Gum recession is when the edge of the tissue surrounding the teeth pulls back from the teeth and wears away, exposing more of the tooth, or, eventually, the tooth’s root. This is a sign of gum disease. Gum recession is hard on the teeth as well. Gaps form between the teeth and gum line, which act as havens for bacteria. This can cause severe damage to the teeth and even jaw if not treated quickly and correctly.

Receding gums are common, but sometimes hard to catch. The first sign of gum recession is usually sensitive teeth, or  it may be that one of your teeth looks a bit longer than usual. It’s important to look for these signs and be aware of the causes of gum recession. Bacteria can eat away at gums, so infrequent brushing and flossing can cause receding gums. On the other hand, brushing your teeth too hard can also cause gums to wear away. Bruxism, or tooth grinding, and jaw clenching put pressure on teeth and gums, causing recession. Crooked teeth or a misaligned bite can also cause undue stress on the teeth and gums. Oral piercings can sometimes wear gum tissue away by constantly rubbing or irritating oral tissue. Using tobacco products also increases plaque that is damaging to gums. Even things like hormone fluctuations, especially in women, can make gums susceptible to recession, and some people are genetically more likely to develop gum disease. No matter how well you care for your teeth, you should visit the dentist regularly.

Mild gum recession may be treated by your dentist by deep cleaning the affected area. Sometimes antibiotics can be prescribed to get rid of any remaining harmful bacteria. If the condition is severe, gum surgery may be required to repair the damage. An oral surgeon may do a pocket depth reduction, which eradicates bacteria from the gum tissue, or a soft tissue graft if your teeth and gums have been very damaged. In order to avoid these complications, pay attention to your gums and visit your dentist regularly.

Some findings have shown that people who have higher blood levels of certain kinds of bacteria in the mouth are more likely to have atherosclerosis in the carotid artery in the neck. This condition often can lead to stroke. Atherosclerosis is when the arteries harden and deposits of fats and other substances in the blood stick to the sides of the arteries. If these deposits get so severe as to totally impede blood flow, you could have a heart attack or stroke.

These deposits traveling and building up in the arteries are also called plaque, but this plaque is not the same thing as the plaque on your teeth. The relationship between gingivitis and the hardening of arteries could be due to a few different things. Bacteria in the mouth enters the bloodstream via the gums. This same type of bacteria is found in artery plaques. Bacteria from the mouth may fix to the deposits in the bloodstream and become part of, and help to cause, blockages. Another possibility is that the body’s natural reaction to bacteria or infections is to initiate inflammation or swelling. As oral bacteria travel through the body, the bacteria could be causing swelling of the blood cells and then narrowing the arteries, increasing the risk of clots.

While the exact nature of the relationship is unknown, there is a connection between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. In order to prevent the bacteria that results from poor oral hygiene and causes periodontal disease, it is important to be brushing and flossing regularly. Good oral hygiene is the most effective way to remove the hard-to-reach plaque that eventually causes bacteria.

Even when you don’t feel like smiling, faking it can turn your mood around by releasing endorphins, which are the hormones that make you feel happy. Smiling also reduces stress by releasing serotonin. If you’re having a bad day, try making yourself smile! It will often turn from a forced smile into a real one.

Infants are born with the natural phenomenon of being able to smile! They may not smile in a reaction to outside stimulus until they’re between four and six weeks of age, but they can smile as soon as two hours after being born. Humans are hardwired to smile as a way of showing pleasure and love. Babies will smile in their sleep from birth.

Smiling can also increase your success. When you smile consistently, studies have shown that people will assume you are doing well. Research indicates that people who smile appear to be extra confident, capable, and they may be more likely to receive a promotion. When you smile, you will appear more approachable and self-assured as well, which is a great help in the workplace. This is why those in customer service are directed to smile. Interestingly, those who do smile, often show better results in their sales.

In some studies, subjects were more likely to select a person who was smiling as being attractive over a person who did not smile. In one study, most people surveyed said that women look younger and more beautiful when they are smiling. A confident smile will attract people to you.

Many people say they are less likely to smile when they don’t feel confident in their oral health. Remember to keep good care of your teeth and visit the dentist often—it does more than just help your teeth. It helps you to smile more, and with all these benefits, it’s something everyone should strive for.

Bad breath, or halitosis, is probably the most well-known side effect of poor oral hygiene. The tongue, in particular the back of the tongue, tends to collect bacteria and germs. The front of the tongue is better at naturally cleaning itself because it moves more. More than half of all oral halitosis is due to residues on the tongue that can be brushed away.

