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I Brush & Floss My Teeth But Still Get Cavities. Why?

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Nothing makes a dentist visit more unenjoyable than finding out you have a mouthful of cavities — especially after you’ve been so diligent about flossing and brushing. Why is it that you still find yourself with pesky cavities making an appearance when following your dentist’s recommendations for cleaning your teeth?

No matter how good your dental hygiene routine is, some people are more susceptible to cavities than others. It might not be the answer you’re looking for, but cavities can be caused by genetics.

However, that doesn’t mean you need to suffer through cavity after cavity for the rest of your life. The team at Taylor Dental has put together a quick guide to help you better understand how cavities form and how you can reduce your risk of getting them.

What Are Cavities & How Do They Form?

Cavities are permanent damage, also known as tooth decay, that form tiny holes within your teeth. Without treatment, the damage can spread throughout the entire tooth and cause the whole tooth to rot. But how do these small holes come about?

Your teeth are comprised of various minerals that become damaged over time when exposed to sugary drinks and scratchy foods that cause bacteria growth in your mouth. This bacteria creates an acidic covering on your tooth that eats away at your tooths’ enamel. The more acid that builds up, the more the natural minerals in your teeth are weakened.

If the sugary or starchy treats are not thoroughly cleaned, you will find yourself dealing with tooth decay.

How to Reduce the Risk of Cavities

While some individuals are more prone to cavities, you can still take precautions to lessen the risk of tooth decay. Here are a few ways that you can improve your oral health and minimize the chance of cavities:

  • Scheduling regular dentist visits – Preventative care is absolutely crucial when it comes to maintaining healthy oral hygiene. Through regularly scheduled dental visits, your dentist can find small problems before they become larger and painful issues — pointing out problem areas you should focus on when cleaning your teeth.
  • Flossing and brushing – Do you brush your teeth every morning and night? What about after every meal? While most people follow the brushing twice a day rule, not many can say the same about flossing! Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once helps to remove any sugar or starch buildup on or between your teeth that can lead to cavities.
  • Changing your diet – If you are more susceptible to cavities, it can be beneficial to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet. Make mindful choices when eating and determine the easiest places for you to make some changes. While sugar is in most foods, you can make a significant change by reducing your soda, coffee, or juice intake, as well as eating less candy and sweets.
  • Tweaking your oral hygiene routine – Sometimes brushing and flossing isn’t enough — or you might not be using the best products to get the most effective clean. Talk to your dentist about what you can do to improve your oral hygiene. Small changes can make a big difference, such as using an electric toothbrush, mouthwash, or a water pick.

Fix Your Cavities with Non-Metal Fillings At Taylor General & Cosmetic Dentistry

If you would like to replace your metal fillings with non-metal fillings or would like to schedule preventative care, contact the team at Taylor Dental to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you reach the smile of your dreams!

Is It Okay If Dental Files Are Left Inside Root Canals?

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Picture this: You’re at the dentist for a root canal when your dentist informs you that the tip of one of his instruments has broken off. Depending on when this happened during the root canal, your dentist might be able to fill and seal your tooth without extracting the piece of the dental file without reducing the procedure’s success rate. However, removing the dental file and navigating around the root of the tooth can be extremely difficult to do without causing future problems for the patient.

Now you may be wondering if your dentist will be able to extract the tip or if it’s safe to leave the dental file inside your root canal. Taylor Dental explains what to do when this happens during your root canal to ensure you’re left with a perfect smile.

Do Dental Files Need to be Removed from Inside the Root Canal?

Damage to one of the dentist’s instruments is one of many complications that can arise during a root canal. However, if it does happen, your dentist should remove it instead of leaving the dental file inside the root canal. If left inside, the chances of your root canal failing increase drastically. Not only that, but the dental file can cause discomfort and irritate your tooth, leading you to schedule yet another root canal in a few months.

How Often Do Dental Instruments Break During Root Canals?

You might find yourself wondering how often this happens. While it isn’t prevalent, you must be aware of why dental files can break off during a root canal. It can occur if an individual’s canals are abnormally curved or tight. This problem increases the risk of having a complication during the procedure.

