Everyday Dental Care

Everyday dental care encompasses brushing, flossing and avoiding habits and actions that can damage your teeth. You should brush and floss every day, using an appropriate toothbrush, not only to keep your teeth clean, but to stimulate your gums to keep them healthy. If the teeth are not cleaned regularly, food accumulates on them, leading to tooth decay. Without flossing, food particles linger between the teeth and the gums are not properly stimulated, which can lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Some everyday habits can also threaten the health of your teeth. These are often things you don’t think of as detrimental to your dental health, or that you aren’t aware of when they occur. These include:

• Clenching and grinding
• Chewing on ice
• Biting your nails
• Biting pens or pencils

Any of these activities can lead to cracking or chipping, or can wear down the biting or chewing surfaces of your teeth prematurely. Chipped, cracked or worn teeth are more likely to need additional restorative treatment and might even need to be removed if damage is severe enough.

Visiting the Dentist—Why is it Important?

Also important to your long term dental care is visiting your dentist. If you avoid your regular appointments, you are missing out on an important opportunity to detect and diagnose problems before they become severe. Your time in the dental chair is spent evaluating the health of your teeth and gums, examining other oral tissues for irregularities and looking for signs of decay or other issues. This is the best way to find out about problems such as malocclusion, abnormal wear, early stages of gum disease and even signs of oral cancer. If you are sure to visit the dental office on the recommended schedule, you are much more likely to maintain long term dental health.

For more information and to schedule your next exam, contact our San Antonio TX office today.

Keeping Your Aligners Clean

Because you wear your aligners for at least twenty-two hours of every twenty-four hour period, you must be sure they are kept as clean as possible. If the aligners are not kept clean, food, bacteria and other unwanted substances can build up within them, leading to problems such as decay, bad breath or gum inflammation. 

Removing the aligners while you eat is important to keep them clear of food debris. In addition, the only beverage you should drink while you have your aligners in is water. Other beverages could cause sugar to build up on the aligners and can also discolor them. If you drink coffee, tea or fruit juices while wearing your aligners, you could stain the clear plastic, meaning that your teeth will appear discolored until you switch to the next aligner. This could be as long as two weeks.

Be sure to consult with your dentist regarding the best way to keep your aligners clean while still ensuring you wear them long enough for best possible results.

Preventing Problems With Your Aligners

In addition to darkly colored beverages, you should also avoid drinking hot beverages while you are wearing your Invisalign trays. Because the aligners are made of plastic, hot beverages can warp them. If your trays are warped, it could cause your teeth to move out of position, compromising the final results of your Invisalign treatment.

You should also be sure to keep your trays protected while you’re not wearing them so they do not get damaged or broken. While you’re wearing them, avoid biting on hard objects such as pencils or ice. When you brush your teeth at night, you can also brush your aligners. In addition, your dentist will provide a cleaning kit to be used as directed.

Please contact the San Antonio office of Drs. Bonner and Huriega to find out more about Invisalign and how this innovative treatment can transform your smile. Call 210-616-0858 to schedule your visit.

Initially you will receive a very thorough dental exam. This might include x-rays to make sure there is sufficient bone structure to support your implant. A medical review will be conducted as well to make sure you are healthy enough to undergo the surgery required. Patients who suffer from auto immune disorders are reviewed very carefully as the risk of implant failure is higher in patients with diseases like diabetes.

Once determined that you are a good candidate for dental implants, a small screw like device made from titanium or a similar metal is surgically placed in the gum tissue where tooth loss has been sustained. Unless you are receiving an immediate restoration, a temporary cover will be placed over the implant to protect it during the healing process.

The healing process can take anywhere from four to six months. During that time it is critical that you floss daily and brush your teeth at least twice per day to keep the implant area clean. The primary reason for implant failure is from infection so this is most important.

Patients that smoke are advised to quit before the dental implant process is started. Refraining from the use of tobacco products is essential as smoking is also a major cause of implant failure.

