Your Tongue Can Provide Clues to Your Health

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The normal characteristics of the tongue include being moist, thicker in the center than it is at the edges (with the thickest part at its base), and covered with a light, white coating. If your tongue has different characteristics than those associated with a normal tongue, they can provide insight into your overall health. So, then the question is; what is your tongue trying to say?

Here’s What Your Tongue is Trying to Tell You

Take a look at your tongue in the mirror, if you have any of the characteristics listed below, you may want to make an appointment for a checkup with Dr. Nicholas Polito at Dental Health and Beauty in Libertyville, Illinois.

A Persistent Lump or Sore

Individuals over the age of 40 are at an increased risk for the development of oral cancer, especially those who smoke or chew tobacco.

Typically, the first sign of mouth cancer is a persistent lump or sore on the side of the tongue. Some of the other symptoms include numbness, bleeding, white or red patches.

If you have any of these symptoms, seek treatment right away. When diagnosed and treated early on, the prognosis of oral cancer is usually good.

White Patches

Although white patches may indicate mouth cancer, there are other reasons that these patches develop.

Other causes of white patches include:

  • Chronic alcohol consumption.
  • Poor dental hygiene.
  • Chewing or smoking tobacco.
  • Thrush.

If the white patches developed due to poor oral hygiene, you need to implement a daily routine that includes brushing twice a day (in two-minute intervals), with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Be sure to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. This toothpaste should have the ADA’s Seal of Approval. In addition, you need to floss at least once a day.

If you frequently drink alcoholic beverages, reducing your consumption of these beverages may help.

Breaking the habit of chewing or smoking tobacco can help improve the appearance of the teeth themselves as well as prevent the development of white patches related to the use of these products. In addition, your likelihood of developing mouth cancer decreases.

Thrush is caused by the overdevelopment of a yeast-like fungus (i.e., Candida albicans). Although the overdevelopment of Candida albicans is more common in babies, people of any age can develop thrush.

Inflammation

Common reasons for tongue swelling include accidentally biting it, as a reaction to taking a drink of an extremely hot beverage, or attempting to consume a really hot piece of food.

If your tongue begins to swell after consuming something you have never eaten or following an insect sting, seek medical assistance right away. This inflammation may be due to an allergic reaction, which, if left untreated, could be fatal because as the tongue swells it can impair an individual’s ability to breathe.

If you have any of the symptoms listed above or need a checkup, contact Dental Health and Beauty at 847-367-1133 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Polito. You can also use the online appointment request form by clicking here. Dental Health and Beauty is located at 1109 West Park Avenue in Libertyville, Illinois.

 

“Why Do My Teeth Look Serrated?” and Other Cosmetic Questions About Your Smile

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Your smile is so much a part of who you are and how you feel, and even the smallest issues can seem like a big deal when you open your mouth. When it comes down to it, there are a lot of small cosmetic dental issues that cause a lot of concern, but most people have no idea how easy most issues are to mend with the help of a good cosmetic dentist. Here is a look at a few of the most common questions about small cosmetic issues with teeth.

Why Do My Teeth Look Serrated?

It is actually quite common for permanent teeth to have a small amount of serration. These tiny points are meant to help you grasp and rip through your food, but most of the time, the serrations are so minimal that they are barely noticeable. If you have front teeth that are especially serrated, it can make you a bit self-conscious about your smile, but the issue is relatively easy to fix. The dentist can actually use special tools to shave down the tiny points so they are not as noticeable.

Why Do My Teeth Look Grey or Yellow No Matter How Clean They Are?

You can brush your teeth religiously, floss, and even attend your dental hygiene appointments and still have issues with the shade of your teeth. The natural shades of teeth can vary due to a lot of reasons, including genetics. For people who have this issue, something like veneers can be a good solution.

Why Do My Teeth Have a Ridged Appearance Along the Surface?

Much like some teeth can have serrated edges, some teeth can also have a sort-of ridged surface. These ridges are referred to as mamelons, and they naturally show up in newly grown permanent teeth. While mamelons often wear down over time, some individuals have ridges that are more prominent and easy to see. If this is you, the dentist can perform cosmetic procedures to soften the ridges and make them less visible.

Contact Us to Discuss Cosmetic Dentistry in Libertyville, IL

Make sure you are happy enough with your smile that you can share it confidently with everyone. Reach out to us at Dental Health and Beauty Nicholas Polito, DDS in Libertyville, IL to schedule an appointment for a cosmetic consultation to determine what we can do to help you with your smile.

4 Reasons to Get Your Teeth Cleaned

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If you’re like many busy people, you often put off having your teeth professionally cleaned because it seems like just one more thing to try to cram into an active schedule. However, having your teeth cleaned on a regular basis has a variety of benefits and has the potential to save you significant amounts of time and money in the long run. Most dentists recommend that you have professional teeth cleaning once every six months. The following are just four of the many benefits of having your teeth professionally cleaned.

