Colorado Springs Cosmetic Dentists Explain 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 4

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the 10 simple changes you could make today to ensure that you keep your teeth healthier and your smile beautiful for decades to come. Over the course of the past three articles of this series, Colorado Springs cosmetic dentists have explained the following eight beneficial changes to one’s routine and lifestyle:

1. Brush your teeth for just a little bit longer each day.

2. Brush your tongue or make use of a tongue-scraper after brushing your teeth.

3. See your oral hygienist for a professional teeth cleaning at least once per year.

4. Chew sugar-free gum after meals and when you want to freshen your breath.

5. Eat chocolate instead of hard, sticky or very brittle candy.

6. Drink water rather than fruit juice, energy drinks or soda.

7. Floss your teeth every day, especially before you go to bed at night.

8. Don’t chew ice: it’s a terrible habit that destroys teeth.

If you would like to keep your teeth beautiful and healthy – moreover, if you’d like to keep your teeth for life or as close to that as possible – then adhering to these tips and the following two is a great start!

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 9: Avoid Frequent Snacking

“Every time you eat, the pH level of your mouth drops, which is to say that it becomes more acidic. This is not only because most foods contain acid, but also because sugar and carbohydrates fuel bacterial growth. The byproducts these microorganisms produce are acidic,” says a dentist in Colorado Springs. “So, every time you eat, your dental enamel softens and becomes more vulnerable to cavities and acid erosion, which is why you should try to limit the amount of snacking you do throughout the day.”

Try to have three square meals a day with perhaps one afternoon snack to keep you going. Avoid energy drinks and limit the amount of coffee and sugar you consume between meals. Drink plenty of water instead and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate the production of saliva, which will wash away food debris and curtail bacterial growth. All of this can help prevent the need for new teeth.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 10: Book an Appointment with Your Dentist

Avoiding the need for new teeth begins with the right lifestyle habits and good oral hygiene and ends with frequent professional care received from your oral hygienist and dentist. Routine dental appointments are crucial. You may be wholly unaware of any oral problems, such as cavities, decay or even gum disease and this is because they don’t typically present with any pain; especially in the beginning stages.

Your dentist will recognize the early signs of a wide variety of oral ailments and will provide treatment before they have a chance to progress to the point of doing permanent damage. Just because you don’t have a toothache doesn't mean you don’t have decay that could eventually cause you to need new teeth! So frequent professional attention is crucial for good lifelong oral health and a beautiful smile.

Dentists in Colorado Springs Explain 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 3

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the changes you could make today to preserve long-term oral health. In our previous post, Part 2, dentists explained the following two changes that Colorado Springs residents should all make to their daily routines and habits:

1. Chew sugar-free gum after meals and when you want to freshen your breath. Try to choose sugar-free gum that contains Xylitol, because this helps to strengthen teeth and neutralize pH levels in your mouth after eating.

2. If you have a sweet tooth, eat chocolate instead of hard, sticky or very brittle candy.

We’ve covered half of the tips that could prevent you from needing new teeth earlier in life, so let’s take a look at the remaining five of 10…

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 6: If You’re Thirsty, Drink Water

Soda, fruit juice and energy drinks should NOT be viewed as thirst quenchers, say Colorado Springs dentists. They are packed with sugar and highly acidic, so if you find yourself thirsty, grab a cold glass of water. It’s much better for your body and it’s much better for your teeth. These beverages are treats and should be indulged in sparingly if you care to preserve smile health.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 7: Floss Your Teeth!

Flossing removes the food, bacteria and plaque that accumulate between your teeth every day. It is an essential part of keeping your teeth clean and healthy and yet we see very few patients doing it frequently enough. It is then no wonder that the most common location tooth decay sets in is between the teeth.

“If you don’t floss your teeth you are leaving 35% of your tooth surfaces unclean and this can have serious long term consequences for your oral health,” say dental implant dentists. “Floss your teeth every day or else you run the risk of eventually needing new teeth!”

