Healthy Smiles Family Dental

If you had an early-stage dental infection, would you be able to recognize it? We’re committed to preventive care at Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem. As part of our effort, we want each of our patients to understand what a white spot lesion signifies and what they need to do if they develop one. As the first sign of tooth decay, white spot lesions are also known as “incipient lesions.” They are spots on the surfaces of teeth that appear unnaturally white and chalky and are usually found near the gum line or the sides of teeth. White spots are caused by enamel having lost minerals, but not enough to form a cavity. The teeth naturally produce a film which sugar and the bacteria that feed on it get trapped in. As bacteria eat, they excrete acid, which erodes the enamel. The more food is available, the more bacteria multiply, and the more acid is produced. It only takes about a month for white spots to develop. Patients should take them as a sign they need to improve their brushing, ...

Most people don’t realize that they may be able to prevent two of the most common diseases of modern civilization, tooth decay, and gum disease, simply by improving their diet. We all love our fair share of junk food, but what we eat and how often we eat are important factors to maintain good oral health. Our doctors at Healthy Smiles Family Dental can recommend foods that are healthy for your oral-systemic health. Oral-Systemic health is the connection between oral health and overall health. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “you are what you eat,” it’s not entirely false. Simply because if you eat sugars, or acidic foods and beverages, your teeth may appear lackluster, sensitive to hot and cold beverages, or your gums may be sore. Studies have shown that lack of poor diet in conjunction with poor oral hygiene practices, may increase a patient’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and even dementia. If you have questions or concerns regarding oral-systemic health, please give u...

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and at Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem, we want our patients to be aware of the link between diabetes and gum disease. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin, the hormone that breaks down sugars. Lots of bodily systems are put at risk by it, and in the case of gum disease, there appears to be a mutually-reinforcing relationship. One of the effects of diabetes is to thicken blood vessels, limiting the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach different parts of the body. This makes it harder for people with diabetes to fight off infections, including those of the gum pockets. In people with uncontrolled diabetes, gum infections are much likelier to develop into periodontal disease, putting the patient at risk for tooth loss as their gums and jaw bone tissue recede. There is also evidence that gum infections make it harder for patients’ bodies to regulate blood sugar, setting off a feedback l...

Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, and discoloration. Fortunately, our doctors at Healthy Smiles Family Dental offer restorative treatment options, such as dental crowns. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth – to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. Dental crowns have many uses, such as being able to “cap” a damaged tooth or cover an implant. They can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking, or restore one that’s already broken. Dental crowns are a secure way to restore your smile. They help save a tooth (or teeth) that have been so damaged by decay that it can’t support a filling, as well as protect the teeth that are at a high risk of decay, especially when one doesn’t practice proper oral care. The type of material that our doctor will use for a dental crown will be discussed during the initial consultation. On avera...