This 8-part series provides an in-depth look at seven different habits, addictions and behaviors that are deadly to your oral health.

Welcome back to our 8-part article series on the different habits, behaviors and addictions that are deadly to your good oral health. In our previous installment, Part 2, we began our journey through the different sins that could end you up in the Rutherford dental implants specialist’s chair requiring new teeth. Deadly dental sin # 1 is poor oral hygiene and neglecting to brush and floss your teeth regularly and thoroughly. In this article, we’ll be focusing on deadly dental sin # 2: tobacco-use.

The Dangers of Smoking and Tobacco-Use

Smoking is terrible for your health. Virtually every body knows this. But why smoking is bad for your oral health is quite an interesting story to tell and understanding the various mechanisms behind this deadly dental sin may just provide smokers with the encouragement (or shock and horror) they need to quit. So, why is smoking bad for your oral health?

1. Smoking Irritates the Soft Oral Tissues

The chemicals in tobacco smoke, as well as the sheer heat of the smoke itself irritates and inflames the delicate soft tissues in the mouth – the inner cheeks, gums, tongue and soft palate. It also inflames the salivary glands.

2. Smoking Causes “Dry Mouth”

Tobacco-use retards the natural production of saliva in the mouth, which leads to a greater production of plaque and tartar. Saliva is your body’s natural defense against oral bacteria. It not only helps to flush out food debris, it also contains natural anti-bacterial properties. Therefore, when there is a chronic shortage of saliva, the mouth is far more likely to succumb to infection and periodontal (gum) disease, caused by excessive bacterial activity.

3. Smoking Interferes with Normal Cell Function

Smoking actually interferes with the normal functioning of gum tissue cells, rendering smokers more susceptible to infection, gum disease and potentially fatal cancer.

4. Smoking Slows the Rate of Healing

Tobacco-use thickens the blood, slowing the rate of healing in the mouth. This means that a smoker who has accidentally, for example, cut their gum, is at a higher risk of infection than a non-smoker. The same applies to post-operative healing. Smoking can reduce the success rate of surgical procedures, such as dental implant placement, and prolongs healing. Norwalk dental implants specialists generally recommend that patients cease smoking a few weeks prior to surgery.

There’s No Way around It…

Tobacco-use is just plain terrible for your general and oral health. Whether you smoke it, chew it or snort it and whether you smoke cigarettes, light cigarettes, infinite light cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, cheroots or any other imaginable tobacco product… it’s bad for you and it causes:

• Chronic bad breath
• Tooth discoloration and staining
• Inflammation of the gums and oral soft tissues
• Inflammation of the salivary glands
• “Dry mouth”
• A greater risk of oral infection
• The faster build-up of plaque and tartar
• Periodontal (gum) disease
• A lower chance of surgical success, especially with implant placement
• Oral cancer

Stay Tuned for Part 4

Stay tuned for the fourth installment of this 8-part article series in which Rutherford dental implants specialists discuss the number three transgression against good oral health: avoiding the dentist.

This 8-part series provides an in-depth look at seven different habits, addictions and behaviors that are deadly to your oral health.

Welcome back to our 8-part extravaganza on the different habits, behaviors and addictions that are deadly to your good oral health. In our introductory article, Norwalk dental implants specialists – people who really understand tooth loss and the various factors that cause it – discussed what the average mouth looks like under the microscope and that, at any given moment, it is teeming with bacteria.

No matter how often you brush or floss, you will never be able to completely eliminate these organisms, but this is not necessarily a bad thing! Most of the bacteria in your mouth is good for you and even helps to fight the good fight against the bad species of bacteria. But, when people neglect to look after their teeth and gums properly, both kinds of bacteria are allowed to multiply unchecked and that’s when potentially disastrous problems begin to develop.