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 8: Stop Chewing Ice!

Whether you’re one of those people who, on a hot day, purposefully fish ice out of the freezer so that you can suck on it, or you like to crunch and chew your way through the ice in your soda, you’ve got to give this habit a rest! According to Colorado Springs dental implants surgeons, chewing ice does tremendous damage to the biting surfaces of your dentition and can actually end you up needing new teeth.

“We’ve seen the kind of damage ice can do to teeth and have had to perform several root canals and other restorative procedures to repair hairline cracks, fractures, chips and cracks caused by biting down on ice,” say dental healthcare professionals. “Your teeth are not intended to be able to manage something as hard and brittle as ice, so try to avoid chewing it as far as possible.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about the small changes you could make today - changes that could keep your smile beautiful and help to prevent you from needing new teeth – stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Colorado Springs Dentists Explain 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 2

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the changes you could make today to ensure the long term health of your teeth and the long term beauty of your smile. In our previous post, Part 1, Colorado Springs dentists explained the following three changes that we should all make to our daily routines:

1. Brush your teeth for just a little bit longer each day. 20 Seconds per brush is just not sufficient enough to keep your teeth and gums free from the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.

2. Brush your tongue or make use of a tongue-scraper to remove bacteria and food debris from its tiny cracks and crannies. This will also help to keep your breath fresher for longer.

3. See your oral hygienist for a professional teeth cleaning at least once per year. It’s an investment that will help to keep your teeth beautifully clean and your mouth healthier.

Let’s continue looking at the various lifestyle changes you could make to prevent you from needing new teeth.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 4: Chew Sugar-free Gum

If you don’t have time to brush your teeth after lunch, or you work closely with colleagues and clients and are self-conscious about the quality of your breath, you should keep a pack of sugar-free gum close at hand.

“Chewing gum doesn’t only camouflage bad breath; it actually plays a role in busting it altogether,” say Colorado Springs dental implant dentists. “By stimulating the production of saliva, chewing gum helps to wash away food debris that might otherwise encourage the growth of oral bacteria and taint your breath.”

Chewing gum that contains xylitol, in particular, is great for oral health because it helps to remineralize your teeth after an acidic meal. Acid softens your dental enamel, leaving it more vulnerable to erosion and so, chewing gum that contains xylitol helps to neutralize the PH levels in your mouth and strengthen your teeth.

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 5: Avoid Certain Candies

We all know that a diet high in sugar really isn’t for our oral health, nor is it great for our general health. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth there are certain compromises you can make to limit the impact upon the long-term health of your teeth and gums…

If sugar is your Achilles’ heel, opt for chocolate instead of hard candy, boiled sweets and chewy, sticky treats. Chocolate molecules are covered in fatty compounds, which reduces adhesion and helps your saliva to wash them off your teeth. Chewy, sticky candies – such as caramel, toffee and taffy – can get stuck in the cusps of your molars for much longer and where they can fuel bacterial growth. Hard candy and boiled sweets, on the other hand, can actually damage the enamel of your teeth if you bite down onto them.

“A lifelong addiction to this kind of candy can actually cause tooth decay and, eventually, the need for new teeth,” warn dental healthcare professionals in Colorado Springs.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the small changes you could make today - changes that could keep your smile beautiful and youthful for much longer – stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

Dental Implants News, Colorado Springs: 10 Smile-Preserving Changes You Could Make Today, PART 1

This four-part article series explains 10 changes anyone can make to their daily routine, lifestyle and habits that can help to extend the life and beautiful appearance of their teeth and gums.

Your teeth are more than just tools for eating; a healthy smile is what makes you YOU! Unfortunately, as is most often the case, you don’t truly appreciate what you have until you lose it, which is why Colorado Springs dentists urge patients to take good lifelong care of their teeth. You don’t want to have to lose one or more of your pearly whites to appreciate just what a difference good oral health makes to your smile.

