Fun and Interesting Dentistry Facts for Pueblo CO! PART 1

This three-part article series takes a fun yet sometimes serious look at some super interesting facts you probably didn’t know about your teeth and oral healthcare.

 # 1: How much spit do you think you produce in a lifetime?

Your mouth will produce about 25,000 quarts of saliva in your lifetime, according to dentists in Pueblo CO, and this is enough to fill two swimming pools.

Kind of gross, isn’t it?

Well, apart from keeping your mouth nice and moist, your saliva plays an integral role in your digestive system and in keeping your teeth and gums healthy, according to Pueblo dental healthcare professionals. Saliva helps you to process and swallow food. It also contains enzymes that break down this food, thereby preparing it for further digestion in the stomach. It also helps to wash away food debris after eating and contains anti-bacterial agents to fight infection.

See? Not so gross after all!

# 2: Your soda addiction could make you lose your teeth

If you like your sweet beverages, listen up: you could be destroying your teeth.

“The sugar in soda, cola, fruit juices and sports energy drinks fuels the growth of oral bacteria in your mouth,” says a Pueblo dentist. “Bacteria produce wastes that are very acidic and full of sulfurous compounds. The latter makes your breath smell bad if you don’t brush frequently enough, while the former causes cavities and the decay of your dental enamel. This is compounded by the fact that most colas, sodas, etc. are very acidic, too. And so, every time you quench your thirst with one of these sweet beverages, you’re encouraging the decay and acid erosion of your teeth.”

The problem is, too many Colorado residents view sweet beverages as a dietary staple, rather than as the occasional treat. There are many who routinely guzzle three and more glasses of soda or juice every day and according to dental implant surgeons in Pueblo, these people present with 62% more decay, tooth loss and cavities than those who don’t!

“Cola is great with a box of popcorn at the movies; a glass of juice with breakfast is invigorating and an energy drink can be greatly refreshing after a heavy workout, but you should not be guzzling these sweet beverages all the time, every day,” says the Pueblo dental implant dentist. “If you’re thirsty, there’s only one thing you should turn to and that’s fresh, cold water. Once you’ve adjusted to the taste of water, you’ll probably find these other drinks far too sweet for you. Also, you’ll feel much healthier!”

# 3: Floss, it would seem, has multiple applications

Flossing is an integral part of your home oral hygiene routine and if you don’t do it every day, you leave your teeth at risk of developing cavities and decay, especially in the small spaces between them. According to Pueblo dental healthcare professionals, NOT flossing leaves about 35% of your dentition’s surfaces unclean. Gross!

In 1994, however, one innovative West Virginia inmate found an alternate use for dental floss that ended up saving his bacon from a life of incarceration. He managed to braid a sufficient length of dental floss to enable him to scale the walls of the prison and make an escape. It just goes to show you: idle hands are the devil’s playground.

Stay tuned for more fun dental facts and stories in Part 2 of this three-part article series, coming next week!

Fun Facts from the Pueblo Dentist!

This article presents a number of really interesting and useful facts concerning oral health and oral hygiene care.

Your smile is an incredibly important physical and social asset. What makes a smile beautiful are healthy teeth and gums, so let’s take a look at some super interesting facts about oral health and healthcare that could bring you closer to understanding what it takes to keep your smile gorgeous and confident.

Fun Dental Fact 1: What do people first notice about you when they meet you?

According to a survey of more than 1,000 Pueblo residents, almost half (47%) said that the very first thing they notice about someone is their smile. The rest said:

• 31% eyes
• 11% smell
• 7% clothes
• 4% hair

So, the next time you spend money on new clothing and a fancy haircut rather than seeing the Pueblo dentist for a check-up, think again! You’re investing in the wrong attribute!

Fun Dental Fact 2: Red wine, in moderation, is good for your teeth!

