This two-part article series presents United States tooth loss statistics born out of research collected by 11 different surveys, healthcare institutes and dental associations.

Most people think that a quick brush twice a day is enough to keep their teeth and gums in good condition, says the dentist in Pueblo CO. The vast majority fails to floss on a daily basis and to go for check-up appointments with the dentist twice a year. The result is that you have 80% of the population presenting with some form or stage of gum disease or infection and they don’t even know it!

Welcome to the second half of our two-part article series on the shocking statistics of tooth loss in the United States. In the first installment, the dentist in Pueblo Colorado focused on presenting some of the research numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, the Surgeon General’s report on Oral Health and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. In this article, the dentist in Pueblo Colorado shall focus on some of the grizzly tooth loss statistics in the elderly and its impact upon one’s quality of life before ending off with a look at the effects of tooth loss on smile aesthetics and self-esteem.

The Dentist in Pueblo CO Presents: Tooth Loss and the Elderly

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 30% of adults over the age of 65 are edentulous (have lost all of their natural teeth) and this is primarily a result of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Here’s the real shocker though: tooth loss and ill-fitting dentures are strongly linked to inadequate nutrition intake, which, as a result, can shorten a person’s life by 10 years, says the dentist in Pueblo CO! Missing teeth and dentures limit the types of food a person can eat; making it difficult for elderly patients to process the amount and variety of nutrients they need in order to stay healthy and strong. This is why we can’t stress enough the importance of opting for sophisticated teeth replacement technologies, namely dental implants. Dentures, explains the dentist in Pueblo CO, really compromise your bite functionality, jaw bone health and overall health and quality of life.

The Dentist in Pueblo CO Presents: Tooth Loss and Quality of Life

The Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Data Resource Center (DRC) have published several studies revealing that, on average, a person's quality of life is greatly diminished as a direct consequence of tooth loss. And this, explains the dentist in Pueblo CO, has everything to do with a compromised ability to chew and to speak properly, as well as a reduction in the frequency and quality of their social interactions with other people. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has found 75% of all American adults to believe that an unattractive smile can actually hurt a person's chances for career success; not only social success!

The Dentist in Pueblo CO Presents: Statistics on Tooth Loss and Self Esteem

The culmination of research and surveys done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has yielded the following information:

• At 99.7%, practically all Americans believe that your smile is an important social asset.

• 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more romantically appealing, says the dentist in Pueblo CO.

And here’s what the Opinion Research Corporation International had to say:

• 73% of Americans say they would feel self-conscious if they lost one or more of their original adult teeth.

• A healthy smile (white teeth, pink gums) scores amongst the top three aspects of a person's appearance that affects their self-esteem, says the dentist in Pueblo CO.

• 25% of Americans say that they would change their smile or teeth in order to improve their self-esteem.

Last, but not least, Guardian Insurance research reports that 66% of Americans feel tooth replacement is not just a cosmetic nicety, but is in fact a medical necessity. This is an incredibly important attitude to adopt if we are to change the way medical insurance companies treat dental implant procedures, explains the dentist in Pueblo CO.

A Final Note from the Dentist in Pueblo CO

It has been the aim of this two-part article series to encourage people to take better care of their teeth, says the dentist in Pueblo CO. After reading this, it should be obvious for all to see that the terrible oral afflictions that cause tooth loss are not found exclusively in people who NEVER brush their teeth. The pervasiveness of periodontal disease alone highlights how negligent our society is when it comes to oral healthcare and hygiene, says the dentist in Pueblo CO. Don’t become another statistic! Look after your teeth!

This article explains the process of teeth whitening and talks about the benefits of getting it done professionally rather than with over-the-counter products.

So you’re all dressed up and ready to go out for a night on the town. You look fabulous… No, really, you feel like you look sensational! Due to this brilliant concoction of sizzling self, you leap at every photo opportunity in order to have this version of you documented (this is definitely one for the grandkids).

While passing time browsing the web, you see your friends have uploaded your photos. Click. Oh dear. Your discolored teeth appear to have sucked all the glitter out of your shine. Why on earth did you choose to wear a white shirt?!

Well, I’m here to tell you not to burn your white shirts just yet. Teeth whitening in Colorado Springs is a solution that allows your fabulous you to shine once again, allowing you the confidence to make those photos go viral.

Isn’t that just for Movie Stars?

