Oral Care for Teenagers - 101

Teenage is a time of puberty changes and growth spurts. A teenager goes from the motion through rapid and slow phases of growth. An adolescent body experiences several changes, from physical to psychological and behavioral. Some changes are explicit while some are implicit; nevertheless, a teenager goes through a series of coaster-like changes. If you’re an adolescent or a parent of one, read on as we have something, especially for teenagers.

Teenagers and Oral Care

You have a lot up to your sleeves during your teenage phase, from acne to mood swings. Amid all this frustration, you sideline the beauty of the changes you experience in this period. Poets call the teenage period the best part of our lives. When teenagers enter this phase, they begin the journey to find themselves. They aren’t fearful of trying out new things or taking risks. During this crucial phase of adolescence, you enjoy, cry, try, learn and create some beautiful memories.

Amid these, while all four implants are too soon for you, taking necessary care of your oral health is vital. Yes, we agree you have a lot to worry about in your transitional phase- braces, facial appearance, bad breath, and third molars. These things will accompany you in your journey from childhood to adulthood. While risks are worthy of your consideration, you definitely can not slide your school activities or an extra slice of pizza. This busy schedule and junk food create a situation perfectly ripe for cavities. So, how to stop this? Well, keep reading.

Tips to keep cavities at bay

A smile is the most beautiful gesture and ornament. To continue smiling with your healthy teeth, it’s always good to start incorporating good oral habits early in childhood. Here’s a list of must do-s for you as a teenager and a parent of one-

• Brush and floss teeth twice a day. It keeps your teeth in good condition. As a parent, encourage your teen kid for this by explaining to them the consequences of bad oral hygiene like stains, missing teeth, and other dental issues.

• Keep plenty of dental health-care supplies at home like soft toothbrushes, plastic flossers, and good toothpaste.

• Keep checking your junk eating and indulge in eating healthy foods like nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

• Abstain from smoking! It may sound exciting in these years but can lead to severe health problems, not just dental issues.

The dilemma of a perfect and healthy smile

During growth years, teens face dental issues like getting braces or removing wisdom teeth. These may sound normal, but dentists sometimes proactively take a few steps to ensure you or your child a lifetime of oral health. So, read these points for you or your teen child:

• Braces are not just equivalent to a pretty smile. Instead, straight teeth are easier to clean and keep gums healthy. 

• The problem of wisdom tooth removal is pretty standard, with almost every 2 in five people suffering from this pain unknowingly. Third molars or wisdom teeth sometimes don’t have enough space for growth and try to create space independently. It causes damage to adjacent teeth and infection, so special care is needed.

• Halitosis, or bad breath, results from bacteria living on your tongue. Making good oral hygiene your habit will keep these bacteria away from your mouth.

• Tobacco products are carriers of toxins that cause severe cancer, gum diseases, tooth discoloration, etc. So, do not indulge in any such activity which directly affects your overall health.

• Every teenager wants to follow the trend, and going for your choices is not wrong. Still, those cool oral piercings may affect your oral health adversely.

Go for regular dental checkups.

The above tips can help you maintain the health of your teeth and gums. In case you experience any discomfort, you must visit your dentist. Like our physical checkups, we shall give importance to our dental checkups. As a parent, encourage your child to visit the dentist regularly, at least once in six months. A small step will keep your or your child’s teeth healthier for a lifetime and prevent issues like tooth decay, gingivitis, etc. away.

Be a role model for your teen kid.

It is a special section for our parents who are also experiencing new lifestyle changes because their kids have just entered adolescence. Children look up to their parents, so make sure you adopt good oral habits yourself. It will maintain your teeth' excellent shape and your child’s. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for dental implants near me on google, stop looking further and check our website. We will help your family to keep their smiles bright and healthy.

Conclusion

We hope it helps you and your family keep their teeth in good shape. A simple 101 for our teenagers will keep these good habits in your life for a long time.

The Reasons To Visit Dentist If You Have A Sweet Tooth

Are you obsessed with sweets? It should be no surprise that having a sugar tooth might be harmful to your teeth. The majority of individuals know that sugar promotes cavities—some aspects of how someone fulfills their sweet appetite. Let's find out some of why you should take care of your teeth!

