Category: General Health

Your Reno Dentists Discuss Chewing

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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.

Continue reading “Your Reno Dentists Discuss Chewing” →

Sports Bars, Energy Drinks, and Your Teeth

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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” →

Tongue Trivia from Your Reno Family Dentists

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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” →

National Stuttering Awareness Week: Children’s Dental and Mental Development

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If you have ever held a conversation with someone who stutters, you know that it involves repetitions, pauses, and drawn out syllables in the speech pattern, which are extremely difficult for that individual to control. Often, people with a stuttering problem feel uncomfortable in social situations, especially children. A speech impediment should never be a reason for children to prevent themselves from reaching their full potential. That is why, in honor of National Stuttering Awareness Week, Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans would like to join in raising awareness on the relationship between a child’s dental and mental development.

What is the Relationship Between a Child’s Dental and Mental Development?

A child’s dental and psychological health go hand in hand, and not just in regard to stuttering. If a child is experiencing poor dental health, eating could be very uncomfortable, thus causing malnourishment, which can negatively affect a child’s cognitive abilities. In addition, if a child has unsightly teeth, whether they are yellow or badly crooked, it will be embarrassing for them to smile, let alone work up the courage to speak aloud. Continue reading “National Stuttering Awareness Week: Children’s Dental and Mental Development” →

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

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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” →

Maintaining Oral Health After Periodontal Treatment in Reno

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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” →

Children’s Dental Care from Your Reno Family Dentist

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As general and cosmetic dentists, Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans promote a family-friendly dentist office in Reno. In fact, our entire staff at Wager Evans Dental loves to see our younger patients. Children without access to dental care often suffer with tooth decay. Untreated cavities cause pain and discomfort and may affect your child’s ability to speak or eat properly. Furthermore, oral health problems may distract your children from learning in school, too. At Wager Evans Dental, we take preventive measures to combat childhood tooth decay and keep children’s mouths healthy.

Fluoride Treatments

Teeth are surrounded by tooth enamel. This protective layer is composed of minerals. As the strongest substance in the human body, tooth enamel prevents bacteria from eating away at your child’s teeth. However, strong acid can weaken enamel. When enamel is damaged, bacteria attack the exposed part of the tooth. When our younger patients experience enamel loss or erosion, we prescribe fluoride treatments. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps replenish tooth enamel. We may apply topical fluoride in a great tasting flavor directly to your child’s teeth after a dental cleaning. We also recommend that you purchase fluoridated toothpastes with the American Dental Association’s seal of approval. Continue reading “Children’s Dental Care from Your Reno Family Dentist” →

Treating Gum Disease Effectively and Conservatively

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At Wager Evans Dental, we have a dedication to excellence when it comes to providing our patients with comprehensive dental care. That’s why Reno dentists Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans offer one of Dentistry Today’s Top 100 Products: Perio Protect.

What is Perio Protect?

For the past six years, Perio Protect has been a leading product that offers patients a gentle, yet effective way to fight the bacteria that cause gum disease. Targeting biofilms, communities of bacteria that colonize in pockets between the teeth and gum tissue (periodontal pockets), the overall goal of Perio Protect is to manage gum disease treatment in a minimally invasive manner. Continue reading “Treating Gum Disease Effectively and Conservatively” →

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

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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” →

Holiday Nutrition for Reno Smiles

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Holidays are cause for celebration, spending time with friends and family, and decadent feasts. Many people have concerns regarding the traditional dishes served during the holidays. Here, we’ve addressed some common questions about a few favorites.

Q: What are the nutritional benefits of pumpkin?

A: Pumpkins are low in calories and fat, and loaded with healthy antioxidants and vitamin-A (or beta-carotene), vitamin-C, and vitamin-E. Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and good fats that benefit heart health. These tasty seeds are also great source of iron, niacin, selenium, and zinc. Continue reading “Holiday Nutrition for Reno Smiles” →