According to recent data, approximately 70% of adults over the age of 65 have periodontitis—an advanced form of gum disease. Though it occurs more often in older adults, age isn’t the only factor. Inadequate hygiene and a lack of professional dental care are the main causes behind gum disease development. However, the reason why it’s the leading cause of adult tooth loss is because patients often don’t recognize the signs of gum disease, and therefore neglect to seek treatment in time. (more…)
Quiz: Do I Need an Oral Cancer Screening?
When was the last time you received an oral cancer screening? Each year in the United States, over 43,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer. Without early diagnosis and subsequent treatment, nearly half of that number will succumb to the disease within five years. To protect your overall health, you should always undergo routine oral cancer screenings.
FAQs: How Does Invisalign Work?
How do you feel about your smile? When you look in the mirror, do you see a perfect smile or one plagued with misalignment? Despite feeling self-conscious about misalignment, few adults and teens are eager to correct the issue with metal orthodontics. As an esthetically pleasing alternative to braces, Dr. Villani and Dr. Kondrat of Brighton Family Dental Group offer Invisalign clear braces.
Is Tooth Replacement a Priority?
Losing a tooth can inhibit the confidence in your smile, especially if you’ve lost a tooth in the front of your mouth where its absence is more prominent. However, many people who’ve lost a single tooth in the back, where it’s less likely to be noticed, may not consider their loss much of an issue. After all, if no one notices your missing tooth, then what harm can it do? Quite a bit, actually. The loss of even a single tooth can devastate your smile’s integrity more than it can affect your confidence, regardless of how obvious or discrete the gap in your smile is, and tooth replacement is often critical to preserving what remains of your oral health. (more…)
True Or False Quiz On Thumb Sucking
There are many longstanding myths and beliefs about thumb sucking that influence parents today. Some “facts” are true, but many have been proven incorrect by current research. Test your knowledge below and see if what you believe is still accurate. Dr. Villani and Dr. Kondrat of Brighton Family Dental can help you also with these answers. (more…)
Why You Should Pay Attention to Teeth-Grinding
Paying attention to your teeth involves more than just brushing and flossing them twice a day. By attending your dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year, you can help ensure those threats don’t become a serious situation. Besides plaque and tartar, which are comprised of bacteria that can lead to tooth decay and gingivitis, teeth-grinding is another danger Dr. Villani thoroughly checks for during your visit. More formally known as bruxism, the chronic grinding of your teeth generates more force and friction than your teeth are designed to withstand. By detecting and addressing it early, your Brighton dentists can help you stop bruxism and protect your beautiful, healthy smile. (more…)
Oral Hygiene Quiz: True or False
Every six months, it is strongly recommended by the American Dental Associations (ADA) to have an appointment for a dental checkup and cleaning with your dentist. Additionally, you should brush your teeth twice each day. Flossing before you brush is necessary once a day to keep the cracks and crevices in your teeth clean. Of course, you probably know all of this, but are you practicing it? Try your hand at this quiz on basic brushing tips to learn more.
Questions
Q1. True or false – Each session of brushing your teeth should last five minutes.
Q2. True or false – Plaque is hardened tartar.
Q3. True or false – Brushing too hard can damage your tooth enamel.
Answers
A1. FALSE – There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. The recommended time for an ample tooth brushing session is two minutes. This may sound extremely short, but when you time yourself, you’ll see that it is a good chunk of time for getting each of the four quadrants of your teeth clean as a whistle. Brushing longer than that can damage your tooth enamel.
A2. FALSE – Plaque is the first form of a biofilm comprised of acid, germs, and food debris that likes to coat your teeth. After 48 hours of remaining on your teeth without (more…)
Face the Day With Your Best Smile Ever
Artists have immortalized people for their smiles through art, literature, and music throughout history. Da Vinvci’s Mona Lisa has a smile that has captivated the imagination of millions of people with its mystery: is she smiling because she is happy or mischievous? Homer described Helen of Troy to have a “face that launched 1000 ships” for being so beautiful that it sparked a war between two nations. Bruno Mars serenades to the woman of his affections in “The Way You Are” emphasizing that, “when she smiles, the whole world stops and stares for a while.” If one person’s smile can inspire a generation, then just think how the perfect smile can bring out the best in you. If your smile has lost its luster, or you want to unlock the power of your smile, then porcelain veneers might be the solution. (more…)
Answers to Your Fluoride Questions
Fluoride, or sodium fluoride, is a compound of the element, fluorine, mixed with a form of salt. In dental care, fluoride has gained immense popularity, and the mineral is one of the most prevalent components of a wide range of hygiene products. Fluoride abounds in most toothpaste and mouthrinse brands, and Dr. Villani offers fluoride treatments at his Brighton dentist’s office to patients with weak and vulnerable tooth enamel. Despite its popularity, many patients still have questions about fluoride, and why, exactly, it’s so important to maintaining healthy smiles. (more…)
Dentures Throughout Time
For centuries, and maybe longer, people who’ve lost a significant amount of their permanent teeth have relied on dentures of various sorts to restore their smiles’ beauty and function. Today, dentures are custom-crafted to closely mimic a healthy, natural smile. Modern dentures even come equipped with replacement teeth roots (dental implants) that allow them to look and function like real teeth. Dentures and other attempts at replacing lost teeth weren’t always as advanced as they are today. However, the evidence suggests that the importance of maintaining a smile full of teeth has been common knowledge for longer than many people realize. (more…)
