Studies have shown that if everyone stopped using tobacco, especially by smoking it, If all people stopped smoking, periodontal there would be 47% less periodontal disease in older dental patients and 60% less periodontal disease in younger people.

Adult smokers are approximately three times as likely as non-smokers to develop gum disease as non-smokers. They are also more likely to avoid dentists and the very therapies that could improve their oral health and save their teeth.

The very first thing any periodontist does when evaluating a smoker is to counsel him or her to stop smoking immediately. Using tobacco is widely believe to impair immune system response, making it more difficult for illnesses and wounds to heal, including those inflicted on the gums by repeated exposure to tobacco use.

Smokers don't enjoy as much improvement in their oral health after treatment for gum disease, and the treatment isn't as successful.  The good news here is that quitting smoking can reverse its negative effects and after 10 years, former smokers don't seem to have more periodontal problems than non-smokers.

There are three types of mouth guards:

Mouth guards protect the health of your teeth and gums by preventing damage that can be caused by teeth grinding (known as bruxism) and from injuries that can occur while engaging in certain sports such as football or hockey. Mouth guards are inexpensive and easy-to-use, and no one who needs to use one should even consider going without.

While mouth guards are available at most sporting good stores and department stores, these models have serious drawbacks. Little can be done to adjust the way these over-the-counter models fit your mouth, plus which they are frequently somewhat bulky, make breathing and talking difficult and may provide little or no protection, which is why dentists don't  recommend using them.

Your dentist can make a custom-fitted mouth protectors that will work perfectly in your mouth, protecting your teeth without the adverse effects described above. To do this, your dentist will first make an impression of your teeth that a laboratory will  use for a mold. Dental mouthguards are more expensive due to the fact that they use higher quality material and because of the extra time and work involved. However, a custom-made mouth guard will always provide the most comfort and best fit and protection.

Mouth guards usually cover the upper teeth only, but in some instances (such as if you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), your dentist will make a mouth guard for the lower teeth as well. Your dentist can suggest the best mouth guard for you. An effective mouth guard should be comfortable, resist tears, be durable and easy to clean, and should not restrict your breathing or speech.

In this case, many dentists recommend removal of the wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems.  Wisdom teeth that have erupted, or grown through the gum line, also may require extraction if the tooth is interfering with your bite or interfering with the restoration or straightening of an adjacent tooth.  If you experience pain, infection in your mouth, facial swelling or swelling of the gum line in the back of the mouth, you may have a wisdom tooth that has erupted but is now in need of removal. 

If your dentist recommends removal of your wisdom teeth, the extraction procedure requires the dentist to access the tooth through the soft and hard tissue, gently detaching the connective tissue between the tooth and the bone and removing the tooth.

If your teeth are stained or discolored, dental whitening can be done in just one office visit in about an hour.  A hydrogen peroxide based gel is applied to your teeth and the effects are often heightened with a special light.  After one treatment, you can enjoy teeth that are up to five to ten shades whiter.

For a chipped tooth, dental bonding can quickly do damage control with no pain.  A tooth colored dental material is sculpted around the damaged tooth by the dentist and then hardened with heat.  After just a few minutes, you will have a recreated tooth that look and works just like new.

Even if you have misaligned, chipped, cracked or significantly stained teeth, porcelain veneers can recreate your smile.  Thin, tooth colored shells are bonded to the fronts of your teeth to transform their appearance and the procedure usually takes only about two office visits.

There are several ways to improve little dental difficulties without requiring an Extreme Smile Makeover.  Talk to your dentist today to discuss the various options to improve your smile in mere minutes.

If your teeth are stained or discolored, tooth whitening can  make them five to ten shades whiter.  A hydrogen peroxide based gel is applied to your teeth and often the effects are accelerated with light.  After just an hour or so, you will enjoy noticeably whiter teeth.

For teeth that are significantly stained or chipped, dental bonding can make them look like they originally did.  A tooth colored material is sculpted around the tooth by the dentist and hardened with light to recreate a stronger, more attractive tooth.

Even if your teeth are extremely stained, chipped, cracked or misaligned, porcelain veneers can transform your smile.  Thin, tooth colored shells are bonded to the fronts of your teeth to give you a Hollywood smile of your dreams.  If you suffer from missing teeth, there are natural looking bridges, dentures and dental implants to replace them.

Fall in love with your smile all over again when you visit your cosmetic dentist for simple solutions.

Poor oral health can also adversely impact the quality of your sleep, which in turn further adversely impacts every activity in your waking life. Infected gums, cavities and other dental problems can cause you to lose sleep, or not to sleep as well and deeply as you need to in order to awake refreshed and ready to face your day.

Why? Because sore gums and aching teeth hurt! Even when you're so dog-tired that you fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow, you continue to experience pain at some level. And any pain you experience is detrimental to the quality of your sleep.

It's like the old saying about "for want of a nail a shoe was lost, for want of a shoe a horse was lost, for want of a horse a battle was lost and for want of a battle a kingdom was lost." For want of good oral health, you lost sleep, because you lost sleep you didn't perform as well on your job, or enjoy your family, hobby or other activities as much, etc., etc. etc.

Getting your oral health back to optimum will improve the quality of these other areas of your life and more—and you'll sleep better, too!

Now, there's a great alternative to injections of anesthesia: The Wand.

The Wand is a computer controlled local anesthetic delivery system. This new product removes pain and anxiety by providing a painless injection that numbs exactly the right spot in your mouth. 

The Wand makes it possible to get the tooth numb without having the tongue, cheek, lips or face affected, which makes it very easy to resume most of your normal activities promptly after your appointment.

Ask your dentist about getting Wand anesthesia the next time you need dental work that requires numbing. You'll be very glad that you did!

Why do celebrities love cosmetic dentistry so much? Because they know that there's no second chance when it comes to making a good first impression, and that the first thing others notice about us is how we smile. Smiles that reveal yellowed, cracked, chipped or missing teeth don't get called for a screen test, that's for sure.

Today's marvelous dental technology can correct any cosmetic dental problem and give anyone a bright, white, terrific smile. Chairside whitening treatments, porcelain or ceramic veneers, invisible tooth alignment, dental implants, crowns, bonding and every other cosmetic dental procedure are every bit as available to you as they are to a Julia Roberts or a Hugh Grant.

So pick up your phone and schedule a consultation with your cosmetic dentists today. Your fans are going to love your new smile, so don't keep them waiting!

Cosmetic tooth bonding can treat a variety of dental problems from filling a cavity to filling unsightly gaps between teeth. Porcelain veneers make it possible to make teeth look young and be strong again, while procedures such as invisible alignment and chair side teeth whitening can make crooked teeth straight and yellowed teeth white again.

Dental implants, better dental appliances such as bridges, partial plates and even dentures, can create firm chewing surfaces with a natural appearance that will function for the remainder of patients' lives.

Truly, there has never been a better time to attain, maintain or retain a gorgeous smile!

Today's extreme smile makeovers are affordable and attainable.  Many cosmetic dentists offer financing plans that enable their patients to get a great smile now and pay for it over a period of time later. More dentists are being trained in the latest cosmetic procedures than ever before, which means that no matter where you live, there's probably a great cosmetic dentist nearby.

Smile makeovers can work wonders in the social and work lives of the people who get them  There's nothing more enticing than a great smile, and isn't great that they are so readily affordable and easy to attain today?