Dental Care Plattsburgh NY

How Does Candy and Snacks Affect Our Teeth

Eating candy, toffee, snacks and munchies can cause teeth to decay because of the cultivated starches that get stuck between the teeth and in turn cause periodontal disease. This type of fast food that remain in the mouth for long intervals cause bacteria to grow which forms acidic and then decay the teeth and the gums.

How do we know when food can affect our teeth causing bacteria?

We would be able to make out when food is stuck between teeth when even after some a long time we can get the taste of that food or can feel it around. This is bad because it has already caused the bacteria to thrive.

What are the consequences of eating Fast Food in Children?

Children are the first to bear the brunt of fast foods especially if their life revolves around it. The outcomes, which not only affects teeth but also overall health in daily life are:

-Food that gets stuck in between teeth causes tooth decay leading to endless pain.
-Their school life gets affected with this pain disturbing their concentration and hindering their learning capacity.
-Eating too much of this food, which lacks nutritive value, can result in obesity, diabetes (Type 2) and problems related to the heart.
-All these factors can worsen over time causing acute tooth infection.
-For growing children, fast food which lacks nutrition and does not have enough calcium causes harmful effects on new teeth coming in which could be unhealthy and lack strength.
-Lack of nutrition and calcium can cause weak bones and ion deficiency could result in stunted -brain development.

Healthy habits to follow

Our body requires the necessary amounts of calcium, ion and nutrients to grow. To achieve this development a healthy balance of food is required. Home cooked food is the healthiest for children and economical.

Eating good home cooked food does not require lots of money. In the first place it is healthy, nourishing, wholesome and cheap if cooked in large quantities for the whole family as compared to any outdoor eatery where the quality may be questioned and the quantity limited.

A diet full of fruits and vegetables is the ideal diet. The more colorful they are the more nutritious they can be. So, the right amount of healthy food and the minimum amount of processed foods or packaged foods, as they contain preservatives, should be consumed. Before buying any processed foods it is better to check the ingredients listed on the package. A list with more preservatives should be avoided.

Teaching a child when he or she is small is very important. What he learns to eat at this age will be carried on till he grows up. Therefore it is imperative to start healthy food early in life. A child has also to be made aware that processed foods have preservatives which are not good, they should be kept to the minimum and should not be eaten as a substitute to food.

Above article from dentalhealthsite.com

Dental Care Plattsburgh NY

Champlain Smiles Dental Office
Airport Plaza • 762 Route 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518.324.CARE

Dental Veneers Dentist Plattsburgh NY

Dental Veneers

Above article from dentalhealthsite.com

Dental Veneers (also referred to as porcelain veneers or porcelain laminates) are thin tooth colored shells that are custom made for individual patients and placed on the frontal surface of the teeth to improve its appearance.

They are made from porcelain or resin composites but porcelain has superior stain resisting properties. However, the type of veneer appropriate for an individual can be correctly determined only by a dentist.

What are dental veneers used for?

Dental Veneers (or Porcelain Veneers) are used in a variety of cases such as

-Individual discolored teeth
-Worn, chipped or fractured teeth.
-Uneven and irregularly shaped teeth.
-Widely spaced teeth
-What is the procedure in placement of a dental veneer?

Placement of a dental veneer can only be performed by a qualified Dentist which involves basic 4 steps.

-Diagnosis and Treatment planning
-Preparation
-Etching
-Placement and Bonding


1. Diagnosis and Treatment planning: This involves the Dentist determining whether it is appropriate for you to get a Dental Veneer and discuss its limitations with you. He will also take an impression of your oral cavity.

2. Preparation: This involves scraping the outer layer of the tooth up to the thickness of veneer that is to be placed. The dentist may use a Local Anesthetic if required. A model of the patients tooth is made which is sent to the laboratory. Repeated color adjustments might be required to achieve a suitable color. A dental veneer is constructed on this model which can take a few weeks.

3. Etching: The next time the patient is called at the clinic is for the actual veneer placement. The dentist first places the veneer against the tooth and checks for its correct position. Now the dentist cleans and polishes the tooth surface on which the veneer is to be placed. The dentist then uses an acid to etch your teeth i.e it creates a roughened tooth surface which improves its bonding to the veneer.

4. Placement: The Veneer will be placed on the tooth surface with a special tooth colored material called composite used for attachment. After the position has been determined, a special light is used which improves and quickens the bonding/hardening process. A few final adjustments may be necessary and a couple further visits are required by the patient to ensure a normal response of the gums towards the veneer.

Dental Veneers Dentist Plattsburgh NY

Cosmetic Dentistry

Champlain Smiles Dental Office
Airport Plaza • 762 Route 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518.324.CARE

Gum Disease Treatment Plattsburgh NY

Gum Disease

Gum Disease or Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bones supporting the teeth. The word “Periodontal” means “around the tooth” when taken in literal terms. Gum disease can be confined to a single tooth or infect many teeth. Gum disease actually initiates due to the irritation of the gum by the sticky plaque.

The initial stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis and if left untreated it progresses to a condition known as periodontitis which can have serious implications such as the loss of your teeth. There has been a recent interest in the relation between gum disease and heart attack and it has been proved by several studies that gum disease can increase the risk for heart attack.

Causes of Gum Disease:

A sticky bacterial layer known as plaque constantly forms in our oral cavity and has to be removed by effective brushing. When this is not removed, the bacterial plaque releases certain toxins which irritate the gum causing gum disease. Overtime, the bacterial plaque hardens in to Tartar which can only be removed by your dentist. You are at a risk of developing gum disease if

-You have poor oral hygiene.
-You Smoke or Chew Tobacco
-Someone in your family has gum disease
-Your immunity levels are low due to malnutrition, AIDS or high stress levels.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Typical symptoms include

-Bleeding Gums even from normal brushing
-Red, swollen and sore gums
-Loose teeth
-Persistent bad breath
-Pus discharge from your teeth
-Types of Gum Disease

Gingivitis

This is initial stage of gum and characterized by swollen bleeding gums. There might be no pain associated with Gingivitis which is often the cause for people failing to acknowledge the obvious signs of gum disease such as swollen and bleeding gums. Gingivitis can easily be treated by taking maintaining good oral hygiene and it you might also be needed to get your teeth cleaned.

Periodontitis:

Gingivitis when left untreated progresses to periodontitis which is an advanced stage of gum disease. The bacteria damage the gums and tissues around the tooth leading to formation of “periodontal pockets”. Pockets are the spaces that develop between your teeth and gums which harbor infective bacteria which further damage the gums and the bone. The gums and bone constantly get assaulted by the bacteria which means loose teeth, tooth loss or teeth which you need to get extracted by the dentist.

There are various types of periodontitis such as Aggressive periodontitis, Chronic periodontitis and Necrotizing periodontal disease

Treatment for gum disease

Mild Gum disease can be controlled with out the need of intervention by a dentist. You simply need to take better care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly and quit any poor oral habits.

If your gum disease has progressed considerable, you will need a dentist to help you out.

Your teeth and gums will be thoroughly cleaned by the dentist by a procedure known as scaling. A dose of antibiotics might be prescribed to treat the infection. Under extreme circumstances, surgery might be required. Keep in mind that after treatment, you need to maintain your oral hygiene to prevent gum disease.

Gum Disease prevention

You know of the saying ‘Prevention is better than cure”. Preventing gum disease is really easy and simply requires maintaining good oral hygiene by regular brushing and flossing.

Above article from DentalHealthSite.com

Gum Disease Treatment Plattsburgh NY

Champlain Smiles Dental Office
Airport Plaza • 762 Route 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518.324.CARE