Another reason this can happen is if a dentist is reusing old files, time and time again. The more use they get out of a dental file, the more worn down they become, increasing the likelihood of the tip breaking off. All reused tools must be closely monitored for wear and tear that might lead to defects and problems down the line.

How to Remove Dental Files from Your Root Canal

If you’re having complications from dental files left behind from your root canal, ask your dentist for a referral to a root canal specialist, also known as an endodontist. Keep in mind that your dentist might give you some pushback when asking for this referral, but for your oral health, a specialist must review your case and provide a treatment plan to fix the problem. In the meantime, it’s recommended that you get a temporary crown installed on your tooth until you decide what to do. You can choose between leaving the dental files inside, having your dentist perform another root canal, or visiting an endodontist who can use special tools.to extract the tip of the file safely

Call Dr. Taylor for Cosmetic Dentistry in Billings Montana

If you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry to enhance or correct your smile, Dr. Taylor and his staff can help you determine if porcelain veneers and crowns are the right solutions for you. Taylor Dental offers only the best, with today’s state-of-the-art porcelain materials, ensuring you have metal-free crowns that genuinely look like natural teeth.

Contact our team to schedule a free smile design consultation, during which you can sit down with Dr. Taylor and have him answer any questions you might have.

Can Dentists Help With Canker Sores?

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Can Dentists Help With Canker Sores?

Have you ever dealt with a small sore inside your mouth? Canker sores, otherwise known as aphthous ulcers, are small white or red sores that can develop on the inside of your cheeks, lips, on or under your tongue, on the soft palate, or your gums.

If you suffer from recurring canker sores, you’re likely looking for an effective way to treat them. While they often resolve themselves within a week or two, they can be annoying to deal with in the meantime. The Taylor Dental team is here to help you understand why you might be getting regular canker sores and what you can do to relieve the symptoms.

What Causes Canker Sores?

The exact cause of canker sores is unknown, but multiple factors are believed to trigger them. Here is a list of triggers to help you determine why you might always be dealing with canker sores:

  • Stress and anxiety
  • Acidic or citrus foods
  • Sharp teeth
  • Braces or dentures
  • Allergic reaction
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate a common ingredient in toothpaste)
  • Trauma to oral issues (from a bite, dental work, or eating)

While canker sores are often confused with cold sores, they’re very different. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus, where any of the triggers mentioned above likely causes canker sores.

Symptoms of Canker Sores

If you suspect you might have a canker sore, look for any of the following symptoms:

  • A small sore inside your mouth that is white, gray, or yellow, often surrounded by a red ring
  • An irritation or burning sensation in your mouth before the canker sore appears
  • A shallow ulcer is appearing on your tongue, cheek, gums, or elsewhere within your mouth.

In more severe instances, you might also experience the following symptoms:

  • Joint pain
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Fever

If you believe you have a canker sore and are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, schedule a dentist or doctor’s visit for treatment options.

How to Treat Canker Sores

Most canker sores heal without any treatment within two weeks. However, if you’re dealing with a painful or persistent canker sore, you might need to call in reinforcements for treatment.

Your dentist can evaluate your canker sore’s severity and prescribe you a corticosteroid ointment or antimicrobial mouth rinse that can help alleviate the discomfort and promote healing. They’ll also provide you with recommendations for over-the-counter solutions that might be able to reduce irritation.

If you need a more immediate solution while you wait for your dental cleaning, rinse out your mouth with warm water regularly, and avoid spicy or acidic foods that can cause additional irritation.

Schedule a Dental Cleaning with Dr. Taylor

If you are continually dealing with canker sores, mention it to your dentist at your next preventative visit.

Dr. Taylor and his highly trained staff can help you determine the steps to take to improve your oral hygiene and reduce the frequency with which you get canker sores. Contact Taylor Dental in Billings, MT, to schedule a dental cleaning appointment. We look forward to improving your oral health!

Can An Electric Toothbrush Damage My Teeth?

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Can An Electric Toothbrush Damage My Teeth?