And so, in this four-part article series, we will be exploring the small changes we could make to our routine, lifestyle and habits today. These changes, while small, could help to ensure that we keep our teeth and gums in the best possible condition for life.

Let’s get started!

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 1: Brush Your Teeth for a Little Longer

“Most Colorado Springs residents only brush their teeth for a total of 35 seconds per day, when in fact you should brush your teeth for a full two minutes at a time,” say dental implants dentists. “The logic here is simple. The longer you brush your teeth for, the more plaque, food debris and bacteria you will remove, which won’t only help to keep your breath fresher for longer, but will also keep cavities at bay. Even if you find yourself pressed for time, try to brush your teeth for at least 30 seconds longer than you usually do. It could make a world of difference.”

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 2: Brush Your Tongue

“Stick your tongue out and have a good look at its surface. It’s very textured and full of small cracks and crannies where opportunistic oral bacteria can hide out. It is therefore just as important to give your tongue a good brush as it is to brush your teeth thoroughly,” say Colorado Springs dentists. “You can either make use of your toothbrush or invest in a specialized tongue scraper. Both will remove the bacteria and food that accumulate on the surface of your tongue throughout the day. This will improve your breath considerably and prevent oral bacteria from gaining a foothold in your mouth!”

Small Changes for Bigger Smiles # 3: Go for a Professional Cleaning

Pick up the phone, give your dentist’s office a call and book yourself in for a professional teeth cleaning with your oral hygienist. Even Colorado Springs residents with the most rigorous of home oral hygiene habits will require the far more thorough services of a hygienist at least once per year. Plaque, if left in place for too long, eventually solidifies to become what we call tartar.

While brushing and flossing can remove plaque from your teeth and gums, tartar needs to be scraped off using professional dental tools, because it’s a lot like cement. Tartar causes cavities, gingivitis, gum disease and eventually the need for dental implants. So, if you haven’t seen your oral hygienist in more than a year, it’s time to pick up the phone.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the small changes you could make today - changes that could keep your smile beautiful and youthful for much longer – stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.

Want New Teeth? A Look Into The Cosmetic Dentist’s Repertoire For Working Magic On Colorado Springs Residents’ Damaged Teeth, PART 4

This four-part article series takes a closer look at the various technologies and techniques available for the repair and replacement of damaged, worn and discolored teeth.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the various tools, treatments, techniques and technology available for the perfection of smiles. So far, our panel of Colorado Springs dentists has explained the following incredible techniques for really improving upon the smile aesthetics of previously unhappy patients:

• Professional Teeth Cleaning
• Teeth Whitening
• Dental Veneers
• Dental Bonding and Tooth Colored Fillings
• Dental Implants
• Dental Crowns (Tooth and Implant-Supported)
• Dental Bridges (Tooth and Implant-Supported)

In our previous article post, Part 3, we introduced dental implants as an excellent solution for Colorado Springs residents who have lost one or more of their natural teeth to decay or accidental trauma. Now, in this our final article installment, we shall take a look at the versatility of this revolutionary dental technology.

Single dental implants

As it was explained in our previous article post, dental implants can be used to replace one or more isolated missing teeth. By supporting a customized ceramic tooth crown, they are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth and function very similarly too. Perhaps most noticeably, new teeth implants typically feel like natural teeth, which is a great benefit when you consider that one of the key complaints with other dental technologies is that they feel foreign and uncomfortable.

If cared for properly and placed by reputable and experienced dental implants surgeons, Colorado Springs residents can look forward to getting many decades of use out of their new teeth implants with little need for repeat expenses and additional costs.

Full Mouth Reconstruction

Gone are the days when the only teeth replacement option open to patients who had lost most or all of their original dentition to decay was the traditional removable denture. Nowadays, dental implants are routinely used to reconstruct a patient’s entire dentition, from the back molars to the front incisors. There are a variety of techniques designed to achieve full mouth reconstruction, but the one with the greatest share of the limelight is the “All-on-4,” which has successfully undercut the cost of traditional new teeth implant methods by tens of thousands of dollars. It’s also typically able to provide Colorado Springs residents with beautiful new, non-removable teeth almost always in just one day! This is a feat that is unprecedented in the field of dental implantology, hence the popular status of the “All-on-4.”

