What to Expect if You Haven’t Been to the Dentist in Awhile

Several things can keep you from visiting the dentist every six months as normally recommended. A bad experience, a fear of the dentist, finances, or maybe you’re just too busy. However, when you make the decision to get back in the dental chair, you may still feel reluctant. The team at my Douglasville dental office wants to ease your concerns and help you understand what you can expect at your first visit.

A Lecture-Free Zone

One of the main fears patients have when they’re getting ready to come back is fear of a lecture. When you visit your dentist in Douglasville, we don’t want you to be afraid of getting chastised. Our philosophy doesn’t include making our patients feel guilty, but rather we talk with you about your concerns and work together to ease them. With us, you’re never in trouble and we’re always here to help.

A Longer Visit

Your first visit after a hiatus will typically warrant a longer visit. This isn’t to scare you but because we like to spend time getting to know our patients personally and familiarizing ourselves with their mouths. We’ll also perform a thorough evaluation that will most likely include x-rays, a comprehensive exam, and cleaning. We’ll move at your pace and constantly ensure that you’re at ease.

Cavities

If it’s a been a few years since you’ve seen a dentist, there is a good chance that you have some decay and cavities. However, they’re nothing to fear. Most people, even those who do see the dentist every six months, get several cavities throughout their lifetime. But thanks to improvements in dental technology, treatment is easier, less painful, and faster than ever before. Getting a cavity filled is a much better option than leaving it untreated as a cavity that is left to fester can lead to more serious problems.

Whether it’s been a few months, years, or decades since you last visited the dentist, we’re here to welcome you to my dental office in Douglasville. Our goal is not only to get your mouth healthy, but to make sure you’re comfortable and that you’re an active part of your health care team. We welcome you to talk to us about your concerns so we can help ease your worries and get your smile back to health, beauty, and strength.

Welcoming patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Ricca, and surrounding areas.

Are You a Mouth Breather?

We all mouth breathe a little bit during a cold, while running, or when lifting something heavy; however, doing it all the time may have negative effects on your dental health. Most people who are chronic mouth breathers do not even realize it, which is especially distressing for all of us at my Douglasville dental office.

People don’t mouth breathe because they choose to, they typically do it because there’s something wrong with the nasal passage. When you can’t get enough oxygen by breathing through your nose, you do the only other thing you can – you breathe out of your mouth. Chronic mouth breathing may result in some serious dental and facial issues.

When a child mouth breathes, it may actually  impact the natural growing process of their face. When we use our mouths to breathe, our posture has to change to keep the airway open. In a kid, if mouth breathing and this change in posture is left untreated, it may lead to a long, narrow face, a narrow or flat nose, a short upper lip, and a pouty lower lip. Additionally, it could create some other concerning oral health problems in both children and adults.

Many people don’t know the multitude of issues that are linked to mouth breathing, which worries your dentist in Douglasville. However, the many problems associated with mouth breathing are so serious, they were highlighted in a study conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry. Chronic mouth breathing may lead to overcrowded teeth, a gummy smile, problems with facial development, even with the overall health of your mouth.

Using your mouth to breathe instead of your nose increases your risk for several oral health issues. Breathing out of your mouth dries it out and decreases saliva production. Without saliva, dangerous acids and bacteria are left to create problems like tooth decay and gingivitis. More so, mouth breathing can lead to chronic bad breath, poor sleep, headaches, and sore throats.

Some Signs & Symptoms

• Dry lips
• Crowded teeth
• Snoring and open mouth while sleeping
• Increased number of airway infections including sinus, ear, colds
• Chronic bad breath

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of mouth breathing, or if you know you are a mouth breather, call my dental office in Douglasville. We have the ability to recognize mouth breathing and can work with you to fix the problem and get your mouth, and quality of life, back to health.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricca.

“Do I Need to Take Antibiotics Before my Dental Visit?”

Taking antibiotics prior to a visit to your Douglasville dentist used to be a common practice if you had a heart condition or received a joint replacement; however, this may no longer be the case. Recent research has shown that the use of too many antibiotics could actually outweigh the benefits, and using them as a precaution isn’t doing much good.

