Future of Dentistry

This message from Future of Dentistry is about tooth enamel.

Most people don’t think of a tooth as a body part that varies in strength. Our teeth seem to have a steady hardness and dependably grind food whenever we need them. However, teeth are dynamic organisms with continuous chemical processes.

The protective enamel that covers the softer interior is composed of minerals. Enamel demineralizes (loses some of its density) when it comes in contact with acids.

Saliva can dilute and neutralize acid so the tooth can remineralize This process isn’t instantaneous, however.

While the enamel is soft, the tooth is vulnerable to losing a microscopic outer layer of enamel. If the erosion continues, the much softer dentin is exposed. The dentin erodes more quickly. Eventually, the tooth may need to be extracted.

It is apparent that the typical diet is becoming more acidic. The list of acidic foods may surprise you. They include eggs, gravy, asparagus, chicken, cottage cheese, honey, fish, ham, butter, sour cream, aged cheese, and yogurt with active cultures. Generally, foods with a high sugar or artificial sweetener content are especially acidic. We don’t recommend eliminating the healthy foods on this list. However, we just want you to be aware of the issue.

Now let’s talk about drinks. You probably already know that soda pop and wine are not good for your teeth. Teens that sip soda all day can have acid erosion while their young teeth should be at their healthiest. In addition to soda, energy drinks are very popular and dentists are noticing the consequences.

At Future of Dentistry we are a full-service practice offering family and cosmetic dentistry, and much more. Patients from throughout Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley trust our care. Schedule a checkup with us today!

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

Future of Dentistry – Billerica
668 Boston Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
978-663-4303

Future of Dentistry – Dracut
149 Pleasant St
Dracut, MA 01826
978-957-1811

Future of Dentistry at Willows – North Andover/Willows Dental Group
795 Turnpike St
North Andover, MA 01845
978-685-8313

Future of Dentistry – Wakefield
968 Main St
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-245-2299

Future of Dentistry – Chelmsford
3 Courthouse Ln
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-970-2089

 

It’s easy to become a little complacent about your dental health. At Future of Dentistry, we know that all too well! Our goal in this blog post is for you to evaluate where you stand and consider how you can improve things.

Brushing

• Good: Brush teeth once a day.
• Better: Brush teeth right after each meal.
• Best: Brush after each meal and floss correctly before bed.

Dental Checkups

• Good: See us if you get a toothache.
• Better: See us once a year even if you don’t notice any dental problems.
• Best: Twice-yearly, have a thorough dental exam and professional dental cleaning at our office.

A White Smile

• Good: Use a whitening toothpaste.
• Better: Use a whitening product at home.
• Best: Schedule an in-office whitening treatment.

Missing Tooth

• Good enough for some people: Ignore it. (We don’t recommend this.)
• Better: Get a quality dental bridge.
• Best: Restore your smile with a durable and natural-functioning dental implant.

Smile-Friendly Nutrition

• Good: Eat a healthy diet.
• Better: Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary snacks and beverages.
• Best: Eat a wholesome diet, limit between-meal snacking, eat lots of calcium-rich foods, minimize sugary foods, abstain from energy drinks and soda, and sip water throughout the day to keep acid at bay.

At Future of Dentistry we are big advocates of preventative care. We want all our patients to enjoy excellent dental health. Find out why people from throughout Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley trust us with their smiles! We offer dental implants, complete general and family dentistry, and much more. Schedule a checkup with us today!

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

Future of Dentistry – Billerica
668 Boston Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
978-663-4303

Future of Dentistry – Dracut
149 Pleasant St
Dracut, MA 01826
978-957-1811

Future of Dentistry at Willows – North Andover/Willows Dental Group
795 Turnpike St
North Andover, MA 01845
978-685-8313

Future of Dentistry – Wakefield
968 Main St
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-245-2299

Future of Dentistry – Chelmsford
3 Courthouse Ln
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-970-2089

 

There are lots of people out there who feel pain when they sip coffee or eat ice cream, or take a bite out of something hard. If sensitive teeth are a problem for you, talk to us about it at Future of Dentistry.

