From a very early age, your dentist will advise you to stay away from unhealthy foods and always take care of brushing and flossing your teeth, but unfortunately with this attention, you may have a cavity in your teeth at some point in your life. Tooth decay, which is often referred to as cavities, can occur at any time. But do not worry, here you need to take care and visit Dr. Borham in Las Cruces, New Mexico without delay.

Dr. Borham explains the best ways to keep your teeth in perfect shape.

Here are eight tips that will help to prevent cavities:

1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Dr. Borham advises to combat cavities to clean the teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time to avoid the occurrence of cavities. When brushing your teeth, the toothbrush should be at a 45-degree angle to clean the teeth well from all sides, front, back, top and bottom. In addition, the toothbrush should come into contact with both the tooth as well as the gums. It is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste.

2. Floss or Clean Between Your Teeth Daily

When eating, some food residues may get stuck between the teeth, and even if you use a toothbrush, it may not remove these residues. If they are not removed, this may lead to tooth decay, unless dental floss is used to clean the teeth. A common problem that hygienists find is that their patients are not flossing their teeth. String floss, flossing brushes, and water flossing devices are different types of floss options available.

3. Visit Your Dentist and Dental Hygienist:

Cavities can only be discovered by a dentist or x-ray. Therefore, it is important to visit your dentist for regular routine check-ups to check your teeth, maintain oral hygiene and prevent cavities. You can consult your doctor and take the doctor’s advice regarding dental cleaning.

4. Consider Fluoride Treatments

Dr. Borham recommends periodic fluoride treatments, especially if you aren’t getting enough fluoride through fluoridated drinking water and other sources. Dr. Borham may recommend custom trays that fit over your teeth for the application of prescription fluoride if your risk of tooth decay is very high.

5. Consider Sealants

Dental sealants are clear coatings applied to the surfaces of a child’s molars to prevent the development of tooth decay. They work by preventing food and plaque from resting in the grooves and crevices of molars – an area especially susceptible to cavities. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. children ages 6 to 12 currently have sealants on their teeth.

6. Eat Healthy Food and Avoid Sugary Drinks

Eating healthy meals helps prevent plaque formation on your teeth, so Dr. Borham advises to stay away from sugary drinks and food that contain sugar, eat healthy food, and drink water instead.

7. Chew Sugar-Free Gum

Sugar-free gum stimulates the flow of saliva, which protects your teeth from cavities. Dr. Borham says: When you eat sugar-free gum, it helps produce saliva and protects your teeth from cavities, thus reducing plaque acid.

8. Use Mouthwash but Do Not Just Rely on It

Use a mouthwash that contains antimicrobials that reduce plaque, such as Listerine or Crest Pro-Health. Dr. Borham recommends using mouthwash after brushing and flossing, but you can’t rely on it alone so make sure you remove food residue.

 

Dr. Borham always advises you to consult your dentist and perform a routine dental examination to ensure that no plaque builds up on your teeth and to prevent them from decaying.

Are you tired of being limited to certain foods due to your missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures? Our staff at Mesilla Valley Family Dentistry can lift those restrictions, allowing you to consume whatever food or beverages you please.

The Dental Implant Advantage

If you’re looking to restore your smile and its functions, we can offer you dental implants. These tooth replacements are supported by titanium fixtures to ensure they’re as durable as possible. The implants infuse with your jawbone in a short period of time, causing new bone tissue to grow and strengthen it. This process also creates stability for your beautiful porcelain crowns that are attached to the titanium fixtures.

With implants, you’ll be able to chew and speak normally without fear of your teeth shifting around or falling out. If these sound like qualities that you desire, Dr. Borham will offer you a no-obligation consultation. During this time, he’ll take 3D images of your teeth and determine which of our implant solutions are best for you.

Contact Our Office for More Information

Contact our Las Cruces, NM dental office at 575-523-5589 or click the button below to learn more about dental implants and why they’re durable enough to last a lifetime. These stunning restorations will function just like your existing teeth, giving you total freedom over your life.

If you feel dissatisfied with some aspect of your smile, you may be considering dental veneers as a cosmetic treatment. A veneer is an extremely thin piece of ceramic that adheres to the front surface of one of your front teeth to cover a minor cosmetic problem. Some of the most common ones include teeth staining, a crack or chip in a tooth, or a misshapen tooth. A veneer is also an ideal treatment option when the gap between your two front teeth is larger than normal.