It is true that in the past, cosmetic tweaks have mainly been associated with the rich and famous. But at the Pueblo CO dentist, you too have the option to get a celebrity smile. With a quick and simple consultation, the dentist is able to create a mold that is designed especially for your teeth, making this a treatment that you can do in your very own bathroom.

Okay, but How Does it Work?

Up until now, you have possibly thought that getting your teeth whitened is a long and complicated process involving regular visits to the dentist. Well, receiving teeth whitening in Colorado Springs is a simple, straightforward and pain-free procedure that typically involves one consultation and a return to the office to collect your customized mouth guard.

On your first visit, the dentist in Pueblo CO makes a mold of your teeth. This is then sent off to the labs where they turn the mold into a tray shaped perfectly to fit your teeth. Once your tray has been made you return to the dentist to pick up your whitening kit. At this time, the dentist will give you all the details as to how to proceed.

But I want to Know Now!

With teeth whitening in Colorado Springs, the kit is made up of a professional bleaching gel and a personalized tray. You squeeze the required amount of gel (as specified by your dentist) into the tray and place it in your mouth for the allotted time. Voila! That is all there is to it. The amount of times you do it and the length of time it takes will vary from patient to patient, but generally speaking you’ll do this once a day for an hour or two, over the period of two weeks.

Can’t I just buy this at the Pharmacy??

Well, yes, you can. But truth be told, the ‘over-the-counter’ options are not as effective as the kit prescribed by your dentist in Pueblo CO. For one, those kits don’t contain a tray specifically molded to your mouth, and secondly, the bleaching gel is not as strong.

The gel that is prescribed with professional teeth whitening in Colorado Springs has a much higher concentration of whitening agent and therefore has to come with a recommendation from a qualified and registered dentist.

So, why wait a moment longer? Go visit your dentist today and allow your teeth to add shine to that fabulous outfit!

"This article explains the importance of good oral health care."

In a day and age where everyone is neurotic about germs, has it ever occurred to us to stop obsessing over our hands and think about what’s going on in our mouths? Regular brushing and flossing are fundamental components of a sound oral hygiene routine and yet people continue to neglect the health of their teeth and gums, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. What is really contradictory about this is that the same people who are sloppy about flossing their teeth have some kind of neurosis about touching the handrail on the escalator. In our germ phobic society, the prevalence of oral bacterial infection, such as gingivitis and periodontal (gum) disease, is the greatest paradox, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. Where’s the logic?

Ask the Dentist in Pueblo Colorado: What Should I be Doing?

Your hygiene routine should include regular and thorough daily brushing and flossing. It should also include a bi-annual visit with the dentist in Pueblo Colorado, so that any problems you might be unaware of can be diagnosed before they have a chance to do lasting and irreparable damage. The health of your teeth and gums are also gravely affected by your diet and by habits such as tobacco-smoking, excessive drinking and the taking of chronic drugs (legal and illegal). But this is about as complicated as it gets and we are all more than acquainted with these principles of good health. So, why do the statistics show that 80% of the American population frets about the germs on their hands, while only 60% worry about those in their mouths? Even more shocking, the dentist in Pueblo Colorado reveals that a staggering 95% of Americans believe that looking after their teeth and gums only requires brushing their teeth once a day before bedtime.

The Facts from the Dentist in Pueblo Colorado

Perhaps it’s time we understood a few simple facts about oral health and hygiene:

• Brushing only really cleans 25% of your mouth,
• A good health routine must include regular visits to the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. When it comes to your teeth and gums, prevention is always better than cure.
• You should actually floss those pearly whites, twice a day; in the morning and in the evening before you go to bed at night.

While a fear of germs on your hands may keep you from touching the objects around you, your mouth can contain more microscopic organisms than there are people on the planet! Furthermore, a great number of these nasty germs are associated with debilitating and chronic illnesses that affect the rest of the body, advises the dentist in Pueblo Colorado.

A Final Note from the Dentist in Pueblo Colorado

Good oral health care is essential if we are to preserve the aesthetics, functionality and longevity of our teeth and gums. Beyond this, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado, looking after your pearly whites will help prevent the development of serious and potentially fatal diseases – such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases – that have been shown to share a relationship with periodontitis (a result of poor oral hygiene). So, the next time you wash your hands after you eat, perhaps you should give those pearly whites a polish too!

"This article takes a broad overview of root canal therapy, what the procedure involves and the importance of it in saving badly damaged or infected teeth."

