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A routine dental checkup every six months is essential for everyone, regardless of the time of the year. However, the need for dental checkups increases significantly when the New Year arrives. If you wonder what is unique about the arrival of the new year to schedule a dental checkup for you and your family, you probably forget how you ended the year passing by, thinking nothing exceptional has occurred with your and your family’s teeth.

This article talks about why you need a dental checkup with the arrival of the new year and how it ensures you maintain your dental and overall health in optimal shape for 2023. Kindly read for more details.

The Importance of a Dental Checkup after 2022 Ends

As 2022 comes to a close, you spend time with your family enjoying festivities like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the arrival of 2023, feasting on foods and beverages you think are justified without considering how your teeth dread the time, and your mouth bacteria enjoy themselves with you. Unfortunately, the end of the year is also when you or your family members are more likely to neglect dental hygiene while concentrating on enjoying the foods and beverages besides the festive atmosphere.

Your neglected dental hygiene reacts in the cooler atmosphere to make you susceptible to infections you wouldn’t want, making it essential to receive treatments for them instead of using a preventive measure to avoid them before they occur. The significance of dental checkups in Plano, TX, gains prominence as a preventive measure for your family’s dental health and needs attention immediately without delay.

The Benefits of a Dental Checkup

Dental checkups at any time enable the professionals from the Plano dental office to examine your family’s teeth and gums comprehensively to determine whether infections manifest in your mouth and treat them immediately before the aggregate.

For example, a kid might have micro-cavities on or between teeth that dentists detect by taking x-rays. When professionals identify the problem, they suggest filling the cavity with composite resin fillings to prevent needing intensive treatments later.

Similarly, if you haven’t noticed inflammation of the gums or bleeding from your teeth and brushing and flossing, dentists can identify the presence of gum disease in your mouth to recommend a deep cleaning and changes to your dental hygiene routine to inhibit the condition in its tracks before it expands to moderate or aggressive periodontitis.

Besides the above, dentists discuss the benefits of having a healthy diet with your entire family by cutting sugar intake and including simple carbohydrates to receive essential vitamins that your teeth need to remain in optimal shape.

Kindly do not presume your family doesn’t need dental checkups because everyone does. The mouth is the gateway to the entire body, and the bacteria within can spread to it by entering your bloodstream. Dental and mouth infections detected promptly prevent your mouth bacteria from entering your bloodstream, creating complications that might require treatment from different medical professionals.

If you possess dental insurance, your provider covers two dental checkups every year with the policy. Therefore the checkup will not cost you anything but provides peace of mind knowing that your dental and overall health is in prime shape. The benefit extends to your family when you have them accompany you to the Plano dental office for a routine exam and cleaning, leaving all family members with a brighter smile because everyone receives a dental polishing after the cleaning to remove plaque and tartar deposits on and between your teeth. Dental exams and cleanings have many benefits you can avail of without exceptions for yourself and your family. The meeting with the dentists will end within the hour with a reminder to revisit them in six months to receive another dental checkup for your teeth, gums, and general health.

Schedule your dental checkup today!

If you still need to schedule your appointment for a dental checkup, we suggest you do it today by contacting Tru Plano Dental for your entire family. You will do your family’s teeth and health a favor by receiving the dental checkup and helping them enjoy the oncoming year without concerns of dental infections and prepared to enjoy themselves with you without inhibitions.

What Is a Tooth Extraction?

It is a dental procedure that entails permanently pulling out a natural tooth from the jawbone. Usually, tooth extractions are necessary to optimize oral health.

Why Would Anyone Want to Undergo a Tooth Extraction?

Undergoing a tooth extraction in Plano, TX, is rarely a matter of choice. Many patients who undergo these treatment protocols oblige because they are necessary for their general oral health. A dentist can only recommend a tooth extraction when it is a necessary treatment option for a patient. Such instances include:

1. Severe dental decay – a shallow cavity can benefit from various treatment protocols, including dental fillings and root canal therapy. However, a deep one severely damages a tooth structure, and an extraction procedure is the best course of action.
2. Impacted teeth – feature teeth that erupt improperly. They remain partially or fully stuck under the gums, causing discomfort and swelling to the gums and jaw.
3. Crowded mouth – a crowded mouth results from limited space in the jawbone to house all your teeth. In orthodontics, dental experts recommend removing at least one tooth to create extra space in the jawbone for the rest of the teeth to align well.