At Mesilla Valley Family Dentistry, we understand that you have many factors to consider when it comes to getting a veneer or another type of cosmetic dentistry procedure. We discuss some of the pros and cons below to help you make the best treatment decision possible.

Dental Veneers are Typically Irreversible

You may require shaping of some of your teeth to receive a veneer, which is a process that we can’t reverse. It all depends on your specific dental issue and whether the current shape of your teeth could support a new veneer or not. This isn’t necessarily a negative, but it’s something to consider before you commit to the procedure.

Larger Out-of-Pockets Costs than Other Dental Procedures

Most dental insurers don’t cover this procedure since they consider it purely cosmetic. However, you should check with your individual provider for possible exceptions. Mesilla Valley Family Dentistry works with many dental insurance companies and can submit a request for benefits on your behalf. Even when you do need to pay the entire cost yourself, we accept several forms of credit as payment. We encourage you to apply for CareCredit if you don’t already have an account. You may be able to finance your veneer procedure interest-free as well as have several months to pay it off.

A Simple Procedure Completed in Only Two Visits

One thing that patients especially appreciate about dental veneers is that they only need to schedule two appointments to receive them. During the first session, Dr. Borham or Dr. Oushy take X-rays of your teeth as well as impressions. They use this information to direct our laboratory technicians to create your customized veneer. When you return for your second appointment, your dentist will coat your tooth with a dental bonding agent, apply the veneer, and use a curing light to force it to harden in place.

Veneers are Long-Lasting and Can Transform Your Smile

As long as you don’t subject your veneer to unnecessary stress, you can expect it to last 15 to 20 years before requiring replacement. It’s also important to commit to a daily oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing every morning and evening. If it feels like your veneer has come loose, don’t hesitate to contact us for a touch-up.

Many patients say that the greatest benefit of veneers is that it gives them renewed confidence in their smile. They don’t think twice about smiling at others because they’re no longer embarrassed about a cosmetic problem.

Are you ready to learn more about transforming your smile with a dental veneer? Just contact our Las Cruces, New Mexico dental practice today to request a cosmetic dentistry consultation.

Many kids keep busy during the summer months off from school by playing on organized sports leagues. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to encourage physical activity and sportsmanship while keeping your child safe at the same time. It’s important to protect his or her teeth and jaws as well as other parts of the body. We encourage you to speak to your regular dentist at Mesilla Valley Family Dentistry to learn more about our customized mouth guards.

The American Dental Association on the Importance of Mouth Guards

An injury to the mouth can knock out teeth, push your child’s upper and lower rows of teeth out of alignment, and cause several other significant injuries. The good news is that it’s possible to prevent most of these injuries simply by wearing a mouth guard. In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that including this piece of safety equipment helps to prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries every year.

Most youth sports leagues require participants to wear protective equipment such as helmets, shin pads, goggles, and shoulder pads. Unfortunately, it’s rare for them to require the use of a mouth guard except in hockey. The ADA hopes that its statistics will help change that. Approximately 85 percent of children do not wear mouth guards when playing organized sports according to this well-respected dental organization. Additionally, injuries to the teeth and jaw are the most common type of facial injury in youth sports today.

Playing a sport such as football, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, baseball, martial arts, and wrestling all increase the likelihood that your child will sustain a mouth injury. While you can’t eliminate the risk entirely, you can reduce the possibility of your child losing a tooth, breaking a jaw, or sustaining another significant injury by insisting that he or she wear a mouth guard as a condition of playing sports.

What to Expect When Your Child Receives a Customized Mouth Guard

You can find a one-size-fits-all mouth guard at any sporting goods store. However, we don’t recommend using them because everyone has a unique mouth shape and the device may slide around or fit too tightly. We start the process of creating a customized mouth guard by taking an impression of your child’s upper and lower rows of teeth. Our dentists then mold the impression into a custom-fit mouth guard. Your child should only require one appointment for fitting in most cases.

Caring for the New Mouth Guard

Like all oral appliances, mouth guards wear out eventually. Here is what your child needs to do to keep it lasting as long as possible:

• Store in a protective case when not in use
• Never chew on the device
• Keep it out of the hot sun to prevent melting
• Gently scrub the mouth guard with toothpaste after each use, rinse it with water,
  and dry it off before storing

Children grow quickly, especially during the teen years. We recommend bringing your young athlete in at the start of each new season to determine if he or she needs a replacement mouth guard. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Las Cruces, New Mexico dental office if you have additional questions.

