When it comes to maintaining healthy and attractive teeth and gums, don’t underestimate the importance of good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle.  This includes regular brushing and flossing, routine dental visits, a nutritious diet and an overall healthier way of living.

But taking good care of your teeth and gums does more than help you maintain a healthy, bright smile.  A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand-in-hand.  Here are 6 simple ways to keep your teeth and gums looking and feeling their best.

1. Brushing

It goes without saying that brushing your teeth is essential for avoiding decay and other dental diseases.  Brush at least twice a day to protect your teeth from plaque—the sticky, colorless, invisible film of harmful bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day.

2. Flossing

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline where decay and gum disease often begins. Make sure to floss at least once a day to clean the hard-to-reach places where a toothbrush can’t reach.

3. Fluoride

Fluoride found in some drinking water, toothpaste and mouthwashes can stop or even reverse the tooth decay process. It keeps the tooth enamel strong and hard by preventing the loss of important minerals.

4. Dental visits

Always make time in your schedule for the dentist. Two visits a year for a check up and cleaning are recommended. By visiting your Austin dentist, you can help prevent any oral health problems before they cause pain or require extensive treatment. Your dentist can detect signs of serious dental diseases in their earliest stages, such as decay, gum disease and oral cancer that shouldn’t be ignored.

5. Healthy Diet

The foods you choose have a big affect not only on your general health, but also the health of your teeth and gums. Limit your consumption of sugary and starchy foods, such as soda, candy and cookies that cause cavities. Instead eat a well-balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks to lessen your risk of decay.

6. Avoid Tobacco

Smoking and other tobacco products can open up an array of health problems. People who smoke are at a much higher risk for getting periodontal disease compared to a nonsmoker, and smokers also have a slower recovery and healing time.  Talk to your Austin dentist or primary physician to learn ways to kick this habit.

Your mouth is the gateway to your body. An unhealthy mouth may increase your risk for serious health problems, including heart attack, diabetes and preterm labor. Research shows that more than 90 percent of all systematic diseases have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers or excessive gum problems. Here's a look at some of the diseases and conditions that may be connected to oral health.

• Diabetes - Due to elevated blood sugars, diabetes increases your risk of gum disease, cavities, tooth loss, dry mouth, and a variety of oral infections. Conversely, because diabetes can reduce the body's resistance to infection, it can be difficult to control.
• Heart Disease - According to research, poor oral health can increase the risk for developing heart disease as studies have shown a link between the bacteria found in both diseases.
• Premature Birth - Studies have found that expectant mothers with periodontal disease are up to seven times more likely to deliver premature, low-birth-weight babies.
• Your mouth can reveal other clues about your state of health as well including respiratory conditions, oral cancer and osteoporosis.

To keep your mouth and body healthy:

• Provide our Austin office with a complete health history -- illnesses and medication use -- even if they seem unrelated to your oral health.
• Brush and floss regularly to help remove bacteria from the mouth that could potentially travel through your body.
• Eat a well-balanced diet to keep your immune system strong.
• If you smoke, talk to your dentist about options for quitting.
• Visit David A. Slaughter, DDS for routine checkups and professional cleanings to prevent problems and detect potential issues in their early stages.

The signs and symptoms of many potentially life-threatening diseases appear in the mouth first. Since most people have regular oral examinations, the dentist is often the first to identify a health problem in its early stages. Dental professionals are trained to look for many systemic diseases simply through your regular oral exam.

Make it a priority to practice good oral hygiene every day. You're making an investment in your total body health, not just for now, but for the future, too.

Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, generally erupt between the ages of 17 and 25 according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Some people go their entire lives without ever getting their wisdom teeth, while others can develop up to four, one at each end of the upper and lower gums.

Why is Extraction Necessary?

• When the mouth isn't large enough to accommodate the third molars, they can become impacted (trapped within the jaw)
• Partially erupted wisdom teeth are very susceptible to tooth decay, infections and even gum disease
• Misaligned wisdom teeth can shift or damage adjacent teeth
• Cysts can form and destroy bone, nerves or tooth roots

Early Removal for a Quick Recovery

A patient's age and the position of the wisdom teeth will determine the relative ease in which they can be extracted. Removal before the third molars have a chance to emerge is generally recommended in order to maintain proper alignment of the teeth. When wisdom teeth are impacted, extraction becomes more difficult and may require a more involved surgical procedure.

Younger patients typically have an easier time with wisdom teeth removal because the tooth roots are not fully developed and the bone is less dense, making extraction less complicated. As a result, recovery time is generally shorter.

