Having a drink is a fun way for us to relax. Sometimes it’s through partying, taking in the club lights as we dance the night away with a can of beer in our hand. Other times it’s a relaxing weekend night with a glass of wine as we catch up on our favorite shows on Netflix. Either way, we use alcoholic to loosen up after days of hard work. However, what other good benefits are there? Alcohol has many significant dangers that detriment our health. Alcohol, either consumed benign or heavily, can affect your body as a whole. While there are many proofs as to how alcohol affects your entire being, let’s focus on a key physical appearance it affects the most, your teeth.
Teeth Staining
Our teeth are very important. In a beauty study, experts concluded that the smile is the most important feature of a person, surpassing other physical features such as their eyes, hair and figure. That is why it’s obvious when the effects of alcohol stain your teeth.
Teeth staining is caused by the wear of your enamel due to the harsh acidity of beverages including alcohol. A main concern about our enamel is that once it’s gone, it’s gone. Enamel slowly wears down during your life, but with the intake of alcohol, it decreases your enamel’s timespan.
As your enamel wears down, the thick, calcified bulk of your teeth called dentin is uncovered, causing your teeth to look yellow and darker. Your teeth are very porous, meaning that your teeth are essentially sponges to any liquids you consume. High concentrated drinks like red wine or cocktails leave a noticeable pigment across your teeth which will leave stains if not treated correctly. Beer also leaves your pores a dark shade of brown, depending on the concentration of barley and malt it’s made of. Thanks to our enamel, our teeth may have a lively white smile for a lifetime, that’s what it’s for. However your enamel is like a marriage, cheat on it with alcohol and don’t be surprised when it leaves you for good.
Teeth Decay
Alongside staining comes the decaying of your teeth. Teeth decay is a huge factor as to why some people decide to live a life of sobriety. When you consume alcohol, the acidity of the drink starts eating away at your teeth and gum lines, making them prickly and sore.
Ever hear about those late night party-goers that end up on the sidewalk with vomit all over them? Not only is it a disgusting sight to see, even if you are a drunk friend taking a picture of them, but they face major effects of alcoholism and the results will lead to teeth decay.
Acid reflux is a huge player in this scenario. If your stomach isn’t agreeing with you and it results in throwing up, your stomach acid will crawl out of its system, burn up your esophagus, and make your mouth aflame as you heave out everything until you’re empty inside. Here’s why this is a very bad situation. Your stomach acid is meant to kill bacteria and break down enzymes of the food and drink you consume, and those aren’t the only substances it can. When your stomach acid fills your mouth, it ruins your uvula, your gums, and your teeth. The acid eats away at your gums and your enamel, filling your pores with putrid acid and will remain there until you flush it out. The longer you allow the acid to eat away inside your mouth, the higher chance you will develop cases of gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, or at best, teeth staining.
What Are We Doing Now?
Sadly, while we may be educated in this type of matter, most of us ignore the dangerous facts of alcohol on our oral health. “People don’t realize how much damage alcohol causes,“ says Dr. Cohen of One Stop Implants, “The fact is people know the after effects of alcohol mentally, but they don’t know what it’s doing to them physically. Oral health is a huge issue for us because we talk, eat, and use our smile as a portfolio for ourselves. Not having maintained oral hygiene has negative consequences in the short and long run.”
According to an ADA Dental Health Report, almost 75% of adults from ages 18-29 years old admit to not brushing their teeth after an alcohol-inspired night. What this means is that for at least 8 hours after consuming alcohol, our teeth is being eaten away that’s caused by the acid in our beverages.
We are neglecting the important parts of our lives, prioritizing fun over needs. Getting tipsy with friends may seem like a great idea, but in reality we should be stopping ourselves and understanding the negative outcomes of the situation.
What Can We Do?
There are many ways that we can prevent and spread knowledge of what alcohol is doing to our oral health.
It’s best off to start learning about the negative effects of alcohol at a young age. Adolescence is a time frame in which we explored different experiences, wanting to hit milestones such as taking our first shot or getting drunk with friends. Want to impress that classmate across the room from you? You certainly would get turned down if they see those dark stains on your teeth or the smell of beer on your breathe. Studying for that exam next week? Good luck remembering all the information with the dead memory signals alcohol kills.
