Dental News & Blog

Many individuals believe that by avoiding sugary treats, they are taking their dental health seriously. However, they may be surprised to learn that some seemingly harmless or healthy foods can also damage their teeth.

**Common Foods That Can Damage Teeth**

While it’s well-known that sweets, soda, and chewing ice can harm your teeth, other foods can also be problematic:

– **Corn on the Cob**: This popular summer picnic food can potentially crack or loosen fillings and may damage orthodontic work for those with braces.

– **White Bread and Toast**: Bread contains sugar and has particles that can stick to your teeth. This creates an acidic environment that can damage enamel. Additionally, biting into hard toast can exacerbate any damage caused by eating bread.

– **Peanut Butter and Jelly**: All three components of this classic sandwich contain sugar, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. The stickiness of both peanut butter and jelly tends to linger on your teeth until properly addressed through brushing and flossing.

– **Apples, Dried Fruit, and Citrus Fruits**: Some apples are acidic, while dried and citrus fruits are sticky and high in sugar. These fruits also contain acids that can harm your teeth.

– **Pasta Sauce**: Various pasta sauces, especially darker ones like red sauce, can damage enamel due to the acids in tomatoes and may contribute to staining over time.

– **Potato Chips and Popcorn**: These snacks often get stuck between your teeth, allowing bacteria to grow and potentially leading to cavities.

– **Curry**: This heavily pigmented food can cause yellow staining on your teeth over time.

Thank you for taking the time to read about foods that can damage your teeth. If you’re searching for an experienced dentist in Dallas, Dr. William H. Miller offers personalized one-on-one care that focuses on the patient. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Miller and his staff provide a wide range of services. He stands by his motto, “With a smile, we’re changing lives.” So, be sure to give us a call today!

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 several reasons, it’s important that it be done on a daily basis. Neglecting to do so can be the cause of several issues down the road.

Many people believe that simply brushing their 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 of 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 the 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 that can whiten teeth dramatically over a few hours in a dentist’s chair or over a few weeks at home with a prescription tray. Dr. William Miller, a dentist in Dallas, Texas, explains how a typical 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 it 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.

Tooth brushing is an integral part of a patient’s daily dental care.  Tooth brushing and flossing are needed for healthy teeth and gums.

Proper Dental Care May Require Brushing Your Teeth Less

When NOT to Brush

“Brush teeth often!” is the directive dental office patients remember the most after the latest teeth cleaning appointment with the dentist. However, dentists don’t want their patients tooth brush their teeth in blind obedience, the second any liquid or food passes their lips. Sometimes, exposing your mouth to harsh bristles or gritty toothpaste at the wrong time or in the wrong way can cause damage to enamel or gums. Consider these points before initiating your next dental cleaning:

Don’t Brush After Consuming Acidic Foods or Liquids

If the first thing you grab after a hearty meal is the toothbrush and toothpaste, hold on a moment! Some liquids, like soda, contain phosphoric acids that temporarily soften enamel. Even “healthier” liquids and foods, like orange juice or citrus fruit, contain citric acid, which also can weaken enamel. Think your teeth can handle a quick brush after downing a glass of orange juice? When enamel is weakened, the last thing it needs is the bristles of a toothbrush scraping over it and removing microscopic amounts. “Wait a second,” you might think, “only microscopic amounts? How bad can that be?” Plenty, if you consider that enamel is irreplaceable and will wear down naturally over time anyway. If you want to preserve your pearly whites while maintaining good tooth brushing habits, make sure you wash down acidic content with water and wait at least 20 minutes to brush. This will give your teeth time to recover, allowing the saliva time to wash the mouth out and strengthen the enamel.

Stick this List on Your Fridge or Mirror to Remind Yourself to Drink Water Frequently

Benefits of Water

While we primarily focus on oral health while providing dental services in Dallas, TX, we recognize the comprehensive benefits that water offers the human body. Drinking water regularly and in sufficient quantities supports overall health, fitness, appetite control, weight loss, and much more! We’ve compiled a list of the benefits of drinking water that you can stick on your fridge or keep handy. The next time you head to the fridge, take a moment to read through these benefits—you might just decide to reach for a glass of water instead!

Drinking Water Helps Your Mouth Stay Clean

– Washes away leftover food from the mouth.

– Keeps teeth and gums healthy.

– Discourages the build-up of bacteria and plaque on enamel.

– Prevents dry mouth and helps saliva remineralize teeth to prevent decay.

– Freshens breath by keeping the tongue clean.

Drinking Water Helps Keep Your Body Fit

– Controls appetite (warm water, especially, helps curb cravings).

– Balances the body’s fluids, replacing what is lost through sweating.

– Regulates internal body temperature and prevents overheating.

– Supports muscle efficiency and endurance.

– Boosts the body’s metabolism.

Drinking Water Helps You Look Better

– Proper hydration improves skin health by firming it through water retention.

– Dehydration increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol; drinking water can promote relaxation.

– Hair and skin cells require water for effective regeneration.

– A headache? Drinking water can help relieve it.

– A glass of water combats fatigue and exhaustion, reducing the appearance of baggy eyes!

Drinking Water Helps You Feel Better

– Dehydration can lead to constipation, so drinking water helps keep the digestive system regular.

– Boosts the immune system and helps flush out bacteria.

– Keeps your brain alert and functioning optimally.

– Aids the kidneys in ridding the body of toxins and preventing kidney stones.

– Pregnant? Water can help alleviate morning sickness and Braxton Hicks contractions.

How Much Water Should You Be Drinking?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the average male living in a temperate climate should drink about 3 liters (approximately 13 cups) of total beverages per day, while the average female should aim for about 2.2 liters (approximately 9 cups) daily. Increase your intake if you exercise, have an illness or health condition (to help flush out germs), or are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have any more questions about dental health, feel free to contact our dental office!

