Category: oral health

6 Tips for Taking Care of Your Porcelain Veneers

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Did you just make over your smile with porcelain veneers from Millennium Smiles? We know that you love your new smile and are probably still grinning from ear to ear showing off your new pearly whites. We want you to keep it that way, so we have compiled a few tips to help keep your porcelain veneers looking great:

Take Care of Your Veneers. Taking care of your porcelain veneers is as important as taking care of your natural teeth. This means you should brush at least twice per day (with a soft-bristled brush and non-abrasive toothpaste) and floss at least once per day. This is to maintain your healthy teeth that are under your veneers and prevent tooth decay.

Prevent Stains. Veneers are formulated to resist staining, but bonding materials can be affected by dark-colored food and drinks like berries, wine, soda, and coffee. When this bonding material becomes stained, your teeth can appear yellow or brown. To prevent this from happening, Dr. Korous recommends that you use a straw when drinking wine or other dark beverages and brushing immediately after eating foods that can leave you with stains.

Veneers are a great way to update your smile. Keep them looking great with these tips.
Quit Smoking. Smoking and the use of tobacco products can cause staining and can negatively impact the bond between your teeth and the veneer overlay. When this bond becomes damaged or weakened, it leaves you at risk for cracking and lifting. Not only can quitting smoking and tobacco products prolong the life of your veneers, but it can also help to prolong your life by reducing your risk developing oral and other forms of cancer.

Avoid Hard Foods. Porcelain veneers are very durable, but you can cause chips, cracks, and other damage by crunching on hard foods like hard foods like nuts, hard candies, and ice. You should also avoid using your teeth as tools to open packages, remove bottle caps and wine corks (yes, people do this!)

Grind Your Teeth? Wear a Mouthguard. Grinding your teeth can put stress on your veneers, just like on your natural teeth. This stress means cracks, chips, and damage to your tooth enamel and your porcelain veneers. Talk to Dr. Korous about being fitted for a mouthguard to prevent damage to your veneers.

Schedule and Keep Your Dental Appointments. Be sure to visit Dr. Korous at least twice per year for your dental checkups and cleanings.

Questions about porcelain veneers? Call Millennium Smiles today at our Little Elm dental office 972-987-4899 for a consultation.

 

 

Caring for your Dentures

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When it comes to dentures, keeping them clean and well-cared for is of utmost importance. After all, you have just spent a considerable amount of time and money having your new set crafted, fitted, and adjusted so they can look and feel as much like your natural teeth as possible. Caring for your dentures doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some tips for keeping them looking and feeling fresh and new every day.

Rinse After Eating– Just like your natural teeth, food particles can become trapped in your dentures when eating a meal. Unlike teeth, however, food can also get stuck underneath them, which can not only be uncomfortable and disturb the fit but can also lead to odor and gum infections if not properly cleaned after each meal. Take care to remove your dentures and rinse them thoroughly under lukewarm water after you eat, and take time to swish water in your mouth before replacing them.

Be Careful!- They are made of a ceramic-polymer designed to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. As a result, they are extremely fragile and can shatter if dropped on a hard surface. Be careful not to drop them by making sure you replace them promptly after cleaning, and by putting them in a special case when they are not in use.

Brush Daily– Having dentures doesn’t get you off the hook for brushing your teeth! Use a denture-friendly toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush at least once a day to brush them gently and thoroughly. This will not only keep them feeling fresh and looking their best, but will also eliminate odor and cut down greatly on risk of infection.

Soak Overnight– For maximum freshness and odor control, it is essential that you soak them while you are sleeping. Products such as Efferdent helps remove stains and odor from your dentures overnight so you can wake up to them fresh each morning.

Millennium Smiles is here to help you. Dr. Dunia Korous and the rest of the staff can assist you with all your denture-related questions and concerns so you can face the world with confidence and enjoy life with your brand new smile! For quality dentures or other cosmetic dentistry services in Frisco, call Millennium Smiles today at 972-987-4899 for a consultation.

Chew Gum To Save Your Teeth!

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It’s true! Chewing gum- the right kind of gum- can actually help to prevent tooth decay! Contrary to popular belief chewing gum has been approved by the ADA can be beneficial in the fight against cavities. Talk to Dr. Kourous at your next visit to our Little Elm dental office to find out which sugar-free gum is recommended for helping to keep your teeth clean! Forget what mom always told you, go ahead and chew that gum!

