Avoiding Ghoulish Tooth Decay

Don't get tricked!  Avoid cavities on Halloween and every day!

The team at Forest Lane Dental of Dallas wishes you a Happy Halloween and safe trick-or-treating tonight!  When it comes to taking care of your teeth and cavity prevention, Halloween candy is not the only culprit that can damage teeth and cause cavities.  Read on for tips on preventing tooth decay on Halloween and every day.

• Choose a healthy diet.  Everyone knows that eating healthy foods is best for your dental health and overall health.  Did you know that snacking on crunchy veggies is good for your teeth?  In addition to a healthy diet, finishing a meal with a fresh vegetable such as carrot sticks, fresh celery or even a crunchy apple helps remove sticky residue on teeth and stimulate gums and saliva production, reducing food particles that can be left behind on teeth.

•  Brush and Floss.  Our busy lifestyles sometimes prevent us from making time to take care of brushing after meals.  If you cannot brush after eating, you can rinse your mouth well with warm water to help remove food particles that can become trapped between teeth and on tooth surfaces.  Make sure you floss every day to clean the 35% of tooth surfaces that cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush alone.

•  Avoid foods which are high in sugars and carbohydrates.  You might know that sugary foods cause cavities, but did you know that carbohydrates can be culprits, too?  When carbohydrates break down, they produce sugars, which are food for the destructive bacteria that cause tooth decay.  Keeping carbs in the middle of your meal, and in moderation will help prevent cavities from forming.  

• Avoid Acids.  Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, but it is still susceptible to acid erosion.  A diet high in acidic foods can damage tooth enamel over time.  Avoid behaviors such as sucking on lemons.  Brush or rinse well after consuming acidic foods.

• See Your Dentist.  A professional dental cleaning and check-up every 6 months is an important step in cavity prevention.  Brushing and flossing are great for daily care, but tartar (hardened plaque) cannot be removed with brushing and floss alone.  A professional cleaning will remove tartar and the cavity causing bacteria along with it.  When you see your dentist every 6 months, you will notice healthier teeth and gums. 

For more information on cavity prevention, or to schedule your dental check-up at Forest Lane Dental, contact Dr. Jack E. Burroughs today. 

Clear Invisible Braces Make Patients Smile

Invisalign is Nearly Invisible While Worn

Straight teeth are more than just a cosmetic concern, and dental patients diagnosed with misalignment or dental crowding are often concerned about having traditional braces for good reasons.  If you have been told that you need orthodontic treatment, you probably know that crowded teeth are more prone to tooth decay, gum disease and eventually, tooth loss. 

Traditional braces are considered unattractive by many patients, and they are not very excited about living life with brackets and wires in their mouth for a year or more.  Luckily, options for orthodontic treatment without traditional braces are available at Forest Lane Dental of Dallas.  

Invisalign Clear Aligners offer advanced orthodontic treatment without brackets and wires.  

How Invisalign Works

Invisalign technology relies upon a series of custom made clear dental aligners that are worn daily and overnight to bring teeth into alignment without brackets and wires.  The clear aligners are virtually invisible while worn during the day.  They can be removed for meals and for personal dental hygiene like brushing and flossing.  

The aligners are worn for about 20 hours per day and changed every couple of weeks. With recommended use, the aligners will gradually bring the teeth into proper position without braces, usually in 6 months to a year. 

 

Invisalign Advantages

Traditional braces create specific inconveniences for patients including dietary restrictions, difficulty cleaning around the brackets and wires and frequent dental visits.  Invisalign technology eliminates these problems.  Advantages of Invisalign include:

• Rapid Results

• No Dietary Restrictions

• No Dental Hygiene Challenges

• Fewer Dental Appointments

• No Brackets or Wires

Is Invisalign Right For You?

If your teeth are crooked or your bite is not aligned properly, Invisalign may be the answer you are looking for.  The cost is about the same as traditional braces, and many dental insurance plans provide coverage for Invisalign treatment.  Schedule a complimentaryconsultation today to find out if Invisalign is right for you.