North Dallas Dentist, William H. Miller, D.M.D. has been practicing dentistry in Texas since 1985. His office is conveniently located on Walnut Hill Lane across from Presbyterian Hospital in North Dallas.
Individuals who think that they’re taking their dental health seriously by avoiding sugar-laden delights might be surprised to learn that there are seemingly harmless or healthy foods that can damage your teeth as well.
Common Foods can Damage Teeth
Obviously, there are foods that can damage your teeth which include sweets, soda and the practice of chewing ice are traditionally frowned upon by the dental community, but some others can be problematic.
Flossing is very important in daily dental hygiene.
Floss Your Teeth
Flossing teeth is never on anyone’s list of favorite things to do, yet for a number of reasons, it’s important that it be done on a daily basis. Neglecting to do so can be the cause of a number of issues down the road.
Many people believe that simply brushing your teeth is sufficient to avoid any dental issues. However, a toothbrush only cleans the top and side of your teeth, while flossing gets under the gum line and between teeth. Combining these two chores can help limit any dental problems you may run across. The benefits of flossing teeth are clearly evident by looking at five solid reasons listed below
The advantages and disadvantages of professional cosmetic teeth whitening methods and systems.
Professional Teeth Whitening Procedures are Effective and Convenient
While brushing teeth with chalk, bark, and baking soda was a viable teeth whitening option 200 years ago, advances in dentistry now allow us to comfortably and efficiently keep our teeth clean and white without having to put some strange concoction into our mouths. Now we can schedule an appointment with our dentist and after only a couple hours our teeth are white and gleaming. We can also take home prescription trays or over-the-counter white strips or toothpaste that also whitens satisfactorily. While it is aesthetically appealing to have whiter teeth, caution needs to be exercised when choosing the whitening procedure. Gritty or acidic substances are found in some over-the-counter whitening products and these may scratch off enamel or cause soreness to gums. It is best to consult with a dentist before grabbing the first white strips available, and if time is of the essence, then a professional whitening procedure may be the best option to get results fast.
Whitening Procedures
Common Professional Whitening Procedures
Many dentists’ offices now have not one, but several methods to use to whiten teeth depending on the situation. A client has the option of choosing a treatment which can whiten teeth dramatically over a few hours in a dentist chair or over a few weeks at home with a prescription tray. Dr. William Miller, a dentist in Dallas, Texas, explains how a usual teeth whitening session works. “When opting for an in-office cosmetic whitening procedure, usually the dentist will apply a gel to the patient’s teeth and then use a laser or light to activate the bleaching agent within the gel.” This technique and variations are used in systems like BriteSmile, Rembrandt Teeth Whitening. If an in-office whitening treatment is out of the question, then you can ask your dentist about receiving similar treatments at home, through the use of a personally fitted tray and gel (more powerful than any over-the-counter brands) that can be applied personally at home. Another professional procedure that creates a whiter smile is the practice of taking a thin layer of composite resin or porcelain material molded to the tooth and bonding them to the front of the tooth. This method covers stained or yellowed teeth, immediately giving the patient a “whiter” smile. This is not whitening the actual teeth, as there is no application of a bleaching agent to the enamel, only covering it up with an artificial material, but this is one of the most effective ways of giving a smile a cleaner and whiter look, and even helps to correct other flaws like chipped or crooked teeth that have been damaged due to normal wear or teeth grinding. Lumineers is a well-known name within this dental service, and offers porcelain veneers which, though costly, can last longer than ten years.
