Give the Gift of Dental Implants

What could be better than receiving a gift that will last forever! Now’s your chance to help give somebody a smile makeover with dental implants designed specifically for the individual receiving the gift. Now’s your chance to get those New Year’s resolutions started with the perfect smile. A gift like this would enhance not only a person’s appearance, but also their confidence to smile all the time.

There are a couple of ways to get this started. Naturally, it first needs to be determined whether or not dental implants are the best solution. If that is the case, first schedule a free consultation to determine the options. But for the sake of this blog – let’s assume the person needs dental implants.

You first may want to research ways to pay for the procedure. There are a variety of options that will fit many people’s budgets. Cash is always an acceptable means of payment. Credit cards are just as favored. Sometimes you can get a discount on the entire service paying with cash. If this fabulous gift is for a family member, does your insurance cover the procedure? Or, perhaps you qualify for care credit – a medical and dental credit card payment plan. Many times, you will not only qualify for care credit, but it may come with an interest free time period bonus. Naturally, you can get really creative and request money from your friends and family via a website and/or contest.

The next step, once you know how you will pay for this amazing gift, is to set up the appointments for the procedures. Double check if your gift can be Teeth in a Day or All on Four procedures. These procedures will save time in that they can be done in a single day as opposed to several trips and a variety of procedures with a longer waiting and heeling time.

Now it’s time to put the surprise together. Get creative here! Maybe you give the person a set of chompers that begin moving once wound up. Within the perfectly shaped teeth could the gift written down on paper and folded up to fit the inside of the chompers teeth. The sky’s the limit, especially considering what a person can do with the perfect smile!

How Often do I Really Need to Visit the Dentist for a Teeth Cleaning?

How long has it been since you visited your dentist for a teeth cleaning? Was it several weeks ago? Several months ago? Several years ago? You may be surprised to learn of how many teeth cleanings are recommended each year by dentists. 

Nearly all dentists recommend a teeth cleaning of twice a year- or every six months- for the average person. However, if you’re a very good brusher, floss regularly, and have very little recent history of dental issues, you could extend this to a longer time- such as every nine months, or even a year. However, to be safe, stick to six months for the maximum clean. On the other side of the spectrum, if you know that you need some work on brushing, and that flossing every day hasn’t been part of routine, you may want to visit the dentist for a cleaning every three or four months. If you have dental insurance, check to see how often they cover teeth cleanings- many insurances cover some or all of the costs of cleanings twice a year. 

When you visit the dentist for a cleaning, you not only get an expertly cleaned, refreshed mouth, but you also have the opportunity for your mouth to be seen by someone who has an expertise in dentistry. Keep your mouth healthy, clean, and always remember to smile!

How Often do You Really Need to Brush?

Brushing is a technique that we learn at a young age, and the habits we pick up early in life often carry into adulthood. We’ve likely all heard the recommendation, “brush twice a day”, but is this really true? And is there anything else we should know about brushing besides simply brushing twice a day? The short answer to brushing twice a day is: Yes. Both the American Dental Association and world-renown Mayo Clinic recommend to brush at least twice a day. 

Brushing in the morning helps eliminate the bacteria that has accumulated overnight. Brushing in the evening helps eliminate the bacteria that has accumulated throughout the day due to all the food and drink that has been consumed. Some people even brush after every meal, or in the middle of the day, and this can easily be accomplished with a mini toothbrush and toothpaste at hand. 

In addition to brushing twice a day, you may want to take particular note when you have just eaten or are about to eat acidic foods. Acidity weakens tooth enamel, which protects our teeth. Foods higher in acidity than others contain a relatively low pH, to include lemons and lemon juice, apples, berries, pineapple, grapefruit, cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches, pears, pimentos, tomatoes, and vinegar. 

Brushing before eating the foods above

helps add a protective coating to your teeth. However, immediately after eating these foods, hold off on the toothbrush. It is recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after eating acidic foods to brush so your teeth have some time to recover after the acidity.

When you do brush, be sure to make it count and do it well. If you’re a little bored, hum or sing a song in your head, or listen to music. Try doing squats! And don’t forget to floss at least once a day as well. Flossing not only removes debris, but also stimulates gums which helps protect teeth and fights off gum disease. What are your favorite times to brush during the day? Any favorite toothpastes or floss?

Oral Cancer Prevention

Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, affects nearly 35,000 Americans each year and kills around 8,000. While oral cancer may occur at any age and affects both men and women, it is most common in men over 40. Oral cancer can begin almost anywhere in the mouth- this includes the teeth, tongue, gums, top of the mouth, bottom of the mouth, inside and outside linings of the lips, inside linings of the cheeks, and sometimes even near the top of the throat. It is important to prevent oral cancer as a healthy mouth and oral cavity are essential for a healthy, functioning body. Below are some ideas to help reduce the risk of oral cancer. You may already be incorporating some of the ideas into you own life. Read on for our thoughts:

Tobacco use is the primary cause of oral cancer in both men and women and should be avoided. Tobacco use not only includes smoking cigarretes, but also cigars and pipes. Chewing tobacco may also cause cancer. It is best to not start using tobacco, but if you are a user, consult with your dentist or doctor to determine the best treatment plan available to help lessen or eliminate your use of tobacco.

Your risk for oral cancer increases with the amount of beer, liquor, or wine consumed per day. Someone that drinks three to four alcoholic beverages per day has an oral cancer risk that is twice that of someone that does not consume alcohol. To reduce your alcohol use, consult with a doctor or review treatment centers or groups in your area.

Sunlight exposure may increase the risk of mouth or lip cancer. Make sure you wear a protective chapstick or lotion when in the sun, especially for extended periods. And, Prevent the growth of bacteria and diseases in your mouth by brushing at least two times a day and floss regularly. Make sure to incorporate healthy foods into your diet and start or maintain an exercise routine. With the right mindset and determination, you can equip your body with the best tools possible to help prevent oral cancer.

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The Ins and Outs of Dentures

It’s unfortunate when we have to have our teeth removed, but thankfully there are denture implants to take the burden of not having any teeth or missing teeth for whatever reason. There are actually two kinds of complete dentures: conventional and immediate. Immediate dentures are made in advance for when the teeth are removed. Conventional dentures replace those when a person’s gums have healed, which generally takes about eight to 12 weeks to heal completely.

Of course, there are times when only a few teeth need to be replaced. These partial dentures are designed to be easily removed as well as fill in the gap between your other teeth so that they don’t move as well. Of course there are more permanent solutions that a person can opt for and may cost more as well — but these implants will resemble the feeling of real teeth.

Naturally, new dentures will feel different for a while as there is a time period where the muscles in your mouth will need to adjust as they become acquainted with the inserting and removing process. The team at Affleck Dental takes personal care to explain this to you before and after your procedure. It is normal to have some minor agitation and soreness in the beginning. Eating and speaking will take some time to adjust as well. Don’t get discouraged too quickly, Simple begin with small bites of food, chewing on either side of your mouth while avoiding hard and sticky foods.

If you have dentures or you have questions about getting them, be sure to contact the staff at Affleck Dental to schedule a consultation with Dr. Affleck or just to get updated info on the variety of options and new, innovative procedures we can provide for you and your family and friends. 801-782-5010