How Wearing a Mouthguard Protects Your Smile?

There never has been a year where Pearland Family Dentistry hasn’t told their patients about the benefits of wearing a mouthguard when participating in contact sports. However, our advice to them comes after they have sustained treatable dental injuries.

If they had a mouthguard on, the extent of the dental injury could have greatly minimized. Since Pearland dentists aim is to promote the use of a mouthguard during contact sports, we want to provide our patients with advice before they hit the sports field.

The Importance of Wearing Mouthguards

- When you want to protect your head, you wear a helmet.

- When you want to protect your ribs, you wear a rib protector.

- When you want to protect your hands, you wear gloves.

And the list goes on and on…

We ask you why you don’t wear a mouthguard? Isn’t your smile just as important as the rest of your body? Unless you are going for that toothless grin, you will want to wear a mouthguard to protect that smile of yours. Here are five excellent reasons why you should not disregard wearing a mouthguard:

§  It acts as a cushion for your teeth during impact.

§  It protects your jaw joints from sustaining injuries.

§  It prevents soft tissue injuries.

§  It helps avoid jaw and neck injuries.

§  It may help decrease the occurrence of a concussion.

Getting any of the dental injuries mentioned above are painful, and nowhere a pleasant experience. If you want to keep on smiling confidently, you need to start by maintaining the smile by wearing a mouthguard. You can choose from two types of mouthguards.

The Custom Mouthguard

To design a dental mouthguard, the dentist will take a mould of your teeth. Since the mouthguards are tailor-made using your exact measurements, they are more effective in preventing dental injuries to your jaw and teeth.

The Over the Counter Mouthguards

You can buy over the counter mouthguards from a pharmacy, but it will do little to protect your jaw and teeth from injury, as they will not be of your exact measurements and might be uncomfortable to wear.

Which One Do Professional Dentists Recommend?

Professional dentists do not recommend that athletes purchase over the counter mouthguards, as the risk of injury is still present. Sports players should invest in a custom mouthguard, especially if they are part of a sports team in school. If you play the following sports, you need a mouthguard:

          §   BMX Bike Riding

§  Skateboarding

§  Horse Riding

§  Soccer

§  Football

§  Squash

§  In-line Skating

§  Lacrosse

§  Basketball

§  Baseball

§  Softball

Do not forget to clean your mouthguard with cold and soapy water after use, as you do not want your mouthgaurd to cause you an infection. Once it is disinfected, store it in dry and clean plastic container, taking it out when it’s time to play your next big game.

Are you looking to get a custom mouthguard or has the damage already been done to your smile? Pearland Family Dentistry can design a mouthguard for you and help restore your smile. Make an appointment with one of our qualified dentists, so we can help you preserve your smile.

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Save Your Smile, before It’s Too Late

Your smile has the ability to light up the room, but for how long it can do that depends on your habits. As Pearland Family Dentistry tells its patients that in the end, it is their responsibility to ensure that their smile never disappears. As dentists, we want our patients to be proud of their smile and not afraid to bare their teeth in pictures. Therefore, we encourage them and their family members to follow healthy teeth cleaning habits. The habits to save your smile are:

1. Do Not Brush Your Teeth too Roughly or Fast

By brushing your teeth too fast, you are doing the opposite of brushing; you are scrubbing your teeth as if it is the surface of a floor. Doing it excessively and everyday will cause the enamel to wear away, resulting in your teeth becoming overly sensitive. This practice of brushing will also cause your gums to diminish. Brush your teeth using a soft or medium toothbrush using firm strokes. 

2. Do Not Brush Your Teeth after Drinking and Eating Acidic Food and Drinks

Acidic food plays a significant part in eroding the enamel. You need to wait at least half an hour to brush your teeth.

3. Do Not Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Pearland dentists are a strong advocate of brushing your teeth regularly, but it is the excessive brushers we fear for the most. You only need to brush twice or thrice each day after consuming your main meals to remove the buildup of plague.

4. Neglecting to Brush the Entire the Surfaces of the Teeth

Cleaning the front surface of the teeth is just as important as cleaning the back and upper surface of the teeth. Yet, people neglect to clean those surfaces for reasons unknown to us. Our guess is that they might in a hurry in the morning, and who is going to look at the inside of their mouth? A dentist will have to eventually and they will tell you that the cavities and the buildup of plague are all associated with failing to clean the entire surfaces of the teeth.