Deadly Dental Sin # 1: Neglecting Oral Hygiene

The portrait of the average American is of one who showers every day and spends time and money on his or her appearance. They even perhaps suffer from a touch of germ phobia by refusing to touch staircase rails and carrying an anti-bacterial hand gel in their bags. And yet, the very same people, who would baulk at the idea of not showering for a week, do not take the essential steps required to maintain good oral hygiene. For a population that generally takes a stand against germs, we certainly do allow our mouths to be a bacterial playground!

“Brushing your teeth twice a day is simply not enough,” explain New York dental implants specialists. “Everybody should be brushing two to three times a day AND flossing.”

Flossing is an activity that is done by few people and yet, unless you are using a similar technology such as a Waterpik®, it is essential for keeping the narrow gaps between your teeth free of food debris, bacteria and plaque. Not flossing is like showering without soap and a sponge: you aren’t removing as much dirt and germs as you could be.

A Good Oral Hygiene Routine Looks Like:

• You should brush your teeth three times a day, after meals.
• Brush for at least two minutes at a time.
• You should floss your teeth before you go to bed at night, every night.
• Rinse with an ADA-approved anti-bacterial mouthwash to complement your routine, but it should never replace a brush.
• Visit the dental hygienist for a professional cleaning twice a year.

Other Important Tips Include:

• Make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.
• Wait about 30 minutes after a meal for the PH levels in your mouth to neutralize before you brush your teeth. Acid softens dental enamel, so if you brush immediately it could lead to faster erosion.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months and immediately if you’ve recently suffered a cold, flu or other viral infection.
• Don’t store your toothbrush in an airtight container as the moist environment encourages bacterial growth.
• Do store your toothbrush in an aired cabinet or upright somewhere away from a flushing toilet.

If you aren’t brushing and flossing regularly and thoroughly, you are committing deadly dental sin # 1!

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the third installment of this 8-part article series in which Norwalk dental implants specialists discuss the number two transgression against oral health: tobacco use.

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

Welcome back to this three-part article series in which Norwalk dental implants specialists walk us through some very interesting and, at times, surprising facts about oral health and hygiene. In our previous article post, the second installment of the series, the following were discussed:

Fact # 1: As much as 75% of the American population suffers from some stage of periodontitis or gum disease.

Fact # 2: 90% of systemic diseases, such as diabetes, have ramifications for one’s oral health.

Fact # 3: Good oral hygiene can lower your risk of developing a suite of potentially life-threatening illnesses, including heart attack.

We have four dental facts to go, so without further ado…

Fact # 7: If you drink more than three cans/bottles or glasses of soda a day, your teeth are at a 62% greater risk of decay than those who don’t.

Long gone are the days when products such as Coca Cola were considered to be good for your health. Nowadays, we understand just how pumped full of sugar the various brands of soda are and sugar encourages bacterial growth in the mouth. This makes your teeth become substantially more susceptible to tooth decay, especially if it’s a regular indulgence. To make matters worse, these beverages are also very acidic, which softens your dental enamel and makes it more vulnerable to erosion.

“Soda, fruit juice and energy drinks should never take the place of water in your diet,” say Norwalk dental implants specialists. “If you’re thirsty, just drink good old water. Instead, view these sugar-rich beverages as a treat to be enjoyed occasionally. You’ll find yourself appreciating them so much more.”

Fact # 8: Just emerged from a bout of flu? Throw your toothbrush away!

“Your toothbrush can harbor the germs that made you sick in the first place, especially if a virus caused your illness,” say All On 4 Implant specialists. “If you’ve just recovered from a viral infection, throw your toothbrush away and get yourself a new one to avoid re-infecting yourself and whoever may share the toothbrush holder with you!”

Fact # 9: If you ever accidentally knock out a tooth, put it in a glass of milk.

Here’s a handy bit of advice, especially for moms and dads of young, reckless teenagers. If you or your child ever accidentally gets a tooth knocked out, pour a glass of milk and store the tooth in it immediately! Outside of the safe environment of your mouth, a tooth will start to die in as little as 15 minutes. It can survive longer in milk or in a decent volume of saliva. Milk is typically easier (and more pleasant) to procure in a short amount of time.

