General Dentistry

Missing teeth can be a significant source of insecurity and create difficulty chewing and eating food. Reports show that over 36 million Americans have lost all their teeth. Among those, 90% have turned to dentures to bring beauty and functionality back to their mouths.

But how much do dentures cost, and are they worth the price?

You may be asking these questions if you’re replacing your old dentures or getting them for the first time. Here is everything you need to know about the average costs of dentures in Dallas-Fort Worth — and why they are worth the investment.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are prosthetic devices for replacing missing teeth. You can get full or partial dentures in Grand Prairie, depending on how many missing teeth you have.

These devices can be supported by the surrounding tissues of your mouth or by dental implants. Either way, they will improve your smile, hold up your facial muscles, and facilitate eating and speaking.

How Much Do Different Types of Dentures Cost?

The cost of dentures depends on several factors. Apart from insurance coverage and the level of customization, this price varies greatly depending on how it’s made. Dentures may contain a resin base, metal cast, flexible nylon, or other materials. 

Each material offers a different quality and has a different price. For instance, a metal framework will cost more than a resin base. However, it’s also more durable and fits better inside your mouth. The type of dentures is the more important factor affecting the final cost of your dental restorations. Here is a look at the prices of different dentures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

How Much Do Full Dentures Cost? 

Full dentures are an excellent option for full mouth reconstruction in edentulous people. They can replace an entire set of teeth by covering both the upper and lower arches. The upper dentures will cover the roof of the mouth, while the lower dentures fit over the gums.   

The average cost of complete dentures is around $3,200 for each arch. This price can vary for each patient depending on their unique needs, preferences, and the quality of materials used. 

How Much Do Partial Dentures Cost? 

Partial dentures are an ideal option for replacing missing teeth in people who have some of their natural teeth remaining. These dentures will fill the gaps created by missing teeth like puzzle pieces. They can fit in different areas to restore your smile and make chewing easier. 

Pricing for these types of dentures can differ significantly since the final price depends on the patient’s number of missing teeth and their chosen material. However, the average cost of partial dentures can range from $300 to $1,500.

How Much Do Implant-supported Dentures Cost? 

Implant-supported dentures use small metal posts instead of adhesives or metal clasps to hold the prosthetic teeth in place. The implant posts anchor the dentures into the jawbone, providing more stability and strength. 

These dentures last longer than the other types while creating a more natural bite force. Therefore, you can eat and speak with more ease. They also have a more natural-looking appearance that will help improve your smile. 

The price of implant-supported dentures reflects their longevity and natural appearance. The average cost of implant-supported dentures is around $1,600 to $2,200 per tooth. The total price for a full mouth reconstruction with these implants can rise quickly, especially if you’re paying out-of-pocket. However, you will get what you pay for in terms of quality and durability. 

How Much Do Dentures Cost With Insurance? 

Dental insurance coverage for dentures varies between plans. Most private dental insurance plans cover a portion of the costs. Some will cover 50% of costs, while others have a spending cap of $1,500 or will cover just one set of dentures every five to seven years. Contact your dental insurance company to learn more about their coverage amounts.

Additional Costs of Dentures

There may be costs other than the dentures themselves. So how much do dentures cost with these extra charges? Here is an overview of what you can expect.

Dental Exams

Dental exams are necessary so the dentist can check your mouth and gums to see if dentures are the best option for your mouth. An oral exam is typically around $100.

X-rays

Your dentist may need panoramic dental X-rays to get a better look at your jaw. The average costs of X-rays for dentures are about $130 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Tooth Extractions

To receive full dentures, the dentist must first remove your remaining teeth. Tooth extractions may be around $300 per tooth. 

Diagnostic Casts

Another additional factor that affects how much your dentures will cost is the diagnostic cast. The dentist will need to make a wax or silicone mold of your jaw to determine the final shape of your dentures. The average price for a mold is around $35.

Denture Relining

The dentist must reline the base of your dentures every year to make them fit perfectly inside your jaw. This process involves adding new material to the inner surface of your dentures. A relining session in the dentist’s office will cost about $400. Denture relining in a laboratory is more expensive and costs around $500.

Denture Adjustments

Adjustments also affect how much your dentures will cost. You will need them over time as your gums change. Each adjustment is typically around $100.