While unhealthy, a dirty tongue can also impede your sense of taste and even contribute to weight gain. The tongue houses your taste buds, so when it is coated with residue, the taste cells are prevented from tasting. A decreased sense of taste can be linked to an increased intake of sugar and fat.

How should you care for your tongue?

There are many specialty products that can help make the job a little easier. Relatively new on the market are tongue scrapers. There are many different designs of tongue scrapers. There are plastic scrapers built into flossers, or flexible plastic strips designed to be pulled across the tongue. There are also tongue brushes, specially designed for cleaning the tongue. Of course, you can always use a soft toothbrush.

Ideally, you should clean your tongue as often as your teeth, but at least once per day. The scraping or brushing should be done before brushing your teeth. Remember to be gentle—you can actually damage the taste buds or tongue by scraping too aggressively. Many people are deterred from brushing their tongue because of a gag reflex. Start near the back of the tongue and scrape forward, which should prevent the gag reflex from kicking in because it won’t feel like you’re going to unintentionally swallow or choke on something. Brushing your tongue more often will also start to desensitize your gag reflex, so be persistent.

He attended the Midwest Dental Conference in Kansas City last Friday and Saturday then came back on Sunday to attend the 20 year anniversary gala at Crystal Bridges for the AIDT (Academy of Interdisciplinary Dentofacial Therapy) study club. On Monday the 15^th Dr. Lais and his staff and attended the 1^st annual European Clinician Lecture for our study club at the 21C Hotel.  The speaker, Dr. Urs Belser, is one of the most renowned clinicians in the world from Geneva, Switzerland.  He does a lot of University based research, especially in the field of restorative methods and materials related to esthetic dentistry with implants.

Dr. Lais also enjoyed attending the International Team for Implant Technology North American Congress in Chicago from April 4-6. The gathering focused on the latest research in dental implants and bone regeneration.

1. Electric toothbrushes move at 3,000 – 7,500 motions each minute and are designed to imitate the way your hand moves, saving you the effort.
2. Sonic toothbrushes move at an impressive 30,000 – 40,000 strokes per minute. This fast back and forth is more of a vibrating motion than an imitation of manual brushing.
3. If you brush manually, you’ll hit about 300 strokes per minute.
4. For people with arthritis or other conditions or disabilities that inhibit the movement required for brushing, the motion of an electric toothbrush can help clean teeth properly even with little hand and arm movement from the user.
5. Some studies indicate that electric toothbrushes, especially those that utilize rotational-oscillation action, result in less plaque and fewer instances of gingivitis than manual brushing.
6. The same study found that when used properly, manual and powered brushes can be equally effective.
7. However, it is thought that people are more likely to use an electric toothbrush in the correct form than to use a manual toothbrush in the correct form.
8. Electric toothbrushes can be priced at fifteen dollars up to over one hundred dollars.
9. With both electric and manual brushes, you should be brushing twice a day for two minutes each time; ideally every morning and before bed to avoid residue staying on teeth and gums for long periods.
10. Because electric toothbrushes vibrate at a much high frequency, people with sensitive teeth need to be particularly careful about which brush they buy. Just like manual brushes, electric toothbrushes also have models with soft bristles, which are better for those with sensitive teeth.
11. Electric toothbrushes do not supplant the benefits of floss.
12. Brushing too hard with a manual toothbrush can cause gum recession, where an electric toothbrush is less likely to do so.

Finding the right toothbrush for you may be a hard thing to do, but remember that the important thing is to make sure you have the tools that allow you, and encourage you, to brush properly–twice a day, for two minutes each time. Consult your dentist if you are unsure what it best for you.

Grinding teeth is often thought to be an adult phenomenon, but is actually common in children as well. Reasons children may grind their teeth include, oral irritation, allergies, or misaligned teeth. Because children’s teeth and jaws are still developing, bruxism in children is usually not damaging and does not require treatment. Most children will outgrow it by adolescence.

On the other hand, adults who grind their teeth in their sleep may encounter problems. While people subconsciously grind and clench both during the daytime and at night, bruxism that is sleep-related is often the greater problem simply because it is more difficult to control. Bruxism puts stress on all of the muscles, tissues, and structures around the jaw. This pressure can cause joint problems in the jaw. Additionally, grinding can wear down a person’s teeth and even be so hard on the teeth as to crack them. Chronic grinders can wear their teeth down almost to stumps. Grinding may also be so loud at night that it disturbs sleeping partners.

If stress is the cause of your bruxism, you might try relaxation techniques before bed, such as deep breathing and meditation. Massaging the muscles of the jaw, neck, and shoulders may be beneficial as well. Working on relaxing your face throughout the day can help you make facial relaxation a habit. Stay away from eating hard foods such as nuts, or hard candies, especially before bed and try applying heat to the jaw muscles before bed. If the grinding is severe, ask your dentist to provide a mouth guard so that your teeth are protected during sleep.

