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Everyone should get regular dental checkups, but what exactly does “regular” mean?  Well, that depends upon the general health of your teeth and gums as well as lifestyle behaviors that can affect your teeth and gums. 

In most cases, “regular checkups” means going to the dentist twice a year for x-rays if needed, a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist, an initial exam by the hygienist, a review of medication or lifestyle changes that might adversely affect your teeth or gums, and a review and follow-up exam by the dentist in order to develop a course of treatment if one is required.

Some people, however, have fantastic teeth and gums with no gingival disease and only the rare cavity.  For those folks, the dentist might agree that a visit once a year is enough.  On the other hand, if a patient has a genetic predisposition for weak teeth or perhaps takes medication that results in a weak immune system, the dentist and patient might agree that more visits than two per year are required.

Interestingly, most patients think that the main reason for the “regular” visits is to keep their teeth clean.  While the cleaning is a very important part of the checkup, the most important aspect of having regular dental checkups is for a skilled dentist, such as those at Bedford Dental Group, to be able to compare your current condition with your past condition.  This allows him or her to catch any problems early, and the earlier a dental problem is detected, the easier it is to reduce or correct it.

Think about a tiny cavity.  If it is caught early, a small filling can be enough to put it to right.  However, if it’s left to grow and the decay in the tooth gets bad enough, a root canal or even an extraction might be necessary because there’s not enough tooth left to save.

One of the best ways to ensure you have regular dental checkups is to make your next appointment for a checkup at the end of your current appointment.  Put it on your calendar, and then forget about it until it’s time to visit your friendly, caring dentist again!

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We’ve all seen the “tips” online or in the newspaper about great ways to whiten your teeth.  They might include over-the-counter products, or they might be as simple as using hydrogen peroxide or baking soda – instead of toothpaste – to clean your teeth.  These seem like simple, easy ways to get rid of yellow teeth, however the American Dental Association recommends that you consult with your dentist before using a teeth whitening agent.

The reason for this recommendation is likely that a cosmetic dentist is trained to use these products.  They know how to use the agents, how long to leave them on, what possible side effects they might have, and they definitely know that every person’s teeth can react differently to various whitening agents.

Fully trained cosmetic dentists, such as the ones at Bedford  Dental Group, can examine your teeth and their fillings, stains, and even crowns.  With this pre-whitening exam, the dentist can decide whether teeth whitening agents will actually help whiten your teeth or whether a different treatment plan may be best for you. 

For example, did you know that whitening products don’t work on crowns and fillings?  The crowns and filings in your mouth were colored to match your current teeth.  If you have fillings in the front of your mouth, ones that show when you smile, it might be better to remove the old fillings, whiten you teeth, and then put in new fillings that match your whiter teeth.  Of course, the dentist is the best one to explain the various treatment plans and help you choose the one that is right for you.

Before you decide to try some of the ubiquitous tricks and hints for teeth whitening, consult with a certified and trained cosmetic dentist.  The visit might just save you both time and money by developing your own custom and comprehensive treatment plan.

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The ancient Greeks were the first people in recorded history to put it on record that sweets were bad for your teeth.  They wondered – in writing – why figs, which are sweet, caused tooth decay.

Nowadays, we know how sugar interacts with our teeth to cause cavities and tooth decay.  What happens is that when you eat something sugary, little bits of the sugar basically stick to your teeth, hiding in the cracks and crevices.  While this in and of itself doesn’t matter too much, the real problem is that our mouths also harbor the strep bacteria in those same little cracks and crevices. 

Strep bacteria like to hang out on the plaque buildup on our teeth.  What’s more, the bacteria love to “eat” the sugar even more than bees love honey!  Now that sounds like it could be a good thing, because if the bacteria eat the sugar, it gets it off our teeth, right?  Yes and no:  when the bacteria feed on the sugar, they excrete acids, and it ends up being the acids that cause the problem! 

Even though the enamel of our teeth is the hardest mineral substance in our bodies, it is very susceptible to damage from acids.  When acids are in contact with tooth enamel for very long, the acid begins to erode the enamel, eventually causing decay to begin.  Before you know it, cavities are appearing everywhere.

This explains why trained dental professionals, like those at the Bedford Dental Group, tell us to brush and floss regularly and get regular checkups that include a professional cleaning.  It’s not the amount of sugar you eat that matters.  Rather, the important relationship is how long the sugar stays on your teeth – the longer it stays, the longer it is available to be consumed by the bacteria and the more acids are produced.

So the secret is to brush and floss after eating foods with sugars in them, and see a trained dentist regularly.  Keeping the acids and plaque buildup down should help eliminate some of the cavities you get, even if you do like to eat sugars.