What does It Mean To Have A Sweet Tooth?

A sweet tooth is a craving for sweets such as candy, chocolate, cookies, and cakes that occur regularly or continuously when you fantasize more about food than anything else in this world. When you wake up in the morning, the first thing that comes to your mind is to have some caramelized pancake or something more. It is simply a sign that you are a sweet tooth. 

Suppose you love sugary sweets but instead eat a handful of gummy bears than chips for a snack as it feels like every meal is incomplete without dessert. If you prefer Honey Nut Cheerios over bacon and eggs for breakfast, you are undoubtedly a sweet tooth person. Somehow this will affect your oral health vary badly. People should visit the dentist McKinney. They will help them to minimize the harmful impact of their eating habit.  

What Are The Food Which Causes The Cavity?

Sugar and high fructose corn syrup include simple carbohydrates that are easy for harmful bacteria to break down. Digesting the Complex carbs takes longer. Thus grains and vegetables are less likely to cause cavities than sweets. Bacteria produce acid as they consume sugar. Bacteria gather in the deep pits and grooves of our teeth's biting surfaces and the nooks and crevices between them in our mouths. Because they adhere to the teeth as plaque, the acid they do damage directly affects your enamel.

In the same manner that acid weakens and softens glass, it also weakens and softens enamel. Bacteria can penetrate the tooth when the enamel becomes weaker, destroying the tooth structure as they go. It is the procedure that a cavity goes through. Simple sugars are the most likely to create cavities because they are the simplest for bacteria to digest.

What kind of sweets is worst for your oral health?

Some sweets are significantly more harmful and cavity-causing than others. The period of time that sugar remains in teeth is one of the essential elements in the cavity process.

It indicates that there are sorts of sweets that are particularly bad:

• Gummy snacks, caramels, and other sticky candies are examples of sweets that adhere to the teeth.

• Peppermints, lollipops, and hard candies are examples of sweets you can eat for a long time.

These two types of sweets will create a different sort of impact on your teeth. Certain sweets aren't as bad for you as you would think. It has butter and eggs, cookies, cupcakes, and cake come within this category. Proteins and fats assist in keeping sugar levels in check. Because it includes milk and fat, chocolate, incredibly dark chocolate, is generally healthy.

How Can You Satisfy A Sweet Tooth While Keeping Your Teeth Healthy?

To begin, you must commit to brushing and flossing your teeth. You must be even more vigilant with your dental hygiene because of the increased risk of cavities with a sweet tooth. All recommended are brushing twice a day, flossing every night before bed, and using a fluoride mouth wash. Next, select the sweets that will not stay on your teeth for an extended time. It is best to avoid the Jelly beans, caramels, and gummy candies. 

Also, instead of a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, eat sweets as part of a meal. Your body produces a lot of salivae when you consume a meal, which is its natural defense against cavities. As a result, your body fights cavities best when you eat. 

Fluoride toothpaste and other fluoride products as directed by your dentist. People prone to cavities should take fluoride supplements regularly to improve their enamel. Over-the-counter fluoride solutions are available to help you maintain healthy teeth. If you want further assistance, one of our dentists can prescribe additional vitamins to aid in cavity prevention. Otherwise, if you have any issues you can visit the dentist for your full mouth reconstruction.

To Sum It Up!

Finally, never skip a dentist appointment. Cavities do not appear anywhere. It takes a bit, and during that period, your dentist may be able to detect warning indications. When you visit your McKinney tx dentist regularly, they will be able to identify these warning signs early on and assist you in making the necessary modifications to avoid the need for costly dental repair.

Contact Valley Creek Dental Care to schedule a new consultation if you have a sweet tooth but don't have a dentist. Our dentists and their associates will provide you with all of the tools you need to prevent cavities from developing.

Sugar And Your Teeth: Myths And Reality

It is a well-known fact that sugar is not good for your teeth, but there are many myths that are not reliable. If you continue to consume more sugar, you might end up getting full-mouth reconstruction. Do you want to know the myths and realities associated with sugar and your teeth? If yes, keep reading to satisfy your intellect. 

