Navigation

Austin Dental Center

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT (512) 454-0414

5 Foods & Drinks That Wreak Havoc on Enamel

by

alcohol cocktail drinks with citrus fruit
We all know that dairy products are great for our teeth because of the high dose of calcium that helps to support healthy bones. You may even know that cheese can help to reduce acidity, balance the pH in your mouth, and protect your enamel.

What you might not know is which foods do just the opposite, attacking the enamel that protects your teeth and paving the way for tooth decay. Here are a few of the worst culprits when it comes to wreaking havoc on enamel.

1. Candy

As you may have guessed, one of the worst foods for your enamel is processed sugar. While all candy is hard on your teeth, you should definitely steer clear of anything containing sticky caramel or nougat that can cling to the surface of teeth long after you’re finished eating. You’ll also want to avoid hard candies that you suck on or chew, as these can not only harm enamel, but lead to cracked and chipped teeth, opening the door to infection and tooth decay.

2. Sugary beverages

Sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even juices feature tons of added sugar (or concentrated natural sugar) that can linger and erode enamel. Many also contain acids and food dyes that exacerbate the problem. Stick to water if you want the greatest oral and overall health benefits from your beverages.

3. Citrus

Oranges, strawberries, and other citrus fruits are truly delicious, and they’re certainly better for you than chowing on cookies or candy. That said, the combination of sugar and acid found in citrus fruits can do a whammy on your enamel, so just make sure to brush, floss, and thoroughly rinse after eating citrus fruits.

4. Alcohol

You might fear the effects of sugar in alcohol, but compared to, say, soda, it’s not actually that high. The bigger concern when you imbibe is that alcohol is a diuretic, which means it can dry out your mouth. When saliva doesn’t flow, your mouth’s natural rinsing mechanism is removed, and food and bacteria can linger as a result, to the detriment of your enamel.

5. Vinegar

Vinegar is not only great for household cleaning tasks, but it also offers a variety of health benefits. Unfortunately, it’s not so great for enamel. If it removes the calcium deposits on your coffee maker, you can imagine what it does to your teeth. It’s important to become aware of all the foods containing vinegar, including salad dressing, pickles, potato chips, and condiments, so you can protect your teeth. From there it’s just a matter of following a proper oral health regimen and seeing your Austin dentist regularly.

Can Dental Implants Get Stained Like Real Teeth?

by

dental veneerWe all want a perfect smile, with straight, white teeth that reflect youth and good health. When you flash your smile, you want to make a good first impression. So when you lose a tooth to decay, illness, trauma, or other causes, it can really damage your confidence, not to mention the function of your mouth.

The good news is that you don’t have to hide a gap or chew on the other side of your mouth. With dental implants, you can regain perfect function and the confidence to smile, laugh, eat, and drink just like before you lost your tooth. That said, you definitely have to take steps to care for you dental implant just as you do for your natural teeth.
The nice thing about dental implants is that they’ll never suffer cavities or decay, but they can still become damaged and stained if you’re not careful. How does this happen, and what can you do to protect against it?

Dental Implant Stains

Your natural teeth could become discolored in a number of ways. The dentin within teeth naturally yellows over time, and when paired with enamel erosion, your teeth could definitely take on a yellow hue. You might also suffer internal staining due to medications, tooth decay, or trauma.

You’ll never have these issues with dental implants. However, the food you eat, the beverages you drink, and any use of tobacco products could affect your dental implants in much the same way as your natural teeth, causing unsightly stains. Dental implants are designed to resist staining, but if the glazing on your false tooth is compromised in some way, staining can result.

What Causes Damage to Implants?

The glazes used to protect dental implants are strong and durable, but you have to do your part to protect them from damage. Glazes could wear down over time if you consume a lot of acidic foods, use abrasive toothpaste, or if you fail to follow a proper oral care regimen. They could also be damaged by chewing on hard items like ice, hard candy, or even non-food items like fingernails or pen caps.

