Your teeth are surprisingly strong. The teeth can exert between 30 to 50 pounds of pressure and the molars can exert more than 200 pounds of force. Your teeth provide you with a way to give your body the nutrients that you need to stay alive. Proper brushing and flossing are imperative if you want to hold on to your teeth for the length of your life.
Monthly Archives: September 2008
Did you know? Teeth Trivia
Here is some dental trivia that I thought might be interesting:
- Women smile about 62 times a day compared to men who smile eight times a day on average.
- Each person’s set of teeth is unique much like their fingerprints. Even identical twins do not have exactly the same set of teeth. Did you know that your tongue print is also unique?
- It seems children have the right idea about smiling they smile about 400 times a day.
Should I whiten my veneers?
The need to whitening veneers is very rare. This is because the material used in a veneer is not very porous, so they are stain resistant. In addition, they typically are color stable.
Good Dental Care, the first line of defense against diseases and infections
Did you know that your mouth can be the first line of defense against harmful diseases and bacterial infections? Many health problems carry with them oral symptoms. Maintaining proper dental health can improve your overall health and even allow for early detection of serious health problems.
What are some dental procedures biological dentists do?
Some of the procedures that a Biological Dentist perform include:
- Metal-Free Dentistry
- Strict mercury removal guidelines
- State-of-the-art air filtration and purification
- Biocompatible Testing available
- Microscopically Monitored Oral Health (MMOH)
- Digital x-rays, which use 90% less radiation than traditional x-rays
Biological Dentistry
A biological dentist works to use natural products or materials that are more compatible with the patient’s body. A biological dentist avoids using any type of metals in the mouth. This would include avoiding metals underneath the crowns or using metal crowns as well. To some extent, biological dentists may not use implants because these materials would be incompatible with the patient’s body. Biological dentists stay away from root canals because they cause toxins in the body.
What is Bruxisim?
Bruxism is when a patient grinds their teeth side to side. Some of the signs of bruxism is that the teeth have wear marks on them and there can be pain in the joints of the jaw. Sometimes the patient has headaches or wakes up with headaches because of bruxism. It also causes sensitivity to hot and cold and can cause some gum recession. This condition should be definitely checked. If there is any bruxism going on, a nightguard is made to protect the teeth and the joints in the jaw
What’s a dental cap? Is it different than a veneer?
Yes, dental caps are different than veneers. A cap surrounds and covers the whole tooth. A veneer usually only covers the face of the tooth, not the whole tooth.
Why are my gums receding?
There are several reasons gums recede. One reason is gum disease which can be due to genetics and bacteria in the mouth. You will see that gum disease also causes gum recession. In order to combat the recession, you need to floss and brush properly and use mouthwash. I also recommend dental cleanings every three months. Another reason for gum recession could be due to improper brushing. The toothbrush hits the gum too much and you move the gum while brushing. This could happen with a manual or electric toothbrush.
What can be done to fix a chipped tooth?
Usually, if the chip is not too big, bonding can safely be put on the tooth. Bonding is a resin composite material that is tooth colored. The bonding may have to be replaced because it can discolor or it may fracture off again. If the fracture is too big, then a veneer or a crown needs to be placed in order to make sure the tooth is protected