Myths And Realities of Sugar And your Teeth

Your teeth love sugar-free drinks

It is a common notion that sugary drinks are damaging to teeth. We do not deny the fact. But people also think that a sugar-free version of these drinks is fine. Do you really think that you can have as many sugar-free cokes and lemon drinks as you want without having any damaging effect of them on your teeth? Well, it is a myth. Many researchers have found out the damaging effects of coke and diet coke on the teeth of individuals. You may be surprised to know about one such finding. After 14 days of consuming a diet version of coke, it was found that the diet version had done slightly more damage to the tooth enamel as compared to the standard version. 

Most sugar-free drinks have phosphoric acid content and citric acid content. These acids are harmful to your teeth, and you can end up getting tooth decay or gum problems. Out of all the drinks, water is the best drink that doesn’t do any damage to your teeth. Experts advise that tea and coffee are, although staining but tooth-friendly. And milk is also considered a tooth-safe drink.                                                                                                                                      

A small dose is better than the big one

What do you think is worse of the two of these scenarios? One huge pudding of cake draped in sugar you can consume in one go or a packet of candies that you can consume throughout the afternoon? You might think that consuming toffees or candies one by one is less damaging, but you can’t be more wrong. Continuously munching on sugary treats can have more damaging effects on your teeth than eating one large pudding. 

Whenever you eat sugary food, your mouth forms acid due to the plaque that weakens your tooth enamel. Slowly consuming sweets or sugary food allows these attacks to happen more. Dentists say that if you sip all day, you are risking tooth decay. Thus, think wisely before consuming the sugary treats in small chunks. 

It is important to cut down on all sugar

You believe that sugar is bad for your oral hygiene. So, it is best to eliminate sugar and enjoy great dental health. But there is a little problem with your logic. You should follow a holistic approach to your diet and health. 

Experts recommend cutting down on refined sugars but not on natural sugars like fructose and lactose, which you get from fruits and dairy. Consuming food items with natural sugars help stabilize your blood sugar level and thereby is beneficial for your overall well-being. 

Brushing your teeth immediately after consuming sugar

You should brush immediately after consuming sugary food items. But it is also dependent on the type of sugar you are consuming. If you are taking refined sugar like biscuits, brushing after it is good. 

But if you are brushing it after having orange juice, it is not advisable as it pairs with acid and sugar. Consuming something acidic changes the pH level of the mouth. And brushing immediately after juice or meal increases the chances of damaging your tooth enamel. Thus, you should wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth. 

The most damaging thing for your teeth is sugar

You cannot deny the fact that sugar is damaging for your teeth in the long run. And its excessive consumption leads to dental problems. Therefore, cut down on refined sugars as much as possible and follow thorough oral hygiene.

Regular dental checkups are also advisable. It will help catch any oral issue in its early stage. 

To sum it up

It is important to be mindful of the above myths and realities and stick to good oral hygiene to steer clear of the problems. You should also not neglect the power of routine dental checkups. 

Valley Creek Dental Care thrives to offer comprehensive and preventive dental care to make you feel healthy and comfortable. You can search “dental implants near me” to know about our services dental implants if you are experiencing missing teeth. We also offer Invisalign, cosmetic dentistry, wisdom teeth, and many more. Our unmatched professionalism is aligned with the most up-to-date technology of digital dentistry to get you the desired results. We ensure to offer a welcoming environment so that a patient should feel relaxed under our care. Our affordable and long-term solutions make our patients trust us more. You need not worry about any financial barriers as we strive to break down any financial barriers to treatment. Feel free to contact us for more information. 

Few Questions That You Need To Ask Your Dentist

Oral health is the window to overall well-being. Many people still do not have accurate information about oral health. But it is very important to keep yourself updated with the correct information about your oral hygiene. And dentists McKinney tx believes that keeping your teeth healthy improves not only your well-being but also your smile. After all, you don’t want your smile to become dull or your teeth to become painful, right?