If you’re looking for a quick way to enhance the appearance of your smile, you might be considering switching from your manual toothbrush to an electric toothbrush. Not only are electric toothbrushes more effective at removing plaque, but many make the process even simpler by adding in a timer to let you know when you’ve brushed your teeth for the optimal amount of time.

But when misused, an electric toothbrush can actually cause more harm than good.

Using an electric toothbrush won’t damage your teeth — but misusing one can lead to tooth damage, sensitivity, and gum recession. If you’re considering investing in an electric toothbrush, keep reading as Taylor Dental explains how to prevent tooth damage when brushing your teeth.

How to Safely Use an Electric Toothbrush

You might think the harder you brush your teeth, the more plaque you’ll remove and the cleaner your teeth will be. However, you should avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth when you brush (whether using a manual or electric toothbrush), or you could be causing irreversible damage.

When brushing your teeth, allow the toothbrush to guide your hand and do all of the work. You shouldn’t be pushing the toothbrush against your teeth but merely guiding it along and softly massaging your teeth. And with an electric toothbrush, you don’t need to scrub up and down because the brush’s vibrations will do that for you — making your job even easier!

You mustn’t be too rough on your teeth as you brush them. If you are, you might find yourself with scratched or damaged enamel on your teeth. This can be detrimental to your oral hygiene because once the enamel is worn away, it’s unable to be restored, which leads to significant problems and sensitivity for your teeth down the line.

Look for an electric toothbrush that helps you prevent putting too much pressure on your teeth and minimizes the risk of damaging your enamel. Some electric toothbrushes feature a sensor that notifies you when too much pressure is being applied so you can lighten up your movements and brush more gently.

Call Dr. Taylor for Cosmetic Dentistry in Billings Montana

Have you been applying too much pressure with your electric toothbrush and suspect you’ve caused irreversible damage to your teeth? The Taylor Dental team can examine your smile and determine the best course of treatment to reverse or halt any of the tooth damage. In more severe cases, porcelain veneers and crowns might be the best treatment option to restore your smile.

If you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry to enhance your smile, Dr. Taylor and his staff can help you determine if porcelain veneers and crowns are the right solutions for you. Contact our team to schedule a free smile design consultation, during which you can sit down with Dr. Taylor and have him answer any questions you might have.

Are Sugar-Free Drinks Good For Your Teeth?

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Are-Sugar-Free-Drinks-Good-For-Your-Teeth
If you’re on a mission to have a picture-perfect smile, you’ve probably wondered what steps you can take to improve your oral hygiene. While oral care like brushing your teeth, flossing daily, and rinsing with mouthwash are key components to a healthy smile, your diet is a major factor as well.

While you might think replacing sugary sports drinks and sodas with a sugar-free alternative is a great idea to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, that’s not always the case. Today we’re going to walk you through the negative effects of sugar-free drinks and how to protect your teeth.

Are Sugar-Free Drinks Better for Your Teeth?

It’s a common misconception that sugar-free drinks won’t negatively impact your oral hygiene. Although there is no sugar in these types of beverages, they can still cause damage to your teeth. Unlike sugary sodas and sports beverages, sugar-free drinks don’t directly lead to problems like cavities, but they are still known to weaken the enamel of your teeth. Weakened enamel makes you more susceptible to a variety of issues like cavities, stains, and tooth decay — which is not something anyone wants to deal with.

How Sugar-Free Drinks Affect Your Teeth

Many avid soda drinkers make the conscious choice to switch to sugar-free soda as a way to limit the damage being done to their teeth. Little do they know, sugar-free sodas and beverages can cause almost the same amount of damage to your smile. Sugar isn’t always the biggest culprit in these beverages. Most soft drinks, even the ones that are sugar-free, have different types of acids in the ingredients. Ingredients like phosphoric acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid will eat away at your tooth enamel, making you more prone to tooth decay and damage.

How to Protect Your Teeth

Drinking acidic beverages will gradually wear down the enamel on your teeth. But there are a few things you can do to help minimize the damage.

