A GUIDE TO PROTECT YOUR TEETH FROM YOUR FAVORITE FOODS AND DRINKS

A BLOG FROM YOUR AFFORDABLE BUFORD DENTIST, LAKE LANIER SMILES

Tooth Enamel is the toughest substance in our body but still can get damaged by the strong acids present in our day to day foods and drinks. In this blog the doctors of Lake Lanier Smiles explain the causes, signs, prevention and treatment of the Acid Erosion.

So what is Enamel? Enamel is the outer covering of the tooth, which is whitish appearing and transparent layer. It prevents the much softer tooth structures inside from extreme temperatures, harsh foods we drink and eat and daily wear and tear. If we lose enamel we will be prone to get cavities and have sensitive teeth.

WHAT IS EROSION

Enamel Erosion is a process where the acidic foods and drinks we consume wear the enamel of the tooth making it prone for tooth sensitivity and decay. Other terms we use are Acid Erosion, Tooth Erosion

CAUSES OF EROSION

Understand that there are other ways you can damage the enamel like Bruxism (teeth grinding) and Abrasion (brushing hard) but this article specifically explains the causes of erosion.

1.     Soft Drinks consumption, most of the soft drinks/cola we consume has high levels of phosphoric acids and citric acids.

2.     Sports Drinks/ Energy Drinks, even though they have minerals added but they are very acidic.

3.     Fruit Juices, yes Orange juice is acidic

4.     Medical conditions like Acid reflux, Bulimia can cause stomach acids to reach mouth and damage the enamel.

5.     Chewing on lot of Vitamin C supplements, as they have lot of acid in them.

6.     Eating diets containing high sugar and starch like candies can be turned to acids by the bacteria in the mouth.

SOFT DRINKS

ORANGE JUICE

SPORTS DRINKS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EROSION

In the early stages of erosion you might not feel any symptoms but as the condition worsens you might see the following symptoms. But periodic check up with the dentists at Lake Lanier Smiles, can help diagnose the condition sooner and address it.

1.     Mild to Severe sensitivity or pain when eating hot or cold foods or when exposed to sweet foods or drinks.

2.     Yellowish discoloration of the teeth.

3.     Transparency of the tooth will be affected.

4.     Cracked or chipped teeth edges due to weakened enamel.

5.     Indentations on the biting surface called “cupping”.

WHO IS AT RISK OF ENAMEL EROSION

Basically everyone is at risk of developing acid erosion as everybody’s diet has acidic foods. Even the healthiest of diets like having fruits and vegetables can cause acid erosion. Here is a list of people who are more prone for acid erosion.

1.     People who eat lot of fruits and vegetables, as these foods have high acidic content.

2.     People who drink lot of fruit juices or soft drinks or sports drinks. This is mostly true in teenagers.

3.     Children and Older adults are also prone to acid erosion as baby teeth enamel is softer and older adults suffer from dry mouth due to medical conditions and medications they take.

 STEPS TO PREVENT ACID EROSION

FYI, we cannot grow the enamel back once we lose, so we have to take steps to protect the enamel. The main causes of the enamel erosion is the simple things we eat and drink. We will let you know in this section what habits we can change to protect our pearly whites.

1.     Avoid highly acid foods and drinks from your diet.

2.     Drink plenty of water or rinse your mouth with water after consuming acidic foods and drinks as it will neutralize the acids in the mouth.

3.     Do Not Brush at least 30 minutes after you eat acidic food as the tooth get softened by acids and by brushing will take away the tooth enamel.

4.     Use straw when drinking fruit juices or any acidic liquids as it will bypass the teeth. Also don’t swish the acidic drinks in the mouth.

5.     Drink plenty of water throughout the day if you have dry mouth.

6.     Always use a soft brush and do not use excess force when brushing. Be Gentle.

7.     Chewing gum helps produce saliva and which will in turn reduce the acidity of the foods in the mouth.

8.     Highly recommend a Fluoride tooth paste and mouthwash, like ProNamel.

9.     Drinking milk can help reduce the acidic content of the mouth.

10. Check with your physician for treatment for acid reflux and any other medical conditions.

TREATMENT FOR EROSION

Treatment for erosion depends on the severity of enamel erosion. If it’s mild, then bonding the tooth can help. If it’s severe then the tooth can be crowned.  Based on your condition the dentists at Lake Lanier Smiles can tailor the best treatment option for you.

