According to MSNBC, Americans at this time spend over $1.4 billion annually on over-the-counter teeth whitening products. In addition to this, we spend increasing amounts whitening teeth at the dentist as well as the new “whitening spas”. This is an incredible amount, but is it working?
At Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry, we are dedicated to patient education. We want you to know that there are remedies for your specific dental complaints.
Everyone knows (at least we hope) that you should brush and floss regularly, visit the dentist, and try not to subside on a diet entirely consisting of candy. There has to, however, be more to it than just the simple things. After all your dentist has undergone years of education and training to provide you with great care. The following quiz merely scratches the surface but it will hopefully enlighten you to some interesting facts about your pearly whites. (more…)
If you were to visit Oral B or Phillip’s websites you would find that they under no uncertain terms state that the powered toothbrushes are more effective than manually brushing. This is not surprising. Many manufacturers of products claim to be the champions of that industry. You can find the “best” diets, Airborne claims to fight off colds, and Audiomason’s speakers are 200,000% more eco-friendly than your home speakers. We feel that it is beneficial to provide you with an analysis of the powered toothbrushes with data to back it up. (more…)
Do You Brush Your Teeth Correctly? Maybe Not Many adults have been brushing incorrectly for their entire lives and have no idea that they are doing it wrong. In a study it was found that proper oral hygiene training resulted in a 50% reduction in plaque scores after only 3 months of active therapy.(DeVore et al., 1990)What does this mean? Many adults are practicing improper oral hygiene methods. (more…)
Bad breath is otherwise known as halitosis. Halitosis has many causes and the proper identification of halitosis is crucial for the ability to correct the problem. Not only can this be a difficult social issue but it can also indicate more serious health problems. (more…)
If you have a child involved in sports at any age, this is an important consideration for you to take regarding your child’s health, appearance, and your financial security. Properly diagnosed, prescribed, and fashioned athletic mouthguards are essential to the prevention of oral and facial damage and brain trauma in a sports environment. An estimated 5 million kids will lose a tooth to athletic injury this year. The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries estimates a $10,000-15000 lifetime average expenditure for these types of injuries. The ADA estimates that athletic mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries per year in high school and college sports alone.
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Dentistry is a profession that much of our population knows little about. When asked what a prosthodontist or and endodontist does most will have no answer. This makes it difficult to choose a dentist. For someone new to the area, someone who is looking to change dentists, or someone that does not have a dentist, the following is a few tips on how to properly choose a dentist and make sure you end up with one that you can build a great relationship with for years to come.
The reasons to quit smoking are nearly to numerable to mention. The American Heart Association says that smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in America. Smoking causes nearly 20% of the deaths in this country and nearly all lung cancers are caused by smoking. Smokers live on average 13 years less than non smokers. This is only the mortality related bad news associated with smoking. Systemic and local problems arise from smoking that may indirectly or directly lead to disease or death. The good news is that the percentage of Americans that smoke has been on the decline now for over 15 years. The AHA also says that since 1965, nearly 45% of adults that smoked have quit. You could be one of the many that have been successful in this venture and see the incredible health benefits of doing so. (more…)
Gingival tissue is otherwise known as gum tissue or “the gums”. The gingiva is an incredibly important part of the oral cavity. It must be maintained in a healthy manner for the health of the teeth and the rest of the mouth. Periodontal disease affects millions of Americans. There are two major variations of periodontal disease (gum disease). Gingivitis is an overall swelling of the gingival tissue. It is the body’s immune response to oral bacteria, plaque, and calculus. When left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. This is characterized by bone loss and a loss of the attachment apparatus of the teeth. This is often irreversible and can cause major health and asthetic problems in the oral cavity. (more…)
