If you’re like me, you’ll never give up ice cream and all the delicious, sugary treats even when your dentist tells you to :). Here are some inexpensive products that will dramatically reduce the amount of cavities you have over a life time! I am a huge advocate in preventing cavities. You may never have cavities ever again!

A Box of Baking Soda $1-2 – For Cavities and Dry mouth

You know that little orange box you use to make the refrigerator to stop smelling? In fact, it can eliminate bad mouth odor as well! This powerful product is at the top of my list for a reason! It’s cheap, its super effective, and easy to use.

Put some baking soda in a cup and keep it by your sink. Once you place your toothpaste on your toothbrush, dip it into your baking soda and brush! Pick some up at your store! Warning, don’t use the baking soda labeled for detergent. Use the one in the baking aisle.

Xylitol Mints or Gum – For Cavities and Dry mouth

Frequent use of xylitol gum will help eliminate bad bacteria that destroy your teeth and gums. Studies show that consuming up to 3 grams per day will lower your levels of bacteria that cause oral health problems. This is PROVEN and EFFECTIVE!

Here are some amazon links that I found to be the most affordable and effective:

Spry Mints, 240 pieces for $8 ($0.03 cents per piece)
Spry Gum, 200 pieces for $12 ($0.06 cents per piece)

Closys Mouth Wash – For Gum Disease, Cavities, and Dry Mouth

If you have chronic gum disease and are needing frequent deep cleanings up to 2-4x a year, you need this! In the past, chlorhexidine has been the gold standard, but this is proven to be more effective and never stains your teeth! It is extremely gentle and worth its weight in gold! If you suffer from gum disease this is one of the best products on the market.

Closys, unflavored, ultra sensitive mouth rinse

Xylimelts – For EXTREME Dry Mouth Sufferers!

If you wake up with dry mouth through the night or in the morning, this is for you. Xylimelts are lozenges that stick to your cheek and slowly time release an ingredient to help stimulate your saliva. Try these out!

Xylimelts, 40 pieces, for $10 ($0.25 cents per piece)

Many people may think their teeth are doomed because their mom, dad, sibling lost all their teeth and they’re next in line. This is so incredibly far from the truth. These products will help you achieve your best oral health. I would love to hear from you if you tried any of these products and if they worked for you, please!

According to SportsDentistry.com, The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. reports several interesting statistics involving the use of mouthguards in youth sports.

For the sake of this blog post, we’ll concentrate on identifying two of the most relevant stats for parents considering the best mouthguard for their kids.

1. Dental injuries are the most common type or orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports.
2. Victims of total tooth avulsions who do not have teeth properly preserved or replanted may face lifetime dental costs of $10,000 – $15,000 per tooth, hours in the dentist’s chair, and the possible development of other dental problems such as periodontal disease.

Choosing the Best Mouthguard for Youth Sports? See Your Dentist

It is estimated over three million teeth will get knocked out this year during youth sporting events. (Source: National Youth Sports Safety Foundation)

Common sense says mouthguards and helmets with face protection will certainly limit mouth injuries, but how can we be sure of the best mouthguard choice for our kids?

A properly fitted mouthguard must be protective, comfortable, resilient, tear resistant, odorless, tasteless, not bulky, cause minimal interference to speaking and breathing, and (possibly the most important criteria) have excellent retention, fit, and sufficient thickness in critical areas. (Source: SportsDentistry.com)

Basically we have two choices when it comes to mouthguards for our kids, the boil and bite job we can purchase from the local sporting goods store, or a custom mouthpiece specifically designed for their teeth and fitted by our trusted family dentist.

Boil & Bite Mouthguards

These are the mouthguards available for purchase at the local sporting goods store, essentially requiring a pot of boiling water to bring the mouthpiece into a ‘formable’ state.

We then need to have our kids bite down on the soft mouthpiece to form it around their bite. Hold for a minute, and dip it back in cold water to complete the toothy somewhat protective template.