As far fetched as it sounds, the ability for us to sober up and live alcohol free lives is the easiest and safest way for us to avoid alcohol’s negative consequences. Should you decide to live a life of sobriety, first contact your dentist. There is a high risk that your teeth may already have developed a level of tooth decay or have untreated cavities. Having those treated as soon as you can will get you on a path of healthy living and you’ll see the improvements in your oral hygiene. Schedule a teeth whitening with a licensed professional. Erase the memories and the marks of alcohol today by getting your teeth whitened and ready for a second chance.
While some of us can learn how to quit, sometimes alcohol is still a necessity or a want in life. Here are some helpful tips to minimize the damage that alcohol imposes.
Sip your drink through a straw, this directs the flow of the liquid into your mouth, minimizing contact with your gums and your teeth.
Rinse often when you drink, carrying a bottle of water around with you so you can flush your pores is a great way to prevent dark substances from having an overnight stay in your mouth.
Chew sugar-free gum. Not only is chewing a unique way to develop saliva, but salivation allows your body to self-cleanse your mouth, killing bacteria and sweeping away any substances left by alcohol.
Don’t brush or use mouthwash for at least an hour after drinking any alcohol. Your body is processing and controlling the influx of acid in your mouth already, brushing your teeth or swishing mouthwash will just make your enamel even softer as you’re adding more acid-based substances into the mix.
It may not be easy to quit or carry out these tips, but maybe others can. Keep your friends aware of how alcohol is affecting their oral health, together we can reach out to those who are hurting and work together to educate everyone about what alcohol does to your teeth and how to fight it. Are you already suffering the the effects of teeth decay and feel they are irreversible? Schedule a consultation with us today to see if you qualify to receive dental implant care.
One of the main concerns people have about getting their dental implants is how to take care of them after they receive them. No one wants to deal with problems after getting implants, and they are easy to take care of if you just follow some simple procedures.
Following these easy procedures will give you a lifetime free of worry about your implants. Right after your surgery, you are going to have to take preventative measures. Make sure you follow Dr. Cohen’s advice after your surgery. Contacting One Stop Implants can help you understand how to take care of your implants.
Post-Surgical Hygiene Is Important
Making sure your teeth are clean is important even directly after getting your implants. Brushing like usual but using a soft toothbrush is critical, especially around the posts of each implant. Since this is directly after getting implants, you need to use gentle strokes so that you don’t accidentally open any incisions that were made. To remove bacteria from your mouth, you must you any mouthwash that is provided. Make sure you use gental mouthwash that is prescibed to you, otherwise you may risk interferring with any integration of the implant and jawbone. In addition to the mouthwash, rinse your mouth out with a warm saltwater solution a few times each day.
Post-Surgical Care
You will experience some swelling after getting your implants, and that’s to be expected. Also, you are going to have some sensitivity as a result of the surgery. Don’t be alarmed. The foods you need to eat after getting your implants need to be soft. Stay away from anything that is hard or crunchy for at least two weeks. And, you will be very sensitive to very hot and cold foods and drinks.
As with any surgery, taking common household medications like Ibuprofen and acetaminophen will help with discomfort and pain. It is advisable to keep your head elevated, even while sleeping. You will have a little bleeding as a result of the surgery, but you can bite down on sterile gauze pads to help stop that. Be advised that any inflammation you have from getting implants will go away in about two days, so be patient. Dr. Cohen will be able to advise you more as you progress in your healing.
Long-Term Care for Dental Implants
Once your gums have healed from the surgery, your dental implants will be just like normal teeth. You will be able to brush your teeth normally, and you will be able to floss normally. You can purchase special brushes that can get into the hard to reach area around the posts of your implants. Just like anyone, if you don’t take care of your teeth you are subject to suffer from gum disease. So practice good oral hygiene to keep your mouth healthy and make your dental implants last the rest of your life.
