Miami Beach Dentist Talks About How to Improve Your Smile With Dental Veneers

About you oral health with Miami Dentist Dr. Rothman

If you're looking for a more perfect smile, then you might want to consider veneers.
Popular among movie stars and other celebrities, veneers let you change the
appearance of your teeth as dramatically as you want. Veneers let you brighten your
teeth and straighten your smile - you can even change the size and shape of your teeth.

Miami Beach Dentist

Veneers can be either composite or porcelain. The veneer is actually a thin piece of
porcelain or composite material about the size of a fingernail. Once the custom-made
veneer is bonded onto the tooth, it becomes extremely strong. It also blends in with the
remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable to the naked-eye. Once in place, it
looks, feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.

Miami Beach Dentist

Veneers are a popular choice for total smile makeovers, letting a dentist change not just
the color but also the size, shape, and straightness of your teeth. Veneers are often
used for the same reasons as bonding - to lighten stains, close gaps and even alter
crooked or malformed teeth. Both can be utilized to change the shape or color of a
single tooth or if necessary to revamp the entire smile. Veneers are generally more
durable and stain resistant than bonding.

If you have any questions about veneers, or if you're interested in a cosmetic
consultation, please call our office.

Miami Beach Dentist

We truly enjoy seeing the effect that a bright smile has on our patient’s lives. We believe that a healthy smile begins with knowledge. That is why one of our goals is to help elevate each patient's dental awareness and to provide you with the best tools to maintain your dental health at its optimum.

Call our office today and have a new smile tomorrow. Call now (305) 534-2002

You can make an appointment with our dentist by calling our office at (305) 534-2002 or by visiting www.RothmanDental.com. We are conveniently located in Miami Beach at 939 Arthur Godfrey Road, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Miami Beach Dentist

Miami Beach

Dr. Arnold Rothman

http://www.RothmanDental.com

(305) 534-2002

939 Arthur Godfrey Rd.

Miami Beach, Florida 33140

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol found in most plant material, including many fruits and vegetables. It is extracted from birch wood to make medicine.

Xylitol is widely used as a sugar substitute and in "sugar-free" chewing gums, mints, and other candies. However, sorbitol is the most commonly used sweetener in sugarless gums because it is less expensive than xylitol and easier to make into commercial products.

As a medicine, xylitol is used to prevent middle ear infections (otitis media) in young children, and as a sugar substitute for people with diabetes.

Xylitol is added to some chewing gums and other oral care products to prevent tooth decay and dry mouth.

Xylitol is sometimes included in tube feeding formulas as a source of energy.

Dog owners should know that xylitol can be toxic to dogs, even when the relatively small amounts from candies are eaten. If your dog eats a product that contains xylitol, it is important to take the dog to a veterinarian immediately.

How does it work? 

Xylitol tastes sweet but, unlike sugar, it is not converted in the mouth to acids that cause tooth decay. It reduces levels of decay-causing bacteria in saliva and also acts against some bacteria that cause ear infections.

Likely effective for:

Preventing dental caries (tooth decay). Use of xylitol-containing products such as foods, chewing gum, candies, and toothpaste that provide 1-20 grams of xylitol per day can significantly reduce the rate of cavity formation in both adults and children. But some national brands of chewing gum contain milligram amounts of xylitol, far less than the gram doses that prevent tooth decay. Xylitol products appear to be more effective than products containing sorbitol for preventing cavities.

Possibly effective for:

Reducing episodes of ear infections (otitis media) in preschool children. Xylitol given in appropriate doses after meals to preschool children seems to significantly reduce the number of ear infections they get and the need for antibiotics. However, giving xylitol at the onset of symptoms of an acute respiratory infection does not seem to prevent ear infections.

Xylitol side effects and safety

Xylitol is safe in the amounts found in foods. It seems safe as a medicine for most adults in amounts up to about 50 grams per day. Avoid higher doses. There is some concern that extremely high doses for long periods of time (more than three years) can cause tumors. Xylitol can cause diarrhea and intestinal gas. It is probably safe for children as a medicine in amounts up to 20 grams per day.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of xylitol during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

How Does What I Eat Affect My Oral Health?

You may be able to prevent two of the most common diseases of modern civilization, tooth decay (caries) and periodontal (gum) disease, simply by improving your diet. Decay results when the teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth are destroyed by acid products from oral bacteria. Certain foods and food combinations are linked to higher levels of cavity-causing bacteria. Although poor nutrition does not directly cause periodontal disease, many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is more severe in patients whose diet does not supply the necessary nutrients.

 

Poor nutrition affects the entire immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to many disorders. People with lowered immune systems have been shown to be at higher risk for periodontal disease. Additionally, research shows a link between oral health and systemic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. So eating a variety of foods as part of a well-balanced diet may not only improve your dental health, but increasing fiber and vitamin intake may also reduce the risk of other diseases.

 

How can I plan my meals and snacks to promote better oral health?

 

Eat a well-balanced diet characterized by moderation and variety. Develop eating habits that follow the recommendations from reputable health organizations such as the American Dietetic Association and the National Institutes of Health. Choose foods from the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products and meat, chicken, fish or beans. Avoid fad diets that limit or eliminate entire food groups, which usually result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

 

Always keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water. Saliva protects both hard and soft oral tissues. If you have a dry mouth, supplement your diet with sugarless candy or gum to stimulate saliva.

 

Foods that cling to your teeth promote tooth decay. So when you snack, avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods such as cakes, candy and dried fruits. Instead, choose dentally healthy foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese and sugarless gum or candy.

 

When you eat fermentable carbohydrates, such as crackers, cookies and chips, eat them as part of your meal, instead of by themselves. Combinations of foods neutralize acids in the mouth and inhibit tooth decay. For example, enjoy cheese with your crackers. Your snack will be just as satisfying and better for your dental health. One caution: malnutrition (bad nutrition) can result from too much nourishment as easily as too little. Each time you eat, you create an environment for oral bacteria to develop. Additionally, studies are showing that dental disease is just as related to overeating as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. So making a habit of eating too much of just about anything, too frequently, should be avoided.

 

When should I consult my dentist about my nutritional status?

 

Always ask your dentist if you're not sure how your nutrition (diet) may affect your oral health. Conditions such as tooth loss, pain or joint dysfunction can impair chewing and are often found in elderly people, those on restrictive diets and those who are undergoing medical treatment. People experiencing these problems may be too isolated or weakened to eat nutritionally balanced meals at a time when it is particularly critical. Talk to your dental health professional about what you can do for yourself or someone you know in these circumstances.