SportsDentistry.com says, presently over 90% of the mouthguards worn are of the variety bought at sporting good stores.

The other 10% are of the custom-made variety diagnosed and designed by a health professional (dentist and/or athletic trainer).

Custom Fit Mouthguards From a Dentist

A custom fit mouthguard is specifically designed by a dental professional with the individual child’s anatomy, dental history, chosen sport, and other important dental health variables taken into account.

An easy way to look at it is, the boil and bite is one size fits all – sort of, most manufacturers do offer small, medium, and large.

The custom mouthguard is just that; custom designed specifically for the individual by a dental health professional.

Which is better?

Take a wild guess…then ask your dentist.

Which costs more?

Go figure.

But remember this when calculating short-term savings against long-term prevention, emergency dentistry will cost more than any mouthguard.

• – $5 for the standard boil & bite mouthguard.
• – $10,000 for estimated lifetime dental costs per injured tooth.
• – Forking over $500 for a custom fit job….PRICELESS!

Go For The Custom Mouthguard!

A properly fitted mouthguard from a dentist will certainly limit the severity of, and help protect against further injury to the mouth, teeth, and face.

Only your dentist can determine the perfect fit and provide the answers necessary to best protect your child’s teeth, gums, and jaw, when they’re out playing sports this season.

To continue beating the dental equity equine – talk to your dentist before your child takes the field. And do your best to ensure your child understands their mouthguard must actually be in their mouths at all times.

If it’s uncomfortable they won’t use it. And if they don’t use it, they risk injury. Need another reason to opt for the more protective custom fit mouthguard from a dentist this season?

This post originally appeared on http://dentalpatientnews.com/boil-bite-vs-custom-fit-how-to-determine-the-best-mouthguard/ and has been republished here with permission.

There are three types of ways to whiten your teeth:

1) In-Office Teeth Whitening
This is the fastest and most efficient way to whiten your teeth! It is done with our laser which is best because stronger agents are applied while your gums and the rest of your mouth are protected. It takes about an hour; it is extremely effective and can transform teeth in a single office visit. Your teeth can literally brighten up to 10 shades in about an hour! We will also give you custom take home bleach trays as well so you can use it at home.

2) Custom Take Home Bleach Trays
These trays fit precisely to your teeth and once you apply the whitening gel onto the trays and fit them in, you get high concentration and long exposure time which will help in getting great results for a whiter smile.

3) Over The Counter Teeth Whitening
These include whitening strips, “paint-on” tooth gel, whitening chewing gum, or whitening toothpaste. Most over the counter whitening solutions are safe and do not need the supervision of a dentist, however it is still smart to talk it over with your local dentist.

The most effective solution would be option number one, In-Office Teeth Whitening! However, every one of you are different so it is best to discuss it with the dentist to see which outcome would work the best for you. Hopefully this helps in your decision on choosing the best procedure to whiten your smile!

If you’ve ever lost a tooth, you know that there is a lot to think about when it comes to getting it replaced. What is the best option for replacement? How much will it cost? Are there health risks involved? To help answer some of these questions, we have compared two options for replacing missing teeth: dentures and implants.

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances that can be fitted to your mouth to replace missing teeth. These appliances are also used to replace some gum tissue that may have deteriorated. Of the dentures available, you can get a full set which replaces all teeth in either the upper or lower jaw (or both), as well as partial dentures, which are mainly used to fill in the gaps of a few missing teeth. Partial dentures can be braced by clasps around existing teeth or a precision attachment.

Benefits of Getting Dentures

• Adjustable. As time goes on, you may need to change the denture to better fit your mouth. The appliances can be easily modified to do so.
• Affordable. Dentures have many benefits, one of the most prominent being that they tend to be affordable for dental work.
• Natural Looking. For the most part, dentures will look natural in your mouth. The applications come in a variety of shapes, sizes and coloring to match the current state of your mouth.
• No Surgery Required. For some people, surgery is a higher risk procedure or simply intimidating. Dentures do not require any type of surgery.
• Support Oral Structure. Oftentimes, after losing teeth, your appearance may change slightly. Having dentures replace teeth will help restore some structure to your mouth.

