Soda and Your Smile

Group Drinking Soda When you reach for a cold, fizzy, flavored, carbonated drink, what do you call it? A cola? A Coke? A soda? A pop? A drink by any of these names will taste sweet, bubbly and refreshing. Unfortunately, just like many tasty treats, drinking soda on a regular basis comes with a price, especially in terms of your dental health. Reno dentistsDr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans, will fill you in on the dangers of soft drinks. Continue reading “Soda and Your Smile”

Oral Cancer Symptoms: Are you Familiar?

Smiling Man Michael Douglas is one of many public figures who has given a famous face to oral cancer. Mr. Douglas makes a fine role model for those battling the disease, because he has recovered quite well. Until hearing about a famous person’s battle with a certain type of cancer, many Americans don’t give particular malignancies a whole lot of thought. Fortunately, if you keep up with your six month dental checkups, you’ll have a great chance of catching any oral cancer as early as possible. Continue reading “Oral Cancer Symptoms: Are you Familiar?”

July 2014 Foodie-Friendly Classes and Events In Reno

A healthy smile starts with a healthy diet! If you truly are what you eat, don’t you think it’s best to take a smart, healthy approach to your diet? We often think of obesity and heart disease as the main consequences of eating junk food and living a sedentary lifestyle, forgetting that these unhealthy behaviors can also cause problems for your teeth and gums. Instead of heading to the vending machine or sneaking through the drive-thru, why not get creative in your own kitchen? The team at Wager Evans Dental shares their  list of July 2014 cooking classes and foodie events near your Reno, NV dentist office. Continue reading “July 2014 Foodie-Friendly Classes and Events In Reno”

You Can’t Use a Pore Strip on Your Teeth, But . . .

dental-cleaning-reno-nv

Nose strips and whitening strips–there’s quite a big difference there. Even so, it turns out that your skin may actually have more in common with your teeth than you might have known.  Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans discuss the similarities and what you can do to avoid stained, sensitive teeth.

Anatomy 101: Skin and Teeth

Like your skin, the enamel of your teeth is covered with tiny pores. The pores in your skin become irritated when blocked, and the enlargement and exposure of pores in your teeth make the tooth enamel more prone to staining. If the tooth enamel erodes badly enough to expose the underlying layer of dentin, problems arise. For example, your teeth may develop sensitivity to heat and cold. Teeth that have been badly damaged by years of erosion are more likely to develop tooth decay and cracks.

Preventing Problematic Pores

The pores in your teeth are generally exposed in one of two ways, either by brushing too aggressively, or exposing your teeth to acidic substances. Dr. Wager notes that the American Dental Association states that you should brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes each session. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, as medium or stiff bristles can cause further damage to your teeth, as well as irritating your gums. If the bristles of your toothbrush appear frayed and bent after less than three months, this is a sign of over-aggressive brushing.

Dr. Evans adds that your favorite foods and beverages can also damage your enamel. Acidic foods include citrus fruit, pickles, and yogurt. Among the more acidic beverages are fruit juices–especially those made with citrus fruit–alcohol of any kind, sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks. Rather than reach for your toothbrush immediately after consuming an acidic substance, it’s best to wait 30 minutes. Instead, your Reno, NV general dentists recommend rinsing your mouth with plain water.

These threats are similar to those faced by your skin, which is prone to irritation if washed too frequently or exposed to strong skin care products. With teeth, however, tooth whitening products are a likely culprit.

Clean Skin, Clean Teeth

Like your skin, your teeth are easier to maintain when properly cared for. After months or even years of neglect, both are more difficult to keep clean and may require professional intervention. Of course, we’ll leave your skin care to your dermatologist, but our Reno dentist office provides routine teeth cleaning, dental exams, and screening for periodontal disease and oral cancer.

Are your pores causing problems? To learn more about preventive and cosmetic dental care in Reno, NV, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Wager or Dr. Evans, contact us at 775-829-7700. We welcome patients living in Reno, Sparks, Spanish Springs, Dayton, and the surrounding areas.

The Secret to Healthier Smiles At Home

Mom and daughter at grocery store As a busy parent, you’ve probably that twinge of guilt or self-doubt just before your child’s dental appointment. A clean bill of oral health reflects well on you, just as every cavity underscores a flaw in your parental vigilance. Ultimately, the health of your child’s smile depends on him or her, but you have a responsibility to guide them toward healthier habits.  You have the power to change your family’s oral health for the better by following these two simple steps:    Continue reading “The Secret to Healthier Smiles At Home”

Reno Dentists Challenge You to a Dental Quiz

quiz letters Knowing the proper way to care for your teeth is one of the most important parts of your oral health. When you consider the fact that you attend regular dental visit every six months, it becomes clear that you are the primary person responsible for the health of your teeth and gums. Thus what you know about caring for your mouth can make the difference between a healthy mouth and an unhealthy mouth. For this reason, your Reno dentists, Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans, are giving you a chance to test your knowledge with a dental quiz. Continue reading “Reno Dentists Challenge You to a Dental Quiz”

Reno Dentists on Surprising Uses for Oral Care Products

Many people believe that toothpaste and mouthwash only have one use—to clean the teeth and mouth. However, there are a surprising number of uses for both in cleaning around the house and around the body. Your Reno dentists offer several surprising uses for these oral care tools.