Taking a precautionary antibiotic before dental appointments, even cleanings, was initially prescribed to those with heart conditions or joint replacements in an attempt to lower the chance of infection. Many believed that bacteria in the mouth could enter the bloodstream during a dental procedure and cause an infection. However, after considerable research, it was concluded that precautionary antibiotic prescriptions were practiced solely on theory, and there is no scientific evidence that preemptive antibiotics help stop infections. In fact, it was determined that overuse of antibiotics could actually do more harm than good.

Using antibiotics as a preventive measure could lead to a worse result than if they weren’t used at all. The overuse of antibiotics leads to an increase in the chance of bacteria becoming resistant. When this happens, the bacteria continue to cause or enhance infection since the same antibiotics no longer kill them. Thus, the bacteria can become stronger and lead to greater damage.

However, while using antibiotics as a precaution against infection during dental treatment isn’t common anymore, there are still some individuals who should take antibiotics before visiting their dentist in Douglasville. Those with artificial heart valves, a history of infective endocarditis, certain congentital heart conditions, or a cardiac transplant that has developed a heart valve problem are some of the patients the American Heart Association recommends the use of precautionary antibiotics.

The best way to make sure you’re getting the protection you need is to ask your primary care physician or cardiologist if preventive antibiotics are appropriate for you.

A healthy at-home oral hygiene routine and keeping up with regular visits to my dental office in Douglasville will go a long way to preventing infection. This duo of oral health care helps keep bacteria levels to a minimum and decreases the risk of more advanced dental treatments.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricca.

Female Hormones & Their Impact on Oral Health

Women undergo several hormonal changes throughout their lives, causing hormone levels to fluctuate. This fluctuation can not only cause changes in the body, but in the mouth as well. At my Douglasville dental office, we want to cater to our female patients, and this blog can explain how their hormonal changes affect their oral health.

Because of the unique hormonal changes women experience, chances for oral health problems actually increase. When hormone levels adjust, the blood supply to the gum tissue is affected, as well as the body’s response to toxins caused by plaque. This makes women more susceptible to gum disease and other oral health problems during certain stages in their lives when the hormonal changes are particularly extreme.

Puberty

The first major change in female hormones occurs during puberty. When a woman enters puberty, the female hormones of estrogen and progesterone surge. This increase in hormone levels not only cause changes to the body, it can also change how your mouth reacts to bacteria. During puberty, blood flow to the gums actually increases, causing changes to the gum tissue and its behavior. The increase in blood flow can cause the gums to become red, tender, and swollen, and can affect how well your mouth can fight off bacteria in plaque.

Childbearing Years

Following puberty, females begin to experience monthly menstrual cycles. During these monthly cycles, the progesterone and estrogen levels again increase. This increase can cause a multitude of side effects, some of them including bright red gums, bleeding gums, swollen gums or salivary glands, and canker sores. It’s even common for women to experience menstruation gingivitis a day or two before the start of their cycle, which usually clears up in a few days.

Some women may choose to start a birth control regime during this phase of her life. This can also put you at risk for damage to the gum tissue. Certain birth control medications that contain progesterone can cause your body to overreact to the bacteria and toxins caused by plaque, often resulting in swollen gums.

It’s also not uncommon during these years for women to choose to start a family. During pregnancy, hormonal levels change dramatically. An rise in progesterone can increase your chance for gum disease. Gum disease brought on by hormonal changes experienced in pregnancy is known as pregnancy gingivitis and is usually found between months two and eight of the pregnancy. Because of this, your Douglasville dentist may recommend more frequent visits for cleanings and exams.

Menopause

As women age, hormonal changes are again at a peak, causing a variety of oral complications. From altered taste and increased sensitivity, to dry mouth and decreased bone density, menopause can result in some serious concerns. Dry mouth can lead to tooth decay and gum disease since saliva isn’t there to help clean the mouth. Loss of bone can lead to tooth loss, decay, and receding gums.

While it’s important for all of our patients to maintain regular checkups at my dental office in Douglasville, it’s even more important for our female patients. If you’re going through a crucial period in your life, or are looking for a new dentist, please give us a call today. We’ll make sure your mouth is in healthy shape and work with you through all stages of your life.