In many cases, sensitive teeth respond to something as simple as changing toothpaste. Most major toothpaste brands have a sensitive teeth version of their products. They can be very effective; many patients say they’ve helped within a week or so of use.

A possible cause of sensitivity is receding gums, which exposes microscopic holes in the teeth. When that happens, food and drinks that are hot or cold reach nerve cells that cause pain. We can evaluate the state of your gums, and whether something like the way you brush your teeth is a contributing factor.

There could also be a worn filling or new cavity. Treatment for that is as simple as replacing a worn one or filling the new cavity.

The important thing is to let us know what’s going on, at Future of Dentistry. People from throughout Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley call us for general and cosmetic dentistry services, and much more. Schedule your next checkup with us today!

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

Future of Dentistry – Billerica
668 Boston Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
978-663-4303

Future of Dentistry – Dracut
149 Pleasant St
Dracut, MA 01826
978-957-1811

Future of Dentistry at Willows – North Andover/Willows Dental Group
795 Turnpike St
North Andover, MA 01845
978-685-8313

Future of Dentistry – Wakefield
968 Main St
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-245-2299

Future of Dentistry – Chelmsford
3 Courthouse Ln
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-970-2089

 

Hello gum chewers! In this post from Future of Dentistry we’re going to talk about that sticky wad in your mouth. You know that it can freshen your breath, but can it really help guard your smile from tooth decay?

It really depends on the type of gum. Chewing regular sucrose-based gum can be helpful in removing bits of food from the surface of teeth, but that benefit is negated by the stream of sugar washing over your teeth as you chew.

However, gum with some alternative sweeteners has an added benefit for your pearly whites. Xylitol is a sweetener which not only has fewer calories than traditional sugars, but it also has antimicrobial properties that lessen plaque build-up. This means that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes decay.

So if you’re headed out to a restaurant, bring a pack of sugar-free gum with you and pop it in your mouth when your meal is done. Of course, brushing and flossing are the ideal practices for your oral health, but when you can’t brush, select a sugarless gum with xylitol.

At Future of Dentistry we offer complete general and family dentistry. Patients from throughout Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley also come to our office for dental implants, and much more. Call to schedule your next checkup with us today!

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

Future of Dentistry – Billerica
668 Boston Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
978-663-4303

Future of Dentistry – Dracut
149 Pleasant St
Dracut, MA 01826
978-957-1811

Future of Dentistry at Willows – North Andover/Willows Dental Group
795 Turnpike St
North Andover, MA 01845
978-685-8313

Future of Dentistry – Wakefield
968 Main St
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-245-2299

Future of Dentistry – Chelmsford
3 Courthouse Ln
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-970-2089

 

Little things you can do every day can raise your Dental IQ and benefit your smile. One simple lesson from Future of Dentistry involves bacteria, and everyone’s mouth has a lot of it.

But don’t worry, bacteria per se isn’t the problem. The critical thing is the balance of bacteria. This is where brushing and flossing come into play. Brush and floss properly each day and you will have a better chance of keeping the appropriate balance.

Other precautions you can take:

• Wash your hands before you brush and floss. No exceptions!
• Keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible. (Also, close the lid of the toilet before you flush!)
• Replace that toothbrush. When it comes to your toothbrush, don’t get sentimental. Get a new one every three to four months.

If you can avoid the unhealthy balance of bacteria in your mouth, you can minimize the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

At Future of Dentistry we want the best possible dental health for all our patients. We offer complete general and family  dentistry. Patients from throughout Greater Boston and Merrimack Valley also come to our office for cosmetic dentistry and much more. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Future of Dentistry:

Locations (Tap Below To Open Your Office In Google Maps):

Future of Dentistry – Billerica
668 Boston Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
978-663-4303

Future of Dentistry – Dracut
149 Pleasant St
Dracut, MA 01826
978-957-1811

Future of Dentistry at Willows – North Andover/Willows Dental Group
795 Turnpike St
North Andover, MA 01845
978-685-8313

Future of Dentistry – Wakefield
968 Main St
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-245-2299

Future of Dentistry – Chelmsford
3 Courthouse Ln
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-970-2089