The “All-on-4” works by the careful and precise placement and angulation of only four dental implants in the top and/or lower jaw, depending on the patient’s needs. Each of these implants is strategically placed in regions of the jaw that are bulkier than others, so that the dentists can avoid the need for bone grafting surgery, even in patients who have lost a fair amount of bone volume to atrophy over the years. A customized prosthetic dental bridge is then firmly attached to these four implants, thereby providing the patient with dental implants and a beautiful set of teeth and gums, which they can typically use right away!

In Conclusion

You’re not alone if you dream of having new teeth. The great news is that there is a fantastic suite of options for you to choose from and with the wide availability of dental financing there is little excuse not to book an appointment with your dentist right away!

Want New Teeth? The Dental Implants Dentists’ Repertoire For Working Magic On Pueblo CO Residents’ Damaged Teeth, PART 3

This four-part article series takes a closer look at the various technologies and techniques available for the repair and replacement of damaged, worn and discolored teeth.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on the various tools, treatments, techniques and technology available for the perfection of smiles. In our previous article, Part 2, we spoke to a panel of Pueblo CO dental implant dentists who talked about the camouflaging power of dental / porcelain veneers and the much improved tooth-colored filling materials available for the repair of cavities and the sealing of deep molar cusps.

It can be easy to want new teeth if you aren't proud of your smile, which may be a little extreme considering the number of treatment options available for the aesthetic improvement of damaged and discolored teeth. But in many cases, new teeth are exactly what are needed! Let’s now take a look at dental implants…

Dental Implants

If you’ve lost one tooth, several teeth or even all of your natural teeth – or have had to have them extracted because of irreparable decay or damage – then a dental implant/s can be put in their place to provide you with beautiful new teeth. You will need to arrange a consultation with a dental implant dentist to determine whether or not you are a candidate for this technology, but most people who want new teeth are.

Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots that are made from titanium metal and that look similar to little screws (see image above). They are placed in the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth and are used to provide a sturdy, fixed platform to which a replacement artificial tooth crown can be attached. Nestled in the jawbone, dental implants function similar to tooth roots, which go a long way in helping to keep this hard tissue healthy, since it needs stimulation in order to keep atrophy at bay.

Dental implants can also typically provide support for a row of three or more replacement teeth – a bridge – or, in the case of people who need a complete set of new teeth, a full prosthetic dental bridge.

Dental Crowns (Tooth and Implant-Supported)

Dental crowns are essentially artificial tooth crowns that have been fabricated from very durable ceramic composite materials. They can either be mounted on top of a natural tooth that has been filed down and prepared by the dentist, or they can be supported by a dental implant if the tooth being replaced could not be restored.

Dental Bridges

Similar to dental crowns, dental bridges can also either be supported by two natural teeth that have been ground down and prepared, or they can be supported by dental implants. The particular variety of bridge you get comes down to your specific case and the recommendation of Pueblo CO dentists. Typically, tooth-supported bridges are made to replace one or more missing teeth by using the healthy adjacent teeth as supports.

An implant supported bridge also replaces multiple missing teeth, but uses dental implants for support and in doing so, doesn't put much pressure or stress on a patient’s remaining healthy teeth. It is for this reason that oral rehabilitation using implants is typically the recommendation of dental healthcare professionals for patients who want new teeth.

