Tips for keeping a beautiful smile!

Keeping your teeth clean, smooth and beautiful...
Proper oral hygiene is your key to a healthy, beautiful smile. Here are our and the American Dental Association's recommendations for at home care:

• Brush 2-3 times every day with a fluoride toothpaste (it doesn't matter which brand)
• Floss once a day
• Eat a healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, etc)
• Limit consumption of sugary foods and beverages. Soda drinks can destroy teeth faster than almost anything else
• Eliminate or at least limit use of alcohol, chewing tabacco, and cigarettes

We also recommend using an electric high-speed toothbrush in conjunction with a waterpik for your daily at-home oral care.

And don't forget six-month professional cleanings and checkups. The American Dental Association recommends checkups every six months for those ages four and older.

Professional cleanings by qualified hygienists will remove bacteria and plaque, which can cause serious dental problems if not kept in check.

If you have not been seen recently call our office for an appointment!

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Top Dental Symptoms: Toothache

If your mouth or jaw hurt, it could be from a toothache. Toothaches usually indicate a cavity but they can also signal gum disease. In some cases, a toothache is a sign of an abscess or impacted tooth. A toothache should be evaluated by a dentist right away to determine the cause of the problem and prevent the tooth from dying.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

de Bruin Dental Center   

Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  

Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

5 Reasons Your Smile Is Stronger Than You Think

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org

The right smile can leave you laughing, fill you with joy or make you melt with emotion. But, ultimately, the best smile is one that is healthy and strong. Here are some of the “tooth truths” about how tough your teeth really are ñ and how to keep them that way.

1. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body.
The shiny, white enamel that covers your teeth is even stronger than bone. This resilient surface is 96 percent mineral, the highest percentage of any tissue in your body - making it durable and damage-resistant.    

2. Your bite is powerful!
Did you know your teeth can exert an average of 200 pounds of pressure when you bite down? That’s probably what tempts us to use our teeth as tools from time to time ñ but as your dentist will remind you, that’s one of the worst habits when it comes to preserving healthy teeth.    

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

The remainder of the article details the following:

• Teeth can last for hundreds of years
• Strong as they are, teeth can't heal on their own
• Healthy teeth have the power to resist decay, but they need our help

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Having a plaque attack?

Plaque is that soft, sticky stuff that builds up on your teeth over time. It contains legions of bacteria. Left untreated it will eventually lead to gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss.

Frequent brushing and flossing are required to keep plaque at bay. But it's virtually impossible to remove all plaque without the skills of your professional dental hygienist. In other words, you're going to need some help.

Call our office today to schedule your next routine teeth cleaning to receive help with your plaque removal!

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Top Dental Symptoms: Jaw Pain or Popping/Clicking in the Jaw

Many things can cause these symptoms, which can make it difficult to diagnose. Possible causes include sinus problems, toothache, arthritis, injury, teeth grinding, gingivitis or problems with your jaw like TMJ. Your dentist will conduct a thorough exam, which may include X-rays, to determine the source of the pain.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

de Bruin Dental Center   

Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  

Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

To Floss or Not to Floss..

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about flossing and if it is good or not! Kind of reminds me of coffee, some studies say is good for you and others say it isn't.

Our dental office believes that flossing is beneficial to a person's general oral health. Our staff is trained to address the issues of proper flossing to our patients on an individual need basis. We promote many different tools used to effectively and safely clean between the teeth.

If you are concerned with the recent news reports, please give our office a call to schedule an appointment. We will be happy to review your concerns and make sure you are properly caring for your teeth.

de Bruin Dental Center   

Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   

631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  

Reno, NV 89511   

(775) 826-1838   

deBruinSmiles.com

Is Sparkling Water Bad for My Teeth?

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org

Is the satisfying fizz of your favorite sparkling water putting you at risk for tooth decay? Because any drink with carbonation-including sparkling water-has a higher acid level, some reports have questioned whether sipping sparkling water will weaken your tooth enamel (the hard outer shell of your teeth where cavities first form).

So, Is Sparkling Water Affecting My Teeth?
According to available research, sparkling water is generally fine for your teeth-and here's why. In a study using teeth that were removed as a part of treatment and donated for research, researchers tested to see whether sparkling water would attack tooth enamel more aggressively than regular lab water. The result? The two forms of water were about the same in their effects on tooth enamel. This finding suggests that, even though sparkling water is slightly more acidic than ordinary water, it's all just water to your teeth. 

