Smoking tobacco, drinking dark liquids such as tea, coffee, colas and red wine can all cause teeth to lose their sparkle. However, with teeth whitening treatments, the stains left behind can often be removed. There are several types of treatment available – from specially-formulated toothpastes and over-the-counter treatments to professional teeth whitening services.

In most cases, teeth whitening treatment is a perfectly safe and suitable way to restore teeth back to their normal color. However, it is always worth discussing options with a dentist prior to beginning treatment, as tooth whitening isn’t suitable for everyone; especially those under 16 years of age and pregnant women.

At ages under 16, adult teeth are still developing and so teeth whitening agents used in the treatment can damage the tooth’s pulp chambers. This can lead to teeth displaying increased sensitivity.

Also, those patients who suffer gum disease, tooth cavities or exposed roots should avoid tooth whitening – at least until these problems have been rectified by a dentist – as the treatment can potentially absorb into the decay and affect the inner machinations of the tooth; again, this leads to heightened sensitivity of the teeth.

Tooth whitening treatments also won’t have any effect on dental fillings, crown or other artificial dental restoration techniques, and so teeth whitening in these instances will lead to an uneven coloration across the teeth.

And, patients who already suffer from sensitive teeth or gums, defective tooth restoration such as broken or cracked crowns or an allergy to peroxide – the most common form of bleaching agent used in teeth whitening – should seek advice from a dentist prior to beginning treatment.

If you are in any doubt about whether your teeth would be suitable for teeth whitening treatment, contact the Frisco Texas office of Dr. De Paoli. And of course, keep up with regular dental check-ups and a good all-round dental hygiene regime to help maintain a whiter smile while also helping to keep that smile healthy!

Maintaining your dental health is often not considered to be connected to the health of your body overall. However, keeping your mouth healthy can help keep your body healthy in many ways. Our family dentist can help show you ways to maintain your oral health and support your overall health at the same time.

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

One way to keep your teeth healthy is through a proper diet. Foods that are bad for your body are often also bad for your teeth, so eating healthy foods in proper quantities can maintain oral and overall physical health. Some foods to avoid to keep your mouth and body healthy include:

• Sweets and candy
• Processed foods with little nutritional value
• Sugared sodas

These types of foods encourage tooth decay because of their high sugar content. They also provide minimal support to your body systems and your immunity.

In addition, alcohol and smoking are bad for your body and can also be detrimental to your oral health. Alcohol can encourage tooth decay and increase the possibility of oral cancer. Smoking or use of other tobacco products greatly increases the chances of oral cancer and also can cause severe tooth discoloration.

Maintaining a healthy diet also helps keep your immune system strong, reducing the chances that you will become ill and helping your body fight off problems such as gum disease.

Other Issues Related to Oral Health

At each dental visit, your dentist will not only check your teeth and gums, but will also screen for oral cancer or other irregularities in the oral tissues. As with other forms of cancer, oral cancer is more treatable when it is diagnosed in early stages. Keeping your teeth healthy can reduce the chances of oral cancer.

Gum disease also has a wide-reaching effect on your body. Studies have shown that people who are susceptible to gum disease also have a higher risk of suffering from heart disease. So visiting your dentist regularly can not only keep your smile beautiful, but ensure a longer, healthier life.

Contact Advanced Smiles Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Frisco TX at 972-668-3680 to learn more and to schedule your next visit.

Your dentist offers in-office and at-home whitening options. The in-office whitening treatment begins will scaling and debridement to remove calculus and plaque. Pumice is used to remove any debris. Your teeth will then be isolated with gauze because the teeth whitening solution will not be effective on wet surfaces.

Some whitening products will require a laser or curing light. The bleaching solution will be left on the tooth for about 30 to 60 minutes depending on the manufacturer’s specifications. After the treatment is done, you will be instructed by your dentist to avoid food that is high in pigments or colorants like tomato sauce, red wine, coffee, tea and ketchup to avoid discoloration.

Take-home or at-home whitening gels can be used to remove discolorations or stains. Your dentist will provide you with a kit that comes with custom-made trays and tooth whitening gel. The trays are leak proof and can be worn when lying down. Leave the trays on for the specified amount of time only. Remember to list down any questions you might have regarding the home whitening kit and get answers before using the product.

The bleaching gel comes in different concentrations so give your dentist an idea about how light you would like your teeth to be. At-home treatments are easy to use and the only thing you have to do is evenly cover the tray. There should be an equal distribution of the bleaching gel to achieve even results. If you have any questions about the process, set up a consultation meeting with Dr. De Paoli today.

There are many factors that can contribute to crooked and misaligned teeth. Heredity and genetics play a large role in this equation and so does oral habits like thumb sucking or night grinding. If you do not want to invest in braces because you do not find a metallic smile appealing, you should consider Invisalign in Frisco TX. If you have any questions regarding the procedure or duration of the treatment our dentist would be happy to set up a consultation and answer any questions you might have.

