While most people are aware of the impact tobacco use has on their overall health, some might not consider its effects on oral health. Smoking increases risk of mouth pain, cavities, gum recession, gum (periodontal) disease and tooth loss. In fact, an estimated 50 percent of adults who smoke have gum disease.

In addition to increasing your risk for gum disease and tooth loss, smoking increases your risk for oral cancer. Although oral cancer can occur in any age group, it most often occurs in people over 40 years of age. See a dentist immediately if you notice any red or white patches on your gums, tongue or other oral tissues, and watch for sores that fail to heal within two weeks. Unfortunately, oral cancer is often difficult to detect in its early stages, when it can be cured more easily. Your dentist should perform a head and neck exam to screen for signs of cancer at your regular checkups.

The good news is that the risk of tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking. To help you kick the habit, your dentist may prescribe a variety of nicotine replacement therapies, such as a transdermal nicotine patch (worn for 24 hours over several weeks with a dissipating flow of nicotine) or chewing gum (which is slowly chewed every one to two hours and then discarded).

Source: Academy of General Dentistry

When it comes to local dentists, Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are trying to find a dentist in Plymouth, Cantonor Northville who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

An important thing to remember is that gum disease—and not the aging process—is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Most adults show some signs of gum disease.

Although decay may occur in any area of the tooth, as you age decay is more likely to develop around old fillings or in the softer root of the tooth that is exposed as gums recede.

Recent research has shown that the health of your gums may have a connection to some chronic diseases. Having periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to and may be a risk factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease or diabetes.

Experiencing tooth pain or other oral problems may affect your ability to eat nutritious food. Visit your dentist right away if you are experiencing any tooth pain, jaw pain, mouth sores or other oral discomfort that interferes with your ability to eat.

Good oral care goes a long way in keeping your mouth healthy as you mature. Developing a simple daily routine of brushing, flossing and eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is just as important for older adults as it is for younger adults.

Flossing your teeth can help keep your gums strong and prevent plaque from building up between teeth. Make sure to floss at least once a day, preferably before bed, to clean the places where a toothbrush can’t reach.

Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are an important part of maintaining good dental health as you age. Your dentist can diagnose and treat dental health problems before they become serious.

When it comes to local dentists, Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are trying to find a dentist in Plymouth, Cantonor Northville who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

Dr. Feucht offers a number of whitening options for his patients. Most whitening methods are considered safe, especially if performed under dental supervision.

We offer everything from a one-hour, in-office procedure to an at-home version that works more gradually, taking about two weeks. Some of our patients are busy and want to go back to work with a gleaming smile, while others have more time available to them.

The popular LumiBrite/Sapphire™ Professional Whitening System is a gentle, safe and effective professional whitening method that produces whitening results in as little as 30 minutes of treatment time.

We also offer tooth “lightening” treatments with MI Paste.  This simple, minimal intervention technique is especially effective in reversing “white spots” patients often ask us about. MI Paste strengthens tooth enamel by replenishing calcium and phosphate in saliva, and helps ease dry mouth as well.

We are happy to answer your tooth whitening questions anytime.

Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are looking for a dentist in the Plymouth, Canton, Northville area who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

If you’ve been lax about flossing your teeth, make 2012 the year you incorporate regular flossing into your dental care routine. 

Gum disease begins at the gum line and between teeth. Daily flossing is an important part of your oral health care routine to help remove the plaque from these areas where a toothbrush doesn’t completely reach. But to truly reap the benefits, you need to use proper flossing technique. 

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association explains the key elements of proper flossing technique in four simple steps: Wind, Guide, Glide and Slide. 

• Wind 18 inches of floss around middle fingers of each hand. Pinch floss between thumbs and index fingers, leaving a one- to two-inch length in between. Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.
• Keep a one- to two-inch length of floss taut between fingers. Use index fingers to guide floss between contacts of the lower teeth.
• Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion. Do not snap floss between your teeth. Contour floss around the side of the tooth.
• Slide floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line. Floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss. 

This technique applies to any type of floss: waxed, unwaxed, spongy floss or dental tape. It doesn’t matter whether you start with your upper or lower teeth, or whether you start in the front or the back. Just make sure that you floss all your teeth, including the back side of the very last tooth on the left, right, top and bottom of your mouth. And don’t forget to floss under the gum line and along the sides of teeth that border any spaces where teeth are missing—food particles can become trapped in these spaces. 

Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are looking for a dentist in the Plymouth, Canton, Northville area who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

When teeth are too crowded, the result is “snaggleteeth” or “fangs,” a look that is commonly derided in the U.S. In Japan, the look is called “yaeba,” Japanese for “double tooth.” What’s behind the trend is the fact that some Japanese men find the look attractive because it shows a girl is not perfect, making her more approachable. So some women are actually paying dentists to create artificially crooked teeth by affixing plastic fronts to their real teeth.  

