Veneers are a great way to restore your confidence in your smile; however, they require an investment of both time and money. Veneers are great for correcting minor imperfections, including cracked, crooked, or chipped teeth, and once you've seen how veneers can transform your smile, you're going to want to take care of them, so they last for as long as possible. While veneers are incredibly durable, making them last for years to come requires effort. Here are our favorite tips on maintaining their beauty and function for years to come. How Oral Hygiene Habits Affect Veneers With proper care, porcelain veneers can keep your transformed smile perfect for up to twenty years. While they're durable, veneers collect plaque and tartar …
9 Simple Ways to Prevent Bad Breath
Halitosis, or bad breath, is an uncomfortable and embarrassing situation that nearly 80 million people face every day. Not only does that foul odor in your mouth hurt your confidence, but it could be damaging your oral health as well. Thankfully, a few simple but very effective improvements to your daily dental routine can keep your smile looking and feeling fresh. Your Beaufort dentist explains the five best ways to keep bad breath at bay. 1. Brush and floss more often Plaque, the sticky buildup on your teeth, collects bacteria that cause bad breath. Trapped food also adds to the problem. Brush your teeth at least two times each day, and floss at least once. If you're concerned about your breath, do both a little more often. …
Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath happens to all of us. It even has a scientific name: Halitosis. Bad breath occurs when bacteria breed on the tongue, teeth and in the oral cavity. When bacteria in our mouth break down the proteins in our food it creates a sort of sulfuric type of odor. But for some people, stinky breath is more than just a periodic nuisance that strikes first thing in the morning or after a garlicky meal. It may be a constant source of embarrassment or distress. In rare cases, it m All Posts ay even signal a brewing health condition. If you are experiencing bad breath that cannot be explained by bad oral hygiene habits such as smoking or what you ate or drank, one of these reasons may be the cause; Poor oral hygiene Most bad …
TMJ Facts You Should Know About
Millions of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain, such as jaw pain, headaches or earaches. The source of these aches and pains may be related to one or both of the temporomandibular (TM) joints. Located on each side of the head, these joints work together, with a complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones, to make different movements for chewing and speaking. Here are some little know facts about this disorder. 1. TMJ is the body part, not the disorder A common mistake that people make is referring to TMJ as the disorder itself. But the truth is, every person should have a TMJ. This is known as the temporomandibular joint, or the joint that attaches the mandible to the skull. The correct way to refer to the …
Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder. It causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. There are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. This type of apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are available. One treatment involves using a device that uses positive pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. Another option is a mouthpiece to thrust your lower jaw forward during sleep. In some cases, surgery may be an option too. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include: …
4 Reasons Dental Implants Are Better Than a Bridge
We get a lot of patients who come into our office wanting a dental bridge but leave with dental implants instead. During their first appointment, Dr. Ashley Covington breaks down why dental bridges are an okay method of replacing missing teeth — and why dental implants are that much better. In certain cases, a dental bridge may be perfect for a patient but the vast majority of the time, dental implants are longer-lasting and provide patients with more “bang” for their buck. Here are the top four reasons why we recommend getting dental implants instead of a bridge. Strength A bridge is incomparable to implants in terms of strength. While fixed bridges are secured to surrounding teeth (giving the prosthesis some measure of strength), …
5 Wise Facts About Wisdom Teeth
1. Wisdom teeth haven’t served a purpose for thousands of years Back in the time of prehistoric people, diets consisted of raw meats, roots, leaves, and other foraged foods. Powerful teeth were needed to cut up these tough foods, as well as catch, dismember, and consume the foods. Having these extra teeth were a huge advantage, especially when there was no dentist around to keep teeth healthy. Since then, people have evolved, and now, we have a more refined menu. This means we don’t need these extra teeth to tear apart tough foods and survive. 2. Wisdom teeth cause problems Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, usually appear between the ages 17 to 25. While it is different from person to person, often these teeth cause problems …
The Importance of Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is an oral condition that affects the gums and supporting structures in your mouth. It is caused by the harmful bacteria trapped in plaque. As plaque hardens into calculus (tartar), the disease becomes more established in your mouth. Gum attachments begin to separate from your teeth and create pockets that harbor these harmful bacteria. If gum disease is allowed to progress without treatment, the condition may become irreversible. The gums are one of the main supporting structures of teeth, and unhealthy gums often indicate a risk of eventual tooth loss or oral infection. Periodontal maintenance appointments work to treat gum complications and help patients maintain healthy gums, …
10 Tips for Relieving Dry Mouth
What is Dry Mouth? Dry mouth occurs when you don't have enough saliva in your mouth to perform its beneficial functions. Saliva washes away food particles that may get lodged in your teeth. It also protects your teeth from the acids in foods and drinks. Without this protection, your teeth are more vulnerable to decay and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). Dry Mouth Remedies Dry Mouth can develop for many reasons: medications, nutritional deficiencies, stress, and more. Your Beaufort dentist or physician can help you pinpoint the cause of your dry mouth and treat the cause. However, there are some easy dry mouth remedies you can do at home to help ease your symptoms. 1. Drink Water Dry mouth can occur as a result of …
10 Essential Vitamins for Good Oral Health
Brushing and flossing are essential to maintaining good oral hygiene—but did you know that the nutrients you consume (or lack thereof) can also have a significant impact on your oral health? This article discusses the best vitamins for teeth and gums and what foods you can eat to add more of these nutrients to your diet. Luckily, a lot of the foods are natural and delicious! Why Take Vitamins For Teeth? Your mouth, teeth, and gums are the first contact points for the nutrients you consume and are essential for kicking off the digestion process. In fact, the process of chewing allows you to extract the greatest possible amount of nutrients from the food you eat. Conversely, nutrient deficiencies can lead to oral …