Steps to a Whiter and Brighter Smile

Your smile says a lot about you, and if yours is preventing you from expressing yourself, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

The American Academyof Cosmetic Dentistry explains that over 96% of people who responded to a recent survey believed that a beautiful smile was more appealing. In fact, a white and bright smile can even make you look younger. Of course, good oral health goes above and beyond looks.

The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body and if you do not brush twice, floss once each day and see your dentist twice a year, the rest of your health could be suffering.

According to yourdentist, there are some steps that you can take to improve your smile.

Brushing truly is the most important step when it comes to good oral hygiene as it removes the food particles that feed the bacteria. Brushing twice a day also cleans your teeth and gives you fresh breath. Use a fluoride toothpaste as it helps to strengthen your teeth as well. Your dentist recommends that you brush for two minutes. Use a timer, or purchase an electric toothbrush with a built in timer.

Just like brushing, flossing removes the particles and plaque between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing also helps prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease as well. Because you do not produce as much saliva while you sleep, your dentist recommends that you floss just before bedtime as it leaves your mouth less vulnerable to bacteria attack.

Because your dentist can spot gum disease in its infancy, it is vital that you see your dentist twice a year. If gingivitis is caught early enough it can be treated and reversed. Some people are more prone to gum disease and should schedule dental checkups quarterly. People with other health problems such as HIV, diabetes and cancer should also visit the dentist more frequently.

In-between checkups check your mouth for trouble spots. Non-healing sores, bleeding or swollen gums, or pimples on your gums are all signs that you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Keep your smile bright and healthy by quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet that is rich in calcium. Foods such as kale and sardines also contain calcium and should be included as part of your regular diet.

For more information regarding a healthy smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

Contact your Dentist in Rancho Mirage if you Have Bad Breath

If those party invitations are becoming few and far between, it may have something to do with your breath. Chronic halitosis is a big turnoff, especially if you are on the receiving end. Unfortunately, sometimes even your closest friends will not utter those four little words, “You have bad breath.”

Thankfully, there is something you can do about your halitosis. If you do not use tobacco, and have ruled out chronic infections, kidney or liver ailments, dry mouth, diabetes, odorous foods, or systemic diseases, it most probably has something to do with your oral hygiene, and that is where your Dentist in Rancho Mirage can help.

Poor dental habits are the number one cause of chronic halitosis. In fact, more than 60 million adults in America suffer from it.

You really are what you eat, and if you are not brushing twice, flossing once a day and seeing your Rancho Mirage Dentist regularly you are inviting gingivitis and its worse relative, periodontal disease into your teeth and gums.

According to Web MD, the foods that you eat are broken down by the acids in your mouth and will be absorbed in your lungs and eventually carried to your support system, your lungs. Garlic, onions, and those spicy ethnic meals that you love could be the culprit when it comes to your bad breath.

Brushing, flossing and mouthwash are only masking the odor as these types of foods will never go away completely until they have passed through your entire body, which can take more than 72 hours after you have digested them. If you love to eat spicy tacos, curry laden with garlic or deep-fried onion rings, you may want to enjoy when you are on your own, or with someone who could care less about your bad breath.

By far the worst thing you can do is not brush or floss. Brushing and flossing will get rid of the food particles and bacteria that cause chronic halitosis in the first place. Be sure and take care around your gums and do not forget to brush your tongue, as this is where bacteria will truly thrive.

Other causes of chronic halitosis include poorly fitting dentures and chronic dieting. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Randall W. Szutz in Rancho Mirage who will be able to determine the root cause of your chronic bad breath.

Make Your New Year’s Resolution Count

If you indulged in too much red wine or any other food over the holidays, it might be more than your waistline that is suffering from all of your good-hearted excess. According to your Dentist in Rancho Mirage, tooth decay is one of the biggest issues he confronts when seeing patients after the New Year.

Most people are too busy to schedule an appointment with a their dentist before the holidays, and if that sounds like you, it is imperative that you go online or pick up the phone and call your dentist.

That toothache that you had just before Christmas may have been helped with a bit of clove oil, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a cavity. Sometimes patients have no idea that tooth decay has invaded their teeth until after a visit with their dentist.

Ignoring a toothache can be downright dangerous, especially if an infection is present. Once an infection advances to the abscess stage, you need to make a beeline to your dentist. Untreated abscesses can travel through your bloodstream into the brain and that could be deadly. Problems with your teeth and gums should never be ignored and that includes bleeding gums.