  • Brush your teeth twice a day – It seems like common sense, but it’s easy to skip that nightly toothbrushing if you’re too tired and just want to hop into bed. Brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed is extremely important to help stop the spread of any of the acidic residue.
  • Schedule bi-annual dental visit – You should be visiting your dentist for a professional cleaning twice a year to check on your teeth for signs of damage, cavities, and other problems to stop them before they get worse.
  • Drink sugar-free drinks with meals – If you are constantly drinking sugar-free beverages throughout the entire day, it is more likely to cause irreparable damage to your enamel than if you were to drink them with your meals.
  • Sip through a straw – By drinking beverages through a straw, you greatly minimize the amount of liquid that comes into contact with your teeth. This helps to keep your acid from directly penetrating through your enamel.
  • Rinse your mouth after eating and drinking – In the best case scenario you would brush your teeth after every meal, but sometimes that just isn’t practical. When drinking acidic beverages or eating acidic meals, it’s a good idea to rinse your mouth out afterward to help rebalance the pH levels.

While reducing the number of sugary drinks from your diet can be a healthy choice overall, it doesn’t do much to protect your teeth from damage. Schedule regular professional cleanings and be mindful of the amount of acid in your diet to ensure you’re doing everything to maintain your oral hygiene.

For all dental concerns, Dr. Taylor offers preventative care, as well as non-metal fillings if you are experiencing tooth decay. To prevent or treat tooth decay, schedule an appointment with the leading cosmetic dentist in Billings, MT.

Is A Water Flosser Better Than Regular Floss?

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A water flosser is a device that cleans your teeth by providing a pressurized stream of water. Using the water flosser, you can aim the spout at your gumline, between teeth, and around hard-to-reach molars. The water flosser works to remove food particles and plaque buildup that can lead to gum disease.

While a water flosser does a thorough job cleaning your mouth of bacteria, it’s not a replacement for regular string floss or brushing your teeth. If you’re considering investing in a water flosser, keep reading as Taylor Dental explains the advantages and disadvantages of water flossing.

The Advantages of a Water Flosser

Flossing is an oral hygiene task that most people know they should be doing every day — but that doesn’t usually happen. With a water flosser, you can rest easy knowing you have a tool that is going to do all the heavy lifting for you. Here are a few of the reasons why incorporating a water flosser into your oral hygiene routine can be extremely beneficial.

  • Easy to Use – When it comes to flossing your teeth, you need something that is going to help you easily get the job done. While a water flosser might appear to be complex at first, it’s as simple as giving it water, pointing and aiming, and cleaning your teeth.
  • Reaches Back Teeth – When using string dental floss, maneuvering your hands at the right angle can be quite difficult — especially when trying to reach your molars. The water floss offers a long spout that makes your molars accessible from all sides.
  • Cleans Tight Spaces – If you have crowded or tightly spaced teeth, a water flosser is a great option to clean out the small crevices. By removing debris stuck between your teeth, you’re helping to prevent gum disease and bad breath.

The Disadvantages of a Water Flosser

While a water flosser can be a more entertaining way to include flossing in your nightly bathroom routine, it isn’t a be-all and end-all cleaning process. To ensure you’re doing everything in your power to reduce gum disease, water flossing isn’t a replacement for string flossing and brushing your teeth. You must understand the disadvantages associated with water flossing:

  • Plaque Buildup – The goal of flossing is to rid your gum line and spaces between teeth of food particles that build up throughout the day. Unlike string flossing that can get deep within the crevices, a water flosser isn’t always strong enough to remove the plaque from your teeth. To make the water flosser more effective, use string floss first to loosen up the plaque and make it easier to clear off.
  • Upfront Cost – If you’re interested in a water flosser, there’s going to be a higher upfront cost associated with it. When looking for a cheaper option that is effective (and arguably more effective), then string floss is the ideal solution for you.
  • Messy – While a water flosser is easy to use, there is a learning curve. You might find yourself with a bathroom or face full of water while you learn how to angle the water spout at the correct angles to clean your teeth.

