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Ways You May Be Harming Your Teeth | Henderson Dentist

We’ve all heard those stories about what types of things are on our toothbrush, but did you know that there is no evidence that anyone has ever gotten sick from their own toothbrush? The safest way to store your toothbrush is to rinse after each brushing session, and it let air-dry away from other toothbrushes. But there are other random habits you may be doing that are surprisingly bad for your smile:

Multitasking. As we rush around in the mornings we tend to multitask, like brushing your teeth while showering or scrolling through emails. However, if you’re multitasking while brushing your teeth you could be doing yourself doing yourself a disservice by preventing you from doing a thorough cleaning.

Ditching your retainer. If you’ve had braces, wear your retainer for as long as your orthodontist recommends. If you stop wearing your retainer regularly your perfect teeth will eventually start to shift, thus leaving you unhappy with your teeth all over again.

Overcleaning your toothbrush. There are many people disinfect their toothbrushes by zapping them in the microwave or by tossing them in the dishwasher, but these tricks actually aren’t needed. Taking these drastic cleaning measures can damage your toothbrush, defeating the purpose.

Travel case storage. It’s important to not pack a wet toothbrush in a travel case because bacteria thrive in moist conditions, so make sure to take your toothbrush out of its travel case to allow for it to air-dry.

Skipping the dentist. Some people suffer from dental anxiety which leads them to not going to the dentist, but by avoiding the dentist altogether you will only create more dental problems in the long run.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about Dr. Simone’s practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Whitening Your Teeth in Autumn | Henderson Dentist

As we begin to say goodbye to the warmer summertime months and welcome in autumn’s cool crisp weather, we begin to change our diet as well. Iced tea is swapped out for pumpkin lattes, and our BBQ foods for heartier stews. And it’s important to remember that some of these favorites tend to tinge our pearly whites over time, regardless of our dental hygiene practices. Thankfully, there are also plenty of foods that do the reverse. Keep these choices in mind as we welcome in the chilly autumn months:

Fruit. Apples are known to play a huge role in good health, but it’s the crispiness of the apple doing most of the work. Biting into an apple helps strengthen your gums, while the juiciness of the apple produces saliva, clearing out cavity-forming bacteria. Another autumn fruit that does similar work while also neutralizing odor-causing, staining bacteria for your teeth is the pear. If you are looking for citrus, try an orange. Not only is the vitamin C good for you, the citric acid also scours your teeth. 

Vegetables. When it comes to vegetables, we would never correlate an onion as a dental secret, but if you eat anything oniony, you’re much more apt to brush your teeth afterwards. Ever notice broccoli looks like a toothbrush? Munching on these little “brushes” will not only supply your body with iron, but will give your teeth a quick scrub. And celery is basically Mother Nature’s version of floss. 

Dairy. Chockful of calcium, foods like milk, yogurt and cheese strengthen your teeth and gums. The stronger your teeth enamel is, the whiter & healthier they become. 

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about Dr. Simone’s practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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When the Dentist Chair Makes You Nervous | Henderson Dentist

Let’s face it…the dentist isn’t anyone’s favorite appointment to make. But for some individuals, the fear of sitting in a dentist office is too much to handle. Too much to the point where they avoid going to the dentist at all. Unfortunately, this becomes an issue when dental issues develop into something worse. The point of regular dental checkups is to prevent any issues from developing into something more painful and extensive. So, having dental anxiety is nothing to mess around with as it can only cause trouble down the road.

Dental anxiety is a term used to describe the feeling some individuals get from going to the dentist or the thought of getting dental procedures. While anxiety levels vary in everyone, some individuals lose sleep or worry excessively about the dentist that the condition worsens every time they are faced with a new dental prospect. Fortunately, many dental professionals understand this issue and have addressed it by providing their patients with many creature comforts to calm the nerves during your visit. If you are looking to overcome your dental anxiety, here are some tips to help you.

Tell your dentist. Odds are your dentist understands exactly how you feel as they probably have other patients experiencing the same things.

Distract yourself. While you are in the office, watch some television, play some music, or read a book. Anything that will help you get your mind off of where you are. The point is to relax yourself.

Medicine. If you’re still feeling anxious even after you’ve relaxed your mind, talk to your dentist about general anesthesia or nitrous oxide to help you get through your procedures.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about Dr. Simone’s practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Survival Tips for Dental Implant Surgery | Henderson Dentist

If you plan to have dental implants installed, you are surely expecting to come out of the surgery with the most fabulous smile around. Not very often will you find that you’ve completely forgotten about the aftermath and what it entails exactly. After all, it is surgery and all surgeries are quite serious, even if it’s outpatient. Here’s what you should expect to experience after you have your smile restored. It isn’t anything extraordinary, but having every bit of knowledge will help decrease any unnecessary panic you may feel as your anesthetic wears off:

Soreness. You’ll experience some soreness in your jaw and gums since the tissue had to be damaged to accommodate the dental implants. You’ll be able to help the pain with over-the-counter prescription pain killers, and then eventually switch to less powerful pain killer such as ibuprofen or Tylenol.