Gingivitis and the more advanced periodontal disease can result in tooth loss if ignored. Those little pockets that sit between your teeth and gums can become loaded with food particles that form bacteria eventually turning to plaque and tartar. Make an appointment with Dr.Randall Szutz who can access your gum situation by measuring the pockets, or sulcus, in-between your teeth and gums.

Your Dentist in Rancho Mirage is the only one who will be able to determine if your gums are healthy. If Dr. Szutz believes that gingivitis is to blame for your bleeding gums he may recommend a deep cleaning, otherwise known as scaling and planing.

This year add, “Dental checkup,” to your New Year’s resolution list and make an appointment today.

Call Your Rancho Mirage Dentist If You Have Sensitive Teeth

If you have been having sensitivity issues when it comes to hot or cold beverages, it could be time to make an appointment with your dentist. Country Club Dentistry has the tools you need to get rid of those sharp pains allowing you to enjoy that hot cup of coffee before you head off to work. Best of all, instead of saying no to that bowl of ice cream you used to look forward to, you can savor it with all of the gusto that you remember.

Your Rancho Mirage Dentist will tell you that you are not alone if you have sensitive teeth. According to Sensodyne, the condition is common in more than 45 million adults in the United States. Although sensitive teeth can be annoying the condition is treatable. 

Dr. Szutz will tell you that sensitive tooth issues arise when the enamel begins to wear down on your teeth or your gums start to recede. Those sharp pains occur when the nerves are exposed to cold or hot temperatures and sometimes even by the air that you breathe.

Other causes of sensitive teeth include cracks in the surface of your tooth enamel. When temperatures begin to change your teeth will contract and expand.

Before you make an appointment with your dentist try changing your toothpaste. Some brands could be causing your sensitivity. Whitening formulas contain sodium pyrophosphate, which could heighten your sensitivity to hot, and cold.

Try avoiding acidic foods as they can aggravate your teeth. Lemons, tomatoes and sodas could be causing sharp pains when you least expect it.

Buy a soft bristled toothbrush as the hard-bristle variety could wear down the surface of your teeth exposing them to sensitive spots. If you already use a soft bristled brush, look at your brush, as it could be time for a new one, especially if your bristles are flattened or pointing in all sorts of directions.

Call your Rancho Mirage Dentist if your teeth are sensitive for more than three days. If you have strong reactions to cold and hot temperatures, it would be a good idea to get an opinion from your Rancho Mirage Dentist. If you have a cavity or abscess, it is best to find out before the problem gets worse.

If you do have sensitive tooth issues, and it is not an abscess or cavity, your dentist can prescribe various treatment options including in-office treatments and take-home dental products.

Rancho Mirage Dentist Dr. Szutz On Tooth Decay

Rancho Mirage Dentist Dr. Szutz stresses that although tooth decay is extremely common in both children and adults, it is largely preventable. 

What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay, also known as cavities or caries, is the destruction of the tooth material.

When food particles are left on the surface of the tooth, they leave behind bacteria.  This bacteria feeds on sugars in the food and produce acids, which combine with the sugars to form plaque.  The acid inside the plaque can dissolve the minerals in the outer surface of your teeth (enamel) and cause tiny holes to appear.  With time, these holes become bigger and form one large hole, or cavity.

If a cavity is left untreated, it can get larger and affect deeper layers of the tooth like the dentin.  Ultimately, this can lead to toothaches, infection and even tooth loss.

For teeth with a small amount of decay, you may consider a composite filling, or an inlay.  If the decay is considerable, it can be repaired by your dentist with an onlay or crown.

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent tooth decay. 

Preventing Tooth Decay

Brushing your teeth regularly is an essential part of your oral health care routine.  It's recommended that you brush at least twice a day, and it's especially important to brush after each meal, as well as before bedtime. 

Flossing is also an essential part of preventing tooth decay.  For optimal health, and to help remove plaque in between teeth, The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day.

It's also recommended to avoid sipping sugary drinks, as well as frequent snacking of foods like candy, pretzels and chips, which can remain on the surface of your teeth.

For children and teenagers between 6 and 16 years old who are susceptible to cavities, Dr. Szutz may recommend a sealant - a thin, plastic coating applied to the deep grooves of the molars and premolars.  This is also a wonderful option for an adult who has deep depressions or grooves on tooth surfaces.

Of course, visiting your dentist regularly to removing plaque will go a long way to prevent tooth decay. Contact the Country Club Dentistry Office in Rancho Mirage for your next appointment to help prevent tooth decay by calling (760) 836-0808.