January 2023 - Champion Dental

how to ease dental anxiety or dental phobia

How to Ease Your Fear of Dentist

Posted on January 31, 2023 | by mel | 6 Comments

Get the Dental Treatment You Need Without Fear

If you have a fear of going to the dentist, you need to be aware that there is a realistic solution. It will not only help you to relax more at the thought of going to the dentist, but it will also enable you to get the dental treatment you need. Dental phobia does not have to stand in the way of getting healthy teeth and gums.

Many People Have Fear of Dentists

If you have fear of dentists, you certainly are not alone. There are many others who share that same phobia with you. The University of Harvard estimates that there is about a 20 percent average for people all over the world. Being afraid of dentists prevents many people from getting the treatment needed until the pain or problem becomes almost intolerable.

Reasons You Need to Get That Treatment

Maintaining healthy teeth is not something that takes place on its own. While brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing will certainly help your teeth last longer, some problems are apt to develop that will require the attention of a dentist.

A dentist will not only put fillings in, but they can also help you keep a beautiful smile. A dentist may also be the first to spot gum disease problems or oral cancer. In both cases, early treatment can help you – and may even save your life.

Gum disease is an infection of the gums. It has recently been discovered that inflammation from this infection is behind many other major health problems. They include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and many more.

Tips for Overcoming Fear of Dentist

There are several things that can be done to help you with overcoming fear of dentist. Some dentists will help their patients with their fears, and others might be less inclined.

Tell the Dentist – by letting the dentist know about your dental phobia, they can work with you and do things to help you be more relaxed. Even if you do not tell the dentist, you can be sure that your fear will be evident in ways you might not even realize. It will also help you to feel more in control in the chair.
Play Music – many dentist offices will now play relaxing music to help their patients relax. If you are not sure whether or not a dentist does this, you can bring your own CD or MP3 player and listen to the music of your choice while being worked on.
See a Dentist Regularly – while this may seem counterintuitive, the truth is that the longer you wait to see a dentist, the more work that there is that needs to be done. This may result in greater pain.

You can keep the length of dental appointments shorter by taking care of the little things as they occur. Waiting longer between treatments may require extractions, root canals, and other treatments you probably would prefer not to need.

Watch a Video or TV – some dentists will have a TV playing while they are working on your teeth. If there is a TV, it is for the purpose of reducing dental anxiety. Of course, it will not be easy to follow a program, since the dentist will have their head or hands in the way at times. Some dental offices may even provide VR glasses to keep you entertained.
Choose Sedation Dentistry – if you do not feel that you can relax any other way, oral sedation dentistry may help. There are two types of oral sedation: one simply involves taking a pill – no needles, and the other involves breathing through a mask with nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Both will help you relax and let you still respond to the dentist. IV sedation is given through a needle in your arm, and it also lets you respond to the dentist.

General anesthesia is where a dentist can put you to sleep while performing the necessary dental procedures you need. This way it cannot bother you at all – completely asleep and without pain.

Get an Early Appointment – If your appointment is later in the afternoon, this gives you time to think about it and dread it even more – making you even more anxious about it. If you make the appointment in the morning, it does not give you time to think about it as much, reducing your tension.

Your fear of going to the dentist can be responded to in ways that are designed to help you relax. By focusing on the positive aspects of dentistry, such as your teeth will not hurt after they get the treatment they need, and the dentist is only trying to help you, will also help you relax.

If you need dental treatment and have dental phobia, Champion Dental, Farmers Branch , Texas can help you. We offer sedation dentistry for patients who need it and our expert dentists are professional and comforting in their approach. Call 214-747-0763 today to schedule your dental anxiety free appointment .

Why Your Gums Are Receding

Posted on January 27, 2023 | by mel | 3 Comments

The real reasons that you may not even think of

When you have receding gums, it is often an indication that there is a problem. It reveals that your gums are not as healthy as they should be, and your oral health is declining. Healthy gums are necessary to help protect your teeth.

Symptoms of Receding Gums

Looking over your gums, there are some easy-to-spot symptoms that will help you know whether or not they are healthy. Some symptoms that reveal that your gums are in the early stages of gum disease include:

Bleeding gums
Bright Red Gums
Bad Breath
Swollen gums
Increased sensitivity

Why You Should Stop Gum Decay

A receding gum line is often just the early steps to periodontitis. Unless it is treated and action is taken to stop it, it will gradually become worse. With the right conditions, it can quickly become serious.

Gum decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that is out of control. Normally, the good bacteria, a healthy diet, and saliva keep it under control. As the bad bacterium multiplies, it produces an acid that starts to work on the gums and teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can remove the plaque (the bad bacteria) that forms on your teeth.

Without the proper dental care, pockets will begin to form on your gums before long. This provides the perfect hiding place for the bacteria to grow colonies – and produce more acid. This is called periodontitis. As the pockets become larger, it starts to break down the structures that hold your teeth in place, and the bone, and your teeth start to become loose and will eventually fall out.