Tissue Conditioning

Tissue conditioning helps the tissues in your mouth health from tooth extractions or ill-fitting dental prosthetics. The process involves the dentist placing a soft liner inside your dentures. It typically costs about $190.

Are Dentures Worth the Cost?

The expenses can add up and seem too much, especially for those paying out-of-pocket. However, dentures are worth the price as they offer various benefits as they:

• Look natural
• Enhance your smile
• Boost your confidence
• Make eating and speaking easier
• Prevent your mouth from sagging
• Cost less than alternative teeth replacement options

You can enjoy these benefits for five to seven years with proper care and good dental hygiene. So yes, dentures are worth the cost!

How Much Do Alternatives to Dentures Cost? 

Now that you know the average costs of dentures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you might wonder about alternative solutions for replacing your teeth and how much they cost. The two alternatives to dentures you can get in Grand Prairie include dental implants and bridges. 

Dental Implants

Dental implants can replace one or several missing teeth without compromising the surrounding teeth. They act as artificial tooth roots and hold crowns resembling your natural teeth. The average cost of dental implants in Dallas–Fort Worth is around $5,000.

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are suitable for replacing one of your missing teeth. The bridge will be attached to the two surrounding teeth. It will fill the gap to improve your smile and prevent your teeth from shifting. The average cost of dental bridges in Grand Prairie is around $2,500 per tooth. 

Restore Your Teeth With Lasting Dentures from Definitive Dental

It’s important to speak to your dentist to understand all of your options and make the best treatment plan for you. Visit Dr. Guirguis at Definitive Dental in Grand Prairie for an expert consultation. Your wellness is our top concern. At Definitive Dental, you can restore your teeth even if you don’t have dental insurance. We offer various financing options to help you pay for the procedure. Contact us today to make an appointment and take your smile to new heights!

There’s an app for everything these days — including aligning your teeth. DIY dentistry has become increasingly popular in the past few years, and at-home aligners are one of the most sought-after treatments. These orthodontic solutions promise a straight smile at a low price and without the need to visit a dentist.

Many of our patients ask whether at-home teeth aligners are safe and effective. The short answer is that they can work for some people with minor misalignments, but there is a real risk of making the problem worse. Aligning teeth is a complicated process, and it is difficult to manage without an in-person consultation with a professional. 

Here is everything you need to know about these aligners so you can decide whether they are worth the risk.

How Do At-Home Aligners Work?

These DIY aligners claim to work similarly to their in-office counterparts. A company will send you a kit with all the tools you need to make an impression of your teeth. Some companies have in-person locations to make these impressions, but an office may not be available in your area. 

Once you send back the impression, the company will send it to their lab to create your custom aligners. You will receive your aligners in the mail with a treatment plan to get started.

Why Are At-Home Aligners Cheaper Than Professional Ones?

The first thing that attracts patients to these mail-order aligners for adults is their low price compared to dentist-supervised aligners. There are several reasons for this price difference.

1. You receive fewer aligners. In many cases, mail-order companies promise results in just a few months. Unfortunately, this is often wishful thinking. Straightening a smile takes at least 6-9 months for most adults, and many patients need 12 months or longer. If a company skips intermediate steps or rushes you through the stages too quickly, the treatment may be ineffective.
   
2. The orthodontic scans are insufficient. It is cheaper to make a quick mold of your teeth and send it to a lab. At a dentist’s office, however, patients receive digital scans and panoramic X-rays that can reveal complexities in the misalignment that would not easily show up in a mold. A doctor can add attachments or adjustments to aligners to treat patient-specific issues, and these customizations are unavailable in rapidly produced mail-order kits.
   
3. You do not have access to emergency dental care. At-home aligners may promise access to virtual appointments with a dentist, but the reality is that you will primarily interact with a customer service representative. If you do have a problem, it may take several days or longer to schedule a telemedicine appointment with a doctor, and he or she may have trouble diagnosing the issue online. Dentist-supervised treatments do cost more, but they include regular, in-person check-ups with a dentist to address any issues.
   
   In this regard, at-home teeth aligners are not as safe as dentist-supervised ones. If you have pain with an at-home aligner kit, the best advice is to remove your aligners until you can see a dentist, but, of course, this delays your treatment.
   
