Best Ways to Protect Your Child’s Teeth During Sports

When you have an active child – and who doesn’t? – it’s always best to protect the youngster’s teeth. Losing teeth – especially permanent ones – can cause an unattractive smile and serious dental bills that everyone would rather avoid. In fact, it’s smart to protect your child’s entire mouth to really stay on the safe side.

All in all, there are three specific types of teeth protection that we would like to share with you today. Choose the method that appeals to you the most based on your child’s sport of choice. This way you’ll know that your young one is protected at all times and feel confident that your son or daughter will not have an accident that will come at the cost of losing teeth, because that would be a real shame.

3 Important Ways to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Safe & Protected

As you can imagine, wearing a mouth guard is the ultimate form of teeth and mouth protection when your child is playing sports. There are three main types of mouth guards that we recommend and we’ll share information about each one in greater detail below.

Ready-to-Wear Mouth Guard. Out of all of the mouth guards we’ll talk about today, this is the most common type and the one that children will use most often. This guard is the most popular for a few different reasons. To start with, since it is the most massed produced, it is also the least expensive option. Finding a cost effective solution is always a concern for many, so using this inexpensive guard makes perfect sense in that regard. It’s easy to find in large sporting goods stores which also help to improve its popularity. By being easy to find in your average sporting goods store, it’s also easy to buy and readily available for use. Finally, it’s available in a range of sizes for all mouth types. Typically, you’ll find this mouth guard available in small, medium and large. Choose the size best suited for your teeth.

Boil Mouth Guards. This option is different from the first in one very specific way. Just like the ready-to-wear option, this guard is available in small, medium and large. The major difference is that you boil it after you buy it. This will soften it up, and once it’s soft, you can easily bite down onto the guard. A mold of your teeth will be created when you do this while the guard is soft. Once your teeth are molded, the guard will harden, preserve the mold and protect your teeth every time you wear it.

Custom Mouth Guards. Custom guards are last, but certainly not least. In fact, they are the most effective option and provide the highest level of protection. In order to get a guard like this, you’ll have to make an appointment with your local dentist or orthodontist. They will create a custom mold specifically designed to fit perfectly over your teeth. This is the ideal way to protect your child’s pearly whites.

Remember to protect your child’s teeth at all times during sports. Also, continue to check out our blog for more updates on best dental tips.

 

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The Secret to a Healthy Mouth

It may have taken you some time to believe this, but having a healthy mouth doesn’t happen by accident. Do you think, even for a second, that you can have a beautiful smile without taking the necessary steps to make it stay that way?

A healthy mouth does not come naturally. Sure, we all start out this way. But over time, if you do not maintain it, it will definitely disappear. Your gorgeous pearly whites will turn a yellowish, crusty brown! And nobody wants to see that happen, right?

You can take a few steps to preserve your healthy teeth and gums. It’s a lot simpler than you might think. And we have the secret formula to help maintain your gorgeous smile.

Ready to learn the truth? We’re happy to help you, so let’s begin.

Secret #1: Brush Your Teeth and Floss Daily

People tend to think that life’s secrets need to be more complicated than they really are. You know it as well as we do. But the simple truth, in this case, is that daily flossing and brushing will make a huge difference in the health of your mouth. And even more importantly, it will play a pivotal role in maintaining a gorgeous smile.

To maintain a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile, you should brush your teeth, at a minimum of twice a day. And to really remove all of the food and other gunk stuck between your teeth, you need to floss at least once per day. We recommend brushing your teeth after breakfast in the morning, and then again in the evening before bed. It’s probably best to floss at night as well, right at the end of the day when you know you won’t be eating anymore.

Secret #2: Pay Close Attention to What You Drink and Eat

As much as you need to brush and floss regularly, they can only do so much to help maintain a healthy mouth and smile. The truth is that certain foods and drinks will have a more negative effect on the health of your mouth than you may have realized.

The foods and drinks to avoid most often include: coffee, citrus, sugar, red wine and even processed carbohydrates. Believe it or not, these food and drink choices are either too acidic or contain too much sugar for your teeth and can create negative health consequences if consumed too often.