Dental implants is a long process that requires a lot of patience and healing. Have you not gotten a consultation yet? Do you know if you qualify for dental implants? Call us today at (800) 862-2249 and get your FREE consultation.
Most of us think of cavities as black spots in our mouth; however, that is not a true statement. To be clear, a cavity forms because of tooth decay. But, we can prevent and reverse the cavity making process.
Before understanding the cavity making process, it is important to know how cavities begin. Inside our mouths are hundreds of bacteria that form on our teeth, gums and tongue. However, some bacteria are good, while other types of bacteria can cause harm.
Dental plaque, colorless and sticky bacteria, found in foods such as cookies, bread, milk and juice, begin to form whenever we consume them. These acid forming foods begin to slowly carve their way into the enamel of our teeth.
To combat the destructive forces of dental plaque, there are minerals in our saliva plus fluoride that comes from water, toothpaste and other sources that begin to repair the enamel on our teeth by replacing minerals that are lost during the dental plaque attack. Everyday, our teeth go through this “attack.”
A cavity develops when our teeth come in contact with acid-causing foods and drinks such as sugary drinks and starchy foods such as bread and pastries.
These repeated attacks take away essential minerals from the enamel of the teeth. Then, early decay sets in, placing small white spots on our teeth.
However, tooth decay can be stopped or reversed at this stage by minerals in our saliva and fluoride from water or toothpaste.
If tooth decay continues, the enamel on our teeth becomes weak and eventually is destroyed. Dental implants is an effective solution when tooth decay becomes a major problem.
To prevent or reverse cavities there are several things we can do such as drinking fluoridated water, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, applying a fluoride gel on our teeth or using a fluoride mouth rinse. There are also tips that may prevent cavities such as limiting snacks between meals, limiting candy and cookies from our diet, limiting fruit juice and making sure to brush and floss our teeth every day.
If you have children, make sure that they brush their teeth twice a day, supervise them when they brush and ensure that they spit out the toothpaste, instead of swallowing it. To help with this process, try brushing their teeth for them for awhile and then let them follow your example.
Another way to prevent cavities is with dental sealants.
Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth.
Sealants work well because they cover these surfaces and protect our teeth by preventing food and bacteria from becoming trapped in those areas.
Sealants are especially helpful in preventing cavities in children.
To conclude, cavities in adults and children can happen anytime; however, by applying some of the above methods and seeing your dentist twice a year for checkups, you can protect and prevent cavities. Keep in mind, too, that dental implants can provide a solution to teeth that become decayed. Talk with your dentist soon about this dental solution!
We live in an age filled with vast improvements in dentistry. However, there are still millions of people that are suffering with extreme dental problems that lead to tooth decay and other dental diseases. Certainly, the average person would like to maintain a wonderful smile. A few decades ago, they only considered replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge. However, today dental implants are a great alternative.
Understanding Dental Implants
Dental implants are a wonderful improvement in modern dental technology. They are very natural looking. Certainly, more natural looking than bridges. The implants are surgically placed into the patient’s jawbone. The implant is used to secure the teeth that are made to match the patient’s natural teeth.
Dental Implant Advantages
There are several advantages provided by dental implants. Check out the following.
Improved Appearance – Bridges cause many problems and frustration for wearers. Often, they cause embarrassment because they are ill fitting. Dental implants look very natural, fit perfectly, and greatly improve one’s appearance.
Food – People with bridges find that it is extremely difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants will allow one to eat more naturally without worrying about loose fitting dentures or the type of food consumed.
Improved Speech – Loose fitting dentures make it almost impossible for some people to carry on a regular conversation. Dental implants allow one to speak normally without worry.
More Self Confidence – People feel better about their teeth and better about their appearance. Thus, dental implants improve self confidence.
Comfort – Bridges are very uncomfortable for some people. However, dental implants are very comfortable and natural feeling.
Improved Oral Health – Dental implants actually help to support surrounding teeth, making them easier to clean and maintain. In addition, dental implants may last a lifetime.