As your gums recede, it exposes the roots of your teeth. Prior to receding, the gums offered some protection for the roots, but as they recede, cavities can form on them and they become more sensitive.

Inflammation and Other Disease

Researchers now know that the inflammation caused by gum disease is behind many potentially serious health problems. It can lead to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, a stroke, and many more.

Causes of Receding Gums

Before you can start to treat gum disease, you need to know what may be the cause of it. Some causes include:

Poor care of your teeth – A lack of regularly brushing your teeth and flossing will lead to gum disease.
Grinding your teeth – If you grind your teeth (bruxism), you have an increased chance of developing gum disease.
Brushing too hard – Brushing vigorously can wear away your gums, leading to gum recession. Using a toothbrush that has hard bristles can do the same thing.
A gum injury – Trauma to your teeth can also help promote gum disease.
Hormonal changes – Changes in the level of female hormones can help gums to be more likely to develop a disease of the gums.
Illnesses – Various diseases can lead to the faster growth of the bacteria that causes gum disease. This includes diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia.
Genetics – It is possible that your genes may actually make you inclined to gum disease. WebMd says that as much as 30 percent of the population may be in this category, and how well you take care of your teeth may not prevent it.
Misaligned teeth – When your teeth are not aligned properly, it makes cleaning them more difficult. This often results in leaving food particles between your teeth – allowing bacteria to multiply and cause decay.
Poor nutrition – Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the strengthening of your teeth and gums. Eating or drinking a lot of sugary foods provides food for the bacteria that causes gum disease.
Obesity – Being overweight makes it harder to control gum disease.
Medications – Some medications will cause dry mouth, which encourages bacterial growth.
Drug abuse – Drug abuse generally promotes gum disease because the acids in them are strong, and those on drugs rarely take care of their teeth.

Types of Gum Treatment

If you have a mild case of gingivitis, you can probably get rid of it by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. You will need to do it regularly to succeed.

If you already have pockets forming along the gum line, you will likely need to see a dentist for treatment. Periodontal treatment will be needed to stop it and repair the damage. Remedies include:

Non-surgical: medications, scaling and root planing.
Surgical: flap reduction surgery, gum grafting, soft tissue grafts, and bone grafting.

Preventing Receding Gums

The best way to prevent your gums from receding is to carry out a regular program of brushing for about two minutes at a time – twice a day, and flossing. This will usually eliminate the early stages of gum infection.

If you are staying in and around Farmers branch , do call our clinic Champion Dental at 214-747-0763 for more information on gum disease treatment, and treatment for receding gums

How Oral Sex Can Cause Cancer

Posted on January 27, 2023 | by mel | Leave a Comment

Can You Really Get Mouth Cancer from Oral Sex?

Cancers today are still very common. Research indicates that one of the oral cancer causes is having oral sex. Although there are other possible causes, such as smoking and drinking, there is strong evidence that getting HPV in the mouth can lead to some people getting throat cancer.

The Cause

The truth is that oral sex is not believed to be the actual cause of oral cancer – at least not directly. According to Medical News Today, what actually happens is that the HPV virus causes changes in the cells that it infects.

The changes affect the genetic material in the cells so that it produces more infected cells. Over time, the infected cells may become cancerous – but not necessarily. Most people who have the infection are not apt to get oral cancer. The body will often remove the HPV infection in about 90 percent of the cases, and it will do it within two years.

The Risk Factors

Several risk factors will increase your chances of getting throat or neck cancer from oral sex. The primary factor is having oral sex with multiple partners. Having six oral sex partners raises your risk by more than three times. The more partners you have, the more likely it is that you will get a throat or neck cancer.

Men are more likely to develop an HPV-related throat cancer than women. This may be because women have a natural immunological response to it while men do not have.

HPV and Oral Cancer

In an article by the New York Post, oral cancer is on the rise, largely because incidents of HPV are increasing. In tests of men with cancer of the mouth, those who had oral sex with more than 10 women had a rate of 14.4 percent of getting HPV. Of the people who had oral cancer, 70 percent of them also had HPV.

Signs of Oral Cancer

Catching throat cancer early is important – just like for any other cancer. The sooner it is detected, the sooner treatment can be initiated – and the less time it has a chance to spread.

There are several throat cancer symptoms in men. When you have cancer of the throat you may have: difficulty swallowing, a frequent cough, a sore throat, pain in your ear, changes in your voice, a sore or lump that will not heal, and possible weight loss.

Oral HPV Symptoms

When you get HPV, which is an STD, usually from vaginal, oral, or anal sex, it can remain inactive for weeks to years. Some people, the Oral Cancer Foundation says, never have any visible symptoms. Many more people have it than are aware of it.

