Most patients know which dental habits to adopt in order to maintain good dental hygiene: brushing and flossing daily, avoiding sticky, sweet foods, and regularly visiting your dental office. But what dental habits should you be avoiding?

Avoid crunching ice with your teeth. The cold and the hardness of the ice can cause microscopic cracks in tooth enamel. It can even lead to visible tooth fractures. You should also avoid crunching popcorn kernels, fruit pits, or any other hard item.

Don’t use your teeth as tools. Using your teeth to rip open packages, remove tags, or open bottles can lead to chipping a tooth. Your teeth might even fracture.

Pay attention to how much you grind your teeth or clench your jaw throughout the day. If your partner tells you that you grind your teeth at night, visit your dentist to get fitted with a night guard. A night guard will reposition your bite to relieve tension on the jaw, and will protect your teeth.

Neglectful dental home care is another bad habit to avoid. Don’t forget to brush at least twice a day and to floss daily. Don’t use hard bristled toothbrushes, and don’t use the same toothbrush for more than four months. It’s also important not to skip regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist.

When you do go in for a cleaning (at least twice a year), ask about the proper way to brush your teeth and to floss. Improper brushing can lead to receding gums or worn tooth enamel. Brush for at least two to three minutes each session, using the methods you are shown.

Avoid eating staining foods, or sweet, sticky foods. Red wine and coffee can lead to tooth yellowing, while foods like candy or soda can lead to tooth decay. Snack on healthy foods like carrots or an apple, and use a straw if you are going to drink soda.

Finally, avoid over-bleaching or over-whitening your teeth, which can weaken the enamel.

For more tips and to schedule your visit in Denver, contact our office at 303-832-7789.

Dental implants have been studied for many years. The material that is used for the implant itself should be made from titanium, which is an extremely strong metal that is corrosion-resistant. These two factors make it the ideal choice for dental implants.

Dental implants are small devices that resemble a screw. A single implant is surgically placed in the gum tissue where a permanent tooth has been lost. The implant is covered with a temporary restoration that will protect it during the healing process.

During the healing process, which is generally four to six months, the implant is fusing to the jawbone. This will allow the implant to function much like the root of your natural tooth, giving your final restoration stability. [pullquote]Preventing infection in the implant area requires daily flossing and brushing at least twice per day as infection is a leading cause of implant failure.[/pullquote]

A successful dental implant procedure will rely on several factors. Overall good health, as well as healthy gums, is important. Preventing infection in the implant area requires daily flossing and brushing at least twice per day as infection is a leading cause of implant failure. Smoking and tobacco use are strongly discouraged as well.

After the implant has healed and is sufficiently fused to the jaw bone, a final restoration is placed over the implant. This restoration is made to match the shape and shade of the surrounding teeth, making your new implant virtually undetectable. Your implant will allow you to resume a normal diet that might have been altered due to tooth loss.

Your ability to speak naturally will be restored as well, but most importantly your self-confidence will soar once you are able to smile again without worrying about hiding your tooth loss.

The implant and covering are now a permanent part of your dental anatomy. It will be important to make sure to see your dental provider for a professional cleaning and exam twice per year. Your dentist can also monitor your implant to assure that it is functioning properly and the surrounding gum tissue is healthy.

Dental implant technology has improved as research continues, but since implant technology is basically in its dental infancy, it is idealistic to say that dental implants are assured to last a lifetime. There are many factors that can contribute to the success of your dental implant, but following our implant dentist’s advice will lead to the best possible outcome for you and your dental implant. Call the office of Dr. Bernard Jin, serving Surrey and the surrounding areas, at 604-939-6111 to schedule a consultation.

A bright, white smile is the goal of most patients who visit a cosmetic dentist. There are several options for restoring the brightness of your smile, but there are also steps you can take at home to avoid dullness and discoloration of your teeth.

Avoid certain beverages that can stain your teeth, leading to yellowing. Coffee, black tea, soda and red wine are the most common offenders. If you are going to drink these items, use a straw that is positioned in the back of the mouth (as opposed to up against your teeth). [pullquote]If your teeth have already become stained or yellowed due to these or other causes, your cosmetic dentist will recommend the best treatment for you.[/pullquote]

Developing poor dental hygiene habits can also cause the teeth to change color. If you do not brush or floss frequently, plaque can build up on the surface of the teeth. Staining foods and beverages also remain on the teeth longer, which may cause deeper stains.

Smoking or using other tobacco products are also common causes of teeth yellowing. Some diseases and their treatments can cause the teeth to become dull or discolored. For example, some patients undergoing radiation on the head or neck area will find that their teeth are yellowing.

Some medications can cause the teeth to look stained. Some antihistamines, antibiotics (doxycycline and tetracycline, specifically), antipsychotics, and certain mouth rinses are the most common offenders. Blood pressure medications could also be the culprit.

If your teeth have already become stained or yellowed due to these or other causes, your cosmetic dentist will recommend the best treatment for you. Teeth whitening is a common solution to dull, discolored teeth. We offer both at-home systems and in-office whitening – our dentist will help you select which is more appropriate for your smile.

Another treatment option that may be appropriate for you is veneers. Veneers are shields (usually of porcelain) that are attached to the front of the stained tooth. The porcelain is color-matched to surrounding teeth, so they appear natural. This option is best for patients for whom teeth whitening will not be effective.

To learn more and to schedule your consultation, contact Governor’s Park Dental Group serving Denver today.

Athletes can do a lot of damage to their smiles. A misplaced throw or a jarring collision can easily dislodge a tooth or even break a jaw, requiring extensive treatment by a dentist or specialist.

Fortunately, people who participate in sports can protect their smiles by wearing a mouthguard. Whether you’re aiming for a Division I scholarship or just lacing up your cleats for a rec league game, you should be wearing a mouthguard.

Those devices absorb and deflect the forces that the mouth may encounter during a game. In addition to protecting the smile, some research suggests that wearing a mouthguard may even prevent some of the negative effects associated with concussions.

The best mouthguards are those that are carefully crafted for you by a dentist. Boil-and-bite models may be available at your local sporting goods store, but a custom-designed version will fit better and outperform the alternatives.

In fitting a patient for a mouthguard, the dentist will take impressions of the mouth. Those impressions are then used to design and manufacture the mouthguard. This process ensures that the mouthguard is tailored to the unique structure of the patient’s mouth.

To protect their mouths when at play, many patients turn to a brand that has demonstrated value in other aspects of sports. Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ offers the same high quality in mouthguards that patients expect from the manufacturer’s athletic apparel and equipment.

Some patients may be reluctant to wear a mouthguard because they feel that it compromises their ability to play the game. That’s not the case at all. In preventing injuries, mouthguards actually ensure that you’ll be able to continue to bring your best effort.

Additionally, a properly fitted mouthguard may prevent teeth clenching, which can release a stress-related hormone called cortisol that can have a negative effect on your athletic performance.

Prevent oral and facial injuries by wearing a mouthguard. At your next visit, ask about your options for a custom-designed device. Call our Denver office at 303-832-7789 for more information.