The Dentist in Arlington TX Discusses Smoking and Your Oral Health, PART 3

This three-part article series takes an in-depth exploration of the short and long term effects of tobacco addiction upon your oral health.

We have so far, in this three-part article series, (1) discussed the impact of smoking on your oral health and (2) provided some recommendations for proper oral health and hygiene care for smokers. In this, the final installment of the series, the dentist in Arlington TX will be answering some of the questions frequently asked about oral health and smoking.

Question: What kind of oral problems does smoking cause?

The Dentist in Arlington TX Answers: Smoking has significant short and long term consequences for oral health and hygiene. These include:

• Bad breath, or halitosis

• Tooth staining and discoloration

• Inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth, says the dentist in Arlington TX

• Xerostomia, or ‘dry mouth’

• Accelerated accumulation of plaque and tartar

• Increased risk of oral and throat cancer

• Increased risk of oral bacterial infection and periodontal (gum) disease

• Tooth loss

• Bone loss in the jaw, warns the dentist in Arlington TX

• Delayed post-operative healing and a compromised immune system

• Lower success of tooth replacement procedures (dental implants)

Question: How does smoking cause gum disease?

The Dentist in Arlington TX Answers: Smoking increases your risk of developing acute and chronic bacterial infections of the gums in many different ways. First of all, it retards the production of saliva in the mouth, which is your body’s natural defense against bacteria. Smoking also impedes healthy blood circulation to the gums, explains the dentist in Arlington TX, which slows healing while increasing the risk of infection. In general, this habit interferes with the normal functioning of soft tissue cells. Combined with an increase in oral bacterial infection, smokers are left at a much greater risk of periodontal (gum) disease.

Question: What about cigar and pipe-smoking? Are they as bad for your teeth and gums as cigarettes?

The Dentist in Arlington TX Answers: Any kind of tobacco-smoking or chewing is a danger to your oral health. The Journal of the American Dental Association published the results of a 23-year long study, which indicated that cigar smokers experience the same rate of alveolar bone loss and tooth loss as cigarette-smokers. In addition to this, says the dentist in Arlington TX, smokers of pipes, cigars and cigarettes alike are all at the same risk of pharyngeal and oral cancers, as well as tooth discoloration, halitosis and periodontal (gum) disease. And this applies even if you don’t inhale the smoke as is frequently the case with cigar-tokers.

Question: Aren’t smokeless tobacco products safer for you?

The Dentist in Arlington TX Answers: Just like cigarettes and cigars, smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco and snuff, contain a whole lot of chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus. In fact, says the dentist in Arlington TX, many chewing tobacco products contain greater amounts of nicotine than cigarettes! This not only makes it more dangerous for people to enjoy, but also more addictive. One tin of snuff delivers more nicotine than three standard packets of cigarettes!

Other reasons to stay away from snuff and chewing tobacco include:

• They irritate the gum tissue, says the dentist in Arlington TX, causing it to become inflamed and to recede abnormally from the crowns of the teeth. This exposes the vulnerable roots underneath, which not only contributes to an unaesthetic smile, but is also very dangerous for the health of the tooth as a whole.

• Exposed roots provide opportunities for bacteria to migrate deep down into the gums, increasing the risk of infection and disease.

• Exposed roots are also more sensitive to temperature extremes, explains the dentist in Arlington TX.

• Chewing tobacco contains quite a bit of sugar, which causes tooth decay. The American Dental Association found that people who chewed tobacco were four times more susceptible to decay than those that didn’t.

• Smokeless tobacco contains grit and sand, says the dentist in Arlington TX, which contributes to the erosion of your dental enamel.

Question: How can I quit using tobacco?

The Dentist in Arlington TX Answers: Tobacco-use is not only a physical addiction; it’s a psychological one too. As such, different people will experience greater success using different methods to kick the habit. Here are some tips from the dentist in Arlington TX. Singularly, they may not prove to be effective, but used together will certainly help you cope with the various stages of physical and psychological withdrawal. At the end of the day, says the dentist in Arlington TX, you must quit for you and for your health.

