Cleanliness fights infection and decay.

While brushing and flossing do a pretty good job of keeping teeth clean, you aren’t able to reach every tooth surface, especially behind teeth and the back teeth. The spots of plaque that are left behind harden into tartar, which causes an infection called gingivitis that can damage the gums and cause them to pull away from the teeth. Tartar can only be removed at the dentist’s office.

Regular cleaning saves money.

Dental issues are tricky because though they can be fairly easy to treat in the early stages, it’s hard to detect them until they become more serious. By visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings, you not only get your teeth cleaned to help prevent any problems, but it gives your dentist a chance to examine the mouth for any developing issues. Cleaning is fairly inexpensive compared to receiving more complex dental treatments.

Gum disease affects the immune system.

When tartar is allowed to build-up on the gums, this sends a red flag to the immune system, which begins to go to work fighting it. Unfortunately, this fight is not one it can win; the tartar only continues to attack the gums, which can lead to bleeding and inflammation. Tartar also erodes the enamel and can create small cavities. Cleaning the teeth of this harmful substance regularly is not just good for oral health, but lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and other diseases.

Improve your oral care habits.

Trips to the dentist are perfect times to make sure that you are caring for your teeth properly at home. Your dentist or hygienist can provide tips on how to brush and floss so that you can be sure you’re doing the best you can to keep your teeth healthy.

Dental Implants Feel and Look More Natural

For tooth replacement, dental implants are certainly the most natural-looking option. It also functions like a natural tooth. Other options can sometimes move, shift, or come out at inopportune moments, but a dental implant acts as a very effective anchor, holding the dental appliance securely in place. This allows the wearer to eat and speak with ease.

Dental Implants Mean You Can Chew Comfortably

If you ask a denture wearer about chewing while wearing dentures, they will report that it is not so easy. Some people end up avoiding foods that are healthy simply because they are difficult to eat. With a dental implant, you can chew with ease, just like before the natural teeth were missing. And since implants are securely in place, your oral care routine can be just like brushing your natural teeth.

Dental Implants Give People More Confidence in Their Smile

Sometimes dentures or bridges can shit or move while a person is eating or speaking, which can be embarrassing. This can lead some to speak less and smile less, which is not an ideal option. With dental implants, you can speak, laugh, eat and smile with total confidence! Don’t let a tooth replacement get in the way of what matters most.

Replacing Lost Teeth with Dentures

Our dentists provide patients with natural looking and comfortable feeling dentures. These dentures closely resemble your tooth’s natural enamel. Partial dentures are another option for missing teeth. They allow your dentist to provide your smile with dentures where it is needed in your mouth. Complete dentures replace the whole row of your upper or lower teeth.

Ensuring Your New Smile’s Success

Both complete and partial implants can easily slide around your teeth and shift around in your mouth. This is caused by your jawbone shrinking due to your missing teeth. Dental implants provide your dentures with a solid foundation that they can thrive on. It prevents your jaw from further erosion and also gives you further confidence in using your dentures without fear that they will move around while speaking or eating. If you are looking for a more comfortable solution, then look in dental implants for your dentures.

To learn more about the benefits of implant dentures, we welcome you to contact one of our dentists at Katy Dental Experts in Texas. It just takes a simple step to get on the path to a better and rewarding smile. Call our clinic today to set up your next consultation with a member of our team!

What Does a Sealant Do?

Bacteria naturally exist in your mouth. But when food particles are left trapped in the deep crevices of the teeth, these bacteria become dangerous. As the bacteria eat up the food particles, they produce an acid that attacks and eats away at the enamel of your teeth. With time, these form holes or cavities in your teeth which will require extensive restorative treatments. Sealants are a thin protective coating that is bonded to the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars to prevent food particles and bacteria from hiding inside the crevices. They provide raincoat-like protection over your enamel and prevent tooth decay and other disorders.

Application of Sealants

Applying sealants to your teeth for added protection is a simple procedure which is carried out in just one visit to the dentist. The process is quick and painless. The dentist first cleans your teeth thoroughly to dislodge any leftover food particle or bacteria. An acidic gel is applied to the teeth surface to create a surface that can easily bond with the sealant. The gel is then washed off, and the sealant applied to the teeth. A special curing light is used to quickly harden the sealant. Your dental sealants will be then in place and able to provide the protection you need.

Long-Lasting

Sealants are easy to maintain and can last for a long time. By protecting your teeth from cavities and subsequent tooth decay, they save you unnecessary pain as well as expensive restorative dental procedures.

What are they made of and how long will they last?

Occlusal guards vary based on the extent of your bruxism. Your dentist may recommend a guard made of hard, clear acrylic or you may need a soft material one. They are designed for the upper and lower sets of teeth. The harshness of your grinding and clenching will determine how long your occlusal guards will last. You may need to replace them often if you are a heavy grinder.

Caring for Your Occlusal Guard

Eating and drinking anything other than water while using your occlusal guard will discolor your guard. Brush and rinse your guard with cold water each day to keep it lasting. Toothpaste is not recommended as it will scratch the surface of your guard. Rinsing your occlusal guard with hot water may change the shape of it.

Cost of Custom-Made Occlusal Guards

Investing in a custom-made occlusal guard is the best option to protect your oral health. The price may vary based on different dentists. Talk to your dentist at Katy Dental Experts to see how much custom made occlusal guard will cost based on your unique smile. Make an appointment with us today and start the path to a better smile!

Typically, baby teeth erupt around the same time that your child’s dietary needs start to develop. Around six months of age, breastfeeding is no longer adequate as your child’s only meal, and solid food needs to be introduced. As you introduce different foods, their ability to chew will become better. Baby teeth are needed in order to properly chew and consume foods so that your baby will have a balanced and healthy diet.

