Month: February 2021

A dental checkup is a good thing, and you should get one every six months. People who regularly get checkups are less likely to ever deal with a serious dental issue that requires an invasive treatment. That is just one benefit of getting routine checkups. There are so many more.

These are a few of the reasons why dental checkups are important:

1. Dental checkups prevent plaque, tartar, cavities and tooth decay

Even the most fastidious person can fail to clean the hard-to-reach places in their mouth. A good example is the back molars, which are notoriously hard to clean. That is why every person should see a dentist every six months.

The dentist will examine the patient’s teeth to look for early signs of tooth decay. If the dentist finds small cavities or white spots on the teeth, they will start the patient on fluoride treatment to reverse the decay and treat larger cavities with dental fillings.

Next, the dentist will perform a professional tooth cleaning to remove plaque or tartar from the teeth and gums. This will protect the teeth and gums from attacks by harmful bacteria that make their home in plaque and tartar.

2. Routine dental visits keep gum disease at bay

For the most part, the early stages of gum disease have no symptoms. This makes it hard for a person to detect gum disease in their mouths. Luckily, dentists are trained to spot gum disease even when it tries to hide.

During a routine checkup, the dentist will make sure that the gums are firm. They will check for swelling, receding gums and deep gum pockets. If the dentist finds any of these worrying symptoms, they will treat the underlying cause.

Usually, early gum disease goes away when a patient improves their oral habits, and a dentist will gladly guide their patient on how to take care of their gums.

3. Dentists use routine checkups to check for oral cancer

In addition to examining the teeth and the gums, a dentist will look for signs of oral cancer in their patient’s mouth. This is great because if oral cancer goes undetected, it can develop into a life-threatening illness.

The dentist uses a special light to look for dead tissue caused by tumors. The exam is called a VELscope cancer exam. It is painless and only takes a minute or two.

With this exam, a person who sees the dentist every six months has little chance of developing late-stage oral cancer.

4. Routine checkups can detect systemic health issues

Another part of dental checkups is the head and neck exam. The dentist will check the lymph nodes, neck and jaws for swelling, lumps, deformities and any other symptoms of illness. If a problem is found, the dentist will refer the patient to the appropriate medical professional.

This is one reason that a person should look forward to their dental checkups. They get to have their thyroid checked for the low, low price of a dental checkup. What is not to love?

Stay on top of your dental health with regular checkups

If you get regular checkups, your teeth are more likely to be healthy and strong. They will serve you for as long as you live. Feel free to come by our offices to get your dental checkup.

What are you waiting for?

Request an appointment here: https://doraldentalstudio.com or call DDS at 305.882.9260 for an appointment in our Doral office.

With Valentine’s Day only just around the corner, we remind our patients to be extra careful when choosing their treats! You’re probably looking forward to spending some quality time with your sweetheart, as well as indulging your sweet tooth with some chocolates. Of course, it’s important to remember to show your teeth some love as well!

Here are a few helpful ideas for avoiding tooth decay and making sure your teeth truly shine when you step out on the town with your date:

• Avoiding Bad Breath: While bad breath can be a common symptom of a great meal, it’s probably not that appealing to the person you’re sharing it with. Keep some floss in your pocket so that you can quickly get rid of food particles and pesky bacteria in the bathroom; then, pop in a mint to give your smile a fresh, appealing feel. If your bad breath persists even after the minty scent has worn off, though, that means it’s time for a checkup with your local dentist.
• Not All Chocaoate Is The Same: If you are buying sweets or chocolates on the big day, solid chocolate (the ones without chewy or sugary centers) don’t tend to stick to the teeth like more chewy treats too, making them better for your oral health. In fact, dark chocolate is an even better option, as it contains less sugar than milk chocolate!
• Don’t Get Sticky: Try to avoid gummy candies, hard candies, and sticky caramels. These can be terrible for your teeth. Instead, try giving flowers, a card, or even a romantic dinner at home.
• Sweets At The Right Time: If you and your partner just can’t stay away from the candy, it’s best to enjoy them after a meal so that you keep from constantly exposing your teeth to sugar and harmful bacteria. Also, be sure to drink water and practice a good, thorough hygiene routine afterwards!
• Kiss More: Kissing helps prevent cavities!   When you kiss someone it stimulates saliva in your mouth which breaks down plaque and washes bacteria away.
• Valentine’s Dental Gift: Looking to surprise your sweetheart? Teeth whitening may be just the gift your smile needs to look its very best!

If you’re missing a tooth or multiple teeth, the team at Doral Dental Studio can help. We offer the latest restorative dentistry treatments for tooth loss, including custom dentures and dental implants. The treatments can restore your smile and help you bite and chew normally again.

Many patients ask us how common tooth loss is. These statistics on missing teeth will offer some interesting perspective on this issue. We can discuss tooth loss and options for treatment in more detail during your visit to our Doral Florida dental center.

How Many Americans Are Missing Teeth?

According to the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), roughly 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. In addition, approximately 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth.

The Most Common Causes of Tooth Loss

Some of the most common causes of tooth loss include:

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Physical trauma
• Cancer
• Bone disease
• Normal wear and tear

Do give some of these causes some statistics perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 1 in 5 adults age 65 or older suffers from untreated tooth decay, and that 68 percent of adults in that same age range suffer from gum disease.

Tooth Loss and Age

As people get older, they are more likely to experience tooth loss and to lose more teeth. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has some fascinating numbers regarding remaining teeth and different age groups.

Keep in mind that in an average mouth, there are 28 teeth (not counting wisdom teeth).

• Americans 20 to 34 years of age – 26.90 remaining teeth
• Americans 35 to 49 years of age – 25.05 remaining teeth
• Americans 50 to 64 years of age – 22.30 remaining teeth

The NIDCR also found that 10.13 percent of Americans between the ages of 50 to 64 have no teeth remaining. The CDC estimates that 13 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 to 74 have no teeth, and that 26 percent of Americans 75 and older have no teeth.

Smoking and Tooth Loss

Smoking has been linked to gum disease and a host of other health issues that can affect dental health. The ACP suggests smokers are three times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers. It should come as no surprise that the NIDCR found these numbers related to tooth loss and smoking:

• Current Smokers – 23.47 teeth remaining
• Former Smokers – 25.12 teeth remaining
• Lifelong Non-Smokers – 25.67 teeth remaining

Given these statistics, consider this yet another compelling reason to kick the habit for good.

Class and Socioeconomic Factors

The findings by the NIDCR noticed some interesting correlations between income, education, and tooth loss.

People below the poverty level were more likely to suffer from serious tooth loss. People living at or below the poverty line in America had an average of 23.52 remaining teeth. Approximately 9.28 percent of individuals living at or below the poverty line had lost all of their teeth.

Related to poverty, Americans with less than a high school education had an average of 23.1 teeth remaining. Among people without a high school education, 8.07 percent had lost all of their teeth.

Learn More About Tooth Loss

For more information about tooth loss and how missing teeth can be treated, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic and restorative dentist. We at DDS are here to help. You can reach us by phone at 305.882.9260