There are signs for the patient to watch for that will help to determine if you are brushing too hard:

• Gums bleed while brushing – this can also be an indicator of gingivitis, so if this occurs on a regular basis, it is time to see the family dentist to discover the origin of the problem.
• Sensitivity – Brushing too hard can lead to premature gum recession; worn dental enamel at the gum line can expose the dentin of the tooth which houses the dental nerve. When this occurs the tooth can become sensitive to hot or cold food and drinks.

For patients that are experiencing the effects of harsh brushing, there are remedies:

• Switch to a soft bristle tooth brush.
• For sensitivity, there are tooth pastes that will protect the nerve center of the teeth. Consistent use will ease sensitivity.
• Use an electronic tooth brush – The tooth brush will actually do the work for you … all that is needed is to guide the brush to make sure all areas are cleaned. Most electronic tooth brushes come equipped with a timer that helps the patient to brush the prescribed length of time.
• If gum erosion has already occurred, placing a permanent covering over the exposed dentin with a composite resin will protect the tooth from sensitivity as well as provide a cosmetic enhancement for teeth corrected in the smile line.
• See your dentist regularly – Twice yearly visits for a thorough cleaning and dental exam provides multiple advantages: plaque build-up is removed that can lead to dental decay, potential problems are diagnosed before they can result in extensive repair, and if the patient is exhibiting signs of harsh brushing, the dentist can issue caution and advice on how to prevent further damage.

Our family dentist at Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center has solutions for many dental issues, so keep dental appointments and follow the advice given for optimum results.

A malocclusion is created when the upper teeth do not properly align with the lower teeth. Although dental perfection is rare when it comes to teeth alignment, it is the degree of severity that leads to problems like grinding and clenching. Adults dealing with stress, anxiety, or anger issues are at a greater risk of grinding during sleep especially if teeth are out of alignment. 

Pressure from grinding and clenching the teeth presents problems far more extensive than a morning headache. Over time, teeth can become worn down; teeth can crack leading to decay or infection; broken teeth from the constant pressure can result in lost teeth or the need for dental crowns.

One solution is to correct the malocclusion. A cross bite, over bite, or under bite can be realigned to enhance better oral health with the added bonus of improving one’s appearance.

Correcting the bite most always will involve wearing braces; the severity of the malocclusion will dictate the length of time needed to correct dental alignment. A consultation with your orthodontist will provide a detailed treatment plan outlining the process, the need for additional services such as teeth extraction, and the length of time treatment will likely be needed.

Everyone is different and teeth straightening is not an exact science. But one fact that cannot be disputed is the positive results that can come from correct dental alignment.

Straight teeth enhance the ability to chew correctly, speak clearly, and smile with a renewed self- confidence. Crooked, misaligned teeth harbor a lot of places for plaque to form which leads to dental decay … this is corrected.

Finally, a corrected bite will decrease the likelihood of nighttime grinding and clenching which may result in fewer headaches. The advantages of correcting a malocclusion far outweigh any reasons for delay.  A consultation with our orthodontist is the first step toward permanent results. Call 830-433-8900 to schedule an appointment today.

However, its not just the aesthetic improvements that orthodontics can provide, because undergoing treatment to correct smile anomalies can also improve a person’s physical health.

Crooked, misaligned teeth can create small pockets and crevices that are difficult to clean, and can be a real breeding ground for bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth not only cause bad breath, but also leads to plaque buildup and gum disease. Gum disease doesn’t just affect the gums and studies have shown that gum disease has intrinsic links to other ailments affecting different part of the body.

Headaches, and facial, jaw and neck pains might be caused by the position of a person’s teeth, and an increased incidence of grinding and clenching of teeth. This has the effect of pulling the mandile joints out of position, applying pressure to the surrounding muscles and ligaments.

The symptoms of misaligned teeth can be corrected through treatments such as braces, where an orthodontist uses a combination of brackets and wires to straighten and realign crooked teeth. This can have a positive effect not only on appearance, but also in other areas, such as a person’s diet.

