Sugar And Your Teeth

    If you took an extracted tooth and dropped it in a can of soda, it would dissolve in about ten days.  This is because most sodas have a very high sugar content (sugar free is available).  Something else to consider is that some sodas have added citric or ascorbic acid.  In addition, they put the bubbles in soda by blowing carbon dioxide into the solution.  Carbon dioxide and water make carbonic acid (a mild solution).

     You can think of your soft drink as a sugary solution laced with acid, or an acidic solution laced with sugar - either one is very bad for your teeth.  Read the ingredients - if you can find something you like that is sugar free with no bubbles - you should be home free!

Teeth Are Tough!

     Did you know that enamel (the outside layer of the tooth) is the second hardest, naturally occuring substance.  Only diamonds are harder.
    It seems silly that such a hard substance falls such easy prey to decay.  Bacteria present in the mouth combined with high carbohydrate foods (sugars) that produce acids that make short work of tooth structure.  This can be an expensive and perhaps painful process.
    To hopefully avoid this situation, watch your diet.  Stay away from sweets and brush at the minimum, twice a day.  The most important being right before you go to bed.

DETECTING ORAL CANCER

     When your dentist looks into your mouth, he puts all his powers of detection to work.  Tooth decay or unhealthy gums are easy to spot.  But he has to look closer than the obvious.  Mirror, light, x-rays and other instruments help.  So do his years of training and practice.
     Your dentist is a trained medical observer.  He'll be able to spot any suspicious lesions, lumps, discolored areas, or sores that might be malignant.  Early detection saves lives.
     Lips, tongue, cheeks, any part of the oral cavity are proper sites for inspection.  If there's any suspicion of oral cancer, a biopsy or sample of the tissue under suspicion can be sent to a pathologist for examination.  In most cases the suspect tissue may be found to be normal and not malignant.  It may be just a minor irritation that's causing the problem.
     But it's always best to be sure.  If there is a problem, it's so much easier to cure if discovered in time.  Your dentist is trained to spot other medical symptoms as well as give you the care you need for good dental health.

For more info, please visit our website http://www.andyjacksondds.com/

FIXED BRIDGE TO THE RESCUE!

     If you have one or more missing teeth creating gaps that should be filled, you may want to consider fixed bridgework, or implants. 
    Missing teeth can do more than affect the shape of your face.  They can also throw your teeth out of alignment and cause other serious dental problems.  If you choose fixed bridgework or implants to solve the problem, you'll have "new" teeth that will be permanently fixed in your mouth.  You won't have to take them out to clean them.  They can be brushed and flossed like natural teeth.
    Before your dentist recommends fixed bridgework or implants, he will check the overall health of your mouth; paying particular attention to adjacent or supporting teeth, gums and bone.  They will have to be strong and healthy enough to supportthe restorative work.
    If you feel you may be a candidate for this type of procedure, are curious or have any questions, please call 707-552-4110 or visit our website http://www.andyjacksondds.com/

WHEN DENTURES NEED A CHECKUP

     For most people, it takes awhile to get used to wearing full dentures.  Once they achieve a degree of comfort and usefulness, you may think you no longer need help from your dentist.  Far from true!
     The tissues on which dentures rest are changing constantly.  Sometimes the ridges that support dentures recede and shrink, causing the dentures to loosen.  When this happens, your dentures will have to be adjusted to fit properly  again.
     Dentures have to be kept clean and free of deposits or they can have an adverse effect on the health of the mouth.  This is another reason for regular checkups.  A minor irritation can cause infection and inflammation of the gums.
     Like anything that is subject to constant wear, it has  to be properly maintained.  Occasionally, dentures must be relined, and if your mouth undergoes major changes, it may be necessary for you to be fitted with new  dentures.  Full dentures solve the problem of missing teeth, but they need periodic  checkups,  just like real teeth.
    

TEMPORARY CROWNS

     So, you've been to the dentist and had your tooth prepared for a crown.  Now you're waiting for the dental lab to fabricate it.  Chances are you have a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready.  The "temporary" will have cosmetic value in maintaining the appearance of your mouth.  It will also serve some important functions, such as maintaining the proper space and bite relationships with adjacent and opposing teeth.
     Often the temporary crown will be made of an acrylic-type material to match the shade of your other teeth.  It is not intended to last very long, only until the permanent crown is in place to give the tooth long-lasting protection.
     If you wait too long to have your permanent crown seated, the temporary crown may wear and allow the tooth underneath to move.  If this happens, the permanent crown may not fit properly.  Keep your appointments!
     If your temporary crown comes off, this is more of an annoyance than an emergency - don't panic.  Very likely it will go back in place and stay until you can schedule an appointment.  Even if it doesn't bother your, don't leave it off for a long period of time - the tooth may shift.

EMPTY CALORIES

     If you think of your mouth as a haven for strong, healthy teeth, you'll want to keep tooth-damaging foods out - sweets, gummy foods; foods with little nutritional value.  They're called "empty calorie" foods. 
    The bacteria that work hard to destroy teeth, gums, and bone, love empty calories and gummy foods.  They turn sugary foods to an acid-like substance, which causes decay.  They love gummy goods because they're harder to remove when you clean your teeth.  And they have a passion for "empty calorie" carbohydrates such as unenriched bread, cereals, and other foods that lack the vitamins, iron, and other minerals your body needs for good health.
    Keep the empty calories at bay by limiting the amount of sweets, sticky foods, and low-value carbohydrates you eat.  Eat enough fress fruit and vegetables to give your chewing muscles a good workout, and to get the nutrients you need.  Get enough high protein in meat and vitamin-rich foods to maintain good health.

And protect your dental health with regular checkups.

If You Have Fixed Bridge Work....

you're probably enjoying the newfound strength and function of your teeth.  Replacing your missing teeth with a fixed bridge should make a world of difference in your quality of life.

Here are a few suggestions for maintaining your new bridge:

1. Avoid hard or brittle foods, which can break the bridge

2. Lengthen the life of your restoration with a little extra flossing and brushing to eliminate the plaque that can build up between your bridge and your natural teeth.

3. Use a floss threader of superfloss if you're having trouble cleaning between your bridge and your gums.

     Practice strong dental habits with your bridge, just as you would your own natural teeth, and it will last a long time.

Any questions or comments, contact us.
http://www.andyjacksondds.com/
office@andyjacksondds.com
707-552-4110

Mouthwash Won't Remove Film

     TV ads will tell you that mouthwash will remove the "morning film" on your teeth.  But you won't find a dentist who will agree with that!  They opt for good flossing and brushing for clean teeth and healthy gums. 
     Plaque is a colorless film that adheres to the teeth, especially along the gum line and in tooth crevices.  This coating may be a source of bad breath.  More importantly, it contains bacteria that combines with sugar to form acids which create decay and irritate gums.
     Brushing correctly is important, but flossing is also essential to be sure you get all those places where plaque can hide.  If you feel that you are doing a good job, but the hygienist says otherwise, disclosing tablets might be a solution.  They contain a food coloring that stains plaque a blue or bright red.  Once you've discovered your problem areas, brush and floss until the red is gone.  Remember, flossing and brushing remove "film" not mouthwash.

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