Your Cosmetic Dentist: How Long Do Veneers Last?

Would you like to know the secret to those perfect celebrity smiles? They have porcelain veneers.

Hundreds of thousands of people have opted for veneers to improve their smiles, and that number is growing every year. As cosmetic dentistry advances, veneers look more natural and are more durable than ever before.

But how long do veneers last? Are they a permanent solution for a better smile?

In this post, we’ll answer those questions and more. Read on!

How Long Do Veneers Last?

The short answer is around 10-15 years. After that, most veneers need to be replaced with new ones.

Why? Like natural teeth, dental veneers are subject to damage. Over time, they can be broken, chipped, cracked, or discolored.

Of course, with advances in dentistry come veneers that are better and stronger than ever before. With proper care, you may be able to extend the life of your veneers to 20 or even 30 years.

Tips for Making Veneers Last

To protect your investment–and your smile–here are a few things to do to make your veneers last longer.

1. Maintain an Excellent Oral Care Routine

Your teeth will suffer if you don’t take care of them, and so will your veneers.

If you didn’t already have good hygiene habits, now’s the time to start. Brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss at least once.

It’s also important to keep up with regular visits to your dentist for checkups and cleanings.

2. Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools

We’re all guilty of it occasionally. Maybe you need to cut or loosen something, but you don’t have scissors nearby, so you use your teeth instead.

When you have veneers, this is a huge no-no. Biting down on something that isn’t food is a sure way to crack or chip those precious veneers.

Keep those scissors, bottle openers, and other tools nearby–and never use your teeth instead.

3. Wear Protection During Contact Sports

If you enjoy playing hockey, football, or other contact sports, veneers won’t affect your ability to play.

However, you should always wear a mouthguard–just in case. If you take a blow to the face, it could damage your veneers.

4. Wear a Nightguard If You Grind Your Teeth

Do you clench or grind your teeth at night?

A lot of us do. “Bruxism” is the technical term for it–and it can be a nightmare for your veneers.

If you tend to grind, be sure to talk to your dentist before you get veneers. If you aren’t already wearing a mouthguard at night, you’ll want to get set up with one before any cosmetic procedures.

Are Porcelain Veneers Right for You?

So, how long do veneers last?

Like your natural teeth, the answers depend much on you. With reasonable precautions and a good routine of dental care, you should be able to enjoy your veneers for many years to come.

Do you have more questions about porcelain veneers? Check out our recent post on the topic.

We also invite you to contact us anytime with questions or concerns.

source https://www.golsendental.com/your-cosmetic-dentist-how-long-do-veneers-last/

Sparkling White: What’s the Best Way to Whiten Teeth Safely?

In our image-obsessed society, whiter teeth are a must. In fact, the global teeth-whitening market is set to be worth US$3.78 billion by 2021. 

While many people opt for professional whitening services, others look to alternative options in their search for the best way to whiten teeth. But, home remedies like baking soda can damage teeth enamel, while whitening strips are often ineffective. 

Here are some of the best ways to remove teeth stains and whiten your teeth safely. 

In-Office Whitening Treatment

If you’re looking for the quickest way to whiten your teeth, an in-office teeth whitening treatment is the way to go. 

One such in-office whitening method is Zoom!, which uses a concentrated hydrogen peroxide gel combined with a special light accelerator. Zoom! offers the most immediate and dramatic results, with a smile up to eight shades whiter in under an hour. 

At-Home Whitening Treatment

For more effective, gradual whitening, an individualized teeth-whitening kit is a sure-fire way to a brighter smile. 

Your dentist will fit you with custom-made trays that you’ll use at home with a whitening gel for whiter teeth within two weeks. This option also allows you to fine-tune the number of applications for the whitest smile possible.

Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal binds is a popular ingredient in whitening treatments due to the way it absorbs and binds with whatever it comes into contact with. 

It’s nowhere near as effective as professional teeth-whitening. But activated charcoal can help to remove surface teeth stains caused by smoking, foods, and drinks. 

To try it for yourself, apply an activated charcoal paste to your teeth, leave it for around 10 minutes, then rinse and brush away any excess. But remember, charcoal can be abrasive. Make sure you use a charcoal product that’s suitable for your teeth and only use it once or twice a week. 

Turmeric and Coconut Oil

It seems counter-intuitive that a bright yellow herb could help to whiten your teeth. But there is a lot of anecdotal support to suggest that turmeric can remove surface stains.  

And, although no studies have evaluated these claims, turmeric’s anti-bacterial properties can help to fight bacteria in the mouth, making it beneficial for oral health in general. 

To use turmeric as a gentle tooth whitener, mix it with coconut oil and apply it to your teeth to remove surface stains. 

Healthy Dental Habits

The best way to prevent teeth stains and avoid teeth yellowing is to always practice good oral health by following these healthy habits:

• Brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush
• Floss once a day
• Visit the dentist for regular check-ups and cleaning sessions
• Drink plenty of water to encourage saliva flow and avoid dry mouth
• Swish with water after eating and drinking to clear food debris 
• Stop smoking
• Avoid staining foods and drinks like berries and coffee
• Eat foods that support good oral health. These include natural teeth-cleaning foods like apples, carrots and celery, and dairy, which helps strengthen and whiten teeth from within

Even if you’ve had a professional whitening service, you should follow these healthy habits to ensure your teeth continue sparkling for as long as possible. 

The Best Way to Whiten Teeth

Although some home remedies may help to remove surface stains, the best way to whiten teeth will always be professional teeth whitening. 

Not only will you avoid the risk of damaging your teeth with abrasive materials or wasting money on whitening strips, but you’re also guaranteed a whiter smile that lasts. 