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To learn more about the various treatments that can be done and dental technologies available to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Want New Teeth? The Cosmetic Dentist’s Repertoire For Working Magic On Pueblo CO Residents’ Damaged Teeth, PART 2

This four-part article series takes a closer look at the various technologies and techniques available for the repair and replacement of damaged, worn and discolored teeth.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the various tools, treatments, techniques and technology available for the perfection of smiles. In our previous article, Part 1, we spoke to a panel of Pueblo CO cosmetic dentists who explained what a remarkable difference a simple professional teeth cleaning or teeth whitening treatment can make for the appearance of one’s smile. If, however, your dental woes are a little more serious and you feel that you’re in desperate need of new teeth, there are still several options for you. We will be exploring those in this article and in the next.

Dental Veneers

Have you ever owned a table that had its fair share of stains, coffee rings and burn marks from the time you learned the hard way that incense ash is as hot as the actual cinder? Most of us have. The solution? Throw a pretty tablecloth over it to make it look like new!

Dental or porcelain veneers are similar in concept. A dental veneer is an ultra-fine shell or covering of porcelain material that is custom-made by a cosmetic dentist to fit over the front surface of a tooth. The tooth in question will be very stained or perhaps deeply discolored. It may even be chipped, cracked or fractured, or it may have a large gap between it and the next one. Whatever the imperfection, your Pueblo cosmetic dentist can custom design a veneer to fit over it, camouflaging it quite neatly!

If you are totally unhappy with your smile, you can have veneers fitted to all of your teeth, quite literally giving you a smile makeover, or you can have just one mounted onto a particularly unaesthetic tooth. The sky’s the limit!

Veneers are considered a cosmetic treatment, but in cases where they are replacing portions of the tooth structure that have been lost to accidental trauma or decay, they can actually help to preserve the health of the tooth. They can actually help to prevent you from needing new teeth sooner rather than later.

Dental Bonding and Tooth Colored Fillings

Gone are the days when dentists would recommend amalgam fillings to patients in need of dental repair. New, tooth-colored fillings are the most aesthetic and beneficial solution for teeth that require a cavity filled, areas of decay patched up or particularly deep cusps filled in (sealants). If you still have amalgam fillings from childhood, it is more than possible to have them replaced with a far more attractive and natural looking ceramic tooth-colored filling, so speak to your dentist!

“A timely filling or dental bonding can go very far in helping to prevent a tooth sustaining further damage or decay and with the development of today’s advanced, durable and tooth-colored restorative materials, the job can be just as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional,” say Pueblo CO dental implant dentists.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To learn more about the various treatments that can be done and dental technologies available to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

Want New Teeth? The Dentist’s Repertoire For Working Magic On Pueblo CO Residents’ Damaged Teeth, PART 1

This four-part article series takes a closer look at the various technologies and techniques available for the repair and replacement of damaged, worn and discolored teeth.

Healthy teeth and a beautiful, confident smile is a fundamental tool for communication. Imagine how your ability to interact with other people, both professionally and socially, might be compromised without being able to smile openly? For many Pueblo CO residents, this doesn’t require much of a stretch of the imagination, because they have been living with smiles they have been embarrassed about for many years. Thankfully, for those who find themselves in need or want of new teeth, there are several options offered by cosmetic dentists and you don’t need to take out a second mortgage on your home to afford them!

In this four-part article series, a panel of Pueblo CO dental implant dentists chat to us about the various tools, technologies and techniques available for the improvement of smile aesthetics.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Remember all those many years ago when your mom would force you to go to the dentist and you’d first spend a good 30 minutes having each and every tooth scraped and polished before actually going in for your appointment. That’s called a professional teeth cleaning and it’s absolutely necessary every six months in order to eliminate the permanent deposits of calculus that accumulate on the crowns of your teeth and just below the gum line.

“Routine professional teeth cleanings play a keen preventative role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy,” explain Pueblo dentists. “They help to prevent the development of cavities, gum inflammation and disease, which all contributes to poor smile aesthetics and ultimately the need for new teeth.”

Another great benefit afforded by frequent professional teeth cleanings is that they really make your teeth look amazing! By removing the yellower plaque and tartar from your teeth, they are left looking whiter and their lines more defined. The elimination of all that bacteria (present in plaque and tartar) also allow your gums a chance to heal, which can reduce inflammation, leaving them looking pink and healthy.

