Is Fluoride That Important?

Although fluoride has been raising concerns as of late, you cannot argue with the research. In fact, studies have shown that fluoride not only helps reduce dental caries in both children and adults, but can also help repair and prevent tooth decay in its earliest stages, even before the tooth decay is visible to the naked eye. According to your Farmington Hills Dentist, fluoride is one of nature’s best cavity fighters and can help keep your entire family’s teeth strong and resilient to tooth decay.

When a small township in Michigan added fluoride to its municipal water supply more than 40 years ago, it became the first in the United States to do so, with others falling suit, it because the most effective and single public health measure, according to the ADA, to help prevent tooth decay.

Therefore, why the big uproar now, well, it seems that some people are beginning to doubt the safety of fluoride and how effective it actually is. However, the American Dental Association stands by its support of fluoride in community water supplies based on extensive scientific research. The FDA discredits claims of its safety and recommends that communities keep fluoride it their water supplies. The optimum level is 1.4 to 3.4 mg of fluoride per day for a single adult. It is possible to check the levels of your own community’s water supply by contacting your water supplier. If you have a well, you need to have a professional come out and test it for you. If it contains less than 1ppm of fluoride, talk to your dentist who will discuss other options.

With people opting for bottled water instead of tap water, the recommended amount of fluoride is not being met as brands of bottled water do not contain fluoride. If you only drink bottled water, you are not getting any of the vital mineral for your teeth. If you insist on drinking bottled water without fluoride make sure that you use a fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash or ask Gentle Touch Family Dentistry about fluoride supplements.

If you are more susceptible to cavities, talk to your Gentle Touch Family Dentistry about fluoride treatments that will help prevent tooth decay.

For more information regarding fluoride and in-office fluoride treatments, schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry today. 

Professional Cosmetic Bonding Farmington Hills

Cosmetic Bonding with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry is the affordable way to a new smile, and if you are unsure about porcelain veneers, both because of the cost and the fact that they are permanent, it could be time to schedule a complimentary dental bonding consultation with the dental professionals from Gentle Touch Family Dentistry in Farmington Hills. Your Farmington Hills Dentist can determine what cosmetic procedures would be best for your needs, including cosmetic bonding.

If you are a good candidate for cosmetic bonding Dr. Fawaz M. Ahmed will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums to make sure you are healthy enough for dental bonding. If you suffer from tooth decay or gum disease that will need to be taken care of first.

If you are healthy enough for cosmetic bonding, a color will be chosen to match the rest of your teeth. Once a color of resin has been chosen it will be applied to the teeth that are discolored, chipped or cracked. If you have a small space between your teeth, your dentist in Farmington Hills can repair and fill that as well.

During the cosmetic bonding process, your Farmington Hills dentist will etch the surface of your teeth before applying a conditioning liquid. This helps the resin adhere to your teeth. Once applied, Dr. Fawaz M. Ahmed will apply the resin sculpting it into place. After sculpting and once satisfied with the results, your dentist in Farmington Hills will cure or harden the resin with a laser or light. Once hardened your new restoration will be polished to match the rest of your smile.

Dental bonding is just one of the cosmetic dental procedures available from Gentle Touch Family Dentistry in Farmington Hills, and if you would like a cosmetic dental consultation, call or click and schedule your appointment today. 

Professional Tooth Whitening Not Over the Counter

Tooth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental treatment on the planet, but it can also be the most abused.

According to Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, tooth whitening can lighten your teeth, but you need to be careful if you are using over the counter products.

Gentle Touch Family Dentistry explains that those pastes, gels, strips and mouth rinses that you buy at your local pharmacy do not work as well as professional tooth whitening making it easy for people to use too much or too often. There are horror stories out there including transparent, sensitive, and even blue teeth.

Professional tooth whitening uses strong whitening agents that are prescribed by your dentist. Used along with custom-made bleaching trays, your teeth can be lightened from six to 10 shades.

Unlike over the counter teeth bleaching trays, Gentle Touch Family Dentistry custom makes its whitening trays to fit your teeth. Unfortunately, the over the counter trays are a one size fits all, which could have dire consequences to your teeth and gums.

Because over the counter trays are not made to fit your teeth, you could have leakage causing gum and tooth pain. With professional tooth whitening trays from Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, you can be assured that the whole process will be quicker and easier than those over the counter bleaching products will.

When you schedule an appointment for tooth whitening with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, your teeth and gums will be checked to make sure that you are a good candidate for professional tooth whitening. If you are given the all clear, your dentist will take a mold of your teeth before sending it off to a dental lab.

Once your trays are ready, your dentist will give you a prescription tooth whitening gel that you will use for 30 to 60 minutes once or twice a day depending on your Gentle Touches instructions. In just a few weeks, you will have a beautiful new smile that you will be proud to show off.

If you would like more information regarding tooth whitening, or any other cosmetic or restorative dental procedure, call orclick and schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry today.  

Lumineers for Natural Looking Teeth

If porcelain veneers are a turn off after seeing your best friend’s new smile, Lumineers® could be the answer. Lumineers® are thin pieces of porcelain like material that requires little, if any, removal of your natural tooth, and best of all, Lumineers® eliminate the risk of teeth that are too big or teeth that make you look unnatural.

With just two dental visits, your new smile can be a reality as long as you have healthy teeth and gums.

Custom designed to give you a Hollywood Smile; Lumineers® are ultra thin and can be placed without painful shots or drilling. Proven to give you a long lasting smile, Lumineers® can last for more than two decades with proper oral hygiene, and best of all, unlike traditional porcelain veneers, are not permanent and can be removed if you are not happy with your new smile.