Testing positive for HPV does not at all indicate that one partner is having a sexual relationship on the side. HPV can remain dormant for decades. It is quite possible that the other partner has it but never knew it. The CDC reveals that as many as 80 percent of people in the United States will get it at some time during their life. Currently, it is believed that about 79 million people have HPV now.

Reducing the Risk

The risk of developing oral cancer can be reduced by taking some precautions, which means reducing your risk of getting HPV. The first one is to have just one sex partner for a lifetime or limit yourself to one partner who only has sex with you. Another way to cut down the risk is to use condoms carefully, but they do not totally eliminate the risk. A third measure is to get an HPV vaccine.

Another way to reduce your risk is to stop smoking, which can also cause oral cancers. Drink alcohol only in moderation or not at all. Eating more fruits and vegetables may also reduce your risk, because of the many antioxidants in them.

Tests for HPV have not yet been developed that are accurate, and the percentage of people who will be actually harmed by it is rather small. Because of the lower rates of incidence of this type of cancer, money for research to detect HPV is limited, and it may be some time before there are any better tests available.

Discovering It Early

In most cases, the first one to detect the symptoms of oral cancer is usually the dentist. A dentist is trained to be able to recognize symptoms of oral cancer, and may even notice it before you do. This is clearly one advantage of going to a dentist for regular checkups.

During the exam, the dentist will feel your neck and throat for lumps. Throat cancers are often first discovered as lumps in the throat – in swollen lymph nodes. This type of cancer is often not diagnosed until it is already advanced. It is also the fastest growing cancer in men who are between 25 and 55. It usually responds well to surgery and radiation.

If you want to be checked for mouth and throat cancer, you can visit the Champion dental office at Farmers Branch, Texas.

What Can Your Dentist Do To Prevent Sports Injury to Your Teeth?

Posted on January 26, 2023 | by mel | 2 Comments

How to Stop the Damage to Teeth in Sports

Playing sports and getting a tooth injury is rather common. Sports can get rough, and accidents can happen that can cause injuries to the mouth, jaw, and teeth. Sports injuries can occur to people of any age, which is why seeing your dentist to help get protection for you or your child’s teeth is important to their future smile.

Frequency of Dental Injuries

Wearing protection while playing sports has saved many young people from potentially serious injuries to the face and mouth. Prior to the time when face and mouth protection became required, says MedicineNet, as many as 50 percent of all injuries occurred to the face and mouth. Most tooth trauma also occurs to the front upper teeth.

Sports Injury Prevention

Preventing your child from getting a serious injury to the mouth, jaw, or teeth, can be aided by your dentist. A dental mouth guard can be specially prepared by the dentist to fit your young person’s teeth to give them the extra protection needed.

Mouth Guard

A mouth guard is probably the most important piece of equipment your child needs to protect his or her teeth. It will reduce the likelihood of damage to the teeth, which can be very costly to repair or replace if one is knocked out.

Mouth guards made by a dentist are custom-fitting, which provides a better fit and makes them more comfortable to wear. The perfect fit also ensures that they will stay in place and not slip off when needed most.

Mouth Guards for Braces

Orthodontics is designed to help your child’s teeth look beautiful. Sports injuries can damage braces, which can then poke into the gums or inner mouth or tongue. Naturally, you want to protect those teeth that you have already invested in. A special custom made orthodontic mouthguard can help protect the braces and teeth from sports accidents.

Mouth Guards and Insurance

Some insurance plans that teams or leagues have will only provide payment when a custom-made sports mouth guard is made by a dentist. It is also possible that teeth guards may need to be worn on the top and bottom teeth, depending on the sport. In wrestling, for instance, a wrestling mouthguard is required.

Why Custom Mouth Guards Are Better

Standardized mouth guards can be purchased at the store. Another type, boil-and-bite, can also be purchased which are apt to fit a little better – but not perfectly. Both of these options are certainly the less expensive way to go.

A custom-made mouth guard, even though more expensive, will provide better protection for the teeth. Being that they fit better, they will also be more comfortable.

Get Healthy Teeth

Tooth trauma is less likely to occur if your teeth and gums are in good health. When they are not, it will be much easier to knock a loose tooth out than it would be a healthy one. A broken tooth may also occur more easily if the enamel on the teeth has been weakened by eating or drinking a lot of acidic foods, including soda in particular. Using smokeless tobacco, or illegal drugs, will also enable a more serious dental injury to take place that might otherwise be avoided.

When Teeth Get Injured

When there is a tooth knocked out – either out of place or completely out of the mouth, it is very important to see a dentist as soon as possible. If at all possible, you should see a dentist within 30-minutes. Do not try to re-implant the tooth.

When picking up the tooth that has been knocked out, be sure not to pick it up by the root. Instead, pick it up by the crown, and rinse off any dirt that may be on it, but do not scrub it off. If possible, placing the tooth in cold milk is best – even if you cannot get to a dentist within a day. Saline water or plain water is good, too.

