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The act of smiling is one of our first facial expressions.  Babies can be seen smiling while still in the womb!  Research shows that smiling has a direct positive effect on the people around us.  It’s also a universal form of communication, transcending language barriers and helping us create personal connections. 

When someone isn’t happy with their smile, it can impact their self-confidence and quality of life.  Fortunately, a smile makeover will not only restore a beautiful smile but can also boost your self-confidence!

What Is a Smile Makeover?

While general dentistry focuses on preventative care and the treatment of oral diseases, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the look and function of your smile. 

A smile makeover is a way to invest in yourself by investing in your smile and falls under the category of cosmetic dentistry.  It can be something as simple as whitening your existing teeth to a complete cosmetic makeover and everything in between like straightening your teeth.

What Does a Smile Makeover Involve?

There are varying degrees of dental work necessary for a complete Smile Makeover. As every set of teeth is unique to the individual, so are the needs and requirements of that person.  The following is a list of possible treatments your dentist may recommend for your Smile Makeover. 

Porcelain Veneers are often utilized in smile makeovers. Porcelain veneers are thin restorations that are placed over your front teeth. They look like natural teeth and erase years of damage and wear.

Dental Crowns repair broken teeth and rebuild worn-down teeth. 

Dental Implants can be utilized if you have missing or broken teeth that can no longer be restored with a dental crown. 

Composite Bonding is used to repair decayed, discolored, or damaged teeth.  During this procedure, the dentist will remove any tooth decay and apply composite material to the surface.  A curing light is then used to cure and harden the composite material.  

Teeth Whitening can help to reveal the natural brilliance of your teeth and remove stains from food and drink, as well as, stains caused by the aging process.

Who Needs a Smile Makeover?

Your smile is as unique as you. The best way to find out if you are a candidate for a Smile Makeover begins with a consultation with your dentist. 

Whether you want to improve your smile or achieve a whole new look with a complete Smile Makeover, Dr. Fred Blum & Associates is here to help you create a smile that makes you feel great about yourself and the way you look and feel!

What Causes Snoring?

Chainsaws and Sleepless Nights

Have you ever asked yourself “What causes snoring”? Sometimes it’s funny, most of the time it’s bothersome, but it can be a sign of something more serious. We can probably all think of a time when we couldn’t sleep because someone was snoring loudly nearby.  

Snoring is not a medical disorder on its own, but beyond disrupting sleep, snoring can be a symptom of an underlying problem, like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).  But why do we snore, and what can we do about it? Let’s look at what causes snoring and some snoring remedies.  

Causes of Snoring

What causes snoring?  According to the Mayo Clinic, snoring is a result of compressed airways that force the air from each breath through a tightened space, causing tissues like the soft palate to vibrate.  This produces that lovely chainsaw melody that we all know and dislike. But what is putting pressure on those passages?  

• Mouth, throat, and sinus tissue.  Some people just have thicker throat and sinus tissue than others, or looser tissue that vibrates easily.  
• Narrower air passages.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, men’s air passages are often more narrow than women’s air passages.  
• Being overweight can be one of the causes of snoring.  An excess of fatty tissue around the throat can compress airways.
• Alcohol use, especially shortly before sleep, can contribute to snoring.  Depressants like alcohol can affect muscles related to breathing.  
• Congested sinuses, whether from allergy or illness, compress airways during wakefulness and sleep.

Snoring Concerns

If air passages become so compressed that they close completely, that is sleep apnea.  Sleep apnea is dangerous because it interrupts normal breathing, and thus oxygen flow to the heart. It is not common for sleep apnea to be a direct cause of death, but sleep apnea can lead to other, potentially fatal health problems. It also disturbs sleep patterns, which can lead to tiredness, impaired reflexes, and a lower quality of life in general.  

Snoring Remedies

After we ask, “What causes snoring?”, we also need to ask, “How do we stop snoring?” and what are some snoring remedies? If your nights are noisy due to your partner’s snoring, or if you snore and want to feel better, there are things you can do about it.  As always, visit your dentist to work out what is causing your snoring, and follow their directions.  

