In addition to affecting your overall health, tobacco use and smoking can cause a number of oral health issues, ranging from oral cancer to discolored teeth.

“You can get yellow teeth and a yellow tongue,” says Thomas Kilgore, DMD, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery and associate dean at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. “You see a lot of staining on the tongue.”

Smoking and tobacco use can lead to more serious oral health complications as well, including gum disease and oral cancer.

“The most serious issue is mouth cancer,” Dr. Kilgore says. “It’s hard to say what percentage of people who smoke will get mouth cancer, but the death rate of those who do get it is high — between 40 and 50 percent of all cases, and that hasn’t changed over the last few decades.”

People often think that different forms of tobacco are “safer” than others. However, says Kilgore, “Tobacco in any form has risks. It’s hard to figure out which is worse” — when tobacco is chewed, smoked, or inhaled.

The bottom line is that regular exposure to tobacco in any form can compromise your health. Kilgore points out that “pipe smokers may not smoke very often, but they can [still] get cancer of the lips, as they’re always holding the pipe in the same place on the lip.” Additionally, “there’s a myth that chewing tobacco has less risk, but it’s been shown pretty clearly that this isn’t true.”

And people who use smokeless (chewing) tobacco are at a four to six time greater risk of oral cancer than people who don’t use tobacco at all. People who use smokeless tobacco are also at higher risk of tooth decay and cavities because some varieties of chewing tobacco contain sugar for a sweeter taste, and sugar is a primary cause of tooth decay.

Pacific dental group strongly suggest that quit smoking now, or get professional help for reducing smoking. It is very damage to both oral and general health.

Source from everyday health.

If you have yellow teeth

Whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives that help polish teeth and prevent the buildup of additional stains—but they won’t have much impact on older discolorations, says Augusto Robles, DDS, director of operative dentistry at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

To get a whiter smile, look for pastes or gels that contain modified silicone abrasives, Dr. Robles advises. He says Rembrandt Deeply White and Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening are two effective options. If you’re not satisfied with the results after one month, ask your dentist about in-office solutions.

If you’re plagued by cavities

All day every day, a sticky film of bacteria is trying to form on your teeth, Dr. Cooper says. That film is the plaque, and it interacts with certain foods—mostly sugars—to produce acids that eat away at your tooth’s enamel, which results in tiny holes (cavities), she says.

The solution? The mineral fluoride, which the ADA refers to as nature’s cavity fighter. It coats teeth and protects them from cavity-causing acids. While most toothpaste contains fluoride, Dr. Cooper says you can be certain any product that features the ADA seal and claims to be “anti-cavity” will do the job.

Another tip: Brushing and spitting—but not rinsing—leaves fluoride behind and gives the ingredient more time to work, which can further help those who are cavity prone, says Dr. Robles. If all else fails, prescription cavity fighters like Colgate PreviDent could also help, he says.

If you have sensitive teeth or gums

If your dentist has ruled out other problems like cavities or root infections, the issue could be that you’re brushing too roughly, says Sally Cram, DDS, a Washington DC-based periodontics. You could also have extra sensitive gums or exposed roots, which aren’t necessarily signs of poor brushing or flossing habits, Dr. Robles adds.

Opt for toothpaste containing a desensitizing ingredient like strontium chloride or potassium nitrate. “There’s essentially no difference between the two,” Dr. Cooper says, and either may help lessen the pain. The ADA approves multiple brands, including several products from Sensodyne.

Pacific dental group advice: if you are lazy brushing and flossing, no toothpaste will save your smile. Choose products wisely and also making sure to taking care of the teeth.

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, statistics show that nearly 70% of adults aged 35 to 44 years in the United States have at least one missing tooth due to an accident, tooth decay, gum disease, or dental fractures.

Dental Implants or Dentures?

But there’s no need to go through life with missing teeth. These days, many good alternatives are available. Dental implants and dentures are the most common options. Dentures are false teeth, and although their quality has improved, they’re not ideal for everyone. If not secured with denture adhesive, dentures might slip out of place while eating or speaking, which could be embarrassing, and partial dentures might promote infection and decay in other teeth if they aren’t fitted properly, which may increase the risk that you would need a tooth filling on the abutment (adjoining) tooth. That said, dentures may be the best choice for people whose gums and jaw are weak or unhealthy.

Should I Get Dental Implants?

