What You Need To Know About Tooth Whiteners

Dr. Dernick, your Woodlands dentist, sees clients with various dental health needs. One of the biggest issues people have with their smiles is the color they've taken on after a lifetime of drinking coffee, smoking, or drinking colored soft drinks. Fortunately, there are ways to reverse the discoloration of your pearly whites:

Everyone loves a dazzling smile. That's why so many of us reach for the tooth whiteners when our teeth start to look yellow. 

Common foods and drinks -- such as coffee, red wine, and berries -- and, of course, smoking, cause teeth to stain and lose their brightness. The effects are often exaggerated as we age, says Mark Wolff, DDS, professor at NYU College of Dentistry. Wear and tear creates etchings on the tooth surface, "making teeth more susceptible to stains," he says. That's why you might notice that foods you've been eating for years discolor your teeth more these days. 

Professional Tooth Whiteners 

Teeth whiteners, sold by dentists and drugstores, use a form of peroxide (hydrogen and carbamide are the most common) of varying strengths to oxidize or eat away the tooth's color particles to brighten smiles. The concentration of peroxide in store-bought kits ranges from 3% to 10%; in professional-grade whiteners (available in your dentist's office), it runs as high as 40%.
Professional whiteners are generally more effective than those sold over the counter, but not just because the concentration of peroxide used is higher. Wolff says that whitening trays made by dentists are molded especially for your mouth, keeping bleaching solutions in close contact with the tooth's surface. This enhances the whitening effect and increases safety by minimizing the amount of peroxide that contacts the gums or is swallowed. 

The personalized fit will cost you. Professional whitening systems range from $400 to $800, compared with $25 to $100 for products you buy in the store.

The Woodlands Dentist

To read the article in full, Dr. Dernick recommends going to Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/tooth-whiteners

Robert G. Dernick, DDS

1001 Medical Plaza Drive Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380

http://www.drdernickdds.com/

281-367-3900

7 Secrets To A Healthier Smile -- Tips From Your Woodlands Dentist

Most people think that visiting their dentist twice a year and doing the minimum requirement (brush twice a day, floss once) for their oral health. Dr. Dernick, a Woodlands Dentist, found this article from Web MD about 7 additional things you can do to improve your oral health. You'd be surprised to know that there are additional measures you can take to give yourself that gleaming smile you've always wanted -- it just takes a little effort:

When it comes to lighting up some of Hollywood's brightest smiles as well as tending to the pearly whites of the average Joe, New York City dentist Steven Roth, DMD, does it all. With more than 25 years of cosmetic and restorative dentistry experience, he created a technique that allows patients to "test drive" cosmetic dental procedures (such as temporary veneers) before taking the plunge. We chatted with Roth from his Manhattan office, SmilesNY, and asked him to share the seven things he always tells every patient. 

1. You probably aren't seeing the dentist enough. 

The standard twice-a-year visit (covered by most dental plans) is only half enough. Adults should see the dentist every 90 days. I know it sounds like a lot (and believe me, I get some resistance from reluctant patients), but, after just three months, the bacteria we clean out of your mouth during a check-up -- it's all recolonized! I know it can seem expensive, especially if you have to pay for the additional visits out of pocket, but it's well worth it from a health perspective. If you think about what you might spend on regularly cutting or coloring your hair, it's really not far off from that. 

2. If you're scared of the dentist because you think it's going to hurt, you're not seeing the right dentist. 

Today we can manage every single aspect of discomfort with the right medications to handle the annoyance of keeping your mouth open for a long period of time, or anesthesia for more extensive, invasive procedures like root canals. You name the issue, we can address it. 