While the foods we eat affect the health of our teeth and gums, the same is true of the beverages we drink. Unfortunately, people sometimes overlook this fact when trying to find the cause of their oral health issues.

Because drinks have even more contact with teeth than food does, it’s important to look at the ingredients in the things you drink most often. Many soft drinks, for example, have high sugar and acid content that can cause issues such as tooth decay, a weakening of tooth enamel, and sensitivity. If you’re looking for ways to improve your oral health by what you drink, we offer some suggestions for healthy beverages as well as what to limit or avoid.

You Can’t Go Wrong with Milk, Water, or Tea

Milk has a reputation of being great for bone strength, but it also has the same effect on teeth. The Vitamin D and calcium in milk are especially good for teeth because they help to form a barrier that prevents tooth decay.

Water, whether it’s mineralized or straight from your tap, has important oral health benefits. Bottled water with added minerals contains calcium phosphate, an important element to help strengthen tooth enamel. Water from your faucet is full of fluoride that also strengthens teeth and does a good job at removing food particles.

Green or herbal tea is a good drink choice because both varieties contain antioxidant ingredients that help to prevent tooth staining. Instead of reaching for a glass of wine or soda known to stain your teeth, consider this healthy alternative instead.

Beverages That Can Damage Your Teeth

If you’re a soda lover, the fact that it’s bad for your teeth is one more reason to give it up. The high sugar content, which can be found in both regular and diet sodas, erode tooth enamel and cause tooth staining. When soda is your only option, be sure to drink a glass of water with the equal number of ounces as soon as you can.

Coffee, wine, and black tea are all dark drinks that contribute to teeth staining. If you feel you must have them, consider using a straw to keep as much of the liquid off your teeth as possible. Look for lighter colored alternatives of these beverages as well. Other drinks you may want to avoid include fruit juice for its high acid content and non-mineral bottled water since the bottling process strips it of fluoride. Choosing a fluoride supplement can help to make up for this if you have come to enjoy the flavor of pure bottled water.

Feel free to contact us at Mesilla Valley Family Dentistry if you would like more tips on choosing drinks that improve your oral health rather than potentially harm it.

Did you need braces as a child, but your family couldn’t afford them or you didn’t receive them for another reason? If so, it’s not too late for you to straighten your teeth and have the smile you have always wanted. Perhaps you’re the parent of a patient who needs braces but doesn’t want the metal smile associated with them for two or more years. Whatever your situation, Dr. Borham and Dr. Oushy are happy to let you know about Invisalign clear braces at Mesilla Valley Family Dentistry in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Benefit of Braces without the Metal

Invisalign is a revolutionary approach to orthodontic care. Instead of an orthodontist applying wires and brackets to your teeth, you wear a clear plastic retainer for approximately two weeks and then replace it with the next one in the series made especially for you. Each retainer applies pressure to your teeth to encourage them to move into the desired position. They are just like braces in that regard except that they’re nearly undetectable to others.

Another difference with Invisalign is that you can remove your retainers for cleaning and brushing. Since they’re a clear color, you can remain discrete about your orthodontic treatment. It typically takes less time to complete treatment with Invisalign than it does with traditional metal braces. In fact, some patients finish wearing their clear retainers in just one year. The cost is a bit higher, but most patients find this a fair trade-off for the benefits that Invisalign offers.

You must abide by many food restrictions when you wear traditional metal braces to prevent breaking a bracket or wire. With Invisalign clear braces, you simply remove the aligner from your mouth and eat whatever food you desire. Of course, you should still follow good hygiene practices while undergoing orthodontic treatment. It’s also important to wear your customized aligners for up to 23 hours a day for the fastest and most accurate results.

The Process of Receiving Invisalign Braces

If you’re interested in this treatment approach, the first step is to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists. Dr. Borham or Dr. Oushy will inspect your teeth and gums and take an impression to aid in treatment planning. Your dentist will then provide you with an in-depth treatment plan as well as an estimate of how long it will take to achieve treatment goals.

We are also happy to let you know that we accept financing through Care Credit. Qualified applicants may receive interest-free financing for six, 12, or 18 months. Our entire staff looks forward to helping you achieve healthier teeth and a smile you won’t be able to hold back.

