Is Grandpa Smiling?

elderly oral health Fort Collins

How are Americans doing when it comes to the dental health of those who are sixty-five and over? Well, at The Fort Collins Dentist we have some good news and bad news.

The Good News:

  • Tooth decay rates in older Americans has decreased in the past thirty years.

The Bad News:

  • 25% of people over sixty-five have no remaining teeth
  • Nearly 20% have untreated cavities
  • 10% of adults 65 and over have moderate to severe periodontal disease.
  • There is evidence to suggest that advanced gum disease is linked to diabetes, heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease
  • Most older Americans don’t have dental insurance

Clearly, there is room for improvement. What elements will improve the oral health of older Americans? The National Institutes of Health cite three things:

  1. Improved oral health education for the elderly
  2. Seniors practicing effective daily oral hygiene
  3. Increased access to dental care

At The Fort Collins Dentist, we are committed to providing all of our patients with comprehensive oral health education and care. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for our full range of family and cosmetic dentistry services. Please call our office to schedule an appointment today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 7123

How Much Do You Know About Gum Disease?

gum disease treatment Fort Collins

Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adult Americans, yet many people are surprisingly under-informed about it. In this blog post from The Fort Collins Dentist, we share some basic facts about gum disease.

  • In its earliest and most treatable stage, gum disease is called gingivitis. The more advanced form is called periodontitis.
  • More than half of Americans who are thirty and older have periodontitis. That equals nearly sixty-five million people.
  • The best way to prevent gum disease is to brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and have a dental checkup twice a year.
  • Gum disease has few symptoms in its early stages. You could have it but be completely unaware.
  • Tiny amounts of blood in the sink when you brush is not normal. If you see a little blood when you brush and floss, make an appointment with us right away.
  • Improved brushing and flossing, along with using an antiseptic mouthwash, is often enough to successfully treat gingivitis.
  • Advanced gum disease affects bone and ligaments, in addition to the gums. It requires more aggressive treatment, such as deep cleaning, but it too can be reversed.
  • Gum disease has been linked to more serious health conditions, including heart attacks, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

These are frightening facts. It reminds us of the old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

To put it another way: guard your dental health with regular brushing and flossing, and regular checkups at The Fort Collins Dentist. We treat gum disease. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor also come to us for complete general and family dentistry. Call to schedule your next checkup today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 7386

Less Is More At The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry In Fort Collins

Fort Collins affordable family dentist

There are momentous new developments in dentistry: stronger, natural-looking materials; improved techniques; more effective diagnostic methods; and more precise instruments.

Combine these with the experience and expertise of The Fort Collins Dentist team and you’re left with less of what used to make people dread going to the dentist.

Less Pain

Improved painkillers, lasers, and unprecedented techniques take the pain out of dental procedures.

Less Inconvenience

Laser dentistry, which employs powerful beams of light, has significantly reduced the time required to complete dental treatment.

Less Time Needed To Heal

Laser dentistry helps alleviate recovery times for procedures such as dental implants, root canals, smile redesigns, and other types of oral surgery.

Less Risk

The overall success rate of many dental procedures, including dental implants, has increased.

Less Loss of Healthy Tooth Structure

Dental procedures such as decay removal, inlays, porcelain veneers, and crown restoration can be performed with less loss of healthy tooth structure.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we offer general and family dentistry. People throughout Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsoralso come to us for cosmetic dentistry, and much more. We look forward to meeting you.

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 6799

Raise Your Dental IQ

Raise Your Dental IQThere are little things you can do every day to raise your Dental IQ and benefit your smile. One simple lesson from The Fort Collins Dentist involves bacteria, and everyone’s mouth has a lot of it.

But don’t worry, bacteria per se isn’t the problem. The critical thing is the balance of bacteria. This is where brushing and flossing come into play. Brush and floss properly each day and you will have a better chance of keeping the appropriate balance.

Other precautions you can take:

  • Wash your hands before you brush and floss. No exceptions!
  • Keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible. (Also, close the lid of the toilet before you flush!)
  • Replace that toothbrush. When it comes to your toothbrush, don’t get sentimental. Get a new one every three to four months.

If you can avoid the unhealthy balance of bacteria in your mouth, you can minimize the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we want the best possible dental health for all our patients. We offer complete general and family dentistry, and patients from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor also come to our office for dental implants and much more. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 4529

To Chew Or Not To Chew

To Chew Or Not To Chew In Fort Collins

Hello gum chewers! In this post from The Fort Collins Dentist we’re going to talk about that sticky wad in your mouth. You know that it can freshen your breath, but can it really help guard your smile from tooth decay?

It really depends on the type of gum. Chewing regular sucrose-based gum can be helpful in removing bits of food from the surface of teeth, but that benefit is negated by the stream of sugar washing over your teeth as you chew.

However, gum with some alternative sweeteners has an added benefit for your pearly whites. Xylitol is a sweetener which not only has fewer calories than traditional sugars, but it also has antimicrobial properties that lessen plaque build-up. This means that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria that causes decay.

So if you’re headed out to a restaurant, bring a pack of sugar-free gum with you and pop it in your mouth when your meal is done. Of course, brushing and flossing are the ideal practices for your oral health, but when you can’t brush, select a sugarless gum with xylitol.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we offer complete general and family dentistry. Patients from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor also come to our office for cosmetic dentistry, and much more. Call to schedule your next checkup with us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 3888

How Do You Measure Success?

Affordable Loveland Tooth Bleaching

At The Fort Collins Dentist, the dental health of our patients is our number one priority each and every day. We hope that goes without saying!

How do you measure dental success? A check-up with no cavities? A perfect smile? A crown that looks as natural as the surrounding teeth?

It could mean all those things and many more.

For a child, dental success could be defined as a childhood free of cavities, learning daily dental hygiene practices, and gaining an understanding of why it’s so important.

For a young adult woman with stained but otherwise healthy teeth, dental success may be as simple as in-office teeth whitening.

For a middle-aged man who always neglected his teeth, dental success could be defined as restorative dentistry that stabilizes his condition and improves his oral health.

What about someone with several missing teeth who can only eat soft foods? Dental success might mean dental implants that make it possible to eat whatever he wants.

What are the goals for your smile? At The Fort Collins Dentist, our goal is your good dental health. We’ve improved the smiles of people in Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor, who come to our practice for general and cosmetic dentistry, and so much more. Call to schedule an appointment to find out what we can do for your smile!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 1502

Does Your Dentist Conjure Up Cavities?

prevent cavities Fort Collins

Cavities can be filled, but it is better to prevent them in the first place. If your dentist seems to conjure up cavities at every visit, then it’s up to you to break the cycle. At The Fort Collins Dentist we are here to help you.

How can you lift the cavity curse? Call our office to schedule a checkup! Along with daily brushing and flossing, regular cleanings and checkups are the best way to ensure you have good dental health. That means clean teeth with no cavities, and pink healthy gums.

A cleaning removes any built-up plaque. Plaque is that sticky, filmy stuff that forms on teeth. It is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease.

After the cleaning, it’s time for the checkup itself. We’ll look for any new cavities that may have appeared since your last visit. We might take X-rays, although this is not done at every visit. We’ll examine your gums, too, for any signs of gum disease.

Finally, we’ll look at your tongue, throat, face and and head, and your neck. We’re checking for swelling or redness, or any signs of cancer.

At The Fort Collins Dentist, prevention is always the best medicine. Dentists never conjure up cavities but we take care of any that might be there. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for family and cosmetic dentistry. Call us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 6412

Bad Breath Is No Fun

Bad Breath Is No Fun For Fort Collins Residents

This post from The Fort Collins Dentist takes on an unpleasant topic: bad breath.

Imagine you are starting a new job and are going to meet with your new boss for the first time. Confidence is key to your success. As you reach out to shake the extended hand your broad confident smile exposes rows of pearly white teeth, yet when you open your mouth to exchange greetings you worry about bad breath.

The technical term for bad breath is halitosis. Many behaviors and health conditions can cause or exacerbate halitosis. One of these factors is the food you eat. Onions and garlic are both known for having a potent effect on your breath.

Brushing and flossing daily is a critical step in curing bad breath. Food particles can build up in your mouth and foster bacteria which can cause bad breath. This not only includes the food particles that may get stuck between your teeth, but also the food that collects around your gums or on your tongue. Brushing and flossing daily can help reduce the number of food particles that stay in your mouth and cause bad breath.

Other factors to think about include dry mouth, tobacco use, and health concerns such as infections.

At The Fort Collins Dentist, your dental health is always our top priority. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for general and family dentistry, TMJ/TMD treatment, and much more. Schedule an appointment today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 346

5 Critical Oral Cancer Facts

oral cancer dental checkup Fort CollinsAt The Fort Collins Dentist we want to see our patients at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. A checkup can give you real peace of mind, especially since every one we do includes an oral cancer screening.

Lung and breast cancer get a lot of public attention, and rightfully so. But there is less awareness of oral cancer, even though it claims almost 10,000 lives in the United States every year.

Oral cancer claims almost 10,000 lives in the United States every year. If you smoke or have contracted HPV, you have a higher risk for developing oral cancer.

Here are five critical things to know about oral (mouth) and oropharyngeal (back of mouth and throat) cancers.

  1. About 80% of men and women with oral cancer use some type of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).
  2. 40% of those who receive late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer pass away within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.
  3. In many cases, it is difficult for someone to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers on their own, because they can produce indistinct symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be evaluated by a dentist or doctor.
  4. HPV (the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the US) is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the many strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most often linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
  5. African American men have a higher risk of dying from oral cancer than do whites.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we screen for oral cancer at every checkup. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for dental implants, complete general and family dentistry, and much more. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 7438

Best Practices For A Healthy, Beautiful Smile

cosmetic dental Loveland

Even if you value a healthy smile, it’s easy to become complacent about smile-friendly lifestyle choices. In this blog post from The Fort Collins Dentist our goal is for you to evaluate where you stand, and to think about whether you could step it up a notch.

By committing to dental health best practices, you can prevent future problems and even improve your quality of life.

Brushing

  • Good: Brush your teeth once a day.
  • Better: Brush your teeth after each meal.
  • Best: Brush after each meal and floss thoroughly before bed.

Dental Checkups

  • Good: Call our office if you get a toothache.
  • Better: See us once a year, even if you don’t notice any dental issues.
  • Best: Get a thorough dental exam and cleaning every six months.

A White Smile

  • Good: Use a whitening toothpaste.
  • Better: Use an over-the-counter teeth whitening system at home.
  • Best: Call us for an in-office whitening treatment.

Missing Tooth

  • Good enough for some people: Ignore it. (We don’t recommend this.)
  • Better: Get a quality dental bridge.
  • Best: Ask us about a state-of-the-art dental implant.

Smile-Friendly Nutrition

  • Good: Eat a healthy diet.
  • Better: Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary snacks and beverages.
  • Best: Eat a healthy diet, limit between-meal snacking, eat lots of calcium-rich foods, minimize sugar-filled foods, avoid energy drinks and soda, and sip water throughout the day.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we are big advocates of preventative care. We want all our patients to enjoy excellent dental health. Find out why people from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor trust us with their smiles! We offer general and family dentistry, dental implants, and much more. Schedule a checkup with us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 7397