Does Chewing Gum Help Your Jawline?

Do you look in the mirror every day and see a double chin or a puffy face and wish you had a sharp, chiseled jawline? You spend hours in the gym each week working to burn fat and build muscle, but what about your face? Your face has many muscles designed to help you chew your food, but you can’t exactly add some weight and work these muscles on a regular basis. Or can you?

The truth is, there is a simple way to work the muscles in your face. However, they may not give you the results you are hoping for. Image Dental professionals are here to help you achieve optimal oral health, including a strong jawline and healthy muscles. Here we will explain how gum can benefit your jawline, but there are some things to consider.

 

Chewing and jaw muscles

Chances are, when you bite into your favorite burger, you aren’t thinking about the muscles in your jaw that make that possible. But when it comes to mastication or chewing, there are four major muscles that allow you to chew your food so you can digest it. These muscles are:

• The masseter muscle is the main muscle used for chewing and is actually the strongest muscle in your body. This muscle gives you the ability to close your jaw with as much as 200 pounds of pressure. It connects your lower jawbone to the cheekbone.
• The temporalis muscle begins just above the temple and connects to the jaw. It allows for the side-to-side movement you use when chewing, closing your mouth, and even grinding your teeth.
• The medial and lateral pterygoid muscles are underneath the masseter muscle and assist with chewing, opening your jaw, side-to-side motion, and allows for the projection of your lower jaw.

 

 

How does chewing help your jawline?

When you want to strengthen the muscles in your hands, you squeeze a stress ball. Repetitive movement and stress on the muscles help strengthen your hand. The same concept is possible for the muscles in your jaw. These muscles function to allow chewing, so increasing your chewing through gum will, in turn, increase the use of your jaw muscles, helping to increase their strength. In fact, a 2018 study shows that only five minutes of gum chewing twice a day can significantly increase your maximum bite force.

In addition, just like regular weight training helps build and sculpt muscles, gum chewing can help stimulate muscle growth in the jaw. This creates a larger and squarer jawline, giving a person a chiseled jawline. In addition, chewing gum and increasing your jaw muscle strength can also help lift your chin, reducing the appearance of a double chin. However, chewing gum alone is not going to eliminate a double chin completely or give you a sculpted jawline. Chewing gum cannot reduce fat deposits on your face or neck, so additional dietary changes and exercise to lose weight are also necessary to experience noticeable changes.

 

Other benefits of regular gum chewing

Chewing gum also offers many other benefits, including:

• Fresh breath – Chewing gum after eating can help combat that garlic or onion breath
• Improved oral health – Chewing sugar-free gum helps to increase the flow of saliva, which in turn helps to remove food particles and plaque from the mouth. This helps strengthen teeth and reduce the risk of tooth decay.
• Reduced hunger – If you are looking to lose weight, chewing sugar-free gum can help reduce hunger cravings, increase your feeling of fullness, and help reduce snacking between meals.
• Improved memory – Psychologists in the United Kingdom have found that those who chew gum score significantly higher in short-term and long-term memory tests than those who do not chew gum during testing.

 

 

Types of chewing gum for a sharp jawline

Every grocery and convenience store has a variety of different gums to choose from, but not all gum is the same. While traditional chewing gums will work your jaw muscles, they may not provide the muscle workout you are looking for. Other gum alternatives offer a stronger workout and may provide quicker results.

1. Traditional gum

Your everyday chewing gum is enough to give your jaw a daily workout and is quick and easy to find. While any chewing gum will work, it is best to choose sugar-free gum to also help promote good oral health. Chewing sugary gum all day can increase your risk of dental decay and cavities.

2. Mastic gum

Mastic gum is a sab-like substance derived from the mastic tree. This gum has been used for centuries because it is considered an antioxidant and offers anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Various studies have shown that mastic gum can help protect dental health by reducing bacteria levels, as well as help with gastrointestinal issues. But is it better for strengthening your jawline? The fact is mastic gum is about ten times harder than regular chewing gum, so it adds resistance, helping strengthen the jaw muscles. It makes a better option to help work toward creating a larger muscle mass.

3. Falim gum

Falim gum is similar to mastic gum in that it is chewier than traditional gum. This Turkish gum is cheaper than mastic gum, is softer to start with, and comes in many different flavors.

 

Can chewing gum give you a chiseled jaw?

While chewing gum can help you strengthen your jaw muscles and, over time, help create a larger and squarer-looking jawline, it may not be noticeable without additional considerations such as weight loss in the face. In addition, regular gum chewing can contribute to unwanted side effects. These can include regular headaches, clicking in the jaw, jaw popping, and even temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury. If you chew gum with sugar or sucrose, you can increase enamel demineralization in your teeth, leading to an increased risk of cavities.

At Image Dental, we understand the desire to have a more chiseled jawline, but we also do everything we can to help promote good oral health. Our team of caring professionals is here to answer all your questions about regular gum chewing and how you can help to strengthen your jaw. Contact our team online or call the office at (209) 955-1500 to schedule an appointment and let us help you get on the road to a healthy, strong jawline and optimal oral health.

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How Strong Are Dental Implants?

Missing one or multiple teeth can affect your ability to eat, talk and even smile. Dental implants have become the popular choice for tooth replacement, with more than five million implants placed by dentists in the United States every year. But how strong are dental implants? How do they compare to your natural teeth? Are implants a better choice than other missing teeth solutions? At Image Dental, we are here to answer any questions you may have about dental implants and help you choose the best missing tooth solution for you.

 

Dental implants compared to real teeth

When it comes to what is best for your mouth and oral health, the goal of any dentist is to do everything possible to protect your natural teeth and maintain good oral health. Your teeth are the hardest substance in your body and are made to withstand about 5,600 pounds of pressure. When you lose teeth, your bite force diminishes. When you have dentures, your bite force can drop to 50 pounds per square inch. However, dental implants allow you to regain as much as 85 percent of your natural bite force.

Other benefits of dental implants include:

• Decay does not affect dental implants. This is important if dental decay is a regular problem for you or was the cause of your initial tooth loss. Bacteria and dental decay do not weaken implants. However, decay can still affect the gums and the implants’ supporting tissue, so good oral hygiene is still essential.
• Implants do not break easily. Just like your natural teeth, implants are strong and allow you to eat the same way you did with your natural teeth.
• Implants are made to last. Dental implants are a three-part treatment that includes a titanium screw, abutment, and a crown. The screw and abutment are made to last a lifetime. However, the crown may need replacing every 10 to 15 years. In many ways, implants are longer lasting than your natural teeth.

 

Dental implants and other missing teeth solutions

While dental implants are becoming the popular missing teeth solution, they are not your only option. Dentures, crowns, and bridges offer different tooth replacement solutions. While these offer great replacement options for those who cannot get dental implants, there are some disadvantages to both.

Dentures

Dentures have two major types. You can have partial dentures that replace one or two missing teeth or complete dentures that replace an entire arch of teeth. These removable tooth replacement options are often more affordable than dental implants, but they come with downsides. They are often poor-fitting and can slip or fall out when talking or eating. You may also require adhesives to hold and keep them in place. Dentures can change your speech patterns, often causing a lisp when talking. While dentures are strong when it comes to eating, they can easily break if dropped.

A major disadvantage of dentures is the fact that nothing is stimulating your jawbone any longer. This loss of bone stimulation causes bone loss around the sockets where teeth used to be. It can cause changes in facial features, such as sunken cheeks. As the bone loss progresses, the gums will shrink, and you will need to replace or have your dentures refitted. In contrast, the metal screws used for dental implants stimulate the jawbone growth and prevent bone loss.

Crowns and bridges

A dental bridge is a missing tooth solution when you still have healthy teeth remaining. A bridge attaches to the surrounding healthy teeth and uses a crown to replace the missing teeth. It is a quick and cost-effective way to replace a single tooth. However, because they use the surrounding teeth, chewing puts additional pressure and strain on those healthy teeth. Eventually, those teeth may weaken and lead to additional dental concerns. Replacing a single tooth with a dental implant instead maintains an even distribution of pressure on the teeth, allowing the remaining healthy teeth to thrive while the replacement tooth continues to promote bone health.

 

Can implants break?

Just like your natural teeth, dental implants can still break when they are subject to too much force. This is especially true when force is applied before the posts have fully osseointegrated to the jawbone. As we mentioned before, dental implants have different parts. The post is the part that goes into the jawbone to stimulate bone growth and hold the implants in place. Once completely bonded with the bone, these posts are similar to your tooth root and are very durable and meant to last a lifetime. The crown, or the tooth of the implant, is just as strong as your natural tooth. However, it does wear over the years. On average, the crown will require replacement every 10 to 15 years.

If you suspect problems with your dental implant, contact your dentist immediately. If the post is broken, the only option is to undergo oral surgery to remove and replace it with a new one. This may require a bone graft to strengthen the surrounding bone before a new screw is placed. If the abutment or crown is broken, these can simply be replaced, and you will be back to your normal routine in no time.

 

How long do dental implants last?

Your dental implant is made to last a lifetime. However, the crown portion of the implant often requires replacement every 10 to 15 years, depending on oral hygiene, oral health, and wear and tear on the crown. In the end, a dental implant offers the most permanent tooth replacement option that promotes bone stability and growth while also returning tooth function.

If you have missing teeth and are looking for a replacement solution that works best for you, the caring and professional team and Image Dental is here to answer all your questions and create a treatment solution that works for you. Contact us online today or call the office at (209) 955-1500 to schedule an appointment and let us help you get back the smile and functionality you have missed.

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How Old Is Too Old for Dental Implants?

The loss of a tooth, or all your teeth, affects every aspect of your life. It changes your smile and affects your ability to eat and speak. This, in turn, can have negative effects on your digestion and overall nutrition. In addition, missing teeth lead to bone loss in your jawbone. While dentures have traditionally been the main replacement for total tooth loss, dental implants offer many more benefits in the long run. But how old is too old for dental implants? Can you still get dental implants if you have had dentures for years? Our professional team at Image Dental is here to answer all your oral surgery and dental implant questions and help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile no matter what your age.

 

Amount of time needed for your mouth to heal

If you have recently learned that your teeth have extensive decay and require tooth extraction, your dentist will likely talk with you about replacement options. If you are considering dental implants, there are a few things to consider. In most cases, you will require at least three months of healing time after oral surgery to extract your teeth before implants can even be placed into your jaw. Once the oral surgeon places the implant screws, you will likely have additional healing time to allow the screws to fuse with your jawbone before the crowns are placed. In many cases, dental extraction and implant placement with recovery times can take six to eight months or more. In addition, as you age, you can take longer to heal. In many cases, recovery can take even longer.

 

 

Dental implants years after tooth extraction

Have you been wearing them for years but now seem to notice them slipping more often or causing problems? Unfortunately, this is a very common problem for denture wearers. The longer you wear dentures, the more time your jaw has without supporting tooth roots. When there are no longer roots to support, you begin to experience bone loss in the jaw. Maybe you have noticed your facial features collapsing inward? This is due to that bone loss.

The good news is, even with bone loss, you can still be a candidate for dental implants. However, you will likely need an additional procedure. Dental implants need a healthy jawbone to stabilize the implants. If you do not have enough bone, you will need to have a bone grafting procedure before you can have implants. Your oral surgeon will evaluate your jawbone for implants and determine if a bone graft is necessary, as well as which type of implants would work best. In addition to replacing a slipping denture, the implant placement will also stimulate bone growth in the jaw and help stop facial collapse.

 

When is it too late to get dental implants?

The good news is it is never too late to choose dental implants when it comes to age. However, as you age, there are some age-related conditions that can contribute to implant failure and make you a poor candidate for implant placement.

Ideal dental implant candidates

When considering dental implants, your oral surgeon will look at a variety of different factors. They will do a thorough oral exam and look at your overall medical history. During this evaluation, they are looking for certain factors, including:

• Good general health
• Enough bone to support implants or eligible for bone grafts
• Healthy gum tissue

 

Factors that can contribute to poor implant results

Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. Certain conditions can increase the risk of dental implant failure, meaning the implants will not bond well with the jawbone, or the tissue may not heal correctly. Some areas for concern can include:

• Underlying medical conditions – Conditions such as diabetes, cancer, alcoholism, or uncontrolled gum disease, to name a few, can increase the risk of implant failure.
• Certain medications – Medications that affect the immune system or bleeding, such as steroids or blood thinners, can affect your body’s ability to heal.
• Smoking – Smoking affects your body’s ability to heal.
• Oral habits – If you grind or clench your teeth, this may put too much pressure on your dental implants and lead to failure.

Even with one of these concerns, you may still be a good candidate for dental implants. Your oral surgeon will discuss everything with you and, in some cases, can work with you and your physician to help increase your overall health and implant success rate.

 

Age is merely a number and not a factor when it comes to implants

It is never too late for dental implants, no matter what your age. Even if you have lived with dentures for years, changing over to dental implants can eliminate the slipping of dentures when you eat or talk. In addition, implants can help keep your facial features from collapsing as bone loss occurs, helping you keep a more youthful smile. At Image Dental, we understand that tooth loss can be difficult to deal with, as well as choosing which tooth replacement option is best for you. Our caring team of dental professionals is here to help you every step of the way. Visit us online or call the office today to schedule an appointment and let us help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile you can enjoy throughout retirement.

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What Is an Impacted Tooth?

Wisdom teeth may not make you wise, but they can indeed be painful for some people. That is when they become impacted. What is an impacted tooth?

According to research, around 24% of people globally suffer from impacted teeth. Your wisdom tooth can be impacted when it cannot grow properly. However, that doesn’t mean you always have to go through a painful experience.

This article will learn all about impacted teeth -- their causes, symptoms, and treatment options. By the end, you would have a clear understanding of the topic to make an informed health decision.

 

What are impacted teeth?

Our last set of wisdom teeth or third molars can emerge well beyond adulthood. They are placed at the end of the jaw after the rows of teeth and can develop till you are 40.

However, the third molar does not always get enough room to develop well. It can emerge partially or even stay entirely inside the gums. In such cases, we say your wisdom tooth is impacted.

There are two types of impacted teeth:

• Soft tissue impacted wisdom tooth: It means your third molar has emerged partially, but the rest is under the gums.
• Bony impact: Your wisdom tooth is completely submerged in the jaw bone.

An impacted tooth can grow at any angle and push against your gums and other teeth. It can also lie at 180-degrees, known as a horizontal impacted wisdom tooth.

 

Signs and symptoms of an impacted tooth

Impacted teeth may or may not cause complications. For some people, an impacted tooth stays without creating any pain or damaging other teeth or jawbone. However, for others, an impacted tooth can get infected or create dental issues.

If that happens, you can experience symptoms like:

• Pain or swelling in your gums and jaw
• Sensitive or bleeding gums
• Unsavory taste in your mouth
• Stinky breath

Your dentist may suggest removing the problematic tooth to ease your symptoms and prevent further damage.

 

Causes of an impacted tooth

The next thing people enquire after what is an impacted tooth is its causes.

Your wisdom teeth can turn impacted when they can’t grow normally due to a shortage of space. You can also get impacted teeth when your molars shoot out at the wrong angles.

Certain risk factors may increase your chances of getting an impacted tooth, like:

• An overcrowded jaw
• Genetics
• Lack of orthodontic treatment
• Your age (17 – 40 years)

 

Do impacted teeth hurt?

Impacted third molars don’t always hurt or cause problems. Therefore, your impacted tooth can stay as it is without causing pain.

However, for others, the experience can be quite painful. In addition, food particles may get stuck on your wisdom teeth as they are difficult to clean. That can lead to a range of gum problems and complications. Your impacted teeth can also hurt when they push against other teeth or gums.

Some of the complications of an impacted tooth are:

• Cavities: Tiny holes develop on your decaying molars.
• Tooth abscess: Infected teeth develop pockets of pus.
• Gum disease: Improper cleaning leads to periodontal diseases like pericoronitis.
• Malocclusion: Bite affected due to nonaligned teeth.
• Crooked teeth due to crowding: Molars push against other teeth, making them crooked
• Cysts: Cysts filled with fluid can form on your jawbone in the space of your wisdom teeth.
• Adsorption of bone or adjacent teeth: Loss of bone or parts of teeth adjacent to impacted molars.

 

 

Treatment options for impacted teeth

Your dentist will choose the right treatment option based on your circumstances. You may not even need a tooth extraction if you do not have any pain or symptoms.

However, for problematic cases, your doctor can try the following:

For pain management

You may receive over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling in your gums. Other helpful ways to relieve pain are:

• Ice packs
• Rinsing the mouth with saltwater
• Numbing dental gels
• Home remedies like clove oil, peppermint mouthwash, and turmeric

Oral surgery

Oral surgery is a proven way to get rid of your impacted teeth. Your dentist will use anesthesia for the outpatient procedure that lasts a maximum of one hour. You will get a stitch and have to follow your dentist’s instructions till you heal.

Surgery is a safe treatment, but some people worry about complications like impacted wisdom teeth removal nerve damage. However, they are very rare.

What type of dentist removes impacted wisdom teeth?

You can go to an oral surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon to remove your impacted teeth.

Metallic braces

Metallic braces can help you get back your impacted teeth to the right position in some cases. Your orthodontist will make an incision in your gum and expose your wisdom tooth. You will get your braces that pull your wisdom tooth to its right place.

Clear braces like Invisalign

Clear braces like Invisalign can help you realign your impacted teeth in certain cases. Your dentist will use special techniques and metal attachments to put on the braces and straighten your wisdom tooth.

Damaged fillings

Regular dental filling can treat any cavities or loss of teeth. However, it’s not a good choice to refill decaying impacted teeth.

 

Final thoughts

Your wisdom teeth can get trapped in or under your gums and become impacted. The condition can be painful for some people and lead to dental complications. Your dentists will suggest the right treatment method based on your condition that might include wisdom tooth removal.

We have experienced dentists at Image Dental to treat your impacted tooth and help you live pain-free. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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Top Reasons Why New Filling Hurts

So, you got a tooth filling to deal with the cavities, and your new filling hurts when chewing?

Rarely, it can be due to an allergic reaction to the filling material, and you’d it sooner since you worked closely with your dentist the entire process.

So, why does your filling hurt? Let’s find out.

 

When do you need dental fillings?

You will need dental fillings when you have cavities in your teeth. Toothaches are notorious for the amount of pain that they cause. Depending on the extent of your tooth decay, the pain can range from minute to absolutely unbearable.

A CDC report suggests that over 91% of US citizens did not know that they had cavities. There is a chance that you could avoid dental pain altogether, but it all depends on your teeth profile and how much damage is caused to your mouth. Here are some of the signs that you might need dental fillings:

• If you notice yellow or brown spots in your mouth
• If you feel heightened sensitivity in one side of the mouth, especially when you chew hard foods.
• If you face occasional toothaches for no reason, that usually go away with pain medicines.

 

What should you expect after the procedure?

When you go to the dentist to get a filling, the first thing they will do is numb the area. It could be through an injection or a spray-on form of anesthetic. Once you lose all sensation in the area, the dentist proceeds to clean the infected area. Lastly, the broken tooth filling is put into place to complete the process.

You may feel numb for a few hours. The amount of time it takes for the sensation in the teeth to come back depends on the amount of anesthesia used and how your mouth reacts to it, of course. Children are easier to deal with during this process since they are fascinated due to the lack of feeling. The pain comes back slowly after a few hours, and it should feel like pins and needles stinging the area.

You probably won’t feel or even control your mouth after the process is completed, so drinking and eating in public is not a very good idea. The best thing to do is to go home and consume as light a meal as possible.

 

New filling hurts when I bite. How long will the pain last?

On average, your teeth should hurt for about 14 to 21 days. If you try eating hard foods during this time, it could take even longer for the teeth to recover. The reason behind the pain is that the nerves in your teeth are still getting used to the replacement. During the recovery period, you will also experience sensitivity, and it is recommended that you avoid eating hot or cold foods during this time.

But, if you find that the pain does not reduce in intensity and it lasts months after the procedure, here are some of the reasons why your new filling hurts when chewing:

1. Tooth sensitivity

If you have very sensitive teeth, it is normal for the pain to last longer than usual. This is because they are more reactive to stimuli than is normal. As mentioned earlier, avoid eating too hot or cold food in the weeks after receiving a filling. You should also take note of the air temperature and the pressure of the bite; make it as neutral as possible.

2. Allergic reaction to fillings

Mercury is one of the materials used to make dental amalgam that is used as filling. They have been in use for the last 150 years, and few cases of amalgam allergy have ever been reported. In any case, you must discuss your history of allergies with your dentist before the process.

3. Incorrectly placed fillings

In rarer cases than allergies, it could be that the filling has been placed incorrectly, which causes more pain. That is why it is vital to go for follow-up visits to your dentist after the procedure to ensure that the filling is in a good position.

4. Oral infection

If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, there is a very good chance that the pain you feel can worsen. Dentists recommend using a soft brush to clean your teeth regularly and carefully floss to remove food bits.

5. Damaged fillings

If you get injured around the mouth or chew extremely hard food, there is a chance that the filling can get damaged. In this case, the broken pieces can cause further damage to your mouth, which is already in a lot of pain. Again, this illustrates why follow-up visits and proper diet are important in the time after the procedure.

 

Preventing and taking care of teeth

Since your mouth is already heightened in sensitivity after receiving your dental filling, you must take good care of your teeth. Here are some of the steps you can follow to maintain oral health at home:

• Brush softly and use a soft brush that your dentist prescribes to you.
• Rinse your mouth with warm water regularly.
• Put ice on the swollen area if the pain in your mouth persists.
• Consult your dentist and take Ibuprofen or Tylenol to ease the pain.

 

Wrapping up

Now you know the main reasons why your teeth hurt after your cavities have been treated. In worse cases, you might have to replace the filling with a root canal to save the tooth. Taking proper care of your teeth is very important to minimize the chances of contracting an infection.

You should also watch over your diet to make sure that you don’t eat hot or cold food. It is normal to experience pain for a couple of weeks. However, you may want to consult your dentist to ensure everything is alright.

For more information about dental fillings or want to consult a dentist, visit us at Image Dental. To book an appointment, you can visit our website or call us at (209) 955-1500.

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Oral Health: Alcohol Effects on Teeth and Gums

Carbonated drinks and soda are bad for your teeth. But is alcohol bad for teeth as well? Are all kinds of alcoholic drinks damaging to your oral health? In this post, we’ll talk about the effects of alcohol on your dental health and if some types of drinks are harmless.

By the time you get to the end, you’ll also be fully aware of how to unwind without damaging your teeth and oral health at all. So, let’s begin by addressing the big question.

 

How does alcohol affect teeth?

Most alcoholic drinks contain tons of sugar. Especially wine and beer, their sugar content is natural in the sense that no added sugar is present in their composition. However, all such drinks are acidic.

However, if you consume a lot of alcohol, there is a chance that you may experience enamel decay. If you also have poor dental hygiene, then you are further exposing yourself to dental damage. Here are some of the specific effects of alcohol on your teeth:

 

Dental decay

The most amount of acidic content that your mouth can tolerate is about 5.5 on the pH scale. But the liquor, along with the mixing agents used to make drinks, all fall very low on the scale. Ideally, your saliva should be slightly basic, which is just above 7.0 pH.

If your mouth is exposed to an acidic environment for a long time, it is easier for bacteria to attack your teeth. The problem is the same with sugary drinks since they contain a lot of processed sugar on top of being acidic. In other words, alcohol and tooth decay share a cause-and-effect relation.

 

Teeth staining

Visually, what does alcohol do to your teeth? If you drink dark-colored drinks, you may suffer teeth staining. Drinks such as red wine have high tannin content and can leave a reddish stain on your teeth. Purple drinks can leave their mark in the form of colorations once you’re done. To prevent this, you should rinse your mouth or even brush right after you drink.

 

Gum diseases and effects on gums

It is very unlikely that your gums will be affected if you drink every once in a while. However, a study shows there is a strong correlation between heavy drinking and the development of gingivitis. Your mouth’s microbiome can be negatively influenced by constant exposure to alcohol and could lead to a lot of complications if you don’t take care of yourself.

If you’re a regular beer-drinker, you’ll want to cut down on your consumption because there is a link between periodontitis and alcohol reliance. Much like sugary drinks, beer and wine contain a lot of sugar, leading to bacteria infesting your mouth. Excessive sugar intake can cause irritation, bad breath, swelling, or in severe cases, bleeding.

Due to further neglect, advanced gum diseases can also cause the loosening of gums and eventual teeth loss. So, you could be looking at the long-term problems if you subject yourself to heavy alcohol dependency.

 

Effects of drinking on the tongue

Drinking causes dryness in the mouth. No matter how much you consume, there is always a sense of dryness following alcohol consumption. As proven by various other studies, a dry mouth is not a healthy mouth and is subject to all kinds of attacks from bacteria.

Since dryness is basically the absence of saliva in your mouth, it becomes difficult to deal with the acidity. As mentioned earlier, slightly basic saliva is essential in combating tooth damage due to drinking. Heavy drinking can also cause a white tongue, a condition where a white coating appears on the tongue. While it can also appear due to the food debris from an unclean mouth, it can also appear due to dehydration and alcohol usage.

 

Other risks of alcohol on oral health

You should also be aware of the other ways in which liquor consumption affects oral health. These are some of the not-so-common occurrences of declining oral health:

• Oral cancer: Some studies state that there is a chance that alcohol, along with tobacco, may lead to oral cancer. While people who take both substances may seem more susceptible to developing the disease, it is not to say that you are safe if you only have one of these habits.
• Dental trauma: Dental trauma is when your teeth are more susceptible to damage if you are in an accident or fall. This can result in missing teeth if you sustain any form of damage to the mouth and result in the teeth’ overall weakness.
  However, hard drinks often do not contain a lot of sugar, especially when you’re using water to dilute it. So, you’re a little safer if you’re a hard drinker.

 

Can I still enjoy alcohol without worrying about my oral health?

The short answer is yes, you can. But, you also need to take care of these other aspects to ensure that you do not risk your oral health:

• Drink moderately to limit the amount of acid exposure in the mouth. This is also a good way to maintain other aspects of health.
• Brush after drinking to clear away the bacteria that comes into your mouth.
• Rinse your mouth after a drink if you do not have access to a brush.
• Ensure you maintain proper oral hygiene regularly.
• Eat snacks while drinking to encourage saliva production and limit acid attacks.
• Drink a bottle of water through the session.

 

What have we discussed?

Does alcohol rot your teeth? Not really, but to an extent. So far, we have discussed the effect of alcohol on teeth and gums. As you can see, it is essential that you maintain proper oral hygiene and don’t overdrink to ensure that your mouth and your teeth are healthy and strong.

If you need help maintaining your dental health, contact Image Dental now. Visit us online today to schedule an appointment or call the office at (209) 955-1500.

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Does Coffee Cause Cavities?

If your day includes at least one cup of coffee, you are not alone. According to the National Coffee Association, 7 in 10 Americans drink coffee every week, with 62% drinking at least one cup of coffee every day, with the average coffee drinker consuming over three cups a day. While this wonderful beverage may give you the energy to get through your day, is it healthy for your oral health? At Image Dental, our goal is to help you promote a healthy smile. The good news is being a regular coffee drinker doesn’t mean your oral health is necessarily in danger.

 

Coffee and cavities

You have probably heard people say that coffee is not good for your teeth but does it really cause cavities? The truth is coffee itself does not directly cause cavities, but it can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel or the protective layer of your tooth. Coffee is highly acidic and drinking it on a regular basis can contribute to the weakening of your enamel. When your enamel breaks down, bacteria can easily enter, causing decay and cavities. Drinking coffee with added creamers and sugars increases the bacterial production in your mouth, increasing your risk of developing cavities.

But coffee isn’t all bad for your teeth and new research even shows it can help prevent cavity development. A 2002 study shows that roasted coffee beans have antibacterial activities against certain bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, that are a major cause of cavities. It appears coffee prevents adhesion of this bacteria to tooth enamel. Another study from 2009 compared regular coffee drinkers with those that did not consume coffee and found that people drinking black coffee without any additives showed lower cavity scores.

 

Preventing cavities

While black coffee shows benefits in cavity reduction, not everyone drinks their coffee black. If you enjoy that caramel macchiato or add a splash of creamer and two cubes of sugar to your coffee, your risk of cavity development increases. The good news is there are things you can do to reduce the risk. Consider these tips when drinking your favorite beverage.

• Drink with a straw – Drinking your coffee through a straw minimizes the contact with your teeth.
• Sip water – Drinking sugary coffee allows the sugars to build up in your mouth, especially if you sip coffee throughout the day. Sipping water in between coffee helps to wash away the sugary substances that sit on your teeth.
• Wait to brush your teeth – Because the acid in coffee can weaken your enamel, wait at least 20 minutes after your coffee to brush your teeth. This gives your enamel time to harden before brushing.
• Practice good oral hygiene – Regular brushing and flossing, along with regular dental checkups, help to promote a healthy mouth and reduce the risk of cavities.

 

 

Other effects of coffee: tooth discoloration

Coffee contains the natural ingredient tannin. This is a polyphenol that breaks down in water and is also found in tea and wine. Unfortunately, tannins contribute to discoloration of the enamel of the tooth. These tannins can stain the surface of your enamel. In addition, the acidic properties of coffee can break down your enamel, exposing the dentin of your tooth, giving a yellowish appearance. While many people think adding creamer can reduce the risk of discoloration, this is not the case. The addition of creamer can actually increase the enamel breakdown, increasing the yellowish appearance.

 

Different types of tooth discoloration

There are two different types of tooth discoloration. Extrinsic discoloration affects the outer layer of the enamel and is the most common form of discoloration from coffee tannins. Intrinsic discoloration comes from the inner structure of the tooth, or the dentin, and is exposed when the enamel weakens. Intrinsic discoloration is often due to excessive fluoride exposure in childhood, use of tetracycline antibiotics in childhood, dental trauma, or the rare condition dentinogenesis imperfecta, which causes gray or purple tooth discoloration.

 

 

Treatment options

The good news is you don’t have to live with stained teeth. Many different treatment options can help remove extrinsic stains from coffee tannins and give you back your beautiful white smile.

Good oral hygiene

A good oral hygiene routine that includes regular brushing and flossing can help to slowly remove coffee stains as they happen and keep your teeth looking their best. Consider brushing with whitening toothpaste for best results.

Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

Another treatment option that helps remove coffee stains combines hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Hydrogen peroxide stimulates the tooth enamel to release the tannins in the teeth and baking soda simply helps to speed the reaction. While you may already use a toothpaste with peroxide or baking soda, you can make your own treatment by mixing a few drops or hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to create a paste. Simply apply the paste to your teeth and leave it on for 15 minutes before brushing your teeth.

Professional cleaning

General guidelines recommend a professional dental cleaning every six months to help maintain good oral health and help your dentist catch possible dental concerns before they become a problem. The good news is these regular dental cleanings also help to remove coffee stains and give you back a bright and beautiful smile.

Teeth whitening treatments

Teeth whitening treatments are another option to help remove coffee stains. You can choose over-the-counter home treatments for minimal staining, or you can talk to your dentist about professional in-office whitening treatments to address serious coffee stains and tooth discoloration.

 

Preventing tooth discoloration

The good news is you can also work to prevent tooth discoloration from your coffee. Similar to cavity prevention from coffee, these tips help reduce the risk of staining when you sip your favorite brew.

• Use a straw – While your favorite coffee shop adds a straw to your cup to make drinking easier, it also helps to keep your teeth white. Drinking through a straw reduces the amount of contact your coffee has with your teeth, reducing the risk of tooth staining.
• Drink lots of water – Drinking water in between your coffee helps to wash away coffee particles and tannins, reducing the risk of staining.

 

You can love coffee and still have a healthy smile!

You don’t have to say goodbye to your favorite coffee beverage in order to have a healthy smile. Adjusting how you drink your coffee and make sure to follow a good oral hygiene routine can help you keep your smile bright and healthy while you still enjoy your favorite cup of Joe. At Image Dental we are here to answer all your dental questions and our preventive dentistry team is here to help you schedule your regular dental cleanings to keep the coffee stains at bay. For more information about coffee and your teeth or to schedule an appointment, visit us online today or call the office at (209) 955-1500.

Does Coffee Cause Cavities? is republished from: Image Dental

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3453 Brookside Rd Suite A, Stockton, CA 95219
(209) 955-1500
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