Many times our teeth take on a yellow appearance and it can become unsightly. For many people this yellowing will not only affect their smiles it affects their self esteem. Have you ever noticed someone who wants to smile but doesn’t?

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.

Years ago, if your tooth had a diseased nerve, you would probably end up losing that tooth. Fortunately today, it is possible to save a tooth with nerve damage by having root canal therapy. Inside every tooth is the pulp which runs down to the root like a thread. The pulp tissue can die if it becomes diseased or injured. The tooth can get infected if the diseased or dead pulp is not removed. If the infected tooth does not get treated, you could lose that tooth.

A root canal procedure can possibly save your tooth and make it stronger after the infection. This may be done in a series of one to three visits and involves the removal of the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and canals of the root are cleaned out, removing all of the diseased pulp tissue, and is then sealed.

Your treatment starts with an opening through the crown of the tooth to reveal the pulp chamber. The infected pulp is removed and the canals are cleaned thoroughly and enlarged. A temporary filling will be placed in the opening to protect your tooth in between visits. Medicine may be given if necessary to help control infection.

The next step involves filling and sealing the pulp chamber and root canals after the temporary filling is removed and the area is cleaned. The final step is placing a crown over the tooth to protect and seal the exposed tooth. Your tooth is now healthy and strong again. The restored tooth can last a lifetime if proper care is taken.

Canker sores are very common and small and are either simple or more complex sores.  Most go unnoticed and don’t cause much bother while some can make eating and talking uncomfortable Many things can cause a canker sore but its hard to pin point an exact one.

Simple canker sores tend to appear when stress or tissue injury has occurred within your mouth. Braces and dentures can cause this kind of tissue stress or injury. Foods, such as citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables, can also cause them or make them worse when already present. Complex canker sores can be brought on by certain health conditions such as an impaired immune system, nutritional problems, or gastrointestinal diseases.

The symptoms of a simple canker sore include an actual present sore inside your mouth (including the tongue, cheek, or palate) and a tingling sensation around that region before it appeared. The actual sore is round and white or gray with possibly a red edge or border. More severe canker sores can cause fevers, lethargy, and swollen lymph nodes.

There are a few steps you can practice when trying to avoid canker sores. Avoid foods that might irritate your mouth such as citrus and acidic fruits and vegetables or spicy foods. Be gentle when you chew gum so you won’t cause unnecessary irritation to your mouth. When brushing your teeth, a soft bristled tooth brush will be gentler on your gums and will also free your mouth of canker sore triggering foods.

Canker sores tend to subside within a few days and can heal without treatment. If your sores are large and painful, talk to one of our dentists about getting an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help speed its recovery and ease the pain. You should also call our office if you have a sore that has been in your mouth for longer than 3 weeks, has spread, is painful, or is unusually large.