For those who want the advantages of braces, but don’t want to undergo the bracket-and-wire method, Invisalign is an alternative to consider. Made of a clear material, Invisalign aligners work in similar fashion to braces, but do so without the need for brackets and wires. Instead, the aligner is worn like an athlete’s mouthshield for a set duration of time.

Invisalign treatment involves the uses of several sets of aligners, each of which is specially designed by the orthodontist to target and move specific teeth in a sequence that has been planned to deliver the best results.

From aesthetic benefits to physical benefits and even emotional benefits, orthodontic treatment can go a long way to making a person feel good about their smile, while looking after their general health too.

Contact our dedicated and skilled dental team today for more information on orthodontic treatment options.

Dental crown treatment involves the dentist taking a mold of the tooth to be treated so that the crown can resemble the tooth, and also to match the patient’s existing teeth. The tooth is then treated and prepared in order to accommodate the crown. To begin with, the crown will be temporary, which will protect the tooth while a dental lab creates the permanent crown. Once the permanent crown has been fabricated, the dentist will cement it into place.

Care should be taken with temporary crowns to avoid sticky foods that might cause the temporary crown to slip or fall off. Once the permanent crown has been cemented into place, however, the chances of losing a dental crown are greatly reduced.

A dental crown is typically made from precious metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramic. Porcelain crowns can be colored and shaped by the dentist in order to provide a natural finish that is indistinguishable from a person’s other teeth.

To all intents and purposes, a dental crown looks and behaves exactly as a natural tooth would. The function of dental crowns is to help preserve the biting pattern and strength of the bite, helping the patient to continue to enjoy the foods they love.

To learn more about the benefits of dental crowns, contact our team at Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center. Call 830-281-2500 to schedule your professional consultation today.

From an early age, children should be encouraged to look after their teeth and gums by adopting a regular oral hygiene program that includes visits to a dentist for checkups and any remedial action that might be required. By doing so, the impact on physical health in adulthood can be reduced, as good habits are developed.

Plaque, which is a sticky coating on the surface of our teeth, can eventually lead to gum disease if it is left to build up. There is also a scientific connection between gum disease and the development of cardiovascular health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. By regular brushing and flossing, the build up of plaque can be controlled, helping to reduce the risk of gum disease developing, as well as preventing tooth loss.

Poor oral health can also be linked to infections that occur elsewhere in the body; again, gum disease can be a primary catalyst in other health conditions such as arthritis or diabetes. Memory loss can also be affected by gum disease, as can other cognitive functions.

Gum disease can also affect a woman’s pregnancy. While many pregnant women can temporarily display similar symptoms to gum disease during their pregnancy, such as bleeding gums, there is some research which suggests that gum disease can cause a baby’s early delivery and low birth weight.

While poor oral health needn’t necessarily result in more severe health problems, there still exists the potential for other, less serious, difficulties. Poor dental health can bring about ailments such as dry mouth, which in turn can lead to bad breath. Tender gums, and tooth loss meanwhile, can lead to problems with eating, which in turn could cause malnutrition, or other digestive issues.

And so, taking care of your smile with a good dental health program isn’t just about maintaining its appearance; in so doing, you could be safeguarding your overall health too!

Contact our team at Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center to schedule your next appointment.

In order for teeth to develop a memory for where teeth belong, wearing a retainer helps provide that function. A retainer keeps teeth in place at the conclusion of any teeth straightening process.

Undergoing the orthodontic process is a time consuming effort requiring a considerable investment. The use of a retainer to protect that investment should be considered an extension of the teeth straightening process itself. 

For patients undergoing teeth straightening with Invisalign, wearing a retainer is much like wearing the transparent aligners employed to reposition teeth to their correct position.

The orthodontist will fabricate a clear “mold” that will fit securely over teeth once they have been aligned properly. The retainer is removable for eating, brushing and flossing, but should be replaced immediately.