4. At-home aligners are limited in what they can accomplish. At-home kits are only designed to fix the front teeth. If you have severe misalignment, an at-home kit will not have the tools to properly — and safely — address the problem.

The Downsides of At-Home Aligners 

DIY aligners may be an alternative when you can’t afford dental work. They’re convenient, easy to use, and may fix minor misalignment problems. However, they have downsides you must consider. 

No Dental History or Context

Most companies have dentists on their teams who can answer your questions online. Keep in mind, though, that these dentists will not have access to your full dental history. They are not the ones giving you regular exams and cleanings, and they are not going to be aware of other oral health issues that may impact your treatment. 

At-home aligner companies won’t provide a full consultation. They won’t evaluate your mouth or X-rays to ensure you don’t have other problems before beginning the treatment.

No Checkups 

With in-office treatments at Definitive Dental, Dr. Peter Guirguis will schedule follow-up appointments for you. These checkups will allow the dentist to fix any issues and ensure your teeth are moving correctly. You won’t get routine checkups with at-home aligners. This lack of professional supervision can lead to serious dental problems.

Consider — if aligners can move your teeth in the right direction, they also can move your teeth in the wrong direction. Improper application of aligners can sometimes make the problem worse. You may end up with a misaligned bite and untreated gum disease. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) even urges patients to practice caution since these aligners can contribute to tooth damage. 

Incorrect Fit

While you may find at-home teeth aligners that are safe and proven effective, they may not fit correctly inside your mouth. This is another risk with at-home aligners that happens due to incorrect impressions. Since there is no professional supervision to check the fit of the aligners, you will end up wearing ones that are uncomfortable and essentially non-effective.  

More Damage and Costs Down the Line

Teeth alignment is not just another simple DIY project. Orthodontics is a complicated field that requires the supervision of a dentist. You may cause irreparable damage to your roots, gums, and teeth if you accidentally hurt them while attempting to straighten your teeth. This damage means more treatments and expenses down the line, not to mention all the hours you have to spend in a dentist’s office.   

Are At-Home Aligners Worth the Risks?

At-home aligners may work for some, but they’re not for everyone. You will essentially be your own dentist and supervise the entire treatment. This is a frightening task prone to errors. So the lower price and convenience are not really worth your dental health.

If you’re adamant about performing this cosmetic dentistry procedure yourself, make sure to ask these questions from the company:

• Will they consider your dental X-rays when crafting the treatment plan?
• Do they have an experienced orthodontist to supervise the fabrication of your at-home aligners?
• Is an emergency dentist on their team to see you in person whenever you have problems?
  

Be cautious of their answers. If they sound dishonest or doubtful, know that the at-home teeth aligners they offer are not safe.

Why Visit a Professional for Aligners

Visiting an experienced dentist for invisible aligners is always the safest choice. Here’s why.

A Complicated Process

Taking impressions is not a task for beginners. Sometimes even professionals have trouble capturing the margins. However, dentists have more experience and the tools to make a correct impression of your mouth. As mentioned, your primary dentist also has some context. They will know if your impressions match your previous X-rays and dental work or if something went wrong and they need to take the impression again.

Specialized Care

At-home aligners don’t take your bone and teeth structures into account. A professional dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth and refer you to an orthodontist if your bone structure requires it. Another aspect DIY aligners don’t consider is other dental issues like root resorption. If your teeth shift too aggressively or quickly, their roots will shrink and won’t be able to hold the teeth in place. A professional can help you avoid these issues. 

Definitive Dental – A Safe Option for Teeth Alignment

In conclusion, some at-home teeth aligners from reputable companies are safe, but most dentists caution against unsupervised at-home aligners.

It’s best to visit a professional where dentistry is done right to be completely safe. Dr. Guirguis and his team at Definitive Dental can help straighten your teeth with aligners for a better small. Contact us now or call (972) 646-0660 to schedule a consultation and take your smile to new heights! 

When your little one grins at you, you fall in love with them all over again. That smile is everything, but what steps are you taking to protect it?

The reality is that children can start developing cavities even before kindergarten. Proper brushing and flossing help, but dental sealants for kids add one more layer of protection. Dental sealants are plastic coatings designed to prevent cavities.

Here’s what you need to know about how dental sealants work and their benefits for kids. 

How Do Dental Sealants for Kids Work?