• Set a date to quit and stick to it. Try to co-ordinate this date with a period of low stress.

• Tell your co-workers, family members and friends about your initiative to quit smoking, advise the dentist in Arlington TX; even if you are afraid that you may fail. Their help and support will prove crucial.

• Ask the doctor or dentist in Arlington TX about any nicotine replacement products that may help with the initial withdrawal symptoms. There are even certain medications designed to help people quit, but don’t use these without your doctor’s advice.

• Remove all evidence of your past addiction from your car, office and home. These include lighters, ashtrays, cigarette boxes and, of course, tobacco!

• Develop new routines that take you away from the places you use to go and smoke, says the dentist in Arlington TX. For example, go to a different coffee shop during lunch break, avoid the pub while you’re in the throes of breaking away from the addiction and start getting out more. Get away from your old life for a bit, advises the dentist in Arlington TX. Gym more often, go on walks, go to the movies and stay away from smoke-friendly environments. Exercise! It’ll make you feel alive!

• When those craving come crashing in, practice the four D’s:

i. Delay: cravings usually pass in five to ten minutes.

ii. Drink water: this can actually satiate your cravings. It’s also very good for you!

iii. Do something else: distract yourself and keep yourself busy.

iv. Deep breathing: relax and center yourself. Oxygenate your body.

The Arlington Texas Dentist Discusses Smoking and Your Oral Health, PART 2

This three-part article series takes an in-depth exploration of the short and long term effects of tobacco addiction upon your oral health.

“Quitting smoking is easy! I’ve done it a thousand times!”

- Mark Twain

As a smoker, you are aware of the various health warnings provided on cigarette boxes. And yet, in spite of the new, more graphic depictions being printed on the packaging of your favorite anytime past-time, you still manage to maintain a distance between yourself and these health warnings. You’re far too young to worry about heart disease, aren’t you?

But what about your teeth?

You don’t need to be a heavy lifelong smoker to begin to see the impact of this habit on your pearly whites, warns the Arlington Texas dentist. Tooth discoloration, chronic bad breath, gum inflammation, taste and smell impediment, dry mouth and ‘black hairy tongue’ are but a few of the ramifications of an addiction to tobacco smoking.

In the first installment of this three-part article series, the Arlington Texas dentist provided an in-depth account of both the short and long term consequences of smoking on your oral health. Now, in this article, the second installment, we shall be focusing more on some helpful oral healthcare recommendations for smokers. Armed with these tips, the Arlington TX dentist hopes that those who have been actively trying to kick the habit (or at least entertaining the idea) will find the resolve to finally do so.

Arlington Texas Dentist: Recommendations

Sure, it’s easy to say “stop smoking,” which is the Arlington Texas dentist’s main recommendation. It’s never too late to reduce and minimize the health risks, so the sooner you do, the less your chance of doing lasting and permanent damage. But quitting is far easier said than done. Most smokers have tried and failed to quit. Most smokers will try many, many times to kick the habit before they finally succeed, remarks the Arlington Texas dentist. Nicotine addiction is only the tip of the iceberg really. Within 72 hours of smoking cessation, all the nasty associated chemicals will have left your body and your physical dependence thereon, beaten. It’s the strong psychological addiction that represents a smoker’s biggest battle, explains the Arlington Texas dentist.

Here are some fundamental oral health and hygiene tips from the Arlington TX dentist for smokers:

• Firstly, it has to be said: Stop smoking or chewing tobacco!

• Be extra strict about keeping those bi-annual appointments with the Arlington Texas dentist and oral hygienist. This will enable him or her to provide the preventative healthcare you need to combat the effects of smoking on your teeth and gums. They’ll also be able to perform thorough checks for oral cancer.