So, to avoid it, you need to ask a few questions about your dentist. The answer to these questions will ensure your best oral health. Your dentist will suggest suitable measures if you are suffering from any oral issues. 

Let’s see the questions about your oral health that you need to ask your dentist. 

Question: Why do I feel sensitivity in my teeth?

Answer: If you feel that your teeth are sensitive, ask your dentist the reason for it. Tooth sensitivity may indicate a serious oral health issue. Sensitivity is more likely to be seen in adults aged between 20-40 years of age. It can happen due to various reasons. Some of them are – 

• Abrasion in toothbrush – No wonder brushing teeth is an important daily activity but brushing too hard, and too much can damage the outer layer of your teeth. It could be the reason for tooth sensitivity. 

• Receding gums – Your gums recede as you age, and a receding gum line could be the reason for tooth sensitivity. 

• Acid erosion – You should pay attention to the food you are eating as it impacts your teeth. Food items that are high in acid can harm your tooth enamel, leading to sensitivity and pain in teeth. 

• Grinding at night – Many individuals have the habit of grinding their teeth. Teeth grinding can remove the protective coating of your teeth and hence can cause sensitivity. 

So, if you are facing tooth sensitivity, bring it to the concern of your dentist and let him suggest some useful measures like new toothpaste changing the brushing style, to name a few. 

Question: Which areas do I miss while brushing my teeth?

Answer: As per the dental experts, it is advisable to brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes twice a day. Even with this rule, some spots in your mouth still get missed. And frequently missing these spots can result in teeth deterioration. So ask your oral health expert the areas you should focus on while brushing. 

Many people brush the outer teeth thoroughly but do not brush the inside of the teeth properly. Keep in mind that the inside of the teeth are more prone to acids and saliva from the foods that you eat. Thus, keeping your mouth clean will surely make a difference to your smile. 

Question: Do I have to use a different toothbrush?

Answer: The selection of toothbrushes varies as per the individual dental needs. Different styles of toothbrushes include – 

• Electric

• Soft bristles

• Round

• Firm bristles

Sometimes you need a different toothbrush from the one that you use for daily brushing. For instance – If you are the one with braces, you may need to use a round-tipped toothbrush to reach the nook and corner of your teeth. It is an important choice to make to select the right toothbrush that makes all the difference in your oral health. 

Question: How frequently do I need to get professional cleaning?

Answer: The recommended time between professional cleaning is every six months to 12 months. But your dentist may differ according to your dental health. For some patients, your dentist may suggest frequent teeth cleanings. It could be due to – 

• If you have existing problems in oral health. 

• If you wear braces.

• If you have tooth sensitivity. 

Your dentist brush, floss and treat your teeth with fluoride in professional cleaning. It will help remove the tartar and other hard material from your teeth. 

Question: What is the reason for gum bleeding when I brush my teeth?

Answer: There are many reasons for gum bleeding. But if you notice gum bleeding while brushing your teeth, you may need to bring it to the notice of your dentist. 

Other reasons for gum bleeding are -

• Plaque buildup

• Overbrushing

• Inflammation

• Underbrushing

Brush and floss regularly to reduce the risk of bleeding. If still, it continues, question your dentist for the appropriate treatment measures. 

To sum it up!

Your dentist can make you sail smoothly through all the dental problems if any. But for that, you need to ask him the right questions as mentioned above. Valley Creek Dental Care answers all your queries regarding any dental concern, whether it is all on four implants, wisdom teeth, veneers, Invisalign, to name a few. Our dedicated dental team helps maintain your oral health for many years to come. We follow the latest dental techniques to give you the best results. Our long-term solutions will definitely make you come back for more. Get in touch with us for more information. 

Top Foods That Can Damage Your Teeth

Anyone, regardless of age, can get tooth decay. Plaque-containing bacteria that feed on the sweets in your diet promote tooth decay, which leads to cavities. Cavities form when bacteria consume sugar and convert it to acid, which destroys the enamel on your teeth. It will cause sensitivity in your teeth, necessitating a visit to the dentist. You may locate the top emergency dental care Mckinney TX, by looking for Valley Creek Dental Care.