Invisalign is a breakthrough in orthodontic technology that makes use of clear aligners to straighten your teeth instead of metal bracket and wire. It begins with a consultation and a review of your dental history. Digital x-rays and photographs will be taken to assess your bite. The dentist will try to rule out musculoskeletal conditions and other factors that might lead to misaligned teeth.

Once you are considered to be a potential candidate for Invisalign, your dentist will take bite impressions to create a plaster cast. The finished cast will be sent off to the lab and the impressions are put through a CT scan to get a three-dimensional model. Since the movement of your teeth is done gently, you will not notice much movement until the 7^th or 8^th tray.

There are many advantages of using Invisalign instead of braces. First off, you can take the appliance off while you eat. This allows you to savor every morsel of food without worrying that it may get stuck between the brackets. Secondly, you never have to worry about getting sores inside your mouth. Lastly, aesthetic-wise, the clear aligners are not obvious and you can smile in pictures without the need to purse your lips together to hide your brackets. The clear trays can be cleaned by brushing, just like a regular appliance. Remember to take them off when drinking tea, coffee or red wine to avoid staining.

To learn more about Invisalign and to schedule your consultation, please of Dr. Ernest De Paoli at 972-668-3680 today.

Bruxism is a condition wherein the patient has a habit of grinding their teeth while sleeping. This can be caused by excess amounts of stress and it is harder to control because the patient is unaware of it. The risk is increased if you have misaligned dentition. Most people with this problem are not able to completely relax and often exhibit poor posture. Research has also shown that bruxism is linked to imbalanced diets and the lack of sleep. Other reported symptoms are anxiety, depression and tension. The patient will also report having insomnia in most cases. The problem is typically more mental than physical.

TMJ problems in general are a result of many different factors. Malocclusion is the common cause of temporomandibular joint issues. If the person favors one side of the mouth for chewing, this can lead to pain due to the lack of balance. This is common in people with periodontal problems or cavities that are sensitive to hot and cold foods. Visit your family dentist right away if you have any of these problems.

A blow to the TMJ can also lead to pain in the area. The patient must have an x-ray to determine if there are any fractures. The hairline fracture is hard to detect and it can cause complications if left untreated.

Many TMJ problems arise because the patient enjoys foods that are hard to chew. Sticky and hard food like steaks and candy are common culprits. These type of food should be consumed in small quantities to avoid pain in the temporomandibular joint area.

Bruxism and other TMJ disorders can be treated. However, prevention is better than cure. Visit Dr. De Paoli regularly to avoid these conditions. Call 972-668-3680 to schedule your next visit.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a condition caused by many possible reasons and it is an embarrassing problem to have. Many people who suffer from it invest in breath spray and mints, but Ernest De Paoli, your Frisco dentist, wants you to understand that the foul smell can be caused by many factors. This is not a disease but a noticeable symptom of a systemic condition in most cases.

Halitosis can occur because of poor oral hygiene, medication, diet, lactose intolerance, periodontal problems, diabetes and even GERD. Tobacco use and xerostomia, or dry mouth, are also possible reasons.

If you fail to have your teeth cleaned regularly by your dentist or have poor oral hygiene, plaque is expected to build up and this provides a great medium for bacteria to hang on to. Those who do not brush or floss properly experience tooth loss, gum disease, caries and bad breath.

Your dentist would also like you to know that the food you eat can cause bad breath. Foods and beverages with overpowering odors like coffee, onions, garlic, and some types of cheese or spices are absorbed into your bloodstream and then transferred to the lungs. In addition, patients on a diet that is low in carbohydrates produce ketones, which can also be a cause of bad breath.

Medical conditions like pharyngitis, tonsillitis, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Sjorgen’s syndrome, rhinitis and even liver or kidney disease can cause this embarrassing condition to manifest. These medical problems have to be resolved by a physician so that the problem will go away.

Dental appliances and dentures need to be cleaned regularly. When food gets stuck in their crevices, halitosis can develop. People with braces who have poor oral hygiene are prone to bad breath and periodontal problems. This is why patients are urged to brush and floss regularly to avoid tooth loss and cavities.

Since the cause of the problem may differ, the most you can do is maintain excellent oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. If the problem persists accompanied by other signs and symptoms, visit your physician right away.

To learn more about this condition and to schedule your next exam, please call the office of Dr. De Paoli at 972-668-3680.

The seemingly innocent film of bacteria can cause irreparable damage if left to fester in your oral cavity. It thrives on your carbohydrate intake. The bacteria multiply and excrete acidic matter. This causes a degeneration of your enamel and dentin. When your dentinal tubules are open, the bacterium will be able to enter your tooth and this leads to caries formation.

If carious lesions or cavities are left untreated, the bacteria will be capable of entering your tooth’s pulp chamber, which will cause sensitivity. Your dentist might need to perform root canal treatment to save the tooth structure.

You can prevent this from happening by improving your oral hygiene. Remember to brush after each meal. The cervical third of the tooth must be given special attention. Floss the areas in between teeth and invest in fissure sealants if you have pits that are too tiny for the usual toothbrush bristle to enter. Depending on the rate of caries incidence, visit your dentist regularly for cleaning and scaling. Those who are more prone to periodontal disease must make it a point to schedule more dental visits to control the problem.

