Hydration and energy are important facets to athletic success. But new studies have shown that they can be just as harmful to the strength of your teeth as soft drinks. Due to their acidic nature and high in sugar contents, all these drinks can wear away the enamel from your teeth.

The Academy of General Dentistry released findings in 2005 that showed that over the course of years, sports drinks and energy drinks caused tooth decay just as fast (and in some cases faster) than soft drinks. Many young athletes suppose that as they exercise and play sports, these drinks are vital to their performance and health. While they do assist in endurance and hydration, especially for athletes engaging in strenuous physical activity, you can often get the same benefits from juice or even water with fewer risks to your teeth and your overall health.

Certainly during this hot summer season, a cooling sports drink should not be seen as a healthier alternative to soda when it comes to dental health. If you or your children find sports drinks as a frequent hydrator, you may want to rethink your sugar intake.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

Xerostomia is the academic term for what you and I call dry mouth. It is, quite simply, the feeling you have when there is little to no saliva in your mouth. You can probably recall times in your life when you were particularly anxious, dehydrated or otherwise exhausted and had that awful dry feeling.

Dry mouth can come as a result of certain medications, health conditions or from aging. Several prescription drugs are available to treat or prevent Xerostomia, if it is a persistent problem that threatens your overall dental hygiene. Saliva is important to the health of your teeth and any long-term absence of it can cause a dramatic increase in cavities. Sipping sugarless fluids or chewing gum can bring back the saliva in your mouth can also help with that dry mouth feeling.

If you have frequent dry mouth or Xerostomia, contact us today so that we can help you find the best solution to your dry mouth.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

Asthma is a lung disease that causes airways to become inflamed, making breathing difficult. Nearly 23 million Americans suffer from Asthma, 7 million being children. Those who suffer from Asthma should also know about the increased responsibilities of proper oral healthcare due to the use of Asthma medications.

Because of the prolonged use of Asthma inhalers and medications, the following oral health changes may occur:

• Increased rate of dental cavities (due to the sugar content in the inhalers and medications)
• Dry Mouth
• Increase in gingivitis or gum disease

However, these oral health changes can be prevented with the following suggestions:

• A good oral hygiene home routine
• Use of fluoride supplements, such as mouth rinses
• Increased frequency of visits to your dentist to prevent gum disease and cavities
• The use of a spacer on your inhaler to encourage better intake of medications into the lungs, and less deposits on your teeth and gums

Those who suffer from Asthma do not have to suffer from poor oral hygiene.  Call us today to schedule an appointment, and let us help with your oral healthcare needs. We have experience treating those who suffer from Asthma and we can make sure you get the special treatment you need.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

Some people think a dentist’s job is to make you feel uncomfortable. And while that can be debated, there is no doubt that a cosmetic dentist’s job is to make you look good.

Much like your hairdresser or barber or especially a cosmetic surgeon, a cosmetic dentist helps you look your best by focusing on perhaps one of the first things people notice about you. Your smile. When you meet someone new, you tell them your name, but you might also accidentally be telling them what you had for lunch or how often you don’t brush your teeth.

A cosmetic dentist will help you determine how to make your smile look the best it can and give you the confidence to smile with pride. Among the tools available through cosmetic dentistry are Invisalign, to straighten your teeth, a variety of whitening solutions to dispose of discoloration, tooth reshaping to improve appearance, gum lifts and veneers to protect damaged teeth.

These are just some of the solutions that a cosmetic dentist can offer you in your search for a brighter smile. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to see how we can help your smile shine.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

What are temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)?

Do you regularly experience any of the following symptoms:

Headaches
Ringing in the ears
Neck and shoulder pain
Pain behind the eyes
Dull aching face pain
Limited ability to open the mouth

You could be suffering from TMD. Many people experience these same problems, but after seeing several doctors are still unable to diagnose their problem. They don’t realize where the source of their pain is. The temporomandibular joint is located in the front of each ear and allows you to move your jaw, open and close your mouth, chew you food, and swallow. TMDs are problems associated with pain in this joint due to stress, clinching your jaw, or a bad bite. Many people are helped by simply talking to the dentist.

What can we do to help?

The dentist can help diagnose your particular TMD problem and help you find a solution to meet your specific needs. Splints or mouth guards can be helpful in relieving the pain by keep your jaw in a more relaxed position, inhibit clenching, and other functions tailored to the need of the individual’s TMD. If you have several of the symptoms listed above talk to us about possible solutions.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

After preparing a very generous helping of your favorite ice cream for yourself, the last thing you want is for this delectable dairy delight to cause you pain. But if cold foods like ice cream or hot drinks like coffee often cause you pain or discomfort, you may be suffering from “sensitive teeth”.

Sensitive teeth can come from any number of dental dilemmas. A cavity, tooth damage, worn fillings, and gum recession are among the common causes of tooth sensitivity.

Below the enamel and outer layers of the tooth that protects the crown, is dentin, which contains the nerve endings. When the protective layer of enamel is compromised, the nerve endings can be stimulated causing pain and discomfort, though no long-term damage occurs.

Of course, the standard dental cure of regular and proper brushing and flossing is key to preventing sensitive teeth.  But beyond this, sensitive teeth can be treated. Desensitizing toothpaste can help build a layer of protection between the nerve endings and your bowl of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream.

