Protecting Tooth Enamel

There's a lot more that goes into a great smile than just keeping the pearly whites, white.  Protecting tooth enamel plays an important role in having a beautiful and healthy smile.

What is tooth enamel?

Enamel is the thin outer covering of the tooth.  It's the hardest tissue in the human body and it helps protect teeth from the wear and tear that comes with chewing, biting and grinding.  It also helps insulate teeth from hot and cold, making it possible to enjoy ice cream or hot coffee.  While enamel is hard, it can chip or crack.  Once the enamel layer is lost, it cannot regenerate.

What causes enamel erosion?

Enamel erosion happens when acids wear away the enamel on teeth, which can lead to the loss of tooth structure.  The calcium that's in saliva will usually help strengthen teeth after you have a small amount of acid, but too much acid prevents that from happening.  Enamel erosion can be caused by a number of things:

• Excessive consumption of carbonated drinks - sodas and other carbonated drinks
• Fruit drinks (some acids in fruit drinks are more erosive than battery acid)
• Dry mouth or low salivary flow
• Diet (high in sugar and starches)
• Acid reflux disease
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Medications (aspirin, antihistamines)
• Genetics (inherited conditions)
• Environmental factors (friction, wear and tear, stress and corrosion)

Protecting Tooth Enamel

There are some simple things that you can do to help take care of your enamel and keep your teeth healthy:

• Brush and floss daily.
• Use fluoride toothpaste.
• See Dr. Steppler for regular check-ups and cleanings.
• Drink sodas in moderation.
• Be careful about other beverages also.
• Sip with a straw (helps acids from acidic drinks to bypass your teeth).
• Be mindful of snacking.
• Chew sugar-free gum.

Taking good care of your teeth lets you show off a great smile - and a healthy mouth - for a long time!

Healthy Smiles Make the New Year Happy!

 
At Steppler Dental, we wish you a happy new year! We all know that an important part of enjoying your life is being healthy and pain-free. And there is great freedom in being able to smile uninhibitedly, proud of the appearance of your teeth and the image you portray to others.

You can count on Dr. Steppler and his team to keep up with the latest and greatest dental technology and provide you with dental care in a kind and caring environment so that you can reach your dental health goals.

In the upcoming year we will be adding informative and interesting blogging to our list of new year resolutions in our practice!  So check back for news worthy dental news and research about a range of dental issues, from the benefits of porcelain veneers for smile makeovers and cosmetic dentistry, replacing missing teeth with bridges or implants, to the benefits of clear braces with Invisalign.

Achieving the smile of your dreams starts one day at a time and we can help you reach those goals. If you have any questions about smile changes, cosmetic dentistry or Invisalign, don't hesitate to call us at 314-965-3500.

Make 2012 the first year in a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Why dentist offices are taking patients' pictures?

"Smiling" may not be the only thing you are asked to do at your next dental appointment.  You may also be asked to say "cheese."

When patients arrive at our practice, they now have their picture taken with a digital camera. The photographs help to put faces with names and also protect our patients identities. It's also meant to cut down on insurance fraud.  There are people out there that do not have insurance that will get a friend's insurance card, bring it in and pass it off as themselves.  So the photographs are to protect our patient's privacy and insurance benefits.

Taking photographs are all part of a new federal healthcare law.  Doctors and dental offices are not going to have a choice before long.  Offices must follow many federal guidelines that mandate a switch to electronic medical record keeping, also known as E.M.R.  Instead of writing in the charts, it's getting rid of paper.  This means everything is in the computer and regulated by federal guidelines and mandates.  There are guidelines for just about everything that we have to do.

The photos are simply an added safety precaution.  With the ongoing healthcare debate in Washington, D.C., the medical industry really isn't sure if the federal guidelines will change.  So for now it's smile and say "cheese."