Most patients will be advised to wear the retainer day and night for at least the first six months, followed by wearing at night only. For orthodontic cases where a severe malocclusion was corrected, wearing a retainer at night for years may be recommended.

Wearing braces of any type has a goal of correcting the bite … aligning the top teeth with the bottom teeth. This process does not involve just the teeth. The jaw holds the teeth in place, so to move the teeth, the jaw bones must adjust as well. This does not happen quickly, which is why orthodontic care can take several years to complete.

Over time, the teeth will slowly shift so the top arch is aligned with the lower arch. But just as the teeth were corrected to their new position, without something to keep them in place, they will slowly drift back.

By definition, a retainer is a device for holding something in place. The longer a retainer is worn, the more secure the memory for new teeth’s location.

Even for patients that enjoy a successful orthodontic experience, and wear their retainer the prescribed amount of time, they may experience some drifting of teeth. This is not totally unexpected, but the key to remember is the longer a retainer is worn, the longer the memory your teeth develop. So protect your investment, follow the advice of your orthodontist, and wear your retainer.  Contact our experienced team of dental specialists at 830-281-2500 and to discuss your orthodontic options today.

Sucking is not a problem for infants or toddlers. But when a child reaches the age of four, this is a habit that should be discontinued. Consistent pressure on the roof of the mouth can force the teeth to go out of alignment, usually protruding forward.

Not only does this impact the appearance of teeth, but speech patterns are developing at this young age, and the child may face difficulties pronouncing certain sounds that rely on the teeth and tongue being in the correct position.

The primary or baby teeth pave the way for the permanent teeth. If the baby teeth are out of alignment, the chances of the permanent teeth growing in correctly are minimized. If concerns over the positioning of teeth persist, your pediatric dentist has solutions.

The first step is to get the child to discontinue sucking. Many children may face ridicule from other children if they are still sucking their thumb during play or at school. Understanding that this may be the most difficult thing your young child has ever attempted, encouragement is the key. Threats of punishment or taking away favorite toys are negative actions. Positive reinforcement or rewards work much better to help break the habit.

If the damage has already been done, children may require correction. But for moderate issues, it is advisable to wait as the teeth may not be permanently malformed, and as the child grows the teeth and palette may self-correct.

If orthodontics is required waiting until the age of nine or ten is generally recommended. It is also important not to blame the child if extensive dental work is needed. Lack of jaw space or other genetic factors can contribute as well.

Healthy teeth and gums along with a radiant smile will be the reward your child deserves, so always remember this is the goal when trying to curb your child’s thumb sucking. Consult with our dental team at Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center if you are concerned about your child’s dental health.

Many cases of bad breath have their origin from the foods we eat, the beverages we drink, or lifestyle habits like smoking or tobacco use.

Strong foods such as onions, garlic, and highly seasoned meats or cheese can leave a powerful aftertaste that is transmitted when speaking, laughing, or just breathing. Many beverages can have the same affect, like coffee. Tobacco use leaves a telltale odor on your breath, just as smoking leaves its scent in the air and on your clothes.

Bad breath from these external sources can be remedied simply enough. Brushing teeth, rinsing with mouthwash, chewing gum, or sucking on a breath mint will bring an immediate solution.

A sour odor may be emanated due to a sinus infection, tonsillitis, or even gastric events. These are generally short-lived, and often relieved with medication.

But when halitosis is coupled with symptoms like bleeding gums, receding gum tissue or gums pulling away from one or more teeth; dental discomfort; or red swollen gum tissue, chances are bad breath is from a serious dental issue called gingivitis, or the more advanced stage, periodontitis.
There are many reasons gum disease may occur:

• Genetics – Family history can be an indicator, but is not an absolute certainty.  The cycle can be broken with the proper vigilant care and consistent dental visits.
• Poor hygiene – Failing to floss and brush daily results in plaque build-up on teeth which can lead to dental decay and gum disease.
• Missed dental appointments – Seeing the dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning and exam will help keep plaque build-up controlled. Also, any dental issues can be caught before they have a chance to escalate.
• Tobacco – Chewed or smoked, tobacco can have a devastating impact on oral health.
• Illness/Medications – Some illnesses and their treatments can have a negative effect on dental health. Similarly, hormonal changes can do the same.