Dental sealants are plastic materials that are applied to the chewing surfaces of a child’s permanent rear teeth, premolars, and molars. The purpose of these coverings is to protect your child’s teeth from the acids and bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Teeth, particularly the back ones, have natural fissures and pits that help with grinding up food during chewing. Unfortunately, bacteria and food particles can become caught in them, and even great brushing cannot always remove these particles. Fortunately, this is where dental sealants for kids help out.

A dental sealant is made of a liquid resin—a plastic, clear paint that becomes hard upon drying. Your child’s dentist can paint the resin onto their back teeth to fill in the teeth’s tiny crevasses. The coating then creates a powerful shield that is capable of keeping out decay.

Benefits of Dental Sealants for Kids

Your child’s dentist may recommend sealants for your child for several reasons. For starters, as mentioned earlier, sealants can keep their teeth fissures particle-free and, in turn, decay-free. Second, if your child isn’t exactly great at brushing the back teeth (not many children are), sealants can make up for this, therefore giving you peace of mind. And third, a sealant is hardly noticeable when applied to a tooth.

Children begin to get their adult molars at about age 6, so this is generally a good time for them to receive sealants. However, if your child is younger than 6 years old, your dentist may still recommend sealants for them if they are cavity prone. 

However, dental sealants aren’t just for kids. Adults who are susceptible to developing cavities might also benefit from getting these plastic coatings on their molars.

Do Dental Sealants Actually Work?

Yes. Both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Dental Association recommend dental sealants due to their many benefits. According to these organizations, dental sealants are proven to reduce cavities in children, so they are a wise investment for parents and guardians.

Cost of Dental Sealants for Kids

Sealants generally cost about $40 for each tooth. The great news is that some dental insurers cover this type of treatment. Even if dental sealants aren’t covered under your dental insurance plan, the multiple benefits of dental sealants make them worth the cost.

Consider that an out-of-pocket payment for a filling can easily run around $200. If your child needs several cavities treated at one time, this can quickly add up. In this situation, a single sealant application would have been a more financially feasible solution—one with a great return on your investment. 

Risks of Dental Sealants for Kids

One dental sealant risk to consider as you explore this treatment option for your child is the fact that sealants might contain bisphenol A or BPA. This synthetic compound is present in many plastic materials, but researchers have highlighted that being exposed to sizable amounts of it may be harmful.

Because a sealant is made from plastic, it could contain trace BPA amounts. For this reason, some parents may view them as unsafe. However, if there is any BPA in a sealant, it is usually a very tiny amount—an amount well below what would be harmful. You might come across more BPA while running your daily errands than you would through sealants. So, if you choose sealants for your child, you can be confident that the presence of BPA in them likely won’t pose a major problem for them.

Additional Sealant Risks

Yet another concern regarding sealants is that they could seal in decay if they are inadvertently applied over cavities. Although this could happen, it is quite rare. An experienced dentist will take the necessary steps to prevent this. For example, you can expect your child’s dentist to thoroughly examine and clean your child’s teeth, as well as treat any existing cavities before placing sealants on their back teeth.

You might also be tempted to bypass dental sealants for kids because they last for only 5-10 years on average. However, sealants may last longer in some patients. Your child’s dentist will evaluate your child’s sealants during their six-month appointments and tell you when they might need replacing.

Protect Your Children’s Teeth with Dental Sealants for Kids at Definitive Dental

At Definitive Dental, we are known for dentistry done right. Given the benefits of dental sealants, we take pride in offering dental sealants along with dental exams and cleanings, fillings, and other essential dental care services, like dental crowns.

We make it our mission to genuinely listen to our patients and protect their best interests. When you partner with us, you can be sure that we will compassionately and competently guide you and your family to complete oral health. And if you have further questions about how dental sealants work, it’s time to schedule a consultation with our dentist. 

Ready to take your smile to new heights? Get in touch with us to learn more about our services, and be sure to schedule an appointment for dental sealants for your kids today!

Your morning alarm sounds, and you begrudgingly get out of bed. You pull yourself toward the kitchen for the one thing that wakes you up for the workday.

But should you worry about your teeth?

Many Americans drink coffee to get their days started—then feel a twinge of guilt when their dental hygienist mentions staining on their teeth. But is coffee truly bad for your teeth? What if you only drink it in small amounts or you brush your teeth daily? Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about coffee’s impact on your dental health and teeth coffee stain removal.