Welcoming patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricca.

Missing Teeth? Dental Implants Can Help

If you’re missing teeth due to an accident, tooth decay, gum disease, or other reasons, you’re not alone. In fact, millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss. Prior to technological advancements in dentistry, the only option to replace missing teeth was either a bridge or dentures. However, at my dental office in Douglasville, we’d like educate you on the newer, superior solution to tooth loss, dental implants.

What are Dental Implants?

Unlike bridges or dentures, dental implants replace both the lost tooth and the tooth root. First, a titanium post is placed into the bone of the jaw where your tooth once was. As the bone begins to heal, it actually grows around the post, securely locking it into place. After this occurs, a connector (called an abutment) is added to the post. It’s on this piece that your new tooth is added. The replacement tooth, also called a crown, is custom-made by your Douglasville dentist using the size, shape, and color of your other teeth to perfectly sculpt a natural-looking looking tooth.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most beneficial and healthy tooth replacement options available today. Not only are they strong, permanent fixtures, they also provide several health benefits.

• Comfort. No worry about food getting stuck under your dentures, no concern of slippage, just pure, natural comfort.
• Eat what you want. Other tooth replacement solutions limit your ability to eat certain foods, (corn on the cob, anyone?). With implants, you can eat what you want without worry or pain.
• No soaking necessary. Since implants are permanent fixtures, you don’t need to remove them at night to soak. Simply take care of them as if they were your natural teeth!
• A healthier mouth. Dental implants don’t require other teeth to support them the way dentures or a bridge do. This means that no other teeth are changed, and more of your natural teeth are left untouched and unaltered. Implants also allow you to easily floss and brush, which is always important to a healthy mouth.

If you feel that dental implants may be right for you, give my Douglasville dental office a call today. We’ll discuss whether implants are the best option for you, talk about a personalized treatment plan, and answer any questions you may have. Don’t hide your smile because of missing teeth. Give us a call today.

Welcoming patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Ricca, and surrounding areas.

Picking the Right Douglasville Dentist

There are a variety of reasons you may be in need of a new dentist. Perhaps you’ve moved to a new town or your former dentist is retiring. No matter the reason, picking the right dentist for you isn’t an easy task. After all, you’re looking for someone you can trust your smile to. At my dental office in Douglasville, we’d like to give you a few tips that you can follow to ensure you’re picking the right dentist to meet your needs.

Talk to Friends

The best place to start your search for the best dentist for you in Douglasville is with your friends and family. Find out what they like about their dentists and compare what they say to what you’re looking for. It’s also wise to hop online to check out the practice’s available services, get to know a bit about the doctor, and to get an idea of the office personality.

Pick Up the Phone

Once you’ve gathered information from your friends, family, and the internet, you should have a list of a few dentists you’d like to get to know more about. This is when picking up the phone and making calls to those practices is important. The first phone call can give some insight into the atmosphere of the practice and gives you an opportunity to ask some valuable questions. You’ll want to gather information such as what you should expect during your first visit, how the office handles finances, and the level of training of the staff. Following these calls, you should have a good idea of which dentist stands out to you and who you’d like to investigate in more detail.

Schedule a Visit

Making an initial visit with your top choice is a great way to get to know the office and the dentist in person. Getting into the office and into the dental chair is important to make sure you’re comfortable, ensure that the personality of the doctor compliments yours, and discovering whether the office is clean, friendly, and matches what you’re looking for. After this initial visit, you should have a good idea if this is the dentist for you.

Whether you’re new to the area or if you’re just in need a of new dentist, I always welcome you to call my Douglasville dental office. We’ll be sure to answer any questions you may have, schedule a prompt appointment if desired, and get you on your way to healthy smile.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricci.

Tips for a White Smile After Labor Day and All Year Around

We’re all familiar with the thought that it’s a fashion faux pas to wear white after Labor Day. While we’re not fashion experts, at my dental office in Douglasville, we tend to disagree with this rule. Here, white smiles are always in style and we’ve got some tips on how you can get yours brighter and keep it that way.

