Friday, September 27, 2013

Nutrition and Dental Health: Is There a Connection?

Many people do not make the correlation between nutrition and oral health. Most assume that food and nutrients are only related to their physical health, especially since nutrition is such a hot topic among those in the fitness community. However, as any dentist in Jacksonville, FL will tell you, maintaining good oral health takes more than regular teeth cleanings; proper nutrition needs to be a part of it too.

Foods that are high in sugar are frowned on in the fitness community because consuming too many can wreak havoc on the body. The same goes for the teeth and mouth. Sugary foods leave behind dangerous deposits on your teeth that cause tooth decay and the erosion of tooth enamel. While it is recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day, it is also important that you limit the risk of damage by limiting your sugar intake. This also includes drinks that are full of sugar, such as soda. If large amounts of sugar are in your diet, by the time you brush your teeth for the second time of the day, damage has already been done.

Some people like to brush their teeth after each meal, but that can also be harmful to your teeth. It has been shown that certain foods and drinks can actually soften your teeth's enamel. Therefore, brushing right after a meal can actually begin to strip your teeth of that enamel.

Watching what you eat plays a key role in the health of your gums and teeth. Eating healthy by incorporating a nice variety of each of the food groups, practicing portion control, drinking plenty of water and limiting your daily sugar intake will all help to ensure your mouth stays healthy.

It is also important to note that foods high in acidic content can be detrimental to the health of your teeth. There are a variety of healthy foods that contain a lot of acid, such as some fruits and vegetables. As previously mentioned, do not brush your teeth immediately after eating these foods. Research has shown that waiting at least an hour after eating to brush your teeth will prevent any further erosion of tooth enamel.

It is always important to seek out professional dental care, but especially when damage has been done to teeth. Failure to do so will result in further damage to teeth, which becomes painful and sometimes irreversible. Teeth can become so worn down and broken that they either fall out or must be removed and replaced. If your teeth are broken, painful or missing, keeping a healthy, nutritional diet becomes extremely difficult to maintain. Certain foods become virtually impossible to eat if you are unable to use your teeth.

If you find yourself in need of reconstructive dentistry or would like to find a family dentist in Jacksonville, FL, contact David and Associates. Our group of trained professionals is here to meet all your dental and oral hygiene needs.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Reconstructive Dentistry Turns Damaged Teeth Into Brilliant Smiles

Reconstructive dentistry has improved the quality of life for countless dental patients. A dentist in the Jacksonville, FL area that specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry can eliminate serious dental problems caused by ageing, heredity or accident. It just isn’t easy to enjoy life when a tooth, bone or muscle is making it difficult to smile, breathe, chew or speak normally. Reconstructive dentistry can eliminate pain and restore normal function to your mouth.

Among the many dental problems that can be resolved with the aid of reconstructive dentistry include:
  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Damaged teeth or bones due to injury
  • Decay of gums, teeth or jaw
  • Genetic speech impairment
  • Jaw injuries
  • Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)
  • Overcrowding
Insurance Coverage

Although many insurance companies will not pay for cosmetic procedures such as tooth whitening, most insurance companies provide coverage for reconstructive procedures. While cosmetic surgery is primarily aesthetic in nature, reconstructive dentistry has the potential to restore essential functions such as chewing or speaking without pain. Nevertheless, reconstructive dentistry frequently improves a patient’s appearance. Several common reconstructive procedures are:
    Dentures
  • Dental implants
  • Root canal
  • Dental crowns
Modern Dentistry

The dental profession is meeting the unique needs of older patients. Dental procedures to repair or replace worn and missing teeth are now commonplace. Missing or damaged teeth can have a dramatic effect on mouth tissue and bone. As we age, our teeth become worn down. Worn teeth can now be lengthened and rounded to make them as good as new. Even a single worn or damaged tooth can negatively impact the health and alignment of nearby teeth.

Many reconstructive dentists combine cosmetic and reconstructive procedures to restore the health and appearance of dental patients. They often employ porcelain veneers to revitalize worn teeth. Extremely thin veneers can be used to restore the size, shape, spacing and shade of worn or damaged teeth. The patient can even select the shade of their new custom-made teeth.

Sedation Dentistry

These days, reconstructive dentistry is performed while the patient is in a state of conscious sedation. Serious dental issues can be caused by trauma, genetics, aging or poor oral hygiene. When the normal function of the mouth is impaired by a serious dental condition, reconstructive dentistry becomes a medical necessity. Teeth can literally be reconstructed through the use of composite materials and modern dental techniques. Otherwise, healthy teeth may be provided with additional support to prevent future damage, or a bridge may need to be rebuilt or repaired to promote oral health.

When necessary, a reconstructive dentist can provide a patient with a full or partial set of dentures. It’s not at all uncommon for someone to endure the inconvenience of missing teeth for many years. Fortunately, the use of dental implants can restore normal chewing capacity and improve the overall health of a patient. Unfortunately, there are instances when a severe accident necessitates the complete reconstruction of a patient’s mouth. Advanced dentistry techniques can perform miraculous transformations to improve the quality of life for an accident or abuse victim.

David and Associates is a cosmetic and implant dental office specializing in dental restoration and the creation of brilliant smiles. The reconstructive dentistry specialists and support staff at David and Associates look forward to serving anyone that needs a quality dentist in the Jacksonville, FL area.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Healthy Family Dentistry Involves Oral Cancer Screening

When people are concerned about their oral health, they don't normally think of being screened for oral cancer in addition to normal checkups and cleanings. Unfortunately, oral cancer is a very real disease, and screening is the best way to prevent and detect before it's too late.

Healthy family dentistry is all about making sure everyone in your family has proper oral hygiene. This includes screening for oral cancer. This quick, non-invasive procedure simply involves an oral examination of the gums, inner cheeks and teeth of the patient to check for anything abnormal. It’s painless and can be performed right along with any other dental work, including checkups, x-rays, cleanings and other procedures.

The reason why oral cancer screening is rising in urgency is due to the fact that most patients don't even know they have the disease until it has spread to other areas of the body and is nearly impossible to treat. In fact, the five year survival rate after discovering a spreading oral cancer is only 50 percent. Caught early, survival rates are much higher. A great dentist in Jacksonville FL understands the need to check for oral cancer for the overall health of their patients, so any threat can be caught early on.

Another reason for the increase in oral cancer screenings is the number of people being diagnosed each year with the disease. Oral cancer used to be a rare form of cancer that afflicted mainly heavy drinkers and smokers, but a recent connection with HPV is believed to be causing the numbers to rise in oral cancer patients. Every year, 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer, which is an alarming rate of increase.

Patients can make sure they are screened for oral cancer when they get their normal checkups and cleanings. A quality dentist in Jacksonville FL can use their expertise and skill to check certain areas of the mouth for signs of oral cancer quickly and discreetly. There is no pain, little discomfort, and the procedure can be done right along with other dental procedures. Since oral cancer is difficult to treat once it has spread, these simple screenings for oral cancer can make a huge difference and even save lives.

With good oral hygiene, healthy family dentisty and proper screenings, a patient can know if they have oral cancer sooner than ever before. Painless, quick and potentially life-saving, oral cancer screening is something that every person should think about when it comes to oral health. A simple screening can make a huge difference in a patient's health, and can help catch oral cancer before it spreads to other areas of the body.