Importance of Baby Teeth Care

Although baby teeth will eventually fall out to make way for permanent teeth, they are still a very important part of development. Not only do baby teeth help our children eat properly and obtain nutrition needed, but they also help with learning to speak correctly. Recent studies have also shown that damaged or missing baby teeth can result in permanent teeth coming in crooked (resulting in orthodontic treatment being necessary down the road).

Caring for Your Baby’s Teeth

Now that we have explained the importance of caring for your baby’s teeth, here are some tips for ensuring you care for them properly:

• • • Do not put them down to sleep with a bottle.
    • Begin “brushing” (the gums) even before teeth start to erupt!
    • Begin flossing once two teeth have erupted.
    • Visit our Katy pediatric dental office before they turn 1.

Have additional questions regarding your child’ dental health? Don’t hesitate to contact Katy Dental Experts today! We’d be happy to answer any pediatric dentistry questions you may have.

Use a Salt Water Mouth Rinse

The tightening of the braces can sometimes cause small sores on the gums or inner cheek. Swishing around warm saltwater in your mouth helps to alleviate the irritation or inflammation and lessen the chances of the sores getting larger.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Pain threshold is different for all people. The pain associated with braces can be dull and barely noticeable for some but cause more pain for others that can limit their ability to eat or talk easily. An over-the-counter pain medication, taken according to the directions or advisement of your orthodontist, is a successful way to ease the pain.

Use an Ice Pack

The first day of getting your braces or after your first adjustment can be extremely irritating. The shock to the gums can cause inflammation and irritation. Using an ice pack applied to the outside of the mouth can help ease the pain and lower the swelling. For more direct relief, try sucking on a piece of ice.
By following the aforementioned methods of easing the pain, many small issues should be alleviated. However, if pain continues or seems to be increasing, it is always best to call your orthodontist or dentist and let them know.

Kiwi – Vitamin C is vital to your gum health, without it the collagen in our gums will begin to break down, become tender and be more susceptible to bacteria. Kiwis contain the highest amount of Vitamin C of any fruit.

Cheese – Cheese can be helpful in neutralizing acid in the mouth, preserving tooth enamel, killing bacteria and even preventing decay and periodontal diseases.

Celery – Chewing celery can help massage gums, clean between teeth and even produce saliva which can help neutralize bacteria in the mouth.

Sesame Seeds – Sesame seeds are high in calcium, helping preserve bone in the mouth. While chewing sesame seeds, they can also help remove plaque from teeth and help build tooth enamel.

Onions – Onions are known to have powerful antibacterial properties, helping eliminate bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk for cavities and periodontal diseases.

Shiitake Mushrooms – Shiitake mushrooms are known to contain lentinan which is a naturally occurring sugar known to prevent plaque from forming in the mouth.

Sweet Potatoes – Sweet potatoes contain high amounts of Vitamin A, which is essential for gum tissue health and the formation of tooth enamel.

Water – Although not technically a food, water is extremely important for oral health. It can help keep your mouth and gums hydrated, defending against bacteria and can also help remove particles, debris, and bacteria from the teeth, gums, and mouth.

Along with proper diet, professional dental care can be an important part of achieving and maintaining optimal oral health. Contact our Katy dental office today to schedule your preventive dental visit. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile of your dreams!

Foods that Strengthen Teeth

• • • Water: Many communities provide fluoridated water to residents in the local area for added protection against dental caries. Drinking treated tap water can also strengthen teeth and wash away leftover food particles and bacteria between teeth.
    • Citrus Fruits: Eating fruits rich in vitamin C like oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits will help strengthen gums. In the days of yore, crews on sailing ships would ingest foods with high concentrations of vitamin C to ward off scurvy. Two main symptoms of the health condition are gum disease and tooth loss.
    • Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing sugarless gum encourages saliva production and helps remove plaque buildup from teeth enamel.
    • Dairy Products: Milk, plain yogurt, and cheese are packed with calcium and other minerals that help promote strong teeth.
    • Black and Green Tea: Both teas contain powerful polyphenols, that may lower the risk of cavities by keeping oral bacteria from sticking to teeth.

When you consider the best foods with teeth strengthening benefits, don’t forget that many other choices are bad for oral health. Some items like junk foods, sugary or sticky treats, and highly-acidic foods can cause damage to teeth in a variety of ways, primarily by fueling decay-causing bacteria and mouth acids.

Discuss any concerns or questions about diet, nutrition and or how it all relates to your oral health, with Katy Dental Experts. Contact us today!

Through the years, human diets changed to include softer foods and our jaws have gotten smaller, meaning the third molar is not always necessary and doesn’t always fit well. When there is not enough space for the wisdom teeth to emerge, many dental issues can arise. For some, wisdom teeth can start erupting at 45-degree angles and, in very bad situations, horizontally.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

So when is the removal of the right decision? It is different for each person depending on many different factors. We treat each wisdom teeth case individually by analyzing all the factors. Wisdom teeth are actually the only teeth that do not form during fetal development, so it is not until late adolescence and the early teen years that a decision can be made about what their impact can be.
Wisdom teeth removal is a likely recommendation for the following issues:

• • • Wisdom teeth emerging at bad angles
    • Wisdom teeth crowding other teeth
    • Wisdom teeth impacted below the gums
    • Wisdom teeth cause unsafe oral hygiene conditions

It is best to get your wisdom teeth treated before larger issues occur, so it is important to share any pain or discomfort you experience with your dentists. While it sounds like a difficult process, wisdom teeth removal has become a very common and standard procedure… that also gives you an excuse to eat lots of ice cream!