A chipped tooth may also be repaired if you get to a dentist rather quickly. In some cases, it can be cemented in place, or a bonding compound can repair it. A cracked tooth or fractured tooth needs to be looked at to determine whether or not it can be repaired. Sometimes a new crown may need to be added, which most likely also means a root canal.

If there is injury to the jaw, or a knocked out tooth, a dentist will also take a quick look at your neighboring teeth to determine if they have been damaged.

Advantages of Dental Mouth Guards

When your child or teen is involved in sports, there is an increased danger to the teeth. Injuries will happen, but a kids mouth guard or a youth football mouth guard will certainly help to reduce any sudden force applied to their jaw. Even better, though, is that it will help them retain their teeth and great smile, and it will save you a lot of money if teeth are lost without it.

If you live in and around Farmers Branch, Texas, you can obtain a custom-fitted dental mouth guard for your child from Champion Dental Clinic. For more information about sports mouth guards, or to set up an appointment, call our office today at (214) 747-0763.

What You Need To Know About Nerve Damage after Oral Surgery

Posted on January 25, 2023 | by mel | 3 Comments

How Dental Nerve Damage Can Affect You

On some occasions, some types of dental surgery may result in damage to the nerve (the lingual nerve) in your lower jaw. The injury is accidental, but it does occur. This kind of dental nerve damage affects the nerves in the lower lip, the tongue, and the chin. In most cases, this type of injury is temporary and recovery takes place within eight weeks.

How It May Occur

During any oral surgical procedure on the back teeth of your lower jaw, it is possible for a lingual nerve injury to occur. It is a risk that can take place during the removal of wisdom teeth while installing dental implants, root canal treatment, and during surgeries to the face or mouth.

Pain or other sensations can be caused when a nerve is injured or severed. A lingual nerve injury can occur from many things, including from a needle when injecting the pain medication, from pulling gum tissues out of the way, from cutting the gums, placing an implant, during suturing, from a bruise on the nerve, or from compression of it – or possibly from inflammation.

There are several other ways that it may occur. This includes damage from the eruption of a blood vessel, which puts pressure on the nerve; or from the anesthetic itself damaging the nerve.

In some rare cases, the dentist may choose to leave the tips of the roots of a wisdom tooth in place. This will be done because the dentist believes that they are too close to the nerve to try and remove them. If attempted, the nerves would likely be damaged.

Nerve Damage and Dental Implants

Damage to the nerves in the jaw can rather easily occur during implant surgery. Every step of the procedure has the possibility of damage to the nerve. In addition to the above mentioned possible occasions for damage, there is also the problem of using surgical instruments to stretch tissue or to compress it while placing an implant. The risk varies based on where it is placed.

In the event of nerve damage caused by the placing of an implant, recovery may involve a few steps. Generally, the sensation of temperature and pain will recover first, and others may follow.

How It May Affect You

The resultant injury to the nerve may affect you in different ways, says the Oral Facial Surgery Institute. In many situations, various sensations may be felt, such as tingling, numbness, the feeling of something crawling on you, burning, shocks, or being extra sensitive in that area. For most people affected by nerve damage, the sensation is continuous.

The feelings may affect you by altering how you taste, chew, drink liquids, speak, kiss, and eat. These new feelings – or a lack of them – can drastically change how you do things. For some people, it can be hard to handle and may affect their quality of life. If these changes persist for more than six months, it is considered permanent.

Dental Nerve Damage Treatment

There are generally four methods of treatment for a nerve injury of this type. The National Institute of Health says that lingual nerve damage treatment is fourfold:

The use of medication (may include narcotics) – Three main types of medication may be used, including analgesics, antidepressants, and antiepileptics.
Laser treatment may help recover some sensation – The laser has been valuable to help recovery when used at low light levels. It can also be helpful when used before and after nerve surgery.
Surgery to restore nerves – Several types of surgery is used to treat damaged nerves.
Hypnosis and other therapy – Various therapies have been used with some success, including cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, relaxation therapy, and more.

Recovery Periods

When nerve damage is from the extraction of a wisdom tooth, recovery will most likely occur within the first three months. At about six months, about half of those with nerve damage will be recovered.

If the nerve damage is caused by an injection, most people recover completely within eight weeks. When recovery takes longer than that, full recovery is not likely.

Risk Factors

The greatest risk factor for potential nerve damage during a dental procedure is age, particularly in the case of wisdom teeth. After age 25, the wisdom teeth are more fully developed and the roots are longer and more complex, making it more difficult to remove them. This can make it easier for damage to occur to a nerve.

If you are experiencing some nerve pain after surgery, or tooth pain, our expert dental team at Champion dental, Farmers Branch can help you in alleviating it. Contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for more information or to set up a consultation.

How Safe Is Red Wine for Your Teeth?