Whether it’s because of what you drink, habits you have, or time itself, there are plenty of things that can make your white smile fade and become dull. The good news is that it’s easily fixed by whitening. There are many options available to help you get a whiter smile, but your best choice is by going to your Douglasville dentist for a professional whitening. Not only are the trays that are used custom-fit to you, which means no solution gets on your gums and causes damage, the solution itself is stronger than the kind you can find in the drugstore. Additionally, your dentist can help you get your ideal shade of white without over-bleaching.

Once your professional whitening is completed, there are several things you can do to help keep your smile in just-whitened condition.

Eat a Healthy Diet

We all know that sugar is bad for your teeth as it increases your risk of tooth decay. But what some may not know is that decay can discolor your teeth and make them appear dull and dingy. In order to keep your smile white, eat less of the sticky, sweet foods and more of the crunchy vegetables. It’s also important to know which foods can contribute to staining and to avoid those as much as you can. Berries, coffee, tea, wine, and tomato sauce can all cause your smile to fade, so eat them in moderation. If you have to enjoy a soda or coffee, try drinking it with a straw as it helps keep the staining agents away from the surfaces of your teeth.

Don’t Use Tobacco

Tobacco not only causes some scary health problems, it can also cause yellowing of teeth, not to mention serious oral health problems like gum disease and oral cancer. Whether it’s chewed or smoked, tobacco is just not good for any part of your body. It’s better for your smile, and your overall health, if you just don’t do it.

Brush & Floss

You should already be brushing twice a day and flossing once, but if you’re striving to keep your smile white, it’s really important that you continue to do so. Brushing and flossing helps remove plaque which can actually cause stains to linger around and get stuck on the teeth.

See Us Often

By keeping up with your appointments to my Douglasville dental office, you can make sure your smile is healthy overall… and a healthy smile often means a white smile. At these appointments, we can also check in on how your whitening is holding up and see if you may need a little touch up. If you follow the tips above, touch ups should be minimal and your smile can keep on shining.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricca.

Top Reasons People Aren’t Seeing the Dentist

If you’ve been avoiding us, we won’t take it personally. In fact, a large percentage of Americans avoid seeing the dentist. There are many reasons people skip out on visits to my dental office in Douglasville. We’d like to cover some of the main reasons and let you know that we’re not only here to get you healthy, we’re here to comfort and relieve any inhibitions you may have too.

Fear and Anxiety

At the top of our list are fear and anxiety. Just as there are individuals who are afraid of heights or spiders, there are also those who have a cold-blooded fear of the dentist. In actuality, fear of the dentist, also known as dentophobia, is pretty common. Whether it’s mild or severe, a fear of the dentist can result not only in anxiety, but also in refusal to visit a dentist in Douglasville. This is especially concerning since those with an extreme fear who don’t get regular cleanings and checkups are at increased risk for scary dental problems like heart disease, strokes, and much more.

Dread of a Repeat Experience

There are many people whose fear of the dentist has stemmed from a prior bad experience. If you’ve had a dental treatment that hurt once, you’ll probably think it will always hurt. However, most of these bad experiences occurred when a patient was younger and dental technologies weren’t what they are today. It’s important to tell us if you fall into this category we’ll work with you to relieve your fear and reassure you that our comforting techniques will not only get you healthy, but do so in a pain-free way.

Avoiding the Lecture

People who have neglected their dental care for a while are often concerned that once they get back into the dental chair, they’ll get lectured on their brushing and flossing habits. Lecturing you on your dental hygiene routine isn’t a productive way to get you excited about your dental health and to keep you coming back for regular checkups. Instead of lectures, the team at  my Douglasville dental office will talk with you about your mouth and teeth, educate you on the importance of regular checkups, and help get you back into a healthy routine. No lectures needed, just encouragement, understanding, and compassion.

If you’ve been avoiding the dentist because of any of the reasons above, or even for a different reason, give my dental office in Douglasville a call. We’ll work with you and talk to you about your fears and make sure that your treatment is comfortable, easy, and relaxing.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Ricca.