5. Neglecting to Floss

You need to make a habit of flossing your teeth after eating the main meals of the day. The fine thread of the floss will reach places in your teeth where a bristle of a brush can never reach. It will remove scarps that cause tooth decay due to the buildup of plague.

6. Neglecting to Pay Attention to Bleeding Gums

When you see blood coming out of your mouth as you brush or after you rinse your mouth, it is an issue that you need to take seriously. Do not brush it off, telling yourself, you will deal with it later, as the more you ignore, the worse it will get. Next thing you know, your dentist is telling you that you have gum disease with you nodding your head saying that you spotted the signs earlier on, but failed to act on it.

Pearland Family Dentistry offers Restorative Dental Care for people who want to renew their smile and never repeat the same mistakes again.

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Top 10 Most Common Dental Issues

Your mouth is very complex. Oral health should be an important part of your regular self-care routine. You should also be aware of the issues that can arise with your mouth, and know what to do about them to prevent long-term damage.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the wearing away of the enamel of the tooth, resulting in cavities that can eventually eat through to the root, causing intense pain. Prevention includes good oral care and routine checkups.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is usually caused by diet or poor oral care. Tongue scraping, regular brushing and a good mouthwash should take care of the problem.

Gum Disease

Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common causes of gum disease, and can result in major damage to your teeth and gums. Periodontitis is the most serious form of the disease and can manifest as constant bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums and loose teeth, and can put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Regular dental care is essential to catch and reverse the effects.

Teeth Grinding

Known as Bruxism, teeth grinding can cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away, and create issues with jaw alignment, resulting in pain. The most common causes are stress and misalignment of your jaw. Your dentist can make you a special guard that will keep you from grinding your teeth.

Yellow Teeth

Yellowing of the teeth is typically caused by environmental factors such as smoking. Your dentist can whiten your teeth, however you must eliminate the factors that caused the yellowing or it will return.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are molars, and can cause all sorts of problems. If they do not erupt fully, bacteria can get into the socket and cause decay. Many people opt to have them removed as a preventative measure, before they cause pain and dental issues.

Mouth Sores

Mouth sores are generally caused by either herpes or canker sores. Herpes is a virus, and while there is no cure, it can be treated with anti-viral creams and medications. Canker sores are bacterial, and although they are painful, they generally go away on their own in a few days.

Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by exposure of the root (even just a tiny bit), the wearing away of the enamel, or exposure to heat or cold. Your dentist can recommend a special toothpaste that can help lessen the sensitivity.

Enamel Erosion

An acidic environment is often the main cause of enamel erosion. Bulimia, acid reflux and other issues that raise the acidity in your mouth are common culprits. Prevention includes drinking lots of water, chewing sugarless gum and eliminating the root cause.

Oral Cancer

This is the most serious of all mouth diseases. If it is not caught and treated early, it can be life threatening. Common causes include chewing tobacco, alcoholism and smoking.

If you are concerned about your dental health, contact us at Pearland Family Dentistry today. Our friendly professionals will ensure that your condition is diagnosed properly and that we find the best treatment options to meet your needs.

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Custom Athletic Mouth Guards and Night Guards

If you are a parent with kids playing sports—especially high impact sports—you are no doubt aware of the inherent dangers involved. You’ve probably purchased shin guards, kneepads, shoulder pads and a helmet or two…but have you considered the risks to your child’s mouth?

According to WebMD, 40% of mouth injuries occurring in adolescents and young adults happen while they are playing sports, yet only about 7% of young people wear mouth protection. In 1962, when colleges and high schools began requiring young people to wear mouth protection during sports, the risk of injury dropped from approximately 50% to less than 1%, depending on the sport and the study cited.

What kind is best?

The best type of mouth guard is one that has been specially molded to fit your teeth and jaw. Your dentist can make one for you, and while they are not cheap, when you factor in the physical and emotional cost of a catastrophic injury to your mouth or face, it is definitely worth it.

How is it made?

Your dentist will make a plaster cast of your teeth, and then use that cast to make a mouth guard specifically designed for you. Most dentists will allow you to “personalize” your guard, including making it in your team colors or putting your team mascot on it. In any case, you can be assured that the protection that it provides will reduce your risk of injury. A well-made guard is comfortable to wear as well, unlike the over-the-counter brands that can be awkward.

What is the difference between a mouth guard and a night guard?