Here in the U.S., perfect, straight, picket-fence teeth are considered beautiful. If you live in Plymouth, Canton or Northville and are looking for a dentist experienced in the latest cosmetic dentistry techniques, check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

A growing body of evidence shows that staying positive may help prevent heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. If you’re the type of person who tends to “see the glass half full,” your positive thinking may boost your mood, immune system and longevity. Try these exercises on for size: 

Shift one perspective at a time—Focus on a part of your life that you tend to cast in an unfavorable light, such as your daily commute. Instead of working yourself into a tizzy sitting in traffic, use the time to listen to a favorite radio station, books on tape or music you love.  

Allow yourself to laugh—Let loose with laughter, especially during difficult times. It will cut down on stress and may even help protect against heart attacks. 

Surround yourself with happy people—Who needs a Debby Downer for a friend? Upbeat friends will rub off on you. 

Give your negative thoughts a positive spin—When a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and give it a positive twist.  

If you’re looking for the right dentist in the Plymouth, Canton, Northville area, Dr. Gary Feucht has been helping patients achieve their best smiles with cosmetic dentistry, including porcelain veneers and LUMINEERS for a number of years. Check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

Some foods may actually help defend against tooth decay in special ways. For instance, recent studies have indicated that fresh cranberries interrupt the bonding of oral bacteria before they can form damaging plaque.

Other foods that have beneficial effects on oral health include:

Calcium-fortified juices, milk and other dairy products, which are rich in calcium and Vitamin D, help promote healthy teeth and bones, and reduce the risk for tooth loss.

Cheese unleashes a burst of calcium that mixes with plaque and sticks to the teeth, protecting them from the acid that causes decay and helping to rebuild tooth enamel on the spot.

Cheeses, chicken or other meats, nuts, and milk are also thought to protect tooth enamel by providing the calcium and phosphorus needed to re-mineralize teeth (a natural process by which minerals are re-deposited in tooth enamel after being removed by acids).

Firm/crunchy fruits and raw vegetables like apples, pears, carrots and celery, help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath. These foods have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars they contain, and stimulate the flow of saliva (which helps protect against decay by washing away food particles and buffering acid). Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and lemons, should be eaten as part of a larger meal to minimize the acid from them.

When it comes to local dentists, Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are trying to find a dentist in Plymouth, Canton or Northville who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

If detected, your dentist may refer you to a specialist, who may prescribe treatment or recommend lifestyle changes specifically for the treatment of GERD, such as avoiding acidic foods.You’ll want to follow up because loss of tooth enamel is permanent, and if left unchecked, may lead to the rapid decay of affected teeth. In addition to loss of enamel, GERD can do other long-term damage to your body, such as irritation and inflammation of your esophagus, which may even lead to esophageal cancer.

This is one more reason why getting a regular oral exam from a dentist is so important. Your dentist may find early symptoms of a potentially serious problem before it progresses. In fact, more than 90 percent of systemic diseases have oral manifestations that may be detected during an oral exam by a dentist.

When it comes to local dentists, Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are trying to find a dentist in Plymouth, Canton or Northville who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

Here are some ideas for stocking stuffers that promote oral health:

A toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste—Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is an effective strategy for fighting tooth decay. Removing plaque left by holiday sweets will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Consider giving an electric toothbrush; basic models are relatively inexpensive.

Hard bristle toothbrushes were once recommended but have since been shown to be too abrasive to the teeth and gums. Give a toothbrush with soft, rounded nylon bristles.

Dental floss—While a toothbrush is effective in cleaning tooth surfaces, the bristles cannot adequately clean between the teeth. Dental floss will help remove food from those hard-to-reach areas. Choose from unwaxed or waxed, flavored or unflavored, and regular or wide. Waxed floss may be easier to slide through tight teeth, while unwaxed floss will spread out its fibers during use for greater tooth contact. For a special treat, give holiday-flavored floss, like cinnamon.

Sugar-free gum—Acids in the mouth have a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. Many studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks helps reduce the acid level and can stimulate the flow of saliva, which cleanses the mouth, especially at times when brushing is impractical. Give gum that includes xylitol, an artificial sweetener believed to reduce the incidence of cavities.

Teeth-whitening treatments—If there’s someone on your gift list who is concerned about the appearance of their teeth, you might gift them teeth whitening treatments or a take-home teeth whitening kit from a dentist.

When it comes to local dentists, Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are trying to find a dentist in Plymouth, Canton or Northville who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.

• Early humans (3,000 B.C.) cleaned their teeth with thin twigs, feathers, bones or porcupine quills.
• A bristle-type toothbrush was invented in China in 1498 and consisted of hairs from the back of a hog’s neck attached to a bamboo stick or bone.
• William Addis created the first mass-produced toothbrush in England in 1780.
• The toothbrush as we know it today was invented in 1938—a nylon bristle version introduced by Dupont as Doctor West’s Miracle Toothbrush.
• The first electric toothbrush arrived in 1960.
• In 2003, the toothbrush was selected as the #1 invention Americans could not live without, beating out cars, computers, cell phones and microwave ovens.

When it comes to local dentists, Dr. Gary Feucht is “the best friend your teeth will ever have.” If you are trying to find a dentist in Plymouth, Canton or Northville who utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology, be sure to check out Dr. Gary Feucht at www.plymouthdentistry.com and give us a call at (734) 459-7110.