Preventing Cavities in Glendale, WI

Cavities, often referred to as tooth decay, are tiny holes that develop in the hard surface of your teeth. They are most common in children and teenagers, but they can affect everyone including infants and toddlers. Join Sladky Family Dental as we take a closer look at what causes cavities and how you can prevent them.

Exposing the Culprits Behind Cavities

Cavities typically occur as a result of poor oral health habits but other various factors can increase the risk of getting a cavity, including:

• Dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps wash away food stuck on the teeth and it counters the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth, which reduces the chance of cavities.
• Foods and drinks. Certain foods aren’t as easily washed away from saliva, making them more likely to cause decay. Foods you should limit include: ice cream, honey, sugar, soda, cake, chips, cookies, and hard candy.
• Constant snacking or sipping. Drinking or eating frequently throughout the day results in increased bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria produce the acids that attack tooth enamel.
• Lack of fluoride. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent cavities and can reverse the early stage of tooth decay. Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash to help reduce your chance of cavities.

Stronger, Whiter, Healthier: Unlock the Power of Cavity Prevention

Regular dental visits and daily brushing and flossing are the best protection against cavities. But, cavities left untreated get larger and larger, affecting the deeper layers of your teeth. Deeper cavities result in higher chances of experiencing severe toothache and infection. So, when it comes to cavities, prevention is key. Below are some of our cavity prevention tips:

Oral hygiene

• Brush with fluoride toothpaste — twice a day, for two minutes, ideally after each meal.
• Floss your teeth — this removes plaque and buildup between your teeth and at the gumline.
• Use a mouthwash containing fluoride

Diet and drinks

• Avoid sugary drinks and foods
• Drink lots of water
• Eat fruits and vegetables

Other preventative measures

• Visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. Professional teeth cleanings remove plaque that builds up over time which isn’t removed by regular brushing and flossing. Going to the dentist twice a year is one of the best cavity prevention options.
• Ask about fluoride treatment during your visit.
• Dental sealants. Sealants protect the tooth enamel from harmful plaque and bacteria.

If you think that you have a cavity or are experiencing tooth decay, contact our Glendale, WI office immediately at 414-332-5450.

Explore Additional Resources:

Mayo Clinic on Symptoms and Causes of Cavities

Mouth Healthy / ADA Cavity Prevention Tips 

Long-Lasting Smiles: How Dental Implants Can Improve Your Life and Oral Health

Dental implants have become many dentists’ go-to procedure for replacing missing teeth. Dental implant surgery replaces tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. Sladky Family Dental in Glendale, WI offers implants as a great alternative to dentures when a lack of natural teeth roots doesn’t allow building dentures or bridgework tooth replacements.

What are the risks of dental implants?

Like any type of surgery, there are a few risks to getting dental implants. However, the problems that come with dental implant surgery are rare, minor, and very treatable. Risks include: 

• Sinus problems, when dental implants placed in the upper jaw protrude into one of your sinus cavities
• Injury or damage to surrounding structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels
• Nerve damage, which can cause pain, numbness or tingling in your natural teeth, gums, lips, or chin
• Infection at the implant site

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Dental implants are one of the most reliable dental procedures with a 95% success. They also offer advantages that other missing teeth solutions do not, such as:

• Appearance – Implants look and feel like your natural teeth.
• Speech – No need to worry about slipping dentures or loose bridges that can cause slurred speech.
• Comfort – Implants are permanent and stable, so no chaffing or discomfort will happen like with dentures.
• Oral health – Implant placement does not require modifying surrounding teeth as a bridge does. Also, implants stop bone deterioration and stimulate healthy bone tissue growth.

What is the procedure for getting a dental implant? 

When considering having a dental implant procedure, a patient will typically go through the following steps: 

1. First, the patient will go through a thorough exam and consultation with the dentist. The dentist will then make an individualized treatment plan. 
2. At the next appointment, the team will place your implant, which acts as a substitute tooth root. 
3. Then, the tooth is given time (about 2-3 months) to heal and integrate with the bone tissue. 
4. Once the implant has bonded to the bone tissue, a small connector called an abutment is attached to the implant.
5. Impressions are taken of your teeth to create either a custom crown to replace one tooth or an implant-supported bridge or denture for multiple missing teeth. Crown restorations are custom-designed, so they blend in beautifully with your natural teeth.
6. The finished crown, bridge, or denture is attached to the implant(s).

Once you get the finished implant, your new teeth are ready to use! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Glendale, WI office at 414-332-5450. We want your implants to look and feel like real teeth and your smile to look its best!

Additional Resources

American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) 

Academy of Osseointegration (AO)