Popular Conceptions About Coffee and Dental Health

The popular perception of coffee’s impact on oral health doesn’t always align with reality, but that’s not to say coffee has no effect on teeth, either.

Myths About Coffee and Teeth

When it comes to the question “Is coffee bad for your teeth,” one of the biggest myths is that coffee causes irrevocable harm to your dental health. On the other hand, it’s not that you should have no concerns. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

Perhaps one of the stranger myths related to teeth and coffee is that eating a carrot immediately after you drink coffee will prevent staining. We’ll explore the truth concerning this dental “trick” below.

Separating Fact from Myth

So, is coffee bad for your teeth? The good news is that coffee can, in fact, benefit your teeth. That’s because coffee possesses both antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which benefit your general health as well as your dental health. 

The antibacterial properties help to fight pathogens that can harm your teeth. Meanwhile, the antioxidant properties help to reduce reactive oxygen species, which play a role in gum disease—an inflammatory oral disease. These powerful properties of coffee can be attributed to compounds called polyphenols, which are found in many foods and plants. 

But don’t get too excited. Coffee has some dental-related drawbacks, too. 

For starters, coffee is acidic, which can take a toll on the enamel—the hard outer surface—of your teeth. When your protective enamel begins to wear down, this makes your pearly whites more sensitive and susceptible to damage as a result of disease and trauma.

Coffee is also bad for your teeth in that it can stain your teeth, as the beverage features tannins—dark pigments that attach to the teeth. These pigments can easily yellow the teeth over time.
You may be tempted to eat carrots after drinking coffee to prevent staining, per one of the myths on teeth coffee stain removal mentioned earlier. Yes, fruits and vegetables like carrots, celery, and apples are nature’s stain removers, so they can help to wash away coffee tannins. However, simply eating these foods likely will not prevent a yellow hue from forming on your teeth.

When You Should Be Concerned About Your Coffee’s Dental Effects

Considering that coffee is bad for your teeth, you should be concerned about its impacts on your oral health if you continually consume more than two cups of joe per day. 

It’s also time to pay extra attention to how your coffee is affecting your mouth if you haven’t visited the dentist in more than six months. Regular dental checkups are critical for preventing oral issues before they start and tackling issues that have already cropped up.

Finally, you should be concerned about your coffee consumption if you notice that your teeth have already become discolored.

At-Home Habits

Although coffee is bad for your teeth, it’s still possible to enjoy it while maintaining that pearly-white grin. 

Yes, everything will be okay—your life as an avid coffee drinker isn’t over. And it’s all because a few simple good habits can help with teeth coffee stain removal moving forward.

First, diminish those coffee stains by diluting your favorite coffee with milk. Also, consider drinking your coffee through a straw so that it makes less contact with your teeth. You may additionally want to drink more water while drinking coffee or after drinking it. This is because water neutralizes your mouth’s acids, resulting in less damage to your teeth.

An electric toothbrush can furthermore help with removing stains. This is especially true when you brush right after you drink your coffee and when you use whitening toothpaste.

Consider brushing your teeth with some baking soda as well. The baking soda can help to remove tannins and color compounds that are stuck on your teeth.

How a Dentist Can Help with Teeth Coffee Stain Removal

Because coffee is bad for your teeth, you should also consider teeth whitening services at your local dentist’s office if you are a regular java drinker. 

Through professional whitening, you can restore your teeth’s bright color while protecting them. In-office dental whitening tends to have longer-lasting effects compared with home teeth-whitening remedies.

Keep Your Teeth Looking White and Healthy with the Help of Definitive Dental

If you’re concerned that coffee is bad for your teeth, now couldn’t be a better time to take advantage of our Zoom! Solution for whitening teeth at Definitive Dental, located in Grand Prairie, Texas. It’s also an excellent time to schedule your next dental exam and cleaning, which will further help to keep your teeth in tip-top shape.

Known for dentistry done right, we have earned 375+ five-star reviews due to our stellar service. We stand behind all of the work we do and are devoted to providing an excellent patient experience.

Schedule an appointment with us by calling or texting us at (972) 646-0660, or reach out to us via our contact form today!

You scrub those pearly whites with your toothbrush, then perform a check with your tongue to make sure that they are smooth as silk.