• Maintain a rigorous home oral hygiene routine. As a smoker, you are at a much greater risk of periodontal (gum) disease, explains the Arlington Texas dentist. Due to lower saliva production (the mouth’s natural defense against bacteria), impeded blood circulation and a compromised immune system, smokers will naturally have greater numbers of oral bacteria and therefore, a greater and speedier build-up of plaque and tartar in their mouths. For this reason, it is essential that you brush and floss regularly and thoroughly, advises the Arlington Texas dentist. Also, use a tongue cleaner to scrape bacteria off your tongue and use an anti-bacterial mouthwash as an extra precaution. Complement this routine with regular dental hygiene appointments at the Arlington Texas dentist’s office.

• Learn how to perform a thorough check for oral and throat cancer. According to the Arlington Texas dentist, this involves checking for:

i. Red, white or dark patches on the soft tissues in the mouth (gums, palate, cheeks and on or under the tongue.)

ii. Frequent bleeding in the mouth, says the Arlington TX dentist.

iii. Sores around the mouth, face or neck that persist for more than two weeks.

iv. Numbness, loss of feeling or pain at any location in the mouth, says the Arlington Texas dentist.

v. Bumps, swelling or lumps on the neck, gums, lips, cheeks, tongue, palate or anywhere else in the mouth and on the face.

If any of these patches, sores or bumps do not disappear within two weeks, immediately schedule an appointment with the Arlington Texas dentist. He or she will perform a biopsy on the anomaly to determine whether it is cancerous or not.

Interesting Note: Regular brushing and the fresh, minty, clean feeling it leaves in the mouth can actually help to restrain the urge to smoke, says the Arlington Texas dentist. So, keep a toothbrush and some anti-bacterial mouthwash handy while you battle your addiction and it could provide you with the little extra encouragement you need!

Arlington Texas Dentist: Stay Tuned

Now that the Arlington Texas dentist has provided some tips on how to manage your oral health and hygiene as a smoker, we shall move on to answering some of your frequently asked questions. Stay tuned for the third and final installment of the Arlington TX dentist’s article series on the impact of tobacco use on one’s oral health.

Dentists in Arlington Texas Discuss: Smoking and Your Oral Health, PART 1

This three-part article series takes an in-depth exploration of the short and long term effects of tobacco addiction upon your oral health.

Most smokers, if not all of them, are aware of the health implications of their habit. There is a reason tobacco smoking is considered an addiction. Yet in spite of an understanding of the short and long term consequences of tobacco use and the clamping down of the law on smokers, a significant percentage of the population still lights up every day. Most smokers, when asked, say they want to kick the habit, and have tried to on several occasions. But these attempts have been in vain. If this applies to you, then perhaps dentists in Arlington Texas can provide you with the encouragement you need to finally bridge the gap in your resolve! We all know that smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease, say dentists in Arlington Texas. But understanding the intimate details behind the deconstruction of your oral health and hygiene may just be the shock smokers need to finally put their habit to rest.

In this three-part article series, dentists in Arlington Texas shall be discussing the impact of smoking upon one’s oral health. This first article provides an introduction to the topic by discussing the general and oral health statistics relating to smokers as compared with non-smokers. The second article provides some recommendations for those addicted to tobacco-smoking and the third addresses some of the questions dentists in Arlington Texas are frequently asked about oral health and tobacco-use.

Dentists in Arlington Texas: Some Shocking Statistics

You know it’s bad for you. But did you realize just how much at risk your health was? Here’s something to think about:

•75% of all oral cancers are caused by smoking.

•35% of all cancers are caused by smoking.

•95% of all lung cancer fatalities are caused by smoking.

•Emphysema is found almost exclusively in people who are or have been smokers at some stage during their life.

•Smokers have an increased risk of chest pain, palpitations, stroke and heart disease.

These are just a few of the general health implications of tobacco smoking, warn dentists Arlington Texas. So how does this habit affect the health of your teeth and gums?