Secret #3: Do Not Smoke Cigarettes at All Costs

We understand that smoking cigarettes is a serious addiction, but if you keep it up, it’s going to do real damage to your mouth and teeth. You already know it to some degree when you look at your smile in the mirror and see brown and yellow stains covering up your former pearly whites.

Plus, cigarette smoke is filled with many nasty chemicals that are harmful to your health. To avoid throat and mouth cancer, as well as many other types of this heinous disease, you should give up cigarettes once and for all.

Please use these secrets to your advantage. You’ll have no problem maintaining a healthy mouth if you do.

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Dental Implants vs Dentures

Our Ft. Lauderdale, FL patients often come to Bayview Smiles seeking alternatives for their removable dentures, which have a tendency to loosen over time and become oversized. They’re often surprised to find out that dental implants are a great alternate to dentures, which do away with many of the shortcomings of the latter. Implants are more reliable, longer-lasting, and come with aesthetic and health benefits that removable dentures generally can’t match.

Jawbone Deterioration

The jaw needs to be exercised and this is usually accomplished while you do such things as eating and speaking. If there is no tooth root to transfer the force of the activity to the jawbone, the bone tissue there won’t be stimulated to repair, reproduce, and strengthen. Dentures typically cannot diffuse the pressure of exercise down to the jaw, so the bone may continue to deteriorate. This affects what we call the vertical dimension, which is the distance between the upper and lower mandibles. Changes in the shape of the jaws can cause dentures to become ill-fitting over time. Once they no longer fit properly, dentures have a tendency to shift around within the mouth, or even fall out, and cause irritation.

Dental implants replace the lost tooth with a biocompatible titanium artificial tooth root. Unlike removable dentures, implants can spread the pressure and force of daily exercise down to the jawbone, helping the bone tissue remain healthy and strong. In fact, those who suffer from jawbone deterioration will find that dental implants can even restore the proper density and volume to the jaw.

Dentures v. Dental Implants: Wear and Tear

We mentioned above that dentures can become ill-fitting over time. Dental implants do not suffer from this problem. Permanent and long-lasting, implants never need to be removed for maintenance, nor do they shift or loosen in your mouth. After being placed, the dental implant fixture will integrate with the jaw through osseointegration, where your natural bone will regenerate and fuse with the implant. This allowed for an unrivaled degree of stability and endurance. Indeed, dental implants are known to last a lifetime!

Unlike removable dentures, dental implants do not involve a meticulous cleaning process. Whereas dentures need to be frequently scrubbed and soaked in special solutions, implants are maintained just like natural teeth. Brush them twice a day, as you would any tooth, and be sure to floss daily. There simply is no comparison between the two; the convenience and ease of implant upkeep is unmatched.

Given the comparative challenge of maintaining removable dentures, the artificial teeth they hold tend to stain and yellow. Furthermore, often made out of acrylic, dentures will begin to wear down, contributing to their propensity to no longer fit after long periods of use. The dental prostheses held by dental implants, on the other hand, tend to last much longer on average, because of the superior reliability of implants and the fact that they’re much easier to keep in good condition.

A Question of Endurance

The combination of changes in the shape of the jaws and the inherent disadvantages in keeping clean removable dentures factors into their limited lifespan. On average, dentures have to be replaced or realigned every seven to eight years. This can be quite a hassle and the cost of frequent replacements will take a toll on your budget. Dental implants, by comparison, are permanent and can last an entire lifetime if well-maintained.

Dental Implants and a Healthy Smile

If you wear removable dentures, then you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. Ft. Lauderdale, FL patients find that implants are a worthwhile investment because, unlike alternative tooth loss treatments, the solution is permanent and dependable. If you would like to know more about replacing dentures with dental implants, contact our Ft. Lauderdale, FL office to schedule your no-obligation consultation today!

Related reading:

Find out WHY You Could Benefit from this procedure.

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Why Should You Get Dental Implants?

