At a young age, we were taught that cleanliness is next to godliness, and that included maintaining our teeth sparkling white. We had our parents to thank for that, and as a result we ended up with happy smiles. But as we left the nest, we sometimes neglected dental hygiene and placed less attention on dental care. And that’s when we started getting dental problems.
Basic Dental Care
Yes, dental breakthroughs have been happening while you were busy sipping that cup of coffee and when you were munching that chocolate candy bar the other day. Luckily for you, there is a wide variety of options to choose from that address any dental issue.
Dental Cleaning
Plaque and tartar buildup are not pretty to look at. Brushing alone just won’t get rid of them. That is why it is recommended to visit the dentist twice a year, provided you have good oral hygiene habits and a healthy mouth. You’ll go through plaque and tartar removal, expert flossing and fluoride treatment. Take full advantage if you have this covered by your insurance.
Tooth Whitening
Coffee and tea lover? Can’t get through the day without caffeine? You should know by now that certain foods stain the teeth, and coffee and tea are definitely on that list. Pigments from dark-colored drinks can become embedded in the cracks and ridges of your teeth if you don’t take proper measures of caring for those pearly whites.
If your teeth are stained, not to worry — there are at-home whitening kits you can try. But please note that these DIYs have lower concentrations of whitening formula compared to dentists. So, you’ll end up requiring more treatment. If you follow good dental habits, tooth whitening at the dentist will last you a year or two.
Fillings and Repair
For many of us with a sweet tooth, we’ve had our fair share of toothaches caused by tooth decay from eating too much candy and forgetting to brush. And it didn’t matter that one time until it compounded. Lo and behold! Hello, damaged tooth.
Dentists start off by removing the decayed tooth material, cleaning the affected area and filling the cleaned out spot with filling material like porcelain, composite resin (tooth-colored), gold or amalgam. When it’s closed and repaired it prevents further decay.
Bridges and Implants
It can be a scary thing to lose a tooth or two when you’re already an adult especially when it’s noticeable. It’s a confidence buster. Well, you can have that confidence back with bridges and tooth implants.
A bridge is made of false teeth is suspended between two crowns and is cemented at both ends, hence the term. The drawback to a dental bridge is that cavity may form under the bridge and may require removal and replacement. If you’re only missing one tooth, you could opt for implants. The false tooth from an implant is embedded in the gum (jaw bone) and matched to the color of the neighboring teeth, making it a naturally looking tooth. Whatever option you choose, you can discuss this further with an implant dentist to provide you with more information.
Oral Cancer Examination
You’ve heard of the age-old saying that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. The goal of oral screening is to detect mouth cancer, if any, at an early stage. Although not all agree to its practice, people who are high-risk can benefit more from it, such as individuals who smoke or chew tobacco.
Do your teeth and yourself a favor. Give them a little more TLC and keep brushing!
Featured Image Source: Pexels