Your Smile Will Be Brighter

Your teeth will be noticeably whiter and brighter after a professional cleaning session. An appealing smile increases confidence and self-esteem, helping you thrive in both work and social settings.

Your Dentist Will Be Able to Spot Any Emerging Issues

Many oral health issues can be kept in check or even reversed if they are discovered in the initial stages. Gingivitis, for instance, is the first stage of gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which involves possible loss of teeth and damage to the cardiovascular system as well as time-consuming, costly treatments. Your dentist will also notice any developing cavities and treat them while they are still in the emergent stage rather than waiting until they grow large enough to start causing toothache pain and forming abscesses.

You’ll Have Less Bacterial Buildup on Your Teeth

Plaque is a buildup of bacteria that develops on the surface of the teeth. Although good oral hygiene at home can help reduce plaque, it doesn’t remove all of it. Over time, plaque buildup can lead to a variety of oral health issues, such as tooth decay and gum disease.

Your Breath Will Be Fresher

Bacterial buildup is also a major cause of bad breath. Even if you floss and brush on a regular basis and use breath mints, you still may have bad breath due to bacteria present in the mouth.

Think of professional teeth cleaning session as deep cleaning for your mouth. Please feel free to reach out to us at your convenience to schedule teeth cleaning session or dental examination with a member of our skilled staff.

 

How Your Dental Health Affects Your Overall Life

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Dental health plays an integral role in your overall quality of life. Like many things you may not even realize how important your dental health is until something goes wrong. At that point, it becomes very clear all the ways that dental health affects your life.

Heart Health

Did you know that problems in your teeth and gums can cause heart problems? When bacteria in your mouth are allowed to propagate, that bacteria may be able to enter your bloodstream. Since all your blood eventually makes its way through your heart, cardiac health problems may arise. Surprisingly, if you have heart health reasons, it’s possible that dental health problems may be a contributing factor.

Social Success

If you have dental health issues with your teeth and gums, chances are high that you have bad breath fairly often. If this is the case, others around you may have noticed this issue. Unless it’s someone that you’re very close to, they may be hesitant about letting you know. On the flip side, if you’re aware of your bad breath issues, you may actually be less inclined to be socially active. You may feel like others will notice your bad breath and form a negative opinion about you.

Professional Success

Studies have repeatedly shown that those who smile often are more likely to be liked by others, trusted by colleagues and admired by peers. If you desire professional success, you should know that your dental health is a big factor. If you have stained, crooked or just bad looking teeth, you may avoid smiling as much as possible. This can lead to you missing out on job opportunities or improving your standing in your professional community.

As you can see, your dental health definitely impacts the other facets of your life. If you suffer from any of the circumstances mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to get the dental health attention you deserve. For more information about treatment options for bad breath, stained teeth, crooked teeth and other conditions, please contact our office today.

3 Ways Your Dental Health Affects Your Confidence

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Having crooked teeth, stained teeth, missing teeth or misaligned teeth is a surefire way to lower your confidence. For one thing, it makes you feel like you aren’t someone who practices good dental hygiene. If you’re in a relationship or dating, poor dental health can make you apprehensive about kissing someone. Dental health affects your confidence in many ways. That’s why it’s important that you have good teeth and healthy gums; because they play a big role in boosting your confidence.

1. A Subconscious Sign Of Health

Having good, attractive looking teeth is a subconscious sign of health and vitality. When you look in the mirror and see less than healthy teeth and gums, you don’t feel healthy. You know that your teeth and gums need professional attention. You may also be acutely aware that others may see you as less than healthy, too. This subconscious knowledge makes you feel less confident to go out in the world and do the things you enjoy.

2. Self-Conscious Near People

If you have bad teeth it will affect whether you feel comfortable talking near people. If you have a severe cavity or gum disease then very foul odors can emit from the mouth. You may fear that your bad breath, caused by mouth bacteria, might reach them. This can make you withdraw from people, which is not healthy for your social well-being.

3. Reluctance to Smile

When your teeth and gums are unattractive, you may be reluctant to smile. Smiling is a socially accepted way to indicate friendliness and confidence. When you fail to smile, people may get the impression that you are unfriendly or don’t want to get to know them. In turn, they will turn away from you and seek someone who appears more friendly. This turning away impacts your self-confidence and makes you feel that others don’t like you. In reality, others are simply picking up cues from you.

Finally, having clean, healthy teeth and gums in general just makes you feel good and refreshed. You’re more likely to smile easily and seek social interaction with others. As you can see, taking care of your teeth and gums goes far beyond physical health. It also impacts your emotional health.