The Examination

During your initial consultation, Gentle Touch Family Dentistry will thoroughly examine your mouth to look for any signs of gum disease or tooth decay. If there are problems, those will need to be addressed before your new Lumineers® can be bonded to your teeth.

The Process

If Gentle Touch Family Dentistry determines that you are a good candidate for Lumineers®, a mold or impression will be made of your teeth before being sent to the Lumineers® lab. Photos and dental records will also be sent for an accurate fit. When your veneers are ready, your Lumineers® will be placed and bonded for a precise fit that is both comfortable and pleasing to the eye.

Once placed, Gentle Touch Family Dentistry will etch each tooth for secure bonding. Your bite will be checked and balanced to avoid breakage or chipping.

If you would like a new smile with Lumineers® for 2017, call or click and schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry

Do You Have Temporormandibular Joint Disorder

TMD or temporormandibular joint disorder is a painful condition that can cause earaches, neck and jaw pain and sleepless nights, and if you are dealing with jaw popping take this easy test to determine if you need to schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry in Farmington Hills.

Temporormandibular joint disorder causes problems for up to 30 million women in America. Women are more likely to have TMD than men with bone, ligament, tissue, and muscle problems causing inflammation and even bone dislocation.

Causes

Although the jury is still out, some experts believe that chronic grinding or tooth clenching could be part of the problem. If you have had jaw trauma or a blow to the head, you could suffer from TMD. Arthritis could also put you at risk for temporormandibular joint disorder.

Symptoms

If you have migraines schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry in Farmington Hills who can determine the root cause. If you have ear infections or can’t open and close your mouth without pain it’s time to see your dentist.

Below is a simple test that you can try at home to determine if temporormandibular joint disorder is causing your jaw to lock up.

Open your jaw and put your finger on top of the joint that is located in the front part of your ear. Open wide and feel for the joint move. If it clicks or is tender, schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry who can determine if your temporormandibular joint is to blame.

Relief

For some patients your dentist will recommend less joint wear and tear. Prescription nighttime bite guards can reduce clenching and grinding and may help. In some cases, surgery may help for chronic temporormandibular joint sufferers. Chew less gum and try muscle relaxation techniques or mediation to help you find relief from temporormandibular joint disorder.

If you would like more information regarding temporormandibular joint disorder, call or click and schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry in Farmington Hills for TMD therapy today.

Schedule Your Annual Dental Checkup

Now is the perfect time to schedule your annual dental checkup, especially with the holidays in full swing. Having healthy teeth and gums before you start indulging in those sweet treats will help your conscious and let you enjoy the things you only get to have once a year.

An annual dental checkup isn’t just for your teeth and gums. According to statistics, people who have a comprehensive dental exam have a better chance of oral cancer detection earlier than patients who haven’t had an oral cancer screening.

During the holidays, those cakes, candies, cookies, cakes and other delicious irresistible goodies can cause serious problems for your teeth.

Hard Candy-According to Gentle Touch Family Dental hard candies, peanut brittle, candy canes, and those scrumptious butterscotch hard candies can chip your teeth. If you don’t bite and like to dissolve every drop your teeth will be enjoying a pure sugar bath. If you like to eat hard candies, be sure and rinse and brush or enjoy with another meal.  

Chewy Morsels-Caramels, gummy bears and anything sticky will stay on your teeth. It is nearly impossible to brush away all of the sticky sugar from the fissures and grooves on the back of your teeth. Even dried fruit such as figs, mangos, apricots, dates and pineapple will remain on your teeth quickly converting to bacteria eating away the enamel on your teeth. If you must indulge rinse with water and brush when you can. According to Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, it isn’t a bad idea to eat sticky food as part of a meal.

Starchy Foods-Those chocolate covered pretzels are double the trouble. The chocolate is loaded with sugar and the pretzels are starchy leaving their presence in your mouth long after you have savored the last one on your plate. Keep breads, cookies, cakes, potato chips, crackers and any other starchy food to minimum and rinse and brush after enjoying.

Happy Holidays from Glen Family Dentistry and don’t forget to schedule your annual dental checkup for the New Year today. 

Invisalign Could be the Answer

Invisalign® is the answer if you have slightly tipped or rotated teeth. If your teeth are crooked or if you aren’t happy with the way your teeth fit together, call or click and talk to Gentle Touch Family Dentistry about Invisalign®.

Invisalign® is the clear alternative to conventional wires and brackets and can give you the beautiful Hollywood Smile of your dreams in as little as 6 to 18 months.

Misaligned teeth can also cause problems with your bite. Chewing and even talking can become difficult, but thanks to Invisalign®, you can have a beautiful straight smile without having to resort to uncomfortable braces.

What is Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is a tooth straightening system that utilizes clear plastic aligners that are custom made to fit your teeth. Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, a licensed Invisalign® provider will prescribe between 11 and 31 sets of aligners depending on your treatment plan.

Every two weeks you will swap out your aligners for a new set completing your treatment anywhere between 6 to 18 months.

Advantages

Invisalign® is the painless way to a beautiful straight smile as you remove the aligners when you eat, brush and floss wearing your aligners 20 to 22 hours each day. Because conventional braces are permanently attached to your teeth it makes it impossible to brush under the wires and brackets making you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

Truly the clear advantage, the only people who will know that you are wearing your clear plastic aligners are you and Gentle Touch Family Dentistry as Invisalign® is barely visible.

Unlike conventional braces that need to be tightened every couple of weeks by your dentist or orthodontist, you only need to see Gentle Touch every six weeks to make sure that your treatment is going according to plan.

If you would like more information regarding Invisalign®, call or click and schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dentistry today.