If you have any questions about your Oral Health or to make an appointment to see us, Call us at 770-831-0559 or visit us at WWW. LAKELANIERSMILES.COM for Valuable Coupons and Specials. Our prices are 30-50 % Off Regular Prices. Call Us before Noon and we will see you the Same Day. We accept most insurances. We are conveniently located just off I-985 at 4965 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 105, Buford, Ga- 30418. LAKE LANIER SMILES provides Affordable dental care with outstanding customer service to patients in Buford, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Cumming, Flowery Branch and surrounding areas.

ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CANKER SORE/MOUTH ULCER : Lake Lanier Smiles, An Affordable Buford Dentist Blog

CANKER SORE / MOUTH ULCERS / APHTHOUS ULCERS

A Simple Guide to understand and treat mouth ulcers

WHAT IS A CANKER SORE/MOUTH ULCER

Also called as Aphthous ulcers occurs exclusively in mouth and appear as a round, shallow whitish sore with red margin. Generally they appear small but sometimes they can be large. Mouth Ulcers can occur on tongue, check, lips and floor of the mouth. They never appear on roof of the mouth or top of the tongue. These mouth ulcers are called “Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers” as they appear again and again through the life until around 30 years of age. Generally before the ulcer is formed you might have symptoms like burning or itching.

FACTS ABOUT APHTHOUS ULCERS

1.     Very Common, about 3 million people suffer in United States

2.     These ulcers are not contagious, mean doesn’t spread from person to person

3.     These ulcers are not caused by bacteria or virus

4.     Self-treatable and usually resolve in 2 weeks

5.     No need for any Lab tests

6.     Doesn’t appear anywhere other than mouth

7.     Family history of the ulcers is common, about 1 in 3 patients  

8.     Generally start around the age of 10-20 years

9.     Generally stop occurrence around 30 years of age

10. Usually occur 2-4 times a year

11. Not common in smokers

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANKER SORE AND COLD SORE

The most commonly confused ailment with canker sore is cold sore. Below is the simple table with clear differences.

Comparision	CANKER SORE	COLD SORE
Other Names	Aphthous Ulcer	Fever Blister
Causes	Not yet known	Herpes Simplex Virus
Location	Inside the mouth	Outside the Mouth
Appearance	Open white sore with red margin	Reddish, fluid filled blister
Number	Mostly single	Mostly groups
Contagious	No	Yes
Treatment	Alleviate pain only	Alleviate pain only

WHY YOU GET CANKER SORE

We don’t know yet why we get aphthous ulcers hence called “idiopathic”. But there are some predisposing factors which may precipitate or exacerbate the ulcers like

1. Stress

2. Quitting Smoking

3. Trauma

4. Hormonal Changes

5. Food Allergies

6. Toothpaste Ingredients like SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate)

7. Genetic Predisposition

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT

Generally mouth ulcers heal in 10 days to 2 weeks.  No treatment is necessary unless they are very painful. If painful, Can use Orajel or Orabase on the ulcer which will cover the ulcer and help numb temporarily so that patient can eat food. Need to identify the predisposing factors for ulcers and take care of them. Change the toothpaste which might help in preventing future recurrence. Check what foods correlate with the occurrence of ulcers so that you can avoid those food. Avoid spicy foods as they may cause pain. If trauma from an existing appliances like denture or retainer or a broken tooth, see our dentists at Lake Lanier Smiles and we can do the necessary adjustments. Good oral hygiene is necessary to prevent any infections.

In severe cases or extremely painful cases, please call us at 770-831-0559 to see your affordable Buford dentist so that we can prescribe some pain medications, topical steroids and prescription mouth washes.

WHEN TO SEE THE DENTIST FOR SURE

1.     When the symptoms don’t resolve in 2 weeks

2.     When its severely debilitating and painful

3.     When you are running a fever with Ulcers

If you have any questions about your Oral Health or to make an appointment to see us, Call us at 770-831-0559 or visit us at WWW. LAKELANIERSMILES.COM for Valuable Coupons and Specials. Our prices are 30-50 % Off Regular Prices. Call Us before Noon and we will see you the Same Day. We accept most insurances. We are conveniently located just off I-985 at 4965 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 105, Buford, Ga- 30418. LAKE LANIER SMILES provides Affordable dental care with outstanding customer service to patients in Buford, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Cumming, Flowery Branch and surrounding areas.