Schedule Preventative Dental Care with Dr. Taylor

While flossing is a great way to maintain your oral hygiene, preventative maintenance is the best way to keep a cleaner, healthier smile. Dr. Taylor and his highly trained staff can help you determine the steps to take to improve your oral hygiene. Contact Taylor Dental in Billings, MT, to schedule an appointment for preventative care. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health!

The Stages Of Tooth Decay

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The Stages Of Tooth Decay

The Stages Of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time for the enamel and dentin to be worn down by bacteria, and with proper dental hygiene, tooth decay can be prevented altogether. Steps can be taken to cosmetically repair decayed teeth through the use of dental veneers and crowns, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If you’re concerned about tooth decay and want to take preventative measures to maintain your healthy smile, Dr. Taylor has put together a guide to help you understand the five distinct stages of tooth decay.

Stage 1: Demineralization

If you’re experiencing tooth decay, the first stage to watch out for white or brown spots on the surface of the tooth. This discoloration is a result of demineralization in the tooth because of plaque buildup and weakened enamel. Luckily, if tooth decay is caught during stage one it can be reversed before it becomes more problematic tooth decay.

To improve the demineralization of the tooth, ensure you are regularly flossing and brushing your teeth with remineralization toothpaste. With proper attention from both you and your dentist, you can reduce the white or brown spots and reverse tooth decay.

Stage 2: Enamel Decay

If white and brown spots go untreated, the tooth’s enamel will continue to be eroded by bacteria infecting the mouth. Because your tooth’s enamel is weakening, those in stage two will often experience increased tooth sensitivity and need to rely on sensitivity toothpaste to relieve some of the pain.

At this stage, you must engage a dentist to provide the necessary treatment to prevent tooth decay from progressing. Depending on your specific scenario, a dentist may recommend a variety of dental procedures, including dental fillings or crowns.

Stage 3: Dentin Decay

Beneath the tooth’s layer of enamel is a substance called dentin. If the tooth decay isn’t halted, the bacteria will continue to eat through your enamel which will expose the dentin layer underneath. This layer decays at a much more rapid rate than enamel and will cause major sensitivity and pain.

At this stage, you need to schedule an appointment with a professional to stop the risk of further tooth decay. The decay will happen at an extremely rapid rate and if steps aren’t taken to repair some of the damage, you’re going to be left with pain, sensitivity, and the risk of infection.

Stage 4: Infection

Within your tooth is another soft layer at the center, known as dental pulp. If the bacteria eats through both your enamel and dentin, it will come into contact with the dental pulp — leading to severe pain and difficulty chewing. The dental pulp can become infected, and the only way to fix it will be to undergo a root canal to remove the infection. Once the infection has been removed from the tooth, they will install a crown in place of the tooth to prevent any more decay from occurring.

Stage 5: Abscess Formation

Without treatment to halt the tooth decay, the infection will move on from the tooth and into the jawbone, gums, tongue, and other teeth, often resulting in an abscess. This abscess, or pocket of pus, will remain in your mouth until a dentist performs a root canal or extracts the tooth. If tooth decay continues to be left untreated, the tooth will die.

Prevent Tooth Decay Before It Begins

Flossing, brushing, and performing fluoride treatment are the first steps to fighting tooth decay. Along with regularly cleaning your teeth, you can also minimize the amount of sugar and acidic foods in your diet, which is known to break down tooth enamel. Last but certainly not least, you need to schedule regular trips to the dentist at least twice a year for a professional cleaning and checkup.

For all dental concerns, Dr. Taylor offers preventative care, as well as porcelain veneers and crowns. To prevent or treat tooth decay, schedule an appointment with the leading cosmetic dentist in Billings, MT.

Mouth Breathing & Your Oral Health

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Mouth Breathing Your Oral Health

Mouth breathing might not seem like a big deal, but it can be detrimental to your oral health. To determine if you’re a mouth breather, keep an eye out for these common signs and symptoms:

  • Dry mouth
  • Bad breath
  • Chapped lips
  • Snoring
  • Sinus and ear infections

Do you suspect you’re a mouth breather but you’re still not sure? Scheduling an appointment with your local cosmetic dentist in Billings, MT can help you determine if you are a mouth breather and find ways to treat the symptoms and oral health risks. Keep reading to learn more about the oral health risks and treatment options.