Swelling. It’s very common for your jaw, gums and cheeks to swell up after dental implant surgery. The swelling will typically last for about a week. You can help reduce the swelling by applying an ice pack to the affected areas for 15 minutes at a time, with 15 minutes breaks in between.

Bruising. Bruises may start to appear on your jaw, gums, and neck which is a result of your dental implants being installed. Any discoloration will be more noticeable once swelling does down, but the bruising should start to reduce, eventually gone by the end of the first week.

After the first or second week, your face should look and feel considerably better, and you should be able to return to your normal daily activities. If any of the side effect do start to worsen, call your dentist immediately.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about Dr. Simone’s practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Diabetes Could Be Affecting Your Smile | Henderson Dentist

If you have diabetes, you are well-aware of the additional precautions you need to take when it comes to your health in general, but there are additional needs to attend to when it comes to your dental health. Because of the nature of the disease, patients who suffer from diabetes are at higher risk to develop mouth infections, gum disease, dry mouth, and fungal infections like thrush. Not only is it important to monitor the way your body is reacting, but it is also important to prevent anything from getting worse.

Periodontal disease can increase your blood glucose level, as well as rot away gums and bones that keep your teeth in place, leading to painful problems chewing or a loss of teeth. Dry mouth occurs when you do not produce enough saliva. If combined with diabetes, which may raise the glucose level of your saliva, thrush could develop. Thrush is characterized by painful white patches inside your mouth.

To keep your teeth and mouth healthy, consider working the following steps into your daily routines:

  • Control blood glucose
  • Brush and floss every day
  • Visit your dental practitioner twice a year for checkups
  • Quit smoking
  • Contact your dental professional if your dentures do not fit right or your gums become sore

Paying close attention to your dental health can assist you in keeping a beautiful, healthy smile. If you have diabetes, paying extra attention to the way your mouth feels will benefit you in the end. No one wants to have more dental appointments – and the best defense against any future dental issues/procedures is taking preventative measures. If you have any concerns or questions as to what to do, ask your dentist.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about Dr. Simone’s practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Patrick Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Chocolate Candy Tastes the Best | Henderson Dentist

One of the yummiest treats we have during the holiday season is the chocolate. So, it’s rather apropos that December 28 is the perfect day to enjoy those chocolatey treats. It’s National Chocolate Candy Day – an entire day devoted to the yummiest of confections! Sure, maybe not the greatest thing for our dental health, but who doesn’t love a bit of chocolate?

According to the American Dental Association, we should be brushing two times a day for at least two minutes. After brushing, use dental floss to get in between and hard to reach areas to remove any extra food particles left in between teeth, gently scrubbing the spaces between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Finally, rinse your mouth with an ADA-approved mouthwash to seal the cleanliness in. And in the new year, check in with your dentist to make sure the holiday season hasn’t thrown your dental health off track.

But in the spirit of the season, here are some fun facts about your chocolate candy:

In 1828, Dutch chemist Coenraad Van Houten invented the hydraulic press that makes it possible to remove the cocoa butter from the cacao, producing a powder and making way for the first chocolate confections.

In 1847, cocoa butter, cocoa powder and sugar were combined by British chocolate company J.S. Fry & Sons to produce the first edible chocolate bar.

Whitman’s produced the first box of chocolate.

Hershey Chocolate company designed a specific chocolate bar for the U.S. Army. The D ration bar was included in the emergency rations and in the packs of soldiers when the Allied troops stormed the beach of Normandy on D-Day.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Teaching Good Halloween Habits | Henderson Dentist

We all know there’s no competing with Santa, but Halloween is the one day of the year that everyone can be anyone or anything they want to be. And above all that, there’s candy. Lots of candy given simply by saying those three magic words: trick or treat. No need to be good in order to dodge the coal in the stocking. In fact, the ‘trick’ in trick or treat almost praises bad kid behavior if candy ISN’T received. And while things have changed and Halloween isn’t quite the same as last year, ask yourself – how can I monitor my child’s oral health during this sugar-infused time of year? Here are some pediatric dental tips to keep in mind when going through your little monsters’ stash:

Tiny humans live for this day. Depriving them of what some would call a major part of the holiday will not only make your child upset but won’t make life at home very peaceful. So, instead of denying them the sweets, have them choose a set number of candies they want the most and let them have them. In addition to the limitation of sweet treats, set up a time of day that your child will be able to eat that candy. Similar to snack time at school, having a time when your little one knows a snack is allowed teaches them that snacking isn’t an all-day event, making them less inclined to crave sweets all day.

