Wheeling Dentist | What Are Veneers? Veneers are aesthetic solutions that may be recommended for those who are interested in restoring the color and appearance of their teeth. Veneers can be used to: ▪ Re-shape teeth ▪ Improve the look of your teeth due to stains ▪ Fix teeth that are chipped, fractured, crooked or broken ▪ Close gaps between teeth Veneers are custom-made to fit over your natural teeth. The foundation of your natural teeth must be strong and healthy in order to be a candidate. Results from veneers can be very drastic, and instantly improve the appearance of your smile. For more information, contact our Wheeling dentist.
Dentist Wheeling | Symptoms and Preventions of Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and is one of the most common health conditions in our population. It is caused by plaque and bacteria buildup that forms around the gum line, and creates pockets between teeth and gums. This disease can progress and contribute to deteriorating oral health and overall health, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and pregnancy complications. Although periodontal disease may progress without pain, it is important to take note of symptoms to prevent further overall health problems. Symptoms • Gums that bleed during and after brushing teeth • Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth • Receding gums • Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums • Red, swollen or tender gums • Loose or shifting teeth • Sores in your mouth • Painful or sensitive teeth Health and lifestyle changes can help to reduce the risk, severity and speed of gum disease development, including: Proper Dental Care – Maintaining good oral health consists of professional cleanings by your dentist at least twice a year, as well as proper brushing and flossing. Brushing eliminates plaque from the surfaces of teeth and flossing removes food particles between teeth and under the gum line. Maintain a Well-Balanced Diet – Proper nutrition can help strengthen your immune system and fight off infection. Eating foods that are high in vitamin E and vitamin C can help your body repair damaged tissue. Reduce Stress – Stress makes it difficult for your body to fight off infections since it weakens the immune system. Avoid Clenching and Grinding Your Teeth – Excessive force on your teeth and tissues may increase the rate at which these tissues are destroyed. This pressure may speed up the breakdown of the periodontal ligament and bone. Stop Smoking – The chemicals in tobacco products is a significant risk factor for the increase of gum disease. People who smoke tend to collect more tartar on their teeth and often develop deeper periodontal pockets once they have gum disease. If you experience any symptoms of periodontal disease or for more information on prevention, please contact our Wheeling dental office.
Dentist Wheeling | Nutrition & Oral Health Registered dietitians at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognize a link between mouth health and nutrition. Oral infectious diseases, as well as acute, chronic and terminal illnesses with oral symptoms can impact not only our ability to consume food properly, but also our health and nutrition status. Learn more about the link between nutrition and oral health from your dentist in Wheeling, IL.
Dentist Wheeling | Thanksgiving and Oral Healthcare Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! This day marks an event where everyone can feast and eat all the food that their tummies can handle. It is one of the few days of the year when people break their diets and really indulge at dinner. During this time, recipes can be found on how to stay on a healthy diet this holiday while still being able to enjoy delicious meals. However, maintaining good oral health is also essential to your overall health. While there are certain foods that will prevent you from packing on a few pounds, there are foods that will prevent you from tooth decay as well. Here are some foods that you should eat to keep your smile healthy this holiday: Include celery and carrots into your stuffing. Both vegetables contain beta carotene, which helps your body create vitamin A – a nutrient essential for building strong teeth! Eat lots of turkey this holiday! Turkey is high in phosphorous, which is needed for tooth development. Pumpkin pies are a good source of vitamin C and helps to supply the calcium needed in the development and re-mineralization of teeth. Side dishes made with greens and winter vegetables, such as green beans, asparagus and butternut squash, are great sources of vitamin A and C. These nutrients prevent soft, bleeding gums and help protect against oral cancer. Eating cranberries can prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth and forming plaque! Consider including these foods in your Thanksgiving Day feast and then you can give thanks for many more years of healthy teeth! Drink plenty of water during and in between meals to avoid tooth decay caused by foods that are high in sugar. Remember to brush your teeth and floss after dinner to maintain optimal oral health! Contact our dental office in Wheeling for more information on what foods you should eat on Thanksgiving Day!
Wheeling Dentist | History of the Toothbrush In 3500 BC, the Babylonians and Egyptians used chewing sticks to clean their teeth. Look how far the toothbrush has come! Learn more about the history of the toothbrush from your dentist in Wheeling.