“Call the dentist and book an emergency appointment right away,” stress Norwalk dental implant specialists. “If you want to avoid teeth replacement, time is of the essence!”

Fact # 10: Babies don’t have the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

A newborn baby’s mouth is so pristine and healthy they don’t actually have the species of bacteria that cause tooth decay. This, surprisingly enough, is passed onto them by their moms and dads via kisses and via blowing on hot food to cool it down. It is inevitable though… so don’t feel too bad about it if you’re a parent! You still have plenty of time to help them live a healthy dental life in order to avoid the need for Norwalk dental implants down the road.

This article explores the widespread success of dental implants in the replacement of teeth that have, through any of a number of factors, become irreparably damaged, broken or decayed, or have gone missing altogether.

Norwalk dental implants have totally changed the approach dentists take to restoring smiles that were previously regarded as irreparable. Teeth that have suffered a lifetime of abuse and are now irreparably damaged or decayed can be extracted and replaced with an exceptionally strong and aesthetic technology, thus completely restoring a patient’s bite functionality and smile confidence. Unfortunately, and especially when it comes to Norwalk dental implants, patients will always have fears, anxieties and reservations. We intend to change that today as we use this article to explain the procedure behind the placement of Norwalk dental implants as well as the benefits offered by these sophisticated tooth replacement devices.

Norwalk Dental Implants: How They Work

The concept is simple: a tooth that has become decayed or damaged beyond restoration is extracted by the dentist and the empty tooth socket sterilized. A titanium screw is then inserted into the jaw bone at the site of the missing tooth, which will provide a fixed and resilient anchor for an artificial tooth crown. The latter component is the only part of Norwalk dental implants that is visible above the gum and it is fabricated from material that mimics the optical qualities of natural dental enamel. So, typically you don’t have to worry about unnatural results, or any metal being exposed when you smile! Furthermore, this ceramic material is really hard and resistant, just like natural dental enamel, so you can use Norwalk dental implant to eat all the foods you love.

The benefits of Norwalk dental implants and their incredible success rate of over 95% speak very much for the success of this technology:

• Norwalk dental implants fully restore functionality to the mouth as a tool for eating and for communicating through proper articulation in speech.
• The restorations (crowns) and prostheses (bridges) supported by Norwalk dental implants are expertly fabricated to be virtually indistinguishable from any natural healthy teeth.
• Norwalk dental implants are cared for just like natural teeth. No need for any fancy and expensive technology.
• Norwalk dental implants boast an incredible lifespan of decades. Some patients have had their implants for 30 years and are still going strong!

Norwalk Dental Implants and the Inevitable Question: “Does it Hurt?”

Without a doubt, patients ask: ‘Does it hurt?’ Thankfully, there are many reasons you don’t need to fear Norwalk dental implants or the surgical protocol required to place them:

• Incredible advances have been made in the field of implantology. Nowadays, the procedure required to place Norwalk dental implants has refined down to a very precise art that incurs minimal incisions and little to no sutures, which can exacerbate post-operative swelling, pain and discomfort.
• The availability of sophisticated computer imaging software enables oral surgeons to view and assess a patient’s dental problems, as well as prescribe a working solution that is as minimally invasive as possible.
• Norwalk dental implants are always placed under the effects of local anesthetic. For more complex cases or when desired, intravenous sedation or a general anesthetic can be used.
• Patients also have the option to receive a sedative prior to the procedure, which is usually administered intravenously or orally.

Norwalk dental implants: In Conclusion

The benefits of Norwalk dental implants as a tooth replacement technology are unquestionable. Restoring complete bite functionality and fixing smiles that have become broken and gappy is at the very heart of what implant dentists do. And remember: the answer to that frequently asked question is, “no, Norwalk dental implants typically don’t hurt!”