Dentists in Arlington Texas: Smoking and Your Oral Health

•Smoking is the primary cause of oral and throat cancers.

•Smoking causes irritation and inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth (the gums, the buccal lining, the tongue, the soft and hard palate, etc.)

•Smokers are twice as likely to lose their teeth, say dentists in Arlington Texas.

•Smoking causes periodontal (gum) disease.

•Smoking causes the salivary glands to become inflamed.

•Smoking retards the healing process in the mouth, resulting in a greater risk of post-procedural infection.

•Smokers have less success with dental implants and periodontal treatment, explain dentists in Arlington Texas.

•According to the Journal of Periodontology, tobacco-users are four times more likely to develop acute and chronic oral bacterial infections than non-smokers.

Alright, so as a smoker you’re probably accustomed to people lamenting the dire consequences of your habit. You’re probably also extremely tired of hearing about how you’re doomed to an early death, etc. etc. You KNOW what you’re doing is bad for you. It’s not like you haven’t tried to quit! If quitting were easy, you wouldn’t still be smoking would you? Most of the health implications mentioned above are the result of a long term love affair with cigarettes, cigars, pipe-smoking and/or tobacco-chewing. And this can make it somewhat easier for smokers to psychologically distance themselves from it all, especially those that are still in their youth. But smoking has many significant short-term health implications too, warn dentists in Arlington Texas; many of which are MOST undesirable for those that have a pinch of self-esteem…

Dentists in Arlington Texas: Short Term Health Implications

•Smoking is a major cause of bad breath, or halitosis.

•Smoking stains your dental enamel, warn dentists in Arlington Texas, rendering your pearly whites a less attractive shade of yellow and brown.

•Smoking impedes your ability to taste and smell properly, say dentists in Arlington Texas.

•Smoking can cause the development of growths on the tongue, resulting in a condition known as ‘black hairy tongue.’ These growths, which can be green, yellow, black or brown in color, are incredibly unsightly and uncomfortable, explain dentists in Arlington Texas.

•Smoking causes ‘dry mouth’, increasing plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth and gums.

Dentists in Arlington Texas: Stay Tuned

Having discussed the short and long term consequences of tobacco addiction, we shall, in the next installment of this three-part article series, provide some recommendations for smokers. Understanding what you are doing to your teeth and gums is the first step, explain dentists in Arlington Texas. Now you can start thinking about what you are going to do to free yourself from the constraints of your addiction. Stay tuned for the second installment of the series!

Dentists in Arlington Texas Talk about Dental Implants

This article takes a sweeping look at dental implants; what they are, how they work and how they can be used to replace both single and multiple missing teeth.

Most people have heard about dental implants and have a preliminary understanding of what these tooth replacement devices are, say dentists in Arlington Texas. But there are so many fascinating facts to learn about dental implants, how they work and the incredible phenomenon that enables them to remain ‘rooted’ in the jaw bone for as long as 30 years and more. So sophisticated and comprehensive is this technology in its ability to replace single and multiple missing teeth that dentists in Arlington Texas recommend them time and again over all traditional tooth replacement devices and techniques. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at dental implants and how they work.

Dentists in Arlington Texas: What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are, quite essentially, artificial replacement teeth that consist of a titanium tooth root and a ceramic tooth crown. The root is fabricated from the exceptionally strong, lightweight and non-corrodible metal titanium, which, say dentists in Arlington, is also capable of a very unique phenomenon called ‘osseointegration.’ In 1951, Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that this metal was capable of forming a biological bond with the jaw bone. So, unlike many other metals and materials that scientists have tried to use to repair and replace joints and bones, titanium is not rejected by the body and is actually able to integrate with bone tissue.

Once dental implants have been placed by dentists in Arlington Texas, the ensuing months of recovery see the titanium base of the implant fuses with the jaw bone. This provides exceptionally strong support for the artificial tooth crown, which is skillfully crafted from a durable ceramic material to be virtually indistinguishable, in function, feel and aesthetic appearance, from a natural healthy tooth.