Drawbacks of Getting Dentures

• Can Weaken Other Teeth. Occasionally, food can get trapped in the dentures, posing a risk for cavities or decay on any remaining teeth. They might also cause gum irritation (or disease, if not taken care of). Partial dentures may also weaken natural teeth because of the clasps needed to hold the denture in place.
• Fragile. Some dentures can be fairly breakable if dropped and should be handled carefully.
• Higher Maintenance. Dentures need to be cleaned regularly in order to prevent further oral damage and maintain the quality of the materials. They should not be worn overnight.
• Not Always Secure Fixed. Dentures aren’t always firmly in place, and can slip as time goes on due to the wearing of the appliance or jawbone changes. It may also be difficult for a person to speak or chew if the dentures are having trouble staying in.
• Restrict Types of Food. Foods that are sticky or especially crunchy (like nuts or almonds) would need to be eaten in moderation. Other foods that can be hard to eat, like corn on the cob or steak, should probably be avoided for eating ease with dentures.
• Needs Replacing. About every 3-6 years, you can expect to need to replace your dentures. If you have chosen an appliance that has a metal framework, it should last slightly longer than other models.

Maintaining Oral Health with Dentures

You should clean your dentures everyday just like you would with your normal teeth. Remove the application, rinse it and use a soft bristle toothbrush (with non-abrasive cleaner) to carefully clean the surfaces. This will help prevent scratches. When you take your dentures out, keep them covered in water to maintain their shape. (Note: You can use a different denture cleaning option, like Polident®, but you should avoid using chemicals such as bleach.)

It’s also important to efficiently cleanse your mouth after wearing dentures all day. Brush your natural teeth, your tongue and gums (gently). Use mouthwash for a finishing touch!

Cost of Dentures

The cost of dentures will vary slightly depending on where you live and the quality of dentures you choose.
Dentures are a generally more affordable option for tooth loss, but the cost can be lowered even more with a discount dental plan.

Implants

Dental implants are artificial posts (usually made of titanium) that act as a tooth root. The implants are inserted into your jawbone to anchor a replacement tooth or bridge. This method is useful to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth.

Benefits of Getting Dental Implants

• Long Lasting. Dental implants are meant to be a long-term solution to missing teeth. On average, dental implants last for around 15 years – sometimes even for life! The implants actually help to preserve the bone of your jaw and prevent the gum tissue from shrinking.
• Low Maintenance. After an implant, you can take care of it just like a normal tooth. Be sure to brush and floss daily!
• Natural Function. Implants are one of the most natural looking options for replacing a tooth. They also function just as well as natural teeth.
• Secure Bondage. Because the implants integrate with the jawbone itself, it will not pose any sort of risk of slipping or falling out suddenly.

Drawbacks of Getting Dental Implants

• Can Be Expensive. Implants are a costly option for replacing a tooth. For many, it can be difficult to afford the cost of the implants and crowns or bridges. However we (Choice Family Dentistry) does offer many payment plans, discounts, and much more options to make it very affordable!
• Requires Surgery. Some people want to avoid surgery because of health risks or dental fears. The process of dental implants does require surgery.

Maintaining Oral Health with Dental Implants
As mentioned above, dental implants are simple to take care of because they don’t require extra maintenance. You can treat them like normal teeth – brushing and flossing daily. If you have a concern or question, bring it up with your dentist.

Cost of Dental Implants
Like most dental procedures, the cost of dental implant varies widely based on your location, dental health and the type of implant you need/want to get. Besides the actual implant surgery itself, additional costs may come from the diagnostic tests (i.e. bone graft) needed to perform the procedure.

Comparison
Both dentures and implants have their own advantages and disadvantages. So, which one is best for you? Take a look at the quick comparison lists below.

