10 - 2022 - Rivers Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Professional whitening is effective at removing years of stains and discolorationfrom the teeth. Whether you’re looking to boost your confidence or are going tobe attending a wedding, reunion or another big event, a bright and white smileis sure to improve your appearance. Expert whitening is performed in our officeor provided to you using a professional-grade take-home kit. Whitening resultscan last for months to one or more years, and maintaining your results is key toensuring that you’ll always have a gorgeous smile.

Why Should I Whiten My Teeth?

There are many factors that come into play when it comes to the whiteness andbrightness of your smile. If you’re a smoker, drink a lot of coffee, tea or cola oryou’re taking certain medications, you’ll notice that your teeth aren’t as white asthey used to be. Likewise, just the act of aging can have a serious impact on theway that your smile looks. By professionally whitening your teeth, you canexpect dramatic results that help to increase your self-esteem and confidence.

How Often Should Teeth Whitening Be Done?

It is best to avoid whitening your teeth too often. Over-whitening your teeth canlead to issues with hypersensitivity or even cause the teeth to look translucent.It is often recommended thatyou only whiten your teeth, whether at home orprofessionally, once a year. This prevents issues involving sensitivity and helpsin creating a natural-looking smile. The benefit of utilizing professional whiteningis that results typically last for aboutone year. This simply means that you won’tfeel the need to touch-up or go with another whitening system because of howdrastic the change is when using a professional whitening option.

How Can I Maintain My Results?

The best way to prevent the need for touch-ups is to avoid future staining anddiscoloration of the teeth. If you’re a smoker, now is the best time to quit and agreat way to extend the length of your results. Try to avoid drinking too manydark liquids, like coffee and cola, and opt for waterinstead. You may want toconsider using a whitening toothpaste so help clear away stains anddiscoloration before they are able to get worse. Be sure to speak with theexperts about whitening and always discuss when the last time you whitenedyour teeth actually was before retreatment.

Cavities are always something we try to avoid with brushing and flossing each day. You may notice youget cavities frequently and others don’t. This doesn’t seem fair,but there are other factors that play intokeeping your teeth free of decay that you may not realize. There are ways to reduce your risk for cavitiesoutside of brushing and flossing regularly.

Why Are Some Prone to Cavities More Than Others?

Diet – Reducing the amount of sugar you eat or drink can help prevent cavities. Your chance ofgetting cavities increases if you eat or drink foods with a high amount of sugar.
Gum Recession – If you suffer from gum disease and your gums are receding,the root of thetooth is exposed. Bacteria can reach the root area of the tooth and cavitiescan develop moreeasily.
Dry Mouth – If you tendtohave a dry mouth your risk for decay increases. We need saliva towash away bacteria in our mouths.
Genetics – Unfortunatelysome people are born with a tendency to develop cavities morefrequently than others. This is because some people are more susceptible to a certain type ofcavity causing bacteria.

How Can I Reduce My Risk for Cavities?

There are things you can do to help reduce your risk for cavities. This doesn’t mean you will never have acavity again, but it does mean you are changing your habits,and putting forth a good effort to try andprevent decay from developing.

Regular Visits to Your Dentist – Make sure you attend your regular visits to your dentist. Theseexams help to identify potential cavities,and allow the dentist to get in front of issues beforethey become worse.
Reduce SugarsinYourDiet – Try and stay away from foods or drinks that are high in sugar.
Keep Up With Oral Hygiene – Stay on top of your oral hygiene with brushing and flossing atleast twice a day. This will help prevent plaque buildup that causes decay.
Use a Toothpaste With Fluoride – Using a toothpaste that containsfluoridecan help preventtooth decay.Use Mouthwash–Mouthwash can help rinse away bacteria,and if the wash contains fluoridethis can help prevent cavities.

Knowing what you can do to help prevent cavities can help you avoid many trips to the dentist. Takingcare of our teeth is very important,and can help avoid dental issues. Always practice good oral hygienehabits to keep your teeth and mouth feeling great.

At our office we discuss what patients are doing at home to help prevent decay. Our staff provides tipsand tricks tohelp our patients keep their teeth looking great. Taking care of your teeth and gums isimportant, and can avoid serious issues from developing. If you have not been to our office for yourregular dental exam, we encourage you to schedule your appointment.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment ?

If you are looking for a dentist near you for your regular dental exam, we’re here to help. Our office hasstate of the art technology and equipment, and we always provide the highest level of service to all ofour patients.

To schedule your appointment with us, contact us today, and our friendly staff will be happy to assistyou.