When the outer glaze of a false tooth is damaged, stains can start to appear. Unlike natural teeth, which can be cleaned with abrasive toothpaste or whitened with bleaching products or lasers to remove staining, dental implants will need professional treatment in the form of polishing, re-glazing, or even replacement. The good news is that you can avoid this hassle and expense by watching what you eat, cleaning dental implants appropriately, and scheduling regular dental visits for check-up and cleaning.

What Your Dentist Can Tell About Your Health Just by Looking at Your Teeth

by

dental check You know that your dentist is an expert at looking at teeth and telling whether or not you’ve been brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash regularly. What you might not realize is that your dentist can also tell a lot about your overall health just by inspecting your teeth.

In some cases, this could give you the impetus to seek out early testing that you might otherwise have neglected, catching conditions and treating them in a timely manner. While your dentist may not be able to diagnose certain ailments simply from looking at your teeth, the state of your mouth can certainly offer clues, so it’s always a good idea to listen to your dentist’s advice. What could this professional tell about your health just by looking at your teeth?

If You’re Eating Right

Proper nutrition is important for your entire body, and when you’re malnourished, it shows in a variety of ways, including in your mouth. When people stop eating or start purging, as with conditions like anorexia or bulimia, dentists can see the signs, including dry mouth, gums that are tender, swollen, and/or bleeding, and other symptoms. Stomach acids can also affect the inner side of teeth, damaging enamel. Dentists may spot such issues before a physician because of these signs and symptoms.

If You’re Suffering from Certain Ailments

You might be surprised to learn that your dentist could spots the signs of conditions like anemia, osteoporosis, diabetes, HIV, and even dementia from the condition of your teeth and gums. Anemia often results in pale gums, while osteoporosis could present symptoms like weakening jaw bone that results in receding gums or loose teeth.

Diabetes causes myriad problems, possibly including bleeding gums, gingivitis, and trouble healing, while HIV could include symptoms like bleeding gums, mouth sores, and infections. As for signs of dementia, the onset of forgetfulness could mean neglecting regular dental care, resulting in worsening oral health.

If Your Oral Health is Putting Your Overall Health at Risk

Oral health is linked to overall health, although the causation (or which is responsible for the other) is not always certain. If, however, you’re suffering from a serious oral health concern like periodontitis or abscessed teeth, there’s a high risk of the condition affecting your overall health.

An abscess that enters the bloodstream, for example, could travel throughout the body, leading to pockets of infection in different areas, including the heart or the brain. This, in turn, could be dangerous or even fatal. In other words, it’s always a good idea to maintain oral health in order to protect your overall health.

Different Types of Tooth Stains

by

color stain
All of us would prefer to maintain a beautiful, white smile, and this can most easily be accomplished by adopting a good oral health regimen that includes thorough brushing, flossing, and rinsing, as well as regular trips to the dentist for cleaning and x-rays. These steps can help to prevent issues that could compromise the health and appearance of our teeth.

However, you should know that even a lifetime of good habits may not be enough to prevent tooth staining that can cause you to look older and affect your confidence when you smile. What causes tooth staining and what can you do to treat it? Here’s what you need to know about different types of tooth stains.

Aging

Even with proper oral care, our teeth experience some wear and tear over time. The hard enamel can thin with age and the dentin inside our teeth can start to yellow. This is a natural part of the aging process. However, this type of staining can often be treated simply enough with professional whitening/bleaching treatments, which could show significant improvements.

Food

Extrinsic stains are those that affect the outer enamel of our teeth, and they are most often caused by staining agents in the foods and beverages we consume. Beverages like coffee, tea, cola, and wine can cause yellowing or even stubborn, brownish stains on teeth, as can food dyes. You’ll also find that the use of tobacco products can significantly impact the appearance of teeth, as well as overall oral health.

What can you do? The easiest way to prevent such surface staining is to avoid these substances, but you can also combat extrinsic stains in a few different ways. You might want to start with over-the-counter products like whitening toothpastes or bleaching products (gels, strips, etc.). A more effective means of whitening teeth is with professional bleaching trays or laser teeth whitening at your dentist’s office.

