Nov 20, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, General Dentistry, Blog
Maintaining Oral Health Through Diet and Good Habits
What you eat and drink can have a significant impact on your oral health. A well-balanced diet supports your body’s immune system, reducing the risk of oral problems. However, certain foods and drinks should be limited or avoided to ensure healthy gums and strong teeth.
Cut Down on Snacking
Frequent snacking throughout the day stimulates bacteria and increases acid production in your mouth, which can harm your teeth and gums. Snacking on sugary or starchy foods is particularly harmful, as it can lead to quicker damage.
Limit Sugar
Foods and drinks that are high in sugar can cling to your teeth. If not removed promptly, they can lead to tooth decay. It’s best to avoid sugary snacks and beverages to maintain a healthy smile.
Watch What You Drink
Drink plenty of water and avoid sodas or fruit juices. These beverages are often sugary and acidic, which can erode your tooth enamel and contribute to decay. Water is the best choice for maintaining oral health.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
A balanced diet consisting of the five major food groups is essential for your overall and oral health. Fresh fruits and vegetables, along with foods rich in calcium, support strong teeth and gums.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and seeing your dentist for regular checkups are all important practices to keep your smile in top condition.
Contact our Conyers dental office to learn more about good dental hygiene techniques that will help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
Do you live in Conyers or the surrounding area? Our team is ready to help you achieve your smile goals. Schedule your appointment today.
Nov 27, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Dental Information, Blog
Gum disease, or gingivitis, can cause significant inflammation, pain, and sensitivity, making everyday activities like eating and speaking challenging. Understanding the causes and potential consequences of gum disease is essential for preventing its development or catching it early before it leads to more severe problems.
What Causes Gingivitis?
The primary cause of gingivitis is plaque buildup, but several other factors can contribute to the condition:
- Illnesses: Diseases such as HIV, diabetes, and cancer can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of gingivitis.
- Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy, menstruation, puberty, and menopause can alter hormone levels, making gums more vulnerable.
- Medications: Some medications, such as those affecting saliva production or promoting abnormal gum tissue growth, can harm oral health.
- Smoking: Tobacco use can impair gum healing and make it harder to recover from gum disease.
- Poor Dental Hygiene: Failing to brush and floss properly, or neglecting oral care, can lead to plaque buildup.
- Genetics: A family history of gum disease can increase your risk.
Symptoms of Gingivitis
Gingivitis can develop without obvious symptoms, even in its later stages. However, some warning signs may include:
- Bleeding, red, or swollen gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Receding gums
- Deep pockets between teeth and gums
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Changes in bite or how teeth fit together
Regular checkups are vital, as a dentist can detect symptoms even before you do.
Treatment for Gingivitis
The treatment approach depends on the stage of gum disease, your response to previous treatments, and your overall health. Treatments range from therapies to control bacterial growth to surgical procedures aimed at restoring gum tissue. In many cases, gingivitis can be managed with regular dental visits and good dental hygiene.
What Happens if Gingivitis Is Left Untreated?
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, causing permanent damage to the gums and supporting structures. Advanced gum disease has also been linked to serious health issues like stroke, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and complications of diabetes.
Do you live in Conyers or the surrounding area? Our team is ready to help you achieve your smile goals. Schedule your appointment today.
Nov 13, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Dentures, Blog
Dentures have evolved significantly since the time of George Washington’s wooden teeth. Today, advanced technology has made it easier than ever to restore missing teeth, whether due to periodontal disease, trauma, or decay. Missing teeth not only impact eating and speaking but can also cause sagging facial muscles. Fortunately, modern dentures offer both natural looks and comfort, allowing you to regain your smile.
Types of Dentures
- Complete Dentures: These cover both upper and lower jaws, and the options vary depending on the patient’s needs.
- Immediate Dentures: These are pre-made dentures placed immediately after tooth removal. While they offer the convenience of immediate use, they are not custom-fitted, and as the gums heal and swell, the fit may become loose. Follow-up visits for adjustments are necessary, and some people experience difficulty speaking or a “clicking” sound.
- Conventional Full Dentures: These are made after your gums have healed, usually 8 to 12 weeks after tooth extraction. The dentist takes impressions of your mouth to create dentures that fit your unique shape, ensuring a more secure and personalized fit. This option requires multiple visits for proper adjustment and may involve the use of denture adhesives to secure them in place.
- Implant Dentures: For a more customized and secure option, implant dentures are a great choice. Small titanium implants are placed into the jawbone, and the denture attaches to these implants for a stable, secure fit. This eliminates the need for denture adhesives and gives you confidence that your dentures will stay in place while eating, talking, or laughing.
Choosing the Right Option
The right denture for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. Consult with your dentist to explore your options and find the best solution for a comfortable, lasting smile.
Take the first step towards a confident smile. Contact our Conyers dental office to schedule your consultation!