Root canal therapy: now there’s a term to make even the most stoic of individuals pale! Most of you will have heard of root canal therapy, but few of you that have will know that it is actually one of the most commonly performed and successful restorative procedures available on the market. A root canal is frequently recommended by the dentist in Pueblo CO when the insides of a tooth, where the tangle of nerves, blood vessels and soft tissues are housed (the ‘pulp’), become (1) severely decayed as a result of infiltration by bacteria, or (2) damaged by accidental trauma. While dental implants provide an excellent tooth replacement solution, ultimately, it is not always necessary or even best to ‘rip out the old and put in the new’! Besides, it is at the heart of what the dentist in Pueblo CO does to help you keep all of your original adult teeth. And this can be successfully achieved with a root canal therapy performed by a qualified and experienced dentist in Pueblo CO, such as Dr. Morgan or Dr. Rogers.

Dentist in Pueblo CO: The Procedure Involved in Root Canal Therapy

A ‘root canal’, or endodontic therapy as it is know by the dentist in Pueblo CO, can be seen as a brave endeavor to save a tooth that would otherwise be lost to bacterial infection or to the damage it has sustained in, for example, a bad accident. As it was mentioned, the pulp that lives inside the tooth root is composed of all the nerves and tiny blood vessels that essentially keep the tooth alive and healthy. Should this living tissue become affected by decay or exposed through trauma, it can die along with the tooth, says the dentist in Pueblo CO. This of course is not even to mention the amount of pain and discomfort associated with an infected and damaged tooth! The procedure itself (see series of images above) involves the removal of all the damaged and infected pulp inside the tooth and its replacement with a bio-compatible dental material called ‘gutta percha’. This cement is placed in the carefully cleaned and decontaminated interior of the tooth in order to seal the root canal space off from harmful bacteria. Once the infection has been taken care of, the tooth will be allowed a chance to heal and resume its function, says the dentist in Pueblo CO.

The Dentist in Pueblo CO: What is the Importance of Root Canal Therapy?

Many people would rather have a problematic tooth extracted than undergo endodontic therapy, says the dentist in Pueblo CO. While it is cheaper in the short term to have a damaged or decayed tooth extracted, tooth loss causes all sorts of expensive and uncomfortable problems. Tooth loss causes instability of the dental row, an increased risk of bacterial activity and the atrophy of the underlying jaw bone tissue. The latter, explains the dentist in Pueblo CO, not only makes teeth replacement using dental implants extremely tricky (and expensive should it require bone grafting surgery), but it results in severe complications for the rest of your teeth! Root canal therapy, if carried out by skilled and experienced dentists, such as Dr. Morgan and Dr. Rogers, is extremely successful in saving damaged or decayed teeth and the restored tooth can last you a lifetime.

This three-part article series discusses eight interesting and little-known facts about oral health and healthcare. Advice is also provided on how to achieve better dental health.

Welcome back to our three-part article series on interesting dentistry and dental healthcare facts. In our previous two installments, the dentist in Pueblo CO discussed the following…

Amazing Fact # 1: According to statistics released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as much as 80% of the American population presents with some form or stage of periodontal (gum) disease; a bacterial infection of the gums that, untreated, can cause tooth loss.

Amazing Fact # 2: The practice of putting a cap on your toothbrush to keep it sterile achieves quite the opposite! The cap creates a closed environment that prevents your brush from drying out. Bacteria are encouraged to flourish in this warm, humid space.

Amazing Fact # 3: You should never store your toothbrush within six feet of your toilet. Every time you flush, a cloud of fine toilet spray and bacteria are sent up into the air, which settles on every surface in the bathroom. The best practice would be to keep your toothbrush in a closed, but aerated cabinet.

Amazing Fact # 4: Sweet tooths beware! Three glasses of soda per day leads to a 62% higher incidence of tooth decay. If you value your teeth, you’ll swap that Mountain Dew for a mineral water.

Amazing Fact # 5: The first documented use of bristled toothbrushes comes from China.

In this article, the third and final installment of the series, we shall take a look at three final amazing facts!

Amazing Fact # 6: Your Dentist Knows All!

If you’re not too good about looking after your teeth, it can be a little embarrassing answering the Pueblo dental questions: “Do you floss every day?” “Are you a smoker?” “When last did you see a dentist?” Well, if you’re tempted to answer: “Yes!” “No!” “Um, last year some time…” and it’s not the truth, think again!

