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Oral Health Tips for Seniors

Getting older impacts your whole life. Your body changes, including your mouth. Dental care is important for maintaining overall well being. Many seniors struggle with tooth loss and other dental health issues, like dry mouth or gum disease. Keep your teeth and gums healthy by remembering these helpful hints. Those individuals caring for aging parents or relatives can also benefit from the following tips:

• Make home care a priority. If you have trouble remembering to brush and floss, try posting little reminders in your bathroom near the sink. Caregivers can encourage this process as well.

• Choose a soft toothbrush. If the bristles are too hard, you can irritate gums and damage tissue.

• When you have dentures, clean them daily and use the special cleaners designed for this purpose, not just toothpaste.

• See the dentist twice a year. These appointments allow the doctor to check your teeth and gums for any problems. Depending on the state of your oral health, the dentist may suggest more frequent visits.

• Tell the dentist about any medications you are taking and any side effects that could affect your dental health. For example, some people experience dry mouth with certain medicines.

• Contact your dentist right away if you notice any unusual symptoms in your mouth. Letting issues like gum disease or tooth decay go can cause bigger problems in the long run.

• Maintain a healthy diet. What you eat influences your whole body health, including your teeth and gums.

Do not wait any longer. Book your appointment now and achieve the smile you have always wanted. Dr. Hughes is accepting new patients from Clintonville and the surrounding area.

How to Deal with Tetracycline-Stained Teeth

Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat infection. While it works to fight certain illnesses, it can have a negative impact on your smile. If tetracycline is taken by pregnant women or by children while their teeth are still forming, the teeth will develop with dark stains. Usually, this medication produces brown or grayish discolorations that may cover all or part of the teeth.

People with tetracycline stains may feel self-conscious about their smiles. Your dentist can evaluate your case and discuss options for creating a gorgeous, new image. Treatments such as teeth whitening or porcelain veneers can remove stains and restore your smile.

In the past, teeth whitening was not a very effective therapy for tetracycline stains on teeth. Because the stains are intrinsic, which means they occur within the tooth, whitening didn’t always produce results. However, repeated chair side laser whitening sessions and deep bleaching products have worked in cases where the staining was not particularly dark.

The most common treatment with tetracycline stains is porcelain veneers. Made from thin shells of dental porcelain, veneers cover your teeth and produce a bright, white smile. Porcelain veneers are durable, stain-resistant, and designed to create naturally looking restorations.

With veneers, your doctor will first take impressions of your teeth to be sent to the dental lab that will handcraft your custom restorations. The dentist will then prepare the teeth for placement. Often, the dentist will place temporary veneers, which will give you a chance to preview your new look. Once the lab sends your permanent veneers to the office, you will need to return for minor adjustments and final placement.

Take the first step towards optimal oral hygiene. Reserve your dental appointment at our Clintonville dental office now and experience personalized care.

Crooked Teeth Call for a Smile Makeover

A set of crooked teeth can make you self-conscious in interacting with others and may cause you to hide your smile instead of showing your emotions with confidence. There are many reasons that you might have misshapen or misaligned teeth. Decay, cavities, poor development or nutrition, hereditary factors, or bad habits like teeth grinding or tongue thrusting can all play a role. If you have a crooked smile for any reason, a smile makeover may be the perfect answer.

A dentist can provide many options for correcting misaligned teeth, and the best methods depend on the degree of your issues. Every patient is different and can benefit from varying techniques.

The most well-known way to correct crooked teeth is probably orthodontics. Traditional metal braces have been around for many years and are a proven way to straighten teeth and realign jaws. Braces involve attaching metal brackets and wires to the teeth with glue, and tightening them at regular intervals over a period of time that can last up to a couple of years or more. Because many patients dislike the look and hassles of metal braces, Invisalign has been developed to straighten teeth without such an obvious impact to your appearance while undergoing treatment. These invisible, removable, plastic aligners provide a popular way to straighten smiles.

Another choice for improving your smile is dental veneers. These very thin shells made of porcelain or ceramic can be bonded to the fronts of your teeth to hide flaws underneath. Veneers create a natural look that is in the shade you desire, and quickly transform your smile into the one you’ve always wanted.

Minor changes to crooked teeth can be made with simple reshaping of teeth. Gentle abrasion and polishing of the teeth can make them appear straighter and more attractive. Reshaping may be combined with bonding, which involves applying resin to the tooth and sculpting it to the desired look. These are both very quick and painless ways to improve your smile.

Do not let another day go by without taking care of your dental needs. Request an appointment now at our Clintonville dental office!

