According to your East Greenbush Dentist, teething staining and tooth discoloration is caused by several things that include:

Food and Drink-Tea, red wine, coffee and some times of fruits and vegetables can stain your teeth. Even potatoes and apples can cause tooth discoloration.

Tobacco-Dr. J. Craig Alexander explains that chewing and smoking tobacco will stain your teeth and can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

Poor Oral Hygiene-Poor oral hygiene habits, such as not brushing and flossing, can cause teeth staining. Brush twice and floss once a day and use a mouth wash to remove stains and plaque.

Disease-The enamel on your teeth can be affected by certain conditions such as head and neck chemotherapy and radiation. Women who are expecting can also have infections that cause teeth staining.

Medications-Doxycycline and Tetracycline, both antibiotics, can discolor your teeth, especially in children who have teeth that are developing. Mouthwashes that contain certain drugs can also cause teeth staining. Benadryl and high blood pressure can also be to blame for tooth discoloration.

Dental Materials-Silver amalgam restorations and mental to porcelain dental crowns can give your teeth a gray or black color, especially those restorations that contain silver sulfide.

Age-As you get older, so does the enamel on your teeth. Over the years, you may notice a yellowish tinge to your teeth.

Genetics-Some people are born with less enamel than others, which could cause teeth staining and tooth discoloration.

Environment-If you live in an area with excessive fluoride in your drinking water, or use fluoride supplements, you may notice tooth discoloration.

Trauma-Tooth trauma from a fall or accident can cause teeth staining and tooth discoloration in both children and adults.

If you suffer from teeth staining or tooth discoloration, call or click and schedule an appointment with your East Greenbush Dentist, Dr. J. Craig Alexander today.

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Having regular oral cancer screenings can catch the early signs of mouth cancer before it has a chance to progress. Oral cancer can be treated successfully if tongue, cheek, lip, and throat cancer is caught early on. According to Dr. Alexander, a qualified dental professional can detect about 84 percent of oral cancers in the early stages.

Velscope

Dr. Alexander uses the Velscope screening test to look for any abnormalities. The simple and painless test looks at your oral tissue to detect any problems that you may have using specialized lights. If anything abnormal is detected, a sample will be sent to the lab for additional testing.

Who’s at Risk?

• People over 40
• Tobacco Users
• Heavy Alcohol Drinkers
• HPV Sufferers
• An Unhealthy Diet
• Prolonged Exposure to the Sun

Although there is no solid proof, people who have been diagnosed with mouth cancer usually have one or more of the above risk factors, however there are some people that have no risk factors what so ever which is why an oral cancer screening from your East Greenbush Dentist is so important.

See your Dentist if you:

• Have white or red patches on your tongue and in your mouth
• Patches or sores that don’t heal or bleed
• Hard spots or lumps in your mouth
• Pain or numbness when you bite down

Treatment and Prevention

The best way to prevent any type of oral cancer is to schedule regular dental appointments for cancer screenings. Although Dr. Craig cannot diagnose you during your cancer screening, he can send anything to the lab that looks suspicious.

If you would like to schedule an oral cancer screening with Dr. J. Craig Alexander, call or click and make an appointment today.

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Gingivitis is quite common across the globe, but if left untreated can lead to periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Dr. J. Craig Alexander, your dentist in East Greenbush, explains that mild gum inflammation, or gingivitis is quite easy to diagnose and treat.

Symptoms of Gingivitis

Changes in gum color-Gums should be pink all over. If you notice shiny areas or red patches along your gum line, it could be plaque or tartar buildup.

Changes in the way gums feel-When you press on your gums, they should be moist. Healthy gums lay flat against the teeth that seals out bacteria and food particles. Unhealthy gums will roll away from the surface of your teeth allowing pockets to form. People who suffer from gingivitis will have soft, dry, or smooth gums.

Changes in Gum Shape-Healthy gums have scalloped edges along the teeth and should be covering up the same amount of root on every tooth making them appear symmetrical. Advanced gum disease will cause gums to pull away from your teeth and recede. Teeth will begin to look misshaped or longer because of root exposure.

Bad Breath-Halitosis is one of the most common symptoms of gingivitis and is caused by poor oral hygiene habits. Food particles that aren’t removed with proper brushing and flossing will begin to smell. Recurring bad breath is often a symptom of oral bacteria getting out of control.

Bloody Saliva-If you see blood when you spit after brushing or flossing, it is time to see your East Greenbush dentist, as this isn’t normal. If you practice good oral hygiene habits and use a soft bristled toothbrush, your gums will not bleed. If they do, it could be a sign that your gum tissue is inflamed, even if you aren’t experiencing any pain.

If you suspect you may be suffering from gingivitis, call or click and schedule an appointment with Dr. J. Craig Alexander who may recommend prophylactic cleaning or root planing and scaling.

Gingivitis should never be ignored and if you have swollen, sore, red or bleeding gums, or any of the signs above, it’s time to see your East Greenbush dentist, Dr. J. Craig Alexander. Call or click and schedule an appointment today.