We can also offer other treatments in office such as a fluoride gel or for more serious cases—a root canal can help ease your pain.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

The mouth can act as a very effective early warning system. Problems in the mouth can signal trouble in other parts of the body. Saliva, like blood and urine, can be used to detect and measure many compounds in the body. Saliva collection has the advantage of being noninvasive. Saliva could potentially replace blood testing for diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases.

Recent studies point to associations between oral infections – primarily gum infections – and diabetes; heart disease; stroke; and preterm, low-weight births. To date, there is not enough evidence to conclude that oral infections cause these serious health problems. Research is under way to determine if the associations are causal or coincidental.

Gum infections have been called “the sixth complication of diabetes,” because people with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease. Researchers are exploring a possible two-way connection between the conditions to see if treating gum disease improves diabetic control.

Recent studies also point to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke in people with gum infections; the risk increases with the severity of the oral infection.

Some studies have found that mothers of preterm, low birth weight infants tend to have more severe gum disease than mothers of normal birth weight babies.

Regular dental check-ups continue to be the front line in detection of other problems in the body.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

Dental x-rays are needed when you are added as a new patient and ongoing every 6-18 months, depending on the your particular needs. X-rays help us find hidden dental decay, impacted teeth, show bone loss, cysts, abscesses and more.

Our office uses digital X-rays, which have several advantages of traditional X-rays. For instance,:

• Less Radiation: Digital X-ray provide an 80% reduction in radiation
• More Comfortable for You: Biting the paper tab used in taking traditional X-rays can be uncomfortable and push up against your mouth in awkward ways. Digital X-rays work differently by putting a small sensor in your mouth connected by a thin wire to a computer. X-rays are sent out to the sensor through your teeth to capture the image. The sensor can be moved to take other images. 
• Quick Developing: Typically they are ready in as short of a time as 3 seconds.
• Magnified Images: Digital X-rays are easily displayed at larger sizes. We are even able to magnify the image to show you close up any tooth decay or abnormalities.
• Earth Friendly: Digital X-rays are electronic so they save us from needing to use chemicals or film. They also make processing insurance claims faster.

X-rays are an important part of your dental visit, because they help us diagnose problems we can’t see on the surface. Digital X-rays are just one way we are working to make your visits better.

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.

Dental veneers are custom-designed shells of tooth-like ceramic material that, when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment, or spacing and chips or cracks. Dental veneers fall into the category of because they create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth. Even better, the translucent ceramic quality of today’s veneers provides a more natural look than what’s been available in the past. Regardless of what causes unattractive teeth, dental veneers may solve most or even all of your cosmetic dental issues, including:

• Worn enamel: Over time, the thin, hard white substance covering your teeth (enamel) may become worn, dulled, and discolored. Such wear and discoloration may be natural or the result of a genetic predisposition; however, it is often a result of your habits (soft drink, tea, or coffee consumption, smoking, medication use, etc.).
• Wear and tear: Teeth naturally wear down as people age. Aged teeth are more likely to have chips, cracks, or a generally uneven appearance.
• Genetics: Certain people may be born with abnormal spacing between the teeth that grows wider as they age.
• Uneven teeth: Uneven teeth can result from tooth grinding or general wear and tear.

Porcelain Veneers and Composite Resin Veneers

The two most common materials used in the manufacture of dental veneers are porcelain and composite resin. Both porcelain and composite veneers may be fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory; composite veneers can also be directly fabricated inside your mouth at the dental office. Dental veneers that are indirectly fabricated – fabricated in a dental laboratory – are bonded to the teeth with various types of resin cement. Of the two options, porcelain veneers are longer lasting and more expensive.

When are Veneers Appropriate?

Bonding often serves as an inexpensive and effective restoration for small chips and cracks in the teeth. Such minor problems may be functionally and cosmetically repaired with a composite “white filling.” A composite resin material is bonded to the tooth in order to fill in the chip or crack and better protect the surrounding tooth structure. But for more severe cases of dullness, wear, discoloration, mild chipping, cracking, spacing, or uneven teeth, dental veneers may be recommended as a more appropriate solution.

Veneers or Whitening?

Teeth whitening may provide a white smile for mildly discolored teeth, and lasers may be used to treat specific discoloration spots on a tooth. Some people who are interested in veneers will find that their cosmetic dentist will steer them to the simpler alternative of whitening, perhaps combined with some simple orthodontic alignment. The placement of dental veneers requires the “shaping” or “prepping” of all teeth being fitted with the custom-designed shells. This process permanently alters the teeth that are treated and is therefore not recommended if your natural teeth are functionally and esthetically adequate.If you have a severe case of dull or discolored teeth, you may have to opt for dental veneers. Veneers do have the added benefits of longevity and a proven ability to enhance the appearance of the mouth, smile, and possibly other areas of an aged face that would be better supported by properly shaped teeth. Although veneers require a much larger commitment than teeth whitening, the results are typically well worth it.

A Restorative Benefit to Veneers

In addition to being esthetically pleasing, dental veneers can also serve a functional purpose by protecting the surface of a damaged tooth. In some cases, veneers may replace the need for a dental crown, eliminating the need for more invasive tooth preparation.Because dental veneers are so thin, they might require little-to-no tooth reshaping when bonded onto the tooth. They are incredibly strong and may last up to 15 years, assuming they are properly maintained through regular brushing and checkups.Authored By: Greg Johnstone

Reviewed By: Dennis J. Wells, DDS

For more info visit Dr. Louise First or Dr. Kevin Quade at www.smilesbychoice.com.