The Woodlands Dentist

To continue reading the rest of this article, click on the following link: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/7-secrets-healthier-smile

Robert G. Dernick, DDS

1001 Medical Plaza Drive Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380

http://www.drdernickdds.com/

281-367-3900

Every Day Habits That Ruin Your Teeth

Not everyone realizes that every day habits involving your teeth actually contribute to the degradation of your teeth. Without even noticing, some people open packaging with their teeth, drink copious amounts of sugary drinks, and chew on ice as if it were sugar-free gum. "These three habits are just a few of the many ways in which your teeth can be damaged," says Woodlands dentist, Dr. Dernick, DDS. Read about the others below:

You plan meals, grab drinks, and play sports without giving much thought to your teeth. But you might not realize how food, beverages, and activities can wreck the health of your pearly whites. Twenty-five percent of U.S. adults over age 65 have lost all their teeth - here's how you can protect your own. 

Sugar and Teeth
Sugar is the No. 1 enemy of your teeth, and the longer it stays in your mouth, the worse it is. Sugar is consumed by acid-producing bacteria in your mouth. The acids eat away at tooth enamel. Avoid foods like jelly candies, which stick in your teeth longer than other foods and bathe them in sugar. Dried fruit such as raisins are no better. Reach for fresh fruit instead.

The Woodlands Dentist

Beverages and Teeth 

Soda is just plain bad for teeth, sugar-free or not. "You're bathing teeth in an acid environment," says Robert Sorin, DDS, clinical instructor in the department of dentistry and oral surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Club soda is harmful, too, because of its acidity, and so are juices with added sugar. 

Alcohol, even just a glass of wine, is also acidic and can erode the teeth. In addition, alcohol dries out your mouth, reducing saliva production. "Saliva bathes the teeth and helps remove plaque and bacterial accumulations from the teeth's surface. Less plaque equals less risk for bacterial acids to cause decay," Sorin says. Rinse your mouth with water between drinks.

To continue reading the entirety of this article, Dr. Dernick recommends heading over to Web MD to read the rest, here. 

Robert G. Dernick, DDS

1001 Medical Plaza Drive Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380

http://www.drdernickdds.com/

281-367-3900

Improve your Smile: Cosmetic Dentistry 101

Cosmetic dentistry isn't just about tooth whitening these days. There are various procedures that your dentist can implement in order to fix not only discoloration, but also chipped or missing teeth, gaps, or anything else that is preventing you from achieving the smile of your dreams. Dr. Dernick, your Woodlands dentist, not only provides general dentistry, but also practices some of the cosmetic procedures listed in the following article. If you have any concerns about the status of your smile, come in for an appointment to discuss your options:

Today, cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping, to closing spaces and replacing teeth. And dentists have a wide array of tools and techniques at their disposal for improving the look of your smile. 

Before deciding to undergo any cosmetic procedure, it's important to know the benefits and risks, and what you can expect during the process. Make sure you're clear about what it will cost, how much experience your dentist has with the procedure, and whether any special maintenance will be needed afterward.

The Woodlands Dentist

Teeth WhiteningOver time teeth can become stained or discolored, especially after smoking, taking certain medications, or consuming foods and beverages such as coffee and tea. Using a chemical process, your dentist can bleach your teeth in one of two ways. He can do an in-office procedure, or provide you with a system to use at home.  

Your dentist can create a custom mouthpiece that ensures the right amount of whitening solution reaches your teeth. You may find whitening at home more convenient. But it can take two to four weeks. In-office whitening can take place in one or more 45- to 60-minute visits. 

Keep in mind, your teeth can become stained again if you continue exposing them to the same substances that originally stained them. Since whitening products are not meant to clean teeth, it is still important to continue practicing daily oral hygiene by brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day.  

Bonding
Bonding may improve how your teeth look if they have excess space between them, or if they are chipped, broken, stained, or cracked. 

Dentists also use bonding materials to fill small cavities or to protect the exposed root of a tooth. 

The dentist can usually do this procedure in a single office visit by applying an etching solution followed by tooth-colored materials -- sometimes composite resins -- directly to the tooth's surface where needed. 

Although bonding can last for several years, it is more likely than other types of restorations to chip or become stained...

To Continue reading about how you can improve your smile, Dr. Dernick recommends visiting Web MD for more information: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/america-asks-12/cosmetic-dentistry?page=1

Robert G. Dernick, DDS

1001 Medical Plaza Drive Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380

http://www.drdernickdds.com/

281-367-3900