its location and limited gum space.

One of the most common wisdom tooth complications is tooth decay because it is usually difficult to reach wisdom teeth while brushing, which means dental plaque remains on the teeth for a long time.

If you experience pain at the back part of your gums or notice that your breath is bad, it is best that you see us immediately for a dental examination.

How to Address Wisdom Tooth Decay

Wisdom tooth decay can be addressed in two ways depending on the situation. For one it can be repaired like ordinary teeth by using dental fillings, provided that the wisdom tooth is readily accessible, fully exposed, and the cavities or level of decay is relatively small. If that is not the case, the only option would be extraction.

In the majority of cases, wisdom tooth extraction is the better option rather than tooth restoration or repair. If you have trouble reaching the wisdom tooth when you brush your teeth, then it is most likely difficult to access with dental instruments as well.

It is important to note also that even though the wisdom tooth can be repaired using dental filling, it would still be difficult to keep it plaque-free considering its location. Hence, the chance of recurrent decay is very high. Considering all these things, extraction appears to be a more practical and sensible option.

Call us to set an appointment today so we can carefully examine the condition of your wisdom teeth and discuss with you the available options on how to prevent wisdom teeth problems and other oral health issues as well.

Brushing teeth after eating is good and for all reasons you may think of such as cleaning bacteria and doing away with food particles that may contribute to the growth of bacteria and formation of plaque. There is nothing wrong with brushing your teeth after eating, but it will depend on what you have eaten.

Things are a little different if you are taking acid foods. You may want to know when to brush if you are taking such acidic foods or drinks.

What Happens When You Eat Acidic Foods?

If you take sugary or acidic foods and drinks, they tend to soften the enamel. If you brush right after you have taken these foods and drinks, it may not be good for you. Brushing after taking sugary or acidic snacks or drinks abrades your tooth structure. A soft enamel due to acids will wear out easily when brushing.

The American Dental Association points out that if your teeth are repeatedly exposed to phosphoric acid that’s present in soft drinks, it can contribute to erosion of the hard tissue or the enamel. This can result in permanent damage to the teeth.

How Long Should You Wait?

When you have eaten foods containing acidic substance or sugars, you may want to allow the acids to be dissolved. It is advisable you wait for about 30 minutes or so to brush your teeth. During this time, the acids will be diluted and washed away by the saliva or the water you take after a meal. That’s why it is important to drink a glass of water, soon you finish eating so that it can help wash away the acids.

That said, there are alternatives to waiting to brush the teeth once you have taken sugary or acidic drinks and foods. You can try eating foods low in sugar and carbohydrates after you have taken something acidic. When you do this, it helps reduce the damaging acids, which are created by such foods.

Contact our office to discuss about your oral care and health. We can help you keep a healthy smile by ensuring the right oral care and treatment.

Dental anxiety or fear of going to the dentist is a very common phenomenon among people of various age group, race, or background.

In the United States alone, it is estimated that 15% of Americans suffer from this condition. While the causes for fearing the dentist are quite varied, most of them actually stems from fear of the unknown.

Assuming the worst without any valid basis can trigger anxiety, which is why you should try to learn more about the dental procedure you need to undergo to beat nervousness since knowledge gives you power. Educating yourself helps you to be mentally and physically prepared, thereby easing the unreasonable fear.

Other Ways to Cope with Dental Anxiety

There are several ways on how to cope with dental anxiety apart from arming yourself with loads of information, so you know what to expect. For one, you can come visit us first and see how we deal with our patients.

Have a look around, chat with our receptionist, and ask us questions. Feel free to share your thoughts and what you are most anxious about when you think about dental examinations or checkups. This way we can rationally and objectively address what you are anxious about.

Secondly, you can also come to your appointment with your friend, so you have someone you trust to support and be with you during the whole time. You can also bring your earphone and listen to music while we check your teeth to keep your focus off your fear towards something that you perceive to be more enjoyable.

You can also suggest for us to take breaks if you feel overwhelmed or to come up with hand signals, so you can still communicate what you want even when you are unable to talk during a dental procedure.

Whatever it is, we are here to help you not only with your oral health needs, but for you to appreciate the benefits of paying us a regular visit as well.

This is a typical dental hygiene routine for most people. They brush their teeth what they believe to be long enough, sometimes brush their tongue, and rinse their toothbrush. When they have time, they make sure to floss and then rinse with mouthwash.