If you are missing teeth and your gums and jaw are healthy, you may benefit from dental implants, which are replacement teeth that are implanted surgically into the jawbone. With good oral hygiene, dental implants can last for 20 years or more without the need for replacement. Dental implants are often a popular choice for people who have only one or two teeth missing, but they can be an alternative to dentures if you have several missing teeth. As long as your gums and jaw are healthy, two or more implants can serve as a base of support for several replacement teeth.

Get a professional advise from a trusted dental group. Pacific dental group provides lots of services and check us online or call us for more details.

Teeth! We see them every day. We work with them every day. That’s no surprise, we’re dentists, after all!

Even so, they never cease to amaze us. We bet you’ll be amazed, too, when you read some of these incredible facts about your pearly whites:

1. Surveys indicate that 50% of people say that someone’s smile is the first thing they notice.
2. The hardest part of your body? Your tooth enamel.
3. Some 80% of dental injuries sustained by children are to their front teeth.
4. Consumers in the U.S. buy 14 million gallons of toothpaste every year.
5. Over the course of your life, you will spend about 38 days brushing your teeth.
6. Snails have about 25 teeth – and they are located on their tongue.
7. Adult humans have 32 teeth. Babies, however, only have 20 teeth.
8. A tooth that gets knocked out will start to die within 15 minutes.
9. You can extend the life of a knocked out tooth by placing it in milk or holding it in your mouth. Remember that if you have to take an emergency trip to your Munroe Falls, OH dentist!
10. The amount of saliva you produce in a lifetime is enough to fill two swimming pools!
11. Mosquitoes have teeth! Usually about 47 is all.
12. So-called “milk teeth” begin to form in the womb, but don’t actually show until a child is six months to a year old.
13. Some 25% of children won’t have seen a dentist before they enter kindergarten. That number is too low!
14. Modern toothpaste has only been around for about 100 years.
15. Think your fingerprints are unique? So are your tongue prints! No two are alike.
16. In the past, people used charcoal ashes, chalk, lemon juice, and other concoctions to brush their teeth.
17. Think kids eat more candy than adults? Think again. Adults consume about 65% of all the candy produced in the U.S.
18. The most common childhood disease is none other than tooth decay.
19. Brushing daily can reduce your chance of tooth decay by 25%.
20. When you don’t floss, you miss cleaning up to 35% of your tooth’s surface area.

It is fun to know about your teeth right, we Pacific dental group think so as well, check our website below for more!

If you’re an adult looking to maintain a professional image, traditional braces may not be the best option for treating your malocclusion (improper bite). It is important to note that while you may be looking for ways to straighten teeth without braces at home, taking orthodontic care into your own hands without consulting a dentist is not safe or effective. An orthodontist can help you to find the right treatments and devices to safely and efficiently realign your teeth. Some options your orthodontist recommends may include:

1. Retainers
2. Appliances
3. Invisalign

While retainers and appliances are often effective for straightening teeth, they are still visible when you speak, laugh, or smile, meaning that they are not as discreet as many adults’ orthodontic patients would like. This is why Invisalign is an excellent option for busy adults who don’t want to advertise to the world that they are in the process of straightening their teeth.

Pacific dental group has experts in a wide range of dental fields. If you are looking for ways to get straight teeth without braces, contact us and get more information about it.

With so many shapes, sizes and styles of toothbrushes on the market, deciding which kind to buy can be confusing.

Here’s what you should look for:

• Soft-bristles– most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled brush is best for removing plaque and debris from your teeth and along the gum line.
• Comfort is key– pick whatever shape and size is most comfortable for you. The best toothbrush is one that fits your mouth and allows you to reach all teeth easily.
• Powered toothbrushes versus regular brushes– powered toothbrushes are fun and may remove more plaque than regular toothbrushes. Regular toothbrushes work fine, but powered toothbrushes make brushing easier.
• Children’s toothpaste– when buying toothpaste for your child, look for one that contains fluoride and has an appealing taste.
• Adult toothpaste– when deciding which toothpaste to buy for yourself, or another adult, look at the benefits. For example, if you are looking to whiten teeth, whitening toothpaste could be a great option, or of you have sensitivity teeth, then toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth is a good idea.

How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?

You should replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months, whichever comes first. It is also very important to change toothbrushes after you’ve had a cold, since the bristles can collect germs that can lead to reinfection.

Right teeth brush can help reduce the risk of dental disease, choose the right teeth brush and if any consideration, you cam always ask professional dental group for help. Check out Pacific dental group for more informations.