Missing Teeth? You’re Missing Out!

Posted by

Is there anything more lovely than a healthy, attractive smile? Not only does your smile impact the way others perceive you, but it also affects the way you feel about yourself. If you’ve lost one or more teeth, you may find it difficult to flash your smile around other people. Dr. Newton, a general dentist offering dental implants in Celina, TX, discusses the surprising ways in which adult tooth loss affects your quality of life. As you’ll see, these consequences go well beyond the appearance of your smile.

More Than Just a Missing Tooth

Many of our patients are shocked to learn of the oral health complications that come with tooth loss. First, there’s the impact to your remaining teeth. Forced to withstand greater pressure and stress, these teeth become more prone to cracks and breakage. Your bite may become misaligned, leading to a TMJ disorder, a painful condition affecting the joints of your jaw. If your remaining teeth gradually shift out of position, you may develop crowding or overlapping—two factors that make oral hygiene more difficult. The result? You become more susceptible to gum disease, tooth decay and unpleasant breath.

The Link Between Oral Health and General Health

The consequences of adult tooth loss directly impact your oral health, not to mention several aspects of your general health. Take your diet, for example. Crisp, healthy fruits and vegetables become more difficult to chew, leading many edentulous patients to adopt a diet of soft, non-nutritious foods, such as baked goods and drive-thru fare. In turn, this places you at a greater risk of developing diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. If you develop periodontal disease, it’s possible that you become particularly susceptible to a host of ailments, including Alzheimer’s, stroke, and bone loss.

How Do Dental Implants Help?

The beauty of dental implants is their versatility. Whether you are missing a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all of your teeth, implants are up to the task. Because implants are permanently secured in your jawbone, you need not worry about the downsides of removable dentures—no adhesives or soaks, uncomfortable prosthetics, or tell-tale clicking sounds during speech. Of all teeth replacement options available, none afford the same stability and natural appearance of dental implants.

Don’t let missing teeth keep you from the things you love. To learn more about dental implants in Celina, TX, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Newton, contact our office at 214. 851. 0130. We welcome patients living in McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Gunter, Pilot Point and the surrounding communities. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook.

Secrets of Celebrities’ Smile Styles: Teeth Whitening

Posted by

Dazzling. Luminous. Brilliant. Flip through the pages of your favorite fashion magazine or celebrity style blog, and you’ll find these words used repeatedly to describe the smiles of your favorite stars. When it comes to celebrities’ pearly whites, is it simply a matter of good genes? We think not, says Dr. Newton, a cosmetic dentist in Celina, TX. Dr. Newton shares celebrity dentists’ teeth whitening secrets from the latest issue of Elle magazine.

The Basics of Brilliant Teeth

Start with a whitening toothpaste of your choice, but understand that toothpaste alone isn’t sufficient to achieve significant brightening. Although these products contain a small amount of peroxide, they work mostly to scrub away plaque and light staining from the surface of your teeth. For more dramatic results, you’ll need professional cleaning and whitening treatments. Visit Dr. Newton at least once every six months, or more frequently as recommended. Doing so prevents food and debris from accumulating on your teeth while protecting your mouth against periodontal disease, bad breath, and tooth decay.

One Hollywood dentist, whose celebrity patients include fashion models, rock stars and A-list actors, adds that using an electric toothbrush prevents or removes buildup from between teeth and beneath the gum line. Using sonic waves, some electric brushes loosen plaque and tartar. Others scrub and polish the surface of your teeth to produce a smooth, gleaming appearance. Both dentists agree that using mouthwash, whitening formula or otherwise, helps reach areas not touched by your toothbrush. Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol, as its drying effect on your mouth contributes to bad breath and increases your risk for tooth decay.

Should You Go the Professional Route?

Not all stains can be removed by over-the-counter teeth whitening products, even those that claim to be professional strength. The most stubborn stains include those caused by:

  • Years of neglect
  • Tobacco use
  • Taking medications known to discolor teeth
  • Consuming dark liquids, such as tea, coffee and cola
  • Damages to the surface of tooth enamel

You probably know that your skin has pores, but did you know that teeth have pores, too? Oil and dirt clog pores, leading to skin irritations and pimples. Similarly, tooth enamel that has been badly damaged and pitted is more prone to staining. Heavily pigmented substances, such as berries, wine, and certain fruits, remain in these open pores. Professional teeth whitening removes stains from the pores in your teeth.

Give Your Teeth the Star Treatment

Dr. Newton offers two options for dramatic, effective teeth whitening: an in-office system, LumiBrite, and take-home whitening kits. Which is best for you? LumiBrite is ideal if you desire instant gratification, achieving up to 10 shades of whitening within a single one-hour treatment. Our home whitening system produces enviable results, albeit more gradually. Most patients achieve optimal whitening within two to four weeks of at-home treatment.

What could you do with a brighter smile? To learn more about teeth whitening in Celina, TX, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Newton, contact our office at 214. 851. 0130. We welcome patients living in McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Gunter, Pilot Point and the surrounding communities. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook.

Can the Sun Make Your Smile Shine Brighter?

Posted by

sun shine smileThe summer season is one of smiles and sunshine, and though it may not seem so at first, the two are more closely related than you might think. When the sun’s light hits your skin, it stimulates your body’s production of vitamin D; an essential component of many of your body’s vital functions. One of the most important duties of vitamin D is to help your body absorb and metabolize calcium, which your teeth, gums, and jawbone rely on to remain strong and healthy. As the brightest time of year gets into full swing, your Celina family dentist, Dr. Newton, advises soaking up a healthy amount of sunshine, and smiling often in the process. (more…)

A Tooth Test: True or False?