Stress and Its Connection to Teeth Grinding

Modern lifestyles can be extremely stressful as many people have to deal with deadlines, demands and other frustrations that make up daily life. This can be an issue if you’re constantly under stress as it may affect your health. There are numerous health conditions that can be affected by high stress levels, and one of these is teeth grinding.

What Is Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a condition that causes you to clench and grind your teeth together. It normally occurs during sleep so you may not even realize you have bruxism. This condition is likely to be identified by your family dentist in Clintonville due to teeth becoming worn down and chipped, or quite often a sleeping partner will complain about the grinding noise during the night.

What Does Stress Have To Do with Bruxism?
Teeth grinding has been linked to high levels of stress and anxiety. It’s been shown that people under stress are more likely to grind their teeth, particularly if they don’t have any coping mechanisms.

How Could Teeth Grinding Affect Me?
Teeth grinding can have more of an effect than you might imagine. It can cause teeth to become cracked, sensitive or even loose. Excessive grinding can damage the gums and bone surrounding your teeth, or may cause a painful disorder called TMD. This affects the jaw joints or temporomandibular joints, and can cause headaches, earache and facial pain.

How is Bruxism Treated?
Your dentist in Clintonville is likely to recommend a custom-made night guard which is worn while sleeping to protect your teeth and jaws from any further damage. It works through preventing your teeth from coming into contact. Additionally, you may be prescribed a muscle relaxant to help prevent clenching. It can be helpful to reduce stress levels through various measures which can include exercise, yoga, meditation or stress counseling.

Do not wait any longer. Book your appointment now and achieve the smile you have always wanted. Dr. Hughes is accepting new patients from Clintonville and the surrounding area.

How to Handle Sensitive Teeth

Some people take a bite of ice cream or a sip of hot coffee and experience discomfort, usually brought on by teeth sensitivity. These unpleasant sensations typically occur when you eat anything that is cold, hot, or sweet. Several factors can cause teeth sensitivity, including tooth damage, over brushing, enamel wear, and whitening products.

To give your mouth relief and lessen sensitivity, consider these helpful hints:

Brush correctly
In an effort to maintain good oral health, some people brush too aggressively and end up damaging their teeth. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently clean teeth at least twice a day.

Use the right product
For people with sensitive teeth, specially formulated toothpastes may reduce the symptoms. These products usually contain potassium nitrate, an ingredient that helps block the tiny tubules in the layer of dentin and reduces sensitivity with each use.

Watch your diet
Foods and beverages high in acid content, like tomatoes, oranges, and fruit drinks, contribute to enamel erosion, which is a main cause of tooth sensitivity. Limiting your intake will help lessen your discomfort. When you do consume these items, rinse your mouth with water afterward to minimize exposure.

Deal with bruxism
Clenching and grinding your teeth can make teeth sensitivity worse. Wearing a night guard will help control bruxism and help you feel better.

Be careful when you whiten
A bright smile is a great asset, but some people overuse whitening products, which can cause teeth to feel sensitive. Usually this sensation passes once you stop whitening. Make sure to follow all the directions carefully so that you don’t hurt your teeth.

Take the first step towards optimal oral hygiene. Reserve your dental appointment at our Clintonville dental office now and experience personalized care.

Tips for Having a Fantastic Smile

You don’t have to grace the movie screens or magazine covers to have a magnificent smile. With the modern cosmetic dental procedures offered at Brown, Reynolds & Snow Dentistry, you can achieve a gorgeous appearance through simple options like teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, or Invisalign clear aligners. The following tips will help you put your best smile forward, no matter what else you decide to do:

Make dental visits a priority. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends checkups twice a year. These appointments allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and address any problems that arise. Plus, the cleanings leave your smile in tip-top shape.

Follow a good oral care routine. To keep your smile looking and feeling great, you need to brush at least twice a day and floss regularly. If you don’t keep up with these tasks, you may increase the chances of developing issues like tooth decay and gum disease.

Create a natural look. The most attractive smiles are the ones that don’t look artificial. Your mouth and lips help create the whole effect. Keep your facial muscles relaxed, and moisturize your lips to complete the entire look.

Try to relax. Overall happiness contributes to the impression you give others, including in your smile. Try to remain stress-free so that your inner peace and joy will be reflected in your smile’s glow.

Practice makes perfect. If you feel nervous, there’s no harm in trying out your smile. Use pictures of yourself that you like as examples; then, make an effort to smile at random strangers to boost your confidence.

Do not let another day go by without taking care of your dental needs. Request an appointment now at our Clintonville dental office!

4345 N High Street
Clintonville, OH 43214

Call: (614) 268-5250

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Conveniently located in Clintonville, Ohio, making it accessible from these nearby locations: Columbus, Upper Arlington, Northwest Columbus, Ohio State University Campus, Worthington.