Waterford Family Dental Care

Look Out: Gum Disease Ahead

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Look Out: Gum Disease Ahead

Do you take risks with your dental health? Do you avoid warning signs, hoping they’ll go away? If you do, you’d better look out: you could be on the road to gum disease! As the leading cause of tooth loss, everyone should be concerned when they see the warning signs. So are you going to race to the finish line with all of your teeth intact or will your smile be as checkered as the flag waving in the distance? Click here to read more.

The Warning Signs

At onset, gum disease is known as gingivitis. If your gums are tender, bright red, and bleed when you brush or floss, you need to seek treatment immediately in order to prevent the infection from becoming worse.
If it does get worse, you’re heading directly into gum disease territory. The signs are often more extreme than just tender gums and include the following:

  • Gums that have visibly pulled away from the teeth
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Loose teeth
  • A change in your bite

How I Can Help

In order to keep your teeth, it is imperative that you visit my office for treatment. Only a professional has the skills and tools required to completely remove the infection from beneath the gum line. After you’ve been treated, you’ll need to be diligent about your home dental care routine and coming for cleanings regularly.

If you have any of the symptoms of gingivitis or advanced gum disease, please don’t wait for the symptoms to go away. Let’s work together to keep your teeth where they belong. Ready? Set? GO!

Are Your Food Choices Damaging Your Teeth?

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Are Your Food Choices Damaging Your Teeth?

We’re all fairly well-informed about how food affects our overall health. Sugars, processed foods, and starches are on the “limited” list. But have you considered how your food affects your dental health? Well, we are here to help you discern which foods you might want to pass on. The following list can help you make informed decisions about what you eat or drink and how your choices affect your teeth.

  1. Citrus – Citrus is natural and healthy, right? Yes. Unless we’re talking about dental health. Citric acids erode your enamel, making you more susceptible to tooth decay. We’re not saying you shouldn’t enjoy an orange every now and then, we just want you to exercise caution. When you’re offered a drink with lemon or lime, turn down the citrus. If you do enjoy a glass of water or cocktail with lemon or lime, rinse your mouth out with water when you finish your drink. The same goes for eating fresh citrus or any other food that might contain citric acids. Rinse (don’t immediately brush) your teeth to preserve your enamel.
  2. Coffee and Tea – Press the pause button on that outrage, everyone. We know that coffee and tea both have health benefits, but what you add to them negates the perks. Adding sweeteners, creamers, or other flavor enhancers does more harm than good. Furthermore, if you’re drinking one cup after another, coffee and tea are bound to stain your teeth. If you add sugary substances to your morning cup, be sure to brush your teeth afterwards so the sugar doesn’t have the chance to do damage. If you take your coffee or tea black, rinse your teeth with water after each cup to minimize the likelihood of staining.
  3. Alcohol – Please see the first sentence from item number two. We’re not trying to stand between you and your daily imbibement. We just want you to understand how cocktails affect your teeth. Most alcohols are acidic, which means that they can harm your enamel (see item one). Additionally, alcohol is a dehydrant. Saliva is crucial to the health of your teeth. When your mouth is dry and saliva production slows, your teeth are more vulnerable to tooth decay and infection.

There are many other foods that are harmful to your teeth, but we don’t want to frighten you. If you are concerned that your diet may be detrimental to your dental health, contact Waterford Family Dental Care today. We will provide you with all of the necessary information to keep your smile healthy and happy.

Have Happy Teeth This Halloween

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Have Happy Teeth This Halloween

Halloween is an amazing opportunity for families to create memories. The television specials, the costumes, the spooky music, the decorations, and that sweet sugary candy are all things kids (and their parents) look forward to. As your dentist, I would be remiss if I skipped out on this opportunity to tell you how to keep your teeth happy this Halloween. To keep your grin from looking like that of a jack-o-lantern, continue reading.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Not all treats are created equal, so to help you figure out which are the best for your teeth, I’ve divided them into three categories:

  • The Good – No matter what you eat, all candy should be enjoyed in moderation, but if I were pressed to name a candy that is good for you, I’d suggest dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has less sugar than other candies plus it contains flavanols and polyphenols that benefit your body. It melts as it’s eaten, so it’s not hard on teeth or dental work. It does have more caffeine than other chocolate, however, so you might consider limiting your consumption late at night.
  • The Bad – If it’s sticky (like Swedish Fish or gummy candies) or semi-hard (like Now and Laters or Mary Janes), it can damage your teeth. The sticky stuff gets stuck on your teeth where the sugar feeds the bacteria that causes tooth decay. The semi-hard candies can actually chip your teeth and damage dental work such as veneers and crowns. If you do indulge in any of these candies but can’t immediately access a toothbrush and floss, be sure to rinse your mouth out with water to minimize the effects of the sugars.
  • The Ugly – Kids LOVE sour candies, but they have the potential to cause the most damage. The sugary outer layer of sour candies is partially made from citric acid; like any other acidic food or drink, citric acid weakens tooth enamel. The gummy layer beneath is sticky (see above), but it doesn’t just stick to your teeth, it sticks to teeth with a compromised protective layer. If your kids (or you) can’t say no to sour treats, make sure they wait a while before brushing to give the enamel time to recover.

May you and your family have a happy Halloween! If you do have a candy-related tooth incident, I am here to help. Contact my office any time to schedule an appointment.

Why Dentists Recommend Fluoride

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Why Dentists Recommend Fluoride

Despite years and years of research, fluoride has gotten a bit of a bad reputation from the natural health community. The truth is, this naturally occurring mineral is perfectly safe and has helped both children and adults maintain healthy teeth since it was first added to toothpaste in the 1890s. So how exactly does fluoride protect your teeth and why does the American Dental Association (and every dentist I know) recommend it?

How Fluoride Works

Even before your first baby tooth erupted, fluoride was strengthening your teeth. As a naturally occurring substance, fluoride is present in many foods and beverages (including water). The body absorbs the fluoride, providing what is known as a systemic benefit.

While you continue to enjoy systemic benefits of fluoride throughout your life, it’s using fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses that provide topical benefits. When the fluoride comes in contact with your teeth, it fortifies weakened tooth enamel and protects your teeth from decay.

Fluoridated Water

Fluoride is found in most natural water sources, and for decades, it has been added to public water supplies. Before that, children had three times more cavities than they tend to these days. Because many people prefer the taste of filtered water, they may not be enjoying as many systemic benefits. That is why it is necessary for the health of your teeth to use a fluoride toothpaste and, if necessary, a fluoride mouth rinse, as well. If you’re genetically prone to decay, I can also provide you with a professional fluoride treatment to help keep cavities at bay.

Word of Caution

While fluoride is safe, if it ingested in large amounts, it can harm small children. It is recommended that children under six years old use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and avoid using fluoridated mouth rinses to prevent ingesting harmful amounts. As always, be sure to supervise your child or grandchild when they brush.

No matter how much fluoride you get, nothing prevents plaque, tartar, cavities, and gum disease like a professional cleaning. If it’s time for your semi-annual cleaning and exam, contact my office to schedule an appointment. I look forward to seeing you.

Best,

Dr. Shlom

Your Best Bet for Tooth Replacement

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Your Best Bet for Tooth Replacement

If you’re missing teeth, you’re probably not enjoying life to its fullest. You may cover your mouth when you laugh, keep your mouth closed when you smile, and even avoid social situations. After all, it’s easier to stay inside than to be out and about where you have to worry about keeping others from seeing your gapped-tooth grin. Fortunately, Waterford Family Dental Care has a solution that will restore your smile and your confidence: dental implants.

Dental Implants 101

Implants are small metal posts that mimic the function of a natural tooth root. They are surgically placed beneath the gums where they eventually become fused with the jaw bone, providing unparalleled stability for the prosthetic tooth that is attached once the mouth has healed. Because implants are individually placed, they are effective for patients missing as few as one tooth or as many as a mouthful. In addition to providing stability, implants offer the following benefits:

  • The ability to eat what you want. With other prosthetic options, fresh fruits and vegetables, tough meats, and anything excessively chewy are off limits, but because implants are individually placed and as stable as natural teeth, they can handle your favorite foods.
  • They’re easy to care for. Simply brush and floss as you do every night and visit your dentist as recommended; no overnight soaking required.
  • Improved comfort. Since implants are permanent, they won’t slip or slide around your mouth and irritate your gums.
  • A new and improved self-image! No more concerns about your laugh, your smile, or speaking in front of other people!

Are You a Candidate?

The ideal implant candidate will have good overall health, ample jaw bone mass, and healthy gums. Another important requirement is the willingness to take care of your teeth. The only way to determine your candidacy for dental implants is to be evaluated by a dentist. If you live in or near Waterford, Michigan, we’d love to see your smile!

Waterford Family Dental Care
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