Hello word

Brushing your teeth is probably a standard part of your daily routine, but chances are you aren’t following the American Dental Association’s guidelines for cleaning your teeth properly. The ADA currently recommends that you brush your teeth at minimum of two times each day – preferably morning and night or anytime you eat foods that contain sugar. When you brush, your toothbrush should be tilted at a 45 degree angle to your gum line. As you brush, be sure to remove debris from every surface of the teeth – including the backs of the teeth, near the gum line, and on chewing surfaces. It is also important to brush your tongue, as bacteria can accumulate there and cause malodorous breath.

Did you know…

that the type of toothbrush you use makes a difference in your oral health? The ADA recommends using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a head that is ergonomically proportioned to the inside of your mouth. Many patients erroneously believe that medium or hard-bristle toothbrushes are more efficient; but these brushes can actually cause abrasions to the teeth and gums, making them more vulnerable to decay. The ADA also recommends replacing your toothbrush about four times yearly or whenever the bristles become frayed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I change my brushing habits?

You may need to change your brushing habits if you are experiencing signs of poor oral hygiene. Examples of common symptoms include bleeding or reddened gums, excessive plaque build-up, decaying teeth and receding gum lines. To find out if you are brushing correctly or if you need to change your brushing habits, make an appointment with your  dentist for a full consultation.

What should I expect if I begin brushing my teeth correct?

The benefits of proper tooth brushing techniques may not be experienced immediately, but they are noticeable long-term. Over time, brushing too hard or not brushing enough can produce oral health complications that cannot be reversed and require special treatment. By adopting proper brushing habits, you could avoid expensive dental bills in the future.

Is there anything else I need to do in addition to brushing properly?

Yes. It is important that you also floss daily and use toothpaste that contains fluoride each day. You should also schedule dental exams and professional cleanings in at least twice per year.

Preventative dentistry is about more than just visiting your dentist twice yearly for an exam and thorough cleaning. In fact, the majority of your preventative care is done at-home as a part of your normal hygienic routine. Many residents use manual toothbrushes to remove debris and plaque from their teeth. However, electric brushes have become widely popular in recent years, leaving some to wonder whether one type is better than the other.

Did you know…

the American Dental Association does not lean toward one type of brush over the other? It does, however, acknowledge that people with upper body mobility restrictions may better benefit from an electric toothbrush instead of a manual brush. Regardless of which type you decide is right for you, the ADA recommends that all brushes be soft-bristled so as to avoid abrasions that can lead to decay and receding gum lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which toothbrush should I be using?

You can effectively brush your teeth with either a manual toothbrush or an electric one. However, the rapid movements of motorized versions may be more effective at removing plaque from the teeth and gum line. If you have questions about which toothbrush is best for you, speak with your dentist about it at your next visit. He or she may recommend an electric brush with an oscillating head or a brush that includes a timer to let you know how long to brush.

What types of results should I be getting from by toothbrush?

Regardless of whether you choose an electric brush or a manual brush, it should be easy for you to maneuver in your mouth and behind your back teeth. If the head is too big, it may not be effectively removing plaque from your teeth.

My electric toothbrush was expensive. Do I need to change it as often as a manual brush?

Yes. Your toothbrush should be replaced at least once every three to four months or whenever you notice fraying. However, most electric toothbrushes come with interchangeable heads. In other words, you won’t need to replace the entire device – only the brush itself.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that has been shown to help strengthen teeth in children and also prevent decay in people of all ages. Topical fluoride, in particular is helpful for promoting oral health. The American Dental Association has publicly endorsed the use of fluoride for the prevention of dental caries, as has the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.

Did you know…

that you might be drinking fluoride every day without knowing it? Many communities add fluoride to the public water supply in an effort to promote better dental health. You can find out if there is fluoride in your tap water by contacting your local water utility. Keep in mind that if your primary source of drinking water is bottled, you may not be getting fluoride. You can contact your bottle water company or manufacturer to find out if fluoride is in your water. If not, speak with your dentist about getting professional fluoride treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need fluoride treatments?

You may need fluoride treatments if your drinking water is not fluoridated or if you are experiencing certain symptoms, such as receding gums. Fluoride treatments can also provide oral support and prevent decay if you wear orthodontic braces or are taking medications that cause dry mouth.

What should I expect during fluoride treatments?

Fluoride treatments are painless and can be administered in your dentist’s office at your twice-yearly check-ups and cleanings. Your dentist will distribute fluoridated gel, foam or varnish into a tray and place it over your teeth. The treatment takes only a few minutes and is only required between one and four times per year.

Is there anything I can do to supplement my fluoride treatments?

Yes. The ADA recommends supplementing your fluoridated drinking water or fluoride treatments with a fluoridated toothpaste.