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Health changes, including changes to our oral health, can feel inevitable as we age. The care you put into your smile can certainly affect the degree of those changes. If you maintained poor oral care habits, your smile can look worn and unhealthy. Patients with advanced gum disease can find themselves dealing with tooth loss. That being said, even patients who exhibit great preventive dental habits can require help with problems that develop in your later years. If you are worried about the quality of your smile, set time to talk with your dentist. They can make sure your teeth stay healthy, and can discuss cosmetic dental treatment to preserve your appearance. Continue reading “3 Dental Issues That Can Affect Aging Patients”
Category: Healthy Living
Making Daily Diet Improvements That Protect Your Smile
Your teeth are exposed to risks each time you enjoy a meal. Oral bacteria will be able to feed on the sugars left behind on your teeth, and the digestive process of those bacteria can release acids that will eat into your enamel. By brushing and flossing regularly and effectively, you can remove those bacteria, and you can also remove anything left on your teeth that they can feeding on. Of course, when you pay attention to what you eat during the day, you can lower your risks. Sure, brushing and flossing are still vital, but you can lower your chances of suffering a cavity when you improve your diet. Combining smart daily care with routine dental care will help you sustain a healthy, problem-free smile. Continue reading “Making Daily Diet Improvements That Protect Your Smile”
Yes, You Should Be Flossing Regularly
If you think of flossing as a “bonus” cleaning for your teeth, or only necessary when you feel something stuck between teeth, you are losing out on important preventive dental care. Think for a moment about what your teeth enjoy when you brush. You can thoroughly clean the front of teeth, and their tops, but the spaces between teeth are difficult to address. In order to protect these areas, you should floss at least one time every day. Addressing bacteria and food debris in these spaces will mean better defense against decay, because you will be fully addressing your teeth. Removing bacteria in these spaces can also be helpful in the fight against gum disease. Continue reading “Yes, You Should Be Flossing Regularly”
How Your Drink Choices Affect Your Teeth
Certain flavored beverages can cause several problems for your teeth. You should be wary of beverages that are more acidic, are high in sugar, and/or have a darker appearance. All of these factors can indicate risks to the health of your teeth. Replacing flavored drinks with water can spare your teeth from stains, and lower your risk for developing a cavity. While these drinks can be fine in moderation, over-consumption could lead to problems with your oral health that require restorative treatments. Continue reading “How Your Drink Choices Affect Your Teeth”
The Right Diet For Your Oral Health
A commitment to good oral health means regular visits to your dentist, but it goes beyond routine checkups. To fully take care of your teeth and gums, you should be mindful of the decisions you make every day. The choices you make for your diet can have a significant impact on your oral health. By limiting your intake of foods that are higher in sugar, opting for water over flavored beverages, and watching out for foods that are more acidic, you can help keep your mouth in optimal health. Continue reading “The Right Diet For Your Oral Health”
Do You Know What Conservative Dentistry Is?
Have you ever had a tooth pulled? Did you wish your dentist would simply pull your tooth rather than perform a root canal? Have you ever had a root canal? Do you wonder why your dentist doesn’t just pull your tooth rather than do a root canal? There is a philosophy behind dentistry and that philosophy is to practice minimally invasive or conservative dentistry. Do you know what conservative dentistry is? Take our quiz below to find out what you know about conservative dentistry.
Continue reading “Do You Know What Conservative Dentistry Is?”
Soda and Your Smile
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 dentists, Dr. 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?
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
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 . . .
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.
