A Healthy Diet And Your Smile

Did you know that a healthy diet can improve your dental health? To promote healthy teeth and gums, reach for calcium-rich foods like fatty fish, cheese, yogurt and milk...along with fresh fruits and raw vegetables like apples, celery and carrots which can actually clean plaque from your teeth.

Since Vitamin C promotes gum health, incorporate plenty of kiwis into your diet. Just one large kiwi provides you with more than 100% of your Vitamin C needs for the day!  Hummus with a slice of fruit not only can tide you over until dinner, it can give your teeth the nutrients they need in order for your smile to last a lifetime.

It is never too late to reach for the healthy snack and avoid the foods that are high in carbohydrates. Foods high in carbs can stick to your teeth creating gum disease and dental decay. The longer these foods stay on the surface of your teeth the more susceptible you are for dental decay.

While reaching for an apple for an afternoon snack and a handful of nuts can keep your smile healthy, you’ll need to do more than just eat a healthy diet. For more information on how to keep your smile healthy, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team today.

5 Problems You Face When You Have Gum Disease

Gum disease may be a problem you do not think is important, or anything you need to spend time taking care of. But Dr. Denine Rice and her team feel that your gum health is critical. Gum disease research has shown that it doesn’t just impact your gums, but can potentially impact your entire body. Here are 5 other problems you may face when you have gum disease.

1.     Bleeding and swollen gums. As the gum disease progresses and turns into a more severe case of periodontal disease, your gums can begin to not look as healthy as they were before. They can begin to bleed easily and become painful when consuming foods that you normally enjoy.

2.     Heart disease, can become worse due to the inflammation that is present in your body when you are impacted by periodontal disease.

3.     Increased risk of stroke. Research found that individuals who have periodontal disease are more likely to have a stroke.

4.     Diabetes. Individuals who have diabetes are more likely to be impacted by diabetes.

5.     Other diseases. Inflammation that is left to run through your body and is not taken care of can begin to cause other diseases and break down your immune system.  

For more information on improving the health of your smile contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

1 Missing Tooth Is Too Many

When you look in the mirror is there a hole in the back where your tooth used to be? Did you have a dentist extract it thinking one day you would get it fixed? If time has passed and you have still not taken the time to replace your missing tooth, now is the time. Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice, recommends getting your missing tooth fixed immediately in order to get your smile back on track. 

One missing tooth can cause major problems that you did not plan for. One missing tooth can allow an opportunity for your other teeth to shift into place. Once this shift begins to happen, your bite can be off. As your bite shifts, your jaw alignment becomes a problem. This can eventually lead to pain, and extreme problems with your bite. It can also cause gum disease.

The gums are exposed in that area allowing food to stick in between the teeth for a longer period of time. The longer that food is stuck between your teeth, the more opportunity that decay and other problems can set in.

For more information on missing teeth and options for you to fix your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

Don’t Settle For An Average Smile

Your smile is important. It can help connect you to others and improve your mood. Your smile can help improve your life circumstances and can increase your self-confidence. You do not need to settle for an average smile because you think that a new smile is too expensive or out of reach. Dr. Rice recommends meeting with a periodontist in order to evaluate your smile and determine how to get the smile of your dreams.  Further research shows that people who smile, tend to be more open and flexible. They are willing to share a part of themselves with another human being and tend to have happier marriages.

Periodontal laser procedures can clean your gums and reduce damage that is caused by periodontal disease. If your gums are red, swollen or bleeding, laser periodontal procedures can remove bacteria below the gum line and decrease the pocket depths without having to cut the gums.

Flossing on a regular basis can reduce swelling in your gums and keep the pocket between your gums and teeth tight. You want the pocket to be tight because it acts like a seal and decreases the chance of your teeth becoming loose.

For more information on how to improve your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team.

5 Habits To a Healthy Smile

Healthy dental habits are not established by accident. They take dedication and practice. By engaging in these 5 dental habits you can have a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.

1.     Brush 2x a day with a favorite toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Fluoride can help to strengthen the enamel in your teeth. This can protect them from chipping, breaking and dental decay.