If bad breath is not resolved with brushing, flossing or rinsing; or if any of these other conditions are present, it is time to see the dentist. Without proper care, there is a potential for tooth loss and costly, time-consuming treatment.

If bad breath is plaguing you, contact our experienced dental team at Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center. Call 830-281-2500 to schedule an appointment today.

Treatment with braces belongs to a branch of dentistry called orthodontics, which is concerned with the alteration of a patient’s teeth alignment through the use of various apparatus in order to approve the appearance of the smile, or correct crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth.

Braces are often considered part-and-parcel of growing up; indeed many children and young teenagers wear braces, and there are benefits to doing so at such young ages.

A child’s teeth can easily become crooked or misaligned as they develop, often through sucking on a pacifier or their thumb. This is because the child’s jaw bone is still relatively soft and pliable as it continues to develop, and the pressure exerted by the sucking action can cause small shifts to occur in the patient’s jawbone and position of their teeth. In later life, our jaw bone hardens as development nears completion; thus making alterations to the alignment of our teeth more problematic, as their positions and foundations are more solid.

By introducing orthodontics at an early age, an orthodontist can screen a child early in order to check for signs of potential malocclusions. Many orthodontists recommend a child be screened around the age of seven, as by this age, the child is beginning to lose their baby teeth and are beginning to develop the adult teeth that they will use throughout their life.

Early screening can allow the orthodontist to implement a range of treatments that best ensure that the patient’s smile can be at its best. Treatments can range from the use of expansion devices, such as a palatal expander, to widen the child’s palate so that teeth are less crowded, through to the use of braces that aim to shift misaligned teeth into place.

When issues are caught early, orthodontics can help to deliver a perfect smile in a child’s later years. Early detection means that problems are easier to address, and in some cases, can be treated to greater effect – and often treatment can even be completed before those high school photos need to be taken!

To schedule your child’s early orthodontic screening appointment, contact Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center at 830-281-2500 today.

Cosmetic dentistry practitioners use porcelain for veneers for a variety of reasons. Veneers made of composite materials are also available for use, but most cosmetic dentists believe porcelain is the preferred material.

On their own, dental veneers might appear delicate, thanks to their thickness – or lack of it! However, porcelain veneers, once affixed, are actually very strong. This is because the dentist uses an adhesive agent to bond the porcelain directly onto the tooth that is to be treated. This allows the natural tooth to provide added support to the veneer. 

The porcelain used is also better at reflecting light than resin compounds, and is semi-translucent. This allows natural light to penetrate through the veneer, in the same way it does with natural tooth enamel. As a result, the veneers return a more natural look. Resin veneers don’t have this quality, so teeth can appear duller and more noticably artificial.

Porcelain can also be blended and color-shaded to better match the patients existing teeth. Allied with the translucence of porcelain, this can help veneers look almost indistinguishable from natural teeth, and most observers won’t be able to tell the difference between teeth that have been treated and those that haven’t.

Another advantage of porcelain is that it is more stain resistant. As porcelain is an artificial compound, it doesn’t absorb staining agents in the way natural enamel does. Additionally, veneers are smooth, so it becomes all but impossible for stains to ‘stick’ to the surface of the porcelain, helping to maintain a brighter smile.

With such a range of advantages, its little wonder that porcelain has become the top choice among cosmetic dentists for veneers treatment.

If veneers could give you a confident smile, contact our experienced team of cosmetic dentists at Brush Country Dental & Specialty Center. Call 830-281-2500 to schedule a consultation.