• If you sleep on your back, try sleeping on your side instead.  Sleeping on your back lets your tongue and throat tissues relax, which narrows air passages and leads to snoring.
• If you suffer from frequent sinus congestion, you might have allergies.  Talk with your primary physician to find out how to unclog your airways so you can sleep more comfortably.  You may want to get checked for allergies, or for a deviated septum. 
• If you have OSA, the most common treatment is, “continuous positive airway pressure,” or CPAP, but many people find it is high maintenance, cumbersome and uncomfortable way to get a good night’s sleep. If you want a simple and noninvasive treatment, then an oral dental appliance, such as a sleep apnea appliance, is a very effective and convenient way to stop or lessen your snoring.  This can be part of a treatment plan, and may be all that is needed to provide relief!

At Dr. Blum and Associates, we frequently use sleep apnea appliances to help our patients snore less.  Custom-fitted for maximum comfort, these correct the position of the jaw and tongue to open airways without drying them out.  

We believe that restful sleep is something we should all be able to enjoy.  If your sleep quality (or someone else’s) is affected by snoring, then we can help you work out what might be causing your snoring and how to get rid of it. 

If you have any questions about what causes snoring, or what are snoring remedies, then contact us to make an appointment with Dr. Blum or Dr. Dakwar today

How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

Teeth Whitening: Where to Start?

We’d all like to have a brighter smile, but it can be hard to identify the best method for safe teeth whitening.  There’s a lot of information out there, some that’s been around for years, some that’s fairly new. It can be hard to know what you can rely on, what won’t do anything, and what might actually hurt you.  

As always, you should ask your dentist how to whiten your teeth.  So, let’s ask a dentist: “How do you safely whiten your teeth at home?”

What Causes Discolored Teeth?

To understand how to whiten your teeth, we first have to know why teeth become discolored.  We’d like to mention that your teeth are like your fingerprint in that they’re uniquely yours, and no two people have the same set.  Some people’s teeth have lighter or darker staining teeth for no reason at all.  

There are two kinds of tooth discoloration.  The first kind is called “extrinsic stains”. These come from outside sources having to do with diet and behavior.  

• • Drinking wine and coffee.  Dark beverages can stain teeth, and acidic drinks can also wear away at the enamel.   
  • Smoking.  Besides staining your teeth and giving you bad breath, smoking is awful for your teeth and gums.  Smoking affects blood flow and is linked to infections and multiple types of cancers.
  • Improper or lack of oral care.  Taking care of your mouth is never something you want to get lazy about.  

These are not just cosmetic issues and can easily be prevented by developing good habits, rinsing your mouth with water after having wine, coffee or other drinks or foods and regular teeth cleanings. 

The second kind of tooth discoloration is “intrinsic stains”.  These come from inside your teeth and often signal disease or loss of structural integrity.

• • Simple aging.  As we get older, the enamel on our teeth thins, allowing the ivory-tinted dentin to show through.  
  • Caries.  Tooth decay and loss of structural integrity can occur even from normal wear and tear, so make sure to get your checkups.  
  • Taking large amounts of antibiotics can stain primary teeth.  

How to Whiten Teeth Safely 

Now that we know what causes stains on our teeth, let’s look at how you can safely whiten your teeth at home.  

• • Stop smoking!  Ask your doctor to help you develop a plan to quit.
  • Take a look at how much coffee, tea, soda, and wine you’re drinking, and drink more water instead.
  • Don’t be too hard on your teeth!  Abrasive substances like charcoal might make your teeth look brighter for a day, but they are not approved by medical experts and can damage enamel.  
  • Be consistent with your oral health.  Brush twice a day with a soft brush, floss, and brush your tongue.  
  • Your dentist has the best information available! Ask your dentist about safe teeth whitening so they can determine your options and make recommendations.

The Smart Way to Whiten Your Teeth

Dr. Blum recommends that you do not treat your teeth with anything that has not been thoroughly checked out by reliable institutions like the ADA, (the American Dental Association).  At Dr. Blum’s office, we recommend the Opalescence teeth whitening system, a gentle method that uses soft trays and gel containing potassium nitrate and fluoride. This is another reason why we are your gentle dentists. 

There’s so much more we could say on this topic, but it is best if we discuss in a FREE consultation.  If you have any questions, keep reading, or contact us anytime!