Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. It affects many parts of your body negatively and your mouth is no exception. Smoking is especially bad for your teeth because it can increase the level of bacteria present in your mouth, plus increase your chance of tooth decay and gum disease. Smoking causes your teeth to yellow and stain, not to mention cause halitosis. There is also a link between oral cancer and smoking.
In recent years vaping has gained popularity. As more people have taken to this new method of consuming nicotine, more studies have been done to understand the impact of vaping. Overall, these studies conclude that vaping can cause excess bacteria and gum inflammation; some may cause dry mouth and overall irritation. Vaping aerosols have been linked to DNA damage responsible for tooth decay, tooth loss, periodontal diseases, and bone loss. Vaping, likesmoking,poses serious health threats. Any cosmetic dentist Plano TX will tell you either one is awful for your smile.
Teeth Grinding And Other Mechanical Problems
By grinding your teeth, you destroy the enamel protecting them. This loss of the tooth’s natural shield against the outside world can result in tooth decay which can negatively impact your smile.
Chewing things other than food also leads to enamel loss and, ultimately, tooth decay. Often, we do these things without even realizing we are doing so, such as biting our nails or nibbling on a pen’s cap. Far from being harmless, over time, these activities can lead to broken-down enamel. Chewing ice also deserves mention since it commonly creates minor fractures on your teeth.
Other mechanical damage can come from brushing your teeth with the wrong toothbrush or doing so too hard. This leads to enamel erosion and gum irritation, and inflammation, which can result ina receding gum line. A receding gum line is not the most flattering on a smile and can lead to further complications.
Sucking your thumb as a child or constantly having other things in your mouth such as pacifiers can be very detrimental to your smile. By having foreign objects in your mouth, you may be pushing teeth out and deforming your natural smile.
Last on the mechanical issues list is using your teeth to open things or as a tool in general. Your teeth were meant to chew food, when you try to use it in any other way, you put your smile in jeopardy.
Too Much Sugar
Everyone knows that too much sugar can be the downfall of teeth, especially when it comes from sticky and chewy candy as it is more difficult to clean. Proper hygiene can prevent a lot of this damage but limiting your sugar intake is crucial to protecting your teeth.
Call Today For an Appointment With Dr. David H. Wilhite
When you need only the greatest cosmetic dentist Plano, TX has to offer, you can trust that Dr. David H. Wilhite is the go-to.
With his expertise and master craftsmanship, you will be provided with only the absolute best dental treatment you can’t find anywhere else.
Having straight teeth and a beautiful, white smile has become the goal of most people. Everyone wants their children to have the perfect smile. While this standard is not the same across the world, straight smiles are very coveted in the US, which is why cosmetic dentistry has advanced so much in recent years.
Braces And Crooked Teeth
In American culture, braces have become a staple of high school life. Almost a rite of passage. The teenage years are a great time to fix a crooked smile. At this younger age, the teeth are easier to move than later on in life, which leads to quicker results.
While we typically think of teenagers when we think of braces, adults, too, can benefit from cosmetic dentistry and braces. They are a very effective option for straightening teeth and improving smiles well into adulthood.
A straight smile is not the only goal of braces. The alignment of the teeth & the function of the bite, along with hygiene considerations are all very important when straightening teeth.
Invisalign
If traditional braces are not your style, do not worry, there is an alternative. With Invisalign, you get the same benefits, but instead of wire braces the patient wears clear aligners that slowly straighten the teeth. Invisalign is a comfortable, barely detectable option that can achieve excellent results.
Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain crowns can be an excellent solution for slightly crooked teeth when cosmetic dentistry is your goal. Crowns can also address the shade and shape of moderately crooked & crowded teeth while also improving the appearance of chipped or cracked teeth.
Dr. David H. Wilhite Offers The Best Cosmetic Dentistry Around
If you’re seeking an exceptionally trained cosmetic dentist in your local area, look no further than to Dr. David H. Wilhite.
Dr. Wilhite aims to provide each and every one of his clients with the perfect smile.
Everyone loves to have a bright, beautiful smile. It seems every public figure, Hollywood celebrity, and tv personality nowadays has a perfect smile, and there are good reasons for this.
Visually, our minds perceive a healthy smile to be a beautiful smile and vice versa. Beauty and health go hand in hand. Rosy lips and white teeth signal signs of youth and wellness. Having an attractive smile tells the world that you care about your appearance as well as your health.
So now you know why everyone instinctively wants a great smile and why you should strive for one as well. It’s not only about your looks but alo your well-being.
Of course, creating a perfect smile will require the help of a skilled dentist, especially a Plano cosmetic dentist.
How to Get That Smile
Fortunately for those who were not born with great teeth, modern dentistry has advanced tremendously and offers a myriad of ways to make those pearly whites shine. Ask your Plano cosmetic dentist which is best for you.
Porcelain Crowns
If you want to improve your smile and your confidence, crowns are the way to go. Crowns are typically made of porcelain, which allows you and your cosmetic dentist to pick the perfect shade.
Crowns are stain-resistant and can protect your teeth for a very long time if you take care of them. With crowns, you can fix a gap in your teeth, change the size and shape of a tooth and improve the color or shade of a tooth.
Braces And Invisalign
Everyone knows how traditional wire braces can fix a smile but what they may not know is that Invisalign can achieve the same without much of the hassle of braces and in about half the time. Want to fix your smile for good? Ask your dentist about Invisalign.
Dental Implants
If you are missing a tooth, there are a couple of different options. These may include bridges, partials or implants.
An implant is an ideal choice for long term success.The great thing about an implant is that it replaces the root of a tooth and prevents further bone loss that typically occurs with partials and bridges. An implant will look and feel like your natural tooth.
Give us a Call And Dr. David H. Wilhite Will Gladly Fix Your Smile
Dr. Wilhite is one of the most renowned dentists in the area and will do everything in his power to ensure you’re given the perfect smile. He is committed to continuously develop his skills in aesthetics, making him the go-to Plano cosmetic dentist.
Everyone loves a beautiful smile, so much so that we go to great lengths and expense to achieve them. Our smile is often a big part of the first impression we make, making the first impression essential.
Having a great smile is also a self-esteem booster, but beyond the aesthetics and how good it feels to look in the mirror and see a radiant smile, there are health benefits that make that smile much more critical. Having a crooked or misaligned bite, overcrowding of teeth, and an over or underbite can lead to serious oral health problems. Plaque is more likely to accumulate, and bacteria more likely to promote tooth decay, gum disease and other issues. Correcting your bite is no longer a matter of looks but an investment in your oral health and, by extension, your overall well being.
With the benefits of having a corrected bite, it is no wonder that so many people choose to have their teeth fixed. There are several methods, but the one that piles on the benefits is Invisalign. Unlike braces, Invisalign does not rub against your gums, causing bleeding and irritation; it is flexible in that you can take them off for a time and put them back on again and allow you to brush your teeth a lot better than braces could.
With Invisalign, you do not need to place your life on hold for a couple of years, as it happens with braces. In fact, when you get invisalign in Plano, you can take your smile to the next level.
How Long Does it Take?
This depends on your case, every person is different, and while some might just require minor adjustments, other people may have a highly complex case.
Usually, braces take about a year and a half to two years to achieve the desired smile. With Invisalign, you can accomplish this in as little as six months if you have an easy case or as much as 12 months for the more complex cases. In other words, Invisalign takes about half the time to correct your bite than braces do. This, by comparison, is lightning fast.
Imagine cutting in half the time it takes to have the perfect smile by just choosing a different method.With Invisalign in Plano, that is precisely what you would be doing.
Interested in Getting Invisalign in Plano? Contact Dr. David H. Wilhite
There has never been a better time than now to talk to your dentist about Invisalign in Plano, TX. If you are ready to start smiling more and put your teeth problems in the rearview mirror, do not wait. Give us a call now and schedule a consultation to review your case and see if Invisalign is the right course of action for you.
Most people experience jaw pain from time to time. This tends to be passing pain, like when you yawn a little too widely or take too large of a bite, or have dental work done. However, for some people, the pain can be long-lasting and can radiate around the head, causing misery. Women are more prone to having jaw pain, making up approximately 70% of the people affected. While everyone will experience TMJ differently, some of the more common TMJ symptoms include the following:
1. Popping And Clicking Jaw
When you open your jaw wide, if you notice any popping or clicking around the jaw, you may be suffering from TMJ; even if this is your only symptom and does not require treatment, you should inform your dentist on your next visit and prevent it from worsening.
2. Jaw Pain
If you grind your teeth, you may end up having an uneven bite, and if your teeth are not aligned, your jaw will automatically try to compensate for the misalignment. This automatic compensation can lead to overextending on one side and over-taxing the muscles connecting your jaw and skull. When this happens, pain can become present when chewing or opening the jaw widely in a yawn or even while talking.
3. Pain In General
Sometimes the pain caused by TMJ can manifest elsewhere. Headaches and pains in the neck are common, the shoulder can also manifest this pain, and in some cases, the patient might feel toothaches that are, in fact, caused by the jaw.
4. Muscle Fatigue
If you are constantly compensating for unaligned teeth, the muscles in your jaw are likely working overtime and, as such, tired. If you notice that one side of your face feels tired, consult your dentist.
5. Increased Chewing Effort
If chewing is becoming difficult, if you need to exert more effort to eat, it could be due to a misalignment. You should check your alignment in the mirror and see if you have to strain to keep it straight. If you notice any swelling in your face, you may have over-taxed your muscles resulting in inflammation. If any of these symptoms are ever-present, you should consult with your Plano dentist right away and address them right away.
Other symptoms are not as obvious, and you may miss them. For example, becoming dizzy and having trouble sleeping are common side effects of TMJ. Ear pain and blurry vision can also be caused by it as well as cluster headaches and pain in your temples. If you are not sure, have your dentist give you a diagnosis.
Not Sure if You Have TMJ, Let Dr. David H. Wilhite Help You
If you have tried at-home remedies for TMJ without the results you were hoping to get and just want the problem to go away, call us for an appointment. We have extensive training in bite-related disorders and TMJ – so much so that many local general dentists refer TMJ patients to Dr. Wilhite. Do not hesitate, call now at 972-964-3774 or visit our contact page today!
