A New Year and New Resolutions for the Health of Your Smile

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Every year, the new year rolls in and you make a lot of resolutions. Many people will resolve to be more attentive to their health, but are you forgetting just how important oral health is to the equation? Take a look at a few New Year’s resolutions you can make to ensure the upcoming year means way more smiles.

Resolve to visit the dentist at least twice a year.

Getting a checkup once a year and having your teeth cleaned twice a year is an important part of a good overall oral health plan. According to the American Dental Association, 100 million people fail to see a dentist every year, and many of those people will see their oral health decline because of that fact. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are imperative because:

  • Your dentist gets the chance to monitor changes in your oral health that could be indicative of other problems
  • Problems with cavity and decay can be tended to immediately before a tooth is beyond the point of repair
  • You can prevent issues with plaque and tartar buildup that affect the health of your mouth

Resolve to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco products.

Many people vow to quit using tobacco products at the beginning of a new year. While it is always good for your health to kick the bad habits of smoking or using smokeless tobacco for your overall health, it is also a good resolution for the health of your smile. People who smoke or use smokeless tobacco are more prone to:

  • Oral infections
  • Gum disease
  • Tooth decay
  • Losing teeth

Resolve to eat plenty of crunchy veggies.

If you’ve already made resolutions about eating better then fitting in more crunchy veggies shouldn’t be an issue. One perk of eating a lot of crunchy vegetables is the fact that they actually help slough plaque and tarter off of your teeth. Raw broccoli, carrots, celery, cauliflower, and other dense foods can help keep your teeth clean between brushings.

Visit Travis Wilson Family Dentistry for a Smiling New Year

Your New Year’s resolutions are always worth keeping. Reach out to us at Travis Wilson Family Dentistry in Owensboro and Beaver Dam if you need help keeping your resolutions for the new year.

Halloween Candy: Some Varieties Are More Tooth Friendly Than Others

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With Halloween just around the corner, now is a great time to review the best practices when it comes to candy consumption. Candy tastes good, which means it will be extremely difficult to persuade your children into boycotting these delectable treats; instead of a boycott, consider controlling your child’s candy consumption. This can be accomplished in several ways: By choosing the specific times when your child eats his or her candy as well as making suggestions as to the types of candy your child eats. The truth is that some forms of candy have the potential to damage the teeth and create cavities quicker than others.

Why Does Candy Cause Cavities?

Sugar is the major cause of cavity development. The sugar feeds the naturally-occurring bacteria that live in the mouth, the bacteria then release an acid, which attacks the hard, protective coating on the tooth (i.e., enamel). Once the enamel is compromised, the tooth is vulnerable to decay.

What Kinds of Candy Tend to Damage the Teeth Quicker?

Since chewy and sticky candy remains in contact with the teeth for long periods of time, they tend to be more damaging than other types of candy. When a child eats taffy, caramel or fruit-flavored chews, remnants of these candies remain on the surface of and in between the teeth. The longer the sugary substance remains on the teeth, the longer the bacteria have to consume the sugar and create acid. Additional acid means an increase in the likelihood that your child will develop cavities.

Controlling your child’s consumption:

  • Limit your child’s consumption of sour candy — In order to intensify their sour flavor, these candies frequently contain citric acid, which can damage the teeth through erosion and cavity development.
  • Give your child candy that he or she can eat quickly — This limits the amount of time the sugar has contact with his or her teeth.
  • Encourage your children to thoroughly rinse their mouths after they eat any kind of candy — This is a good practice to establish following the consumption of anything (e.g., a meal, beverage or a snack). Once a half-an-hour has passed, your child can go ahead and brush his or her teeth. Your child needs to wait half-an-hour to brush because the enamel on the teeth remains soft for some time after eating and/or drinking.
  • Try to steer your children away from the sticky treats — Avoid gummy candy, popcorn balls, taffy, and caramels.
  • Before you send your little ones out to trick-or-treat, have them eat a good meal — This will make them less likely to fill up on candy while they are out.
  • If you are handing out treats, consider purchasing something other than candy to hand out — Check your local department store. Chances are you will find a variety of fun, non-food Halloween items.
bad breath

Got Bad Breath? Good Questions to Ask the Dentist

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Medically referred to as halitosis, bad breath affects a number of people, even though many people never share their concerns with other people or their dentist. If you are experiencing breath that makes you self-conscious when you open your mouth, this is an issue you should discuss with your Owensboro dentist. Here are a few questions to ask.

