10 Tips from Dr. Rice

Here are 10 tips from periodontist Dr. Rice that can help keep your smile and gums looking their best.  There is a ton of information out there and it can be difficult to wade through it all, we’ve compiled all this information to help you find the resources you need in one place.

1.     Don’t replace regular oral care products with cheaper products.

2.     Floss everyday, even if your teeth feel clean.

3.     Drink the recommended amount of water, because it helps to remove food from the surface of teeth.

4.     Consume fruits and vegetables they're great for your smile.

5.     Get chipped and broken teeth fixed, this can decrease further problems with your smile.

6.     Visit the periodontist if your gums bleed even a little bit when you brush or floss.

7.     Brush 2x a day to remove food from the surface of the teeth.

8.     Avoid brushing too hard, it can cause your gums to recede. Instead brush using a gentle circular motion.

9.     A soft bristled toothbrush is better for the gums and protects against receding.

10.  Love your gums, you only have one set.

For more information on how to protect your gums contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

Do I have To Floss My Veneers?

A veneer is a thin covering that goes over your teeth. It can help to restore your smile back to a healthy and beautiful one you love to show off. When veneers are applied correctly they can help to reshape your smile and cover up discoloration. Dr. Rice states, “Veneers are adhered to the front of your teeth and replace thinner enamel that has worn down over time.”

Having veneers though does not dismiss your need to brush and floss. Once you have veneers in place, in order to keep them healthy it will be important for you to maintain a regular dental routine of brushing 2x a day, flossing 1x a day and continuing to visit your dentist on a regular basis. Veneers do not protect your gums, and in order to make sure your smile stays healthy looking, the only way to remove food from around your veneers is to floss.

When flossing you will want to do some research and find floss that easily glides between your teeth. Some of your teeth may be closer together and it may be tough to get floss in between, utilizing wax floss can help with this. If this does not work, there are other options such as a water pic. The choice you make isn’t important, it is just important to floss.

For more information on how to floss veneers or for recommendations on floss contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team today

February Is The Month Of Love

Love comes in all shapes and sizes and it can be big gestures or small incremental changes. No matter where you are at this month, commit to making changes with your smile. Smiling is your greatest asset or your worst enemy. Dr. Rice suggests, “If you have spent time brushing, flossing, visiting the dentist and eating healthy, you may have a smile that has a wow factor.” But sometimes you may skip the flossing or only brush 1x a day. All of these decisions can be detrimental in the long run to the health of your smile.

This February show your gums you love them. If you brush only 1x a day, commit to brushing 2x a day. If you don’t floss, purchase floss you like, or a water pic and change your daily habit. If you’re struggling to visit the dentist regularly, schedule your appointment today and don’t wait. Each passing day can cause more problems to your smile and eventually impact your overall options and your pocketbook.

You only have one set of gums and everyone should be allowed to have them for a lifetime. “This year can be the year, you let your gums know how important they are to you,” says Dr. Denine Rice.

7 Habits That Improve Your Oral Health

There is no denying that some things are great for your gums while other habits can damage them. Your gums are sensitive and brushing too hard can cause erosion, while flossing helps to keep them firm and healthy. “Here are seven daily habits you can immediately implement to improve your overall oral health,” says Dr. Denine Rice.

1.     Brush. There is no other better habit you can institute that removes food from the teeth and gums.

2.     Floss 1x a day. Food gets trapped between the teeth and will mix with the bacteria. Eventually this causes periodontal disease.

3.     Consume yogurt 1x a day. The bacteria in yogurt is good for the gums.

4.     Drink water. Consuming 64 OZ a day of water helps decrease the bacteria growth in your mouth.

5.     Visit the periodontist regularly if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease. A laser procedure can help to remove plaque and bacteria below the gum line.

6.     Limit or avoid bread. Bread sticks to the teeth causing more problems for your smile.

7.     Limit the amount of acidic food you eat. While lemon and lime can help decrease your appetite and help you lose weight, over consuming these types of foods can decrease the enamel on your teeth. Enamel is a hard substance that protects against sensitivity.

For more information on ways to improve your gum health, contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

Big 5

There are plenty of things we do that can cause damage to the health of our gums and teeth. Here is a list of the big five items you want to avoid to protect your smile for a lifetime. When you brush, floss, and visit the dentist regularly, you are more likely, says Dr. Denine Rice,  to keep all of your teeth for a lifetime. 

1. Avoid Tobacco in any form. Smokeless tobacco posses some of the same risks as cigarettes. It not only causes staining on the teeth, but also increases your risk for gum disease, periodontal disease and tooth loss.
2. No surprise that sugar is a major problem for your mouth. The longer sugar stays on the teeth the more likely it is to mix with bacteria in the mouth and turn to plaque, which leads to decay.
3. Vigorous brushing. While you may think brushing industriously helps to remove food from the surface of your teeth, you can, in fact, can be doing more damage then good. Brushing diligently at the gum line of your teeth can cause your gums to recede leaving more of your tooth exposed and causing your teeth to become loose.
4. Dentures. Unfortunately, dentures sit on top of the gums, not in the bone. Dentures will replace teeth, but do not replace the roots, and the other structures of your teeth. Without the root structures, eventually you can be impacted by your face sagging causing you to look older than you are.
5. Not flossing. One third of Americans admit they do not floss. This has the largest impact on the overall health of your gums. Without flossing properly food sits between the teeth and cause decay and periodontal disease.