Recovery Tips

At Tru Plano Dental, we are big on recovery guidelines after any dental treatment. The stakes are higher for surgeries. After tooth extraction, you have between 7 and 14 days to make a full recovery. Some patients take longer than others. During recovery, your lifestyle choices can worsen or better your healing pace. The idea should be to take measures that will speed up your healing process without undermining your comfort. Therefore, any dentist in Plano, 75023, will recommend several dos and don’ts to get you through your recovery, particularly during the first 3 to 7 days.

The Dos After Tooth Extraction

These tips revolve around the freedom areas that can help you maximize your recovery period while taking the necessary precautions. They include:

1. Keep the gauze in the wound until the bleeding stops. You may need to replace it after a few hours to lower the risk of infection.
2. Eat soft foods – the first 72 hours after your procedure will be the most crucial. Soft foods will be gentle on your mouth, avoiding pain and soreness. Some food categories like yogurts, mashed potatoes, smoothies, and well-cooked vegetables are great for your recovery. After the first week, you should be able to integrate other foods into your meals.
3. Keep your mouth clean to avoid bacterial infections.
4. Rest – take time off or work to rest, allowing your body to focus solely on healing.
5. Keep your head elevated when lying down. It will prevent blood pooling in your head, exacerbating swelling and pain.
6. Cold compress the affected side of your cheek. The low temperatures will ease the inflammation and alleviate the pain.
7. Take your pain medication – dentists in Plano, 75023, always prescribe medication that can manage your pain and swelling. Besides, part of your prescription may include antibiotics that will help reduce the chances of infection.

Things to Avoid After Tooth Extraction

A huge marker of a successful tooth extraction treatment is how carefully you adhere to the list of things to avoid after tooth extraction your dentist provides. They are not to limit you or worsen the quality of your life. Instead, they help you protect your extraction wound until it heals well. Some of them include:

1. Smoking and taking alcohol – slow down the healing process.
2. Hard and crunchy foods – may hurt your sensitive gums, worsening the pain and inflammation.
3. Spicy and acidic foods – will aggravate the pain.
4. Drinking through a straw – introduces dry air in your mouth that can cause a dry socket, resulting in immense dental pain.
5. Dislodge the blood clot on the surface of the extraction site – when the wound begins to heal, the body forms a blood clot. Its role is to begin the healing process without bleeding. Dislodging the clot can trigger further bleeding while causing pain. Resist the urge to run your tongue over the wound or poke at it with a sharp object.
6. Intense physical exertions including sports
7. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush to clean your mouth – although keeping a clean mouth is crucial the last thing you need is a fresh wound near the extraction site.

The dental health fraternity is evolving and is more than ever focused on ensuring that patients have access to good dental health care. Gone are the days when dentists could cling to patients even when they could not meet the demands of their oral health.

Instead, more dentists like our dentist in Plano are diversifying into collaborative dentistry, allowing them to put the patient’s needs above all else. But what exactly is collaborative dentistry?

In a nutshell, it means dentists or dental practices that are linked and willing to work together to fulfill the different oral health demands patients may have when they visit their dental clinics. For instance, our family dentistry may recommend our patients to visit another certified emergency dental clinic we collaborate with in case they need emergency dental care in Plano.

This means that our patients can access quality emergency dental care, even when they cannot make their way to our dental clinic. Collaborative dentistry has a lot of benefits for both dentists and patients alike.

Dentists practicing collaboration no longer have to be “jacks of all trades” but can work with other dental specialists to guarantee that their patients receive the quality dental care they need to improve and maintain their oral health.

Why Is It Beneficial to See Dentists Who Collaborate Rather Than Criticize?

Several benefits can be derived from opting to visit a dental clinic or practice that favors collaboration with other specialists within the dental field. For one, your oral health will never be the same again. This is because you will receive dental care from specialists instead of generalized dental care from one dentist.

Additionally, you will be getting value for your time and money because a certified and qualified dentist will handle any dental treatment you undergo. This leaves no room for flopped treatment regimens that will waste your time and money.

In the long run, your oral health will improve drastically, and this will be thanks to the specialized dental care you will receive from collaborating dental teams.

What Are the Advantages of Collaborative Dentistry?

• Quality Dental Care

As a patient, you are guaranteed to receive excellent dental care. This is because a specialist in that particular field will handle any dental needs you have. For instance, you need a comprehensive orthodontic treatment to deal with severe malocclusion. Instead of a general dentist handling the case, they will refer you to an orthodontist in a clinic they collaborate with to receive the comprehensive treatment plan you need to improve your oral health.