Maybe you have a new cavity or a mouth full of previously filled cavities that are in need of repair or replacement with new esthetic tooth colored fillings. Which filling material is the healthiest and safest to use while keeping your teeth looking their best?

Teeth Grinding Getting You Down?

You go to bed worried about your job security, as your company has stopped growing.  Talk has begun regarding cutbacks and layoffs. You are concerned regarding house payments..  The upcoming budget strain of a child returning to school during COVID-19. You may have anxiety over the state of your investments.  Whether the decision to buy that stock will come back to bite you may be clouding your mind.  Grinding, bruxism, and mouthguards may be in your future.  Apprehension regarding the weakening economy dictates your bedtime, and with a mind teeming with uneasiness, you fall asleep. The next morning brings even more discomfort as you wake with a splitting headache and a sore jaw. While brushing your teeth, you notice that some of them feel sensitive, so despondently you head off to work, feeling like your body is falling apart along with the economy. Perhaps it’s time to schedule an appointment with dentist, William H. Miller, D.M.D.

The Symptoms of Bruxism

There are many contributing factors to the shaky economy.  Solutions may be convoluted and varied.  The good news is that the headache, sore jaw, and loose teeth may all be due to a single cause.  Bruxism, more commonly known as “teeth grinding.” Bruxism is when a person clenches their teeth together tightly or grinds them back and forth against each other.  This typically occurs in one’s sleep, unconsciously.

Adults who do not see a dentist for regular cleanings may be unaware that they are in danger of losing their teeth. Gum disease may be the culprit.

The practice and business of dentistry, along with insurance, have changed in the past several years. Choosing a dentist is a very important decision. A person has only one set of adult teeth, and these teeth need to last a lifetime.  With proper care and attention, most healthy adults should be able to keep their teeth for a lifetime!

Brushing and flossing are very important to a healthy smile. Regular dental check-ups are also necessary.  One can’t visualize their teeth and determine if there are problems, and therefore a dentist is needed to evaluate one’s teeth and gums.

There are many factors in choosing a dentist.  Many select a dentist based on “non-dental” considerations.  Some of these may be location, ease of parking, hours of operation, etc.  Some select on “word of mouth” recommendations by friends, fellow workers, and family members.  Today, many people select and choose a dentist based on insurance.  Those in the United States who have dental insurance have the opportunity to have a portion of their out-of-pocket expense lowered by payment by a third party, dental insurance.

Dental insurance has changed significantly during the past several years. The majority of dental insurance companies today have Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs).  These organizations or plans are the primary framework for benefits for those who have dental insurance.  Patients always have a choice when choosing their dentist, but it is highly recommended by the insurance companies that patients choose dentists who are contracted, “signed-up” providers with the dental insurance companies.

If a patient chooses a contracted dentist, their out-of-pocket expense is less than choosing a non-contracted dental provider.  But it is also a great financial benefit to the insurance company as it pays much less to one of its contracted providers than to a regular, non-contracted dentist.  One can easily see why the insurance would want a patient to go to a “contracted/insurance dentist” as it pays much less to one of “their providers” than a “non-contracted dentist” that has no legal/contractual affiliation with the insurance company.   Some estimates are that insurance companies may pay anywhere from 20-60% less to contracted dentists and therefore have much higher profits and make as much as 60% more if patients go to their selected contracted providers.

Dentists are solicited by insurance companies to “sign up” to become providers with the insurance company.  Insurance companies will lead dentists to believe that they will gain new patients by being a preferred provider.  But that comes at a cost to the dentist.  When a dentist signs the many times, multi-page contract with the insurance company, he agrees legally and contractually to a schedule of fees that may be 20-70% less than their normal fees for services.  Therefore, a dentist provides services that are discounted to the patient and insurance company of many times half the price or more.

Some thoughts to consider when selecting a dentist based on Dental Insurance….

* Would you select a dentist who has a contract with your dental insurance company for the fees charged?

*  Do you feel comfortable with a dentist who has a legal/contractual relationship with the insurance for dental services?

* Keep in mind that your coverage and choices may be limited due to contract(s) between a dentist and the insurance company on your behalf.

* In-network, contracted dentists have, by contract, many guidelines set forth by the insurance companies that may affect your dental care.

* Out-of-network, non-contracted dentists have no direct limitations set forth by an insurance company that would affect your treatment or choice.

* Out-of-network dentists have no contractual relationship with insurance companies and are not directly limited and dictated by an insurance company.

We hope that this information has been helpful to you as you look at dental insurance as a criterion in selecting your dentist for you and your family. Dallas, Texas dentist, Dr. William Mille,r is an experienced general dentist who has been providing his very best in personal, quality-focused dental care for over 30 years.  He works with one patient at a time so that he and staff may devote 100% of their time to YOU during your scheduled visit.  Dr. Miller practices dentistry as an Out-of-Network provider for all insurance companies.

Dental implants, bridges, and dentures might become obsolete in time. Recent research has gotten us closer to discovering how to grow our own teeth!

While teeth implants, bridges, and dentures are useful, they might not be the only options available for tooth replacement in the future. Researchers in Finland have found a way to pinpoint stem cells that are essential to growing teeth. Don’t get too excited yet – the stem cells they are working with belong to the incisors, or front teeth, of mice and therefore still far removed from actually growing a human tooth. However, this is still an exciting and useful discovery since mice incisors grow continuously throughout their life, and studying this process is likely to lead to information that can be used to grow human teeth. Another important application for this study is growing new dental enamel, especially since enamel wears down over time and is irreplaceable. All speculation aside, here are the options for teeth replacement: