Dental Health: Seeing a Dentist after Years of Neglect

As the life expectancy of people gets extended, the health and well-being of those in their senior years also can improve. You might already exercise, try to make healthy food choices, see your doctors often, and even try to improve your brain function. It can be easy for busy seniors to get caught up in a whirlwind of activities, travel, social events, etc. and fail to take proper notice of their dental health, however.

If you've been diagnosed with gum disease, and you have loose or missing teeth, you need to talk to your dentist about dental implants. One of the many benefits of dental implants is that they're a permanent replacement for your lost teeth, unlike dentures. Dentures provide a replacement for your missing teeth, but they aren't a permanent solution. Not only that, but the constant pressure that dentures place on your jaw can also lead to bone deterioration.

Every time you log onto the internet, someone seems to be touting yet another new teeth whitening method. Currently, people are promoting the use of activating charcoal as a stain remover and natural tooth whitening remedy, but does it actually work? Like most things, the answer is a little complex. Here's what you need to know about this issue. Research Doesn't Support the Claims When you read articles online about using activated charcoal as a tooth whitening solution, it certainly sounds like it has a lot of support in the dental community.

If you've been suffering from serious tooth pain or unexplained sensitivity lately, you may be experiencing the unpleasant sensations that can come from an infection of your tooth's root. Cavities, gum disease, and trauma to your face or jaw can all result in damage to your tooth enamel, allowing potentially harmful bacteria to infiltrate the delicate inner parts of your tooth. Left untreated, an infected tooth root can ultimately lead to the loss of your tooth and the erosion of your supporting bone structure.

Although it's possible to bleach your teeth at home effectively, you should be aware of the common mistakes people make when bleaching their teeth. Here are a few examples of those mistakes. Leaving the Whitener Too Long on Your Teeth If you are whitening your teeth at home, then you should follow the directions for use of your chosen bleaching agent to the letter. For example, if you are told to leave the bleach on your teeth for half an hour, which is exactly what you should do.

When your tooth is undergoing extensive decay, you may be given two options: root canal or extraction. A root canal is more expensive than a tooth extraction, but for many reasons, you should consider a root canal over an extraction. Why You Need a Root Canal Root canals are used to rescue teeth that are diseased, damaged or have dead pulp. If you crack your tooth or if you are suffering from a deep cavity, bacteria can reach your root pulp and cause an infection.

Crowns are commonly used by dentists to repair damaged teeth. It's important that crowns are properly maintained so that they last as long as possible and allow patients to avoid discomfort. The following are six mistakes it's important to avoid when you have dental crowns placed on your teeth to avoid problems. 1. Neglecting good oral hygiene habits Regular brushings are especially important if you have crowns because they help to keep debris away from the crown and prevent bacterial growth.

If you only have a few of your natural teeth remaining, your dentist may have already prescribed dentures. A denture is a set of false teeth.  If all the teeth are missing from your upper or a lower jaw, a full set of dentures is prescribed. However, if you still have some natural teeth in a palate, a partial denture is used.  The teeth of a denture are typically made of acrylic resin and are attached to a metal base.