You will be accessing quality dental care from different specialists, all aimed at ensuring your dental health is at its best.

• Dental Health Goals Are More Achievable

As a patient, when you visit a dental practice regularly, you may have a goal you are striving to attain. It may be to get a straighter and healthier smile or improve and maintain your oral health.

A general dentist, on their own, may not be able to satisfy or achieve the goals you are aiming for, but a dentist who collaborates with other specialists in the field may be able to help you realize whatever goals you have.

For instance, if you want to undergo a smile makeover at our family dentistry in Plano, we may have to involve different specialists to ensure that your smile makeover is successful at the end of the treatment regimen.

• Saves You Time and Money

Generalized dental care is one of the leading reasons why patients battle dental health issues for long periods. This is because the oral health issues they face may need to be handled by a specialist, but instead, they are handled by a general dentist who is not specialized in that particular field.

Collaborative dentistry will save you time and money. Experts in those fields will handle any dental health issues you have that need specialized dental care. This ensures you will not waste money and time going around a dental health issue but will have it treated in the shortest time possible.

How Can Collaborative Dentistry Improve Your Oral Health?

Collaborative dentistry guarantees you and your loved ones receive quality and specialized dental care. This will transform your oral health and ensure that your dental care needs are met with the uttermost precision.

Contact us today at Tru Plano Dental for quality dental care.

Teeth are known to be sturdy; in fact, they are sturdier than bones. It is this fact that most people might be a bit cavalier about caring for them. Your teeth can serve you for an entire lifetime, but it takes deliberate care each day. You must be intentional daily to ensure that your pearly whites are bacteria and plaque-free. You also must visit our dentist in Plano at least twice a year.

Now that October is here with us let it be the month that you decide to start the journey of keeping your teeth clean.

Why Is Dental Hygiene Important?

Dental hygiene is vital to your oral health. If you don’t care for your teeth as you should, you can develop gum disease or tooth decay. Gum disease causes severe complications to your oral health. It affects the gingival tissue and other tissue that hold the teeth in place, including the underlying bone.

Tooth decay will lead to a tooth infection and eventually tooth loss. If you combine these two dental issues, you will have to deal with things missing teeth, bone loss, and receding gingival tissue.

These dental issues can be avoided when you clean your teeth. Oral hygiene is the cheapest and easiest way to preserve teeth, facial structure, and bone mass.

On the other hand, your oral hygiene affects more than your oral health. Your oral health will also feel the impact of poor oral health. When you don’t clean your teeth, harmful bacteria will accumulate in your mouth. Bacteria don’t regularly enter the bloodstream via the mouth, but if your mouth isn’t clean, this can easily happen.

Even though the specific relationship between an unhealthy mouth and the development of certain oral health issues is still being studied, preliminary studies show a connection. In other words, studies have revealed that poor oral health can lead to the development of certain health conditions, such as pneumonia, diabetes, pregnancy complications, and cardiovascular issues.

As you can see, your daily oral habits can go a long way in keeping your oral and overall health in tip-top shape. Plus, you will avoid the scenarios where you need to seek the services of our emergency dentist in Plano due to pain arising from tooth decay or infection.

What Are Some Ways to Maintain Good Dental Hygiene?

Brushing and flossing are the main ways people can clean their teeth. However, there are other things that you must do to maintain proper oral hygiene. Let’s check them out:

Brushing        

You must already know by heart that you must brush your teeth each day after meals to remove food debris and bacteria. But brushing has to be done correctly to ensure that it’s effective.

Therefore, as a rule of thumb, practice the two-by-two rule. In other words, brush twice a day and brush for no less than two minutes. Spend 30 seconds on every quadrant, and you will cover all the surfaces within two minutes.

Also, the technique is vital. You need to angle the brush at 45 degrees towards the gum line to remove food debris that would accumulate in this area.

Flossing                     

Since brushing covers three teeth surfaces, you should incorporate flossing into your daily routine. Floss no less than once each day to remove debris from the hard-to-reach areas.

Use an Anti-microbial Rinse

A good mouthwash will boost your oral health because it deals with bacteria that might be lingering in your mouth.

Check Your Diet           

What you eat is equally important since certain foods enhance your oral health, whereas others cause a lot of harm. So, eat more fruits and vegetables, take dairy products, and drink more water.

Regularly Visit Our Dentist

Visiting our dentist in Plano every six months will ensure that nothing catches you off-guard, and any developing issue can easily be dealt with.

What Are Some Common Dental Hygiene Problems?

Sporadically caring for your teeth can lead to the following dental problems:

• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Tooth Sensitivity
• Gingivitis
• Broken and cracked teeth
• Oral cancer

How Can I Find a Dental Hygienist?

Living today has its perks, one of which is that you can find almost anything via the internet. You can check online for dental hygienists in your area if you need a dental hygienist.

Dental practices will have contact numbers, email addresses, and even social media accounts that you can use to communicate with them. If you need a dental hygienist, you can contact us at Tru Plano Dental, and we will set up your appointment.

The food we eat plays a huge role in ensuring our bodies and teeth are healthy. Generally speaking, many teeth healthy food and drinks have a high level of nutrients but are low in sugar concentration. You should take highly processed foods and hard candy in moderation as they can damage teeth. This article will provide a list of foods that are good for your teeth to help you achieve optimal oral health.

Why Paying Attention to Your Teeth Is Important

From an early age, our parents did their best to incorporate the habit of practicing good oral hygiene. And research shows that they were right in doing so; good oral hygiene has been linked to good health. For example, people who practice good oral hygiene have a much lower chance of getting health complications such as diabetes, heart disease, and oral cancer.

Furthermore, by practicing good oral hygiene, you can protect yourself from tooth decay, infection, and other oral problems caused by bacteria accumulation in the mouth. So if you care about your oral health and wish to maintain a healthy smile, ensure you brush and floss regularly while going to a dental clinic in Plano, TX, for regular checkups and dental cleaning.

The Dental Benefits of Certain Autumn Foods and Drinks

1. Milk

Milk is rich in calcium and thus responsible for strong, healthy teeth. The tooth enamel is rich in calcium, making it strong enough to fight decay-causing bacteria while withstanding chewing pressure.

2. Yogurt

Yogurt is a milk product which means it’s highly rich in calcium. Furthermore, a study carried out in 2013 found it effective in reducing enamel demineralization caused by acid accumulation.

3. Cheese

Cheese is a delicious food item rich in protein and calcium. It contains casein, a protein that significantly increases enamel remineralization, making it healthy for teeth.

4. Apples

Apples are sweet but contain natural sugars, which, unlike processed sugars, are not harmful to your teeth. They also have lots of fiber with a hard, crunchy texture good for dislodging stuck food particles on the surface of teeth.

5. Carrots

Carrots are a vitamin-rich food option perfect for taking as a snack or using for making stew. It is low in fat and sugar and has vitamin A and B6, biotin, and fiber, making it healthy and nutritious. They are also hard textured and crunchy, making them excellent for teeth since they can scrub off plaque from the teeth surface.

6. Green Tea

Green tea has a lot of benefits to the body and teeth. The antioxidants and fluoride in green tea make it a suitable food option for patients looking aiming for strong, healthy teeth.

7. Celery

Celery is another good food option with antioxidants that promote healthy gums and prevent inflammation. Like carrots, celery is hard textured and nutritious, making it good for healthy gums and teeth.

8. Broccoli

Broccoli is a healthy, nutrient-filled vegetable you can use to make stew or eat while boiled. It contains vitamin C and K, iron, potassium, and fiber and is also abrasive, making it suitable for removing food particles stuck between your teeth.

9. Leafy greens

Digesting fibrous-rich leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, and kale requires more effort than other foods. However, this is advantageous as your mouth will naturally release more saliva and, in the process, clean off food particles and bacteria, reducing the chances of getting cavities.

10. Fish

Fish, especially salmon, sardines, tuna, and mackerel, are rich in vitamin D and Calcium, thus good for your health. In addition, Harvard scientists conducted research that found the omega-3 in fish effective against gum disease.

Which Foods and Beverages to Avoid

Just like healthy food options, there are many food and beverages that are harmful to teeth. If you want to have strong and healthy teeth, ensure you avoid sticky or hard candy as it can cause stains and cavities. Additionally, starchy food such as potato chips and soft bread should be consumed in moderation since they easily stick to teeth and promote acid accumulation if not cleaned. Finally, our cosmetic dentist in Plano recommends staying away from carbonated soft drinks as they have also been found to cause wearing of the tooth enamel.

Conclusion

The food you eat can help you achieve optimal oral health or cause your teeth to develop stains and cavities. We, therefore, recommend watching the food you regularly eat and practicing good oral hygiene by visiting Tru Plano Dental for regular dental checkups and cleanings. We have invested our knowledge and expertise in ensuring patients have access to affordable dental care in Plano, TX.

No one ever expects emergencies, but this occasionally happens. The best way to prepare for a dental emergency is by gaining as much information about the types of problems that qualify for an emergency, the costs, time and frame, and any other repercussions.

In the case of a dental emergency, knowing what to expect can help soften the impacts of the emergency itself, especially with its costs. Some things may affect the cost of the emergency dental procedures such as the office’s location, the severity of your emergency and the number of teeth involved. This article will help you understand what emergency appointments are and if dentists charge more for emergency appointments.

What is An Emergency Appointment?

An emergency appointment is an appointment that involves you seeing a doctor quickly. For dentistry, a dental problem that qualifies as an emergency needs immediate medical attention.

What Are The Most Common Emergencies?

Some of the most common dental problems that need emergency dental care in Plano include:

• Toothache
• Bleeding gums or teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• chipped broken tooth
• Broken jaw
• Missing or loose dental restoration

How Much Do Dentists Charge For Emergency Appointments?

Unfortunately, if you need an emergency dentist in Plano, the bills will probably be higher than when you are seeing your regular dentist. Your location can also play a huge role in the cost. If you live in large cities or coastal areas, it will be a bit more expensive. If your area has a high cost of living, your costs might be higher. However, dental insurance can significantly decrease the cost of your procedure. The estimated costs listed below are without insurance.

Root canals are typical and expensive procedures. The location in your mouth also greatly matters when considering a root canal. Front teeth are typically the least expensive to treat and may cost between $700-$900. The back teeth may be more expensive and go for $ 1000-$1200. The other major consideration related to price is the severity of the issue. A more severe infection requires a more extensive procedure.

Another common dental procedure during an emergency visit is tooth extraction. These can be a result of a severely broken or cracked tooth. The type of extraction will determine how the costs will be. If you are vale to have an extraction by using local anesthesia, the cost will typically be between $75-$300. If your extraction requires that you are anesthetized to remove your tooth, the cost may be typically between $200-$600.

Other procedures that sometimes have to be done during an emergency appointment include dental crowns and fillings. If you need a filling because you have a crack in your tooth or minimal damage, the cost can typically be between $100 and $250. Dental crowns are, however, more expensive. A dental crown may be sued if a tooth is broken but can be saved. Crowns can typically cost between $1200 and $1400.

Do All Dentists Charge More For Emergency Appointments?

The price of emergency dental appointments does not differ whether you have a pre-planned or not. A crown is a crown, whether it’s a dental emergency or not. However, your treatment needs may be greater if you wait until you are in pain. It may go without saying, but if you catch the cavity while it is small, you may need a filling.

Pain is usually a sign that the damage is too expensive, so a lot of time, a toothache does not signify that something more might be needed, like a crown or a root canal. However, these procedures are more intensive and thus more expensive than filling. So rather than delay your treatment till it hurts, you should try and get a dental office that creates financial arrangements, offers some financing, or provides affordable dentistry like Tru Plano Dental.

Some offices may charge for premium time slots. Some have spaces for emergency dental needs, as your dentist in Plano does not want someone to wait in pain. There is no extra charge to take one of the spots. However, you need only one phone call in advance to find out what time your dentist will be available.

However, other practices with extended hours will charge you for a space during those extended hours, such as evening or weekend appointments.

Teeth problems like excessive fluoride, stains from drugs, root canal treatment, misaligned teeth, and large resin fillings may make your teeth less attractive. The good news is; that dental veneers can fix all of these problems in just a short procedure. These custom made shells that are tooth-coloured are placed on the front part of your teeth, making your teeth look more attractive.

This article will give you all the important information about dental veneers, their benefits and how to care for them.

What Are Dental Veneers?

When you have chipped or cracked teeth, it is recommended to visit the emergency dentist in Plano. This is especially crucial if you are experiencing pain and bleeding. One of the options that your dentist will recommend is the application of dental veneers in Plano.

Dental veneers are tooth-coloured shells and are used by dentists to fix various teeth problems from chipped teeth, broken teeth, smaller than the normal teeth size and discoloured teeth. After visiting the dental clinic in Plano, TX, you will find that the dentist can install from one dental veneer to eight, depending on the number of teeth affected.

The Benefits of Dental Veneers

First, they offer a natural appearance to your teeth. For instance, if your teeth are stained, the tooth-coloured shells can be fixed at the front surface of your teeth, revitalizing your smile. They are thin and are custom made, and therefore it will be hard for your friends to notice them. You will be more confident when smiling and laughing with your friends.

Dental veneers are made from resin composite materials or porcelain. The good thing with porcelain is that it is compatible with your gum tissue. Therefore, your gums will not be irritated by the dental veneers as your gums tolerate porcelain material.

Another benefit of porcelain made dental veneers is that they are stain-resistant. Beverages like tea, coffee, and cola stain your teeth easily. However, when you have dental veneers fixed, they protect your natural teeth from these beverages as they can stain them.

Dental veneers are stronger and look better than dental crowns. This is because of the material used to make dental veneers.

How Are Dental Veneers Applied?

You need to visit the dental clinic in Plano, TX, at least three times so that your dentist can apply the dental veneers. When you go for your first visit, you will tell your dentist what you want to achieve with the veneers. The dentist will tell you about the procedure, what to expect, the cost and the types of veneers. X-rays and impressions are taken at this stage.

The preparation of the veneer starts with the dentist reshaping your tooth surface, and some anaesthesia is used to numb the area. Next, the impression taken is sent to the lab where the custom made veneer is made. This will take about 2-4 weeks. Your dentist will apply temporary dental veneers before the permanent ones are ready.

Once the dental veneers are ready, you will be notified so that you can go and have them applied. The dentist will examine whether the veneers match your natural teeth. The dentist can adjust the colour of the veneers with the cement used to bond them together. Next, your dentist will clean, polish and etch your teeth. Etching involves roughing the teeth to ensure the cement bonds well. This special cement is applied to the veneer surface and placed on your tooth. A special light is used to hasten the drying process of the cement. The final process is the dentist checking your bite and removing any excess cement from the veneer.

Aftercare for Dental Veneers

The first aftercare tip that you should follow is brushing your veneers the same way you brush and floss your teeth: brush twice and floss once daily.

Another tip you should follow is steering away from drinks and foods that can stain your teeth and veneer.

Steering away from grinding your teeth will extend the life of your dental veneers. This is because teeth grinding can permanently damage your veneers when bruxism becomes a habit.

If you have chipped, discoloured teeth and want to improve their appearance, don’t hesitate to visit Tru Plano Dental, and we will renew your smile in no time.

Your smile is typically the first thing most people will notice when they meet you for the first time. When you have oral imperfections like teeth discoloration, chips, and cracks, you will feel less attractive and unhealthy. Fortunately, you can work with your dentist to repair these imperfections and enhance your smile.

In general, a healthy oral routine and regular dental assessments are key factors to maintaining a healthy smile. A good smile will make you feel good about yourself, significantly improving your social life, career, and overall quality of life. Below, we share five secrets of maintaining a white and healthy smile.

How a Good Oral Hygiene Can Lead To a Healthy Smile

Good oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing are the key factors behind a healthy smile. When you eat and drink, food particles and other debris can get trapped between the teeth. If not properly cleaned, these particles accumulate in the mouth and mix with the harmful bacteria in the mouth, forming plaque.

If plaque isn’t eliminated on time, it hardens to tartar, a dark-brown deposit and firmly attaches to the tooth’s surface and along the gum line. Plaque and tartar give your teeth a dull-brownish appearance. Over time, they erode your tooth’s enamel, causing cavities and decay. The longer these deposits sit on your teeth, the harder they are to remove. In fact, you’ll need professional cleaning to get rid of tartar.

When you brush twice daily and floss daily, the risk of plaque and tartar buildup in the mouth is significantly reduced. This protects you from cavities and other oral issues and helps you maintain a brighter and healthier smile.

Expert Tips for a Whiter Teeth and Healthy Smile

• Eat tooth-healthy foods

Eating healthy foods is important for your oral and overall wellbeing. Healthy foods provide numerous nutrients, which are essential for healthy gums and strong teeth. For instance, chewing crunchy fruits and vegetables can help keep your teeth clean and healthy. Similarly, calcium-rich foods like low-fat milk and broth can help promote strong and healthy teeth. If possible, limit foods that can encourage plaque and bacterial buildups like candy, sweets, sodas, and junk foods.