Pregnancy and Dental Care: Lake Lanier Smiles, Affordable Dentist

PREGNANCY AND DENTAL CARE

LAKE LANIER SMILES, AFFORDABLE BUFORD DENTIST

Regular Dental visits are important throughout the life but more so during pregnancy. A new survey of pregnant women by Cigna Dental Insurance found that 75% of them have an oral health problem and less than 50% of them visited a dentist despite the dental problem.

One of the biggest role our dentists at Lake Lanier Smiles play is to educate, advice and emphasize the importance of oral health during pregnancy. Two things every expectant mother should do is to have good oral hygiene habits at home and regular dental visits.

Pregnant women should visit the dentist to make sure there are no infections, as these infections can impact the health of the baby. Pregnancy is associated with hormonal changes which can make gums susceptible for periodontal disease (gum disease). Not only dentists recommend the importance of Oral Health during pregnancy but also the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists highly recommends the importance.

COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS IN PREGNANT PATIENTS

The most common oral health problems reported by pregnant women in the survey by Cigna in 2015 are 1. 33% Bleeding Gums, 2. 27% Increased Tooth Sensitivity and 3. 22% Toothache. The data from Cigna Study "Healthy Smiles for Mom and Baby" showed that 76% of pregnant women has one of the above oral health problem.

The most common reason for pregnant women not visiting the dentist is “COST”. Also patients without insurance are twice less likely to visit the dentist. At Lake Lanier Smiles we offer dental care at discounted prices. Check out our coupons on our specials page and use it for taking care of your Oral Health during pregnancy.

The Cigna study also found that the pregnant women without dental insurance are twice less likely to go to the dentist because of the cost. We at Lake Lanier Smiles, your neighborhood Buford Dental Office offers a great in house discount plan with no upfront cost and all the services are offered at 30-40 % discount on regular fee.

DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT

This Study also found that pregnant patients are twice as likely to visit a dentist when they were explained about the importance of oral health by a healthcare provider. The survey also found that there is a 20 % jump in the new mothers visit to the dentist when the oral health was emphasized during the pregnancy by a healthcare provider. This clearly explains the important role a healthcare provider can play in a pregnant women’s dental health.

WHAT LAKE LANIER SMILES IS DOING!!

At Lake Lanier Smiles, we are trying our best to find the reasons why pregnant women are missing the regular dental visits and working hard to overcome those potential barriers. If patients have insurance and don’t know their benefits, the insurance coordinator at our office can call and find out your benefits for preventive and restorative dental care. Please call Lake Lanier Smiles at 770-831-0559 to get help with your insurance questions. Some dental insurance companies offer a third dental cleaning in a year for pregnant patients along with diabetics and other medically compromised patients.

LINKS FOR FURTHER READING

Here is a link about Oral Health during Pregnancy.
http://www.acog.org/~/media/Committee%20Opinions/Committee%20on%20Health%20Care%20for%20Underserved%20Women/co569.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20130724T0816301062

Here is the link for 2015 Cigna Survey "healthy smiles for mom and baby"

http://newsroom.cigna.com/images/9022/Cigna_Study_Healthy_Smiles_for_Mom_and_Baby_2015.pdf

If you have any questions about your Oral Health or to make an appointment to see us, Call us at 770-831-0559 or visit us at WWW. LAKELANIERSMILES.COM for Valuable Coupons and Specials. Our prices are 30-50 % Off Regular Prices. Call Us before Noon and we will see you the Same Day. We accept most insurances. We are conveniently located just off I-985 at 4965 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 105, Buford, Ga- 30418. LAKE LANIER SMILES provides Affordable dental care with outstanding customer service to patients in Buford, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Cumming, Flowery Branch and surrounding areas.

ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTIONS UPDATED: FLOSS IS THE BOSS: LAKE LANIER SMILES, AN AFFORDABLE BUFORD DENTAL CARE

ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTIONS UPDATED

"FLOSS IS THE BOSS"

By

Lake Lanier Smiles, Buford Affordable Dentist

Every dentist or hygienist asks the same question every time they see a patient on a recall visit/ cleaning visit is "Do you floss every day?"  Or "have you been flossing everyday". Unfortunately only a few patients do floss, it is the most recommended method of inter proximal (in between teeth) cleaning. Flossing is the most common Benchmark of a patient’s dedication to Oral Hygiene.

