Category: General Dentistry

Tongue Trivia from Your Reno Family Dentists

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

When discussing dentistry, teeth and gums almost always dominate the conversation. But what about the tongue? It plays a vital role in digestion, the sense of taste, and oral health – so your tongue deserves the same respect as your teeth and gums.

Your Reno dentists, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans, challenge you to the following tongue trivia.

1. How long is the average human tongue?

a. Three inches
b. Four inches
c. Five inches

The answer is b: four inches. That’s much more manageable than the average giraffe tongue, which usually measures a whopping 21 inches!

2. What are the bumps on the tongue called that contain the taste buds?

a. Papillae
b. Alveoli
c. Flagella

The answer is a: papillae. There are approximately 10,000 taste buds on the human tongue. Five basic tastes that the tongue can detect include salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. The last one, umami, is from the Japanese word meaning “pleasant savory taste.” Continue reading “Tongue Trivia from Your Reno Family Dentists” →

The Importance of Prenatal Dental Care

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Last week was National Women’s Health Week, an awareness event started by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. In light of this, your Reno dentists, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans, want to educate their patients on a topic near and dear to the hearts of many women, the importance of prenatal dental care. Test your knowledge on this subject with the following quiz.

1. Why do pregnant women develop gingivitis more often than other people?

a. Morning sickness

b. Increased hormone levels

c. Weight gain

The answer is b, increased hormone levels, which cause the gums to react more severely to plaque build up. The term “pregnancy gingivitis” was coined because of this condition.

2. Pregnant women with __________ are more likely to give birth to underweight and underdeveloped babies than women without this condition.

a. Gum disease

b. Cavities

c. Halitosis

The answer is a, gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease could also contribute to a dangerous condition called preeclampsia, in which a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and has excess protein levels in the urine. Continue reading “The Importance of Prenatal Dental Care” →

Comprehensive Dental Care Under One Roof in Reno

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

Are you ready for Mother’s Day this Sunday? Do you know what you’re giving to your mom to show her how much you love and appreciate her? At Wager Evans Dental, we like to think that we celebrate Mother’s Day all year long. Why? Because we provide dental care to patients of all ages with a variety of needs at our Reno-area dentist office.

Comprehensive Dental Care in Reno

As family dentists, Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans provide comprehensive dentistry, which means that we offer a variety of dental services under one roof. More specifically, we offer the following top-notch dental treatments and services:

Preventive and Restorative Dentistry

Maintaining Oral Health After Periodontal Treatment in Reno

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

At Wager Evans Dental, Reno dentists Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans strive to help our patients achieve optimal oral health and, often, that requires treatment for periodontal (gum) disease. In addition to traditional dental cleanings, we offer Perio Protect and deep cleanings, as well as other treatments to help our patients overcome this serious oral health problem.

Post-Periodontal Treatment

Dr. Wager, Dr. Evans, and our team will not rest until your teeth and gums are back in optimal health, but what happens at the completion of your treatment? Generally, periodontal patients require more care than just regular biannual dental cleanings and checkups to maintain a healthy smile. Continue reading “Maintaining Oral Health After Periodontal Treatment in Reno” →

Spring Cleaning for Your Smile in Reno

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Today is the first day of spring, and we’re ready for the warmer weather here in Reno. Today, family dentists Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans want to discuss one thing you shouldn’t leave off of your spring cleaning to-do list: your smile.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Before you conjure up images of mopping your teeth or purging your gums like you purge your closet of clothing you longer wear, think about the point of spring cleaning—to say goodbye to the old, welcome the new, and make your overall life better. Continue reading “Spring Cleaning for Your Smile in Reno” →

Chocolate is Good for You, Let Your Reno Dentists Tell You How

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

Valentine’s Day is exactly a week away and to celebrate, Reno family dentists Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans want to talk to you about the health benefits of one of the most popular Valentine’s Day treats: chocolate. While it’s important to remember that sugar is detrimental to your teeth, we want to tell you why it’s okay to reach for a piece of chocolate during a moment of weakness.

The Bodily Health Benefits of Chocolate

  • Chocolate is good for your heart because it can actually help lower blood pressure when consumed occasionally. This is because chocolate improves blood flow, therefore helping to prevent the formation of blood clots and the hardening of the arteries.
  • Because chocolate improves your blood flow, it’s good for your brain, specifically improving cognitive function and having a positive effect on your mood. This is thanks to phenylethylamine (PEA), which is found in chocolate and is the same chemical your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. Continue reading “Chocolate is Good for You, Let Your Reno Dentists Tell You How” →

Are Your Dental Habits on the “Worst” List?