If you’re ready for a whiter, brighter smile, contact us to schedule an appointment today!

source https://www.golsendental.com/sparkling-white-whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-teeth-safely/

It Might Not Be a Cavity: 3 Causes of a Toothache

Did you know that the dental industry’s estimated to reach $60 billion by 2024?

Struggling with pain in your mouth and wondering what are the causes of a toothache? Not to worry! In this article, we’ll go over some of the main culprits behind discomfort in your teeth.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out!

Causes of a Toothache

Even if you are super careful about your oral care, someday you may experience a toothache. There are many possible causes behind sensitive teeth other than a cavity. Nonetheless, keep up a good routine to promote healthy teeth.

1. Tooth Pulp Becomes Inflamed

Pulpitis refers to the inflamed and irritated tissue in the middle of the tooth. Pressure from the inflammation builds in the tooth. The surrounding tissue feels that pressure, and you’ll have discomfort.

Pulpitis can occur in one or more tooth. It’s caused by bacteria invading the tooth’s pulp, causing irritation and swelling.

You can have either irreversible or reversible pulpitis. Reversible pulpitis is the better of the two scenarios. The inflammation’s mild, but the tooth pulp is healthy enough to save.

Irreversible pulpitis is much worse. You may have symptoms of severe pain and swelling, and the tooth isn’t savable. Try and seek treatment right away because the discomfort will worsen.

2. A Dental Abscess

There are three types of abscesses: periodontal, periapical, and gingival.

A periapical abscess occurs when bacteria grow within the pulp chamber. It then becomes infected, and the infection drains into the tip of the tooth root. Pressure from the draining infection causes severe pain and swelling if untreated.

A periodontal abscess occurs when an abscess is on the gum next to the root of a tooth. It could spread to surrounding bone and tissue. Gingival abscesses are on gums.

You may have throbbing pain in your gums or near a tooth. The pain arrives fast and worsens over time. Other symptoms include jaw pain, facial redness, or swelling. If you have pain while chewing, you could have an abscess.

Make sure you seek treatment. Focus on your oral care and continue to floss your back teeth to keep your mouth healthy.

3. A Cracked Tooth

As you age, teeth weaken due to pressure from chewing and biting. The force from chewing or biting down on ice or hard candy can cause teeth to crack.

Teeth crack from teeth grinding, a hit to the face, or abrupt changes in temperature in the mouth. If you eat something cold and then something hot, you could crack a tooth.

If you have pain during chewing or biting, you might have a cracked tooth. Other signs include sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures or sour and sweet foods. Treatment for this condition depends on the direction and location of the crack.

If you have a tooth with a vertical crack extending through it to the gum line, you may need an extraction.

A split tooth has a crack traveling from its surface below the gum line. Its separated into two parts. With such a crack, your dentist could save a part of the tooth.

Contact Us Today

We hope you found this article on causes of a toothache insightful. Sometimes it’s not a cavity but something else. Try and continue a regime promoting good oral care and seek treatment from a professional if you’re in pain.

Want to learn more? Contact us today. We would love to chat with you.

source https://www.golsendental.com/it-might-not-be-a-cavity-3-causes-of-a-toothache/

How to Stop Waking Up With Dry Mouth

Having a dry mouth in the morning is an extremely unpleasant thing. Your breath is pretty raw, you have a deep desire to drink some water, and you wonder why it’s happening. 

It’s relatively normal to have this happen every once in a while. The state of your mouth depends on your nightly routine and what things you consumed the night before waking up. That said, a dry mouth could be a side effect of a deeper problem. 

Whether you have a problem or not, it’s useful to know the cure to waking up with dry mouth. 

Waking Up With Dry Mouth: The Cure

The root problem is a disruption of your mouth’s production of saliva. Saliva exists in our mouths, first and foremost, to protect our teeth. 

It neutralizes the acids that come as a result of bacteria in our mouth. This prevents the growth of that bacteria and serves to clear out some of the food particles that we build up during the day. Getting rid of that bacteria keeps our teeth white.

Again, it’s normal to have a little flux in the way our mouths make saliva. When the production goes down the drain, we wake up with a dry mouth. 

Other symptoms include general stickiness, a thickness of saliva, bad breath, problems with the throat, and an altered sense of taste. 

Taking care of the issue is difficult because it usually comes as a result of a deeper problem. The cure to dry mouth, then, is to identify those problems and address them. Here are a few possible causes:

Smoking and Drinking

Smoking cigarettes (or anything, for that matter) can seriously contribute to dry mouth. The nicotine in cigarettes can lead to the slowing of your saliva flow. Alternatively, smoking can thicken your saliva. 

Both thickening and slowing of flow in salvia will contribute to bad breath because the saliva doesn’t have the same chance of breaking down bacteria.

Aging

Aging is one problem that, for better or worse, has no cure yet. As we age, our salivary glands begin to lose their power. It’s just a natural process.

Not everyone loses salivary flow as they age, though, and the symptoms could be a result of some of the problems listed below.

Medications and Cancer Treatment

A lot of general medications (over the counter and prescribed) contribute to a dry mouth. Drugs used to treat depression and anxiety are two of the most common ones. 

Further, blood pressure medications, antihistamines, pain pills, and decongestants can all contribute. Cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, can have temporary effects on your salivary glands. 

This is particularly true for radiation treatments when they’re applied to the head and neck.

Dry Mouth Leading to Stains on Your Teeth?

Waking up with dry mouth is immediately uncomfortable. It’s important to remember that when you have dry mouth, your teeth are lacking an essential tool that cleans them. 

If you’re looking for more tips for improving oral health or need dental work done, contact us to learn more. 

source https://www.golsendental.com/how-to-stop-waking-up-with-dry-mouth/