When sorting through the Halloween sacks, have your little one choose their favorites and get rid of the rest. You can have your own stash or donate them to others in need. Everyone should have a happy Halloween candy, just in moderation.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Five Foods Your Teeth Want You to Avoid | Henderson Dentist

There are plenty of rules we have in order to keep our mouths healthy. We practice good oral hygiene on the daily, we see our dental professional twice a year, and we stay away from bad habits that can wreak havoc on our mouth. But there is one more thing we can do in order to maintain a healthy mouth – adjust our diets. These are the top five most harmful foods for your smile. Eat them in moderation and you should be just fine.

Refined carbohydrates. Food likes white bread, chips, pasta or crackers are processed sugars when broken down. When these sugars mix with bacteria, they create lactic acid, which is an acid that very hard on your tooth enamel.

Candy. Sticky candies are the worst for your teeth. When sucking on a hard candy, it exposes your teeth to sugar and damaging acids for a longer period of time, while sticky candy allows the sugars to stick to your teeth.

Dried fruit. Not many people would suspect that dried fruit would be hard on their teeth, but the chewy texture makes it easy for the fruit to stick to your teeth, giving it plenty of time to damage them.

Citrus fruit. Although citrus foods are healthy and packed with vitamin C, they can also damage your teeth. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and grapefruit are high in enamel damaging acids and sugars as well.

Carbonated drinks. Not only are drinks like soda and diet soda loaded with sugar, they contain carbonation and phosphorous that wear away tooth enamel. For example, a cola beverage has around 10 teaspoons of sugar.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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How to Care for Your New Veneers | Henderson Dentist

When we have a flaw in our teeth, oftentimes your dental professional will suggest treating the area with porcelain veneers. Not only is it a fantastic way to improve your smile, but veneers can look so natural, no one will know the difference. They are strong, subtle substitutes to your actual teeth. And while they are meant to last, nothing lasts forever. However, the longevity of your porcelain veneers greatly depends on how well you take care of them. Yes, you can get your smile makeover, but maintaining that new smile is going to fall in your hands. But worry not – here are some quick tips to keeping your smile healthy and bright:

Brush your teeth. Brush and floss daily with a non-abrasive toothpaste containing fluoride. Good oral care at home helps prevent periodontitis, which can cause your gums to recede. Veneers are placed right at the gum line. If your gums start to recede, the appearance of your veneers could be compromised.

Avoid excessive force. No biting your fingernails, hairpins, ice or hard candy. These types of things can break or dislodge a veneer.

No clenching and grinding your teeth. By grinding your teeth your veneers can be chipped or broken due to the force generated by these actions. In fact, it may be the reason you need the veneers in the first place. If you suffer from bruxism at night, look into wearing a night guard to protect your teeth and veneers.

Food and drink stains. Although porcelain veneers are very resistant to staining, the cement used to hold them in place can stain over time. Try to avoid foods and drinks that are known to stain, like coffee, berries, wine and tobacco.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.

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Munching Your Way to a Healthy Smile | Henderson Dentist

It’s easy to maintain a proper dental hygiene routine, but did you know that there is an even easier way to keep your smile bright? According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, certain foods naturally cleanse, brighten, and defend against bacteria that can harm your teeth and gums. Yes, it’s food! Here are the top ten foods recommended by the academy for a healthy, brighter smile.

Pineapples. Pineapples can help whiten teeth. Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain, which acts as a natural stain remover. Bromelain also helps break up plaque.

Ginger. Ginger can protect against periodontal disease, an inflammatory process that causes the loss of bone and supportive connective tissue in your mouth.

Carrots. Carrots contain vitamin A, which is needed for healthy tooth enamel. Eating them raw stimulates saliva, your mouth’s natural cleanser.

Basil. Basil is a natural antibiotic that reduces bacteria in the mouth.

Cheese. Cheese is rich in protein, calcium, and phosphorus, all of which help reduce acid in your mouth.

Sesame seeds. Sesame seeds help “scrub” away the plaque on your teeth. Chewing nuts can also provide a coarse scrubbing action. Sesame seeds also contain bone and teeth-strengthening calcium.

Mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms contain a compound called lentinan, which inhibits bacteria from growing in your mouth.

Onions. Onions contain the sulfur compounds, thiosulfinates and thiosulfonates, which reduce bacteria that cause tooth decay. Eating them raw is a must as cooking will destroy these tooth-friendly compounds.

Salmon. Salmon not only provides calcium but also vitamin D, another nutrient needed for healthy bones and teeth.

Broccoli. Broccoli contains iron, which helps form an acid-resistant film or barrier that can protect the enamel of your teeth.

Schedule an appointment today 702-735-2755. Learn more about his practice and see the beautiful smiles he has created by visiting his website at www.patricksimonedds.com.

Dr. Simone proudly serves patients from Henderson and all surrounding areas.