Wheeling Dentist | What to Do in Case of Dental Emergency Accidents always happen. Be sure to know what to do when one arises – it can be the difference of saving a tooth or losing one. A dental emergency is an injury to your teeth or gums that can be potentially serious. Ignoring one can increase the risk of permanent damage. For all dental emergencies, it is important to contact our office as soon as the injury occurs. Provide detailed information about the injury to your mouth. We will be able to give you instructions on how to care for your mouth in the time before coming to our office. In some instances, we may recommend emergency care. Here are some common dental injuries and how to care for them. Knocked-out tooth Rinse the tooth with water if it’s dirty and try not to remove any attached tissue fragments. Keep the tooth moist at all times by carefully putting the tooth back in place without forcing it back into the socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a small container of milk or in a cup of water that contains a pinch of salt. Contact our dental office as quickly as possible. Chipped or cracked tooth Save any pieces if possible. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the injured area as well as remove any small tooth fragments. Apply cold compresses to your mouth to keep down the swelling and relieve pain. Objects caught between teeth Carefully try to remove the object using floss. If you cannot get the object out, see your dentist. It is important to never use a pin or sharp instrument to remove the object since you may cause injury to your gums or the surfaces of your teeth. Soft-tissue injuries Injuries to your tongue, cheeks, gums and lips can result in bleeding. To control the bleeding, rinse your mouth with mild salt water. Apply a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag to the bleeding site for about 15 minutes. You may also use a cold compress to relieve pain. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, contact our dental office. You can also take simple precautions to avoid dental emergencies: • When participating in sports, always wear a mouth guard • Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy • Never use your teeth to cut things – use scissors If you encounter a dental emergency, always contact our Wheeling dental office as soon as possible. We can provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to care for your mouth or may ask you to come into the office. If you have any additional dental emergency questions, be sure to contact us.
Wheeling Dentist: Could Your Asthma Be Affecting Your Oral Health This Fall? Asthma is triggered easily in fall months. Did you know that asthma contributes to your oral health? Asthma treatments such as corticosteroids inhalers can cause conditions such as dry mouth and oral thrush. These conditions may cause problems such as increased plaque, cavities, gingivitis, TMJ disorder, and poor smelling breath. Contact our dental office in Wheeling if you’d like to schedule an exam to address any oral health conditions related to asthma treatment. Asthma suffers are often forced to breathe through their mouths, which may cause dry mouth. Furthermore, dry mouth is also a side effect from asthma inhalers. When dry mouth is present, less saliva is produced. Saliva is necessary to keep your mouth clean. Dry mouth increases your risk of developing cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. If you notice a drier than usual mouth, please let the dentist in Wheeling IL know. Doing so may help prevent additional oral health problems. Oral thrush can occur when the use of an inhaler causes an increased growth of yeast (thrush) in the mouth and throat. Thrush produces white patches on the tongue and throughout your mouth. Rinsing your mouth with water or fluoride mouthwash after using your inhaler will help decrease the growth of oral thrush. The use of inhalers can also irritate your mouth and cause lesions, which can be treated by the Wheeling dentist. If you are an asthma sufferer, we recommend paying close attention to your oral hygiene habits, as you may be more prone to oral inflammation and disease. Although asthma sufferers may be more vulnerable to dental conditions, routine dental care at home and professional care from the Wheeling IL dentist can greatly reduce these risks. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!
Wheeling Dentist: Does Your Oral Health Put Your Heart at Risk? At our office, our professional Dentist in Wheeling and team not only care about your dental health but we also care about your total wellness. Your oral and heart heart is vital to your overall wellness. Your mouth is a direct passageway to your body’s bloodstream. Most patients do not realize that there is a close connection between the heart and mouth. Extensive research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that heart disease is the number one life threatening disease. Gum and heart disease are both inflammatory diseases. This may explain why heart disease and gum disease can be present at the same time. Gum disease forms when there is from a build up of plaque. The build up of plaque inflames your gum tissue. The build up of plaque creates pockets of harmful bacteria that settles into your gums and can eventually settle into your bloodstream. The bacterium that is associated with gum disease has been discovered in heart arteries. Gum disease is powerful enough to attack and thicken the carotid arteries of your heart. When you are treated for gum disease with your dentist in Wheeling IL, it not only reduces inflammation in your gums but also decreases inflammation throughout your enitre body to lower risk of heart complications. With your Wheeling dentist, the best care is preventive care. You decrease your risk of a heart attack or stroke, when you receive preventive treatment for oral diseases. Avoiding periodontal disease benefits your overall health. Prevent periodontal disease by following these great oral hygiene habits: • Brush your teeth twice daily • Floss daily • Rinse with an anti-bacterial mouthwash • Schedule routine check ups Schedule dental visits twice a year for a professional exam and thorough cleaning. To schedule an appointment with your Wheeling IL dentist, please give us a call at our convenient Wheeling dentist office.