Do you have gum disease?

Gum disease and bad breath can be directly linked, and if you have gum disease like gingivitis, it can mean that the health of your teeth is at risk as well. Gum disease may generate a host of symptoms beyond halitosis, such as:

  • swollen gums
  • receding gums around your teeth
  • red, irritated gums that bleed easily

If you struggle to combat bad breath, make sure to ask your dentist if gum disease could be to blame. If issues with your gums are not addressed, it can make problems with bad breath far harder to control.

Are there products you can use to thwart bad breath issues?

Products with baking soda can help keep poor-smelling breath at bay, mouthwash may offer some relief, and even sugar-free gum can help. However, your dentist may actually prescribe something like a medicated mouthwash specifically formulated to eliminate the germs and bacteria that can cause bad odors. Your dentist may also offer helpful recommendations, such as recommending that you come in for hygiene visits more frequently or switch to a different type of toothpaste.

Is there anything the dentist can do to help with halitosis?

Some people have problems with bad breath due to issues with their teeth. For instance, if your teeth are crowded, it can make it easier for food to get trapped between your teeth, which leads to bacteria in your mouth and more instances of foul-smelling breath. Your dentist may be able to combat some problems through typical dental treatments.

Bad breath can make you self-conscious about how you interact with the world around you, but this issue is not uncommon and you should never e embarrassed about asking for advice. Reach out to us at Travis Wilson Family Dentistry and set an appointment so we can help you out.

Woman holds fingers on her cheek showing toothache

Exploring the Common Causes of Tooth Pain

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When tooth pain comes on suddenly, it can feel so intense and distracting that you can think of little else except feeling better. Irritation or damage to the nerves of a tooth are the most common reasons to experience tooth pain. This type of discomfort can arise from severe tooth decay or one of several other common causes that we explore below.

Tooth Decay

When you have a cavity, the plaque on your teeth converts to bacteria and acid that can erode the outer enamel of your tooth and cause significant pain. Extreme sensitivity occurs once the bacteria succeeds in forming a small hole in your tooth. At the same time, bacteria reaches the soft dentine located in the enamel underneath your tooth. You probably have a mild cavity if you have throbbing pain that comes and goes. Severe sensitivity to touch and temperature usually occurs as the decay gets closer to the dentine layer.

Gum Disease

As gum disease progresses, the gums pull away from the teeth and expose the roots. This can result in significant pain. Before gum disease reaches this point, it can cause discomfort due to chronic inflammation. This can cause a toothache, irritation of the gums, and gum abscess before eventually causing the gums to pull away and expose the roots.

Teeth Grinding

Although this is a common habit, many people don’t realize they do it because it occurs during sleep or during times of great stress. Chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause pain due to the extensive loss of tooth enamel and dentine. It can also cause one or more teeth to chip or fracture. Unfortunately, tooth pain caused by bruxism usually extends to several teeth.

Tooth Sensitivity

For most people, the first sign of tooth sensitivity is pain when consuming a hot or cold beverage or piece of food. You can also trigger sensitivity just by brushing and flossing the affected tooth. This typically occurs due to the exposure of dentine micro-tubules that enable stimulus to reach the roots and nerves of the tooth.

Contact Dr. Travis Wilson as the First Sign of Tooth Pain

With offices conveniently located in Owensboro and Beaver Dam, Kentucky, Dr. Wilson is available to assess and treat your tooth pain promptly. Please contact the office nearest you for an appointment.

dentist and patient

Why getting regular dental check ups is so important

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As adults, we have one set of teeth that need to serve us our entire lives. Protecting those teeth is essential. And, one of the cornerstones of good dental hygiene and health is regular dental checkups.

What Happens at a Check Up?