Health Risks of Mouth Breathing

Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose might not seem to be an issue at first, but mouth breathing can lead to quite a few health problems. Some of the most common side effects of mouth breathing include:

  • Dry Mouth – If you breathe through your mouth instead of your sinuses, you’re limiting the amount of moisture in the air you inhale. As a result, most mouthbreathers experience excessive dry mouth. This dry mouth prevents saliva from washing bacteria out of your mouth, allowing bacteria to remain in your mouth and lead to problems like cavities, tooth decay, and gingivitis.
  • Gum Disease – When harmful bacteria remains in your mouth, it can result in worse than just gingivitis which is an infection of the gums. If oral health problems like gingivitis go untreated, mouthbreathers can find themselves dealing with gum disease which can lead to other health problems such as respiratory illness, stroke, and heart disease.
  • Skeletal Deformities – Because children are still growing, mouth breathing can lead to permanent skeletal deformities if untreated. Mouth breathing promotes the growth of the child’s upper jaw instead of the lower jaw.
  • Jaw Strain – When breathing through your mouth, your jaw remains in an open position for extended periods. This mouth positioning can lead to strain on your jaw joints and impact the fit of your bite. If the jaw strain continues to get worse, the only way to fix it is through oral surgery or orthodontic treatment.
  • Sleep Difficulties – Breathing through your mouth can make it difficult to get enough oxygen while sleeping, which can impact the quality of sleep you’re getting. When you don’t get enough sleep, you can find yourself feeling tired or struggling to concentrate during the day.

How to Treat the Effects of Mouth Breathing

If you’re a mouth breather, there are steps you can take to ensure you’re taking care of your oral health. Reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other related issues by:

  • Using a humidifier – As mentioned, one of the most common side effects of mouth breathing in dry mouth — which is the root of most oral health problems! It’s recommended that mouth breathers use a humidifier in their bedrooms while sleeping to help reduce mouth dryness and improve the moisture in the air.
  • Drinking plenty of water – Along with using a humidifier, make sure you are staying hydrated throughout the day to promote a moisturized mouth. Staying hydrated will provide moisture and help minimize other symptoms of mouth breathing like chapped lips and chronic bad breath.
  • Scheduling regular dentist visits – It can be hard to diagnose yourself as a mouth breather, and that’s where Dr. Taylor can help. Dentists are often the first to notice that someone is a mouth breather by recognizing the problems with a patient’s oral health, such as gum infections, tooth decay, and swollen tonsils. Dr. Taylor can provide solutions to relieve painful symptoms of mouth breathing and help you remedy your oral health.

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Taylor

If you’re a mouth breather, proper oral hygiene is incredibly important to minimize the risk of problems like dry mouth, tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis. Dr. Taylor and his exceptional staff can help you find a way to relieve symptoms and provide a solution to help your mouth breathing moving forward. Contact Taylor Dental, the leading cosmetic dentist in Billings, MT, to schedule an appointment for general and cosmetic dental care. We look forward to helping you improve your oral health!

Should I Get Braces or Invisalign For My Child

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Should I Get Braces or Invisalign For My Child
When looking to perfect your child’s smile, there are many options to consider, such as Invisalign or braces. Depending on your child’s treatment needs, one option might be preferred over the other. While in other cases, the decision is left up to you. But how do you decide between Invisalign or braces for your teen?

Taylor General & Cosmetic Dentistry is here to help guide you through the decision-making process by weighing the pros and cons or each option.

Pros and Cons of Invisalign

We’ve compiled a list of the advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign for kids to help you narrow down if it is the right option to transform their smile.

