One of the popular fillings now being used is a composite resin filling. The benefits of these fillings include:

• Coloring – composite resin fillings can be colored to match the tooth
• Strength – composite resin fillings improve the strength of the tooth
• Natural – composite resin fillings are almost invisible so they blend in and look like natural teeth
• Durability – composite resin fillings are more durable than metal fillings

Fillings are generally required when tooth decay has been identified and removed by a dentist. The hole left in the tooth is filled using material that will prevent further decay while adding strength to the tooth. In the past, satisfying those criteria were more important than cosmetic appeal. Today, cosmetic appeal is of equal importance, and that is where composite resin fillings find their appeal.

If you have broken fillings, or old metal based fillings, talk to your dentist about having them replaced with composite resin fillings. The procedure is no different than having decayed tooth material removed. Instead of decayed tooth material, it is an old filling that will be removed. You may be surprised at how natural the finished results will look, and you will have the added benefit of much stronger teeth.

Veneers are very thin slices of porcelain or plastic that are glued to the surface of your teeth. Unlike many other forms of cosmetic dentistry, veneers generally don’t require any tooth reshaping. Your tooth will require a thorough clean first to ensure there are no harmful substances trapped between the tooth and the veneer.

If your dentist considers a veneer to be the best option, a mold is taken of the tooth and a veneer produced to match that mold. The veneer is then fixed to your tooth, effectively giving it a brand new cover. Porcelain veneers are long wearing with most patients getting 15 or more years from them. The typical time frame is 10-15 years. They have the added benefit of being virtually stain free.

If you have discoloration problems with your teeth, or they have chips or fine pitting, discuss the option of porcelain veneers with your dentist. They are not as costly as some of the alternate procedures yet they can add decades to your tooth’s longevity. They can certainly bring back that brilliant smile of years gone by.

Of the three options mentioned, the dental bridge is the most popular. Partial plates can be uncomfortable while implants can be expensive. Bridges are a cross between the two in that it involves permanently fixing a false tooth in place.

The procedure is fairly straight forward. The teeth either side of the missing tooth are prepared, generally by applying reshaping techniques. A mold is then made of the missing tooth and the reshaped teeth. This mold is sent off to a lab where a special false tooth is created. In the meantime, your dentist will most likely fit a temporary bridge in place. This will protect the area while waiting for the new tooth to be fitted.

On your return to the dentist, the new tooth is fitted. Occasionally there are some last minute adjustments that are required before the false tooth is permanently bonded to the teeth on either side. Once the bonding is complete, the tooth is permanently in place. This means you can eat and carry on daily life as normal.

Bridges can last ten or more years, however, to be really effective patients with bridges do need to practice good dental health regimes including rinsing, brushing and flossing. If you’ve lost your smile due to an accident, cosmetic dentistry can certainly help to restore and renew it.

Now, after a certain age, that is when you are counted amongst the senior citizens, you need to take a little extra care of your dental health. With age, the production of saliva decreases in the mouth. Also, certain medicines cause dry mouth. Now, dryness of mouth triggers bigger dental and gum problems. Thus, you need to take care of your oral health more. With age, people find it difficult to hold and use the toothbrush properly.

If you are at the threshold of that age, here’s what you need to do:

• Get yourself an electric or battery-operated toothbrush to make brushing easy and convenient.

• Rinse your mouth after consuming anything, absolutely anything. This will also help you keep your mouth hydrated.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. You need it at all stages of life. And water will keep dryness of mouth away.
• Include some fiber in the diet. Some people resort to consuming simple food. Make sure you have adequate roughage in your meals to cleanse not only your mouth but also your system.
• If you wear dentures, make sure you clean them after every meal.
• Keep all the appointments with your dentist. Even if they are just regular check ups, never miss an appointment.

If you have an elderly person in your family, tell them how they should go about taking care of their teeth.

• Are you eating right? It is important to eat the right kind of food, not only for your overall well being but also for that attractive smile. Include foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium in your diet. Also, add a lot of fiber to your meals. And don’t forget to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. This will keep your mouth hydrated and clean.

• Have you got your teeth errors rectified? If you haven’t, you are letting your smile be affected by worn out, chipped teeth or gaps between teeth. Treatments using veneers, crowns, bridges, and bonding can rectify the errors in the teeth. Visit your dentist for teeth correction.
• Have you sought treatment for your dental problems? You cannot afford to have plaque or tartar in your mouth. Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis can also occur because of poor oral hygiene. Visit your dentist to get these ailments treated.
• Do you visit the dentist regularly? Even if you don’t have a visible problem, you need to see your dentist every six months. You can also visit The Smile Spa. Like the usual spa, a smile spa pampers you while performing a dental procedure like teeth whitening.