A dental checkup has two parts. First, cleaning is performed, a dental hygienist will perform a service known as scaling. During scaling, special dental tools are used to remove tartar, a hard substance that can accrue on your teeth near the gum line. You will probably also have your teeth polished. Polishing involves using a gritty substance to remove any surface stains to improve the appearance and cleanliness of your teeth. Finally, the hygienist will floss. This removes any material from between teeth and helps dental professionals assess the health of your teeth and gums.

dentist and patient

The other part of your dental checkup involves a dental exam. Your dentist or another professional from the office will visually examine your teeth, gums, tongue, and the interior tissue of your mouth. They will look for issues that can include cavities, cracked teeth, inflammation, and more. Your gums will be checked with special tools that help assess the depth of the spaces between your gums. In healthy gums, those spaces are shallow. However, when someone has gum disease, the spaces may become deeper as gums recede.

X-rays may also be a part of your dental exam. These can reveal issues with your teeth that are not visible to the naked eye.

Catching Potential Issues Early

During this exam, your dentist may see issues that include cavities, gum disease, and more. When problems are noticed, dental care can be scheduled to correct them.

Experts recommend that you go for check-ups twice a year. Going this often allows your dentist to catch any potential issues early before they become big problems. The sooner a problem is found, the easier it is to correct.

By engaging in regular preventive care, you can keep your teeth stronger and healthier now and throughout your life. Is it time for your next checkup? Call to schedule one today.

Healthy Eating for a Healthy Mouth

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Healthy Eating — Healthy Food in Owensboro, KY

You brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes. You floss too. Along with your at-home oral care routine, you also visit the dentist every six months for a professional-level cleaning and preventative services. But is that it when it comes to maintaining a healthy mouth?

Even though at-home and in-office dental care are essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy, you also need to pay attention to what you eat. While some foods (such as cavity-inducing candy) can harm your teeth, others are beneficial.
What foods have dental health benefits? Take a look at some of the top foods that work to boost the strength, function, and overall health of your teeth and gums.

Dairy Choices

Milk, cheese, and yogurt are all foods that you know well. They’re kitchen staples that are filled with calcium, which helps build strong bones. But that’s not where calcium’s benefits stop. Calcium also helps to build strong, healthy teeth.
Calcium, along with the phosphates, in dairy products re-mineralize your teeth. This helps to keep the outer layer of your teeth hard, giving it the ability to resist chips, cracks and other damage. To provide protective benefits, you should eat at least 1,000 to 2,000 mg of calcium per day.

Other Calcium Sources

While dairy foods and beverages provide plenty of calcium, they aren’t the only sources of this valuable mineral. You can add to your calcium intake by choosing a few non-dairy foods too.
Whether you don’t like dairy, you’re allergic to it, you have a sensitive digestive system, or you prefer plenty of variety in your diet, you have several different selections to pick from that also provide plenty of calcium.
Some foods and drinks have added calcium. Even those these foods naturally contain calcium, manufacturers boost the amount so that you can get in the daily recommendations without having to eat or drink all day long. Orange juice and tofu are two options that are often fortified with additional calcium. Read the label and nutrition facts carefully to find out how much of the mineral these items have.
Beans, almonds, canned fish, and leafy greens (such as spinach, collard greens, and kale) are all calcium-rich options as well.

Phosphorus Picks

Foods and beverages with calcium often also include phosphorus. Like calcium, phosphorus also plays a role in developing and maintaining strong teeth. Those calcium-rich dairy foods and drinks, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, are also good picks for phosphorus intake. Other phosphorus-rich foods include eggs, fish, and lean meats.

Vitamin C Choices

Don’t forget about your gums. They’re part of a healthy mouth too. When creating a diet that boosts your dental health, including vitamin C-containing foods is a must-do. Foods with this vitamin are important additions to your diet because these foods contribute to gum health.
Sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits (such as oranges and grapefruits), broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

Fiber-Rich Foods

Fiber won’t build or strengthen your teeth in the way that calcium does, but it still has plenty of healthy mouth benefits. High-fiber foods help you to salivate. This naturally washes away the gunk and leftover food particles in your mouth. While salivation certainly isn’t a substitute for brushing, it does help to reduce the risk of plaque and cavity development.
Foods that are high in fiber include some fruits such as raspberries, pears, and apples along with vegetables such as green peas, broccoli, turnip greens, and brussels sprouts. Whole-grain breads, brown rice, barley, lentils, and black beans are also all excellent sources of fiber.
Do you need a new dentist to make sure that your teeth are healthy and strong? Do you need a new dentist to make sure that your teeth are healthy and strong? Contact Travis Wilson, D.M.D. for more help taking care of your teeth.