Posted by

Dr. Newton and our wonderful staff at Celina Family Dentistry know exactly how many teeth you have. We keep track at each of your dental checkups. It’s important, because you are supposed to have a certain amount of teeth. If some fail to erupt, further investigation is necessary to ensure there isn’t an underlying dental issue to worry about. To learn more about your smile, try today’s true-or-false quiz.

Questions

Q1. True or false: The total amount of human teeth possible to grow is 32.

Q2. True or false: Every healthy tooth is comprised of layers. The clear outer shell – tooth enamel -is the strongest substance your body produces.

Q3. True or false: Although strong, your tooth enamel is subject to acid erosion. The only way this occurs is through consumption of sour food and drinks.

Answers (more…)

Do you Need Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Posted by

Happy FriendsIt’s difficult enough to commit to your regular biannual dental checkups. When you have a plethora of dental issues, the prospect of fixing your smile can feel completely overwhelming. For cosmetic and restorative dental needs, you may not even know where to begin. That’s where Celina dentist, Dr. Newton steps in, providing you with a consultation for full mouth reconstruction. Similar to something known as a smile makeover, reconstruction focuses on making sure that your mouth provides a healthy foundation for cosmetic procedures.

Heal and Restore your Smile

Cosmetic dental procedures provide you with the look that you desire. However, without a healthy scaffolding to build upon, your cosmetic dental work will end up being a waste. If you want your cosmetic work to last, you will need to start with a thorough exam and consultation with Dr. Newton to ascertain the degree of work necessary. Fillings, crowns, inlays, onlays, or root canal procedures might be in order to deal with cavities or deep decay. If you received amalgam fillings when you were younger, you may wish to have them (more…)

Determining the Cause of a Sudden Toothache

Posted by

SinusPainSniffles and sneezes…is that a cold coming on? Or is it allergies? Or something worse? Sometimes the irritation that comes from allergies or illness even comes along with a toothache. Undergoing x-rays and a thorough examination from Celina dentist, Dr. Newton is the best first step to uncover why your body is giving you the warning sign of discomfort or pain. Sometimes symptoms crossover and cause confusion, as can be the case with toothaches which are actually caused by sinus infections.

Close Neighbors: Sinuses and Teeth

Some people are highly prone to sinus infections. Your sinus membranes are internal. If you could see them, however, they would look very similar to the inside of your mouth with a pink, moist tissue lining. Located beneath your cheekbones, but above your teeth, are the maxillary sinuses. Upper molars have roots which run right along the floor of your sinuses. The membranes press directly on the nerves which run through the root canals of your teeth. This means that if you have a sinus infection, it can easily be confused for a (more…)

Achieving Longevity for your Bright Smile after Teeth Whitening

Posted by

men vs womenCelina dentist, Dr. Newton offers cosmetic services which can brighten your smile. However, once you leave our  office, you will need to follow specific care instructions and change some old habits if you want to avoid damaging your newly refreshed smile. Although periodic professional bleaching touch-ups may be required, proper maintenance at home will keep your smile bright between whitening appointments.

After In-Office Whitening

Dr. Newton offers the LumiBrite in-office whitening system designed to brighten your smile in just one hour. After you leave our office, we recommend the following techniques to preserve your gorgeous smile:

  • Avoid colored foods and drinks for at least 48 hours. Your teeth are rendered vulnerable until the whitening gel has had enough time to penetrate your tooth enamel. Especially try to avoid consuming coffee, tea, soda, red wine, sauces, and other tooth-staining items.
  • When drinking beverages other than water, use a straw to avoid direct contact with your teeth.
  • Gingerly brush your teeth after eating and drinking to remove any potential stains. However, make sure that you don’t brush too aggressively or you could damage tooth enamel.
  • Drink plenty of water and seek out clear or light colored beverages such as white wine, milk, or apple juice.

Proper Care for Whitened Teeth (more…)

The Power of a Brighter, Whiter Smile

Posted by

SmilingWomanTeeth whitening is a valuable tool for enhancing your smile. Brighter teeth can contribute to greater confidence and contentment with our physical appearance. This confidence can overflow into our careers, our interactions with others, and our positive self-image. Family and cosmetic dentist Dr. Newton of Celina, TX, provides two types of teeth whitening. Under her care, any questions or issues that arise will be promptly resolved, and Dr Newton will always strive to maintain your good oral health along with a superior smile.

(more…)

Cinco de Mayo Pride Should Extend to Teeth

Posted by

Mexican FlagHappy (early) Cinco de Mayo from the team at Celina Family Dentistry.

During the celebration of Mexican heritage and pride next week, consider what it would take to make you proud of your teeth.

More and more adults fail to regularly visit the dentist and, of those, Hispanics, in particular, lag behind when it comes to adequate dental care, according to a collaborative study by the Hispanic Dental Association, Crest and Oral-B.

(more…)

Soft Palate Can Result In Snoring

Posted by

excessive snoringDid you know the anatomy of your mouth can cause you to snore? It’s true. Research has indicated that a condition called soft palate can be the cause of obstructive sleep apnea in snoring individuals. Studies estimate that 30% to 50% of the United States population suffers from snoring, but in many cases, snoring can be remedied. If your snoring is disturbing your loved one, or if their snoring is disturbing you, then Dr. Newton can discuss symptoms and possible options to treat the underlying condition, allowing you and your loved one to enjoy a good nights sleep. (more…)