If you are missing teeth, there’s no reason to feel ashamed. Tooth loss is actually quite common: at least 180 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, while over 35 million are missing all of their teeth! The loss of teeth is no laughing matter, and not just because showing off a toothless grin can be unappealing. Untreated tooth loss can attract periodontal disease and other oral infections that can complicate your dental health. Areas of the jaw affected by missing teeth can also begin to deteriorate, which if left alone can even change the shape of your face. Dental implants can help reverse bone loss and can assist in safeguarding your oral wellbeing.

Health Benefits of Dental Implants

Missing teeth leave behind large gaps in your smile. These are especially likely to catch food particles while you eat, and any food debris left unaccounted for can attract bacteria. Furthermore, gaps can be challenging to clean and require extra attention when you brush and floss. If dental hygiene is inadequate, the result can be a periodontal infection or another oral disease that can cause further health complications. Excessive deposits of plaque invite bacteria which will bring about tooth decay, which entails the gradual wearing away of the various layers of tissue which make up the teeth.

If tooth loss is dealt with early, the gums and jaw may be healthy enough to allow a simple replacement of the lost tooth root with a dental implant. However, if left untreated for too long, having dental implants placed may first require a bone graft or a soft tissue augmentation procedure. If the deterioration of the bone or gum tissue is too extensive, then an even more complicated treatment may be necessary. Similarly, if tooth decay is allowed to progress for long periods of time, the damage to the teeth may be so severe that the only option is removable. Whatever the case may be, leaving missing teeth untreated may only cost you more money, more time, and more pain down the road.

Jawbone Loss and Dental Implants

In order to remain strong and healthy, jawbones need to be regularly exercised. It gets this exercise throughout the day thanks to activities as common as speaking and eating. The pressure and force of these movements is transmitted to the jawbone through the teeth, causing the bone tissue to tear. Trauma to the bone will incite it to regenerate, repairing the damaged area and strengthening it — very similar to a muscle. Unfortunately, when you’re missing teeth, the affected surface areas of the jaw may not receive the workout they need to remain in good condition.

Jawbone deterioration is a possible consequence of tooth loss, especially if the missing tooth is not quickly replaced. When the jaw isn’t sufficiently exercised, the bone tissue begins to depreciate and weaken. This can affect other adjacent healthy teeth as well, and the damage can very well spread. Keep in mind that the jaw acts like a frame, giving your face its shape. Untreated bone loss can gradually worsen until the face begins to deform, which gives it a sunken appearance. The skin may also wrinkle around the jawline, since the loss facial volume will turn some of it into excess.

Dental implants can eliminate jawbone loss by replacing the missing artificial tooth root and by using permanent replacement teeth to take the place of their lost natural counterparts. In fact, by stimulating bone regeneration, implants can even restore the natural appearance of your face. A fabulous aspect to dental implants is that they provide these benefits while requiring no additional or unique maintenance — they’re cleaned just like natural teeth.

Oral Health and Overall Well Being

While there is yet a lot to explore in this particular area of medical science, there is strong evidence that shows a correlation between poor oral health and a poor overall well being. For example, if harmful bacteria in your mouth are allowed to spread, this can result in endocarditis, which is an infection of endocardium — inner lining — of the heart. Similarly, those who suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to experience cardiovascular disease, such as clogged arteries and heart disease. Bone loss in the jaw is also associated with Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis. Finally, women may have a more difficult time conceiving if they have oral health problems, and gum disease has been connected to premature birth and low birth weights.

There are undoubtedly many other factors behind these diseases, and you should not ignore other ways of helping to minimize the risk of contracting these general health complications. Nevertheless, it is important to keep a clean mouth. Brush at least twice a day and floss daily. It is also recommended that you routinely visit the dentist’s office to have any plaque cleaned off, which will help you avoid cavities and the infection of the gums.

Dental implants can help protect your oral health by eliminating large gaps between teeth and by eliminating jawbone deterioration. In fact, they are the foremost solution to tooth loss, precisely because of the many benefits they offer and the various advantages they have over alternative tooth replacement treatments. Start on the path towards a gorgeous smile and contact Bayview Smile Design today!

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Gum Disease and Your Overall Health: Is There a Connection?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, has negative consequences on the health of your teeth. What many doctors are beginning to realize is that there is more to gum disease than originally meets the eye.