Sugary meals are harmful to your teeth since they lead to plaque and tooth damage. In this, we'll talk about the foods you should avoid or restrict to maintain your teeth as healthy as possible.

Which Foods Concerned You Should About The Most?

Foods that are sticky and sweet are harmful to your teeth in general. When meals are sticky, they adhere to your teeth for longer, giving germs more opportunities to harm your teeth. Acidic meals are also a bad idea since the acid can destroy tooth enamel.

Sugary and acidic foods and drinks (such as soda) can cause twice the damage to your teeth. You'll require a full mouth reconstruction if you eat the things mentioned below.

Although the foods listed below are not intrinsically unhealthy, experts advise brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth after consuming them to avoid cavities.

1. Take Care While Eating The Popcorn 

Popcorn is a healthy snack option for chips, but it can be very damaging to your teeth for various reasons. When we munch popcorn while watching a long movie, microorganisms have an additional opportunity to damage our teeth. Furthermore, it's practically impossible to chew popcorn without getting it stuck between your teeth. Have a toothpick, some water, or some quality floss on hand when you've finished eating. Your teeth will chip off if you bite down on one of those complex, unpopped kernels. Take additional precautions if you eat popcorn by the handful.

2. Carbohydrates That Is Refined

Refined carbs, such as white bread, crackers, chips, and french fries, are popular among children's meals. All of them are simple carbohydrates that degrade into sugars when consumed. These sugars ferment and form lactic acid when they touch microorganisms in the mouth, eroding tooth enamel fast.

3. Take Care While Eating The Dry Fruits

Raisins, dried apricots, and fruit roll-ups are considered healthy, nutritious snacks healthier for teeth than sweets. However, because of the drying process, the sugars in these fruits are incredibly concentrated. Furthermore, because of their chewy nature, they are more likely to adhere to teeth, allowing germs more opportunity to inflict harm.

4. Drinking Of Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The acid will be present in all soft drinks, whether or not they include sugar. It can harm your teeth, resulting in more cavities and tooth erosion. If you want to keep your teeth healthy:

1. Avoid soft drinks.

2. Stick to unsweetened tea or water as an alternative.

3. If you absolutely must consume a fizzy drink, wait a few minutes before brushing your teeth since the acid damages your tooth enamel and leaves it more susceptible to abrasion.

5. Clean Your Teeth After Eating The Pickles

Pickled foods are produced with vinegar, essential to the pickling process. This acid has the potential to degrade and discolor tooth enamel. Many pickled foods include sugar, which contributes to the formation of cavities.

6. Drinks Like Wine

Erosive acid is found in white and red wine, damaging the enamel. Tannins are a chemical present in red wine that causes your mouth to dry up and your teeth to discolor. If you're going to consume wine, brush your teeth before reducing the amount of plaque that the wine can attach to. Wait 30 minutes after drinking wine before brushing your teeth to avoid touching the wine into your teeth.

7. Eating Large Quantity Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits could be a healthy supplement to almost any diet. Even yet, the citric acid in the fruit, when ingested in significant numbers, can erode your tooth enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to cavities. Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and grapefruit are pretty acidic. Use a straw while drinking juices to enable some acid to pass past your teeth.

8.Tomatoes in Pasta Sauce 

Tomatoes are abundant in vitamins but also strong in acidity. Because the acid in the sauce erodes your teeth and the carbs in the pasta help feed germs and bacteria cavities, eating pasta with red sauce can inflict double the harm to your enamel.

9. Try To Avoid Hard Candies 

As you wait for hard candies to melt, they stay in your tongue for a long time. Some hard sweets might take up to 10 minutes to melt, and there are no health advantages to consuming candy. Because the sugary dessert spends so much time in your mouth, bacteria have plenty of opportunities to inflict significant harm. Hard candy may also break your teeth and create wounds on the inside of your mouth.

To summarize!

A smile is vital, and it is regrettable when we have dental problems. As a result, consuming healthy foods is essential, as is seeing the dentist regularly. So visit Valley Creek Dental Care's website for more information on dental health and treatment options.