At this point, some people might wonder if they are a good candidate for dental implants. The fact is that any otherwise healthy person with missing teeth or one missing tooth is a good candidate for dental implants. However, it is advised that the patient has maintained good oral health before even considering getting dental implants. If you are considering getting dental implants, contact One Stop Implants today. Our highly trained experts are considered at the top in the field. Contact Dr. Cohen, he is waiting for your call and eager to answer your questions concerning dental implants.
Worried about your smile because of missing teeth? Dental implants are the solution to your problem. They will bring back your confidence and help bring back your great smile!
Dental implant surgery is very special because it allows you to have brand new teeth in your mouth. However, if you do not consider the health of your teeth afterward, your implants may fail on you. Here at One Stop Implants, we dedicate a plan that will help you feel good, and it will help you care for your implants once they are placed.
After placement, your gums surround the implants will swell, and they need to be cared for. You need to make sure you stick to a liquid diet, and that you are careful when you are brushing and flossing. They will be tender for a while, and it is better that you take it slow so that you do not hurt yourself. You need to be sure that you are careful until you are cleared to eat and drink normally.
There is little bleeding of your gums during your recovery. You do not want to let your gums keep bleeding, or it will cause infection and may lead to implant failure. You should be sure that you have your dentist’s number so you can call in if you think you are bleeding too much, and that you use gauze packs to stanch any oral bleeding. Usually the swelling will go down with the bleeding if you are using these tools.
You can ask for pain medication if you need it, but be sure that you are working with someone who understands that you might need pain medication. The dentist can prescribe you something that will help you, and they might want to put you on antibiotics because they know that you will be prone to infection. Just do what your dentist tells you so that there is no confusion about your treatment, and make sure that you are talking to your dentist when you feel pain or have problems with infection. Your dentist needs to make sure that they can correct the problem, and you need to communicate with them effectively.
The best part of this is that you will have brand new teeth. You will have a perfect smile, and it will last forever. You just need to make sure that you get your dentist to help you manage the aftermath of the surgery.
Many times, there are people who are uncomfortable with the way that their smile looks. They may have missing teeth, and they may yearn to have that dazzling smile that they used to have in their youth. These people would benefit from having a dental implant procedure completed by a dental professional. This procedure is a breath of fresh air for those people who are looking to bring back their former smiles.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a prosthesis that is put in a patient’s mouth by their oral health care professional. It is, typically, composed of two parts. The first part is the post. The post is implanted into the jaw bone. This gives the post something sturdy to anchor to. The second part is the artificial tooth that is then affixed to the post. The end result is a lifelike, and functional, tooth.
What to expect
A person that is going in to have a dental implant will usually have a consultation, examination, and the procedure. The consultation is mainly set up for the oral health care professional to review a patient’s medical history, assess their oral health, and then inform the patient about the types of options that may be available to them. It is also a time where financing for the procedure is discussed so that the patient knows what to expect in that department. A consultation is also the time for a patient to ask any questions that they may have concerning the procedure.
Next, the examination is the time where the oral health care professional will take a close look at where the patient is thinking about having a prosthesis implanted. The oral health care professional wants to make sure that the area has enough bone and that the bone is dense enough to accept the implant. There are also x-rays that are taken as well as a cast of the patient’s existing teeth. This aids the technicians that will be crafting the artificial tooth in making it match the topography of the patient’s mouth. If everything looks good to the oral health care professional then the next part is the procedure.
Lastly, the implant procedure can differ depending on the type of implant and where it is located. After the implant is secured in place then a temporary tooth will be affixed to it until the permanent one can be crafted. Once it is crafted, it will be secured in place on the implant.
Dental implants are a great way to update a patient’s smile. They are durable, long lasting, and cost effective.
When you are missing one or more teeth, you want to find the best solution possible for your smile. Besides being discreet, implants are more effective and long-lasting than other solutions. Could dental implants be the solution for you?
Though dental implants’ many benefits appeal to nearly everyone, there is a long list of criteria that an ideal candidate must meet. First, your gums must be in supreme health in order for your dental implant to be successful. If you suffer from gum disease, you must first be treated for this before proceeding with your implants. High bone density is also important to a successful dental implant procedure. Without a strong jawbone structure, the implant may break due to the pressures of chewing.