Posted on January 24, 2023 | by mel | 6 Comments

Wine Causes More Damage than Just Stained Teeth

Many people enjoy a glass of red wine with their meal. It is considered a staple by some people and they would miss it if not served with their meal. It is also well-known to be capable of producing strong stains, and many people have stained teeth because of it. Besides the red wine teeth, red wine is also capable of producing tooth enamel erosion.

Tooth Discoloration

Red wine, along with tea and coffee contains tannins. This substance can stain your teeth. It can do this because the enamel on your teeth consists of ridges and pits – even though it may look smooth to the eye. When you drink or eat, food particles and the dyes in the wine get caught on the ridges and leave your teeth stained.

White wine is actually no better for you when it comes to having stained teeth. Although it is not red, it still contains the tannins that are responsible for the staining power of wine.

Acidic Drinks

Being that red wine contains alcohol, it clearly falls into the category of acidic foods. It has a strong pH level of somewhere between 2.9 and 3.5, and this means that it can damage the enamel on your teeth. Drinking wine often can definitely cause acid erosion, and leave you with wine stained teeth.

The acid literally starts to dissolve the enamel. Over time, it becomes thin. This leads to a changing of the color of your teeth because of the color of the under layer, which is a darker yellow. You may also experience pain because the nerves in your teeth become exposed. This is a problem because enamel does not grow back.

Alcohol and Dehydration

Alcohol is also bad for your teeth because it will dry out your mouth. It is a diuretic, which means it helps you eliminate water from your mouth and body.

Having a dry mouth is bad for teeth because your saliva helps keep the bad bacteria in your mouth under control. Saliva also helps to strengthen your teeth.

Mixing Red Wine with Soda

People who enjoy mixing their red wine with soda are actually causing worse dental damage. Soda has its own acids in them, and a lot of sugar, with Coke having about nine teaspoons per can. The sugar in the soda will cause the bad bacteria in your mouth to grow. When it does, they produce acid, too. The combined acids mean that the erosion process takes place even faster.

Cancer Risk

While the health benefits of drinking red wine are often touted loud and clear, some recent studies have found a connection between alcohol and mouth cancer. A look at mouth cancer patients discovered that 75 to 80 percent of them admitted to drinking alcohol often. Cancer is even more likely to develop when combined with smoking.

How to Remove Stains from Teeth

If your teeth are stained from red wine, there are several ways to remedy the problem and get beautiful white teeth again. One way would be to buy a teeth whitening kit at your local store. They work slowly, taking about two weeks to whiten your teeth. It will, however, only get your teeth between one or two shades brighter.

A faster way is to go to your dentist and ask about teeth whitening options. A dentist can provide you with much whiter teeth faster. Because they supervise the process, they can use stronger chemicals that will get your teeth 1about six shades brighter in just one session. A dentist can also provide you with teeth whitening chemicals to use at home, but they will not be as strong as you can get in the office.

Dental Veneers

Probably the best way to get really white teeth is to get dental veneers. These are porcelain caps that are placed on the front of your teeth. Because they cover your teeth, they are often used to cover up a wide variety of problems. They can be used to hide problems such as chips, wine stained teeth, short teeth, teeth that are slightly misaligned and even gaps between your teeth. After they are applied, they will give you a Hollywood smile.

Being that veneers are made of porcelain, they reflect light like your natural teeth. They can also be tinted to match the color of your existing teeth. Veneers have the added advantage that when they are taken care of properly, they can last between 15 to 20 years.

Dental Caps

If you have individual teeth that are badly stained, a dental cap can give you a white smile again. Dental caps are also made of porcelain and will look natural. This process removes the top part of your tooth and replaces it with a ceramic crown. A crown can last the rest of your life.

If you want to know more about how to remove stains from teeth as a result from drinking red wine, you can get help from our expert dental team at Champion dental, Farmers Branch , and regain that beautiful smile. Contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for more information or to set up a consultation.

Stop This! – Make Your Teeth Live Longer?

Posted on January 23, 2023 | by mel | 4 Comments

Do You Have These 8 Bad Dental Habits?

Most people do not pay a lot of attention to their teeth – until there is a problem. The problem may become evident through bleeding gums, a toothache, a chipped tooth, or discoloration. The problems that can cause the dental issues are often preventable, like bad habits. Some habits that you want to avoid for better dental health include the following.

Eating Ice

A common habit that many people engage in is chewing ice. This is bad for your teeth because ice is hard and it can lead to cracked teeth.

Nail Biting

Nails are also hard, and biting your nails can lead to cracked teeth. The American Dental Association says that it can also lead to some jaw dysfunction because when biting your nails, it keeps your jaw in an extended position.

Playing Sports Without a Mouth Guard

Sports can be rough enough even when you are wearing a mouth guard. Not wearing one in a sport where hard objects, such as a baseball, football, hockey puck, etc., are flying in the air is a good way to lose a tooth, a filling, or chip one. Of course, getting tackled can also inflict dental pain. Mouth guards are easily purchased and can protect your teeth from a lot of problems, or your dentist can make one to custom fit your mouth and teeth.