Dentists in Arlington Texas: Multiple Tooth Replacement

As it was described above, the tiny titanium screw that is surgically inserted into the jaw bone by dentists in Arlington is used to support a ceramic tooth crown, which is ideal for patients presenting with single missing teeth. But the ability of dental implants to provide tooth replacement solutions goes far above and beyond this! Dentists in Arlington Texas can use implants to provide patients presenting with a number of missing teeth, whether it’s one or all of them, with a fantastic solution. In the latter case, four to six implants can provide long-term support for a fully customized and non-removable prosthetic dental bridge (see image below.)



New, sophisticated surgical protocol actually enable skilled and qualified dentists in Arlington Texas to provide edentulous (not having a single original adult tooth left) and near-edentulous patients with a brand new set of immediately functional, beautiful non-removable teeth in as little as a single day with a single surgery. This essentially means that, even if you have been wearing removable dentures for many years, there is a much better and more functional (and aesthetic) solution to your oral problems.

Dentist in Arlington Texas: A Final Note on Dental Implants

It is so important for patients to seek immediate professional attention should they ever lose one or more of their teeth. Dental implants provide a wonderful and long-term solution that promotes the health of the underlying jaw bone, say dentists in Arlington Texas; something that no other tooth replacement technology is capable of. So, if you have lost one or more of your adult pearly whites to any of a myriad of causes, don’t hesitate to book yourself an appointment. Greater smile confidence, functionality and beauty are just a consultation away!

“Say Aaaaahhhh,” says the Dentist in Arlington Texas: About Tooth Extractions

This article takes a closer look at tooth extractions, what necessitates them and why patients shouldn’t be terrified.

There are, understandably, few prospects more terrifying than being told by the dentist in Arlington Texas that you need to have a tooth pulled. This just about epitomizes everything we find scary about our bi-annual dental appointments and before we can talk ourselves out of our panic, images from Hollywood movies involving pliers and maniacal dentists begin flashing before our eyes. The fear and anxiety caused by requiring a tooth extraction is, of course, totally disproportionate to the nature of the procedure, explains the dentist in Arlington Texas. Long gone are the days when teeth were pulled using bulky and aggressive-looking equipment with only a lick of strong brandy to dull the pain (or at least the patient’s perspective of pain.) Nowadays, local anesthesia and post-procedural pain-killers remove the one element that patients most fear: pain. So, let’s take a look at tooth extractions; perhaps the most misunderstood of all the procedures offered by the dentist Arlington Texas.

Ask the Dentist in Arlington Texas: Why are Tooth Extractions Necessary?

The dentist in Arlington Texas will do everything in his/her power to save a tooth that has become damaged or decayed. And this is because no amount of sophisticated modern tooth replacement technology can rival the strength, durability and resilience of your own natural teeth. Not even dental implants. But there are certain circumstances in which a tooth extraction becomes unavoidable, says the dentist in Arlington Texas:

• The tooth has sustained too much physical trauma (perhaps from a car accident) to be restored using a dental crown.

• Too great a portion of the tooth structure has become decayed for it to be restored.

• A root canal procedure has failed to prevent bacteria from re-infecting the insides of the tooth.

• Emerging wisdom teeth that have become impacted or infected.

• Overcrowding of the dental arch, requiring one or more teeth to be pulled to make more space.

• Loose milk teeth that have become decayed.

For all these reasons, the dentist in Arlington Texas may decide it to be in the best interests of your oral health and comfort to extract the tooth and have it replaced with a dental implant or bridge. In the case of wisdom teeth and overcrowding, replacements aren’t necessary.

Ask the Dentist in Arlington Texas: Will it Hurt?