Bruxism, while not considered to be an extremely dangerous disorder, can cause lasting damage to the teeth as well as chronic jaw pain, headaches, or ear pain. If you have any of these symptoms,  call our office to schedule a time to discuss the issue. We will work with you to pin down the cause of the bruxism and alleviate it before it causes any damage.

Often people take calcium supplements to avoid osteoporosis, but tooth loss can be another problem as age advances. Cavities, periodontal disease, or dental trauma can cause tooth loss. The chance of these incidents occurring increases as aging happens because the body’s ability to absorb calcium and vitamin D declines. Osteoporosis also affects jaw bones and could potentially lead to tooth loss, too. A decline in bone mineralization and density may also be linked to periodontal disease, which can cause tooth loss as well. Some studies have suggested that people with higher calcium intake are less likely to experience periodontal disease. Whether calcium supplements can actually be beneficial in preventing tooth loss or not is still unconfirmed and will require more research.

In addition to being important during aging, calcium is especially important during a child’s developing years. Infants and youth need calcium for their teeth to grow in healthy and strong. One-third of the matter in bones and teeth is comprised of calcium. Deficiency in calcium can affect how well teeth develop. Teeth can still be growing and developing as late as your early twenties!

Once teeth have grown in fully, calcium is important because it may also help protect them against decay.  Bones are technically tissue that is alive and needs to be well taken care of.  After teeth are developed, the body no longer deposits calcium in them, but can actually take calcium out of the teeth and bones if there is a deficiency. Because calcium is also needed for muscles, vessels, and nerves to function properly, many do not get enough calcium in their diet and the body must take it from its existing stores in the bones and teeth. When calcium is leeched from the teeth, it’s more likely that cavities will develop.

In order to maintain good dental health be sure to get enough calcium, whether in the form of food or a supplement. Calcium is essential for a strong jaw and teeth and can help prevent tooth decay. When you keep up on your calcium intake, you are not only doing good for your skeleton, but you’re also helping to maintain a healthy smile!

Inherited Traits

Some families may have genetic inclination to crooked teeth. They may have healthy oral development, but for some reason, their teeth still grow crooked. You inherit your teeth like you inherit other features like nose and eyes. If crooked teeth runs in your family, consult with our practice right away. It’s best to start intervention early to prevent other discomforting oral problems from developing later on.

Poor Oral Habits

Your teeth may grow straight, but habits like thumb sucking, pushing the teeth with the tongue, or chewing on objects may contribute to crooked teeth. Children usually have this problem. They do these to manage or cope with stress. Persistence of these habits may cause problems with oral development.  Provide something for your child to reduce stress in a non-damaging way. For instance, suggest squeezing a stress ball during stressful times.

Injuries to the Mouth

Contact sports like basketball, football, and rugby are definitely rough. Being hit on the mouth is inevitable and at times, mouth guards are not enough. Some injuries may cause teeth to grow in awkward positions.

Wearing dental braces is the most common solution to straightening crooked teeth. But if you’re looking for a more comfortable and less visible orthodontic treatment, we suggest Invisalign. These clear aligners apply the right pressure to put your teeth in the right place.

Our practice offers Invisalign as a functional and aesthetic solution for your problem. Visit us if you want to know more about this corrective treatment. Call us at 479.845.1225 to set an appointment.

 Try some of the following tips to prevent stains:

1. Never drink coffee or red wine after whitening your teeth. Your teeth are dehydrated and more sensitive to staining after the whitening process. Your saliva will rehydrate and re-mineralize your teeth in a short amount of time, but it is best to avoid the chance of staining them during this period.

2. Drinking through a straw can help prevent the offending liquid from touching the front of the teeth. Try switching to iced coffee so you can sip it through a straw.

3. Sip water or club soda in between glasses of wine to minimize the amount of acid left on your teeth.

4. Eating textured food like apples or celery can help scrub away the residue before it sets in.

5. Snack on cheese. Cheese acts as a barrier and protects your teeth from stains.

6. Chew gum after drinking dark beverages. Chewing gum makes the mouth produce more saliva, which will wash away harmful residue and will re-mineralize your tooth enamel.

7. Wait at least one hour after a glass of wine to brush your teeth. If you brush too soon you can increase wear-and-tear on your teeth while they’re still reeling from the acidity, which sets you up for stains in the future.

8. Most importantly, get regular dental cleanings. Teeth that have more plaque and tartar build-up are more susceptible to stains. Clean, smooth teeth are more resilient to staining.