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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

4 Options For Replacing Missing Teeth

4 January 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

If you are missing one of your front teeth, you have undoubtedly already faced the social judgement and embarrassment that even slight dental loss often causes. Fortunately, today your dentist has several ways that the missing tooth can be replaced, perhaps in less time than you might think.

A Dental Implant

The dental implant is the newest choice in permanent dental replacement and has become popular in recent years. However, many of the patients who would benefit the most from a dental implant never ask their dentist about it, due to a lack of understanding about its function.

A common misunderstanding is that the dental implant is only appropriate when several teeth are missing. In actuality, the titanium rod affixes to the jaw, forming the support system that is necessary for the implant to function properly. Because the rod can hold anywhere from one to four teeth, your dentist can use one rod to replace as little as one tooth or multiple rods to support an entire mouthful, if needed.

The Fixed Dental Bridge

The fixed dental bridge is another permanent replacement choice, following dental loss. This option requires healthy teeth on both sides of the missing tooth, as they will be reduced in size in order to create an anchor for the artificial tooth. You can typically expect this option to last at least 10 years, at which time the supportive teeth might need additional work.

It is important to note that a decade or more of carrying the weight of the fake tooth often causes decay, periodontal disease and other dental challenges. Fortunately, the fixed bridge has been used successfully for many years. There are numerous steps that a dentist can take to be sure that the bridge you get now, its eventual replacement and your surviving natural teeth can work together consistently to give you a healthy smile. 

The Flipper

Although technically the same, the denture and flipper have different uses. For instance, the denture is typically used as a permanent replacement and the flipper is frequently used as a temporary replacement, while waiting for an implant or bridge. In addition, the flipper has been successfully used by many children, when an accident or defect has resulted in the loss of a primary tooth or if the existing teeth are not perfect. 

Because the placement of baby teeth within the jaw sets a pattern for adult teeth to grow into, when one or more of the front teeth are missing, adult teeth may come in crooked. Eventually, crooked teeth mature past being a cosmetic issue, with crooked teeth being more difficult to clean, so future dental health may be impaired. The flipper is temporary, so as a child grows, it is easy to get a new one, while dentures are typically more affordable. 

In conclusion, today's society expects a healthy, attractive smile and it can be stressful when your smile is flawed. Therefore, it is essential to speak with your dentist like one from Glendale Dental Group so you that you will once again have something to smile for.