Have you ever been to a dinner or cocktail party and had someone whisper in your ear, “You have spinach in your teeth”? If you’re like me, you start assessing how many people you’ve been smiling and laughing with since you indulged in the spinach dip!

Having an appealing, flattering smile begins with a clean, healthy mouth. If you’re behind on your dental exams and cleaning, then that’s your first step. This visit will only remove any tartar or plaque build-up on your teeth and brighten your teeth with a thorough cleaning on all sides, including in-between. This will also help you have refresher breath!

When heading to a holiday gathering that will include food (as most do!), slip away to the restroom after eating to check your teeth. A bit of black pepper or a poppy seed can ruin your smile, which is often the first thing people notice when meeting you. Also, be sure to tuck some floss in your pocket or purse to remove bits that don’t swish away with water.

One more tip: Every time you eat or drink something (other than water), an acid attack begins in your mouth. This is not only bad for tooth enamel, it triggers production of oral bacteria that eat away at gum tissues and tooth surfaces. Rather than nibble your way through New Year’s Day, consider eating three healthy meals. If you must snack, select crunchy carrots, celery or apples rather than that leftover Christmas fudge! This can help you avoid cavities along with a good oral hygiene routine at home.

Smiling, laughing and being close with others is more joyful when you feel confident about your mouth. A healthy mouth is a positive reflection on you. Call us at (828) 274-9440 if you want to restore your smile to a healthy state.

It’s pretty rare that I run into someone who claims to “enjoy” getting their teeth cleaned. As a matter of fact, I not only hear the opposite from most people, occasional complaints about how “rough” their Hygienist is accompany the dislike of these visits.

The reality of this is not a hard-handed Hygienist or that dental cleanings are merely dreadful procedures. The reality is (drum roll) your cleanings are uncomfortable because your gums are tender. And, the reason your gums are tender is because you probably don’t floss your teeth.

Tender gums indicate that bacteria is attacking your sensitive oral tissues. Gums that bleed easily are a symptom of periodontal (gum) disease. If treated early, the cost and time required to restore your gums to a healthy state will be minimal. However, as gum disease progresses (and it WILL without treatment), the procedure is more involved.

Once your gums are restored to good oral health, it is a simple process to keep them that way. However, this requires twice daily brushing (at minimum), daily flossing (not a difficult or time-consuming task once you get the hang of it), monitoring sugar intake and drinking plenty of water to keep the mouth moist.

We see a number of patients periodically who have had their gums restored to a healthy state for evaluation and cleanings in-between visits to their regular dentist’s office. They come in smiling and leave smiling. Their cleanings are neither dreaded or uncomfortable. And, their smiles sparkle and their teeth are at minimal risk for cavities.

Join them! Call us at (828) 274-9440 to schedule a periodontal evaluation.

Imagine contracting a house painter to paint a home infested by termites. Or, even worse, knowing the house has termites and hoping they’ll go away.

Your smile is a reflection on your appearance, hygiene standards, personality, and affects speech, digestion and your ability to enjoy foods – enhancing your life every day in many ways. Yet, the value of a healthy mouth goes even further.

The bacteria of periodontal (gum) disease can become bloodborne through tears in gum tissue. As it travels throughout the body, this inflammatory bacteria can trigger reactions that have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, pre-term babies and even impotency. Gum disease is also the number one reason for adult tooth loss in this country.

The best way to have, and keep, a healthy mouth is to begin with its foundation. If your gums are not healthy, you will experience continual problems that just get worse and worse.

Your six-month dental hygiene visits remove tartar and plaque that has accumulated between visits. However, gums that are tender while your teeth are being cleaned is not necessarily because the hygienist is rough. Tender gums indicate the presence of bacteria. This is when periodontal therapy through a trained periodontal specialist will adequately help you regain a healthy mouth in a way that is appropriate to your individual needs.

For example, if your gum disease is at a specific level in some areas but not others, a Periodontist will customize your treatment accordingly so you don’t receive more (or less) treatment than necessary in any particular area. Your treatment by a Periodontist will restore your oral health for a foundation that is easy to maintain and actually helps you prevent problems in the first place.

A Periodontist has earned a dental doctorate and then continues an additional 3-4 years in school to become an expert in the soft tissues in your mouth, including dental implant placement. Think of it this way: Rather than have a house painter put a fresh coat of paint on termite infested siding, find the right person who can rid you of termites once and for all! Call (828) 274-9440 to learn more.

When deciding on a new easy chair for my den, I could have purchased one for less than the one I ended up purchasing. My decision to buy the higher priced chair was made based on its construction, workmanship, materials used and overall feel that would give me many years of pleasure.

While we all want to be budget conscious, it is just as important to make wise investments that give us true value. When contemplating tooth replacement, cheaper options may be a partial or crown-&-bridge combination. Even though a Dental Implant will cost more initially, it is designed to last your lifetime.

Partials and crown-&-bridge typically need repair or replacing periodically. Plus, they can affect the health of neighboring teeth. It is a fact that the next tooth you’ll lose is a neighboring tooth when replacing teeth through these means. This is not the case with Dental Implants.

Dental Implants do far more than merely restore missing teeth. They protect your overall oral health, preserve underlying jaw bone structure, and create a wise investment you’ll never regret! Call (828) 274-9440 for more information.