You see, gum disease has a major link to another serious health problem. The health problem we’re talking about is heart disease. As you know, heart disease is currently the number one killer in the United States of America. And it’s starting to become the dominant killer of men and women all around the world besides those living in third world countries.

How is there a connection between gum disease and heart disease? We will attempt to answer this question below, and share the many insights that we have learned while researching this topic. It should be interesting to you to say the least, and this is especially true if heart disease happens to run in your family.

The Connection between Heart Disease and Gum Disease

Many people wonder if a healthy mouth equals a healthy heart. According to many doctors, the overall conclusion is that yes, when you keep your mouth in good health you will also keep your heart in good health.

As you are about to learn, there are two specific types of inflammation related diseases. They both could point to a potential negative impact on the heart, but one might be more significant than the other, according to doctors and dentists throughout the world.

Inflammation and Its Role in Heart Disease

Individuals are at much greater risk for heart disease if they experience the two main types of inflammation in their mouth.

The first is gingivitis. When you suffer from gingivitis, you will experience red and painful gums that are very tender. This pain is often difficult to live with, but even more importantly, it’s one of the signs that you could potentially be suffering from heart disease and maybe not even know it.

The second type of inflammation is periodontitis. This one is even more insidious as far as its link to heart disease is concerned. You see, periodontitis occurs when pockets of germy pus become infected in the gums. When this happens, bacteria and other toxins have the ability to spread lower than the gum line.

Ultimately, periodontitis can pose serious health risks when left untreated. Since our mouths are vascular, and they also contain bacteria, when the gum layer is even slightly disrupted the bacteria and toxins could potentially create inflammation all throughout the body as it spreads within the bloodstream.

According to studies, the bacteria often found in periodontal disease can play a major role in strokes. This bacterium can have a negative impact because it could enter the bloodstream and find its way toward the heart. When this happens, the person will find themselves at much greater risk for a stroke.

All in all, gum disease absolutely has an impact on your overall health. Take care of your teeth and gums to prevent heart attacks, heart disease and strokes from occurring unexpectedly.

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Help Your Child Understand the Importance of Good Dental Health

A famous song once told us that the children are our future. And this simple statement is as true as it gets. Today’s kids are going to take over from the current crop of adults as we hopefully age gracefully. If you want your child to play a starring role in the future of our world, it’s best to teach him or her about good dental hygiene at an early age.

Do you think your child can reach the level of success that he or she deserves with a mouth full of unsightly teeth? As much as it pains me to say it, your child will be at a serious disadvantage if good dental health takes a back seat in his or her life.

With that said, it’s important to help your child understand good dental health. Please use these tips to reinforce this fact so that they never forget it.

Tip #1: Play Fun Music While Your Child Brushes His or Her Teeth

This is a simple way to help reinforce positive experiences that will definitely encourage good dental health.

By playing exciting music that your child loves, he or she will associate having a good time to brushing teeth. Plus, your youngster will actually find brushing his or her teeth to be an enjoyable experience, and actually look forward to it after breakfast or at night before going to bed.

Tip #2: Get Your Child a Toothbrush with Their Favorite Cartoon Character

This may seem simple on the surface, but children are very impressionable when they are young. By using a favorite cartoon character, it will help to entice your child to brush his or her to her teeth every day.

You see, your child is going to look forward to using his or her toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character. They will get excited about the prospect, and at the end of the day, this is great for you as a parent because having your child excited about brushing his or her teeth is always a good thing. It helps to promote positive dental health routines.

Tip #3: Have All of Your Kids Brush Their Teeth Together at the Same Time

Another good practice is to make brushing a family affair. By having all of your children brush their teeth at the same time, it promotes unity, camaraderie and companionship. Your children will possibly even get along better because of this experience.

Or, they may horse around and fight once in a while as well. Don’t worry about a thing as long as they are brushing their teeth and experiencing good dental health. Instill these habits in your children while they are young so that they can have beautiful, attractive teeth throughout the entirety of their lives.

If you instill these habits early, kids will definitely recognize the benefits and importance of good dental hygiene. And as they get older, they will appreciate that you – their parents – took the time to teach them to create healthy dental habits.

 

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