Hope this post helped. Pay attention to small things and you will never be ashamed of your smile.
Happy smiling!

So, how do you prevent that foul smell in your mouth? By doing as I say. (Oh! I have wanted to say this for so long!) Read on.

Rinse your mouth well every time you eat or drink anything. The number of meals and snacks that we eat in a day usually surpasses the number of times we brush our teeth. Moreover, brushing is not possible every time you nibble on something or take a sip of a drink. Make a habit of rinsing your mouth after having eaten anything. You can use a good mouthwash once a day to freshen up your breath. Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Keeping the mouth salivated is simple yet one of the most effective ways to prevent bad breath.

Try to avoid food with garlic and onions as these trigger bad breath. Brush thoroughly an hour after you have eaten strong-smelling food. Cut down on smoking or consumption of tobacco in any other form. Tobacco not only gives you bad breath, it also spoils your smile with stains.

You can chew on mint leaves, parsley, green cardamom, or anise seeds to freshen up your breath. Keep some of these breath fresheners with you all the time. And don’t forget to visit the dentist if no amount of oral care seem to help you.

Take care. Happy smiling!

The Right Way of Brushing

You should hold the brush at a 45 degrees angle from your teeth surface. You need to brush the front teeth with upward and downward motions. You should apply short strokes to brush your teeth. At one time, brush only one tooth; keep the stroke aligned to one tooth at a time. You must brush both sides of your front and side teeth. The molars, or the last teeth in the two sides on both the upper and lower teeth sets, have three exposed sides. Brush the front, back, and top of the molars.

It is important you be gentle when brushing; do not be too harsh on the teeth. Brush along the gum line gently to prevent any plaque formation.

You need to floss places like the gaps between your teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach.

More Tips on Brushing

Here are a few more guidelines on brushing:

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that has a small head.

• Change your toothbrush every three months, even if it does not appear tattered. If it looks worn out earlier, change it immediately.
• Brush for at least two minutes every time.

Hope this post helped you understand brushing better. Keep watching this space for more tips on improving your dental health.

Happy smiling!

• Make sure you brush your teeth properly before going to bed.

• Make sure you do not skip brushing even a single tooth. Bacteria can flourish in places you do not clean regularly.
• Floss everyday. Flossing ensures that no food debris are left in between the teeth.
• Rinse your mouth well every time you eat or drink anything. This helps keep your mouth clean and moist.
• Keep your mouth hydrated at all times. Saliva keeps your mouth moist. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to make sure your mouth is never dry.
• Try not to rub your tongue vigorously. Always apply gentle moves to clean your tongue.
• Avoid eating too many sweets. And avoid eating anything sweet after dinner. Bacteria love sugar; keep your mouth clean before going to bed.
• Never ignore any pain in your teeth and gums. Do not wait for a problem to aggravate before you visit your dentist.

Keep smiling, people!

• Make sure your mouth doesn’t invite bacteria. Follow a proper dental care routine. This one is the most basic thing you can do if you love your smile. The routine will keep bacteria at bay.

• Keep a check on your blood sugar level. Diabetics are more susceptible to getting gum diseases than others. If you are a diabetic, you have to take extra care of your dental and overall health.
• Kick the butt. Cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke everyday. In fact, avoid consuming tobacco in any form.
• Avoid snacking on sweets between meals. Eating sweets during meals does not damage your teeth and gums too much. And, yes, do clean your teeth thoroughly after you have had your meal.
• Beat that stress. Stress makes your immune weak, making you unable to fight infections of any kind.
• Take extra care if you are a woman. Yes, women are more prone to gum diseases than men. This is because of all the hormonal changes they have to undergo from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. Therefore, if you are a woman, you need to pay more attention to your dental health.

Follow these tips and you won’t have a bad smile day.

Happy smiling!

• Brush your teeth at least two times a day, preferably after meals. You must brush once before going to the bed. And remember to brush gently. Brush your teeth for at least for 2-3 minutes. You can play your favorite song while you brush.

• Leave a gap of an hour between a meal and brushing. Brushing immediately after a meal leads to teeth erosion as the acids in the food make the teeth vulnerable.
• Floss your teeth once a day. This cleans your teeth thoroughly. And be sure to scrape your tongue gently once a day. Cleaning the teeth is not enough. However, the tongue should not be scraped too hard as it may open the pores for bacteria.
• Make fiber a part of every meal of yours. Go for vegetables and whole fruits. This helps clean your mouth and takes care of your overall health.
• Bite into a carrot or an apple when you feel hungry. They cleanse your mouth along with satisfying that hunger.
• Keep your mouth hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. This prevents the formation of bacteria in the mouth.
• Rinse your mouth after you have consumed anything, be it a sip of milk or a biscuit.

So, have you been doing all this? And I hope you do visit the dentist every six months.

Happy smiling!