Bad Breath

Bad breath is a common problem that can cause significant psychological distress, affecting you, and sometimes those around you. Bad breath can make you less confident when approaching new people, and is constantly on the back of the mind. In many cases, bad breath can be an indicator of your current health. There are a number of potential causes such as diet, bad dental hygiene, and oral disease.

During your visit, we will identify what habits, or foods you have been eating that have been causing bad breath. We then offer guidelines and tips you can follow to ensure your breath is smelling the best it can be. At Smiles by Morel, we get to the root cause and eliminate odors at the source. We make sure our patients walk out of our offices smelling refreshed with a smile on their face. Some things you can do to avoid bad breath are:

• Flossing and brushing your teeth after every meal
• Using mouthwash
• Avoid foods that affect breath odor
• Chewing dentist certified gum (sugar free)

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Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the second most common disease after the common cold. It occurs from the negligence of dental hygiene and a variety of other oral conditions. Many times cavities occur from eating too many sweets, and not brushing after. Tooth decay, or cavities, result from the softening of your enamel that occur when plaque and bacteria break down the sugar of your teeth. Common symptoms are tooth aches, tooth sensitivity to temperature and sweets, soft teeth, and more.

During your visit, we will identify what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that have been causing tooth decay. We will then offer guidelines and tips you can follow to ensure you stay smiling and cavity-free. At Smiles by Morel, we teach you all the preventative measures to make sure your mouth stays attractive and healthy. Some tips to avoid tooth decay are:

• Flossing and brushing your teeth after every meal (especially after eating sweets)
• Avoiding sweets
• Using mouthwash
• Avoid foods that can cause tooth decay
• Chewing dentist certified gum (sugar free)
• Scheduling your bi-annual dentist visit
• Avoid frequent snacking

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Gum (Periodontal) Disease

According to recent studies close to half of the US adult population has periodontal disease, and half of Americans aged 30 or older have periodontitis, the more severe form of periodontal disease. The disease is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gum, tissue, and bone supporting the teeth, and may lead to tooth loosening and eventually tooth loss. This disease and its more advanced form take time to set in, which is why symptoms aren’t evident until adulthood. Inflammation from bacterial infection is behind all expressions of periodontal disease. A variety of factors – smoking, medication, other chronic inflammatory diseases etc. – can affect the disease’s severity.

During your visit, we will identify what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that have been contributing to gum disease. We will then offer guidelines and tips you can follow to ensure you avoid getting periodontal disease. At Smiles by Morel, we teach you all the preventative measures to ensure your gums stay healthy and functional. Some tips to avoid periodontal disease are:

• Brushing for 2 to 3 minutes at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Brushing along the gum-line.
• Flossing daily to reach between the teeth.
• Mouth rinsing right after brushing your teeth.
• Eating a healthy diet and cutting down on starchy and sugary foods which increase plaque build up.
• Avoiding cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
• Knowing how antidepressants, heart medicines and oral contraceptives may promote periodontal disease.
• Scheduling annual checkups.

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Oral Cancer

Although the incidence rate of oral cancer is quite low, the survival rate for it is not reassuring: five years after diagnosis, only half of the patients are still alive. Some signs of oral cancer can be easily mistaken for other problems, like a toothache or cold. Self diagnoses can lead to a misevaluation and result in developing more serious conditions. Any persisting symptoms should be evaluated by your doctor, so that problems such as oral cancer may be diagnosed early, the earlier you’re treated, the more treatment options are available. Some of the most common symptoms of oral cancer are red or white swellings, lumps or abraded areas on the lips, gums, or inside the mouth which tend to bleed unexplainably, a soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat, ear pain, etc.

During your visit, we will identify what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that have been contributing to oral cancer. We will then offer guidelines and tips you can follow to stay safe. At Smiles by Morel, we teach you all the preventative measures to avoid oral cancer, and aim to regularly check up on your health, insisting on following up on any concerns brought up by our clients. The most effective tips to lower the risk of developing oral cancer are:

• Avoiding cigarettes and smokeless tobacco consumption.
• Avoiding alcohol consumption.
• Avoiding excessive sun exposure.
• Knowing that men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women do, with men over 50 being the most prone to it.

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Mouth Sores

Dental hygiene covers not only your teeth, but also your gums, tongue, lips, and other parts of your mouth. Although the direct causes of mouth sores are unknown, there are many contributing factors such as bad oral hygiene, sharp teeth, eating acidic foods, cuts from the wires of braces and more. Sores can cause pain and discomfort in the mouth, and sometimes make it harder to eat, talk, or even take care of your teeth. Most sores are painful but heal within a few days, and any sores that do not heal quickly should be looked at by your dentist.

