General dentistry

This article from The Fort Collins Dentist explains how specific foods and eating habits influence our teeth.

The Sugar Problem
Sugars get converted by bacteria in the mouth to acids. It is the acids that begin to assault enamel and initiate decay for people of all ages. Fruits have high water content which can dilute the effects of the sugars they contain and get the saliva flowing so they aren’t really no-no’s. It’s the chocolate bars, hard candies, cookies, cakes and pies that are.

Acidic Food Coupling
Oranges, tomatoes, lemons and the like should be eaten as part of a meal to limit the acidic effects. It is a good idea to eat a variety of healthy foods such as cheeses, chicken, other meats, nuts and milk. The calcium and phosphorus will advance tooth remineralization.

Timing of Meals
The more frequently you eat the more often your teeth are subject to the decay process. This can be moderated by deciding on healthy snacks. And keep in mind, the later at night you eat the more likely you are to not only eat unhealthy foods, but to skip oral hygiene altogether.

The real trick is to keep your teeth clean! Brush and floss after eating, and see The Fort Collins Dentist for regular checkups. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to our practice for dental implants, complete general and family dentistry, and all their dental health needs. 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

When patients are fully informed about their dental health, they usually do more to maintain it. That’s been our experience at The Fort Collins Dentist, so we make patient education a priority at every checkup.

Are regular checkups even necessary? That question comes up sometimes. We don’t mean to hedge with our answer, but it really depends on what is meant by regular. For some patients it’s enough to see us once a year. For others, every four months is better. For most, twice a year is ideal.

At every checkup, we examine you for any signs of gum disease. In its mildest form, gum disease is known as gingivitis and is easily treated. Stepping up your dental care routine at home is often enough to get it under control.

Indestructable?

Your teeth may seem like pieces of bone growing in your mouth, but they are actually living structures. That hard surface of enamel covers an interior filled with a rigid material called dentin, which is mineralized connective tissue. As hard as it is, it is not indestructable. When bacteria causes holes in it you have a cavity. We want to fill those as soon as possible.

Fillings, by the way, won’t last forever. They can break down or become loose over time. If that happens, decay can get into the area around it and cause problems. You can extend the life of a filling with daily brushing and flossing.

The more you know the better off you are. If you have any questions about a recommended procedure at The Fort Collins Dentist, don’t hesitate to ask. Patients from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for dental implants, complete general and family dentistry, and much more. And they ask a lot of questions, too! Schedule your next 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

There are lots of people out there who feel pain when they sip coffee or eat ice cream, or take a bite out of something hard. If sensitive teeth are a problem for you, talk to us about it at The Fort Collins Dentist.

In many cases, sensitive teeth respond to something as simple as changing toothpaste. Most major toothpaste brands have a sensitive teeth version of their products. They can be very effective; many patients say they’ve helped within a week or so of use.

A possible cause of sensitivity is receding gums, which exposes microscopic holes in the teeth. When that happens, food and drinks that are hot or cold reach nerve cells that cause pain. We can evaluate the state of your gums, and whether something like the way you brush your teeth is a contributing factor.

There could also be a worn filling or new cavity. Treatment for that is as simple as replacing a worn one or filling the new cavity.

The important thing is to let us know what’s going on, at The Fort Collins Dentist. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor call us for complete general and cosmetic dentistry services. 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

Teeth are alive, but it’s easy to forget that and take them for granted. At The Fort Collins Dentist we never take teeth for granted – but then, as dental professionals we probably understand better than most just how amazing teeth can be. We’re using this blog post to share some of the more interesting facts about teeth.

Here are fifteen things you might not know about teeth.

1. Children’s teeth are soft until about age 10.
2. A tooth with a crown can get a cavity.
3. Your gum tissue is as vital as your teeth.
4. Some prescription drugs can increase your risk of tooth decay.
5. Some home faucet water filters remove fluoride.
6. 19 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have untreated cavities.
7. Heartburn can be damaging for teeth.
8. Allergies can cause tooth grinding.
9. Dried fruit is just as bad for teeth as sticky candy.
10. Tooth enamel cannot repair itself, though dentin and cementum (the substance that surrounds the tooth root) are capable of partial regeneration.
11. A Harvard-led team used low-powered lasers to activate stem cells and stimulate the growth of teeth in rats and human dental tissue in a lab.
12. There are about 300 types of bacteria in your mouth.
13. Chewing sugarless gum after meals can help remove food particles on your teeth. You still need to brush, but if you can’t brush immediately after meals, sugarless gum can help keep your teeth clean.
14. Cavities often don’t cause pain until they have reached the root and nerve of the tooth. Visit us regularly to prevent cavities or at least to detect them when they are small.
15. Bone recession can cause tooth loss even if no decay is present.

At The Fort Collins Dentist, we want all of our patients to have clean and healthy teeth, along with beautiful smiles. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for general and family dentistry, dental implants, and much more. Schedule your next cleaning and 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

Proper nutrition can benefit you in many ways: increased energy, improved immunity, glowing skin, mental clarity, and a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. At The Fort Collins Dentist we ask: How often do you consider how your diet affects your dental health?

Your diet influences your risk of cavities, enamel health, and gum condition. Healthy foods can help you avoid inflammation and infection. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts are good choices. Calcium-fortified beverages, milk, and other dairy products provide vitamins and minerals that aid in keeping teeth, bones, and gums healthy. Crispy fruits and vegetables, such as apples and celery, will help clean your teeth and gums.

A healthy diet contains all the vital vitamins and minerals, and the most important for teeth is fluoride – especially for kids. Between the ages of 6 months and 16 years old, both the primary and the permanent teeth come in, therefore adequate fluoride is critical.

At The Fort Collins Dentist the dental health of our patients is always our top priority. Never hesitate to bring your dental questions to your appointments! People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for general and family dentistry, and to improve their smiles with cosmetic 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

Life gets busy. Sometimes it seems impossible to keep up with everything you need to do. At The Fort Collins Dentist we understand that. (Life gets busy for us, too!) But we encourage you to think twice before you cancel or postpone a dental checkup because you think it’s less important than the twenty other items on your to-do list.

Twice-yearly dental exams are essential for keeping your smile in great shape!

You might say: “But my teeth feel fine.”

Our answer? Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. The fact is that no news isn’t necessarily good news. Dental troubles can be progressing without you being aware of it.

1. Your Gums May Be Receding
Gum recession doesn’t happen all at once. Gum tissue can move back almost imperceptibly until teeth and bone are in danger.

2. Decay May Be Lurking
When the acids in plaque start drilling into a tooth, we usually don’t feel it until it has passed through the enamel and dentin and hits the nerve. Ouch! By that time, there is a crater in the tooth. Regular cleanings remove plaque before it can do any damage.

3. Prevent Oral Cancer
About 50,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. During your checkup we’ll screen for oral cancer. As with all types of cancer, early diagnosis is essential.

After your entire mouth has been examined, we will detail what is necessary moving forward. Whether that’s flossing more often or discussing major fixes such as braces, we will make certain that you get all the information you need to ensure your smile is bright and beautiful!

Scheduling twice-yearly exams with The Fort Collins Dentist will ensure you avoid serious dental problems. We offer comprehensive general dentistry. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor also come to our office for restorative dentistry. Schedule your next cleaning and 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