Pierced Tongues

This popular trend can lead to a number of oral health problems. In addition to accidently biting down on it and cracking a tooth, you can also develop an infection. Your gums may also be damaged by it, which could lead to the loss of teeth.

Drinking Soda

As far as taking care of your teeth is concerned, drinking soda is one of the worst things you can do. Sodas are heavily laden with sugar, some containing as much as nine teaspoons in a single can.

The sugar in soda is bad for teeth because they cause the bad bacteria in your mouth to multiply. When they do, they will produce acids which will cause tooth enamel erosion and promote tooth decay.

Sodas are acidic beverages that contain two acids that will harm your teeth’s enamel – phosphoric and citric acid. A diet soft drink may not contain the sugar, but the acids in it are stronger than what is found in a regular soda.

Lemons and other citric fruits also contain a lot of acids. Although there are valuable vitamins in them, you should limit how much you drink. Constantly keeping acid in your mouth is very harmful to your teeth.

Eating Junk Food Snacks

Eating snacks that are laden with sugar is going to lead to cavities. Eating them throughout the day is even worse, because this means that there is a constant stream of sugar in your mouth promoting bacterial growth. This will lead to bad breath – as well as bad teeth.

Substituting junk food snacks for healthy ones is a better option that can help to promote strong teeth and better health. Eating a Mediterranean diet has been found to promote good dental health, besides having many other good health benefits. It basically consists of eating more fruits and vegetables, along with nuts, fish, and less red meat.

Smoking & Alcohol

Using tobacco in any form is also bad for your teeth – and for almost everything else in your body, too. It can give you problems such as bleeding gums, a sore throat and gums, stained teeth, and may even lead to oral cancer. Treating dental problems is made more difficult, because healing takes longer.

Alcohol can cause a number of dental problems that will damage your teeth. Whether it is beer or wine, etc., alcohol is acidic and can increase the damage caused by the bacteria in your mouth. Research has shown that as many as 70 percent of people with oral cancer drank alcohol heavily. When you also smoke, it increases the likelihood of getting this disease. Alcoholic beverages, like tea and coffee, will stain your teeth.

Ignoring Brushing and Flossing

The best thing you can do for your teeth, besides ignoring bad habits that may hurt them, is to brush and floss daily. It will help you keep your smile beautiful, and will be much cheaper than having to replace teeth at the dentist’s office.

Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day, and flossed one a day. This will help to remove food particles where bacteria can hide and grow – and produce enamel-destroying acids.

Drinking water shortly after eating or drinking sweet drinks or foods will help reduce the sugar and acids in your mouth. Doing so will also keep the bacteria levels down. It will also help to cut down the likelihood of developing stained teeth.

If you want to enable your teeth to stay healthy and live longer, it is necessary to stop harmful habits. If your teeth are already damaged and less than beautiful, you can have them repaired and restored to look beautiful again

Is Drinking Coffee Affecting Your Teeth?

Posted on January 20, 2023 | by mel | 3 Comments

That Sweet Morning Drink May Be Leading You to the Dentist

The beloved drink that many Americans start their day with may be affecting their teeth in a bad way. If you want to keep your teeth in good shape, you may want to think twice about sipping on coffee all day long. In addition to the fact that coffee stains teeth, you should know that it is likely helping your beautiful teeth to become bad teeth.

Coffee and Teeth

Although your teeth appear to be solid, they are actually neither smooth, nor solid. When seen under a microscope, teeth contain many ridges and pits, and food can easily be trapped on them. Food that contains various dyes and pigments in them can also get trapped on your teeth, and this will eventually cause discoloration.

When starting to drink a dark liquid like coffee, people may ask: Does coffee stain your teeth?

The answer is a definite yes. Acidic foods such as coffee are notorious for being able to stain your teeth over time. Coffee contains tannins, which is also contained in tea and some wines. The good news is that stained teeth from coffee is not permanent.

Another common problem is coffee plaque. If you have plaque on your teeth, it can also become stained from coffee. This can create brown edges between your teeth and on your gum line where the plaque accumulates.

Coffee and Health

Many studies recently are showing that coffee has a lot of health benefits, says the American Dental Association. It can reduce the likelihood of getting some serious diseases when taken in moderation. Although it can stain your teeth, the problem with drinking coffee is largely in the amount of sugar people consume with it.

Fancy coffees being sold at special coffee shops, such as Starbucks, contain an awful lot of sugar. According to CNN, some of their popular coffees contain as much as 25 teaspoons of sugar. When compared to a can of Coke, it is 2.5 times as much! Special coffees sold at other stores may not be much better.

Coffee Tooth Decay

Besides staining your teeth, sugar creates another big problem. The bacteria in your mouth that causes tooth decay feeds on sugar. When you leave a lot of sugar on your teeth, such as when you drink that coffee with loads of it and don’t brush your teeth afterward, you are causing the growth of harmful bacteria.