There are no specific diet restrictions to observe throughout the healing process with the possible exception of eating something that is sticky or chewy that might pull the temporary cover off. Also, if you are susceptible to grinding or teeth clenching your dental provider might fit you with a bite guard as preventing the movement of the implant is crucial.

Once your implant has been uncovered and your implant dentist is satisfied the healing process is complete and the implant has fused to the bone, a final restoration is placed over the implant.

Your good oral hygiene habits that you observed during the healing of your implant should be resumed after you have received your final restoration. Twice annual visits to our San Antonio office for a professional cleaning and exam should keep your smile bright for many years.

The space created due to tooth loss can result in the shifting of the remaining teeth. This can lead to a malocclusion, or a misalignment of your teeth which can create chewing difficulties and discomfort. 

Speech patterns can be altered by a missing tooth. We form words using the tongue as it moves against teeth. An empty space can make a difference in how we speak.

Our ability to chew is impacted by a missing tooth. This can lead to a malnourished diet as healthy fruits and vegetables are difficult to consume. Chewy foods like meat and bread might be sacrificed due to tooth loss.

But possibly the most devastating consequence of tooth loss is the lack of self-confidence we develop with a smile we might try to hide, or perhaps you just stop smiling altogether which can affect overall mood and personality.

A first impression can only be made once, and if you’re self-conscious about your appearance due to a lost tooth, this can make a difference in your personal life, work life and family life.

Many patients might wonder what can be done to overcome tooth loss, and there are many options to choose from. But for anyone wishing to return to the most normal lifestyle possible, dental implants should be given considerable thought.

A dental implant is a small device usually made from titanium that is surgically placed in the gum tissue where the tooth is missing. The implant is designed to fuse to existing bone structure during the time it takes for the implant to heal, generally four to six months.

At the conclusion of the healing process, a beautiful restoration is placed over the implant. Since the implant has fused to bone, it is strong like the root of a natural tooth so the final result offers a solution as close to the real thing as possible.

Daily flossing and brushing along with twice annual visits to the San Antonio office of Drs. Bonner and Huriega for a professional cleaning and exam will enable you to enjoy your new tooth for a lifetime of smiles.

Quite often grinding or clenching teeth is done during sleep. It is usually done subconsciously and can even become a habit during the day as well. It is also a very misunderstood problem with suspected causes ranging from depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration or to more serious physical diseases.

The symptoms are not definitive either. For some people, they don’t realize they are grinding or clenching their teeth but they suffer from:

• Headache
• Neck pain
• Earache
• Sore jaws
• Toothache
• Fatigue

Of course, not all of these symptoms need to be present. And having these symptoms does not always point to a diagnosis of bruxism.

One thing is very clear, however. In addition to the discomfort that teeth grinding can cause, the damage to your teeth can be very serious. Grinding can result in wearing down teeth or breaking teeth. This can lead to a malocclusion, or bite misalignment, which can compound the problem and make grinding worse. Broken or cracked teeth can result in needing a dental crown or possibly a root canal.

If you suspect you are grinding or clenching your teeth, your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard designed specifically to fit your teeth. Night guards purchased over the counter don’t always provide the best fit making them uncomfortable. This results in not using them and grinding resumes.

If stress or anxiety is suspected as the leading cause of teeth grinding, you can try exercising, meditation or yoga to try to relieve daily stresses. Medication can be prescribed to help deal with other emotional issues as well.

Avoiding beverages containing caffeine might help. Chewing gum or anything that is not food is discouraged as this provides the muscle memory in your jaws to continue this motion.

Whether you grind your teeth at night or find yourself clenching or grinding during the day, our dentists can help with a diagnosis and solution that will provide relief and the end of this damaging habit. Call our San Antonio office at 210-616-0858 to learn more and to schedule your visit.

The aesthetic value alone of the composite resin material now used for many dental fillings makes it worthwhile. But in addition, the use of composite resin no longer exposes the patient to the mercury that is contained in dental amalgam. And although the amount of mercury used in dental amalgam is very small, any exposure that is unnecessary is best.

The use of composite resin in the repair of dental decay provides additional benefits:

• Because composite resin is a flexible material, this allows your cosmetic dentist to mold the repair to duplicate the shape of the tooth prior to the removal of decay.
• The material used in a dental composite can be color matched to your surrounding teeth.
• The use of composite resin allows the removal of much less of the tooth to repair dental decay.
• Composite resin is placed on the tooth in stages. Your cosmetic dentist will harden the filling with each stage which will aid in a decrease in sensitivity.
• The material used in composite fillings offers strength and durability to the treated tooth.
• In addition to repairing dental decay, the composite material may also be used for dental bonding to repair a chipped or cracked tooth.
• There are cosmetic enhancements available with composite resin such as placing on stained teeth or closing an unsightly gap between teeth.

Based on the location of the filling, your cosmetic dentist might recommend an alternative repair option. A back tooth that is exposed to heavy chewing pressure might be better suited for a dental onlay or inlay, which might require an additional visit. An onlay might be used in the case of a tooth that requires a much larger filling or on a tooth that has previously been repaired due to dental decay.

Dental decay is never welcome; however, with the products and technique available with our cosmetic dentist, your smile can be more sound and brighter than ever. To schedule a consultation, call Aesthetic Dental Partners, serving San Antonio and surrounding areas, at 210-616-0858.

Children learn by example. Helping your child to learn to brush their teeth with age appropriate tooth paste or gel is not only important but offers an opportunity to spend valuable teaching time with your child. Make sure you are using a tooth paste or gel with fluoride to help protect the enamel of those baby teeth.

Allow your child to watch you as you brush and floss your teeth. This will help them to learn the proper technique as well as the importance of this daily ritual.

Discourage allowing your child to take a baby bottle to bed. The only beverage that is appropriate for a child’s consumption prior to a nap or evening bedtime is water. Milk, formula, and juice all contain sugar. If a child is allowed to drink these beverages without brushing before bed, at least a small amount of the beverage will likely stay in your child’s mouth for the duration of sleep.

This allows the harmful sugars to stay on teeth for hours. This can lead to plaque build-up and possibly dental decay. You don’t want your child’s first visit to the family dentist to be a traumatic event as subsequent dental visits will be very difficult.

Limit sugary beverages and snacks. Promoting healthy food consumption is good for overall health as well as dental health. Children will gravitate to the foods provided, so if they are exposed to fruits and vegetables instead of cookies and candy, that is what they will learn to like.

Keeping the primary teeth healthy is very important for the formation of sound permanent teeth. As your child’s caregiver, it is essential that you do all the things necessary to allow that to happen. Instilling good oral hygiene and healthy diet habits will give your child the best opportunity for excellent dental health. Contact our family dentist in San Antonio to schedule a dental exam for your child.

Television, the internet, radio, magazines and social media all promote the consumption of soda. We see our top athletes, actors, musicians and personalities advertise sugary beverages making it seem that drinking them is not only OK, but drinking them will somehow enhance your life.

Sodas, even the sugar-free variety, contain acids that can weaken your teeth’s enamel. Once the enamel is weakened, your teeth become more susceptible to cavities.

In addition, the sugars in soft drinks will cling to the bacteria normally found on your teeth. A build-up of bacteria can result in the formation of dental plaque. Dental plaque acts like a sticky substance that adheres to your teeth and at the gum line. Over time, the plaque hardens and can be removed only with a professional cleaning by your dentist.

Dental plaque contributes to dental decay. And while most people believe dental decay is inevitable, this is absolutely not true. A couple of ideas that will help in the battle of soda pop incurring dental decay include:

• Reduce consumption of soda. Try replacing soda with a beverage with reduced sugar and teeth harming acids. Water would not only be advantageous for your teeth, but for your overall health as well.
• If you are going to drink a soda, try to limit soda consumption to accompany a meal. When you have finished eating, brushing your teeth would be optimum. But this isn’t always possible. Swishing plain water around your mouth will help to wash away some of the potential damage from sugar.
• Drinking soda through a straw will help limit the contact the beverage has with teeth.
• Chew sugar-free gum because this will promote the production of saliva to aid in the natural teeth wash.