Medications, Medical Conditions, and Trauma

Intrinsic discoloration, which affects the dentin in your teeth, can leave you with yellow, brown, gray, or even purplish teeth. This could be caused by hereditary factors, excessive exposure to fluoride early in life, certain medications like tetracycline, certain medical conditions like dentinogenesis imperfecta, or trauma to the tooth.

In some cases, whitening procedures could help, but you may also have to consider options like dental bonding or veneers that hide the problem. Your best bet is to speak to your dentist about the cause of tooth staining and the most suitable method of treatment for your particular case.

4 Ways to Protect Your Teeth This Halloween

by

candies and chocolates
Kids may be the ones out collecting candy on Halloween, but that doesn’t mean adults are spared the temptation of all those sugary treats. Whether you’re handing out candy at the door or you’re digging through your kid’s sack of treats in search of hazards, you’re going to be confronted by a lot of bite-sized confections, and your teeth can suffer the damage of overindulgence following the first of many food-centric, end-of-year holidays.

The good news is, you have several options to explore when it comes to minimizing the damage all that sugar can do to your teeth at this time of year, and your kids can benefit from targeted changes, as well. Here are just a few ways to protect your teeth and maintain good oral health this Halloween.

1. Limit sugar intake

When confronted with scads of treats, it’s all too easy to mindlessly overindulge. However, sugar is bad for both your teeth and your caloric intake, so you need to be aware of how much you’re consuming and limit your intake. This could mean limiting yourself to just a couple pieces of candy per day, or cutting back on soda to counteract the added sugar in your diet. Better yet, you might just want to indulge for a couple days and then throw out whatever candy is left to remove all temptation.

2. Consider the source

You might think all sugar is the same, but some types of candy are a lot worse for your teeth than others. For example, sticky substances like caramel and nougat can cling to teeth, causing more damage than mere chocolate. Hard candies that you suck or bite can also cause sugar to stay in your mouth longer, and they could damage teeth if you bite down too hard. These types of candy should be avoided.

3. Take care with costuming

Some costumes require you to make a number of cosmetic changes to your appearance, such as blacking out teeth or adding prosthetics. Just make sure to use products that are approved for these purposes and to always use them appropriately to avoid damage to teeth.

4. Rethink your routine

If you’re adding some sugar to your diet, you should counteract it with extra brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash throughout the day, as well as additional hydration and rinsing with water. This will help to reduce film on teeth that could lead to plaque and tartar buildup, or even worse issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Contact your dentist for further advice or to schedule additional cleaning as needed.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Invisalign Treatment

by

Invisalign
When it comes to discreetly aligning your teeth, there’s no better solution than Invisalign. Though this may seem like an effortless solution, it is important to remember that success ultimately hinges on how well the patient adheres to their treatment plan. To lend some advice on how to do just that, here is a brief list with a few tips on how to get the most out of your
Invisalign treatment.

Your Old Aligners Will Come in Handy

Make no mistake, you should definitely dispose of your old aligners, as there’s no legitimate reason to keep them around. However, upon getting a new set, keeping your most recent pair is a good idea just in case the former meets an unfortunate end or gets lost.

Make a Habit Out of Wearing Your Aligners

With Invisalign, proper upkeep entails wearing your aligners for 22 hours per day. In fact, they should only be removed when you are eating or engaging in your daily oral hygiene routine. Unfortunately, failure to adhere to this relatively simple step is one of the most common reasons for prolonged treatment. This is because inconsistencies give your teeth plenty of time to rearrange themselves, as they are no longer held in place by the aligner. If something like this occurs, all is not lost. However, you will likely incur more costs due to the fact that your orthodontist will need new impressions of your teeth and will have to remake the aligners.

Chew to Conformity

Chewies are long circular pieces of hardened plastic that are great for conforming your aligners to your teeth. One reason you may need to use them is if you have air pockets in the space between the aligner and your teeth. To use, simply bite the chewies for around 10 minutes and at least 3 times per day. In addition to solving the problem of air pockets, chewies will accelerate your overall treatment time.