When multiplying, the bacteria produce an acid that will deteriorate your tooth enamel. Leaving the sugar on your teeth all day is bad for your teeth. This allows the bacteria to cause even more decay. When you sip coffee all day with sugar in it, the bacteria continues to grow and produce even more acid.

When you add the acid from the coffee to the acid being produced by the bacteria, it causes even more damage to your teeth. In addition to the stain from coffee’s dark color, the enamel on your teeth becomes thinner as the acids wear it away.

As it gets thinner, the underlying color of the dentin in your teeth – the underlying layer – begins to be seen. This causes your teeth to turn yellow.

Dry Mouth

Drinking coffee also causes dry mouth. This is an additional problem because your saliva helps to destroy the bacteria producing the acid. Without healthy amounts of saliva to keep the bacteria in check, the bacteria continue to multiply and produce more acid. Saliva also helps to heal your teeth, even repairing some of the damage.

Preventing Coffee Stain

Adding more cream to your coffee will lighten the color of it in your cup. It will not, however, prevent your teeth from becoming stained because the tannins are still in the coffee – there is just less of them. The only difference is that it might take longer to turn your teeth yellow.

When you add creamer to your coffee to make it lighter in color, you are also adding more sugar. The best way to reduce the stains from appearing from coffee is to cut down on coffee altogether, or at least reduce it to about two cups a day.

Options for Teeth Whitening

If you have coffee stained teeth, there are several ways to restore their white color at the dentist’s office. Three popular options include:

Teeth Whitening

Although there are teeth whitening kits at the local store, these are not nearly as effective as your dentist can make them. Kits at the store are only able to whiten your teeth one or two shades lighter, and it will often take about two weeks or longer. The dentist can make them about six shades lighter in just one sitting!

Veneers

Veneers are porcelain caps that fit on the front of your teeth. They provide a powerful advantage of being able to cover up many flaws, such as slightly misaligned teeth, chips, discolored teeth, and even gaps between your teeth. They are made in a lab and look natural.

Once your teeth are made white again, you need to be aware that drinks such as coffee will stain them again. One way to prevent this is to drink water to rinse the coffee out of your mouth right after drinking it – and the sugar and tannins with it. Brushing right after drinking coffee will also help.

If you have stained teeth from coffee, and live in the Farmers Branch TX area, Our Champion Dental expert dentist team can help you. We provide teeth whitening and a wide variety of dental services to help remove the coffee effects on teeth and restore your white smile and repair damage from enamel erosion. You can contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for an appointment.

Can Toothache Turn You Into Addiction?

Posted on January 19, 2023 | by mel | 2 Comments

Can a Toothache Make You Addicted to Drugs?

Taking Prescription Drugs for a Toothache Can Make You Addicted to Drugs

Getting a toothache is rarely a pleasant experience. It will often cause enough pain that it quickly becomes almost intolerable, leading you to seek help for pain relief. While prescription painkillers can temporarily give you the relief you want, there is a danger that they can also quickly lead to an addiction to drugs. When that occurs, it can result in a lot more damage to your teeth.

Determine the Cause of the Pain

Although it is easy to say that a toothache indicates a dental problem, it is important to understand that time is not on your side. While the problem causing the toothache may not be very serious when you first notice the pain, ignoring it can lead to much more serious dental problems – which also means more costly ones, too.

Taking addictive painkillers will help you ignore the pain more, which means that your dental problem only becomes even worse. With some painkillers, or if you choose to use illegal drugs to relieve the pain, they will only speed up the process of causing even more damage to your teeth and gums.

The Cause of Addiction

Taking strong painkillers, whether it is with or without a prescription, can lead to a dependence on the drugs because it creates artificial endorphins. These hormones are naturally produced by your brain, but when artificial endorphins are added, the natural production decreases. In fact, your brain may cease to produce them, leading the individual to want more from the drug, encouraging drug addiction.

An additional cause of drug addiction is that your body soon becomes accustomed to the painkilling drug. When this happens, more of the drug is needed to have the same effect, and stronger doses need to be taken to get the same effect.

The Time Frame for Addiction

The average person can take a strong prescription drug for about a week without fear of becoming addicted. Obviously, this is not a very long time. Becoming addicted to a drug often takes place after about a month, but it depends on the individual. Some people can take it longer than this without a problem, others become addicted in less than a month.

Possible Problems Occurring with Drug Addiction

After you become addicted to strong painkillers, you can expect that it is going to change your life – negatively. While the symptoms will vary depending on the particular medication you take – and how much of it, you might expect some of the following: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, constipation, rash, and more.

In addition to these side effects, there are many other possible problems that may result from an addiction. You may also find it hard to concentrate, which could cause you to lose your job or reputation, drop out of school, lose your family, or possibly even lose your life.