Brush and Floss is the mantra of the dental professionals to all the patients but the effectiveness of the regular manual brush and thread floss is known to be ineffective in certain situations. Every dentist hands over a "goody Bag" with a brush, floss and a rinse without customizing to the patient’s needs. We at Lake Lanier Smiles recommend what’s best for your specific oral health condition.

A manual toothbrush is not an effective plaque removal instrument. We highly recommend an electric toothbrush because it's 10 times more effective than a manual brush. An electric toothbrush can move thousands of time in a minute and on the other hand manual toothbrush can only move hundreds of times. Lake Lanier Smiles recommends Oral-B and Sonicare powered tooth brushes.

A floss is an effective tool to mechanically remove the food debris and plaque when used properly. But it is ineffective on a concave surface which will be seen on roots of teeth where there is receding gums. This is especially true in the back teeth. In these instances a proxy brush would be more effective. Also it is better to use a waterpik water flosser or an air flossers than a thread floss to remove the pathogenic bacterial biofilm.

Floss is the difficult thing to get people to do of the two word mantra "brush and floss". People don't know the importance of flossing because they believe they brush twice a day and rinse with a mouthwash which will replace the flossing. But that's not enough, flossing removes the plaque in between the teeth where brush cannot reach and even mouthwash cannot reach.

Most people also say that flossing is cumbersome and hate it. I advise my patients to switch to water flosser or air flosser which is so easy and effective then a thread flossing. Some patients complain that flossing makes their gums bleed. I explain my patients that gums bleed because they are unhealthy due to infection and bacteria. Regular teeth cleaning at the dental office with regular Oral hygiene at home which includes flossing will make gums healthy and will not have any bleeding.

Other patients don't floss with an excuse that food never gets stuck in between my teeth. But we are not using floss to remove the food only but mainly to remove the plaque. One more reason some patients tell us is that they don't know how to floss. The team of dental professionals at Lake Lanier Smiles including the Hygienist, Doctor and Dental Assistant are here to teach you the proper way of flossing.

Some patients state that they don't have enough time or forget to floss. The best solution is to floss first and brush second that way you cannot forget. It only takes two minutes to floss and I don't believe that we don't have time for that when we know how important it is to floss. The key is to get time whatever convenient for you and I would suggest to store floss close to your brush. Most serious reason some patients say is that the gums hurt when they floss. It hurts because the gums have a disease called gingivitis or periodontitis. Please visit the dentists of Lake Lanier Smiles, an affordable dental care in Buford. We have special prices for regular cleanings and deep cleanings.

If you have any questions about your Oral Health or to make an appointment to see us, Call us at 770-831-0559 or visit us at WWW.LAKELANIERSMILES.COM for Valuable Coupons and Specials. Our prices are 30-50 % Off Regular Prices. Call Us before Noon and we will see you the Same Day. We accept most insurances. We are conveniently located just off I-985 at 4965 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 105, Buford, Ga- 30418. LAKE LANIER SMILES provides Affordable dental care with outstanding customer service to patients in Buford, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Cumming, Flowery Branch and surrounding areas.

DENTAL CROWN SIMPLIFIED BY LAKE LANIER SMILES

DENTAL CROWN SIMPLIFIED

BY

LAKE LANIER SMILES/AFFORDABLE BUFORD DENTIST

What is a dental crown? 
A crown is an artificial “cap” in the shape of a tooth. The purpose of the crown is to replace a damaged or discolored tooth. They provide functionality and esthetics similar to the natural dentition.

Why you need a crown:

• In cases where substantial decay undermines the structure and function of the tooth
• Restoring a broken or worn down crown
• Adding strength to a root canalled tooth
• To hold a bridge in place
• In order to cover a dental implant

Types of crowns: The type of crown used is based of several factors- The extent of the damaged tooth, location of the tooth, and cost of the material

• All ceramic: The most esthetic crowns typically placed in anterior regions, however they are brittle and fragile.
• All metal: These provide the most support and strength, particularly in posterior weight baring regions.
• Porcelain fused to metal: A hybrid between all ceramic and all metal, these crowns provide the strength of the metal crowns and the esthetics of all ceramic crowns.
• Zirconia: These crowns can be fabricated at the dental office using a computer software and milled in one sitting.