Woman smiling

Keeping Your Smile as Healthy and Beauitful as Possible — Four Things You Need to Know

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If you’re like most people who’ve been blessed with a naturally beautiful smile, you don’t give it much thought until something happens to take its sparkle away. However, preventive measures exist designed to keep your teeth looking as good as possible. The following are just four things you can incorporate into your routine to help ensure that your smile continues to dazzle.

Wear Mouth Protection When Engaging in Physical Activities

Nothing ruins a smile more quickly than a tooth or teeth that have been knocked out or chipped. Wearing mouthguards while playing sports is a good way to keep this from happening, but keep in mind that wearing mouth protection is a good idea when engaging in physical activity that doesn’t fall under the technical definition of sports. If you use a bike to commute to and from work, for instance, wearing a mouth guard keeps your smile safe in the event of an accident.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

This one should be a no-brainer, but you might be amazed to know how many people decide to skip brushing and flossing at the end of the day because they’re tired. Unfortunately, bacteria and plaque build-up overnight, so it’s never a good idea to skip your oral hygiene routine even if you’re absolutely exhausted. Scheduling brushing and flossing for sooner in the evening helps circumvent this, and keep in mind that if you’re too tired to brush and floss before bed, you’re probably not getting enough sleep.

Guard Against Staining

Many people can’t bear the thought of giving up their favorite foods and beverages in order to keep their teeth as white as possible, but there are things you can do to help prevent your teeth from developing stains. Drinking beverages through a straw, for instance, helps limit their contact with your teeth. If it isn’t possible to brush your teeth after eating or drinking items that cause staining, swish your mouth out thoroughly with clean water.

See Your Dentist Every Six Months

Scheduling an appointment for a dental checkup and cleaning every six months ensures that your dentist can identify issues that might affect your smile while they’re still in the early, highly treatable stages. Please feel free to contact us for more information on maintaining a healthy and gorgeous smile.

 

Routine Dental Care Limits Dental Health Risks

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Keeping your teeth as healthy as possible is always the best route to take. Routine dental care allows you to avoid many of the most common oral health problems, including cavities and gum disease. What type of preventative care do you need?

At Home Dental Care

Preventative dental care starts at home. Brushing your teeth at least two times a day is recommended. Use a medium softness brush. And, be sure to brush your tongue, too. This helps to keep bacteria levels low. It’s also necessary to floss daily and use a mouth rinse as well.

Eat a Healthy Diet

What you eat contributes to your oral health. A balanced diet for oral health should limit the amount of sugary foods you consume. Sugar feeds bacteria and makes it more challenging to fight off cavities. It’s also important to limit carbs, consume more water, and eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Visiting Your Dentist

It’s best to visit your dentist at least one time every six months. When you do, you’ll receive a full oral exam and teeth cleaning. This is also the best time to learn about any types of dental problems such as gum disease or cavities. If you do have any type of decay occurring, getting help for it right away helps limit the risk of a more complex problem.

Additionally, preventative dental care also gives your dental team the ability to spot more complex problems early on. This includes enamel loss and periodontitis. It’s a good time to talk about your cosmetic dental needs as well.

Why You Need Preventative Dentistry

When you have good oral health, you see numerous benefits:

  • Your teeth remain healthy and white longer
  • You may minimize secondary health complications such as diabetes and heart disease
  • You may extend the life of your teeth as well

Get the Preventative Care You Need Today

Protecting your teeth is critical. Coming in for a routine checkup at least one time every six months is ideal. For all of your dental health needs, visit Dental Health and Beauty and Nicolas Polito, DDS. Give us a call now at 847-367-1133.

Understanding Tooth Enamel Loss

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Dr. Nicholas Polito and the rest of the team at Dental Health and Beauty meet thousands of people every year who are concerned about the damaging effects of tooth enamel loss. We’re proud to provide high quality tooth enamel care and protection in the greater Libertyville, IL area and encourage people to educate themselves about tooth anatomy in order to improve their oral health.

Understanding Your Tooth Enamel—And What Can Make it Wear Down Over Time

Tooth enamel is a thin protective layer covering your teeth. It’s main job is to protect your teeth from chemicals and temperatures, as well as during the normal day-to-day actions of teeth themselves (e.g., biting, grinding, and chewing).

The main thing that causes tooth enamel to wear down and degrade over time is excessive exposure to acids, which can happen due to a variety of reasons, including:

  • Diet high in sugar and starches
  • Acid reflux disease (GERD) and other digestive problems
  • Chronic dry mouth or low saliva production
  • Excessive or chronic use of certain medications
  • Genetics
  • Plaque build up on your teeth
  • Environmental factors (e.g., grinding teeth in your sleep, stress, etc.)
  • Certain health conditions, including bulimia (in which a person frequently purges and vomits their food)

Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Enamel Loss

Tooth enamel itself is actually translucent—the white part of the tooth is actually from the dentin directly underneath the enamel. If enamel begins to wear away, this dentin can become stained, leading to brown or yellow discoloration.

clean and dirty tooth enamel

Additional signs and symptoms of tooth enamel loss include:

  • Chips, cracks, and indentations in the teeth
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Increased risk of cavities and tooth decay

How our Libertyville Dentist Can Manage and Prevent Tooth Enamel Loss

Unlike other tissues in the body, enamel has no living cells inside, meaning that when it becomes damaged or chipped it can’t be healed naturally by your body. For this reason, enamel protection is essential for maintaining a bright healthy smile.

