Resolutions for Healthy Teeth in the New Year

preventive dental careAs the holiday season comes to a close, Americans are considering new goals for the new year. But fewer than 10% actually reach their resolutions within the year they’re set. Whether saving money, finding love, or losing weight, the top resolutions almost always involve extreme or advanced expectations for self-improvement. And that’s a major reason for such high failure rates of annual resolutions. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. Specific preventive dental care efforts can go a long way towards significantly improving your life during the upcoming year. But what are some of the easiest and most effective options?

Commit to Better Home Oral Health Habits
Brushing twice a day is essential for cleaning teeth and gums while minimizing plaque and bacteria build-up. But it’s not enough on its own. Flossing is also an important element of proper dental care. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 40% of Americans don’t floss daily and 32% never floss. The problem with that decision is that food sticks between teeth and provides plenty of sustenance for bacteria and decay. Even the priciest electric toothbrush can’t get between teeth to remove built-up food and plaque, but a $1.50 pack of dental floss or floss sticks can. So brush twice a day and floss once daily to keep your teeth healthy at home.

Improve Your Diet and Cut Back on Sugar
Weight loss is a major goal for many Americans, but you don’t have to lose 50 pounds to reach some significant resolutions and improve your preventive dental care in the process. The bacteria in the mouth thrive on refined sugar, so the more sweets, sodas, desserts, processed food, and even alcohol you consume, the more decay you’re at risk for developing. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional treat, dessert, soda, or a glass of wine. But increasing natural foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and increasing water intake help increase saliva and enzyme levels in the mouth which, in turn, flush away extra plaque and bacteria between brushings.

Become Victorious Over the Vices
Implementing better food and beverage choices can take care of a lot of food addictions and alcohol habits, but what about smoking? Fewer Americans light up nowadays, but it’s still a bad habit that weakens the immune system and leads to dental issues over time. In fact, those who smoke are twice as likely to develop gum disease, lose their teeth, and even develop oral cancer as a result. The best thing to do is never start smoking. But if you do smoke, quitting is the first step. Increase water intake, brush and floss daily, and make sure you visit your dentist regularly to catch and reverse any unexpected issues.

Schedule Check Ups with Your Johns Creek Dentist
Improving home habits, cutting the vices, and changing your diet go a long way towards improving your life. But dental issues can still arise and once trouble starts, it can spread quickly. Visiting your Johns Creek Dentist twice a year adds an extra protective layer to your preventive dental care and can help ensure you keep smiling throughout the year. Give us a call to get that ball rolling on a healthier new you for the New Year.  

New Year, New Dental Implants, New You!

dental implantsAs the New Year approaches, most Americans at least dream of having a better year than the previous one and personal improvements are major resolutions for those who set them. A new smile makeover can help anyone reach their goals in record time, depending on the issues involved. But when edentulism is the culprit, the options are somewhat limited. Approximately 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and over 36 million are completely toothless. Over 90% of those missing teeth rely on dentures, and while that’s a workable option it’s not always the best solution due to a number of factors including comfort, care, and confidence concerns. Dental implants can be an easy replacement solution to achieve the new smile of your dreams during the coming year. But why should you consider dental implants?

Dental Implants Help Protect Teeth and Encourage Bone Health
Most solutions for tooth loss are aesthetic options that are affixed above the gumline. While that works for general life purposes, at least until they need to be replaced or adjusted, it does little to nothing to help repair the bone loss due to the original loss. Dental implants are the only solution that helps improve bone health due to their root-like structure. As long as the bone health is decent heading into the procedure, a single implant or mouthful can be performed. They function just like natural teeth so attachments to surrounding teeth aren’t necessary. And since the materials resist bacteria, they actually help protect healthy teeth.

Dental Implants Are Permanent Replacements
Whether you’re born without a tooth or lose one during life, tooth loss can cause all sorts of problems. Dentures work in a pinch and are far better than nothing, but they require a lot of upkeep and generally need replacing or adjustments over time. That’s not the case with dental implants. This two-part invasive procedure involves drilling a root into the mandible to permanently replace the missing tooth and re-anchor the jawline. A prosthetic tooth is then applied, and the result is a fully functional replacement that won’t fall out or need to be removed for any reason.