As we have discussed, a mouth guard is typically used during sports. A night guard is prescribed by your dentist when you have been diagnosed with bruxism (grinding your teeth) and is used to prevent injury to your teeth and jaw while you are sleeping. Night guards should also be molded specifically to your mouth, to provide maximum protection. It should be noted that the two are not generally interchangeable. A night guard is not made of the same heavy material as a mouth guard and will not provide the level of protection that you need for sports play. In addition, while you can conceivably wear your mouth guard while you’re sleeping, it will most likely be rather uncomfortable, as it is made of a stronger, thicker material.

Contact us at Pearland Family Dentistry today to make the proper recommendation for your particular sport or activity. Make an appointment once you have decided what sport you plan to play, and have a complete oral checkup, then invest in proper mouth protection. All it takes is one good hit to the mouth to do major damage—and it is preventable!

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How To Prepare For A Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is one of the few things that we do not wish on our worst enemies. After all, how often do you hear, "I'd rather get a root canal than do that." The pain is enough to force you to flee the dental office. In addition, the amount of time that it takes to endure the pain exacerbates the rampant anxiety.

How to prepare for root canal treatment involves a few simple steps.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Dentists perform root canals to repair the damage caused by decayed teeth. During the procedure, the dentist and/or dental assistant remove hard to extract pulp from the center of a tooth's cavity. The removal of pulp significantly lowers the chance of the tooth incurring a painful infection that spreads to other teeth adjacent to the damaged tooth. Root canals mitigate teeth pain, prevent infections, and encourage healthy teeth and gums. Despite the long lasting health benefits, most people abhor root canal treatments.

4 Tips on How to Prepare for a Root Canal Treatment

You should never expect the root canal pain to disappear, but you can do some things to make your root canal procedure easier to take.

Do You Need an Antibiotic Before the Procedure?

Antibiotics expunge some of the chemicals that build up to infect damaged teeth. By taking an antibiotic, you lessen the pain and length of treatment. Ask your dentist about taking an antibiotic to reduce swelling and speed up the often-slow healing process after surgery. Make sure you know which antibiotics do not cause severe allergic reactions.

Plenty of Rest Helps

Yes, it is normal for root canal patients to toss and turn the night before the procedure. However, a solid night of sleep reduces the fear and anxiety that many root canal patients feel as they approach the dental office. You can also ask for sedation during a root canal treatment to lower your blood pressure. However, dentists prefer that you remain coherent during root canals, so they have the capability to monitor you accurately.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs to Alleviate Pain

Depending on your pain tolerance, simply taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) pills according to recommended time intervals should ease your teeth pain. NSAIDs also do a great job of reducing the swelling that commonly develops after root canal surgeries. If you have a low threshold for pain tolerance, ask your dentist about prescribing pain medication, such as Percocet or Vicodin.

A Full Stomach Boosts Your Pain Resistance

A full stomach gives you enough energy to make it through the lengthy dental procedure. Average root canal treatments take between two and three hours to complete. Consuming a generous meal before your root canal treatment ensures you do not succumb to hunger pains during the procedure. A full stomach also may make you drowsy, which heightens the relaxed mental state required to endure a root canal.

The typical response after a root canal is for someone to go, "Whew, I'm glad that's over." Well, it's not completely over, as perhaps the best tip on how to prepare for a root canal involves following up with your dentist for the restorative work necessary to reinvigorate your bright smile. Restorative work that follows a root canal can include teeth crowns and a little more pulp extraction from severely damaged teeth. Dental follow-ups also keep your dentist informed of your condition.

If you have a painful cavity and believe that a root canal may be in order contact us at Pearland Family Dentistry today. Our friendly professionals will make sure that your procedure as as pain-free as possible. If you are concerned about discomfort during procedure such as this consider sedation dentistry which is also a service offered by Pearland Family Dentistry.

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Orthodontics

Orthodontics is the field of dentistry that pertains to the treatment and care of your teeth. In addition, orthodontist is the professional who develops the skills to practice orthodontists and this professional is concerned primarily with the study and treatment of your teeth and improper bite, which is also called the malocclusion. This can result from a tooth irregularity in the improper alignment between your jaw and your teeth.

Orthodontists do not focus on treatments like crowns fillings cleanings or implants.

When a malocclusion occurs it usually means that the upper and lower teeth do not touch each other in the correct proportion. Malocclusion conditions are different with each patient and the method used to treat each patient is different. About 30% of the population that is affected by a malocclusion has to be given orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatments focus on the dental displacement and deals with the modification and control of the growth of facial bones and teeth. If the condition is severe, orthodontics and jaw surgery has to be performed on the patient. In addition, orthodontists will require surgical skills in order to treat the jawbone if this is required for a patient.