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These days everyone wants a brighter smile, and thanks to tooth whitening, you really can, however, there are some things you should know before you purchase tooth whitening strips, gels or pastes from you local pharmacy.

Those over the counter whitening products may be inexpensive, but unfortunately, they are not as strong as professional tooth whitening methods. When you schedule an appointment with Dr. J. Craig Alexander in East Greenbush for professional tooth whitening, you will see better results as the products used are much stronger than what you will find over the counter.

If you still aren’t convinced about over the counter whitening products you may want to consider some of the risks involved.

Sensitive Gums

It may seem simple enough; you go to the pharmacy, purchase some whitening trays or strips, and start the process for your new Hollywood smile. However, be aware that the generic whitening trays are one size fits all and will be sloppy. If you don’t get the results you want right away, you could go overboard causing tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Uneven Whitening

Over the counter whitening products can lead to serious pain and uneven whitening. Strips and trays aren’t custom fitted, so your teeth may be white on the bottom and still stained on the top. If you have had professional tooth whitening, but aren’t happy with the results opting to combine OTC products, you could have an increase in sensitivity, or left with blue teeth, and unfortunately your new blue smile could be permanent.

Internal Pain

Over whitening can cause internal pain, especially if you are whitening damaged teeth. If the whitening agent used to brighten your smile gets into your tooth, you could be looking at internal damage and pain requiring treatment by your dentist in East Greenbush.

Professional tooth whitening will eliminate some of the over the counter issues, and although you may feel some sensitivity is much more effective as you will be taking home custom made bleaching trays that are made to fit your teeth. With customized bleaching trays, you minimize the risk of tooth or gum damage.

If you would like more information regarding professional tooth whitening, or any other cosmetic dental procedure, call or click and schedule an appointment with your East Greenbush Dentist, Dr. J. Craig Alexander today.

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Brushing

Keep your teeth clean by brushing twice each day with a soft bristled toothbrush at a 45-degree angle near your gum line. Both the surface of your teeth and the gum line should connect with the bristles on your toothbrush. Go back and forth, up, down, and make sure you use a soft touch to avoid bleeding. Clean the insides of your teeth and gums and don’t forget to brush the roof of the mouth and your tongue to get rid of odor causing bacteria.

It’s all about the Floss

Flossing is just as important as brushing as it removes the particles of food between your teeth that brushing just can’t budge. Floss once every day, or more often if you notice anything stuck between your teeth.

Tobacco

If you chew or smoke tobacco, your teeth and gums are paying the price. Not only will tobacco stain your teeth, but it can also cause gum recession, not to mention the oral cancer risks.

Coffee Alcohol and Soda

All contain phosphorous, which is necessary for a healthy mouth, but too much of a good thing can deplete your body’s calcium levels. Not enough calcium can cause the enamel on your teeth to weaken making you more susceptible to tooth decay.

Watch what you eat

Eat calcium rich foods such as dairy products and fortified orange juice. Broccoli, cheese, and yogurt are great foods that can help your calcium intake. Vitamin B complex, copper, zinc, iron, iodine, and potassium are also good for oral hygiene.

See your Dentist

One of the best oral hygiene tips is to visit your dentist every six months or more so if you are susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. During your checkups, make sure that your dentist gives you a comprehensive dental exam that includes an oral cancer screening.

Mouthwash

Mouth rinses have changed over the years and these days can protect you against gum disease, whiten your teeth, and help prevent cavities. Mouthwashes that contain Listerine or chlorine dioxide kill the left over bacteria and can help your breath stay fresh. Although it cannot do the work alone, a good mouthwash that is recommended by the American Dental Association is the perfect companion to brushing and flossing.

Dental Symptoms

If you have a toothache, jaw pain or any other dental issue, it is imperative that you contact your dentist immediately. You may not think that cracked tooth is a big issue because it doesn’t hurt, but your dentist will think differently.

Keeping your oral hygiene in check is important, and if you would like more oral hygiene tips, or can’t remember the last time you saw your dentist, call, or click and schedule an appointment today.

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Smile with the confidence you deserve!  Feel free to contact our East Greenbush dental practice with any questions or concerns you may have.  We strive to provide the most comfortable, caring and family-oriented dental experience possible.

https://www.jcraigalexanderdmd.com

My philosophy of practice is one of prevention and providing the best comprehensive treatment that the patient can afford. If ideal treatment isn’t possible due to financial limitations, I will offer treatment alternatives. I would much rather see a patient follow a less expensive, affordable, comprehensive treatment plan than spend his or her entire dental budget on one small aspect of the dental problem while a larger, growing problem was left untreated.

Our Family Dentistry Services

– Cosmetic Dentistry
– Dental Crowns
– Dental Veneers
– Dentures
– Family Dentistry
– Gingivitis
– Home Sleep Study
– Mini Implants Dental

Dr. Alexander
739 Columbia Turnpike
P.O. Box 237
East Greenbush, New York 12061

Call our office at 518-477-1008.
Email: Dr.A@JCraigAlexanderDMD.com

 Thanks for visiting our blog!  Contact us anytime.

“Smiles aren’t something you can giveaway, they always come back to you.”

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