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Tag: reno nv dentist
Reno Dentists: Remove Stains and Get Whiter Teeth
Reno Dentist: Relieve Your Toothache
Getting To Know Your Tooth Enamel
Ninety-six percent of tooth enamel is composed of minerals, while the remaining percentage consists of water and organic material. The main mineral in enamel is hydroxylapatite which is also known as crystalline calcium phosphate.
The Role of Tooth Enamel
The main role of tooth enamel is to protect the soft layer of dentin. Enamel also serves as a hard surface for chewing, grinding, and crushing food.
Enamel is semi-translucent and porous. Eating dark foods and drinking dark beverages, such as red wines, coffee, or soda, can cause the enamel to discolor and stain. Smoking, age, and certain medications also cause tooth stains. A beautiful smile is a white smile, so if your teeth are stained, consider professional, safe teeth whitening prescribed by Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans.
Enamel Erosion
Even though enamel is the hardest substance in your body, it is susceptible to damage. The food you eat contains sugars and starches, and when these components mix with saliva, they form acid. The acid extracts minerals from tooth enamel, weakening it. Then bacteria invade and cause decay, or cavities. Acidic foods, like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and carbonated beverages, also erode tooth enamel. Your tooth enamel doesn’t remain soft forever. Saliva will remineralize and re-harden the enamel within 30 minutes to an hour after you stop eating and drinking. Continue reading “Getting To Know Your Tooth Enamel”
Shoud You Use Mouthwash?
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.
Beautiful Dental Crowns in Reno NV
After we have determined that you require a dental crown, we will choose the best option for you. We offer porcelain, metal (gold), porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns. Porcelain crowns mimic the color and opacity of natural teeth, and we will select the color that matches your teeth. Because porcelain crowns are not as strong as our other options, we place them on front teeth. In cases where teeth are under high pressure—like back teeth, or front teeth in patients with bruxism (nighttime grinding)—we will place gold or PFM crowns, which are much stronger than porcelain alone.
You will need to come to our office twice for crown placement. During the first visit, we will prepare the tooth for the crown, take dental impressions, and send the impressions to a dental lab that will make your restoration. Once we receive the crown from the lab, you will come in for a final adjustment and we will cement the crown in place.
If you are interested in dental crowns or other restorative dental procedures, please call Wager Evans Dental at (775) 800-4845. We offer restorative, preventive, and cosmetic dental services to patients in Reno, Lawton, Spanish Springs, and Sparks, NV.
The Connection Between Gum Disease and Stroke
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.
We’re Dr. Brian Evans and Dr. William Wager, and the health and wellbeing of our patients is our top priority. We want to help you maintain optimal oral health and a high quality of life. For more information about gum disease, oral hygiene, or to schedule an appointment, call our dental office in Reno, Nevada, at (775) 800-4845.