As if we needed another reason to love red wine, Pueblo CO dental implant surgeons come along with the revelation that red wine contains certain chemicals that prevent oral bacteria from sticking to your teeth and gums! While it’s not recommended that you brush your teeth with red wine, that glass at dinnertime just became more enjoyable!

Fun Dental Fact 3: Orthodontic treatment is important for more than just straight teeth and a pretty smile…

Straight teeth aren’t only prettier and more aesthetically pleasing, they also tend to be healthier, because they’re easier to clean. According to many dentists in Pueblo Co, skew and overlapping teeth trap food and bacteria more easily and this can lead to a greater risk of cavities and tooth decay.

Straight teeth also facilitate better speech, better chewing function and more confidence at school or the professional working environment.

Fun Dental Fact 4: Coconuts are super good for your teeth

Coconuts contain certain chemical agents that are known for their anti-bacterial properties, which is why their oil is the preferred choice of those who like “oil pulling.” For everyone else, they’re a delicious and healthy snack – buy them fresh and enjoy!

Not-so Fun Dental Fact 5: Gum disease can make you VERY sick

According to dental implant surgeons in Pueblo, at least 80% of American adults have gum disease. Gum disease has systemic effects and leaves you more vulnerable to a shocking variety of illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, dementia and liver and kidney disease.

In fact, according to one Harvard study, having gum disease can increase your risk of kidney and pancreatic cancer by 62%! It also increases your risk of oral cancer. By receiving prompt treatment for gum disease, you can extend your life by an average of 6,2 years.

Fun Dental Fact 6: Chewing gum is good for your teeth

Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol is actually really good for your teeth and gums, because it encourages the production of saliva, which contains anti-bacterial properties. Saliva also helps to wash away food debris that might be encouraging the growth of oral bacteria and it aids in the remineralization (strengthening) of your dental enamel after eating.

Fun Dental Fact 7: Electric vs. manual toothbrushes?

There isn’t much difference between electronic and manual toothbrushing. What’s important, say Pueblo dentists, is how frequently and thoroughly you brush. No amount of fancy technology can rival a good brushing technique and good diligence.

Fun Dental Fact 8: Bleeding gums isn’t normal

It’s not normal for your gums to bleed when you brush! This could either be a sign that you’re brushing too hard, in which case you should invest in a soft-bristled brush and ease up on the pressure, or it could be a sign of gum infection (gingivitis) and gum disease (periodontitis). Better book an appointment with your dentist to be sure!

Everything You Wanted to Know About Dental Implants: A Cosmetic Dentist in Pueblo CO Addresses Your FAQ, PART 2

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part FAQ guide to teeth replacement using dental implants! Previously, in Part 1, an experienced cosmetic dentist in Pueblo CO provided the insightful answers to our initial questions, which included an explanation of what dental implants are and how the cost of implant surgery is determined.

Now, let’s move on to some questions on how dental implants compare with traditional teeth replacement technology…

Question: Oftentimes, it’s the cost of a service that determines whether or not consumers choose it. Do you find patients opting for cheaper technologies over dental implants even though it is clear that implants are superior?

dentures in a water glass, symbolic photo for dentures and care

Answer: “To correct you, it’s actually not clear to most of our patients that implants are superior,” explains the cosmetic dentist. “The Pueblo residents we treat come to us knowing very little about why they are experiencing tooth loss in the first place and what treatment options they have to correct it. And so we explain to them that they could have a denture fitted or they could have dental implants done. Unfortunately, patients tend to tune out the very long list of implant benefits we provide and focus only on the cost difference. Naturally a few hundred dollars sounds far better than a few thousand.

“What’s especially sad is that these same patients will come back in our office every year complaining about the increasing pain, discomfort and difficulty caused by wearing dentures and there’s really very little we can do about it if they’re unwilling to foot the bill for a more sophisticated dental solution. These concerns didn’t matter at the beginning of treatment, because these patients were just so relieved to have a set of teeth that looked healthy. Now, however, they are faced with the reality of denture-wearing… and it’s not pretty.”