Gum disease is also caused by plaque build-up. Some people are genetically predisposed to this. In order to prevent the onset of tooth loss, they need to be more vigilant where oral hygiene is concerned. Your oral cavity is the dirtiest part of your body.

Contact the office of Dr. Ernest De Paoli, your dentist serving Frisco, to schedule your next exam and to learn more about home-care tips and tricks that can delay or prevent tooth loss.

Dental stains can be caused by many factors. Red wine, nicotine, caffeine, fluorosis and tetracycline are the most common reasons why people seek teeth bleaching treatments. Aside from being safe, this procedure can be administered to patients who are 13 years of age and older. The solution or gel that is used is nontoxic, plus the patient has the option to perform it at home.

Teeth whitening in Frisco can be performed in the dental office and produce significant results. People were once apprehensive about getting your dentition bleached because they believed that it might cause medical complications. With the innovations in technology, teeth whitening procedures are now safe and produce beautiful results that are guaranteed to last.

Your dentist can perform in-office bleaching that is cured using both heat and light. Instead of waiting for hours, this speedy procedure will only require 30 minutes to one hour of your time. The patient will instantly see drastic results. Those with stubborn stains due to nicotine, tea or tetracycline will require at least one more visit to the dentist. The results of this aggressive yet safe bleaching treatment usually lasts for a number of years and can be prolonged by adhering to proper oral hygiene techniques.

If you would rather bleach your teeth at home, your dentist will make a custom mold of your teeth. The tray will be used to hold the bleaching solution. Since it is custom-made, you will never have to worry about the bleach leaking out. Once the gel is put in the mold, you will be instructed to wear the tray for two to three hours everyday. This must be done for two to three weeks. The gentle solution will produce whiter results with little to no side effects.

Our dental bleaching techniques are the safest options to get the dazzling white teeth that you have always wanted. For further questions about both procedures, do not hesitate to call Advanced Smiles at 972-668-3680 and obtain more information.

Dental Veneers

In the past, the most successful way to deal with gaps between the teeth was through orthodontic procedures. This approach takes a long time, is expensive, and can be uncomfortable. More recently, though, dental veneers are being used to close small gaps between the teeth.

Dental veneers are thin shells made of porcelain. These shells are affixed to the front surfaces of the teeth with a special bonding agent that makes them strong and durable. Better yet, veneers are custom made and color matched so that they look just like your natural teeth. The porcelain used to make veneers also reflects light just like natural enamel, giving your teeth a natural-looking luminescence.

Other Treatment Options

If you have wide gaps between your teeth, orthodontic treatment might still be your best option. Invisalign offers an alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign can correct minor misalignment and minor gaps that cannot be treated easily with dental veneers. Invisalign treatment provides nearly invisible orthodontic treatment with clear plastic trays that gradually move your teeth into the proper position.

The best treatment to correct the gaps between your teeth will depend upon how large the gaps are and what you want your smile to look like when treatment is complete. A consultation with Dr. De Paoli will help you to determine your long-term goals, as well as decide what approach will help you achieve those goals.

If you would like to learn more about how dental veneers in Frisco can close gaps between your teeth to achieve a perfect smile, please contact our office to schedule a visit.

Using fluoride is one of the most important elements of successful dental care. Fluoride helps keep the teeth strong and prevents decay. In addition to everyday brushing with fluoride toothpaste, it is also important to have regular fluoride treatments offered by Dr. De Paoli, a family dentist serving Frisco.

How Fluoride Works

Fluoride helps protect the teeth in several different ways. First, it helps strengthen the teeth by repairing damaged enamel. When enamel is damaged by bacteria, the enamel becomes demineralized, making it weaker. Fluoride helps remineralize the enamel, ensuring that the teeth remain strong. Although fluoride cannot reverse the effects of decay once it begins, it can keep decay from developing by strengthening the teeth in this way.

Fluoride may also actually keep bacteria from growing on the teeth. Although this theory is not yet proven, evidence suggests that fluoride might inhibit bacteria from growing and spreading over the surfaces of the teeth, or might cause bacteria to produce less acid. Acidic byproducts of bacterial activity are what erode the teeth and cause decay. So fluoride might reduce tooth decay in this way, as well as by strengthening the teeth.

Fluoride at Home and at the Dentist’s Office

To ensure that your teeth remain strong, it is important to use fluoride toothpaste at home. Although many cities now add fluoride to their drinking water, this fluoride exposure is not sufficient to keep the teeth healthy. Direct contact with the teeth is important for fluoride to work efficiently. Ask your family dentist to recommend a good fluoride toothpaste or, if necessary, a fluoride rinse for added protection.

Your family dentist might also apply fluoride to your teeth during regular office visits. Typically, a dentist will recommend that fluoride be applied about once a year. Why is this fluoride treatment necessary in addition to regular brushing? Professionally applied fluoride provides a stronger fluoride solution, meaning that it is more effective in protecting your teeth.

If you have any questions about fluoride treatment and how it can help your teeth, please contact Advanced Smiles at 972-668-3680 for an appointment.