Our teeth yellow for many different reasons many times we don’t realize it right away. Coffee and tea drinking will stain the teeth. Tobacco will do the same thing. And many times the additives in the food we eat will do it and we are not aware of it.

Over time it will become worse and then it becomes really noticeable and we let it affect our smiles. But it doesn’t have to control us and we do not have to give up a lot of our important time.

Bedford Dental Group uses the ZOOM! System. One treatment takes about an hour and then we are free to go. The ZOOM! uses a special lamp that works with the peroxide in the gel and makes it work faster than in traditional treatments. ZOOM! Only works on our natural teeth and does not harm false or capped teeth.

This system is proven the fastest way to get your white bright smile back. The cosmetic dentists at Bedford Dental Group have extensive training and experience with the ZOOM! teeth whitening system so patients get the best results possible.

Nicotine and the other toxins found in these products can lead to several health defects such as oral cancer, lung cancer, periodontal disease (which is a leading cause of tooth sensitivity and tooth loss), and a slower healing process after tooth extractions or oral surgery. Being a tobacco user can also make you a poor candidate for certain dental treatments like implants or porcelain veneers. This is because smoking can make your teeth too weak to withstand certain procedures.

Less severe effects of tobacco use include bad breath, stained teeth and tongue, and a loss of taste and/or smell. Smokeless tobacco products have numerous negative effects on your health just as smoking products do. Researchers have found at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals in smokeless tobacco products. Your mouth and lungs aren’t the only areas susceptible to cancer; your voice box, esophagus, colon, and bladder are also at risk because of the toxins that are carried to these parts of your body through your blood.

Quitting is very important for your short term and long term health. The American Dental Association recommends these tips to help quit smoking:

– Set a date to quit and stick to it. Choose a “low stress” time to quit
– Enlist the support of your family, friends and co-workers.
– Ask your dentist or physician about nicotine replacement therapy for use in cessation attempts. Using these medicines can double your chances of quitting for good.
– Remove tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia from your home, office and car.
– Seek tobacco-free environments to curve your temptations.
– Exercise. It may make you feel better about yourself and your decision to quit smoking.
– When you crave a tobacco—exercise the 4 D’s:
**Delay—craving will pass in 5–10 minutes
**Drink water—it will help to wash the toxins from your body
**Do something else—distract yourself by being active.
**Deep breathing—deep inhalations and exhalations are relaxing.
– Anticipate problems and have a realistic plan to deal with challenges.
– Call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to www.smokefree.gov

Gingivitis is a big culprit for bleeding gums because your gums are inflamed and irritated. This can be treated by your dentist, so get it checked out immediately. Make sure to clean your teeth thoroughly so plaque build up does not occur, which can lead to more serious conditions such as periodontitis.

Brushing and flossing too hard can also cause bleeding gums. Use a softer bristled brush if this tends to happen to you. Harder bristles can irritate your gums and possibly cause them to swell. While flossing, make sure to gently glide the floss between your teeth and gum line. Do not shove the thread in with one motion. This can damage your gum tissue and cause more bleeding. Instead, use a zigzag motion to carefully and gently floss your teeth.

Other tips which can help prevent bleeding are: avoiding the use of tobacco, taking vitamins, and massaging your gums. Smoking dries the inside of your mouth and can make it vulnerable to sores or abrasions. Taking regular vitamins, especially vitamin K, can help prevent this condition and can maintain the strength of your gums. Massaging your gums gently while you brush can help strengthen them to prevent vulnerability.

If you wear dentures and suffer from bleeding gums, this could mean an improper fit. Your dentures can also cause sores in your mouth and on your gums. If this happens, talk with your dentist about getting new dentures or you might want to consider dental implants.

There are many other types of dental and gum infections that can cause bleeding. Make sure to go to your dentist at least twice a year to get a thorough examination of your teeth. This can help prevent other infections from occurring. No matter what causes your bleeding gums, talk with one of our dentists immediately. They will help you find out what the cause is and will treat your gums properly. Many other conditions can be prevented if you treat the initial problem first.

Pain is always common after a tooth extraction procedure. If this pain suddenly becomes worse in the days following the procedure, it could be a sign of dry socket. A sharp and sudden increase in pain which can also be accompanied with a foul taste or smell are symptoms of dry socket. This pain can travel up and down the neck and head, possibly reaching your ears.

Smoking is a large cause of dry socket. It impedes the healing of wounds anywhere on your body, especially the mouth where smoke has been inhaled. It decreases the amount of oxygen available in the healing tissues.

The use of hormonal contraceptives can also be a risk factor for dry socket, while women in general are at a higher risk because of estrogen. Estrogen also slows down the healing process in your body but not as significantly as smoking.

Dentists have advised their patients to avoid drinking through straws following an extraction procedure. Straws create negative pressure in the mouth which can dislodge the clot. This is the same reason for avoiding spitting saliva or anything from your mouth due to the negative pressure it creates.

Rinsing with warm salt water and maintaining good oral hygiene is highly advised to avoid getting dry socket. Only brush non sensitive areas of your mouth., avoiding the area of extraction. This should begin 24 hours after the procedure.

There is no actual treatment for dry socket as it tends to heal on its own over time. The pain usually lasts for a few days and will eventually subside. You can obtain a sedative dressing from your dentist to place over the inflamed area to soothe the swelling. If the pain is too intense, your dentist or doctor might prescribe additional analgesics.

The use of tobacco accounts for the most cases of oral cancer. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, and chewing tobacco. The use of any other tobacco product can still increase your risk of oral cancer. Your risk is even higher if you have been smoking for a longer period of time, especially if you also consume alcohol.

Alcohol drinkers have a higher chance of getting oral cancer over those who do not drink. Alcohol doesn’t just affect your liver, even your mouth is at a greater risk when you drink. The amount of alcohol you drink also affects these chances.  By smoking and drinking, your chance of oral cancer increases by 15%. This is because of the dehydration factors that alcohol causes. The cell walls of your mouth get dry and enhance the ability of tobacco carcinogens to enter your mouth tissues.

The inside of your mouth isn’t the only oral area at risk for cancer. Your lips should not be ignored when you are out in the sun. Ultra violet rays not only damage your skin but can negatively affect your lips and increase the chances of lip cancer. Your lips are still made out of skin on the outside but are thinner than the rest of the skin on your face. This should be more of a reason to use lip sunscreen or protective SPF lip balm when you go outside.

Oral cancer can be detected early by your dentist. Routine check-ups will ensure that anything you have will be caught early and treated. If you have a sore in your mouth that doesn’t go away after 14 days, get it checked out by one of our dentists.