Many patients try to trick the dentist by giving their teeth a thorough pre-examination brush and floss. But your teeth and gums don’t lie! Their appearances and the presence of plaque and tartar deposits will tell the dentist everything he or she needs to know about your eating habits and oral hygiene routine. Better answer honestly, because your dentist knows all!

Amazing Fact # 7: Plaque IS Bacteria

We all know that plaque is dangerous and that allowing it to accumulate on your teeth can lead to cavities and tooth decay. But did you know that plaque essentially IS bacteria? That’s right… that white sticky substance you scrape off your teeth with your fingernail is composed of billions upon billions of living and dead bacteria, as well as their waste products. Gross! That’s why daily brushing and flossing are so important.

Amazing Fact # 8: Your Toothbrush Could be Making You Sick

When last did you replace your toothbrush? According to the dentist in Pueblo CO, dangerous microbes can exit your body via your mouth and inhabit the bristles of your toothbrush. So, if you’ve recently suffered from a cold, a bout of flu or any other kind of viral infection, you should throw your old toothbrush away and get a new one. Otherwise you run the risk of re-infecting yourself!

“This three-part article series provides 8 tips for great oral hygiene and healthcare.”

Regular brushing and flossing are the basic essentials for maintaining beautiful and healthy pearly whites for a lifetime, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. But there are a number of other habits you should teach yourself to adopt (and kick) in order to maintain a high standard of oral health and hygiene. In our previous article post, the first two tips provided by the dentist in Pueblo Colorado were (1) to book and keep regular appointments (twice a year) with the dentist and dental hygienist, and (2) to never neglect the oral healthcare of the youth or the elderly. In this article, the second installment of a three-part series, we shall be discussing three more tips from the dentist Pueblo CO for the lifelong preservation of beautiful pearly whites.

Tip # 3: Soda is a Treat, not a Thirst-Quencher

Everyone loves a fizzy sweet soda with their bucket of popcorn at the movies. And enjoyed this way once a week, there’s not much wrong with it. But people treat soda as their main source of hydration, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. Whenever they’re thirsty, they buy a can of pop! There are two huge problems with this. Soda is full of sugar and every time you knock back a can, you’re giving your teeth a sugar bath. Bacteria thrive on this sugar and their numbers in your mouth subsequently sky-rocket, leaving you more vulnerable to cavities and decay, explains the dentist in Pueblo Colorado.

The second problem is that soda contains citrus and phosphoric acid, which softens the enamel of your teeth, making it more vulnerable to erosion and the formation of cavities. You must train yourself to regard soda, fruit juices and energy drinks as treats and not thirst-quenchers. Teach yourself to enjoy water and you will enjoy whole body health benefits, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado.

Tip # 4: Cut Sugar Consumption Wherever You Can

You thought you had a sweet tooth… well the millions of micro-organisms crawling around in your mouth enjoy sugar more than you do. Our mouths are naturally teeming with bacteria, explains the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. They thrive on the sugar left behind by sweet snacks, foods and drinks. Their increased activity results in an increase in waste production (because everything that eats has to poop!) This waste is extremely acidic and it eats away at dental enamel, making it softer and more vulnerable to cavities, says the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. What can you do? Well, cut down on the amount of sugar you consume and the frequency with which you consume it. If you like drinking a lot of coffee and/or tea, then it’s time you trained yourself to enjoy it without sugar. Otherwise, every time you have a cup, your teeth are going to suffer.

Tip # 5: Kick the Habit for Good

Oh, you’ve heard this one before, but not from the dentist in Pueblo Colorado. Quit smoking. The tar and nicotine in cigarettes not only have an unsightly staining effect upon your pearly whites – turning them a sexy shade of yellow and brown – but they also damage and inflame the soft tissues in the mouth. Chronic exposure to cigarette and cigar smoking:

*Retards saliva production in the mouth, leaving your teeth more vulnerable to decay

*Slows blood circulation, prolonging healing

*Gives you chronic bad breath

*Increases your risk of periodontal (gum) disease

*Greatly increases your risk of developing oral cancer

For all these reasons and for your general health, it’s time to kick the habit, urges the dentist in Pueblo Colorado.

Advice from the Dentist in Pueblo CO: Stay Tuned

For more tips from the dentist in Pueblo Colorado on how to maintain lifelong beautiful and healthy pearly whites, stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series.