Category: General Dentistry

Reno Dentists on Surprising Uses for Oral Care Products

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

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

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

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.

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Reno Dentists Can Identify Toothache Source

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

Sinuses are hollow cavities that are located very close to the roots of your upper molars.  So there should be little surprise that dentist’s often see patient’s presenting with a toothache who actually end up having a sinus infection. Your Reno dentists, Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans explain why sinusitis can cause a toothache even when your teeth are perfectly healthy.

Dealing with a Toothache

What would your plan of action be if you suddenly had a horrible toothache? The first instinct of many people would be to call your dentist for an emergency appointment. Home Continue reading “Reno Dentists Can Identify Toothache Source” →

Reno Dentist Discusses the Importance of Saliva

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

The clear, watery liquid in our mouths, known as saliva, isn’t a substance we generally want to think about. However, saliva plays more of a role in your dental health then you may realize. Did you know that saliva is constantly battling against the germs that cause bad breath? Your Reno dentists, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans, discuss the many dental benefits provided to you by your salivary glands.

How Does Our Body Produce Saliva?

Salivary glands are inside your cheeks, near the front teeth, and at the bottom of your mouth. Six major salivary glands are backed up by hundreds of minor glands. Within the glands are ducts that your saliva moves through, once produced. The body makes up to 4 pints of saliva each day, with the late afternoon being primary production time. At night, the salivary glands take a rest, producing the least amount of saliva during sleeping hours.

Why is Saliva Important to Teeth?

Saliva helps us swallow food, and also works to rid the mouth of residual food particles that could mix with bacteria to create plaque. Within saliva, there are minerals and proteins that protect your tooth enamel, preventing gum disease and tooth decay. Continue reading “Reno Dentist Discusses the Importance of Saliva” →

Your Reno Dentists Discuss Chewing

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

We all need to eat, and so we all have to chew. Chewing comes naturally, but its importance is often overlooked. If we don’t chew our food, we are at risk for choking, but there are other compelling reasons to be mindful of your mastication habits. Your Reno dentists explain some of the reasons you should think about what you chew, and how long you chew.

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Taking bites of food that are too big for your mouth can actually damage your jaw. This advice is particularly timely in a culture that has offered food in increasingly larger portions over the years. Hamburgers, sandwiches, and burritos, for example, are sometimes so large that they require the eater to open their mouth wider than is healthy for them. People who suffer from TMD are at particular risk, since their jaw joints are already sensitive. If an item of food forces you to open your mouth so wide that it causes discomfort, it is best to cut the food in smaller bites before eating.

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Food Tips for Restful Sleep

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Trouble sleeping? “Don’t eat before bed” is common advice. When your body is hampered by the digestion process, some people find it hard to relax. However, for some, a small snack can actually help them unwind. Your Reno sleep dentists have some suggestions on foods to eat, and foods to avoid, before you lay your head down on your pillow at night.

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How to Protect Your Cosmetic Dental Work

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Woman with Beautiful Smile If you have an unattractive smile, you may feel self-conscious in social settings, preventing you from living life to the fullest. Even the simplest adjustments to your smile can dramatically improve your appearance. At Wager Evans Dental, we offer cosmetic services to improve the look of your teeth and encourage you to smile with confidence. We provide teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, tooth contouring, and bonding. All of these services can boost your self-esteem and help you smile with pride.

While cosmetic dentistry can dramatically improve your smile, you must still maintain your cosmetic dental work with care and detail. The following is a list of ways you can preserve your smile makeover, enjoying its benefits for years to come. Continue reading “How to Protect Your Cosmetic Dental Work” →

School Physicals for Your Kids’ Mouths in Reno

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Though your kids may be on a year-round school schedule, fall is on the way, and with it comes thoughts of back-to-school for most of the nation. Along with an athletic physical for your young athlete, you should remember to book a semi-annual dental checkup. Not only will Dr. Wager or Dr. Evans evaluate your child’s dental health and development, our team can fashion a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect against dental injuries and reduce the risk of concussion during sports.

