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?”→
Our team at Wager Evans Dental wants to help you establish healthy dental habits with your children. Dr. William Wager likes to pay special attention to his younger patients and keep them on the right track for a lifetime of healthy smiles! Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about childhood dental health.
Tooth sensitivity may not seem like a big deal…that is, until you have it. The shooting pain that comes when you bite into an ice cream cone or take a sip of hot coffee is just unbearable. If you have severe tooth sensitivity, even an icy cold wind can leave your teeth in pain.
What causes tooth sensitivity? Enamel erosion might be to blame, and the same goes for tooth decay.
To understand what enamel erosion is, you first need to understand what tooth enamel is. Enamel is the hard, white coating that covers your teeth. This coating is your teeth’s natural defense system, and nature knew what it was doing when it designed the human body because tooth enamel is the second hardest naturally occurring substance in the universe, second only to diamonds! This means that it can protect your teeth from the extreme pressures, temperatures, and elements your teeth come in contact with on a daily basis.
Still, however, your enamel isn’t indestructible. While it’s unlikely that your dental enamel can chip off, it’s very likely that it can wear away, and this can happen for several reasons. In most cases of enamel erosion, acid is to blame. Every time we eat or drink, acids form in our mouths and, if not removed by proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing, can begin to eat away at our tooth enamel. Enamel erosion is often present in people with acid reflux disease and GERD because of the high levels of acid that come up from the stomach to the mouth. Frequent vomiting and consuming foods and drinks that are high in sugar and carbohydrates expose your teeth to even more acidity. Continue reading “The Inside Scoop About Enamel Erosion”→
Is using mouthwash part of your everyday dental hygiene routine? For some people, swishing with mouthwash goes hand in hand with brushing and flossing. For others, mouthwash is only used occasionally, before a special occasion, or not at all.
Dental professionals tend to view mouthwash as an added positive habit to help maintain oral health and hygiene for the following reasons:
A mouthwash with fluoride can help reduce your risk of cavities and periodontal disease.
Mouthwash can make your mouth feel fresh and your breath smell better. When asked, most people attribute this advantage as their reason for using mouthwash in the first place.
Because it can reduce the strength and amount of dental plaque and bacteria in your mouth, the use of mouthwash helps to promote overall oral health.
Overall, mouthwash helps to ensure the health of your smile, but it is crucial to know that mouthwash alone is not enough to keep your teeth, gums, and tongue healthy. Dr. William Wager and Dr. Brian Evans suggest using a mouthwash or oral rinse as the final step in the dental hygiene process. After fully cleaning your mouth (that means brushing and flossing), swish with a mouthwash or oral rinse, spit it out, and go to bed or leave the house for the day.
There are many types of mouthwash available, and certain kinds are available for patients with special needs. At your next dental checkup and cleaning, talk to a member of the Wager Evans Dental team about which mouthwash or oral rinse is right for you. To reserve an appointment, call our Reno, Nevada dental office at (775) 800-4845.
At Wager Evans Dental, we believe in a strong connection between your oral health and your overall health. It’s clear that maintaining oral health is essential to optimal wellness, and this month is the perfect time to bring attention to one of the reasons this connection is so important.
The month of May is National Stroke Awareness Month. While you may wonder what stroke awareness is doing on a dental blog, it’s important to know that strokes are much more closely related to your oral health than you may have thought.
In addition to being linked to health issues like tooth loss, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s, gum disease is a leading risk factor for strokes.
Researchers have been trying to prove this connection for years, and, last month, the Seoul National University College of Dentistry in Seoul, North Korea, found that gum disease is twice as likely to cause strokes than it is to cause diabetes. Also, gum disease is equally as likely to cause strokes as it is to cause high blood pressure.
So, where does this connection come from? A stroke occurs when a ruptured blood vessel or impaired blood flow causes brain hemorrhaging (bleeding) or when a clot blocks a blood vessel. Dr. Wu, a stroke expert from the State University of New York at Buffalo, says that bacteria are to blame. Harmful bacteria enter the bloodstream from the mouth, stimulating blood clotting, damaging the lining of blood vessels, and increasing the risk of stroke.
The bottom line: take care of your dental health to reduce your risk of gum disease and stroke. The best way to protect yourself is by having regular dental exams and cleanings every six months and brushing and flossing daily at home.
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