Then, the person goes on about their day believing they did enough to keep their mouth healthy and clean. There are actually a few things wrong with this scenario.

How to Properly Care for Your Mouth

First, you need to make sure you are brushing for the full two minutes. Shorting your brushing time is not good, just like brushing too long can be a problem, too. Second, you should always brush your tongue each time you brush your teeth.

This simple move can cut down on how many bacteria you have floating around your mouth at any given moment. Finally, you need to make sure that you also brush all of the surfaces of your mouth before you go to rinsing your toothbrush.

This should include the insides of your cheeks, the outside of your jaws, and the roof of your mouth. The more of these surfaces that you miss, the more bacteria get left in your mouth to cause trouble.

You should also make sure to floss your mouth at least once every single day, and always use mouthwash after flossing to ensure you get anti-microbial agents where you just removed debris from flossing.Brushing before bedtime is best.  Call our office today to find out more about if you are brushing properly or not.

We will examine your entire mouth and look for any signs that you may be missing areas of your mouth with your toothbrush. If you are missing places, we will help you correct any damage there may be, and restore your oral health.

Oral hygiene is so important. We only get two sets of teeth, and we don’t have the first set for very long. Our adult teeth can literally last a lifetime if taken care of. Some people cringe at the thought of dentures or other dental procedures required to replace teeth.

They good news is there is a way that we can protect our teeth. You can get yourself a mouth guard. Let’s go over the reasons to consider one.

Why Should You Get a Mouth Guard?

Anyone can have a mouth guard. It should be placed in your mouth after taking out any removable pieces like a retainer or bridges. A mouth guard is used to protect your teeth. People that play sports usually use a mouth guard. Mouth guards are designed, when fitted properly, to absorb impact away from your teeth and jaw.

They do have guards you can buy at sporting goods stores and pharmacies, but the are most likely going to be big and bulky and could even fall out. I have seen the boil and bite mouth guards shift teeth and create spaces between teeth.  It’s best to have us fit one for you. This one will be the safest for you to use and will protect the best from fracturing or losing teeth.

They can also be used to protect your teeth at night while you sleep. Many people are guilty of grinding their teeth at night. Grinding teeth can wear them down over time and cause problems for you. It can lead to sensitivity or dental procedures. If you have had procedures like braces or bridge work, we are able to fit you with a mouth guard.

We will take a mold of your mouth using our 3D iTero scanner so it’s the right fit just for you. You will want to bring your mouth guard with you to follow up visits so we can examine it. We will make sure it still fits correctly and check it over for wear.

Keeping your teeth in good shape is definitely a benefit to your oral health. When teeth chip, break, or fall out, that can lead to numerous problems. Reach out to us if you have any oral problems. We can help!

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Composite fillings are what most dental offices around the country use at this point. They are strong, plus they are also visually much more appealing than older forms of fillings. They are so visually appealing that at the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry we call these fillings restorations. A restoration is making something like new again and a well done composite filling will do just that. It will make your tooth look like it’s brand new!  When properly taken care of a composite fillings can last for many years.

However, there is no way to determine exactly how long one filling will last. There are several factors that can determine its longevity. Here are a few of them.

Composite Fillings are Bonding

Patients are often confused by dental terminology. Composite fillings are bonded (fused) to tooth structure using a bonding liquid and a curing light. They set instantly under this light to give durable restoration that can actually improve the strength of the remaining tooth structure. Composite fillings are essentially the bonding everybody talks about.

What Determines How Long Composite Fillings Can Last?

Failing silver fillings

One of the biggest factors in how long a composite filling will last is the skill of the dentist who places it. Good techniques combined with quality materials can assure a long lasting restoration. a well placed composite should be virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the tooth.

The second biggest factor in how long a composite filling should last is your overall oral care. If you take really good care of your teeth, brush twice daily, floss once, and see us every six months, your filling should last a lot longer than those who do not.

Another important factor is the tooth that the filling was put in. A tooth that has greater stress

After restoration with composite fillings

will result in a composite filling that break down more quickly.  Where on that tooth, how much that tooth is used with a lot of pressure, and how large the filling was in comparison to that tooth, all determine how much pressure is put on that tooth each time you bite or chew. The lower the pressure, the longer your filling should last

If you want to learn more about cosmetic fillings, come in and see us. We can explain to you how they are different, give you tips on helping them last as long as possible, and why we choose to use them as opposed to other types of fillings. Call us today and schedule a time to talk with us.