Why?

Chewing gum after eating helps increase the flow of saliva which washes away cavity creating particles and bacteria that could buildup on and between your teeth. Increased saliva flow also carries calcium and phosphate that help strengthen tooth enamel. Stronger tooth enamel and less build up mean fewer cavities and healthier teeth!

What?

Make sure that the gum is sugar-free! Sugared gums increase saliva flow, but the excess amounts of sugar are still detrimental to your oral health. Sugar actually promotes plaque bacteria build up. Oral bacteria feed on the sugar, helping it multiply faster. Check gum packages for the ADA seal, then you’ll know you are chewing the best gum for your dental hygiene. All gums with the ADA seal contain artificial sweeteners that do not promote cavity causing agents. The ADA seal is the only way you can be assured the gum is sugar-free and will help, not hurt your healthy smile.

When?

Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating has been clinically tested and proven to help prevent tooth decay. However, never let chewing gum replace your regular oral hygiene routine. Chewing sugarless gum should be used intermittently in your dental health regimen as an additional way to help maintain oral hygiene. Chewing gum cannot replace brushing, flossing, or your regular visits to the dentist.

So treat your “sweet tooth” to some ADA certified sugar free gum! If you have any questions about the benefits of gum, schedule an appointment with your Millennium Smiles dentist. It is always recommended to consult with your Millennium Smiles dentist before starting any new dental care regimen.

Schedule a Visit to Millennium Smiles Dentist

Regular visits with your Millennium Smiles family dentist are the best way to maintain your oral health and catch serious oral health concerns early to avoid complex procedures. For routine dental care, schedule an appointment with Millennium Smiles in Frisco, TX. We serve Frisco, Little Elm, and many local communities with comprehensive family and cosmetic dental care.

Back To School With A Healthy Smile

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When was your child’s last dental visit?

“Back to school” is a great time to evaluate your child’s dental health and come in for a routine check up in our Frisco dentist office. At Millennium Smiles, we offer the range of dental services your family needs in a warm, caring environment. Our dentists and staff make every effort to ensure that all members of your family feel calm, relaxed and comfortable during any treatment they receive.

Children’s Dental Care in Little Elm

We recommend that young children begin visiting with us as soon as their primary teeth begin to erupt. This is a change from the previous recommendation of around the age of three; after the primary teeth have finished erupting. Earlier visits allow us to better monitor the development of your child’s teeth and their overall oral health. Even primary teeth can develop decay or become damaged and prompt and appropriate treatment plays a role in ensuring that the permanent teeth develop correctly.

Your child’s dental health is important– keeping their teeth and gums clean, healthy and protected will help them enjoy the many benefits of a lasting smile. We offer dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and custom sports mouth guards to meet all of your child’s oral health needs. Regular visits with us allow your dentist to make appropriate recommendations for any dental treatments necessary to address concerns about the bite, tooth placement or possible damage to your child’s teeth as a result of lifestyle habits. Our staff makes personalized oral hygiene recommendations and teaches proper brushing and flossing to help young patients maintain their smile between visits- and develop healthy habits.

Make routine preventive dental care a part of your back to school checklist- and lay the foundation for your child’s long-term dental health.

Looking for a family dentist in Frisco, Little Elm, or other local communities? We welcome new patients of all ages and look forward to getting to know them, understand their unique concerns and help them achieve a healthy smile they feel good about. Contact us today at 972-987-4899 to schedule your appointment.

Is Flossing Still Important?

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Recent news on oral hygiene practices questioned the overall oral health benefits of daily flossing, making people wonder if they should continue this often inconvenient part of their routine. Your Frisco family dentists at Millennium Smiles stands behind the American Dental Association (ADA) position that flossing between the teeth once a day is indeed an important part of good oral hygiene and the best way to remove food and bacteria from ALL surfaces of the teeth to avoid decay.

Flossing should begin as soon as possible with young children, ideally when they are babies and only have a couple of teeth that touch each other. Early preventive care habits make them seem like a routine part of daily life that is more likely to be carried out for the long term. When you visit our Frisco family dentist office your hygienist and dentist will work with you to demonstrate effective tooth flossing and can make recommendations on the most appropriate type of floss for your needs.