Top 3 Things Your Douglasville Dentist Wants You to Know

We talk a lot during your visits to my Douglasville dental office – about your kids, your job, your spouse, and your teeth – but sometimes we have even more to say and not enough time to say it! So I’ve decided to put the most important things we want our patients to know right here.

Your Mouth is the Window to Your Body

While your eyes may be the window to your soul, your mouth is the window to your whole body. There is a very strong connection between your oral health and your systemic health, or whole body health. In fact, disease in your mouth puts you at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and disease of your brain, liver, pancreas and so much more. On the other hand, a healthy mouth is linked to a longer, healthier life. This is why keeping up with your appointments at my dental office in Douglasville is so important.

Stop Blaming Your Bad Breath on the Garlic

Bad breath can result from an especially garlicky bowl of pasta or pizza, but bad breath that’s consistent could be the result of a dental problem like gum disease, dry mouth, or a poor hygiene routine. If any of those are the reason for your bad breath, mouthwash, mints, gum, and other breath freshening techniques only temporarily mask the problem while the true issue is still lingering in your mouth, potentially causing damage and serious concerns. Proper brushing and flossing can help beat bad breath but if it doesn’t go away, it’s important to call us as soon as you can.

Ignoring a Dental Problem Will Not Cause it to Go Away

Issues in your mouth will not go away if they’re not taken care of. Cavities will get bigger, your bite will not correct itself, and your gum disease surely won’t go away on its own. All of these problems, plus plenty of others, will only get worse if not treated. That cavity could get so big that it needs a root canal; your bite could result in problems with your temporomandibular (jaw) joint; and gum disease can lead to some really scary problems like tooth loss, heart attacks, and even dementia. It’s also important to remember that just because nothing hurts, doesn’t mean that nothing is wrong. That’s where we come in and check your mouth for any potential problems at each and every visit.

We’ve only covered three really important facts in this blog, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t more to know. If you have any questions, or need to schedule your regular checkup or more in depth treatment, give my Douglasville dental office today.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Ricca, and surrounding areas.

Beware: Common Summer Snacks Are Bad for Your Smile

It’s warm out. And when it’s warm, we tend to switch the type of food and drinks we consume. But have you ever thought that what may be good tasting may not be making your smile happy? There are many common summer treats that, while tasting fantastic, are causing damage to your smile. Everyone at my dental office in Douglasville wants to educate you on what some smart summer snacks are and which ones to avoid.

What to Eat

Some good choices for summer snacking can include proteins, veggies, and cheese. Proteins, like nuts and turkey, are great at fighting acid and tooth decay while cheese is packed with calcium that not only protects bones, but teeth as well. Veggies are a great alternative to some sugar-dense fruits and many, like celery, contain a lot of water which helps to rinse bacteria from the mouth. When it comes to drink choices, we can’t stress enough the importance of water.

What to Avoid

• Soda, sweet tea, and sports drinks – These beverages are full of acid and sugar and can eat away at your tooth enamel and lead to decay. Choose a smarter option like water and if you have to drink a sports drink or soda, drink it with a straw to limit exposure to the teeth and drink sparingly.

• Iced coffee – When the weather is warmer, coffee drinkers tend to shift to a more climate-friendly morning picker upper. The problem is that this caffeine favorite is rarely just enjoyed in the morning, but rather sipped throughout the day. This increases the amount of time your teeth are exposed to the sugar and acid, causing more damage and even staining your should-be pearly whites.

• Pickles and pickled foods – Like sugar, acid is also dangerous for your smile and these foods are packed with both smile-damaging ingredients. Take it easy on these and opt for a raw veggie instead.

• Starch-loaded snacks – Snacks like potato chips and white bread are high in starch, and starchy foods like these can often get stuck in the grooves of teeth. Once they’re stuck, they can then feed the bacteria and plaque in the mouth, making it a great place for cavities to form.

While you’re enjoying the summer sun, make sure that you’re choosing snacks that not only hit the spot, but are healthy for both your body and your smile. At my Douglasville dental office, we encourage you to make healthy decisions about the treats you buy next time you’re at the grocery store. Your teeth, and your dentist, will thank you for it.

Serving patients in Douglasville, Lithia Spring and Villa Ricca.