The Dental Checkup

Children age four and older should visit Wager Evans Dental for a complete dental checkup and cleaning twice a year, or every six months. At this appointment, our kid-friendly staff will help your children learn important techniques for effective brushing and flossing. We can also discuss healthy eating, alternatives to sports and energy drinks, and whether braces might be needed. The dentist will evaluate x-rays to identify development concerns or cavities below the gum line and between teeth. After a checkup, if gum disease isn’t present, your student will undergo a cleaning with one of our hygienists. This will involve removing built-up plaque and tartar from teeth, which will reduce the risk for cavities and gingivitis. The hygienist can recommend dental products that are best suited for your child, as well. Continue reading “School Physicals for Your Kids’ Mouths in Reno” →

What to Expect at a Dental Examination with Your Reno Dentists

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You may already believe you know what a dental checkup entails. If you follow recommendations by the American Dental Association, you have probably had many checkups in your life, at least twice a year. Many people expect that dental checkups and cleanings are all about cavities. While these dental issues play a major role in preventive dental care, in the grand scheme of oral health issues, detecting cavities is not the most important aspect of a dental checkup. Our Reno dentists are here to explain what you can expect from our preventive dental care.

We Want to Evaluate Your Overall Wellbeing

Before our Reno dentist begins looking around in your mouth, we want to know specific information about your health. Many overall health issues can be closely related to your dental health. For instance, tell your dentist if you have diabetes or if you have had diabetes complications recently. We are also interested in knowing about bouts of rheumatoid arthritis, if you are thinking of becoming pregnant, or struggling with frequent migraines. Believe it or not, all of this information can have a big impact on your oral health and vice versa.

We Want to Know About Hidden Dental Issues

After catching up on your current health situation, our Reno dentist may take dental X-rays. These radiographs will give our experienced professionals insight into what is happening below the surface. For instance, X-rays can show us weak spots in your tooth where decay is beginning to form even below previous dental restorations like fillings. We can also see signs of jawbone deterioration from missing teeth or gum disease. Additionally, dental X-rays shed light on impacted wisdom teeth and tooth alignment. Continue reading “What to Expect at a Dental Examination with Your Reno Dentists” →

Is Chewing Gum Good For Your Teeth?

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It’s lurking underneath classroom desks, hiding under the bus seats, and strewn about parking lots, waiting silently for its victims. Whether or not it is inside your mouth, chewing gum has a bad reputation. That’s why you may be surprised to find that your Reno dentists, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans actually encourage chewing gum—under special conditions, of course.

How to Chew Gum and Improve Your Oral Health

The first caveat for chewing gum responsibly is that it must be sugarless. Chewing gum with sugar is actually, one of the worst things you can do for your teeth since it constantly reintroduces acid and sugar into your mouth, eroding tooth enamel. Sugar-free gum, however, may have the opposite effect. Sugarless gum can help remove trapped food particles in between teeth and encourage saliva production. Your saliva washes away harmful bacteria and neutralizes acids. Therefore, increased saliva translates to a less acidic and less hostile environment  for your tooth enamel.

Sugar Alternatives that Fight Cavities

Some sugar-free gum manufacturers have taken smile protection a step further by using sugar alternatives like xylitol. This natural sweetener actually attracts and traps harmful bacteria that cause tooth decay and starve them. You can read the nutrition facts on the back of your gum to make sure xylitol is an active ingredient.

Avoid Contributing to TMJ Disorder

The second requirement for healthy gum chewing is to spit it out. Once you pop a piece of gum in your mouth, pay attention to the time. Make sure that you do not chew gum for more than 15 minutes at a time. Chewing gum for any longer can actually put stress on your jaw muscles. Excessive jaw muscle tension leads to dental health conditions such as TMJ disorder and teeth grinding. Continue reading “Is Chewing Gum Good For Your Teeth?” →