The best way to keep your teeth safe while playing sports is to wear a mouthguard that fits properly. A good quality mouthguard is molded to fit your mouth and protects not only your teeth from injury, but also your cheeks and gums. If you are hit in the face, the mouthguard will absorb and distribute the force of the impact, so your mouth will endure less injury.  

It’s important to take good care of your mouthguard or else it might not work properly. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your mouthguard: 

• After using your mouthguard, rinse it with cold water or mouth rinse, and clean it with your toothbrush and toothpaste to remove any bacteria.
• Store your mouthguard in a firm, perforated container to prevent damage and ensure that it will have air circulation. 
• Keep your mouthguard away from high temperatures to avoid distorting its shape. 
• Occasionally check your mouthguard to see if it has holes or tears in it. If it becomes loose or causes discomfort, you should replace it. 
• Bring your mouthguard to each regularly scheduled dental visit to have your dentist exam it to make sure it still fits your mouth properly.

If you would like to learn more about mouthguards, or get yours checked out, contact the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today and set-up your appointment.

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But smoking does so much more to your mouth than just stain your teeth. Smoking causes:

• oral cancer
• inflammation of the openings to your salivary glands, especially on the roof of your mouth
• plaque to build up on your teeth
• a higher rate of dental caries
• bone loss within the jaw
• gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss
• slower healing after oral surgery
• a lower success rate of any dental implant procedures you might have

If you’ve tried to stop smoking in the past, now might be the time to try again. There are dozens of smoking cessation programs across Austin and Lakeway, and studies have proven that these type of programs give smokers a better chance at quitting for good. Additionally, there are many nicotine replacement products and prescription products that can help you quit.

At the Lakeway Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we work to mitigate the effects that smoking has on your teeth and mouth. If you can’t bring yourself to quit smoking, try to decrease the amount that you smoke and remember to brush your teeth twice daily and floss every day.

Dental exams twice a year are incredibly important, too, because we check your mouth for signs of oral cancer, which might catch a problem area before it becomes serious. Contact the Lakeway Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today to schedule an appointment.

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If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, your mouth is telling you that you need to see the dentist:

• Tooth pain — Most people know to visit the dentist when their teeth hurt, but this symptom could be a sign of an infected cavity
• Bleeding gums — A sign of periodontal disease
• Inflamed, swollen or discolored gums — A sign that your gums may be infected
• Morning headaches, especially those accompanied by neck stiffness — These could be caused by clenching or grinding your teeth
• White patches on your tongue — A sign of possible oral cancer
• Chronic bad breath — Can indicate gum disease
• Canker sores that won’t heal — Don’t let yourself suffer from a canker sore any longer
• Dry mouth — In addition to being uncomfortable, dry mouth can accelerate tooth decay and gum disease

If it’s been more than six months since your last checkup, it’s time to visit the dentist. At the Lakeway Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we make it a rule to never lecture our patients who have been away for too long. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment. We’d love to see you.

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You constantly use your teeth to bite and chew delicious food without thinking about it. Even though you might not think about your teeth and how they work, beneath the surface they are made up of many different parts, each with a unique function. To help you learn more about your teeth that help you enjoy your meals every day, here is what makes up your tooth anatomy: 

• Crown: this is the visible part of your tooth.
• Enamel: the tough, shiny, pearly white covering of your crown.
• Cementum: covers your tooth roots. It is not as hard or as white as enamel, and attaches to tiny fibers that help anchor the tooth to the jawbone.
• Dentin: the hard yet porous tissue located under both the enamel and cementum of your tooth. Dentin is so strong it is even harder than bone.
• Pulp: the soft center of your tooth. The pulp contains blood vessels and nerves, and nourishes your dentin.
• Root: the anchor of your tooth that extends into the jawbone. The number of roots ranges from one to four. 
• Periodontal membrane/ligament: this fleshy tissue between tooth and the tooth socket holds your tooth in place. 
• Nerves: your teeth nerves convey messages like hot, cold or pain to and from the brain.
• Incisor: these are your front teeth and have a narrow edge. Your eight incisors are used to cut food and have one root.
• Premolar: your eight premolars are located between your canine and molars, and each has one root. They have two points at the top. 
• Molar: a wide, flat tooth found in the back of your mouth. Your 12 molars grind food when you chew. Molars in the top jaw have three roots, and your molars in the lower jaw have two roots.

Your teeth need special care, just like the rest of your body. It’s important to brush them twice a day, floss daily and visit your dentist bi-annually for a professional teeth cleaning and checkup. If you are in need of a dental cleaning, contact the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry and set-up your appointment today.

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If you are someone who visits your dentist twice a year, brushes twice a day and flosses daily, you might not think you need to make a trip to the dentist unless it’s for your dental checkup. Even if you are disciplined when it comes to your oral health care, but especially if you aren’t, it’s important to know the signs telling you that it’s time to make a dental appointment. 

• Changes in your gums: If you notice that your gums aren’t looking or feeling like they normally do, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Some dangerous gum changes are: 
  • changing color to red or bluish-red
  • bleeding gums
  • swollen gums
  • receding gums 

• Teeth pain: Any kind of teeth pain that is affecting your quality of life should be treated as soon as possible. Your teeth usually don’t start hurting until your tooth problem is severe. Even if your teeth pain passes, the problem is still there, so you should make an appointment to visit your dentist.

• Sensitivity to hot or cold foods: If you take a bite of ice cream and then feel shooting pain in your mouth or slurp some soup and want to yelp, you should contact your dentist. Sensitivity to temperature means that your tooth decay is spreading to the root of your tooth, so you should get it treated before it becomes even worse.

• Dry mouth: Your saliva is your body’s natural antibacterial agent that protects your teeth from decay and gum disease. But if you are getting older, or using certain medication, you can develop dry mouth. It’s important to get it treated to prevent cavities or periodontitis. 

We are here for you to treat any of your oral health needs. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or are in need of your dental check-up, contact the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today and set-up your appointment. 

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