2.     Floss regularly. There is no other single action that removes food from between the gums and protects against gum disease.

3.     Eating healthy foods. Eight servings of fruits and vegetables can prevent your mouth from drying out. Eating foods with reduced sugar can help to decrease the risk of decay.

4.     When brushing your teeth, use gentle round circles instead of vigorous brushing strokes. It can cause your gums to recede if you brush too hard.

5.     Visit the periodontist and have the pockets of your gums measured. Gum disease needs to be taken care of as soon as problems arise. By visiting the periodontist on a regular basis it will let you know if there are problems.

For more information on healthy dental habits, contact Dr. Rice and her team.

4 Habits That Are Bad For Your Gums

Your gums can impact the way your teeth fit in your mouth. The gums are a pocket that your teeth fit into. Without proper care your gums can pay the price. Take time to distinguish these bad habits and improve your gum health.  Don’t take risks with the health of your gums. Treat them well and they can last a lifetime.

1.     Not Flossing on a regular basis can be the downfall of your smile. Flossing is the only way to remove food from between the teeth. Without flossing, food stays under the gums and turns into plaque which then can cause more significant problems.

2.     Eating foods heavy in carbs. The longer food stays on your teeth and in between your teeth the more opportunity plaque has to mix with sugar that then turns into cavities.

3.     Not drinking water. Water can remove food from the surface of the teeth in between brushing and flossing.

4.     Using your teeth as tools. As you use your teeth to open bottles or other items it can cut your gums causing a cut where bacteria can enter through your gums and into your blood stream.

For more information on how to keep your gums healthy, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

Don’t Miss Out, 5 Tips To Saving Your Smile

It is a great idea to keep your smile healthy and your gums looking fantastic. The healthier your smile the more likely you are to reach your goals. A smile is a connection with others, and employers report it is the first thing they look at when interviewing someone for a new position. “Without a healthy smile, you may be missing out on important opportunities,” says Dr.Denine Rice. 

Here are 5 tips to save your smile.

1.     Floss 1x a day. Flossing is the only way to remove food from between the teeth.

2.     Brush 2x a day. This helps to keep food from the surface of the teeth, helping to prevent cavities and decay.

3.     Consume eight fruits and vegetables a day. The water from the fruit and vegetables helps to remove food from the surface of the teeth and keep your smile looking healthy.

4.     Drink plenty of water throughout your day. A dry mouth allows for more bacteria to grow in your mouth. The more bacteria the more chance you have of getting periodontal disease.

5.     Visit the periodontist right away if recommended by your dentist. Once you have periodontal disease it doesn’t go away but not taking care of it makes the problem worse.

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

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

Periodontal Disease & How It Can Impact You

It is unfortunate but women, during a variety of times in their lives, can be at a higher risk for periodontal disease. As your body and hormones change, your teeth can be at greater risk.  While cosmetic surgery can help improve your smile, it’s important to take care of the foundation, which are your gums to reduce the risks to your teeth. Dr. Denine Rice, states, “There are four critical hormonal times that may decrease the health of your smile if you do not brush, floss and visit the dentist regularly.“

Puberty is the first burst of hormones that can impact your gums. There tends to be a rush of blood to the gums, which can cause an increase in irritation.

During menstruation some women can experience menstruation gingivitis. Right before your period begins you may notice your gums are bleeding, swollen and puffy. Usually this clears up after your period has stopped.

During pregnancy the hormones in your system can increase, leaving you at risk for periodontal disease. If this is not taken care of it can impact the health of your baby. “Visit the periodontist if you find your gums are swollen, bleeding and you are not able to reduce the symptoms with regular flossing and brushing,” says Dr. Rice.

Menopause and Post Menopause. Along with a variety of other symptoms, some women can have dry mouth or experience burning of the gums along with bleeding, swollen and sensitive tissue.

These factors, while they increase your chances of having periodontal disease, don’t mean you need to let it get that far. Visit the dentist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and they do not go away with a regular dental routine. 