• Avoid staining habits

Highly colored food items are the key reason behind teeth stains. If you regularly consume staining food and drinks like tea, coffee, soda, and red wine, your risk of getting teeth stains is pretty high. Smoking, a risk factor for numerous cancers, is also known to cause stubborn tooth stains incredibly quickly.

If you’re looking to maintain a whiter smile, avoiding or limiting tobacco products and highly pigmented food items will save you money on whitening treatments. If you must consume highly colored items, it would help if you brush or rinse your mouth afterward. Similarly, you can use a straw for drinking staining and acidic beverages.

• Schedule whitening treatments

If you already have teeth stains, it might be good to invest in a whitening treatment. Professional teeth whitening from your dentist is a safe, effective, affordable, and durable way to maintain whiter teeth. If you have stubborn teeth stains that won’t respond to teeth whitening, your dentist can recommend alternative treatments like dental bonding, veneers, and crowns. Contact our dentist in Plano
for teeth whitening treatments.

• Stay hydrated

Water is incredibly important for maintaining healthy and whiter teeth. Drinking water helps wash away food particles and debris trapped on and between your teeth. This maintains a whiter smile and reduces the risk of cavities and gum disease. Similarly, staying hydrated ensures enough saliva flow in the mouth, preventing a dry mouth and bad breath. Drinking fluoridated tap water also helps to strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities.

• Schedule frequent dental checkups and cleanings

Regardless of how thorough you brush or floss your teeth, there’s still a risk of developing plaque and tartar in the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. This puts you at a greater risk of teeth yellowing, cavities, and gum disease. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to visit your dentist at least twice yearly for dental exams and cleanings.

Your dentist will examine you and give treatments for oral issues that you wouldn’t otherwise have known about. Similarly, your dentist cleans your teeth to eliminate plaque and tartar. Your teeth are further polished to give them a whiter and shiny appearance.

Schedule an appointment

For more information about teeth whitening in Plano, TX, Contact Tru Plano Dental today to book your appointment.

Your pearly whites serve you for life. They need love and care each day to ensure they help you. Each day you subject your teeth to different substances that can weaken them, hence cleaning them after meals.

That’s not all! You will need to cultivate the culture of visiting our dentist for regular exams and cleanings in Plano, TX. These visits are not a luxury but are necessary since they help you stay on top of any issues and prevent oral health issues.

What Is Dental Exam and Cleaning?

Some people confuse dental treatments with dental check-ups. Dental treatments refer to the services offered to correct a problem or treat an infection. Some dental treatments include crowns, root canal therapy, fillings, etc.

Dental check-ups are regular dental visits designed to ascertain the state of your oral health. They focus on comparing your previous visits and looking for changes. You will need to undergo a dental exam. Our dentist will look at your gums and teeth and see if there is any dental issue. You might need to take digital x-rays to better look at your teeth and bones.

Most dental examinations will contain these essential parts:

• • Teeth Cleaning

Teeth cleaning near you is an integral part of routine dental check-ups. You need to clean your teeth every day, but this is never enough. There’s a chance you will need professional cleaning to ensure the removal of plaque from hard-to-reach places.

Deep cleaning teeth is sometimes necessary to remove the hardened plaque, known as tartar, which causes gum disease or tooth decay.

• • Visual Inspection

Our dentist near you will inspect your teeth and gums, looking for signs of dental issues. It is much easier to deal with dental problems during infancy than when they have escalated.

• • Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer is no joke. It is one of the deadly diseases that can sneak up on you. Our dentist detects the early signs of the disease.

• • Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride treatment is an excellent preventive treatment to protect the teeth from tooth decay. The visual inspection will help determine whether you are an ideal candidate for fluoride treatment.

• • Bite Inspection

Our dentist will also examine your teeth to view how your jaw and teeth align. X-rays will also be necessary to help ascertain what’s going on underneath your gums.

Importance of Regular Dental Check-Ups

Periodic dental check-ups are an excellent way of caring for your smile. Besides getting a dazzling smile, you can reap the following benefits:

• • Detect Oral Issues Early

A typical session commences with an inspection of your teeth, mouth, and gums. Your mouth’s physical and visual inspection will help ascertain that your teeth and gums are in tip-top shape. Also, x-rays check the health of your teeth and underlying bones.

So, if there is an infection, cysts, or tumors, the x-rays will reveal. Additionally, if issues are just starting to show, they can easily be treated before it becomes worse.