Pros

  • Discrete – In the world of teenagers, appearance often matters. While braces are working to create a beautiful smile, metal brackets can be jarring to look at. Invisalign is a discrete option that will straighten out your child’s teeth discreetly. The brackets and attaching aligners seamlessly blend into the smile, making it much more difficult for someone to notice they’re being worn. This is a great option for teenagers that might be feeling a bit self-conscious about wearing braces.
  • Removable – Worried about braces or Invisalign impacting your child’s dental hygiene? Invisalign can pop right out when needed — making it much easier for your teenager to eat and thoroughly clean their teeth. They don’t have to worry about their snack getting stuck in the brackets, irritating their teeth.
  • Comfort – Braces can hurt your gums, cheeks, and inner lips because of the metal brackets and wires. With Invisalign, the brackets on your child’s teeth will be covered by the aligner portion, leaving a smooth finish along their teeth. Invisalign for teens is a much more comfortable and safe option, especially for those that might play an active sport.
  • Less Maintenance – Don’t want to deal with countless appointments to tighten braces? When your teenager chooses Invisalign to straighten their teeth, you will have fewer appointments to attend — winning you back some time in your busy schedule!
  • No Dietary Restrictions – One of the biggest benefits for teenagers is that no foods are limited while they have Invisalign. Unlike their counterpart, you can eat foods like popcorn and candy. This is because when they are eating they can remove the aligner, enjoy the snack, clean their teeth, and pop the aligner portion back in place.

Cons

  • Slurred Speech or Lisp – Wearing the clear trays over your teeth can make it difficult to talk in the beginning while your teenager gets used to the Invisalign. Their speech might be slurred and some words or sounds might have a lisp. This tends to become less noticeable over time as they become accustomed to the aligners.
  • Limited Fix – Depending on your teenager’s specific teeth, Invisalign might not be an option. They can only be used to adjust certain types of teeth or bite problems.
  • Cost – While there are many benefits of Invisalign over regular braces, a major drawback is that they will likely cost a bit more. The cost will often be dependent on the extent of the issue and how long the Invisalign needs to be worn.
  • Responsibility – If your teenager isn’t the most responsible one in the bunch or would lose their head if it wasn’t attached, Invisalign might not be the best option. Because they can take the clear trays out, it is up to them to wear the aligners that are working to straighten their teeth. The last thing you want is for your child to accidentally throw them away at lunchtime!

Pros and Cons of Braces,

Metal braces are an effective and affordable option that many parents opt for — but are they the right choice for your child? Let’s take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of braces.

Pros

  • Fixed in Place – Straightening a smile can be uncomfortable as the teeth move into their desired placement. With Invisalign, the progress could come to a halt if your teenager takes out the trays because of discomfort. With braces, the metal brackets are fixed in place ensuring that their teeth are straightening.
  • Durable – From talking to eating, the mouth is constantly in motion. When straightening your child’s teeth, you need an option that is durable and will be able to withstand normal wear and tear. Braces are extremely durable and strong.
  • Affordable – Kids are expensive. From sports to school to rainy day activities, the costs begin to add up! Fixing your child’s smile is a must, but it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to do so. Metal braces are generally less expensive than Invisalign, but it depends on the severity of the correction.
  • Customizable – Even though metal braces are visible on the front side of your teenager’s teeth, they can customize the colors of the brackets to express their style! At each appointment to tighten their braces, they will be able to select from a large array of colored rubber bands to make their braces more attractive.

Cons

  • Oral Hygiene – When investing in metal braces, you need to ensure that your teenager is taking the time to adequately clean their teeth every morning and evening — and after every meal. It’s very easy for food and residue from sugary beverages to become trapped around the brackets, leading to cavities and discoloration of their teeth.
  • Food Restrictions – There are certain foods your child won’t be able to eat when they have braces or a bracket can become damaged or loose and pop off, resulting in an unexpected trip to the dentist. Your teenager will need to avoid hard foods like pretzels and chips, as well as popcorn, candy, gum, ice, and more.
  • Discomfort – The first few weeks your child is wearing braces they are going to feel some discomfort. The discomfort will become less and less over time, but they will likely still have some irritation on their inner cheeks and lips from the metal brackets scratching against them.
  • Less Discrete – If you have a teenager that is a bit self-conscious, metal braces likely aren’t going to help. Unlike Invisalign, they are very noticeable to anyone they are interacting with.