Wheeling Dentist : Tips for Keeping a Fresh Smile while ‘On the Go’ For many, it is a daily habit to brush your teeth during the morning and evening. But how about brushing during the day, or after lunch? For many people, brushing during the day can almost seem impossible and inconvenient at times. Being consumed by work, school or even travel can prevent us from keeping a fresh and healthy smile. However, there are quick and easy solutions that your Wheeling Dentist recommends to help keep your smile fresh while on-the-go. Carry a Travel-Sized Toothbrush Try carrying around a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste that you can quickly use for an after lunch cleaning. Brushing your teeth after a meal is a great way to help maintain optimum oral health. Not only will brushing your teeth keep your mouth healthy from bacteria and decay but it can also help save you from embarrassing bad breath or help to eliminate the fear that something is stuck between your teeth. Use Tongue Scrapers As you brush, make time to brush your tongue as well. In between your taste buds, lie residue build-up which may be contributing to foul breath. At a drugstore, you can purchase a tongue scraper, or you can use your toothbrush to gently brush your tongue. Your Wheeling IL Dentist will agree that your oral health can be improved with proper tongue care. Quick Rinse with Mouth Wash Don’t have time to brush your teeth? Try mouthwash. Mouthwash is a simple, fast and convenient way to freshen your breath during the day. All that it requires is a simple swish. This simple ‘swish’ will not only freshen your breath, but it will also help prevent the build-up of plaque and cavities as it loosens particles in the mouth. There are many different products of mouthwash available, so be sure to ask your dentist in Wheeling or hygienist about which mouthwash they recommend for you. Try Chewing Gum Chewing gum is a great solution when you need a fresh smile, quickly. If you do not have the time to brush your teeth or use mouthwash after a meal, chewing a piece of sugar-free gum for at least 20 minutes can help ward off bad breath. Also, chewing gum can help stimulate the production of saliva which will help wash away any lingering particles left on your teeth. Although these simple tips should not substitute your thorough at home routine, they will surely help to temporarily improve oral hygiene quickly and conveniently. If you have any questions about how you can improve your oral health, contact your dentist in Wheeling IL.
Wheeling Dentist – What You Drink Impacts Your Smile There are many ways to improve your smile in addition to your regular visits to the dentist in Wheeling, brushing and flossing. What you drink can have an impact on your oral health, so it is important to know which beverages are helpful and which are harmful. The following are beverages that are be helpful in strengthening your smile and maintaining good oral health. Water Drinking water is very beneficial to your gum and tooth health. Your Dentist in Wheeling IL recommends mainly drinking water, as it can serve as a rinsing agent to clear your mouth of particles left behind from food you have consumed. Also, fluoride in water can help to strengthen your tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay. Dairy Dairy products, such as milk, can help your teeth stay strong. Milk provides calcium and phosphates, which strengthen your teeth and help your smile to stay bright. If you opt for enriched milk, it can also serve as a source for Vitamin D, helping your body to use the calcium. Unsweetened Tea Unsweetened tea can be helpful to your teeth because green and black teas contain polyphenols. These interact with plaque-causing bacteria to combat cavities and decay. Tea can prevent bacteria from growing and spreading in your mouth, helping your smile to stay healthy. However, there are some beverages that can be harmful to your oral health. In order to keep your mouth healthy, your Wheeling Dentist recommends avoiding the following drinks. Acidic Beverages Citrus drinks, such as orange juice, contain acids that can wear on your teeth. If you decide to consume acidic drinks, your Wheeling IL Dentist recommends rinsing with fluoride after drinking to help prevent tooth decay. Coffee Drinking coffee can stain your teeth and dim your smile. In addition, added sugar can linger and produce bacteria that can turn to plaque. Try to avoid coffee if you can. Otherwise, your Dentist in Wheeling recommends rinsing after consuming coffee. If you choose to consume beverages that can be harmful to your teeth, you can still combat these choices. For example, chewing sugar free gum can help to clear away harmful bacteria, preventing tooth staining and decay. Additionally, rinsing with mouth wash can also help to kill germs. However, these are supplements, not substitutes, to your regular oral hygiene regime. You should still continue to brush and floss daily, and you should be visiting your dentist in Wheeling IL to help you maintain a healthy smile. Zhana Krasyuk