• • Prevents Gum Disease and Cavities

As mentioned earlier, cleaning teeth is an integral part of a dental check-up. The procedure will ensure the removal of plaque and tartar. Tartar is hard, and you cannot remove it by brushing your teeth. You will need professional cleaning to ensure that your teeth are clean.

Tartar and plaque are responsible for the development of gum disease and cavities. Deep cleaning teeth will ensure that you don’t get gum disease and cavities.

• • Enhances Your Overall Health

Untreated oral issues can cause tooth and bone loss. What’s more, they can escalate and affect your overall oral health. Dental check-ups ensure that your teeth are cared for, thus preventing general health issues such as diabetes, low birth weight, endocarditis, etc., linked to poor oral health.

• • Saves You Time and Money

Prevention is always cheaper than cure. Dental treatments will cost you more than teeth cleaning near you and dental examinations. You will spend way less and need fewer hours in the dentist’s chair in the long run.

We Are Here for You

Dental examinations are necessary, as you have discovered. You should make it a part of your oral health care. So, always schedule an exam after every six months for the best results. Contact our team at Tru Plano Dental if you need to schedule an appointment.

Dental emergencies have a knack for knocking at an unexpected time. You might be enjoying your favorite meal or having a fabulous time with your family or colleagues, and the next thing you know, you need emergency dental services.

Always treat a dental emergency like a medical emergency. It is a situation that requires swift and prompt action. Failure to do so and your problem will escalate, and complications may arise.

Dental emergencies come in different forms. So, you could rack your brain trying to figure out if you are in a dental emergency and need urgent dental care or it’s a non-dental emergency. Knowing the difference can help you avoid unnecessary stress and save money and time.

Dental emergencies can range from knocked-out teeth to locked jaws. What would you do if faced with one? Or do you feel as though you have loose teeth? Most kids usually have loose teeth when they lose their primary teeth, though loose adult teeth signify that something’s out of whack.

What Causes Loose Teeth In Adults?

Always remember that adults shouldn’t have loose teeth. It is always a dental emergency, and if you don’t get treatment from our emergency dentist near you, you could lose your teeth.

Some of the factors that lead to loose teeth are:

• Gum Disease

This disease involves the inflammation and infection of your gums. Poor oral habits are usually the leading cause of the disease. Gum disease usually develops if you don’t brush and floss each day to remove plaque from your teeth. Plaque usually contains saliva, food debris, and bacteria.

Over time, the bacteria affects the gum tissue causing it to recede or pull away, creating spaces between the gums and the teeth. It is when the infection begins. If not treated, the infection spreads to the bones and tissue supporting the teeth. It causes the teeth to become loose.

• Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with a lot of changes. Estrogen and progesterone levels usually rise and affect the mouth’s bones and tissues. If you are not careful, you might develop gum disease during pregnancy.

• Impact Injury

You might have healthy teeth, but an impact from a blow to your face can damage teeth and surrounding tissue. Your tooth might not get knocked out, but it can become loose.

What Should I Do If My Tooth Feels Loose?

You should contact our emergency dentist immediately. If you notice that your teeth are loose, you should seek emergency dental services within 12 hours. It will increase the chances of our dentist giving you the treatment you need.

In any case, you could do the following:

• Keep your tooth in place, and don’t play with it. Avoid touching and moving your tooth with your tongue to straighten it out. Any sort of motion will make things worse.
• Steer clear from chewy, sticky, or hard foods. You might be hungry and wish to eat something before seeing our dentist. If you choose to eat anything, avoid these foods since they worsen the situation.
• Keep your teeth clean, but don’t floss and brush. Swish some water in the mouth and avoid brushing since the movement can move the teeth.

How to Get Help From an Emergency Dentist

Our emergency dentist near you will provide treatment depending on the cause. Therefore, you might be eligible for one of the following treatments:

• Root planing and scaling – These procedures are perfumed to remove the hardened plaque along the gum line. Plus, you will receive antibiotics to deal with the infection.
• Flap surgery – Our dentist performs this procedure to clean under the gum line. This procedure can help prevent tooth loss.
• Splinting – Our dentist might choose to splint the tooth to stop it from moving.
• Bone grafting – If there’s bone deterioration, our dentist may decide to perform bone grafting to repair the diseased bone.
• Medicinal mouth rinses – These mouth rinses effectively manage gum disease since they kill bacteria, giving your gums time to heal.

It is always best to fix your loose teeth before the inevitable happens. So, contact our dentist at Tru Plano Dental to get the care you need.