Tag: oral health

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.

Bad Breath? We Can Help

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Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is usually caused by poor oral hygiene, unhealthy habits, certain foods, and oral infections. Many patients are affected by bad breath, which can have an impact on your self esteem. Your Frisco family dentist understands your personal concerns and will take the time to determine the cause of your bad breath and recommend an appropriate treatment.

Generally, the best way to prevent bad breath is to maintain a good daily oral care routine. Even those with chronic bad breath can freshen up with a few changes in their oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day, cleansing with a mouthwash, flossing once a day, and rinsing with water after meals and snacks will eliminate harmful bacteria in the mouth. Changing lifestyle habits, such as avoiding tobacco, chewing sugar free gum after meals, and eating a healthy diet are also easy changes to prevent bad breath.

Halitosis: When To Worry

Persistent bad breath may be more than just a result of poor oral care. Bacteria in the mouth that has been left behind causes halitosis, or chronic bad breath. Gum disease, tooth decay, and certain medications may also be causing bad breath that changes in your oral hygiene cannot fix. There are also certain illnesses and medical conditions that can lead to dry mouth and persistent bad breath. Addressing halitosis promptly can be important for both oral and overall health.

At Millennium Smiles, each routine checkup will remove plaque and bacteria that has been left behind on your teeth. It is important to discuss your concern about persistent bad breath so that our team may assist you in identifying the cause and ensuring any health concerns are addressed.

Your Frisco family dentist is a partner in your overall health care and strives to help maintain both a healthy smile and a healthy lifestyle.

Early Dental Care For A Lifetime Of Smiles

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Taking your child to the dentist as a baby or toddler allows his or her oral health to be monitored for early problems and abnormalities. Early dental visits can reduce anxiety and encourage healthy oral habits for a lifetime of good dental health.

Between 3 and 9 months, your infant’s primary teeth will begin to emerge. As a local family dentist, Millennium Smiles recommends bringing children in for routine dental visits around the age of 3, when typically all primary teeth have erupted. Early routine dental visits allow your Frisco family dentist to monitor your child’s oral health and spot developing dental concerns. Patient education and regular visits will reduce risk of cavities and other dental problems.

Even baby teeth are at risk for decay, especially since the teeth are regularly covered with milk or juice, often for extended periods of time. Research shows that children who develop cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to develop cavities as an adult. Your Frisco dentist will advise you on good oral hygiene for your child, including the best time to transition away from the bottle or sippy cup.

Taking good care of your child’s baby teeth is important. Although primary teeth do eventually fall out, they play an important role in helping your child bite, chew, and speak clearly. Not only do primary teeth help children develop proper speech, they also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are growing under the gums. When a baby tooth is lost too early, permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and cause crooked and/or crowded adult teeth. Starting infants with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

As your child grows, your Frisco family dentist will introduce and reinforce important treatments and habits for preventing decay, tooth loss and gingivitis. Preventative dental exams, teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments are important tools used to maintain good dental health throughout your child’s life. As their permanent teeth grow in, we offer dental sealants and sports mouth guards to protect them.

Starting dental visits at an early age will allow your child to become comfortable with the dentist. The staff at Millennium Smiles will take the time to teach your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth.

Millennium Smiles, serving Frisco and Little Elm, provides dental services for your growing family to keep everyone smiling! Schedule your child’s appointment to start their lifelong dental care!

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.

We Have Treatment Solutions For Snoring and Sleep Apnea

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In addition to offering comprehensive dental care, your Frisco family dentist is also dedicated to helping you enjoy the best possible quality of life. We offer treatment options for patients who suffer from snoring or a sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Often a sign of a sleep disorder, snoring can keep you from getting a good night’s rest and result in both health risks and symptoms that can affect your daily life. Our amazing staff will work with you and coordinate any necessary diagnostic sleep studies with your general physician to determine the cause of your snoring and best possible treatment options. OSA can be a life-threatening disorder if it is untreated, greatly increasing your risk for stroke, heart attack, and other major health concerns.

Are You At Risk For OSA?

Understanding and recognizing the common risk factors for sleep apnea is important- seeking early treatment can have the best results and avoid other complications. For many patients, lifestyle changes can alleviate symptoms and improve overall health. Other common risk factors include:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Having a larger neck circumference
  • Being a smoker
  • Having high blood pressure

OSA is also more common in men than women, especially those over 40 or has a family history of sleep disorders. If you are concerned that you may be at risk for OSA, speak with your dentist about it to ensure that you are evaluated and treated if necessary. We offer treatment for sleep apnea and snoring that is comfortable and effective.

What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?

We can make a custom fir sleep appliance that has been proven effective in treating patients diagnosed with a mild to moderate sleep disorder, including OSA. This oral appliance will fit much like a sports mouth guard and will serve to position the jaw and/or tongue to maintain an open airway and relieve your symptoms.

Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to the CPAP, one that patients are more likely to comply with due to the ease of use and convenience. Daily prescribed use of your sleep appliance is the key to improving your health and reducing the health risks associated with OSA. We will monitor your progress and symptoms during routine dental visits and make personalized recommendations for lifestyle changes that can enhance your treatment and have you feeling better overall!

Contact us in Frisco or Little Elm today by calling 972-987-4899.

Healthy Gums Are Important

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Millennium Smiles in Frisco emphasizes the benefits of routine preventive dental care visits for patients of all ages. These visits provide our experienced staff the opportunity to spot gum disease in the early stages when conservative treatment options are effective. Early-stage gum disease, known as gingivitis, results when plaque begins to build up along the gum line due to poor oral hygiene, lifestyle habits, medical conditions or medications and other causes. It is often able to be treated with a thorough dental cleaning and additional at home oral hygiene such as an antibacterial rinse.

Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis and requires more aggressive periodontal treatment to restore oral health. Periodontitis can affect the integrity of the teeth, sometimes resulting in loose or shifting teeth as bacteria affect the supporting bone structure and gum tissue around the teeth. Periodontitis may require surgical treatment of diseased tissue to fully restore oral health and reduce the risk of tooth loss: gum disease remains a major cause of tooth loss in adult patients today.

Your gum health is important! Don’t let gum disease ruin your natural smile. Maintain gum health through preventive dental care, a good oral hygiene routine at home and healthy dietary habits.

If you have concerns about your gum health or how your lifestyle may affect it, discuss them with our amazing staff at your next visit. Our goal is to be a partner in your dental health care so that you can enjoy the best possible quality of life! Call 972-987-4899 today to schedule a consultation.

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