The Final Verdict

If you’re looking for the most effective way to straighten your child’s teeth, Invisalign is the clear answer. Rather than having your child deal with traditional braces that can be uncomfortable and unsightly, the clear aligners conform to the contours of your teenager’s teeth while working to adjust the alignment of their teeth. The removable trays will ensure your child is comfortable throughout the entire process — and are able to eat all their favorite foods!

Call Taylor Dental to for an Invisalign Consultation

Still not sure if Invisalign is the right fit for your teenager? Taylor General & Cosmetic Dentistry can answer all your questions about Invisalign for teens and provide peace of mind in your decision. Contact our team to schedule a consultation so we can help you achieve your child’s dream smile!

5 Reasons Why You Should Work with Your Dentist for Teeth Whitening

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5 Reasons Why You Should Work with Your Dentist for Teeth Whitening

Having whiter teeth is a goal that almost everyone hopes to achieve. While teeth are naturally white in color, your teeth will most likely begin to stain over time. This happens mainly because of age, food and drink consumption, tobacco use, trauma, and medications.
Because of this, many seek a solution to whiten their teeth back to their original color. While there are many at-home methods that may be effective, most professionals recommend that people have their teeth whitened at a local Billings MT, dental office. Here are some of the main reasons professionals give for choosing a dentist for teeth whitening.

Dentist Teeth Whitening Provides Immediate Results

While at-home whitening kits may take weeks to see results, your teeth will be noticeably whiter from just one visit to a professional teeth whitening service. Many in-office treatments offer same-day results customized to fit your individual needs.
Many times, teeth can be 5-8 shades whiter from just one professional visit. If you are in a hurry to have your teeth whitened for a date or special event, professional teeth whitening is the way to go.

More Options And Customizations

Because every person has a unique set of teeth, every person requires a different whitening treatment. Some individuals may seek to preserve the appearance of their teeth, while others may have to fix severe staining or even tooth decay.
It is important to tailor the teeth whitening procedure to each patient’s specific needs, something that can only be done in-office. Cookie-cutter methods that can be purchased over-the-counter may be effective, but they cannot tailor a teeth whitening treatment to an individual.
In addition, visiting a teeth whitening dentist will also get you a custom-made tray that is custom molded to your mouth. This tray will help customize the teeth whitening experience, tailoring it to your particular set of teeth.

Professional Teeth Whitening Lasts Longer

While at-home teeth whitening products may be simple to use, their benefits often just last a few weeks. If you want long-term results, you need to repeat the treatment often. The cost and time spent on this can begin to add up over the years, making it more difficult to maintain your desired shade.
In comparison, professional teeth whitening lasts much longer. Because dentists have access to products and chemicals that are regulated, the effects are typically better than anything that can be found in a store. While the cost is greater upfront, the results can sometimes last for years.

Dental Teeth Whitening Is Safer Than Store-bought Kits

To properly whiten teeth, you must use the potentially-harmful chemicals carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. While the at-home whitening kits tend to have less of a percentage of these chemicals than the treatments used in-office, they can still be harmful to your teeth or gums.
These chemicals, when properly applied, can significantly help your teeth. However, it often requires the oversight and expertise of a dentist to ensure safety and results.
Store-bought teeth whitening kits may cause unnecessary side effects, such as extreme teeth sensitivity, enamel damage, and gum damage. However, professional teeth whitening can remove these risks completely.

Consultation And Professional Advice

Having a dental professional on-hand during the teeth whitening process can be extremely helpful for the patient. In the process of whitening teeth, dentists may encounter enamel damage or other oral health issues that could lead to adverse whitening side effects.
Also, patients can ask questions about their specific needs and treatment. Having a dental professional do the whitening treatment can allow them to give advice to patients about oral hygiene or potential side effects during or after treatment.
If you have any questions about the teeth whitening process, it is important to contact your local dental professional. For teeth whitening in Billings, MT, contact Taylor Dental now.

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