This three-part article series provides 10 fascinating dental facts that might just help you improve your daily oral health and hygiene habits.

Did you think you knew everything there was to know about your oral health? Brush twice a day, see your dentist regularly, yadda yadda yadda. You’ve heard it all a million times before. Well, think again! Some of the statistics coming out of the dental healthcare institutes and associations are quite sobering and indicative of a population that is not quite as “in-the-know” as we’d like to think!

In this three-part article series, dental implant specialists in New York tell us 10 very interesting facts about oral health and hygiene: 10 facts that might just compel you to up your game as far as looking after your teeth is concerned!

Fact # 1: Tooth decay is frightfully common in the United States

Tooth decay is the most common ailment in the United States, second ONLY to the common cold or influenza!

“Tooth decay is caused by the accumulation of plaque and tartar (collectively referred to as calculus) on and around the tooth structure,” explain dental implants specialists in New York. “Calculus IS bacteria and the acidic wastes they produce damage your dental enamel forming cavities. Left untreated, decay can lead to the infection of the inner pulp chamber, necessitating root canal therapy to save the tooth. Ultimately, decay leads to tooth loss and the need for dental implants.”

The terrible statistics of tooth decay and tooth loss in the United States tells us that people of all ages, genders and economic and social backgrounds are not taking the simple measures necessary to keep their teeth and gums in good condition. Is this a matter of education? Financial constraints? Laziness? Perhaps, but no reason is really good enough. You need your teeth. They play a fundamental role in digestion, communication and presentation. Start looking after them!

Fact # 2: The average American brushes for a fraction of the recommended time.

“You should brush your teeth for two minutes, two to three times a day,” say New York dental implants specialists. “Yet, the average patient only brushes their teeth 38 seconds PER DAY!”

This explains in part why tooth decay is so common in the United States! Next time you brush your teeth, time yourself and see just how much brushing time you’re cheating yourself out of. Try and spend 30 seconds per quadrant of the mouth to get a proper, thorough clean. Don’t forget to brush your palate, tongue and inner cheeks as well. Plaque accumulates on the soft tissues just as readily as it does on your teeth!

Fact # 3: Don’t Floss? You’re leaving 35% of your tooth surfaces unclean!

You may hate flossing, but if you don’t do it every day you’re leaving 35% of your tooth surfaces unclean! That’s like climbing in the shower and only washing your abdomen, leaving your legs, arms and head full of sweat and grime.

“Flossing is an integral component of a thorough oral hygiene routine,” stress dental implants specialists in New York. “It’s why oral hygienists floss your teeth when you come for a professional cleaning – there simply is no better way to clean between the teeth!”

You must floss every day, preferably before you go to bed at night, or else you are leaving all that plaque and food debris to remain trapped, increasing your risk of tooth decay and associated problems, such as bad breath.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more of the fascinating dental facts provided to us by New York dental implants specialists, stay tuned for the second installment of this three-part article series.

This four-part series scrutinizes and dispels six of the common misconceptions people have about dental implants and dental implant procedures.

Dental implants are the standard of care for New York citizens who have lost one or more of their natural teeth. And when it comes to getting new teeth in Stamford CT, dental healthcare professionals will tell you that there is really no other technology they would recommend in favor. Yet in spite of this, the majority of Americans still opt for older, more conventional and less beneficial technologies. These include traditional dental bridges, which are used to replace single teeth, and removable dentures, which are used by those who have lost most or all of their original adult teeth. The reason people still choose these older technologies comes down to six very common myths and misconceptions. With the help of dental implants specialists in New York, we will be dispelling these myths in this four-part article series.

Let’s begin with the biggest misconception surrounding these fantastic teeth replacement devices…

Busting Myth # 1: Dental Implants are Prohibitively Expensive

One of the biggest reasons patients opt for conventional bridges and dentures is because they think they could never possibly afford dental implants. While this technology does initially cost more than a set of dentures, you have to consider what you’re getting out of your purchase! Dental implants are 44-inch HD LCD TVs… dentures are the tiny 12-inch black-and-white boxes that made popular kitchen counter appliances in the 1960’s. The one offers crystal clear clarity of picture, massive sound, beautiful colors and an incredible entertainment experience. The other is useful as a crackly radio… and eventually a doorstop.