Tips for Enjoying Sparkling Water-and Protecting Your Teeth

• Sparkling water is far better for your teeth than sugary drinks. In addition, be sure to drink plenty of regular, fluoridated water, too-it’s the best beverage for your teeth. Water with fluoride naturally helps fight cavities, washes away the leftover food cavity-causing bacteria feast on and keeps your mouth from becoming dry (which can put you at a higher risk of cavities). 
• Be mindful of what’s in your sparkling water. Citrus-flavored waters often have higher acid levels that does increase the risk of damage to your enamel. Plan to enjoy these in one sitting or with meals. This way, you aren’t sipping it throughout the day and exposing your teeth over and over again to the slightly higher level of acid it contains.
• Sparkling water brands with added sugar can no longer be considered just sparkling water. They are a sugar-sweetened beverage, which can contribute to your risk of developing cavities. So remember-sparkling or not-plain water is always the best choice.

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Orthodontics

Engineering Straighter Teeth with Physiologic Orthodontics

Regular orthodontics can include straightening teeth and aligning the smile; however, it can be somewhat limiting if there are other problems to be corrected. Physiologic orthodontics can correct what regular orthodontics can fix, and also correct other conditions such as airway and breathing problems, tongue habits, gummy smiles, flat and retruded faces, poor lip support, posture problems, head and neck pain and other health problems. Physiologic orthodontics treats the big picture of the bite, facial development, posture, and airway to give a long-lasting, stable smile and a beautiful face. Please see "Can mouth breathing hurt my health?" in our FAQ.

Orthodontics normally entails the use of metal or possibly ceramic braces. Constant, stable pressure in the direction of required change alters the position of teeth over time. Here's what happens: Stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic brackets are attached to the tooth. These brackets act as handles to which other components are joined to shift your tooth in various directions. A thin metal wire known as an archwire links each bracket. Using tension, the archwire exerts pressure on your teeth to move them into position. Colorful (or clear) elastic bands are stretched to secure the archwires to the brackets. As adjustments are made, archwires of assorted diameters are tensioned and ligature elastics are swapped.
These days even traditional braces offer a variety of choices. For example, self-ligating braces require no elastic ligature bands. Instead, a special type of bracket is used that holds the archwires in place. Lingual braces are applied to the back side of teeth to render them invisible to observation. Yet another option is clear braces. These brackets are made of clear or tooth-colored ceramic with tensioning provided by similarly colored archwires and ligature elastics.

Regardless of the particular style, orthodontics permit Dr. de Bruin to employ more control over how your teeth are straightened. More intricate corrections can be done using this method. Because these types of braces can't be readily removed and are continually monitored, there is less chance of problems developing by failure to wear the right aligner for the specified amount of time. Each person is unique and will require a different amount of correction, so the total time needed will vary by patient.

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Top Dental Symptoms: Cracked or Broken Teeth

A cracked or broken tooth can happen for a variety of reasons- brittle teeth, teeth grinding, injury. The crack may be invisible to the naked eye and even X-ray, but they can be incredibly painful and create bigger problems if left untreated. If you experience pain when chewing see your dentist. They can diagnose the cause and develop a plan for treatment.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

de Bruin Dental Center   

Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  

Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Children's Dentistry

We Care About Kids!

At de Bruin Dental Center, we work to alleviate your child's concerns before starting any kind of treatment. You can be confident that your child will benefit from the latest improvements in children's dentistry – practices intended to diminish their time in the chair, delivered with caring, thoughtfulness, and compassion. We love encouraging proper dental care routines, and look forward to coaching your children on how to keep their teeth healthy for a lifetime. Bring them in for their first dental visit when they cut their first tooth, and see why our many happy parents declare our office a fun place their children love to visit. Whether you have an anxious two-year-old or a rowdy three-year-old, we are here to help you. 

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Always Tired? The Importance of Getting the Rest You Need to Maintain Good Health
 
Adequate rest and sleep are central to your overall health. You require sleep the same way you require air, water, and food. It is critical that your brain and body have the rest they demand to re-boot every single day. Lack of sleep can afflict your heart by overburdening the muscle with excessive strain and stress. Heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular disease, and – in severe circumstances – death have all been associated with sleep disorders.

Your body, especially your heart, collects stress throughout the day. When you ultimately rest at night, your heart slows down and starts to decompress, releasing the stresses it has amassed. Your blood pressure decreases, and the pace of age-related disease contributors drops considerably. Your body needs this time to recoup and gain enough energy to face another day. In sleep, your brain and body rejuvenate themselves. You can curtail illnesses such as obesity, hypertension, memory loss, and diabetes. Please see "Can mouth breathing hurt my health?" in our FAQ. 

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com