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Did you know that there are different kinds of floss for your teeth?  In a prior post, we discussed the proper way to floss.  Now let’s talk about the different types of floss and how they match up to different types of teeth.

Dental floss can be made from bundles of nylon or in ribbon formed from polyethylene, also known as Teflon®.  The nylon floss comes in fine and extra fine, and there is also normal or regular size.  Most people automatically pick the regular size when shopping, but that might not be the size they really need.

Normally-spaced teeth and teeth that are set apart, with a space between them, will work better with fine or regular types of nylon floss. This floss also comes in mint or plain as well as waxed and un-waxed.  If your teeth are very close together it might be wise to use the waxed version because it will make it much easier to get the floss where it needs to go.  Please note however, sometimes the wax can leave a slight residue in the cracks of your teeth so you will need to brush thoroughly after flossing to make sure and remove whatever has been left.

Very close-set teeth may require the ribbon type of floss.  This is like taking a very fine piece of paper and easing it between your teeth in order to properly floss them.  The ribbon is available in flavored and unflavored, too.  The most popular flavors right now are mint and cinnamon.  It’s kind of like using a mouthwash at the same time you are flossing.

Regardless of which type of floss you pick, please talk to us first.  We would be happy to assist you in determining the correct type for your teeth.  If you have any questions about flossing or the types of floss to use please contact one of the trained cosmetic dentists at Bedford Dental Group for answers.

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Grit your teeth and bear it!  Chances are, we’ve all been stressed enough that at one time or another we have gritted our teeth and maybe counted to ten.   But actually grinding your teeth?  Not many people think they have ever actually been grinding their teeth.  Little do they know that many people grind their teeth at night and don’t even realize they are doing it.

Bruxism – more commonly known as “grinding your teeth” – is often caused by stress, tension, or even unresolved anger.  When it happens at night, it’s called “sleep bruxism.”  Although stress is the most common cause of grinding your teeth, there are other causes, including bad jaw alignment or even a side effect of certain medications.

Regardless of the cause of grinding at night, chances are you won’t even realize you are doing it until symptoms begin to show up.  Some of the symptoms can be headaches, migraines, a popping noise and/or pain in your jaw when you try to open it, even an earache or bigger than normal jaw muscles. The scariest symptoms can be those that cause pain.  Often you go to a doctor, but they can find nothing wrong.

Another noticeable symptom is when your back teeth start to get shorter and shorter.  What you are basically doing is grinding down the cusps, or bumps, on them, causing them to get flat and undersized.  This can cause a misalignment of your jaw that, in turn, can cause severe pain that seems inexplicable.

If you happen to have any of these symptoms of grinding your teeth, and a doctor has ruled out medical reasons, make an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist like the ones at Bedford Dental Group.  They can determine whether you are unknowingly grinding your teeth at night and design a treatment plan to correct the problem.

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Mother Teresa once said, “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”  Of course that’s true, but a beautiful smile makes you feel better, too.  There aren’t too many things we can do on our own to make our smile better, but there are a few bad habits that you can avoid to help increase the chances that your beautiful smile will stay that way.

One of the most common reasons for an emergency visit to the dentist is a broken or chipped tooth.  Certainly, teeth can get broken in some kind of accident – baseball bats and automobiles come to mind – but you can also break your tooth by doing something you do regularly without even thinking about it.  One of these behaviors is putting pencils, pens, and other inflexible objects between your front teeth.  Your teeth are definitely strong, but there’s only so much punishment they can take before they start to wear down and break.  Keep hard objects from between your teeth to avoid the chance of shipping or breaking.

Along with pens and pencils, many of us often subject our teeth to something else that is hard, and again, we never even think of the damage it can do.  That “something else” is ice!  Some people intentionally chew ice because they are dieting or because the cool feels good in the middle of a hot summer.  Others merely eat the ice that comes in a cold beverage at a restaurant.  Regardless of whether you are a habitual ice-chewer or not, always think about the potential damage to your teeth before you grab that first piece of ice.  Considering the fact that glaciers are made of ice and they have done immense damage, pulverizing rocks and boulders, and gouging deep channels in the frozen land.  Well, ice is not any kinder to your teeth, either.  If you really love the chilled enjoyment of ice in the summer, chew or eat either finely crushed ice or even ice shavings. 

If you do happen to chip or break a tooth, a trained cosmetic dentist, like the ones at Bedford Dental Group, will help you decide on the right treatment for you.  Not chewing on ice, not chewing on pens o pencils, and seeing your dentist regularly can help you maintain your beautiful smile for years to come.