Aug 21, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Dentures, Blog
Dentures have been a long-standing solution for restoring smiles affected by missing teeth. They help individuals smile, talk, and eat as naturally as possible. However, removable dentures can come with challenges. They may become loose or shift, causing discomfort while eating and speaking. Some patients also find messy denture adhesives ineffective and troublesome. To address these issues, advancements in dental technology have led to the development of permanent dentures.
What are permanent dentures?
Permanent, or fixed, dentures are designed for patients who are missing one, two, or more teeth. They consist of a series of crowns or artificial teeth connected together and supported by dental implants. The implants act as natural tooth roots, and the fixed dentures restore your bite to resemble that of natural teeth.
What are the benefits?
Fixed dentures offer several advantages over removable ones. The need for messy adhesives is eliminated, and you don’t have to worry about loose dentures disrupting your day. The bite force is also enhanced, allowing you to eat a wider variety of foods without concerns. Unlike removable dentures, permanent upper dentures do not cover the roof of your mouth, preserving your ability to taste and enjoy food. They remain in place during regular oral hygiene, with no special cleaning or soaking required. When properly cared for, permanent dentures can last for many years or even a lifetime.
Are there any disadvantages?
Despite their benefits, permanent dentures can face oral issues like infection or inflammation since they are not removable. Additionally, the crowns may need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years.
Take the first step towards a confident smile. Contact our Conyers dental office to schedule your consultation!
Jul 3, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Teeth Whitening, Blog
Do you have a single tooth that has darkened due to trauma? The first step in determining if a damaged tooth can be lightened is to visit your dentist for a thorough examination.
Your dentist will need to identify what is causing the dark staining. To do this, your dentist may perform x-rays or other tests to learn if the pulp of the tooth is “vital” or alive. If the tooth is deemed to be alive, external bleaching may yield the whitening results you are seeking. Your dentist can create a single-tooth bleaching tray to whiten the traumatized tooth effectively. This type of tray keeps the bleach away from other teeth, producing the best color match for your overall smile.
However, if it is determined that the nerves have died and it is no longer a living tooth, your dentist may need to perform a root canal. Darkening of a dead tooth can happen immediately or may develop over time after a root canal procedure has been performed. For this type of tooth trauma, your dentist or endodontist may recommend bleaching the tooth from the inside.
Stains from a non-vital tooth come from the inside, rather than outside, of the tooth. Therefore, your dentist needs to put the bleach inside the tooth. This type of teeth whitening is a routine procedure that involves making a small opening in the tooth through which to bleach the tooth. Once this procedure is complete, you can assess with your dentist whether the desired results have been achieved. If the whitening is not enough, the tooth can then be bleached externally as well. If the results are still not acceptable, you may want to consider a tooth-colored veneer or crown.
If you have a darkened tooth marring your smile, consult your dentist to determine the best teeth whitening treatment to return your smile to its bright, white best.
Do not let another day go by without taking care of your dental needs. Request an appointment now at our Conyers dental office!
Jul 24, 2025 | Dental Topics 5, Teeth Whitening, Blog
By far, the best way to brighten and whiten your smile is through an in-office treatment performed by your dentist. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the whitening gel used by your dentist is much higher than that which can be obtained over-the-counter by you in a drugstore. Lasers or special lights are employed by many dentists to achieve the best results.
With the rise in popularity of in-office teeth whitening, some specialty brands have emerged that offer different methods and ingredient strengths to address even the most stubborn stains.
- BriteSmile also uses whitening gel and a blue light, but their gel has a concentration of 15 percent hydrogen peroxide and a nearly neutral pH level, a mix that is easier on sensitive gum tissue.
- Lumbrite employs a custom light, known as the Sapphire Plasma Arc Curing and Whitening Light. This light has no destructive UV rays, although the gel is so strong it can work without the light. Lumbrite also has a desensitizing agent in its gel to reduce problems with sensitivity.
- GLO Science Professional has a specialized mouthpiece that employs Guided Light Optics (GLO) that works in tangent with a whitening gel, delivering light and heat to the tooth surfaces. The mouthpiece prevents oxygen from leaving the treatment area, giving optimal whitening results.
- Philips Zoom! is one of the most popular and well-known of the teeth whitening brands available at the dentist’s office. Their whitening gel uses a 25 percent concentration of peroxide which is stimulated by a proprietary blue light to achieve maximum whitening and is said to provide a more sparkling look to your enamel.
- Opalescence uses one of the most powerful gels available, utilizing a 40 percent concentration of hydrogen peroxide as well as potassium nitrate to reduce gum and tooth sensitivity after treatment. It also contains fluoride which strengthens the tooth enamel and reduces decay.
Talk to your dentist today to determine which of these or any other professional whitening methods is best for you and your teeth whitening needs.
Take the first step towards optimal oral hygiene. Reserve your dental appointment at our Conyers dental office now and experience personalized care.