How To Floss Correctly

Flossing should not be painful- if it is or if flossing causes the gums to bleed, schedule a visit where we can look for the presence of gum disease. The dental floss should be gently positioned between the teeth by sliding it back and forth with minimal force until it makes its way down to the gum line. The back and forth motion will dislodge most food particles and loosen any bacteria between the teeth. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash after flossing is a great way to flush out remaining debris and leave the teeth and gums feeling clean and fresh. Here is a quick ADA video on tooth flossing:

For most people, once the habit is established they find their mouth does not feel completely clean until they have flossed after brushing. Healthy daily oral hygiene that includes tooth brushing AND flossing is the foundation of a lifelong smile. For routine dental care, visit Millennium Smiles in Frisco, TX. We serve Frisco, Little Elm, and many local communities with comprehensive family and cosmetic dental care.

Call us at 972-987-4899 to schedule an appointment.

The Benefits of A Healthy Smile

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Good oral hygiene is about much more than enjoying a bright, white smile. Maintaining your oral health will also prevent major dental concerns and helps to avoid other overall health issues.

Promoting great oral hygiene begins with proper tooth brushing and flossing. These are two important daily steps to keep your mouth clean and reduce the chances of tooth decay. Brushing your teeth at least twice and flossing at least once a day, you will remove bacteria that may cause larger dental concerns. Gingivitis, or gum disease, may result without daily cleaning. Your Frisco family dentist at Millennium Smiles will be able to assist you in learning how to effectively brush and floss at home.

Visiting Millennium Smiles at least twice a year for routine preventive dental care is also important for maintaining good oral health. When you visit regularly, we can monitor your dental health and treat developing problems early- before permanent damage occurs!

Preventing cavities, gum disease and even tooth loss are widely known benefits of visiting the dentist regularly. Additionally, routine dentist visits will boost your overall health. Taking care of your teeth is about more than just a healthy smile- scientific research has found many links between oral health and overall health.

There is a connection between your oral health and cardiovascular conditions. Poor oral health will increase your likelihood of developing gum disease, which can be linked to developing heart disease due to higher levels of bacteria in the mouth and body. Poor oral hygiene is also connected increased risk of heart conditions that include strokes and heart attacks. Advanced gum disease can also increase the severity of systemic disease such as diabetes, making it more difficult to manage.

At Millennium Smiles, we are dedicated to helping you enjoy a healthy smile- and your best quality of life! If you have been away from the dentist or are looking for a new Frisco or Little Elm area family dentist, we are accepting new patients.

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Smile?

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Living with diabetes in Little Elm? Diabetes is quickly becoming one of the most frequently diagnosed systemic diseases for both children and adults. There are a wide range of factors affecting the surge in diabetes, including increased added sugar in the modern American diet, the prevalence of obesity and a more sedentary lifestyle.

Although you may not think of your dental health when considering the affects of diabetes, your Frisco dentist sees the affects that diabetes can have on the teeth and gums and works with diabetic patients to improve both oral and overall health through better oral hygiene.

How Does Diabetes Affect Dental Health?

When someone is diabetic, the body is either unable to produce insulin or is struggling to use insulin properly in order to remain healthy. In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, patients need to monitor blood sugar daily and alter their lifestyle habits to avoid serious health complications.

What does this mean for your dental health?
Fluctuations in blood sugar affect the health of the teeth and gums, but this can also be a two way street!

Patients with diabetes who do not have their blood sugar in control are more likely to develop periodontal disease. But advanced gum disease can also adversely affect the progression of diabetes. Either way- maintaining good oral health is important for diabetic patients to both control disease and avoid complex dental concerns. Diabetic patients experience tooth loss at a higher rate than the rest of the adult population.

Diabetes affects the integrity of the immune system and put patients at a higher risk for bacterial infections such as advanced gum disease. Routine dental care provides us the opportunity to closely monitor the gum health of diabetic patients and offer individualized oral hygiene advice to help maintain oral health between visits.

In addition to regular dental care, keeping blood sugar stable through diet, exercise and proper medication will provide the best possible quality of life and reduce the risk of stroke, vision problems and other health issues commonly associated with diabetes.

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