San Marcos Gentle Dental Blog

If you want to keep your teeth for a lifetime, your gums need to be kept healthy as well.  The gums serve the vital function of holding your teeth in place.  Just as a brick wall would not last long without mortar to hold the bricks in place, your teeth depend on your gums to keep them properly positioned.

The most common health threat to your gums is plaque forming below the gumline.  This is why flossing is so important.  It can get at the plaque your toothbrush cannot reach.

If plaque is allowed to remain, it irritates the gums, making them tender and prone to bleeding.  If this plaque is allowed to harden, it becomes very difficult to remove.  If this problem continues, the gums may pull away from the tooth, forming pockets.  These pockets then become a great breeding ground for bacteria, leading to bone damage, and eventually, tooth loss.  Avoid this terrible chain of events by remembering to floss at least once a day and spend at least two or three minutes each time.

When choosing floss one type of dental floss does not work for everyone.  You can choose between waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, and regular or tape styles.  In general, a waxed floss slides between the teeth easier than an unwaxed floss–especially helpful for those with minimal space between teeth.  Flavored floss leaves a fresh taste in the mouth, and is especially nice for those times when brushing or rinsing is not possible.  Tape floss is typically thicker than regular floss and is generally favored by people with wide gaps between their teeth.  It may also be helpful for those with a lot of bridgework.

Some people with limited dexterity or arthritis cannot easily manipulate dental floss.  These people may wish to try dental floss holders or intradental cleaners.  Whatever your needs or preferences, there is a product to help you clean between the teeth and under the gumline.  Brush and floss your teeth daily to help ensure the wellness of your teeth.  A waterpick is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, but it is good for those who wear braces.  It can reach places the toothbrush cannot.  Just understand that, unlike flossing, waterpicks do not remove plaque.

If you suffer from diabetes, you know how important it is to watch your health carefully.  That includes dental health.

To prevent tooth and gum problems, it is vital you control your blood glucose.  Diabetics, especially those whose blood glucose levels are poorly controlled, are more susceptible to gum infections than non-diabetics.  As a diabetic, the infection is more difficult to treat, and severe gum infection, in turn, can make it more difficult to control your diabetes.  Once such an infection takes hold in a diabetic, it takes longer to heal.  If the infection lasts for a long time, the person may loose teeth.

Proper nutrition is important for everyone, but especially diabetics.  Since much of what you eat requires good teeth for chewing, it is very important to try to preserve your teeth.  Because the bone surrounding the teeth may sometimes be damaged by infection, dentures may not always fit properly and may not be perfect substitutes for your natural teeth.

Home dental hygiene is another important measure.  Make sure you are following all our recommendations for your home dental care.  If you have questions on what you should be doing, give us a call. 

If you notice bleeding gums when you eat or brush you teeth, see us right away.  We need to determine if you have a beginning infection.  You should also notify us if you notice other abnormal changes in your mouth, such as patches of whitish-colored skin.

As your dental professionals, we are not just concerned with your oral health.  We want to make sure we’re doing all we can to ensure your overall health.

** Ensure you come in for regular checkups and professional dental cleanings. 

** Break the bad habit of biting on hard items like pens, ice, hard candies or popcorn kernels.  Your teeth are meant for chewing soft foods.  These habits can lead to chipped or broken teeth.  They may also damage fillings, crowns or other restorations.

** Be sure to protect teeth with a mouthguard when playing contact sports.

** Try to stop smoking and using chewing tobacco.  While the problem with tooth staining is bad enough, these habits can lead to gum disease, or worse, oral cancer.

** Watch what you eat.  It is not only good for your waistline, it’s good for your teeth.  Starchy foods are as bad as sugary ones.  Instead snack on raw veggies, nuts, and cheeses.

**Cut back on coffee or tea.  Excessive amounts of these beverages can stain teeth.

** Be sure to brush and floss regularly.  If you’re not sure you’re doing it right, ask us at your next visit.  But be gentle-do not brush your teeth and gums too roughly.

** Remember to change your toothbrush every three months.

** Do not ignore the early signs of gum disease: bleeding gums, tender, puffy, or red gums; receding gums (pulling away from teeth), chronic bad breath, changes in bite, loose permanent teeth.

**TAKE PROPER CARE OF YOUR TEETH SO THEY LAST YOU A LIFETIME!

Why do celebrities whiten their teeth?  Because they know a sparkling smile is a key to looking great, feeling great, and making a memorable impression.  There is a strong link between a healthy , brighter smile and success in the workplace and social situations.  Now everyone can feel like a celebrity and enjoy an outstanding smile by getting their teeth their whitest thanks to the Zoom! whitening system.  This system is offered at Dr. Donnelly’s office in San Marcos.

Zoom! patients are getting teeth an average of eight shades whiter in about an hour, giving them an immediate boost in confidence.  Besides being fast, it’s safe, effective, and convenient.  No more days of wearing trays.  More than a tooth whitening procedure, Zoom! is an experience in image enhancement and self-esteem…. plus instant gratification.

How Does It Work?

The Zoom!whitening procedure is simple and painless.  It begins with a short preparation to isolate your lips and gums.  We then apply the proprietary Zoom! whitening gel, which is activated by a specially designed light.  A five-minute fluoride treatment completes the procedure.  You’ll be amazed with the results!  In most cases, teeth get even whiter the first few days after the procedure.

Zoom! allows people with even the busiest of lifestyles to feel dramatically better about their appearance in just about an hour.  Call and make your appointment at Dr. Donnelly’s office today.

You have probably seen commercials for Invisalign, the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.  Invisalign uses a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.  No no one but your dentist needs to know you are correcting the position of your teeth.  The best news is our office is certified to offer Invisalign.

The fact they are invisible is one of the most popular reasons to opt for Invisalign treatment, but that’s not the only reason why.  Many like the fact the aligners are removable.  This makes eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing much easier.  This means healthier teeth and gums at the end of treatment.  Of course, Invisalign is also much more comfortable to wear since their are no mouth abrasions from metal braces and wires.  Plus no regular appointments for adjustments.

Your fist step in achieving a straighter smile is to come to our office.  We will evaluate your teeth and work out the best method of treatment.  This will include taking impressions of your teeth which we will send to Invisalign.  There, they use advanced 3-D computer imaging technology to transform your bite impressions into a custom-made series of clear and removable aligners.  There may be as many as 48 in the series or as few as 12, depending on your individual treatment plan.

At your next office appointment, you get your first set of aligners.  We will most likely give you a few additional sets to wear before you return for your next visit.  You just start wearing them and enjoy the results of your new smile.  Please call our office at 512-396-5225 to schedule your free Invisalign consultation today.