Come on in for a sunny smile at Rice Laser Periodontics and Implant Surgery!

As the summer winds down and you head back to work your lunches may be filled with carbs and you may not have brushed the way you are supposed to. This year give yourself the gift of a beautiful, healthy smile. There is no time like the present to get the smile you deserve. There are multiple cosmetic options that Dr. Denine Rice and her team can help with.

If you are faced with uneven gums or receding gums, gum graft surgery can even out your gums. It is important for you to have self-confidence and a healthy smile can improve your self-confidence as you head back to work. If you have been to the periodontist and they have recommended gum graft surgery, it will be okay. Take a deep breath. With the latest technology and options this procedure has become more routine and requires less downtime.

Receding gums may be a problem you didn’t even notice you were facing. This usually occurs over time and isn’t always noticeable right away. Often times, you spend money on back to school clothes for your children, spend time on getting your nails done or fixing your hair. Now is the time to spend time on your smile.

For more information on improving your smile, contact Dr. Rice and 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.

4 Dangers of Not Brushing

Not brushing your teeth is unfortunately not an option if you want a clean healthy smile, because brushing is the only method for removing food from the surfaces of the teeth.

1.     Brushing reduces bacteria which can cause decay

         a.  Brushing your teeth for two minutes in slow circles allows the food to be removed from the surfaces of the teeth. Any food left on your teeth for too long turns to sugar, which eventually turns to acid that attacks your tooth enamel.  

2.     Brushing reduces bacteria which can cause periodontal disease

            a. When acid and decay build up on the teeth it allows for bacteria to enter the gums and begin to cause problems for your gums eventually leading to periodontal disease.

        

3.     Calculus and plaque left on teeth can cause sensitivity

         a. When calculus builds up on the teeth, eating the enamel, it can lead to sensitivity. The hard enamel coating on your teeth is what protects against sensitivity. If you have less enamel protecting your teeth you expose your mouth to the elements of hot and cold.

4.     Bad breath

         a.  Bad breath is not an attractive quality nor is it respectful for individuals who have to be in close proxemity of you. "Brushing with minty flavored toothpaste on a regular basis can help prevent this social faux pas from occurring," says Dr. Denine Rice.