Maintain a Daily Oral Hygiene Routine

The only time you should ever remove your aligners is when you are eating or when you are brushing and flossing your teeth. Concerning the latter, make sure to maintain a daily oral hygiene routine, which includes brushing both your teeth and your aligner, as well as flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and preferably using a tongue scraper. For brushing your aligner, use a soft-bristled non-eclectic toothbrush and a little bit of toothpaste.

Can Diet Impact a Smile?

by

drinking coffee
Those of us who brush and floss our teeth on a daily basis and make regular bi-annual dental appointments are likely always looking for ways to keep our smiles clean and healthy. However, while those steps are certainly effective, that is only one part of the story. As you may have guessed, the other half is diet. Most of us are aware that food and beverages with high sugar content can easily lead to tooth decay, but did you know that there are a variety of other foods that can be just as bad? Even worse, you could already be eating some of these foods without having any idea what the consequences may be. To help ensure that this does not happen to you, here is a brief list with insight on how your diet could be ruining your smile.

Coffee

Make no mistake, there are benefits to drinking coffee. For one, as most of us know, coffee is a great way to escape from the morning grog that plagues us when we wake up. It is also high in antioxidants and can reduce the risk of contracting caner, Type 2 diabetes, and even Parkinson’s. However, regularly consuming coffee can have detrimental effects on your teeth. This is especially true of black coffee, which runs contrary to what some people profess. Fortunately, these effects can be mitigated by diluting the coffee with ice or milk, and using a straw to drink it.

Curry

Who would have thought, right? Curry is fundamentally delicious, reduces inflammation, helps with digestion, and can guard against degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and specific forms of cancer. Despite all this, curry can severely stain the teeth. Fortunately, these effects can be minimized by eating curry as little as possible and cleaning your teeth within half an hour of indulging.

Lemons

What’s not to love about lemons? They have relatively little calories, are high in both fiber and vitamin C and taste delicious! However, lemons are also highly acidic, meaning they can erode tooth enamel like nobody’s business. For this reason, it is important to minimize contact between your teeth and anything containing concentrated amounts of lemons. However, like coffee, the effects of lemons can be reduced via dilution. More often than not, diluting with water works the best: simply grab a glass full of water, squeeze a little lemon on it and enjoy!

How to Use Good Oral Hygiene to Fight the Flu

by

water
When flu season hits, it is best to be prepared. Many of us have a good idea of how to take care of ourselves when we’re ill; however, many fail to take oral hygiene into account, which is ultimately detrimental to one’s oral health. When you’re sick, bacteria pours into the mouth from mucus and vomit, creating an atmosphere where it can fester and thrive, resulting in tooth decay and other nastiness further down the line. This also applies to the gums, which are especially susceptible to bacteria during this time. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from happening. Here to help you out with that is a list on how to fight the flu with stellar oral hygiene.

Hydration is Essential

Maintaining optimal hydration is beneficial to your body and oral health. Unfortunately, having the flu means that your body will dehydrate quickly. This will cause dry mouth and create a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply, eventually resulting in tooth decay. To combat this unpleasant effect, make sure to drink plenty of water and steer clear of acidic and sugary beverages. Additionally, sugar-free cough drops and lozenges can increase saliva production.

Don’t Brush Your Teeth Immediately After Vomiting

Most of us vomit when we have the flu. After we have expelled our stomach contents, our mouth is usually plagued by an extremely gross taste. While your first inclination may be to brush your teeth, you may want to hold off. Brushing one’s teeth immediately after vomiting can compound the damage that the stomach acid has already caused. Because of this, it is best to wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. However, this does not mean you have to deal with the unpleasantries of the taste in your mouth. On the contrary, swishing some water or mouthwash immediately after vomiting is a great way to minimize bacteria and get rid of the unpleasant taste.

Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene

While this may seem like a given, you would be surprised at how many people negate proper oral hygiene when they are sick. Maintaining the usual routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash will help clear out any excess bacteria and keep your smile looking fresh and healthy. Also, consider replacing your toothbrush when you are feeling better, as this will prevent the grime and bacteria from spreading and potentially causing further illness.