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Be honest—on those nights when you can’t keep your eyes open and all you want to do is crawl into bed, what part of your bedtime routine is first to go? For most people, it’s brushing their teeth. Even as family dentists, Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans know that everyone can get a little lazy about their oral hygiene from time to time, but it’s our goal at Wager Evans Dental to educate our patients about healthy dental hygiene habits. Read on to find out more about why those occasional slip-ups may be more detrimental to your dental health than you thought.

The Top 10 Worst Dental Habits

  1. Brushing only your teeth instead of brushing your entire mouth is a bad hygiene habit. Your teeth only account for about 5 percent of the surface area of your entire oral cavity, so it’s important to brush the front and back surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue, the insides of your cheeks, the roof of your mouth, the floor of your mouth, and your lips to maintain a clean—and hopefully plaque free—environment. Continue reading “Are Your Dental Habits on the “Worst” List?” →

What is the Importance of Fluoride?

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You have probably heard throughout your life that fluoride is good for your teeth but you may not know why.  There are proven benefits to using fluoride in dentistry and daily oral care. Dr. William Wager and our staff at Wager Evans Dental have composed answers to some frequently asked questions below about fluoride.

What Does Fluoride do for My Teeth?

Essentially, fluoride strengthens your enamel. Did you know that enamel is not a living tissue like the rest of your teeth? Therefore, when you damage your enamel, it’s permanently damaged. Fluoride protects the precious enamel barrier around your teeth from tooth decay and cavities. In addition to its ability to strengthen your enamel, fluoride also reduces the levels of acidic bacteria and plaque in your mouth. The presence of plaque and bacteria can lead to infection and inflammation of your gum tissues and tooth decay. Continue reading “What is the Importance of Fluoride?” →

Make Sure You Brush Correctly

Posted on by Wager-Evans Dental

Brushing Keeps You Healthy

Oral health can be a breeze if you keep up good practices and visit Drs. Wager and Evans every six months. Make sure to brush 2-3 times every day and floss once. Like any habit, if you brush as often as you should, you may become complacent.  Don’t get sloppy with your oral health; experts agree that a healthy mouth can keep your body healthy, too.

Use Proper Brushing Technique

If you don’t use proper technique when you take care of your teeth, you might be hurting more than you’re helping. To brush effectively, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle at your gum line. This angle can help you avoid gum abrasion. Don’t brush across your teeth; instead, move your brush up and down, softly stroking your teeth. A lot of people forget about the  back surfaces completely. The back of your teeth is a crucial place to scrub because your tongue, which is usually caked with bacteria, presses against these surfaces all day long. Continue reading “Make Sure You Brush Correctly” →

What Holiday Comes After Thanksgiving?

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Yes, this is a trick question. The day after Thanksgiving is National Flossing Day, and Drs. Wager and Evans encourage you to participate. It’s perfect planning, actually. What better day to schedule a national flossing event than Black Friday? Here are five prime reasons you need to floss on National Flossing Day.

  1. You eat and eat and eat… and eat and eat and eat… then watch football… then eat and eat and eat on Thanksgiving. You’re going to have some food stuck between your teeth.
  2. Whether you shop or hang out with the family, people are going to smell your breath the day after Thanksgiving.
  3. With everything else you have scheduled between now and the end of the year, you probably don’t have time for a dental cleaning.
  4. Santa is watching.
  5. It’s cool to floss.

Is It Really Cool to Floss?

  • Only if you want to be a trendsetter. Studies show, 10-40% of Americans report flossing every day – and remember, people lie. The real percentage is probably closer to 10%. Another report states, 73% of Americans prefer going to the grocery store over flossing their teeth.
  • Only if you want to live longer. One study claims, daily flossing can increase your lifespan by 6.4 years. The CDC says, people with gum disease have a mortality rate that’s 23-46 higher than those who don’t.
  • Only if you want to avoid gum disease and increased risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, problem pregnancies, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and potentially, certain cancers. Studies link all of these conditions to gum disease, and gum disease usually stems from improper oral health.
  • Only if you want to keep your teeth (don’t want to wear dentures). Gum disease is also the primary cause of adult tooth loss in our nation. Continue reading “What Holiday Comes After Thanksgiving?” →