Smile Point Dental Victoria

4109 Houston Highway, Suite 200, Victoria, TX 77901
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Dental care

How to keep your gums healthy

Managing your oral hygiene is one of the best gifts one can give to themselves. It not only does good for the teeth but also to the overall health of the person. Now, most people think dental hygiene covers only the teeth, but it will not be wrong to say that it’s also about the health of your gums. When you overlook your gums, you belittle a critical component of your dental health.

What are gum diseases?
To understand the importance of gum care, one must know about gum disease and its severity. Gum disease begins with the buildup of the plaque beneath and along the gum line. To be clear, plaque is a strict substance filled with bacteria. It is not at all useful and can cause pain and infection in the gum and bone, further leading to tooth decay and gingivitis( first stage of gum diseases.) Following are the symptoms of gingivitis:

  • Inflamed gums
  • Redness and swelling
  • Pain
  • Bleeding gums

In some later stages, constant bad breath and receding gums are inevitable signs of gums disease.

Top 5 ways to keep the gums healthy
Fortunately, gum disease is preventable and curable if diagnosed early on time. You only need to follow some healthy habits and be consistent with the periodic dental checkup. Nonetheless, the worsening conditions of the teeth and gums can be a leading cause of other health issues like heart problems, kidney disease, diabetes, and oral cancer. To prevent all these situations, go through the top 5 ways to take care of the gums:

Brush and floss properly
Proper brushing is always key to excellent dental hygiene. It is the primary demand of the dental routine and needs to be followed with utmost sincerity. These are the following points to keep in mind regarding the brushing:

  • Brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes. It should have soft bristles and with the Fluoride toothpaste.
  • Change the brush every 3-4 months.
  • Make the brush movements short and gentle.
  • Together with this, do not forget to floss once a day.

Get regular dental cleanings
The dentist can easily detect the symptoms of gum diseases if you visit them regularly. Moreover, having a dental checkup periodically helps you with cleaning the tartar, which can otherwise create severe dental problems.

Say no to smoking
‘Smoking is injurious to health’ has been a common saying amidst all. But what for mainly? So, it not only affects the lungs but also poses difficulty in the healing of any gum disease. It weakens the immune system, creating many related issues. Thus, it would be best if you quit smoking before it worsens the dental health.

Have a nutritional diet
Quality food and balanced diet can have a high impact on dental health. That is why you must include fiber-rich food, dairy products, foods containing Fluoride, etc. in your diet.

Use mouthwash
A mouthwash makes the dental cleanliness complete. Thus, it is good to good to keep a suitable mouthwash with us and rinse with it whenever required.

Only we are responsible for our dental health, nobody else. Thus, follow the above guidelines to give your best shot at maintaining dental hygiene.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

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Dental care

Can Allergies Cause Sore Teeth?

Allergies are annoying and painful at the same time. Literally! That is why such a beautiful spring season becomes unbearable for many of us. Also sore throat, itchy eyes, and stuffy nose- all these being the inevitable signs of the allergy seems to be the worst things. But some of us also experience sore teeth as part of the seasonal allergy. Are they connected?

Well, actually, they do have some connection, but this sore teeth problem is not the usual one that we face in the case of the regular dental issue. In fact, it creates a temptation to brush or floss the teeth again and again, which is very irritating. So, the pain is not actually caused by the teeth but somewhere around it.

Sinus Pain or Dental Decay?
Sinus pain is a common sign of the seasonal allergy, and it is misunderstood for dental pain often because of the proximity of the maxillary sinus and the upper molars. Now, if you want to find the truth behind the pain, check if it is paining in the nasal passage and the forehead area. If it does, it is the allergy that’s causing it.

Dry Mouth Due to Allergy
People who suffer through the allergy frequently complain of dry mouth, which again leads to dental issues. This is so because saliva is the natural guard against the bacteria and prolonged absence of the saliva, thus causing the accumulation of bacteria around the mouth. That makes us conclude the relation between the allergy and sore teeth.

Solution for the Discomfort
The common signs of an allergy are mentioned above, and it is apparent that allergy can somehow be related to the sore teeth. Now you cannot exactly put a ban on the allergies but still can own a few preventive steps for keeping the pain away. Let us thus have a look at the steps that can prevent us from the attack of such seasonal allergies:

  • Avoid roaming out in the windy and dry weather.
  • If you do, take a shower once you are back.
  • Keep your windows closed on the night as well as the day, especially when the pollen count is high.
  • Use anti-allergy medication or the antihistamines to treat the allergy.

Consult the Best Experts
If the irritating pain doesn’t stop even after these solutions, you must see your doctor and consult with him for the instructions. Moreover, it is understood that the throbbing effect is not at all pleasing, but before taking any medication, you must be sure about the true cause of that ache. This also applies to the sore teeth during the seasonal allergy attacks as a simple pain relief medication for the toothache might not treat this pain effectively. Thus, judge the pain with the help of the information written above and then take the required medication.

Nonetheless, your dentist and the doctor are qualified enough to assess the symptoms and make an accurate decision about the cure. Don’t be in a hurry about getting the medicine as the wrong set of medications may worsen the problem. Instead, consult with him on time and be on the safe side.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Categories
Dental care

Amalgam Fillings vs. White Fillings

The bitter truth about dental issues is that almost all the adults have cavities at some age, and most of them are left untreated, leading to severe issues. The most suffered age group 20-64 years. Now, amongst various ways to treat these cavities, the most common is getting the teeth filled with a solution. But, the choice of fillings becomes a huge dilemma at this point in treatment.

Basic knowledge about Amalgam fillings and white fillings
Silver-colored-fillings, popularly known as dental amalgams, are prepared with the concoction of Mercury such as silver, tin, copper, and mercury. It is a soft, malleable compound, and its surface matches the structure of the tooth. On the other hand, white fillings, also known as composite fillings, are prepared with Plastics and Ceramics. Both these types can be used to repair the cavities, but there are many who prefer silver amalgams above the other. So, what is the difference between the two?

Differences between Amalgam and White fillings
Well, even though any one of the two options can be chosen for the repair, however, the silver filling is comparatively more durable and can withstand a lot of force. The material that is used in these silver fillings toughens quickly, thus easier for the dentists to place them in the damp areas, like those beneath the gum line. In addition to this, the silver fillings are cheaper than the white filling, making them an affordable option.

After so many advantages, one would rightly ponder about the use of selecting the white fillings. Thus, it is to be noted that the main reason behind choosing white fillings is their color. They are tooth-colored fillings and are the best option to repair cavities in a visible part of the teeth. However, the problem lies with the durability of these fillings. People suffering through the issues of recurrent cavities should not go for the white fillings.

Choose the appropriate option
When it comes to the selection of the filling, you need to consider a few aspects and be clear on the myths and truth. Firstly, some people are concerned about the presence of Mercury in Silver fillings. However, you must know that these fillings have been in use for more than 100 years now. Mercury that is used in the filling varies from the regular one that is found in the Tuna or the other fish. Secondly, people are doubtful about the suitability of the silver fillings due to the color aspect. But, one considerable fact is the cavities generally at the sites which are not easily visible, making the color suitability a minor aspect.

Thus, amalgam fillings and white fillings, both are usable in the dentistry. However, if you are looking forward to a long-lasting treatment, you are advised to go for the former option. They are comparatively stronger, easy to place, and affordable. If you are not sure of the choice, let your dentist make this choice for you. He has been dealing with this for years and thus will be the best person to depend upon.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.