Naturally, a patient’s most immediate concern is pain. But fear not, the dentist in Arlington Texas won’t pull a tooth unless the area has been completely numbed first. For more complex cases of wisdom tooth extraction, you may undergo general anesthesia to allow the dentist in Arlington Texas to surgically remove the tooth structure from the jaw. Analgesics, or pain-killers, will be prescribed to deal effectively with any post-procedural pain or discomfort, but this is very rarely a problem with most straight-forward tooth extractions. If you suffer from acute dental anxiety, ask the dentist in Arlington Texas about his or her recommendations for oral sedation. By popping an anti-anxiety pill (usually of the Benzodiazepine variety) an hour or so before your appointment, you can enjoy a much more tolerable experience in the dentist’s chair! Just make sure that you arrange a lift to and from your appointment!

The Dentist in Arlington Texas: A Final Note on Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions are one of the most straight-forward and least traumatic of all the procedures offered by the dentist in Arlington Texas. It is the overall goal of this simple and quick procedure to protect your oral health and with the availability of anesthesia, there really is nothing to fear.

Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Saving Smiles

"This article describes the many treatments offered by cosmetic dentists to patients that aren’t happy with the color, shape or quality of their smiles."

Your smile is one of your most important personal assets because it provides the most intimate insight into the full spectrum of emotion. A single smile can make amends, can lift a friend’s spirits or arrest a future-lover’s heart. But with the incredible power your smile gives you as a social being, comes the risk of self-consciousness and low self-esteem when you are unhappy with the quality of your teeth. Not all of us are born with perfectly white, even and symmetrical teeth, says the Arlington cosmetic dentist. But this doesn’t need to stop you from flashing your pearly whites with pride and confidence! Arlington cosmetic dentistry offers a whole host of treatments and restorative procedures designed to improve symmetry, even out flaws and brighten the luster of your teeth. And the difference is incredible. Patients leave the office of Arlington cosmetic dentists with a brand new lease on life because all the self-consciousness they formerly felt has been replaced with a confident, beautiful and healthy-looking smile.

So, what are the various procedures and treatments available for the cracked, worn or dulled smile?

Treatments Offered by Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Dental Bonding

It only takes a single cracked, chipped or discolored tooth to distract your audience from your smile. But for many patients, aesthetic problems go a little further than having a single marred tooth! Whether one of your teeth has become accidentally chipped, or you were born with large gaps between all of your teeth, Arlington cosmetic dentistry professionals can make use of bonding to improve their shape, color and symmetry. The procedure itself involves the application of a durable resin material (the same color as dental enamel) to the surface of your teeth. It is subsequently hardened with a special light, thus ‘bonding’ the material in place. This enables the Arlington cosmetic dentist to:

• Even out the appearance of jagged, chipped or cracked teeth
• Reduce large spaces between teeth
• Improve the overall cosmetic appearance of teeth
• Protect worn and sensitive teeth from cavities

Treatments Offered by Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Porcelain Caps/Crowns

While bonding is generally used to improve the appearance and health of teeth that have minor flaws in them, such as cracks, chips or fractures, Arlington cosmetic dentists will make use of porcelain caps or crowns to restore teeth that have sustained substantial damage or decay. When a large amount of the tooth structure needs to be removed due to decay, or has already been removed as a result of accidental trauma, a ceramic crown offers a fantastic aesthetic and functional solution. For people born with teeth that just aren’t red-carpet worthy (Tom Cruise is an excellent example), crowns can be placed by Arlington cosmetic dentistry professionals to provide a whole smile make-over!

Treatments Offered by Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or bleaching is perhaps the simplest and least expensive of all the procedures offered by the Arlington cosmetic dentist. You don’t need to be a smoker or drink an excessive amount of coffee, red wine or dark sodas to have pearly whites that aren’t, well, that pearly white! Some people are born with darker, more yellow enamel. A teeth whitening treatment can be performed by the Arlington cosmetic dentistry to brighten and lift years off the quality of your smile!