Are you more inclined to wear dentures or get implants?

Let us know in the comments below!

We hope this article has given you an idea of what is involved in getting either dentures or implants, as well as an accurate estimate of how much each procedure will cost.

As you decide, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

This post originally appeared on www.1dental.com and has been republished here with permission.

We often don’t think about brushing our teeth until we actually need to do so. That, however, can actually be harmful to your oral health.

Your mouth has all sorts of oral bacteria in it, and keeping your mouth clean helps lessen the harmful bacteria that may cause tooth decay. The tools that you use to brush your teeth and maintain great oral health also need your attention!

We’ve compiled some “Dos” and “Don’ts” for keeping your toothbrush sterile and teeth healthy.

Don’ts

Share a Toothbrush.

It should be obvious that sharing a toothbrush is unsanitary, but it also has the potential to transfer harmful bacteria and systemic diseases from one person to another. If you share a toothbrush with someone who has a weak immune system, they will be more likely to get sick from it. You shouldn’t share a toothbrush with anyone – not even your family members.

Travel Without a Container.

Even when you’re in a rush, resist the urge to just throw your toothbrush in your bag. Also, don’t substitute an actual toothbrush cover with a paper towel or a piece of foil – it is not the same. Without a proper cover, your toothbrush can collect dust and germs easily. Do you really want to use it to clean your mouth if it’s dirty?

Keep Your Toothbrush Contained at All Times.

While it’s important to keep your toothbrush covered when you are traveling from one place to another, at home (or when you arrive at your destination) you need to store your toothbrush in the open. This will help it dry out after use, and prevent the growth of bacteria. Germs can grow fast in a small, moist space. Also, try letting it dry out in an upright position.

Do’s

Replace Your Toothbrush.

About every 3 months or so, it’s a good habit to dispose of your current toothbrush and start using a new one. This is just a helpful thing to do regularly to avoid any oral health problems in the future. It goes for electric toothbrushes too – replace the head every few months. You should also replace your toothbrush if you notice signs of wear (bent bristles, etc.). A damaged toothbrush won’t be able to keep your teeth clean!

Wash Your Toothbrush/Toothpaste Holders.

How often do you wash that cup that sits on the counter by the sink? I bet you – like most people – don’t give it a second thought after placing your toothbrush in it for the day. But as you can imagine, those holders can get pretty nasty pretty quickly. Try to give it a good scrub at least once a month to prevent the spread of germs.

Provide Distance Between Your Toothbrush and Someone Else’s.

It’s a good rule of thumb to keep your toothbrush isolated away from other people’s personal hygiene products – especially their toothbrushes. It’s a great precautionary measure for keeping your toothbrush free from unwanted germs.

Clean Your Toothbrush.

You might find this odd, thinking, “Why would I clean it if I am going to throw it out in a few months?” But your toothbrush can easily collect bacteria in a matter of days – so cleaning it every so often is an easy option to keep it fresh. Options for cleaning your toothbrush include:

• Rinsing It Before and After Use. You should do doing this regularly, but in case you aren’t – go ahead and start the habit now!
• Soaking It in Antibacterial Mouthwash.Antibacterial mouthwashes can work as sanitizing agents for your toothbrush. Soak your brush in the mouthwash for a couple of hours every couple of weeks.
• Using a UV Sanitizer. These sanitizers are becoming more and more popular. They use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms on your toothbrush. Take a look at some of the best sanitizers on the market, here.

Without a clean toothbrush, you could have a lot worse things than cavities to worry about! Take our advice from the points above to keep your brush – and ultimately, your teeth – as clean and healthy as ever.

This post originally appeared on www.1dental.com and has been republished here with permission.

“I love this place! I feel so comfortable and clean every time I leave after an appointment. Dr. Choi is gentle and very honest when it comes to oral hygiene. Her and her staff are very professional and great to talk to.”

-Oscar J. Picon

Thank you Oscar! You’re the best!

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