As with most things in life, moderation is key. Limiting exposure will help, but excellent oral hygiene habits consisting of daily flossing and brushing with a fluoridated tooth paste or gel are essential. Also, a visit to our dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and exam will aid in keeping plaque build-up at a minimum. Call the San Antonio office of Drs. Bonner and Huriega at 210-616-0858 to schedule your regular check-up today!

From a more conservative change such as teeth whitening to a more dramatic lift with dental veneers, your cosmetic dentist has a plan to fit your budget and desires.

If your teeth have become drab and dull, teeth whitening may be your answer. Over time the enamel on teeth can lose some of its brilliance due to natural wear and tear, medications, diet or lifestyle habits. Teeth whitening can offer a dramatic change by allowing your smile to go from drab to “wow” in approximately one hour.

For teeth that are misshapen or uneven, stained, chipped, broken, or to get rid of unsightly gaps between teeth, your solution might be dental veneers. Dental veneers are very thin porcelain covers that are made to match the shape and shade of your natural teeth. A small amount of the enamel on your teeth is removed to allow for the application of the veneers.

Since veneers are very thin and shell like, they are placed on the front of your teeth where the enamel was removed covering your desired teeth. In a couple of visits, your cosmetic dentist can alter your dental maladies by permanently covering them. Veneers are virtually undetectable, provide added strength to your teeth, and are durable to last for many years.

If you have considered braces to correct your bite but you did not want to be saddled with metal bands and brackets for years, Invisalign could be your key to a beautiful smile. Invisalign is a method of straightening your teeth through a series of clear, soft plastic aligner trays that work to gently shift your teeth to their correct position. Invisalign is comfortable and indiscernible making it a very popular choice for teens and adults.

Tooth loss can be devastating, but there are several options that can resolve this dilemma giving you back the ability to smile, speak, and eat. Permanent options include dental implants that offer you the closest thing to having your own teeth back. Another option is a dental bridge. Both of these treatments will provide permanent solutions to the loss of one or several teeth.

Whatever your dental concerns, your cosmetic dentist can fulfill your desires for a new smile makeover. Put yourself in the capable hands of our dentists for a couple of visits and you can enjoy your new smile for a lifetime. Call our San Antonio dental practice to schedule your first appointment.

If you have a tooth that is badly decayed, you might experience bad breath. Dental decay is generally due to a build-up of bacteria on the tooth. Bacteria form and build up on a tooth that is not properly brushed and flossed allowing plaque to form on the tooth and at the gum line. Seeing your dental provider for a professional cleaning and exam twice per year can aid in preventing excessive plaque build-up.

Another contributing factor to a rotting tooth and the resulting bad breath can be gum disease. Gum disease can occur for many reasons. Contrary to popular opinion, gum disease is not hereditary. If there is a history of gum disease in your family, you can break the cycle by listening to your dentist and following the basic rules of good oral hygiene. Daily flossing and brushing at least twice per day with a fluoridated toothpaste or gel will give you the edge in fighting gum disease.

Heavy smokers and tobacco users also experience a higher incidence of gum disease. Research has proven that smokers have many more dental problems than those who abstain from tobacco use.

Once your dentist has found the source of your bad breath, you will have several options. If you are suffering from a rotting tooth, based on the extent of the damage to your tooth, your dentist might be able to save it. Perhaps a root canal will be the answer to remove any underlying infection in the root of your tooth. Treatment following a root canal is needed to seal the tooth.

If gum disease is the culprit, root planning and scaling above and below the gum line might be in order to restore healthy gum tissue. Or if your periodontal condition has escalated, there are other options your dentist can recommend to return your gums to a healthy state.

Bad breath can result from many sources, from what we eat to dental problems. Chewing mints will only mask the problem. Seeing your dentist to get the care needed will not only solve your problems now, but might save you from more extensive dental work in the future. Don’t wait to see if this problem will take care of itself – call our dentists in San Antonio today at 210-616-0858.