3 Reasons to Visit us Sooner, Rather than Later

Most of us think that taking care of our teeth is about having a great smile and avoiding the discomfort of a toothache. Having a great smile and avoiding toothaches are valid and important reasons for maintaining a good oral health program, there are three other equally strong reasons to consider.

First, dental health is part of your overall health. Second, choosing good dental care is a wise investment of your time and financial resources.

Finally, your emotional well-being is influenced by how you think and feel about yourself. Your smile is a big part of your self image. Let's examine each of these areas more thoroughly.

Good Physical Health Equals Good Dental Health

It is easy to forget that your teeth, gums, and mouth are essential parts of your physical body. Periodontal disease, bone and gum loss, and infections all affect the overall picture of your physical health. The ability to chew your food well helps digestion and reduces stress on the gastrointestinal system.

Like any physical system, each part of the body plays a role in the overall health of the system; taking care of your teeth and gums is a part of an intentional plan for physical health. In collaboration with your dentistry team, you can create a dental plan that will contribute to your overall health plan.

A Good Dental Plan is a Wise Investment

There are two important resources that you use and allocate in your everyday life: your time and your money. When it comes to your dental care, they are closely related.

The time you take everyday to invest in your dental health is also an investment in your financial health. When treatment is necessary, dentistry is also an investment in your financial future. Proper treatment today prevents more costly complications and uncomfortable problems tomorrow.

For those who seek to maintain their dental health for life, it is a wise investment to get the most value from the knowledge and skills your dentist and good dental care offers you.

Good Dental Health Equals Emotional Well-Being

How you feel and think about yourself is an important part of your emotional well-being, and a pleasant smile plays a big role in this. In addition, when you take an active role in caring for yourself, it also contributes to your overall sense of competence in managing your life and maintaining a positive lifestyle. The habit of good dental care and regular hygiene examinations reinforces taking positive steps for yourself in other areas of your life.

Smile because good dental care can provide you with innovative and effective ways to create and maintain a pleasant smile that you feel good about. When it comes to feeling good about yourself and your smile, dentistry offers many exciting and effective options.

 

For more information on how Dr. Gardner and Dr. Burch can help in multiple areas of your life visit us at www.conroesmilemakeover.com 

Top 10 Reasons Not to Dodge your Dental Cleaning Appointment

 

Sure, regular cleanings with our office promote good oral hygiene, but did you know it can also prevent a multitude of diseases? That 2 o'clock chair-side rendezvous may not seem nearly as exciting as a late lunch with a friend, but it will be well worth it in the end. Here are 10 really great reasons to stick with your regular cleaning schedule!

1. It Prevents Oral Cancer. You may or may not realize that you're screened for oral cancer during your regular dental cleaning. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, an American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day. It's a sad proposition, especially when you consider that it is highly curable with early diagnosis.
2. It Wards Off Gum Disease. Gum disease, or an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place, is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. It can be treated and reversed if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, not receiving treatment will lead to a more serious and advanced state of gum disease. Regular cleanings and check ups and daily brushing and flossing are key weapons in the fight against these conditions.
3. It's About More Than Your Mouth. Sure, not getting regular check-ups may make you less kissable, but did you know that studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease associated with poor oral hygiene? A trip to your dentist every 6 months could reduce your risk of serious health problems!
4. You Want to Preserve Your Smile. As mentioned, gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. To keep your pearly whites intact, stick with your cleaning schedule.
5. It's Best to Detect Dental Problems Early. We've already touched upon early detection of gum disease and oral cancer, but don't overlook more basic dental problems. Cavities and broken fillings are easy to treat. Without regular trips to the dentist, these problems can lead to root canals, gum surgery and tooth extraction. Which sounds worse: A 30-minute cleaning or an hour under the knife?
6. You Want to Know You're Doing it Right. Maybe you bought a fancy new electric toothbrush, or aren't keeping up with what current research has to say about caring for your teeth. Either way, check ups allow your dentist to examine your mouth and keep you on the right path.
7. You Have Dental Insurance. Consider how much money you put into your insurance plan. Take advantage of it and save a lot of money in the long run by avoiding costly procedures that result from poor dental habits.
8. You Want to Upgrade Your Smile. If you're already suffering from tooth decay or gum problems, regular appointments will allow our office to create a personalized treatment plan that will give you the best smile possible.
9. You Want to Dazzle. Regular cleanings remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains, polishing your teeth to a beautiful shine!
10. You Need Some Time Alone. Okay, maybe not completely alone, but the time you spend in the waiting room and chair is really your time. You can forget about the office or the stresses of family life and just relax. Read a magazine or work through a crossword if you want. Take advantage of the time you're given, rather than worrying about how to fit it in your tight schedule. Your health and well-being should never take a back seat to your daily planner.

If it's been more than 6 months since your last check up and cleaning, call your us at 936-539-3636 or visit us online at www.conroesmilemakeover.com to schedule an appointment today!

Good Oral Hygiene Leads to Great Kisses

You're probably fully aware of the connection between the health your mouth and the quality of your kisses. Still, a little reminder never hurt. Here's the skinny on getting and giving smooches without embarrassment.

1. Kick the smoking habit. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the smoking lecture. Not only do tobacco products taste awful to your partner, but they put you at greater risk for oral cancer and periodontal (gum) disease. Why put so much effort into knocking your sweetheart's socks off if you aren't going to be around to pick them up? If you don't kick the habit for your partner, do it for yourself!

2. Don't chew gum. The best kisses are spur of the moment, so it's best to be prepared for them. Besides, sugary gum can lead to cavities. If you must chew gum choose a sugar-free variety.

3. Brush and floss daily. Nothing leaves an impression like bad breath, but it's not the kind of attention you want. Besides, healthy white teeth will help you build confidence in your smile. Brushing your teeth and gums is a good start, but take it a step further and floss each night. You'll dislodge food particles and remove odor-causing, not to mention tissue- and tooth-destroying, bacteria. If you don't have your toothbrush handy after you eat, at least rinse your mouth out with warm water. There are also a number of handy little dental products available for great breath on the go.

Take good care of your partner by caring for yourself. If you find that your gums are exceptionally tender or swollen, or if you have habitually bad breath please give us a call at 936-539-3636 to schedule an appointment. These could be symptoms of a more serious problem!

For more information on healthy gums and fresh breath check out our website
www.drtimgardner.com

Night time habits...

We try our best to talk with all of our patients about those "crazy little things at night."

What do we mean?
We've found that the majority of decay can be traced back to night time habits.

Think about this:
During the day the average person swallows more than 1,000 times. You can imagine that at this rate whatever a person is eating or drinking is neutralized by saliva pretty quickly.
At night when a person prepares for bed, their body starts preparing for sleep. Everything starts slowing down - including salivation. Normally a person only swallows 10-20 times during sleep!
This means that whatever a person eats or drinks right before, after or during this time sits in the mouth, mainly the cheeks, causing cavities to form on the teeth.

What do you do?
We recommend that all of our patients enjoy their dinner, dessert and whatever they want to drink with dinner and then stick to water. This gives the body time to restore proper PH levels in the mouth.

But that's just the first part!
We also encourage our patients to floss and brush really well before bed. This means brushing the inside of the cheeks, the tongue and palate.

Just these few little changes and you could be well on you way to living a cavity-free life!