For more information on your gum health, contact Dr. Rice & her team today.  

Show Your Gums Some Love

It is never too late to change your dental practices. If you are not a regular flosser you can go to the store right now and pick up floss that is going to change the course of your smile. On the other hand, you can run out and purchase a different brand of toothpaste that encourages you to brush 2x a day. No matter where your habits are at, don’t wait. Your gums deserve better. 

Our gums have the important job of protecting the roots of our teeth and holding them in place. Dr. Rice explains, “Gums ensure we are able to enjoy the foods  we consume.” Without our gums, there would be no way for our teeth to stay where they need to. Don’t let your gums do all the work. We promise, when you take care of them they’ll love you back.

This Valentine's Day, recommit to loving your gums and preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease. Your gums will thank you. 

For more information on how to protect your gums, contact Dr. Rice & her team today. 

Is Your Bread Habit Ruining Your Gums?

Unfortunately, you’ve been hearing for years about how your bread habit can be leading to your struggle to lose weight, it can also be causing problems with your smile. If you consume bread with every meal, you may be increasing your chance of periodontal disease. But just cutting out bread isn’t going to improve the health of your gums. Here are 3 ways to improve your smile & still be able to enjoy your specialty sandwich.

1.     Brush your teeth once you have consumed bread. The longer that bread stays on your teeth the more opportunity bacteria have to begin attacking your smile. If you brush right after you eat, you’re removing the harmful bacteria from mixing with the sugars in your mouth.

2.     Drink water in between eating bread. The more saliva or water you have in your mouth, the easier it is to rinse the bread from your teeth. Dr. Denine Rice says, “The key is not having food or carbohydrates stuck on your teeth for one second longer than necessary.” Water can ensure this occurs.

3.     Chew sugar free gum in between brushing and after consuming bread. The gum can help increase the amount of saliva in your mouth, but it also can help to rinse food from your teeth and gums.

For more information on how to keep your smile on track, contact Periodontist Dr. Rice & her team today.

Gum Assessment

What Do Your Gums Say About You?

Our gums are the roadmap to our health. If they are unhealthy it can mean problems for your entire body. Once periodontal disease takes hold, it can impact your heart, liver, and other body systems. So, how do you know when your gums are unhealthy and when they are fine and just need a good cleaning. “Take this short five question quiz for more information,” suggests Dr. Denine Rice.

1.     Do your gums bleed when you floss?

2.     When you brush do your gums bleed?

3.     Do you have sensitivity when brushing?

4.     Are there are black or dark spots on your gums?

5.     Do your teeth wiggle?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions you are in need of at least a visit to Dr. Rice and her team. They can help complete an oral exam to determine what support your smile needs today.  Don’t wait too long for your consultation. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to lose your teeth. And once you have lost one tooth, you are more likely to lose more.  Schedule your appointment with a periodontist for a comprehensive exam to determine what level of support you need.

Do I Need A Gum Graft Procedure?

                                                          

Grafting procedures can help to fix damaged gums, but a gum graft procedure is not for everyone. Here are 5 

reasons why you may want to consider having a gum graft procedure done by Dr. Denine Rice and her team. 

Keep in mind: our gums are a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to holding our teeth in place.

When you have periodontal disease, or tissue damage, your teeth may become loose. Gum grafting can help to keep your natural teeth. Tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth or regenerated in other ways. Once the tissue is removed, it is attached to the gum area that needs to be built up, this provides the protection your teeth need to stay in place.

If the roots of your teeth are showing, a gum graft procedure can reduce the amount of sensitivity you may be 

experiencing. When gums are damaged or thin, it can cause sensitivity when eating and drinking certain foods.

Are you struggling with gum recession? This can happen when food or bacteria turns into plaque and causes 

periodontal disease. As the periodontal disease is left untreated it can make your gums recede. You may also 

experience this problem if you do not floss regularly.

Uneven gums can be embarrasing. Potential employers say they judge a potential employee by their smile. If 

you are struggling to earn the promotion you deserve and are embarrased by your smile, Dr. Rice can help.

Gum grafting can rebuild your gums in order for you to have the beutiful smile you deserve. If for any reason 

your gums are discolored, uneven, or just do not look the way you want, an evaluation with Dr. Rice might be  the first step in giving you your self confidence back.

Gum grafting is more common then one would expect. For more information about Gum Grafting and how this cosmetic procedure can enhance your healthy smile contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

How To Avoid Gum Damage

Don't take chances with your gum health. Brushing and flossing are critical to the health of your smile, and vigorous brushing can cause unrepairable damage to your gums. Your gums do the difficult job of holding your teeth in place. Without them, your teeth would wobble and eventually fall out. Here are 3 steps from Dr. Rice on how to brush correctly.

1. Get a soft bristle toothbrush. The soft bristles can easily move around your gums to remove food from your teeth. This is the safest choice to make when chosing a new toothbrush because it can help protect your gums when brushing food debris away.

2. Brush your teeth in small circles. It is critical to brush the fronts and back of your teeth. This will remove any food that is stuck on your teeth.  Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice says, "Do not move the brush back and forth. This increases the opportunity for the bristles of the brush to meet the soft tissue of your gums causing damage to the tissue."

3. Don't brush the gums. Brushing the gums will cause the tissue to break down. You want to position your tooth brush to remove food from the enamel on your teeth. This will decrease the opportunity for debris to go below the gumline.

                      For me information on how to brush properly contact Dr. Rice & her team today.