Cost of crown:

Special Prices of crowns at Lake Lanier Smiles are     

$699 FOR PFM CROWN

$799 FOR ZIRCONIA/ALL CERAMIC CROWN


CROWN SPECIAL
$699 - $799

* Non Insured Patients
*Offer combine with other Coupons also
*Expires 10/31/15
*No Lab Fee Needed

Crown Procedure:

The procedure is conducted in at least two visits.

     First appointment

• The dentist will take impressions for your temporary crown
• After the tooth in question is anaesthetized, the dentist will begin to reduce the size of the tooth in order for the crown (“cap”) to be placed in the next appointment.
• The dentist will take an impression of the prepared tooth and send it to the technician for the permanent tooth fabrication
• In this appointment the patient and dentist choose the shade of the permanent crown most appropriate for the patient.
• A temporary crown will be made using the first impression taken.
• The temporarily cemented crown will protect the prepared tooth until the next appointment.

Second appointment

• The dentist will removed the temporary crown and clean the prepared tooth
• The dentist will sit the permanent crown on the prepared tooth and make sure the fit is accurate
• The dentist will check and adjust the chewing surface if the bite is too high.  
• Once the patient and dentist are satisfied with the crown, the dentist will cement the crown and remove any access cement.

Post op instructions after crown procedure.

• If soreness is felt after the tooth preparation, pain killers such as Ibuprofen may be used.
• In instances when the gum tissue become red or irritated use salt water rinses.
• If anesthetics were used, wait until the numbness subsides before eating anything to prevent injury of the gums and cheeks.
• After the placement of the temporary crown, do not eat sticky or hard food and chew on the opposite side to prevent dislodgment of the crown.
• Eating soft foods is recommended for the day of the crown placement.
• If the temporary crown does break or fall out, save the crown and call our office as soon as possible.
• When flossing around the temporary crown, slide the floss under the crown and pull outwards rather than lifting upwards. This prevents the crown from potentially dislodging.
• Some pressure might be felt one or two days after the placement of the crown. If discomfort lasts longer than two or three days, please visit our office, to prevent any damage to the crown or jaw joint.
• At times the tooth becomes loose due to cement washing out. This poses a risk of bacteria infiltration. If the crown feels loose please call us as soon as possible.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.   Will the crown look like my natural teeth?

A.    Yes, the crowns are fabricated in order to intricately replicate the natural appearance of your teeth. The technicians can paint any staining or color similar to adjacent teeth.

      Q. How long will the crowns last?

      A.Generally they last about ten years. The longevity of the crowns       depends on the oral hygiene and habits of the patient. In patients that grind their teeth, chew on ice or fingernails, the lifetime of the crown reduces due to wear and potential fracture.

Q.   How can I maintain good oral hygiene to maintain the crown?

A. Regular cleaning of the teeth and gums are crucial to the life of the crown. Brushing twice a day and flossing daily will not only protect you crown but your overall dentition as well. . In cases of bridges, there are special flosses known as super floss that can effectively clean inter-dental areas. Avoid eating hard food that may cause fracture. If the patient is a known grinder, the dentist may elect to give the patient a night guard to help prevent damage to the crown

Q.   Will the preparation of the tooth hurt?

A.    No, the tooth will be anesthetized prior to the reduction. If the tooth has been treated with a root canal, a post crown will be placed and anesthesia may not be needed.

Q.   What is a post in a crown?

A.     A post is placed in a root canal tooth on which a crown is placed. The post provides support and stability of the crown.

If you have any questions about your Oral Health or to make an appointment to see us, Call us at 770-831-0559 or visit us at WWW. LAKELANIERSMILES.COM for Valuable Coupons and Specials. Our prices are 30-50 % Off Regular Prices. Call Us before Noon and we will see you the Same Day. We accept most insurances. We are conveniently located just off I-985 at 4965 Lanier Islands Parkway, Suite 105, Buford, Ga- 30418. LAKE LANIER SMILES provides Affordable dental care with outstanding customer service to patients in Buford, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Cumming, Flowery Branch and surrounding areas.