Periodontal Care

You’ve probably heard it time and time again: brushing your teeth, flossing, and regular dental exams are important. While we can all appreciate having a beautiful smile, it’s often easy to overlook the health benefits of preventive dental care.

The health benefits of going to the dentist regularly go deeper than just making sure your teeth stay in good condition. We’re learning more all the time about how dental issues (like gum disease) can affect your overall health and lead to more serious health problems. That’s why regular dental visits and a  good oral hygiene routine at home are so very important!

Six-Month Check-Ups Are Essential

Six-month check-ups give your dentist a chance to keep an eye on your gum and teeth health, which allows any developing issues to be caught early on. A small cavity is easy to fix but if it’s not addressed for many years, it can develop into severe tooth decay or even lead to infection. If a tooth is too badly infected, it may need extraction. It’s much easier to take care of a cavity as soon as it develops – and it can save you money in the long run if you don’t need more extensive procedures. We also do oral cancer screenings at every six-month check-up. Without regular dental appointments, oral cancer is very difficult to detect until it’s reached stage III or IV. By then, it’s already made its way through the body. 

Don’t Forget Teeth Cleaning, Fluoride Treatments, or Dental Sealants!

Regular cleanings are important because they remove tartar, plus any plaque that your toothbrush and floss might have missed. While your teeth are being cleaned, our hygienists can look for anything concerning, like cavities or signs of gingivitis (gum disease). Fluoride treatments are also helpful because they remineralize your teeth, which prevents soft spots in the enamel that can turn into cavities. Likewise, dental sealants protect your molars (which are particularly vulnerable to cavities) from things like bacteria, acids, and food particles. 

Keep Your Smile Strong and Healthy at Enamel Dentistry

At Enamel Dentistry, we want our patients to have a lifetime of strong, healthy smiles, which is why preventive dental care is at the heart of what we do. Our dental office serves all of Austin, providing complete dental care for children and adults. Contact us online or visit us at our South Lamar, Parmer Park, Lantana Place, Saltillo location. We also have a fifth location at the Domain opening soon! 

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that helps straighten teeth without metal braces. Instead, it uses a series of custom-made clear aligners that fit over your teeth and gently move them into the proper position over time. They’re barely noticeable, and they can be removed, which is one reason why many patients choose Invisalign over traditional metal braces. Since they aren’t attached to the teeth, oral hygiene is much easier and they don’t require uncomfortable adjustment appointments. 

What Else is Invisalign Used For?

While Invisalign is primarily used for a straighter smile, it can also prevent chipping, wear, and TMJ. Beyond straightening the teeth, Invisalign can be used for:

• Gaps between the teeth
• Mild to moderate overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites
• Overcrowded teeth

Why Is Proper Teeth Positioning Important?

If the upper and lower teeth don’t fit together properly when biting or chewing, it can cause painful muscles and joints, headaches, worn teeth, and, in some cases, fractures. Over time, misaligned teeth can also become crooked or crowded. 

Although a straight smile has cosmetic benefits, it’s even more important for the way your mouth functions and overall oral health. Crooked or crowded teeth can affect your speech and ability to chew. Even worse, they can make it very difficult to brush and floss thoroughly, putting those teeth at a higher risk of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Believe it or not, jaw alignment can even affect the way you breathe.

Find Out if Invisalign is Right for You

Having a straight smile is great—but it’s even better when you have fewer dental issues to worry about! And fewer dental issues equal a happier, healthier smile overall. For more information on Invisalign or to find out if you’re a good candidate for this treatment, contact an Enamel Dentistry near you!

Have you ever been looking at tubes of toothpaste at the supermarket and asked yourself how they work? Have you wondered if there is a difference between common types of “whitening” toothpaste? In this article from Enamel Dentistry, we’ll be taking a look at how tooth whitening toothpaste works, and how it can help you keep your pearly whites bright and beautiful. 

Whitening Toothpaste Contains Mild Abrasives to Remove Stains

Just about all kinds of toothpaste contain some sort of mild abrasive, as this helps remove plaque and polish your teeth. However, whitening toothpastes usually have a higher level of abrasive particles. Baking soda is often used, as is silica, dicalcium phosphate, and a number of other abrasives.

These abrasives are usually formulated specifically to be softer than your enamel. This ensures that they do not wear down your teeth, but they can still be used to buff away surface stains caused by plaque buildup, and keep your teeth looking bright and beautiful. 

Some Whitening Toothpaste Contains Peroxide for Enhanced Whitening Power

All toothpastes with abrasives can whiten your teeth to an extent, but for more whitening power, you’ll want to choose a toothpaste that contains peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

These are the same compounds used in professional whitening treatments. Peroxide is very volatile, and it breaks the bonds that hold stains onto your teeth upon contact. This “bleaches” the stains away, and restores the natural white color of your enamel.

If you want the best whitening results, you should choose a toothpaste that contains hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. Repeated use of the toothpaste according to its usage instructions can actually reverse minor teeth stains and yellowing. You can also use whitening toothpaste to keep your teeth white after you have had them professionally whitened.

Choose ADA-Approved Whitening Toothpaste for the Best Results (and Stay Safe!) 

It’s important to make sure that you don’t overuse whitening toothpastes. While some are formulated for everyday use, others are intended to be used only once per day, or on some other treatment schedule. Follow the directions on the tube or packaging to make sure you don’t damage your natural enamel due to overusing the whitening toothpaste.  

You should also choose an ADA-approved whitening toothpaste. These toothpastes have been tested and approved by the American Dental Association, so they are generally accepted as being safe to use. 

Avoid non-ADA approved “whitening” toothpastes, such as charcoal toothpaste. Charcoal is extremely abrasive. Because of this, it can eliminate some surface stains on your teeth, but it also may permanently wear down your enamel. 

To keep your teeth bright and healthy, stick to ADA-approved products with mild, tested abrasives and hydrogen/carbamide peroxide. 

Got Stained Teeth? Whitening Toothpaste May Not Be Enough! 

Whitening toothpaste is great for minor stains and for maintaining a bright smile. But if you have heavy stains due to tobacco use, frequently drinking coffee, tea, or wine, or due to any other issue, whitening toothpaste alone may not be enough. Professional help from a cosmetic dentist may be required. 

Professional teeth whitening in Austin from Enamel Dentistry is the best way to restore your smile if you have heavy stains. To learn more, contact us and schedule a cosmetic consultation today!