Yep. Squeaky clean.

Now you’re ready to rush off to bed to get those zzzzz’s, right? 

Not so fast. You missed a step: flossing. 

Flossing your teeth each day removes debris, food particles, and plaque that toothbrushing alone cannot reach. This will help you to keep your gums and teeth healthy long-term. The problem is that it can be difficult to know how to floss teeth properly.

Here’s a rundown on everything you need to know about flossing teeth.

Flossing Can Be Hard

Everyone generally knows you’re “supposed to” floss. But most people don’t floss—or if they do, they do it incorrectly, as the proper technique features multiple steps and therefore can be hard to master at first. 

Fortunately, even though flossing can certainly be tricky starting out, it becomes easier the more you practice it. Once you learn how to properly hold your floss and clean your teeth with it, you can put yourself in the best position to maintain a healthy mouth.  

How to Floss Your Teeth Correctly

Plan to floss once a day or more. When it’s time to floss, break off a piece of dental floss that is between 18 inches and 24 inches in length. Too short of a strand will be hard to grip. In addition, you will need to use fresh sections of floss whenever you decide to switch teeth. The longer your floss is, the easier this process will be for you.

Hand Positioning

The next step in mastering how to floss teeth correctly is to wrap the floss’s ends around the middle fingers. Begin with one hand, and then, wrap the floss around the middle finger of the other hand. You should wrap the floss several times until it is taut when you pull it.

Afterward, hold a floss section spanning one inch to three inches between the forefingers and thumbs. Use the forefinger and thumb on each of your hands to hold your floss. Then, create a one-inch to three-inch space between the hands. You will use this section of your floss to clean your teeth. As you floss your teeth, your fingers should move along your floss to set apart a fresh area for flossing.

How to Floss the Teeth

Once your fingers are in the right positions, you’re ready to floss. Begin with the top and center of your mouth, and then, floss your teeth on each side. Try to begin with either the right side or the left side first each time—in other words, develop a habit—so that you do not miss any areas of the mouth.

During the flossing process, you’ll need to slide your floss between the teeth as close to the gum as possible. Be gentle as you work your floss between the teeth using a rocking motion. Then, slide the floss slowly below the gums.

Another important step is to curve your floss so that it forms a “C” shape around each tooth. Then, work your floss down and up the tooth. This process is essential for getting each side of every tooth clean.

As a general rule of thumb, you should make between eight and 10 strokes on one side of a tooth with the floss before switching to the other side. This will ensure that all plaque or debris that is stuck between the teeth is removed.

While you’re learning how to floss teeth properly, don’t forget to floss the back parts of your molars in the rear of your mouth. Simply loop your floss around these molars and work it against them to remove all debris.

What Flossing Prevents

Learning how to floss teeth is critical for preventing tooth decay and gum disease. These problems are especially common on your back teeth as they are more difficult to reach with a toothbrush. So, it’s paramount that you floss your back teeth as completely as possible.

Note that you might experience a little bleeding in the gums as you get started with the flossing process. Don’t worry—this is completely normal. The bleeding should dissipate within a handful of days.

While this little bit of pain may seem inconvenient, remind yourself that flossing is well worth the trouble. If you don’t floss, you may end up developing gingivitis (a milder form of gum disease) and eventually periodontal disease (a more severe form of gum disease). In this scenario, tooth extraction, also known as tooth removal, might be unavoidable. 

In addition, failing to floss may make you more prone to developing cavities. This will require the removal of your decay followed by dental fillings in the impacted teeth. If you experience pain or bleeding more than three to five days after starting a new flossing routine, contact your dentist for a checkup.

Getting into a Good Habit When Flossing

Try to floss each day before you hit the sack at night. Flossing at night will help to prevent plaque and food particles from sitting on your teeth all night long.

Also, if you ever get food particles caught between your teeth during the day, feel free to floss your teeth at those times as well.

You can also floss before you brush if you wish. This can be helpful in that you’ll be scrubbing away the plaque and food you dislodged with the floss. This translates to potentially cleaner teeth.

In addition to brushing and flossing, try to use water or a mouthwash to rinse out your mouth. This will furthermore help to remove stray particles remaining in the mouth. Plus, it will give the mouth a clean, fresh feeling. 

