Gum Disease Beyond Your Mouth

Weight Loss Connected to Periodontitis

A pilot study conducted in November 2011 looked at how excess weight affects the body’s natural ability to fight gum disease. Researchers compared two groups of obese people with periodontal disease to assess and compare their body’s ability to fight back using natural, non-surgical methods of periodontal treatment. One group shed significant amounts of weight during the treatment and the other group maintained their initial weight. The group that lost weight fought periodontal disease with natural, non-surgical methods much better than the group that maintained their weight. Drs. Wager and Evans and our team are equipped to identify any gum disease during regular cleanings and checkups. Continue reading “Gum Disease Beyond Your Mouth”

Holiday Nutrition for Reno Smiles

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”

Shoud You Use Mouthwash?

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.

Perio Protect Puts Peridontal Disease in its Place

I’m Dr. Brian Evans of Wager Evans Dental, and because my partner, Dr. Wager, and I understand the impact dental health can have on your whole body and wellbeing, we place special emphasis on disease prevention.

At each of your routine dental checkups and cleanings, we will perform a thorough exam to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to inflammation, pain, and even tooth loss, so we make it a priority to monitor your mouth and offer advice to protect your oral health.

If you develop gum disease, we may suggest treatment with Perio Protect, an effective, convenient, non-surgical therapy.

Perio Protect is a comprehensive method that is customized specifically for the patient to help manage communities of bacteria that grow in the spaces or pockets between teeth and gum tissue. The primary goal of this system is to manage bacteria with minimally invasive dentistry for lasting oral health.

Using dental impressions, your Perio Tray will be custom deigned to fit your mouth, and then sent with a prescription to a certified dental laboratory. You will receive detailed instructions about how to use your device based on your individual needs. For most patients, the Perio Tray is used for only a few minutes each day.

We are proud to offer such advanced technology to our patients, and the response to the treatment has been overwhelmingly positive. Patients have described the Perio Tray as comfortable, convenient, and easy to use.

To find out if Perio Protect is right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our Reno, Nevada, dental office by calling (775) 800-4845.

Enter to Win at Wager Evans Dental

Wager Evans Dental recently kicked off a brand new giveaway program! Next time you’re in our office, be sure to look for the fish bowl at the front desk.

Ask any member of the office team about our short, 5-question survey, and make sure you fill it out and drop it in the fishbowl. By taking a minute to answer these questions, you are helping your dental care team take better care of you. The opinion of our patients is very important to us. We want to know how we’re doing so that we can give you the best care possible.

Also, by taking a minute to answer the questions, you will enter a drawing for a fantastic prize package! Once a month for the next 6 months, we will draw a name from the fishbowl to win a Crest/Oral B gift bag. Each gift bag comes with a new, top-of-the-line Oral B electric toothbrush, two tubes of Pro-Health toothpaste, and Pro-Health nighttime mouth rinse.

Be sure to drop your survey in the bowl next time you’re in the office. Also, don’t forget to include your email address on the survey so that you receive special Wager Evans Dental emails, news, and promotions.

If you have postponed a routine dental checkup and cleaning, make an appointment to come in soon and take advantage of this great giveaway. Patient Ed Ng did, and he won the first giveaway just last week!

To schedule an appointment, please call our dental office in Reno, Nevada, at (775) 800-4845.

The Extreme Power of Tooth Enamel

Did you know that the second hardest naturally occurring substance in the world is located inside your body? It’s true. Your tooth enamel is second only to diamonds.

It’s incredible! Tooth enamel is the white coating you see on your teeth when you look in the mirror. It is incredibly hard and is the natural defense system for your teeth.

In addition to protecting your teeth, tooth enamel helps to regulate how your teeth feel and respond to temperature. Your tooth enamel is filled with tiny tunnels that connect the nerve in your tooth to the root. If your teeth are sensitive to hot and/or cold temperatures, it is all thanks to your tooth enamel.

While there is no real substitute for this protective covering, scientists are discovering ways to promote growth of natural enamel. Eventually, this will make dental fillings and drilling a thing of the past.

Although your tooth enamel is the toughest substance in your body, it’s not completely invincible. After you eat or drink, acids temporarily soften your tooth enamel, making it vulnerable to sugars and other harmful bacteria. Fortunately, your saliva is designed to re-strengthen your tooth enamel when this occurs. Your saliva builds itself back up to prevent these sugars and bacteria from sticking to your teeth and causing infections and tooth decay.

This is just one example of how closely everything in your mouth works together and how important it is to have regular dental checkups to make sure that everything is healthy and in proper working order.

If you are due for a dental cleaning or exam, please call the Wager Evans dental office in Reno, Nevada at (775) 800-4845.