Am I a Candidate for Veneers?

Veneers maybe a great option for your smile. These thin porcelain pieces are attached to natural teeth using on a minimum amount of reduction in the tooth structure. Veneers help when patients have staining that isn’t helped by whitening or when teeth are chipping.

While veneers maybe a good option, some patients may not be candidates.

If you have significant tooth structure that has been removed due to decay, a full coverage porcelain crown may be a better option to restoring your tooth to health. This is also true if you want a veneer to correct the positioning of a tooth. “Teeth that are rotated may sometimes require significant reduction to realign, in that case a crown would be the better choice,” says Dr. Judith Ko of Hemet Valley Dental Care in Hemet, CA.

“When teeth are chipping due to problems with occlusion – the way the teeth fit together – veneers might also not be a good choice, “or at least not until the occlusion problem has been corrected,” adds Dr. Ko. If you are chipping your front teeth, it is a sign of something else going on. See your dentist to determine what.

Veneers, just like crowns and natural teeth, must be brushed and flossed on a regular basis. And also, just like crowns, you cannot expect them to last forever. “As you age, gum recession may very well determine when it’s time to replace your veneers,” says Dr. Ko. To learn more, call Hemet Valley Dental Care and set up an appointment today!

What To Do About Stained Teeth

Why are my teeth stained and what can I do about it?

In the previous post, the causes of tooth staining was discussed. Unfortunately, many times the offending stainer was a food or beverage and sometimes one that contained beneficial antioxidants. While you can reduce the amount of blueberries you eat, moderation and balance in your diet is probably a better answer, according to WebMD. 

So what can you do?

1. When drinking any of the foods that can stain, use a straw. These would include: colas, juices, tea and wine. 

2. Swallow promptly instead of allowing the food or drink to linger will also help to reduce the amount of staining to your teeth.

3. After eating and drinking any of the foods, rinse your mouth with water. Brushing and flossing is always recommended after a meal, but it isn't always convenient. Swishing with water will at least remove some of the damaging elements from your mouth.

4. Chewing sugarless gum may also help with reducing stain.

5. Finally, see your dentist and/or hygienist on a regular basis.

"Keeping your smile bright is important to us," says Dr. Judith Ko, from her Hemet, California cosmetic dental practice. "Let us know if we can help."

Stained Teeth

How Do Teeth Become Stained?

While we recognize that our white smiles are what create a good first impression, we are often thwarted by teeth that become stained. Regularly seeing your dentist to remove the stains is one way of dealing with the problem, but why do teeth become stained in the first place?

"Most people know to avoid smoking to keep teeth at their whitest, but unfortunately many of the foods you may enjoy, and some that are good for you, can stain your teeth, too," Dr. Judith Ko says from her Hemet Valley Cosmetic Dental Practice.

Fruits such as apples, blueberries, blackberries and pomegranates.

Beverages such as coffee, tea, and red wine.

Even beets, soy sauce, curries and popsicles with bright colors can do damage to your teeth.

According to WebMD, the reason is that these foods tend to be acidic in nature, and the acid temporarily softens the tooth allowing the chromogens, the color pigments in the foods and beverages, to stain. A good rule of thumb is, if the offending food or beverage would stain a napkin or tablecloth, it will probably stain your teeth. 

With many of the offending foods being excellent sources of antioxidants, rather than remove them from the diet, it might be best to limit them and take additional steps to ensure your smile stays its brightest.