Question: Why are dentures so problematic?

Closeup portrait, elderly business woman with tooth ache, crown problem, cavity pain, touching outside mouth with hand, isolated white background. Negative human emotion facial expression feeling

Answer: “Two reasons: they don’t replace the roots of the teeth and as a result, the underlying jawbone actually begins to atrophy and waste away, because it’s not getting any functional stimulation. This causes the bite to weaken and the maxillofacial region to develop that sunk-in appearance typically associated with denture wearing.

“The next reason is that dentures rely on their bulkiness and the underlying gums to remain stabilized in the mouth. Their bulk causes unnatural smile aesthetics by stretching the lips and they’re very uncomfortable to eat with – some patients complain that their dentures make them gag. Additionally, the fact that dentures push down on and rub against the gums causes incessant pain and discomfort, so much so, that it can lead to malnutrition,” says the Pueblo dentist.

Question: So, dental implants are the industry recommendation for a very good reason?

Answer: “Absolutely! Wearing dentures can totally wreck your quality of life, as well as shorten your life expectancy by 10 years due to lack of proper nutrition and depression.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series to read the answers to more of your frequently asked questions about dental implants.

Want New Teeth? The Dentist’s Repertoire For Working Magic On Pueblo CO Residents’ Damaged Teeth, PART 1

This four-part article series takes a closer look at the various technologies and techniques available for the repair and replacement of damaged, worn and discolored teeth.

Healthy teeth and a beautiful, confident smile is a fundamental tool for communication. Imagine how your ability to interact with other people, both professionally and socially, might be compromised without being able to smile openly? For many Pueblo CO residents, this doesn’t require much of a stretch of the imagination, because they have been living with smiles they have been embarrassed about for many years. Thankfully, for those who find themselves in need or want of new teeth, there are several options offered by cosmetic dentists and you don’t need to take out a second mortgage on your home to afford them!

In this four-part article series, a panel of Pueblo CO dental implant dentists chat to us about the various tools, technologies and techniques available for the improvement of smile aesthetics.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

 

 

Remember all those many years ago when your mom would force you to go to the dentist and you’d first spend a good 30 minutes having each and every tooth scraped and polished before actually going in for your appointment. That’s called a professional teeth cleaning and it’s absolutely necessary every six months in order to eliminate the permanent deposits of calculus that accumulate on the crowns of your teeth and just below the gum line.

“Routine professional teeth cleanings play a keen preventative role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy,” explain Pueblo dentists. “They help to prevent the development of cavities, gum inflammation and disease, which all contributes to poor smile aesthetics and ultimately the need for new teeth.”

Another great benefit afforded by frequent professional teeth cleanings is that they really make your teeth look amazing! By removing the yellower plaque and tartar from your teeth, they are left looking whiter and their lines more defined. The elimination of all that bacteria (present in plaque and tartar) also allow your gums a chance to heal, which can reduce inflammation, leaving them looking pink and healthy.

So, before you consider an expensive cosmetic treatment, you may want to consider simply improving upon hygiene and going for a professional teeth cleaning and dental check up. 

Teeth Whitening

 

 

If your teeth have become dulled, discolored and a little stained over the years, a professional teeth whitening treatment can work absolute wonders. The outcomes, while natural, can be like having brand new teeth! Better yet, a teeth whitening is one of the least expensive and easiest of all the cosmetic treatments offered by Pueblo cosmetic dentists, so chat to yours about the whitening system they offer.

In most cases, patients are given a custom-made mouth tray and a whitening kit containing a strong bleaching gel, which they can take home with them. Treatment is applied by the patient in the comfort of their own home, with the mouth tray being worn for an hour or two every evening for between one and two weeks, or until their teeth are the level of sparkling white they want.

Make sure to follow your dental healthcare professional’s instructions for dosage and treatment time.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 

To learn more about the various treatments that can be done and dental technologies available to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.