Dental Implants Are Durable
The last thing anyone wants is to have issues with their dental treatments, especially when it can take years to muster up the necessary courage to get the work done in the first place. Bridges and dentures are created to last a few years or up to a decade when taken care of properly but eventually, they will need repairs or replaced. Dental implants, however, are made to last several decades and when taken care of correctly can even last a lifetime.

Dental Implants Can Help Add Life to Your Years
Dental implants are surgically implanted, so they’re completely secure and fully functional once the healing process is completed. So unlike dentures that often flap around or need adhesive to stay in place that’s not an issue here. Dental implants allow you to eat what you want without worries, improve breathing concerns, and help confidence levels soar. Caring for implants is as easy as caring for your own teeth. Simply brush and floss like always and visit your New York City Cosmetic Dentist for checkups and annual cleanings. Give us a call when you’re ready to see if dental implants are the right solution for a new you. 

Start the New Year Off Right with a Smile Makeover

cosmetic dentistryAs the holiday season heats up and starts to come to a close, thoughts of New Year’s resolutions spring forth. Annual goal makers tend to have the best intentions and approach the new year wearing rose-colored glasses and sometimes even blinders. But according to a recent study, however, fewer than 75% of resolutions were actually kept or achieved for the previous year. A lot of that has to do with the type and difficulty level or amount of goals made early on. Personal improvements are often right at the top of the resolutions list. And while weight loss and financial improvements are often top dogs in that race, expected numbers rarely materialize. Fortunately, there are some simple resolutions anyone can make and achieve, and some of the most effective and positive life improvements begin with a visit to your New York City Cosmetic Dentist and a combination of dental procedures known as a smile makeover. But what options may be best for you?

Professional Teeth Whitening
Whitening and brightening the teeth is one of the easiest, quickest, and most affordable ways to make a major difference in your appearance. The sheer number of tooth strip and bleaching kits on the market attest to that fact. But these one-size-fits-all solutions are more often than not anything but. Minimal amounts of lightening solution or potentially dangerous chemicals can lead to overuse and even extensive damage to gums and enamel. Your New York City Cosmetic Dentist can customize a whitening plan to your specific needs and have you leaving the office an hour later with a brighter and more attractive smile without potentially causing more trouble in the process.

Crowns and Bonding
Sports or rough play, vices, and even eating the wrong foods or chomping on a hard item can lead to cracked enamel as well as jagged, discolored, chipped, or fractured teeth. The good news, however, is that these issues can be easily repaired and your teeth can look better than ever. Porcelain crowns can be molded and affixed to fit on top of moderately to severely chipped or broken teeth. And if your cracks or chips are new, minimal or moderate, bonding may be easier and just as effective. Bonding requires minimal prep time, it’s non-invasive, and it involves dental resin and curing lights to create a molded and polished finish comparable in strength and appearance to the original teeth. 

Composite Fillings
Anyone at any age can get cavities, and most Americans do at some point. Cavities can be reversed and avoided if caught quickly enough, but once discolored spots, serious tooth pain, and holes in the teeth are noticed, dental care and treatment are imperative. Fillings may be required at that point, but long gone are the days of amalgam and silver filling requirements that all too often lead to hiding your smile and future health concerns. Avoid the mercury trap and opt for tooth-colored composite fillings that will stop the decay and enhance the natural beauty of your smile.

Porcelain Veneers or Lumineers
If an instant dream smile is the ultimate goal, porcelain veneers or Lumineers can be the way to achieve your dream smile makeover within just a couple dental visits. Veneers are porcelain shells about the width of a contact lens that fit directly over existing teeth. They’re minimally invasive and an irreversible procedure since some enamel must be filed away to affix the shells. Lumineers, however, are thinner and usually require no extra prep or filing, so they can be reversed if necessary. Give us a call when you’re ready to discover how your New Year can shine with the right smile makeover.