The Cleaning Power of Toothpaste

Non-gel toothpaste can be used to clean more than just your teeth. It can also clean:

  • Shoes—toothpaste can remove scuff marks from leather shoes. It can also whiten the rubber parts of athletic shoes.
  • Diamond rings—toothpaste and a damp cloth can make diamonds shine.
  • Crayon on walls—the slight abrasives of toothpaste will lift crayon stains right off with a little scrubbing.
  • Bathroom sinks—use with a sponge and watch your sink get clean.

In addition, toothpaste can also prevent your bathroom mirrors from fogging up, if you apply it before a shower. It can also stop goggles from fogging up as well. Scrubbing baby bottles with toothpaste will remove the odor, and it will also take off any foul smell from your hands if you use it with water.

Extraordinary Mouthwash

Mouthwash also has incredible powers you may not realize. Some of mouthwash’s many other uses:

  • Helps with athlete’s foot—swab the itchy areas with a cotton ball several times a day, and mild cases should soon clear up. Make sure the mouthwash you use is an antiseptic brand.
  • Battles dandruff—rinse out shampoo in your hair with an alcohol-based mouthwash. Doing that should help knock out the dandruff.
  • Clean cuts—alcohol-based mouthwashes are terrific for cleaning and disinfecting small cuts.
  • Clean toilets—a quarter-cup of mouthwash, added to the toilet bowl and allowed to sit for half an hour, will help lift off stubborn stains
  • Clean clothes—alcohol-based mouthwash will kill fungi and bacteria in clothes that normal detergents might not be able to, so pour a cup in with your washload.

Your Reno Dentists Can Clean Your Teeth

Of course, when you’re using your toothpaste and mouthwash to clean your house, don’t forget that their primary purpose is to clean your teeth. If it is time for your professional checkup and cleaning, contact our Reno dentist office at 775-829-7700. We are proud to provide comprehensive dentistry to patients in the 89502 zip code, and surrounding communities.

Reno Dentists on Holiday Treats and Your Teeth

Every year, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans consume a lot of food. Just two weeks ago, on Thanksgiving, for example, we collectively ate nearly 700 pounds of turkey. The overeating will continue through holiday parties, Christmas and Hannakah dinners, and New Year football snacking. While it’s important to remember what all those extra calories are doing to your waistline, it’s equally important to remember what all that extra sugar and starch is doing to your teeth. Your Reno dentists discuss what you should do to ensure having a healthy mouth into 2013.

Continue reading “Reno Dentists on Holiday Treats and Your Teeth”

Sports Bars, Energy Drinks, and Your Teeth

Woman Eating Energy Bar Fitness is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In fact, a recent study found that weight loss helps defend against gum disease. That’s good news for our patients who love sports and athletic training. While running, cycling, and other forms of exercise can improve your oral health, the foods you may consume while participating in these activities can potentially hurt your teeth.

Harmful bacteria that attach to food lodged between your teeth weaken tooth enamel and leave you at risk for developing cavities. Sugary foods and drinks are well-known culprits of tooth decay. Many of the energy bars and drinks on the market today are high in sugar. What you may not realize is that even the brands with less sugar and more nutritious ingredients could harm your teeth. Continue reading “Sports Bars, Energy Drinks, and Your Teeth”

Are You Harming Your Teeth with Common Habits? Your Reno Family Dentists Explain

Do you chew on pen caps or bite your nails? Did you know that these habits can be harmful to your teeth and oral health? You might be surprised how a seemingly innocent habit such as chewing on a pen cap can do damage to your oral health. Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans explain how common habits harm your oral health and damage your teeth.

Biting Your Fingernails

So you break a nail and can’t find nail clippers, what do you do? Many people might alleviate this problem by biting their nails. And for others, biting fingernails is just a nervous habit. Now imagine how many things your hands touch in a day’s time. Door knobs, elevator buttons, and sink faucets are riddled with bacteria that we encounter on a daily basis. Bacteria tend to collect on nail beds and underneath fingernails. When you chew your fingernails, you can potentially transfer the bacteria on your hands into your mouth. Continue reading “Are You Harming Your Teeth with Common Habits? Your Reno Family Dentists Explain”