How to Keep Your Smile Looking Its Best

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Smile — Beautiful Smile in Owensboro, KY

Smiling has a significant impact on your health and how you are perceived. Like a prescribed anti-depressant, a smile causes an increase in the serotonin levels in the brain. Additionally, anti-stress hormones, such as endorphins and dopamine, are released as you smile, lowering your blood pressure. Smiling even helps others to view you as more attractive.

Still, you might find it difficult to smile often and freely if you feel that your smile is disappointing. Here are a few things that you can do to ensure that your smile is at its best every time you flash a grin.

Whiten Your Teeth

Based on the findings of a recent study, people with whitened teeth are more apt to be hired and receive a larger salary offer than their counterparts with dental discoloration. Whitened teeth may even increase the likelihood of a person being asked out on a date.
Nowadays, whitening your teeth doesn’t have to be cumbersome, time-consuming, or uncomfortable. Professional teeth-whitening applications, such as Zoom whitening, can whiten the teeth quickly and safely.
The Zoom whitening system, which can only be prescribed by a dentist, can be applied in-office or used as an at-home treatment. The system, which can whiten the teeth up to eight shades, can transform the appearance of the mouth without causing dental sensitivity. Additionally, because a special whitening light is used during the treatment, the results of the system are accelerated.
In-office whitening applications offer multiple benefits when compared to over-the-counter whitening kits. Here are a few of them:

  • Faster whitening results. Over-the-counter kits may require weeks or even months to achieve optimal results. In-office procedures can whiten the teeth by several shades after a single application.
  • Less dental sensitivity. Because over-the-counter kits are self-applied, there is an increased likelihood of misuse that could lead to chronic dental sensitivity. In-office treatments are applied by trained dental professionals.
  • More dramatic whitening results. Over-the-counter kits tend to whiten the teeth less effectively, even when applied precisely according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The Zoom whitening treatment can increase the whiteness of the teeth by eight shades in less than an hour.

Dental discoloration that results from the teeth’s exposure to pigments in the foods and drinks that you consume is considered temporary. However, a dental whitening application may be needed to brighten the color of the teeth.
Whiter teeth can improve the look of your smile and help increase your self-confidence. As a result, after having your teeth whitened, you may be apt to smile more often.

Replace Lost Teeth

Gaps in your smile are often considered unattractive. If you have lost one or more teeth and you want a great-looking smile, restorative applications, such as dental implants, can help.
A dental implant is a titanium post or screw that is used to replace the roots of a lost tooth. The implant can be fitted with a connecting mechanism and a dental crown to fully replace a missing tooth.
An implant can also be used to support other dental appliances that replace lost teeth, such as dentures and fixed bridges. The use of implants in conjunction with other applications is often preferred when a large number of teeth are missing from a palate.
In addition to improving the look of your smile, a dental implant offers other benefits:

  • Bone stimulation. The implant transfers bite pressure to the jawbone to stimulate the production of additional bone cells.
  • Longevity. Dental implants rarely fail and are designed to remain in place for the remainder of the patient’s life.
  • Stability. Implants can withstand the same amount of pressure as natural teeth, making it easy for patients to enjoy a wide range of foods.

If you are interested in improving the appearance of your smile, contact Travis Wilson D.M.D. We can help your teeth look their best.

Creating Smiles

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Everyone has teeth, and everyone can smile, but not everyone has a great smile. Fortunately, Travis Wilson D.M.D. has been helping to create great smiles since 1998. Sometimes it takes a little extra work to get all the teeth to line up appropriately, so we offer orthodontic services to coach a great smile into being.

Orthodontic dental procedures sound scary, especially to the parents who have to pay for the child’s procedure; however, modern developments have made treatments much more accessible to our patient’s wallets. We accept multiple insurance types, and financing plans make this procedure affordable for everyone.

What used to be an obtrusive wire structure in your mouth now resembles nearly invisible or even personalize tidy wires. There are even clear plastic mouthpieces that align the teeth in stages, which can be removed in public settings. The options today for orthodontic treatment are much greater and easier than ever for our clients.

Have you ever wanted a perfect smile? Maybe a tooth has always bothered you with the way it is positioned in your smile. Talk to Travis Wilson today about how you can improve the smile you have always just tolerated. Our office looks forward to working with you, contact us today!