Dental implant candidates must also be in good general health. Your teeth and gums must be healthy and free of disease. You should also be extremely committed to oral hygiene, as dental implants require strict care. People who suffer from autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or other ailments that affect their ability to heal should not get dental implants, as full and proper healing is required to proceed between the stages of the implant process. Anyone who has been treated with bisphosphonate medications should not get dental implants. Ideally, a candidate would be a non-smoker, though smokers who agree to quit during and after their implant procedure would usually be accepted.
Finally, dental implants require a lot of healing time, and an ideal candidate must be willing to make this time commitment. The entire implant process can range from four months to one year. Bone material can take up to six months to heal after it is placed in the gums. Once it is fully healed, the dental implant can be inserted; this too can take up to six months to heal. After the implant is healed, the crown can finally be added. An ideal candidate will have a plan for this long and sometimes complicated healing process.
If you are in good health but suffer from tooth loss, consider dental implants as your long-lasting solution. Their natural look and feel will make your smile beautiful again!
Tooth care and the prevention of tooth decay is a touchy subject for many people, with horror stories about under-qualified dentists causing more harm to smiles than good. Visits to the dentist can also be very costly, especially to individuals who do not have adequate insurance coverage allowing them to make regular visits possible. In these cases we see people taking their dental care into their own hands, and this can lead to unfortunate results.
It is not uncommon, for instance, to see people deciding to use a variety of different instruments to try and clear away food particles from their teeth. People have used anything from simple earrings to business cards to, surprisingly, screwdrivers, to remove unwanted invasive particles from their teeth. Use of such devices can increase the devastation of tooth wear, which can deter the overall health of your teeth in general.
Tooth wear such as cracking or chipping can impact tooth health and cause negative effects on hygiene. Other wear that can develop is surface damage, which can flatten teeth, forcing them to take on a pitted, shiny appearance. The coloring of teeth can quickly dissipate from bright white to disheartened yellow as enamel fades away.
It is important, therefore, to make frequent visits to a dentist in order for them to not only clean your teeth and run routine maintenance on them but to give you the information you need to take care of your teeth yourself. Dentists are trained professionals and are able to provide useful information on not only how to take care of your teeth but can offer live demonstrations on how to effectively brush and use dental floss.
Individuals may not realize that by administering tooth care themselves they are endangering their oral hygiene and can cause unwanted future complications. Regular visits to dentist will provide personal training on what instruments to avoid, what not to put inside of your mouth and how trying to perform dental work on yourself can do much more harm than good. Avoidance of trying to do dental work yourself means that you can also avoid other problematic issues such as the onset of sensitive teeth from tooth wear or heightened levels of tooth sensitivity.
We need to remember that in order to make sure that our next smile is bright and healthy that we need to make regular appointments to see trained professional dentists.
Our teeth are very important. In a beauty study, experts concluded that the smile is the most important feature of a person, surpassing other physical features such as their eyes, hair and figure. That is why it’s obvious when the effects of alcohol stain your teeth. 
Alongside staining comes the decaying of your teeth. Teeth decay is a huge factor as to why some people decide to live a life of sobriety. When you consume alcohol, the acidity of the drink starts eating away at your teeth and gum lines, making them prickly and sore. 
Sadly, while we may be educated in this type of matter, most of us ignore the dangerous facts of alcohol on our oral health. “People don’t realize how much damage alcohol causes,“ says Dr. Cohen of One Stop Implants, “The fact is people know the after effects of alcohol mentally, but they don’t know what it’s doing to them physically. Oral health is a huge issue for us because we talk, eat, and use our smile as a portfolio for ourselves. Not having maintained oral hygiene has negative consequences in the short and long run.” 
Sip your drink through a straw, this directs the flow of the liquid into your mouth, minimizing contact with your gums and your teeth. 
Dental implant surgery is very special because it allows you to have brand new teeth in your mouth. However, if you do not consider the health of your teeth afterward, your implants may fail on you. Here at One Stop Implants, we dedicate a plan that will help you feel good, and it will help you care for your implants once they are placed.