Can Gingivitis Be Reversed?

by

gingivitisIf you’ve noticed any redness or inflammation in your gums but aren’t experiencing any pain or additional symptoms of discomfort you may not think much of it. However, if the condition persists you may be dealing with an onset of gingivitis. Not to worry, though this is a sign that your oral health is not at its best, gingivitis is a very treatable condition that can be reversed by changing some of your hygiene habits and seeing your dentist to diagnose the severity of the problem.

Causes of Gingivitis

Like many other oral health issues, gingivitis occurs when plaque build-up develops on your teeth. This can come about from infrequent brushing and flossing and when this plaque is allowed to remain for extended periods of time it can turn into tartar, which develops at the base of the tooth. Tartar is a resilient substance that can start to irritate your gums the longer it remains. When that occurs, more plaque can build up and exacerbate the problem.

You may be wondering why you have gingivitis even if you practice good dental care each day. Gingivitis isn’t always a sign that you’re not brushing properly. People with diabetes, people who smoke, and anyone with a vitamin deficiency can also develop gingivitis. Even pregnant women are more susceptible to getting gingivitis due to the hormonal changes they are experiencing.

Diagnosing the Problem

You can typically tell when you’ve developed gingivitis by checking for any blood coming from your gum when you brush. Look to see if your gums are red and inflamed, as these too can be indicators that you’re dealing with a gingivitis issue. Visit your dentist and they can tell you almost immediately just by conducting a visual examination of your mouth.

Can Gingivitis Be Reversed?

Yes. You can turn back the clock on gingivitis by clearing away the tartar build-up near the gumline. Your dentist or dental hygienist can do this with a standard cleaning or with an additional step of scaling your teeth. Once you’ve had that work performed, be sure to brush twice a day with a tartar-control toothpaste and don’t forget to floss daily either. Normal oral care will prevent plaque and tartar from re-appearing. You could also use an antimicrobial mouthwash to supplement regular brushing and flossing for an added layer of clean. Just remember to commit to routine proper oral hygiene practices to keep your teeth looking and feeling their best.

How to Get the Most Bang Out of Your Dental Insurance Buck

by

insurance
Going to the dentist usually means having a cleaning and a checkup to ensure that you are in optimum oral health. Many of the common procedures are often covered by dental insurance, which is designed to function much like your regular health coverage. Unfortunately, that also means it can be just as confusing when you try to determine the limits of your coverage and any other applicable restrictions with which you may need to comply. But don’t worry, we’re going to help you clear up some of the confusion by offering up some easy to remember tips to get the most bang out of your dental insurance buck.

Understanding Your Deductible

Just like with your car or health insurance, your dental coverage will have a deductible attached. That is the amount of money you must pay first before your insurance starts to cover any dental expenses. But the important thing to keep in mind here is that your deductible is typically an annual cost that you need to pay before benefits kick in. So if your deductible is $500 but you only pay $388 for dental costs against your deductible for the year and then the next year starts, your deductible resets back to zero. You would then need to pay the full amount of the deductible on for that year before your benefits start. The good news is that many plans will consider preventive care exempt from your deductible. So getting a cleaning, an examination, even fillings for a cavity are all covered no matter how much you’ve paid out on your deductible. Be sure to check your coverage to find out what is covered outside of your deductible. It could save you a lot of money down the line.

Out of Pocket Costs

Dental insurance is there to help you cover your dental costs and many plans will come with a maximum out of pocket amount. That maximum limits how much you need to pay towards your care each year. Let’s say that number is $1,500, and that amount is typically applied to a deductible and any coinsurance costs that you are responsible to cover under your plan. But rest assured, once you’ve reached that limit your policy covers most everything else, as long as it’s included in your plan.

Coinsurance Costs

These costs are usually applied to certain items in your policy that are not fully covered on the plan. That means your insurance company is responsible for a portion of those expenses and you are expected to pay the remainder. If your plan has items such as these, the policy will tell you what percentage is covered and how much you need to pay on your own. Remember, this will typically apply to your out-of-pocket maximum. Knowing what these costs are before you walk into the dentist’s office can help you get the most out of your insurance and make it worth your premiums