During your visit, we will identify what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that may have been contributing to mouth sores. We will then offer guidelines and tips you can follow to ensure you can minimize pain from the sores. At Smiles by Morel we make sure we don’t overlook any sores or dismiss them as trivial issues. We make sure to address them when spotted, and address your concerns about what other illnesses they may originate from. Some ways to avoid mouth sores are:

• Engaging in dental hygiene practices
• Getting brace wires fixed as soon as they are noticeable
• Seeing your doctor if you have sharp teeth
• Avoiding foods that are acidic

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Tooth Erosion

One of the most common oral issues people experience due to bad habits is tooth erosion. A main reason is because most people do not know what can cause tooth erosion. All fizzy drinks, including diet brands and soda water, and other acidic drinks or foods harm the enamel of your teeth, the hard protective layer on the surface of all teeth, causing it to erode away. Ordinarily, saliva is enough to stop your teeth from eroding, but when acidic foods are consumed too often and in too high quantities, the enamel is affected, and the bone and nerves of the teeth get damaged, causing your teeth to appear yellow or even turn brown.

During your visit, we will identify and communicate what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that may have been contributing to tooth erosion. At Smiles by Morel, we consider your health our number one priority. We even deal with small concerns effectively and efficiently, offering you insights about what caused your problem, what should be done now, and what must be done in the future to prevent the problem getting worse. Fortunately, effective ways exist to neutralize possible damages caused by tooth erosion:

• Limiting the time that your teeth are in contact with these substances.
• Rinsing your mouth with water afterwards.
• Avoiding brushing immediately after consumption: let around an hour pass.

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Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity affects around 40 million people in the United States, and is one of the most common reasons for a dentist appointment. A typical symptom is a sudden, sharp rush of pain felt when teeth are exposed to air, cold, sweet, acidic or warm foods, and from the friction caused when brushing or flossing one’s teeth. The pain comes from the dentin – the softer layer of the teeth under the enamel, connected to the nerves – becoming exposed and reacting to sudden or important environmental changes around it. Little known causes of tooth sensitivity include cavity fillings, which leaves teeth irritated for up to a few weeks after the filling, and teeth whitening treatments, which not only remove stains and plaque, but also in some cases, the enamel as well.

During your visit, we will identify what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that have been contributing to tooth sensitivity. At Smiles by Morel, we imbue our health practitioners with a forward thinking and preventive approach, so they detect and address problems before they manifest themselves fully to the patient. Some tips to avoid tooth sensitivity are:

• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Avoiding too acidic foods.
• Using fluoridated mouthwash.
• Using desensitizing toothpaste.
• Avoiding teeth grinding.

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Toothaches and Dental Emergencies

A toothache refers to the sensation of pain around a particular tooth. There are various types of toothaches, both in severity and how they manifest themselves. A toothache can express itself because of temperature, applied pressure, or your diet. Some smaller toothaches can be secondary ailments to another disease such as a sinus infection. However, if you‘re experiencing a severe or persistent toothache, and feel like you need expert attention, our clinic will provide you with emergency care using the latest technologies and procedures.

During your visit we will identify what bad habits, or foods you have been eating that have been contributing to toothaches. At Smiles by Morel, caring for our clients starts with quickly recognizing and fixing problems. Common causes for toothaches can be from cavities, wisdom teeth, a chipped tooth, etc. Some tips to avoid toothaches are:

• Brushing for 2 to 3 minutes at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Brushing along the gum-line.
• Flossing regularly (daily is best) to reach between the teeth.
• Scheduling your bi-annual dentist visit

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Unattractive Smile

Smiles are universally the most recognizable facial expression. We refer to them as your brand. They attract the eye, make a person seem more sociable and confident, and people who smile more activate brain pathways that help them appear more attractive and trustworthy. A smile has the ability to define any social interaction and leave a memorable impression on all.

Recognizing an imperfect smile is identifying your untapped potential to brighten your relationships. We will work to bring out your smile and help you communicate with the world without words.

During your visit, we will identify what makes your smile unattractive, whether that be a confidence problem, shyness, or a dental issue. We will then offer guidelines and tips you can follow to ensure you leave a memorable sparkle everywhere you go. At Smiles by Morel we will provide you with expert opinions and advice on what your options are while identifying your needs. If it is specific veneers, bonding, braces or teeth whitening, we have got you covered. Let us help you kick start your new, better life! Some tips to enhance your smile are:

• Smile naturally
• Be confident
• Have good dental hygiene

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Crooked Teeth

Not all smiles are the same, and what is considered a normal and healthy jaw, mouth, and teeth size and structure vary from person to person. However, imbalances in these structures are sometimes apparent, such as overbites or underbites. Various problems may arise limiting someone’s ability to engage in day to day tasks, affecting their overall quality of life. Health, chewing, and breathing issues are extremely common symptoms of crooked teeth. Jaw muscle strains make it harder to keep your teeth clean and increase the risk of you breaking your teeth because of higher amounts of pressure and a higher risk of tooth decay and cavities. These all translate to higher health costs and lower confidence. Teeth realignment serves a multi-facet purpose, giving you the smile you always wanted, erasing your confidence issues and increasing the number of goals and dreams you set.

During your visit, we will identify what bad habits may be contributing to crooked teeth over time. At Smiles by Morel, our qualified dentistry professionals will help you explore all available treatments and adopt the one which best meets your needs. This might well be the most transformative decision of your life, and we want to be there every step of the way!

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