Not everyone's wisdom teeth need to be extracted. If the third molars are aligned, healthy and functional, dentists may let the teeth remain, but continue to monitor their movement. Patients experiencing jaw pain or inflammation should have their wisdom teeth evaluated by a dentist.

If you haven't already, visit our Austin office to learn more about your wisdom teeth. At David A. Slaughter, DDS, routine check ups can help us monitor the development of your third molars and recommend an appropriate time for removal, should it be necessary.

Cavities. You know you want to avoid them. Maybe you've even had one or two in your lifetime. But do you really know everything you need to know about cavities, including how to detect and prevent them?

At David A. Slaughter, DDS, we believe educated patients are better equipped to care for their teeth and gums. That's why we focus on preventative care for each of our patients in order to avoid dental problems that are often caused by cavities and decay.

What is a Cavity?

To put it simply, cavities are decayed areas of your teeth that develop into small openings or holes- a process that occurs over time. Also called tooth decay, cavities are caused by a combination of factors, including poor oral hygiene and the frequent snacking of sugary foods. When bacteria, acid, food particles and saliva combine to form plaque, it clings to the teeth, and when not removed by regular brushing, begins to dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth. Inside your teeth, decay can gradually destroy the inner layer, or pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves and other tissues. Left untreated, the long-term decay process can lead to infections in your gums and can eat away at the bone structures under the teeth.

You might have a cavity if...

The signs and symptoms of cavities vary depending on the extent of decay and the location of the cavity. In its early stages, a cavity may not present any symptoms. As the decay progresses, the following symptoms may indicate a cavity:

• Toothache
• Tooth sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold drinks
• Pain when chewing or biting
• Visible pits or holes in the teeth
• Pus surrounding a tooth

Red, tender and swollen gums; unexplained bad breath; loose teeth; and changes in your bite are also signs of serious dental problems and should be examined by our Austin office.

How can I prevent cavities from developing?

David A. Slaughter, DDS recommends the following steps to help prevent tooth decay:

• Brush at least twice a day to keep teeth clean, especially after eating and drinking
• Floss at least once a day to remove food particles and plaque in hard to reach areas
• Avoid frequent snacking and sipping of sugary foods and drinks
• Visit our Austin office for routine cleanings and check ups. Professional cleanings can remove plaque and tartar build up that a regular toothbrush cannot

Cavities are very serious. Left untreated, a cavity can destroy your tooth and kill the delicate nerves at its center. Once an abscess forms, the only treatment options may be a root canal, surgery or extracting the tooth. The best way to detect and prevent cavities is by visiting David A. Slaughter, DDS regularly, as we can detect a cavity in its earliest stages. By practicing good dental care at home and visiting our Austin office regularly, you'll help your teeth stay cavity free!

A severe toothache can be difficult to bear, often times preventing you from participating in your daily activities or keeping you up through the night. The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. It's common for the pain to be aggravated by chewing, or sensitive to foods and beverages which are hot and cold.

Relieving Toothaches

When tooth pain comes your way, you'll want to know what steps you can take to alleviate the pain until you can see your dentist. The following tips from David A. Slaughter, DDS may provide temporary relief, but it's always best to contact our Austin office for any dental problems, including a toothache. Numbing the pain is never a good substitute for professional dental care.

Here are a few simple remedies to cope with the pain until you can see your dentist.

• Schedule an appointment with our Austin office. Putting off treatment for tooth pain can lead to more serious dental problems.
• Take over-the-counter pain medications to reduce the pain and swelling, but never place the medication directly on the affected tooth. Always consult with your dentist or physician first.
• Apply a cold compress to the side of your cheek.
• Floss to remove particles that may be lodged between your teeth causing the pain.
• Elevate your head to reduce the pressure on the affected tooth.
• Rinse with a mixture of salt and water to remove any food particles or debris that may be irritating your tooth.
• Avoid foods that intensify the pain, such as foods with extreme temperature or foods that are hard to chew.
• Take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly, and visit your dentist for routine check ups. This is the best way to avoid dental pain and keep your teeth healthy.

While it's possible to manage tooth pain, you should seek professional care from our Austin office whenever you experience dental pain or unusual symptoms. In most instances, a toothache is caused by a dental problem, such as a cavity, a fractured tooth, or an infection. A thorough oral examination from David A. Slaughter, DDS can help determine the cause. Based on the problem, we can administer the appropriate treatment to ease your pain.