When it comes to replacing missing teeth and the importance of their function to your daily life, you want the 44-inch HD LCD TV. Not the 12-inch black-and-white box. You want to be able to smile, eat and speak with confidence – as if the new teeth you have now are the teeth you’ve always had. Removable dentures simply cannot rival the aesthetics, functionality and long-term benefits and advantages of dental implants.

In addition to this general philosophy, when compared to other teeth replacement technologies, dental implants are actually the smarter and more cost effective solution. They come with low maintenance requirements and seldom, if ever, require restoration. Dentures, on the other hand, require frequent replacement and the need to invest in repeat expenses such as soaking solutions, anesthetic gels, adhesives and cleaning products. Over the years, these expenses can add up tremendously and you can end up spending more money on dentures in the long run than you would on dental implants in the first place.

This is not even to mention the fact that denture wearers tend to suffer from bone loss in the jaw and that bone health and volume can deteriorate to such an extent that, ultimately, the only teeth replacement solution available to them is bone grafting and dental implants!

If you are worried about the cost of dental implants, you must remember that most large dental implant facilities in New York offer financing options for patients. This makes payment more convenient and manageable. Speak to a dental implant specialist about your options before you proceed. You can save yourself much trouble and yes, money, by making the smart teeth replacement choice.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read up on more of the common myths and misconceptions surrounding dental implants and the procedures used to get new teeth in Stamford CT, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.

This article explains how dental implants help to maintain good jawbone health and in doing so, promote the longevity of one’s natural youthful facial contours.

When it comes to replacing teeth that have been lost to decay, gum disease or a bad accident, most people consider the immediate benefits… the ability to eat properly again and of course being able to smile without feeling self-conscious! But according to dental implants specialists in New York, these innovative devices offer benefits that no other teeth replacement technologies – not conventional bridges or removable dentures – can touch. And it all comes down to the very simple fact that dental implants replace the roots of the missing tooth or teeth and not just the crown.

Just How Important Are Your Tooth Roots?

The tooth roots do more than just provide an anchor for the crown – the component of your pearly white that is visible above the gum line. They play a vital role in keeping the jawbone healthy and they do this by transmitting the forces associated with biting, grinding and chewing into the surrounding hard tissue.

“The eating forces work to keep the bone ‘exercised’, which helps to maintain a strong and healthy jaw,” say new teeth specialists in New York. “In fact, the benefits of this functional stimulation are very much like those experienced with regular exercise and your muscular definition! When muscles are worked, exercised and stretched, they become strong and their bulk is maintained (if not increased). If you don’t exercise at all, they wither away as a result of atrophy. The same happens to bone.”

“Patients who have lost teeth and left them untreated often undergo a remodeling process of the jawbone whereby the volume of this bone decreases,” explain dental implants specialists in New York. “The bone that previously encased the roots of the teeth becomes resorbed, resulting in a loss of volume that can make future treatment using dental implants difficult.”

Traditional Technologies Versus Dental Implants

It is precisely for the above-mentioned reason that new teeth specialists in New York recommend dental implants over and above traditional teeth replacement technologies that only really replace the crowns of the tooth. These technologies, such as conventional bridges and removable dentures, allow the underlying jawbone to deteriorate and atrophy and the consequences this has on a patient’s natural facial contours can be quite devastating.

“Bone loss in the jaw has a tremendous aging effect upon a person’s face,” explain dental implants specialists in New York. “Without the bulk of the jawbone to uphold and support the facial tissues, they begin to sag and the mouth starts to look sunken-in. By replacing teeth with dental implants as soon as tooth loss occurs, this remodeling process can be avoided completely and a healthy bone volume maintained. Dental implants can essentially help prevent premature aging of that portion of your face as a consequence of tooth and bone loss!”

A Final Note on Dental Implants

It’s quite fascinating to learn of the deeper benefits of a technology we all thought we were quite familiar with. Instead of just replacing the visible part of a missing tooth, they replace the root as well and in doing so they keep your jawbone stimulated and healthy. This has tremendous benefits for your entire smile; making implants the very best and most advantageous teeth replacement technology on the market.