Chlorhexidine mouthwash in particular is great at destroying virtually all traces of bacteria. It also creates a strong protective barrier for your flossed teeth and gums. Fluoridated mouthwash also provides extra cavity protection.

Protect Your Dental Health with Definitive Dental

Definitive Dental is proud to be a full-service dental practice serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. In addition to showing you how to floss, we provide a full range of dental treatments including:

• Dental implants
• Crowns
• Dentures
• Clear braces
• Root canals
• Extractions

We stand out for using only the latest advances in technology. We have also developed a reputation for offering a clean office and a consistently caring, friendly staff. We genuinely listen to our patients as we seek to guide them to complete oral health for years to come.

Book your next dental appointment with us by calling us today at (972) 646-0660, or reach out via contact form to request an appointment.

If you wake up with sore jaws in the morning, it’s very possible that you’re grinding your teeth at night. While most people who grind their teeth are unaware that they’re doing it, there are a few ways to find out if you do, as well as, prevent it from damaging your teeth. Let’s take a look at what your teeth have to do with sore jaws and solutions to the problem.

Do You Grind Your Teeth?

If you grind your teeth, you may have an idea that you’re doing it or you may not. While the action of grinding your teeth at night is involuntary, the symptoms may cause you to wake up feeling tired, painful, and worried. 

Here are a few different ways you can confirm if you grind your teeth or not:

• Ask a friend – If you have a significant other, sibling, or roommate you share a room with, you can ask them to monitor you and let you know if you have been grinding your teeth.

• Observe yourself – Most people who grind their teeth wake up with teeth grinding headaches and sore jaws in the morning.
• Flattened teeth – Over time, grinding your teeth can lead to flattened cusps on your canines, followed by flat rear teeth with pits. These pits can trap small seeds or other food in the mouth.
• Chipped teeth – Grinding teeth at night can lead to chipped teeth, especially chipped front teeth.
• Tooth sensitivity – Teeth grinding can also lead to tooth sensitivity, which is especially noticeable when no other cavities or causes are present.
• Worn out retainers – If you wear retainers during bedtime and you notice scratches on them, this may be a result of teeth grinding.

Common Causes

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common causes for grinding teeth at night:

• Stress – If you’re going through a major change in life or operating on burnt fumes, this may be the cause of your teeth grinding and teeth grinding headaches. As much as possible, try to completely relax and unwind before bed. Take a bubble bath, read a book, meditate, pray, or do whatever you need to release the tensions of the day. Try not to think about the potential stress of tomorrow. Focus on releasing the current stress of today and giving your body, mind, and soul a chance to refuel and recharge. 
• Daytime clenching – Sometimes clenching your teeth and jaw during the day can also mean that you grind your teeth at night. 
• Poor quality sleep – Sleeping should be restful and rejuvenating. If you suffer from poor quality sleep and severe snoring, you may grind your teeth. In the case of daytime clenching, snoring, and sleep that is not restful, you may be suffering from a bigger issue like sleep apnea. 

Solutions

There is no need to continue to suffer from teeth grinding headaches and other uncomfortable symptoms of grinding teeth at night, there are solutions. Let’s take a look at some of the tips you can try to resolve the problem:

• Lowering stress levels – We know lowering stress levels may be easier said than done. However, if you take just a few small steps a day, it will eventually add up. You can try lowering stress levels by going to bed at a decent time, eating nutritious foods, and knowing when it’s time to check out from the world. Another great way to reduce your stress level is to set healthy boundaries and know when it’s time to disengage yourself from work, conversations, or anything that may be considered exhausting. Always put your health and wellness first.

• Warm compress – Grinding teeth at night and teeth grinding headaches directly affect the jaw. Place a soothing warm compress on your jaw to relax your muscles before bed.
• Muscle relaxers – Using muscle relaxers can help you to get relief from teeth grinding. However, it is important to note that using muscle relaxers is a temporary fix, not a permanent one.
• Custom nightguard – Visit your dentist to get fitted for a custom nightguard. While over-the-counter nightguards are not effective in preventing long-term damage, they may help you get used to sleeping with a nightguard. However, a custom nightguard is always best. Your dentist will ensure your nightguard is the perfect fit for long-term use and will safely help you to cope with grinding teeth at night. 

Give us a call to book your appointment and get fitted for your custom nightguard today!