Addiction Can Affect the Baby

If you are pregnant and become addicted to drugs, there is a strong possibility that your baby can become addicted, too. After birth, the baby may develop symptoms of addiction – which is sure to be noticed by the hospital staff. Some drugs can also be found in breast milk, so that can also lead to addiction to drugs over time in your child.

Possible Dental Problems Causing Pain

There are several problems with your teeth that can cause pain. Some of them include a cavity, a split tooth, wisdom teeth coming in that do not have enough room, damage to a tooth, a gum infection, and more. A tooth infection can also easily spread to your sinuses and become a painful sinus infection that will not go away. A gum infection may be gingivitis, and this could easily become periodontitis, which could lead to deterioration of your gums and jawbone, causing teeth to start falling out.

Get Dental Care Quickly to Avoid Risk

Instead of ignoring the obvious toothache, try going to a dentist and getting an accurate evaluation of the cause of it. Letting the dentist take care of the cause of the problem at the start will enable you to avoid needing painkillers in the first place – and eliminate the possibility of addiction.

The best way to get relief from a toothache is to let the dentist eliminate the problem. It really may be cheaper than trying all kinds of drugs to remove the symptoms – and dental care is not addictive. Once the dentist removes the cause of the pain, you can enjoy a mouth that is pain-free and will not need drugs afterward.

Is Your Sinus Headache Being Caused by Dental Problems?

Posted on January 18, 2023 | by mel | 2 Comments

Dental Treatment Can Reduce Your Sinus Infection Symptoms

A sinus headache can be a real problem for those who have it, especially if it is ongoing. Taking medications for sinus pain may not provide the kind of relief you need because it may have another cause – teeth problems. An infection in your teeth or gums may actually be the source of your pain, which may also be why sinus remedies are not giving you the desired result.

Infections and Sinus Problems

Your sinuses lie very close to the rear of your mouth. This closeness could easily enable an infection in your gums or teeth near the rear of your mouth to travel to your sinuses, making them become infected, too. People often allow tooth infections to continue for some time before seeking treatment.

If you do not know of a connection, you may be trying to treat the symptoms repeatedly but actually avoiding the real cause. This may be why you have ongoing headaches and have not yet found a cure for sinus headaches.

The opposite is also true. Sinus problems can lead to toothaches due to their close proximity to the upper jaw. If you have tooth pain when you have sinus problems, it is a good idea to check with a dentist to ensure that you also do not have a tooth or gum infection.

Symptoms of Tooth Pain

When your sinus cavities become infected, they are likely to put pressure on some of your upper teeth. This will cause there to be some pain when you bite, or it may produce a dull and constant pain.

Symptoms of a Sinus Headache

Many people confuse a sinus headache with a migraine. While some of the symptoms do occur in both, a sinus headache is rather easily distinguishable from a migraine. A sinus headache will include pressure or pain in your cheeks, forehead, or brow. You will also likely have a stuffy nose, nasal discharge, a fever, and an ache in your upper teeth. Fatigue will also often accompany a sinus headache, and you may have a cough and an earache.

With a migraine, however, you may feel nauseous or vomit, and bright lights and noise will bother you. The weather is also apt to affect it, as well as stress, and it will definitely limit your ability to carry out your normal duties – probably making you unable to function. The confusion between a sinus headache and a migraine is so common that about 90 percent of people who think they have a sinus headache actually have migraines.

Other Causes of Headaches

It is also possible that your headaches could be caused by a combination of sinus infections and other issues. One of them could include a temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJ. This occurs when your jaw bones do not move together as they should. One side may not move as freely as the other side due to arthritis, or being worn more on that side. Grinding of the teeth can also cause it, which can result in headaches.

The presence of an abscess could also be the cause of your headaches. An abscess is caused by the formation of a pocket that becomes full of infection. It is caused by inflammation of the gums or from a decaying tooth.

Going to a Doctor

You might go to a doctor to get a solution to your sinus headaches. The medicine prescribed may help for a little while, but if the cause is dental, you will find that the headaches continue until the dental problem is taken care of. If a root canal is needed, it will remedy the infection and your sinus headaches will be greatly reduced.

The Dental Cure

Although you may be given antibiotics for the infection, if the tooth is not fixed, you will continue to have sinus headaches. The tooth or gum problems need to be remedied before you will get a solution to your headaches.

When you have a sinus headache that is the result of an infected tooth, the tooth will need to be repaired first. This is going to require a root canal, if it is determined that the tooth is salvageable. The cap will be removed, and the nerves in the tooth will be destroyed. A disinfectant will be applied, and then the tooth will be sealed. After this, a temporary cap will be put on it until the new crown can be made.

If you have sinus headaches and you live near to Farmers Branch, Texas , DFW area, you can be examined for dental problems by our renowned Champion Dental Clinic expert team of dentists. For more information or to set up a consultation, contact our office today at (214) 747-0763.

Month: January 2023