More comprehensive orthodontic treatments may require the use of metal wires, which are inserted into braces or brackets and these, are made from stainless steel material or they can be used from more aesthetically pleasing ceramic material. The ceramic material is often colored to match the color of the patient’s teeth. The wires are tightened in a manner that allows the brackets to move the teeth into a position desired by the orthodontist. Other options for orthodontic treatment involve the use of aligner trays, which consists of clear plastic trays that are applied to the teeth to help to move them into the desired location.

There are many appliances that orthodontist can employ in order to read direct the growth of a patient’s jaw. These may include removable appliances like plates headgear or other expansion appliances. These types of functional appliances are generally used on patients who are between the ages of 5 to 14 years. This is because their job can be modified and altered more easily than an adult jaw. This sort of treatment is classified as dentofacial orthodontics, which is followed by a mixed multi-bracket therapy to align the teeth and refine the malocclusion as well.

After the teeth have been aligned with, the patient needs to wear retainers over the teeth so that the teeth remain in the new positions. During this time, the bone reforms to the teeth appropriately. The retainers are worn for a few days or for as long as year and can be taken off a short time during the day. Although the teeth will stay aligned for the rest of the patient’s life, they may tend to crowd together as the patient ages even if the patient has never undergone orthodontic treatment. Accordingly, you can assume that your teeth may move a little bit as you age as an adult.

If you are in need of orthodontics, treatment contacts us at Pearland Family Dentistry today. Are orthodontist can identify the necessary features of your malocclusion and define the nature of your teeth problem. We can help to design a treatment strategy, which is based on the needs of our patients.

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Make Your Dentist Happy - Brush Your Teeth the Right Way

Brushing your teeth properly is not terribly complicated but it is important to do it correctly, and the biggest factor in determining whether you are brushing properly is the length of time you spend brushing your teeth. Unfortunately in today’s busy society, people are often hurried in the mornings are rarely spend the appropriate amount of time brushing their teeth. The correct amount of time to spend brushing is at least two full minutes. This may be disconcerting to some and if you were to time yourself with a stopwatch, you may find that two minutes seems like a very long time. There are some difficult areas to reach within your mouth and the best way to reach all of them is with a careful, thorough brushing.

Time is not the only factor to proper brushing however. Technique is also very important. Your focus should be all outer surfaces of your upper teeth, followed by all inner surfaces of your upper teeth. You can then turn your attention the outside surfaces of your lower teeth and then the inner surfaces of your lower teeth. If you make these steps routine, you will find that it is easy to build a two-minute brushing habit. Once the outer and inner surfaces are finished, it is time to focus on the chewing surfaces of your upper and lower teeth, particularly those teeth located far to the back of your mouth.

In order to maintain fresh breath and fewer bacteria in your mouth, it is also a good idea to brush the surface of your tongue, which can also harbor bacteria. Since this bacteria is what causes tooth decay, it is important to remove as much of it from your mouth as possible during brushing.

Here are some important hints regarding the products you use for brushing your teeth.

Your Toothbrush

There are different types of toothbrushes available, which offer a wide range of designs. The shape of the handle and the head are both personal choices, but it is often recommended that a smaller bristle head is best because it allows you to maneuver the brush into those hard-to-reach areas better.
There are also choices you have in terms of the firmness of the brush bristles. These range from hard to soft, and many dentists recommend that soft-bristled brushes do a better job of removing plaque from your teeth.
For many, the best choice is an electric toothbrush because it does a superior job at cleaning your teeth and keeping them free from debris and bacteria.
Your toothbrush won’t last forever and it is important to recognize when it is time to replace your brush, whether you use a conventional toothbrush or a powered toothbrush. When the bristles begin to show signs of visible wear, it is time to replace your brush. You will also want to replace your toothbrush after suffering any illness or cold because the brush can harbor germs that can cause your illness to return.

Your Toothpaste 

Toothpaste products today offer a wide array of choices so there should be something to satisfy just about anyone’s taste, and toothpastes are formulated for specific purposes including plaque fighting toothpaste, tartar control, sensitive teeth toothpaste and even teeth whitening toothpaste.
If you are confused about the best way to brush your teeth and the best products for your particular dental condition, call us at Pearland Family Dentistry today. We will be happy to offer advice regarding your teeth and we can make recommendations for the best techniques and products for you to use to keep your teeth healthy.

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