We advise our patients to follow the following basic oral health guidelines for healthier enamel and teeth:

  • Brush, floss, and use mouthwash daily.
  • Avoid highly acidic foods, refined sugars, soft drinks, and fruit drinks.
  • Drink plenty of water and use sugar-free gum between meals to boost saliva production.

We also provide services such as sealants, bonding, or veneers/crowns which can further protect your teeth from enamel erosion and decay and improve cosmetic appearance.

Worried About Tooth Enamel Loss?

Your oral health makes an incredible impact on your overall health—not to mention confidence! If you have concerns about tooth enamel loss and would like to learn about how our Libertyville dentistry team can help, contact Dental Health and Beauty today at (847) 367-1133.

Why You Should See a Dentist Twice a Year

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Routine Dental Visits in Libertyville It’s easy to put off those regular dental appointments. You’re too busy at work. The kids are keeping you too busy. Do you really need those routine checkups and cleanings anyway?

Yes, you do. Failing to schedule in those appointments increases your risk of dental issues and other health problems. Here are just a few of the reasons you need to make the time to head to your dentist twice a year.

Those Cleanings Make a Difference

Scheduling those cleanings every six months is essential since a professional cleaning does a lot better job on your teeth than you can. Even if you’re brushing and flossing twice a day, you still can’t eliminate all the plaque and tartar from your teeth. Dental hygienists use professional tools to remove the tartar and plaque off teeth, and these routine cleanings can help prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.

Routine Exams Catch Problems Early

Seeing your dentist regularly also helps make sure that any dental problems are caught early before they become a major problem. Your dentist will look for the signs of tooth decay and gum disease, and if you do have dental issues, they can be treated effectively if they’re caught early.

Benefits to Overall Health

Failing to visit the dentist twice a year can actually have negative effects on your entire body. Many studies show that dental health impacts your overall health. Since your mouth is full of bacteria, routine dental hygiene and regular dental visits can ensure that bacteria don’t contribute to the development of other health problems like heart disease.

Some Patients Need to Come in More Often

While twice yearly visits are recommended for most patients, some people may need to see the dentist more often. You may need more than two visits a year if:

  • You have poor oral hygiene habits
  • You deal with chronic health problems like diabetes or gum disease
  • You have dry mouth
  • You have problems that make it tough to clean your teeth on your own
  • You use any type of tobacco
  • You’ve had a lot of dental work in the past

Protect your oral health. If you’re behind on routine cleanings and checkups, call our office to get your appointment set up today.

The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups

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For as long as you can remember, you’ve been told to brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly. Oral health is essential, but if you’re doing your due diligence with your toothbrush and dental floss, why do you need to make semi-annual excursions to your dentist?

There are plenty of reasons regular dental checkups are essential. Take a look at some of the top things your dentist will do during your appointment:

1. Plaque Removal
Your mouth naturally produces a clear, sticky substance called plaque. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash help remove plaque, but if the material lives on your teeth for too long, it turns into tartar, which can only be removed by dental professionals. Tartar, in turn, can cause gingivitis (gum disease) and other health issues, which is why it’s vital to have it removed regularly.

2. Checking for Signs of Cancer
Did you know your mouth tells more stories than how often you’re flossing? During your regular checkup, your dentist will examine your neck, lymph nodes, face, gums, and tongue for signs of anything out of the ordinary. These areas are subject to oral cancer. Regular dental checkups will enable your dentist to identify potential issues early, which could ultimately save your life.

3. Finding Symptoms Related to Diabetes or Vitamin Deficiencies
Diabetes and vitamin deficiencies can cause dangerous health problems, too. You may have diabetes and not even know it, and if you’re experiencing symptoms you don’t realize are related to the disease, you’ll likely overlook your need to be tested.

Fortunately, your dentist is equipped with tools that can help them identify potential diabetes and vitamin deficiencies. If your dentist identifies the following, he or she may advise you to seek additional medical assistance:

  • Sore or loose teeth
  • Mouth ulcers or fungal infections
  • Dry mouth
  • Excessive cavities
  • Severe gum disease

Although related to oral health, these symptoms may be signs of something more serious.

Are you searching for a dentist near Libertyville, Illinois? Nicholas Polito, DDS has been helping the people of Libertyville love their smiles for 20 years. If you’re ready to embrace the power of your pearly whites, schedule your initial appointment today!