Cleaning Night Guards

We at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore are glad to see that so many of our patients wear night guards to protect themselves from tooth grinding. Besides sparing their teeth, they’re also reducing their likelihood of getting aches in their heads, necks, and shoulders. However, like dentures and athletic mouthguards, night guards can become hazardous if they are not cleaned properly.

A night guard will accumulate bacteria and fungus if it is not regularly brushed. Like teeth, it should be cleaned each morning with a soft-bristled toothbrush, although it is a good idea to have a separate toothbrush for the task. Night guards do not produce their own protective membrane and can be scratched by toothpaste minerals, so do not use toothpaste with extra fluoridation. A night guard should be dried before being put into its protective case for the day, but the case should also be washed regularly and dried. Soap and water are usually enough, but there are more specialized products. It is also important to always fully brush and floss the teeth before putting a night guard back in and to not leave it in a place where it may be warped by heat.

Dr. Thomas Balcerak operates Advantage Dentistry at 2887, Elmwood Ave, Kenmore, NY, 14217. To set up an appointment, call 716-877-2275, or visit AdvantageDentistry.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Reasons for Filling Failure

At Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, we carefully monitor our patients for signs their fillings are wearing out and encourage them to contact us if they experience any sensitivity. Recently, scientists have learned more about the reasons fillings fail.

The new study shows that genetics are a major component of filling failure. This means that if a person comes from a family with a history of bad oral health, it is especially important for them to maintain regular hygiene and check-ups. The more predictable contributing factors were smoking and alcohol use, which are also associated with implant failure and oral cancer. The study only examined male smokers, but filling failure rates were higher for them than for nonsmokers, and people of both sexes who drank alcohol had higher failure rates.

An interesting finding of the study is that the new, white composite fillings used as an alternative to amalgam fillings work just as well as their predecessors. The white fillings are favored because they are more aesthetically-pleasing and don’t pose a risk of causing an allergic reaction, so it’s good news that they are just as long-lived and resilient.

Dr. Thomas Balcerak operates Advantage Dentistry at 2887, Elmwood Ave, Kenmore, NY, 14217. To set up an appointment, call 716-877-2275, or visit AdvantageDentistry.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Winter Lip Care

With another Buffalo-area winter upon us, we at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore wanted to ensure our patients know how to protect their lips. This time of year, lips often get chapped, but damage can be prevented with the right precautions.

Our lips get dry and fragile in the winter because the cold air can’t hold much moisture. Our best bet to protect them outside is to keep our faces tightly covered and face away from the wind. But inside, we can station humidifiers around our homes and workplaces, particularly in rooms where we have to spend a great deal of time. Remember that very hot showers can dry out your skin. Applying lip balm regularly helps, particularly before bed. The only problem with that is that menthol and some other ingredients cause irritation to worsen in some people.

It’s not a good idea to keep the lips wet with saliva. This actually makes them dry out faster since saliva evaporates quickly. Keeping the lips under the teeth should also be avoided because it can cause misalignments. If your lips are dry because you have to breathe through your mouth, you may need help from an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

Scott Seier, DDS, operates Advantage Dentistry at 2887, Elmwood Ave, Kenmore, NY, 14217. To set up an appointment, call 716-877-2275, or visit Advantage Dentistry and fill out a contact form.

 

Oral Cancer and Alcohol

Screenings for oral cancer are one of the most important parts of regular check-ups, and at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, we’re determined to help upkeep every aspect of our patients’ oral health. To that end, we wanted to pass along some recent findings by the American Society of Clinical Oncology linking oral cancer to alcohol.

Tobacco usage and HPV are the best-known and researched causes of oral cancer. We’ve known for a long time that smoking combined with heavy drinking is extremely dangerous, but scientists had difficulty determining the carcinogenic effect of alcohol on its own. After reviewing the available literature, the ASCO concluded that 5% of new cancers globally are caused by alcohol and that oral and oropharyngeal cancers are among the types alcohol causes. It may be that alcohol damages the soft tissue of the mouth and that the more frequently it has to rebuild, the likelier it is that some DNA will be miscopied. But regardless of the exact mechanism, it seems that even light drinking poses a risk, although heavy drinking is worse. The study also found that when people stop drinking, their risk of cancer specifically in the mouth and oropharynx declines to that of people who never drank.

Scott Seier, DDS, operates Advantage Dentistry at 2887, Elmwood Ave, Kenmore, NY, 14217. To set up an appointment, call 716-877-2275, or visit Advantage Dentistry and fill out a contact form.

 

Oral Surgery Recovery

There are several reasons why a patient may need oral surgery but the most common reasons here at Advantage Dentistry are tooth extraction and/or receiving dental implants. Wisdom teeth are commonly removed because they increase a patient’s risk of infection, while dental implants are an option for patients who are missing teeth. Regardless of why you need an oral surgery procedure, we are here to assist you on your road to recovery.

After the oral surgery procedure is complete, our doctors at Advantage Dentistry will give you a list of foods to eat afterward. You will be consuming a soft diet for a few days to allow the sutures to heal. Swelling is normal after tooth extraction but to keep swelling down to a minimum, use an ice pack to alleviate pain. Bleeding is normal but can be controlled by placing wet gauze on the extraction site. Keep the area as clean as possible but do not resume your oral hygiene routine until instructed to do so.

If you have questions or concerns about oral surgery, please give us a call. To schedule your appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call our office at 716-877-2275 or visit our website www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about the services we provide. 

Why Should We Floss?

You just had your routine dental appointment and perhaps our doctor at Advantage Dentistry told you to floss more. But you didn’t listen and you went home and tossed the floss right in the junk drawer. Well, you better retrieve it because we are here to tell you why you should utilize this tool that fights against periodontal disease, tooth decay, and help you keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime.

Floss removes food particles that weren’t brushed away. These food particles feed on plaque and can turn into tartar if not removed. If you’re afraid to floss because your gums are bleeding this is the number one reason to floss more and not less. Gingivitis can be reversed by flossing at least twice a day for a week straight, but remember, you’ll need to keep up the routine to keep a healthy smile.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral hygiene and dental health, please give us a call. To schedule your appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call our office at 716-877-2275 or visit our website www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about the services we provide. 

Dental Implant Restoration

If a person is missing one or more teeth, this can be detrimental to his or her self-esteem. A toothless smile is just as bad for your oral health. Dental implants allow easier access between teeth to make brushing and flossing easier. Dental implants provide a strong foundation for permanent teeth and dental bridges and they are made to match your natural teeth. Our doctors at Advantage Dentistry are here to tell you all about the benefits of dental implants.

Missing teeth can cause the face to sag, making a person appear older than they are. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth, therefore they allow you to improve speech, improve oral health, and making eating and speaking much easier and less frustrating. Implants are very durable and will last a lifetime if taken care of. To get started on the road to restoring your smile, give our doctors a call.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental implants or restorative dentistry, please give us a call. To schedule your appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call our office at 716-877-2275 or visit our website www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about the services we provide.