So, before you consider an expensive cosmetic treatment, you may want to consider simply improving upon hygiene and going for a professional teeth cleaning and dental check up.

Teeth Whitening

If your teeth have become dulled, discolored and a little stained over the years, a professional teeth whitening treatment can work absolute wonders. The outcomes, while natural, can be like having brand new teeth! Better yet, a teeth whitening is one of the least expensive and easiest of all the cosmetic treatments offered by Pueblo cosmetic dentists, so chat to yours about the whitening system they offer.

In most cases, patients are given a custom-made mouth tray and a whitening kit containing a strong bleaching gel, which they can take home with them. Treatment is applied by the patient in the comfort of their own home, with the mouth tray being worn for an hour or two every evening for between one and two weeks, or until their teeth are the level of sparkling white they want.

Make sure to follow your dental healthcare professional’s instructions for dosage and treatment time.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To learn more about the various treatments that can be done and dental technologies available to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.

Cosmetic Dentists in Colorado Springs Explain 8 Healthy Habits to Protect Your Enamel, PART 4

This four-part article series explains eight changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle to keep your dental enamel healthy, thereby helping to prevent tooth loss in the long run.

Keeping all of your original teeth in beautiful condition is a lifelong commitment. It requires a high standard of oral hygiene, the right eating habits and regular professional attention from your dental healthcare team.

Over the course of this four-part article series, we have presented the advice of a panel of experienced cosmetic dentists in Colorado Springs on the things we can do to help protect our dental enamel against decay and acid erosion. These included:

Tip # 1: Decreasing the amount of sugar in your diet,

Tip # 2: Increasing your intake of calcium-rich foods,

Tip # 3: Not over-brushing your teeth or pressing down too hard when brushing,

Tip # 4: Getting treated for conditions such as acid reflux, heartburn or bulimia,

Tip # 5: Being careful of chlorinated pools,

Tip # 6: Avoiding substances that cause dry mouth, such as smoking and alcohol.

Let’s take a look at the two final fundamental tips for great enamel health…

Healthy Enamel Tip # 7: Don’t Grind Your Teeth!

 

Teeth grinding, also known as “Bruxism” and jaw clenching are two habits we are mostly completely unaware of doing and yet they have the potential to do terrible damage to our teeth. The exact cause of teeth grinding and jaw clenching is unknown, although they are believed to share a connection with stress and anxiety.

According to our panel of cosmetic dentists, most of the Colorado Springs residents who do suffer from Bruxism grind their teeth at night while they are fast asleep, and so they have no idea that they’re doing it. The only way to really tell is from the wear patterns on the biting surfaces of the teeth. Some people can completely grind their teeth down to the underlying dentine at which stage restoration using a crown may become necessary.

Over time and without any preventative measures, teeth grinding and jaw clenching can utterly destroy your teeth. In addition to the erosive action of the grinding, the unnatural force of clenching your jaw can cause the teeth to become fractured and cracked, leaving them far more vulnerable to decay.

What’s the Solution?

“If your dentist diagnoses evidence of this kind of nocturnal activity, it is imperative that you have a custom mouth guard or retainer fitted, which you should wear to bed at night,” say dentists to Colorado Springs residents. “This will prevent your teeth from coming together and will help to preserve the protective enamel covering them.”

Healthy Enamel Tip # 8: See the Dentist Every Year

The preventative dental healthcare provided by your dentist and oral hygienist will ensure that your teeth are kept in the best possible condition and that any problems – such as enamel erosion, cavities, decay and gum disease – are diagnosed well before they have a chance to do permanent damage.

Colorado Springs residents should see the dentist once every six months, unless he or she has been told that they are in peak dental health and can return again for an appointment in one year. Routine fluoride treatments are also essential for good enamel health and should your dentist believe that you could benefit from any additional hygiene measures, he or she will make the necessary recommendations.