How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth?

Teeth whitening is a more conservative approach to improving the appearance of discolored teeth than other restorative treatments, such as veneers or crowns. Done too frequently and without proper preparation, however, it can also cause sensitivity, gum irritation, and loss of enamel.

So, how often should you whiten your teeth? Teeth whitening should be done no more than once every 3 to 6 months. This may vary depending on the product strength. The frequency may also depend on the patient’s age and existing conditions such as mild fluorosis, trauma, inherent discoloration, and staining from tetracycline use.

Habits such as drinking coffee regularly and smoking will also impact the efficacy of teeth whitening.

We understand that tooth discoloration can have a negative impact on your quality of life. It’s why we offer teeth whitening services at our dental office in Columbia, PA.

While we realize there are many over-the-counter products available, know that a dentalcare professional can monitor and help avoid any negative impact tooth whitening products may have on your soft and hard oral tissues. If these are impacted, it can be very painful and cause serious dental issues in the future. It is best to ask a dentist how often you can have teeth whitening.

Read further to learn more about various teeth whitening options and the variables that impact the frequency of teeth whitening treatments.

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Why Do Teeth Shift With Age?

Everyone’s teeth continue to shift throughout their lifetime. It’s a natural occurrence regardless of orthodontic work and occurs even when the best oral care is provided.

Why do teeth shift with age? Because our jaws change shape as we age. Additionally, teeth grinding, tooth loss or tooth removal such as wisdom teeth extraction can cause teeth to shift. Gum disease, bone loss, and even the use of a CPAP machine also may cause teeth to move.

Comprehensive holistic dentistry services can monitor and resolve shifting in your teeth that may become worrisome and can help determine the root cause of it. Read further for more detail on the variables involved in teeth shifting, the need to monitor it, and solutions to help remediate it.

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How Often Should You Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

The health of our teeth can mirror our overall well-being. Regular cleanings play an important role in our oral health, so how often should you get your teeth cleaned?

You should visit your dentist twice a year, ideally every six months. At a minimum, once a year. During these visits, it’s best to get a professional cleaning to remove plaque, help prevent gumline decay, and check for any oral health concerns. Children should begin seeing a dentist for cleanings, or at least for general exams, once their first tooth appears.

People with diabetes, however, may need to get their teeth cleaned every 3-4 months. Studies have shown that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of periodontitis. Gum disease can raise your blood sugar levels. At the very least, people with diabetes should schedule dental visits more often than the typical 6-month interval. Professional teeth cleanings and good oral hygiene can help a diabetic lower their HbA1c

Susquehanna Dental Arts staff makes it a priority to build a rapport with our patients and adhere to holistic dental services to contribute to their overall well-being. Are you ready to meet our caring staff and schedule your next professional teeth cleaning?

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Keep reading to learn more about the frequency of professional teeth cleaning and how it impacts one’s overall health.

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How To Protect Crown Teeth So They Last?

Dental crowns are a great solution to help protect damaged teeth and restore your smile.

Yet the surface of crown teeth will wear from normal use, so you’ll need to learn how to protect crown teeth. Proper care for crown teeth includes brushing and flossing, regular dental checkups, and forgoing hard foods. You may need to consider wearing a mouth guard if you play sports and if you grind your teeth. In instances where the crown shows extensive degradation, the occlusal surface of the crown can be repaired with a direct restorative such as amalgam or composite.

At Susquehanna Dental Arts, we provide our customers with zirconia crowns, which rank among the most durable crowns available. Read further to learn how you can better protect crown teeth, so they last.

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How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?

Dental crowns help protect damaged teeth and restore your smile, but since they cost more than fillings and other traditional dental procedures, you might be wondering how long do dental crowns last?

Dental crowns typically last from 5 years to more than 25 years, depending on the materials used to make them and how well you care for them.

At Susquehanna Dental Arts, we provide our customers with zirconia crowns, which rank among the most durable crowns available. These are second only to gold crowns for longevity. (If a customer requests a gold crown, we will gladly provide one. However, the cost for gold crowns can be prohibitive.)

There are also temporary crowns, which only last a few weeks and are not meant as a permanent solution. Read further to learn about other materials used to make dental crowns, durability, and different types of crowns.

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How Common Is Fear of The Dentist and Can I Get Rid of My Fear?

The new patient coordinator at Susquehanna Dental meets fearful or anxious patients almost daily, so fear of the dentist is very common. It can also range from trepidation to an exaggerated unconscious fear called dental phobia. However, we do believe dental phobia can be overcome eventually.

For those who are fearful but can still convince themselves to visit us, we commend you! We want to help make your regular visits as comfortable as possible.

For those with more extreme fear, we offer tips on how to overcome your fear of the dentist and alleviate the anxiety associated with dental care.

First, let’s look at possible reasons behind it.

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How Can I Reduce Acidity in My Mouth?

Having a healthy pH level in your mouth can lower the risk of poor oral health. Since poor oral health impacts your overall well-being, it’s important to regulate acidity levels in your mouth, visiting your dentist routinely, and embracing good dental habits. So how can you reduce acidity in your mouth?

You can reduce mouth acidity and regain a healthier pH through good dietary choices and dental habits. Surprisingly, even exercise may help reduce acidity in your mouth. Moderate and low-impact exercise has been shown to reduce acid reflux, a common cause of mouth acidity.

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Restore Tooth Enamel with Products? Get the Facts

Enamel is the thin, clear layer of protection on our teeth. As we age, we can lose tooth enamel naturally and weaken it by consuming sugary foods, acidic drinks, and brushing improperly.

Unfortunately, tooth enamel can’t be restored once it’s gone. You can, however, strengthen your tooth enamel. Read on to learn why you can’t restore tooth enamel, but you can repair it using over-the-counter products and regular visits to your dentist.

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Does Vaping Hurt Your Teeth?

E-cigarettes (vapes) continue to be popular among young adults and teens, despite numerous bans on their use in several states outside of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit in 2020 against Juul, a popular brand of vape pens and flavor cartridges, alleging it misled consumers about the health risks of vaping. There are also federal lawsuits against Juul and other e-cigarette companies.

We have seen evidence that vaping hurts your teeth. Read on to learn the various ways vaping threatens your oral health. As we often tell our patients, good oral health impacts your overall well-being (conversely, bad oral health may result in illness).

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Do Tongue Piercings Cause Tooth Damage?

Those who decide to get their tongues pierced may not give much thought to how it impacts their dental care.

Unfortunately, they should. Tongue piercings cause tooth damage, receding gums, and other oral care issues. At Susquehanna Dental Arts, we’ve seen firsthand the harm it can cause. That being said, we welcome patients who have tongue piercings to visit our office. Regular checkups can help prevent issues from occurring or worsening.

Let’s look at what’s behind the choice to pierce one’s tongue and some other dental concerns related to having it pierced.

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