3 Tips Your Periodontist Can Recommend To Save Your Smile

 Your smile is critical, as within seven seconds you make a first impression. The health and look of your smile could be the difference between a promotion and not getting a job at all. Or it may cause you to miss out on meeting that special someone. If your gums have receded and bleed when you brush and floss, you’ll want to visit the periodontist today for a consultation. Here are three ways she can help.

Dr. Rice states, "laser surgery is a fantastic alternative to traditional periodontal surgery." A laser can be utilized in order to go below the gum line and clean out the bacteria. This procedure takes less time then traditional periodontal surgery, and does not require sutures. Once the treatment has occurred it will decrease bleeding and inflammation.

Gum graft surgery can help restore the look of your smile if your gums are uneven and receding. Tissue can be taken from the pallet of your mouth and placed in the locations around the mouth where your gums have receded. This surgery does require some time to heal, but once completed it can restore your smile to a beautiful and healthy look. Then you only need to incorporate a regular brushing and flossing routine for after the procedure.

Dental implants can be a great way of replacing missing or badly cracked teeth. Implants are artificial posts placed into the jawbone, but once restored will look and feel like real teeth. Implants allow you to regain the natural looking smile of your youth. They also require a brushing and flossing routine, and should last a lifetime if they are taken care of.

Call Dr. Rice & her team today for a healthy smile tomorrow.

How Periodontal Disease Impacts Your Perfect Smile

  

            An unhealthy smile can negatively impact you in multiple ways. It may take a while for the abuse of not brushing, flossing or visiting the dentist to catch up, but eventually it will and the effects to your smile can be damaging and costly. "Here are 3 negative factors to consider," says Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice. 

1. Crimson gum tissue is not healthy and attracts too much attention

a. When you smile or have your photo taken, crimson gums can attract the negative attention you are not looking for. The red color is indicative of infection and will immediately draw someone’s eye when you are communicating with them. This will detract from what you are saying - definitely a negative when talking to a business associate or client. 

 2. The disease loosens teeth

a. Your gums should be a tight pocket your teeth should fit into. Dr. Rice states, "once you have too much build-up, the gums begin to recede and pull away from the teeth." This leaves teeth loose and could lead to them falling out. 

3. Eventually, you will lose teeth. 

a. Teeth can only stay in a place for so long if they do not have the foundation needed - bone. The more bacteria that build up, the bigger the infection becomes, and you are more likely to have your gums receding even further and suffer from bone loss. This may cause you to have permanent teeth fall out. 

Periodontal disease can be stopped by non-surgical treatment early on, or laser treatment if it is severe. Ask Dr. Denine Rice and her team today for options.   

4 Problems You Face With Implants If You Don't Floss

Flossing is critical to the health of your gums, whether you have implants or your real teeth. Failure to floss can create multiple problems for your smile. Here are four problems you may face if you fail to take care of your implants.  

1. Flossing removes food particles that bacteria live on.

      The space between your teeth, while it seems small, is actually a trap which entices food particles to visit and stay. The particles quickly become the necessary component bacteria need in order to survive. As the bacteria and food continue to stay, because of lack of flossing, eventually build up occurs to the point of damaging the gums and areas around the implant. 

2. Increased bacteria counts mean that infection lies below the gum tissue

                "As bacteria build up, it imbeds itself below the gum line and causes inflammation and    

                bleeding," says Dr. Rice. 

 3. Increased inflammation occurs and then bone loss begins

                Unfortunately, inflammation causes bone loss. As the jawbone strength decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the stability of your implant.  Periodontist Denine Rice, states, "bone loss can eventually cause you to have to replace your implants or require bone grafting in order to rebuild up the area for your implants to stay firm in your mouth."

4. Bone loss due to infection and inflammation of the gum tissue does not discriminate between implant and natural tooth. 

            The same detrimental effects that are caused by not flossing your natural teeth are the identical problems you can face when you have implants. Bacteria, bone loss and periodontal disease do not discriminate between natural teeth and implants.