At Weber Family Dental, one of the most common complaints we hear from Gainesville GA general dentistry patients is problems with mouth sores.

There are many different kinds of oral lesions which can make eating and talking painful. Some are annoying yet harmless, while other sores are more serious and require medical intervention.

Though not contagious, the most common complaint is canker sores, which affect an estimated eighty percent of the Gainesville GA population. Canker sores can be attributed to stress, tissue irritation, or acidic foods. Dr. Joseph Weber can prescribe a topical dental paste to relieve pain and guard against infection. Recurring canker sores can sometimes be a symptom of a larger health problem.

Another common complaint is fever blisters or cold sores, which are contagious fluid-filled blisters. Gainesville GA cold sore sufferers should be aware that they can become infected. At Weber Family Dental, we advise our patients on how to treat cold sores and avoid further breakouts.

Fungal infections and oral cancer can cause sores in the mouth and throat. See your Gainesville GA family dentist if you experience any of the following:

Lumps or discolored patches in the mouth lasting longer than three weeks
Unusually large lesions
Multiple sores

Dr. Joseph Weber reminds patients that eating a well balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and not smoking can all aid in oral health and hygiene.

To schedule an appointment, or ask about other oral concerns, contact Weber Family Dental today at 678.928.9320.

Joseph Weber
Weber Family Dental
http://www.WeberFamilyDental.com
678.928.9320

Weber Family Dental provides the full spectrum of general, family and cosmetic dentistry services. We offer teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, crowns and implants, TMJ treatment and complete smile makeovers.

Here at Weber Family Dental, we want your teeth to last a lifetime! Tooth enamel is one of the hardest parts of the body, but it is non-renewable so it is important not to not neglect or abuse our teeth. Daily teeth and gum care, along with visits to your Gainesville GA general dentist, is the best way to protect tooth enamel.

Even though every Gainesville GA drug store carries hard bristle brushes, we recommend brushing with a soft brush after every meal to gently brush away acid. Scrub too hard, and you can erode enamel. It is ideal to brush immediately after eating, but brushing within 60 minutes of a meal has benefits. The quicker you remove food from your teeth, the better it is for your enamel.

Flossing regularly is also important to keep gums healthy and avoid gum disease. Whether the food is on tooth surfaces, or hidden in between, it is not doing your enamel any good.

Dr. Joseph Weber recommends a checkup and thorough cleaning every six months. Our skilled hygienists remove tartar, a substance that attracts plaque to the surface of the teeth and can weaken the teeth’s structures. Regular checkups prevent problems and save you money on expensive restorative dentistry down the road.

Remember: don’t use your teeth for opening packages! Keep scissors and bottle openers handy. At Weber Family Dental, we see damaged teeth and dental work as a result of patients using their teeth as tools. Biting down on something too hard, like ice or hard candy can also damage enamel.

Attention Gainesville GA athletes: be sure to use a mouthguard for team, contact, and recreational sports.

Teeth grinding is also a common dental threat. Be careful not to grind teeth, this can not only wear away enamel but also pave ways for cavities to get in. If you grind your teeth while you are sleeping, make an appointment to be fitted for a night guard. Your enamel will thank you.

Lastly, remember: drink water. Coffee, sports drinks, soda, wine, and tea all contain a lot of acid or sugar, and in some cases both. Cut back, or at least use a straw. These drinks cause a lot of tooth decay for non-water drinkers in the Gainesville GA area.

We hope you find these Weber Family Dental cosmetic dentistry tips helpful. For more information on dental care, or to schedule an appointment, contact our Gainesville GA family dentist office today at 678.928.9320!

Dr. Joseph Weber
Weber Family Dental
678.928.9320
http://www.WeberFamilyDental.com

Hello, I am Dr. Joseph Weber of Weber Family Dental Care in Gainesville GA. Today’s blog topic is ‘How Your Diet Affects Your Smile.’

I’m sure you brush and floss regularly and hopefully visit your Gainesville GA family dentistry practice for cleanings, but did you know that making small changes to your diet can improve your oral health?

Most Gainesville GA residents are aware that sugar found in candy, cookies, and sodas can harm your teeth, but some people don’t realize that all carbohydrates can cause cavities. A handful of pretzels or a piece of pumpernickel bread can have the same effect on your teeth as a fudge brownie.

All carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, which are converted into plaque, which can then cause cavities and gum disease. Carbs are naturally sticky and adhere to your teeth. Eating carbs with meals is healthier than eating them as snacks because more saliva is generated at mealtime. Saliva helps prevent food particles from sticking to teeth.

At Weber Family Dental Care, I continue to see tooth damage caused by sodas and sports drinks. If you choose to drink them, sip them through a straw. By limiting the contact of these drinks on your teeth, you will help preserve your enamel.

Another way Gainesville GA people can improve their oral health is to get 800mg of calcium a day for men and 1,000mg for women under 50. Calcium helps strengthen your jaw and secure your teeth firmly in the jaw bone.

Diet alone will not prevent cavities and gum disease for Gainesville GA folks, however, a few changes in eating habits can help maintain healthy teeth and gums.

My staff and I at Weber Family Dental Care are accepting new Gainesville GA cosmetic and general dentistry patients in the 30501 zip code area. I encourage you to call 678.928.9320 today to schedule an exam and cleaning.

Weber Family Dental Care offers a full menu of general and specialty dental services including sedation dentistry, restorative dentistry and endodontics. For more information, call today to schedule an appointment or visit http://www.weberfamilydental.com.

Dr. Joseph Weber
Weber Family Dental Care
1146 S Enota Dr NE
Gainesville, Georgia 30501
678.928.9320
http://www.weberfamilydental.com/about.php

The best-selling mouthwashes in Gainesville GA have a significant amount of alcohol, which can even exacerbate bad breath by drying out the mouth. Some bacteria grows even faster in a dry environment.

To eliminate bad breath, you need to find the cause. To get rid of hidden bacteria multiplying between teeth, pay more attention to thorough flossing and brushing.

Devise a system to brush every reachable surface of every tooth. Then floss carefully around every tooth, pulling the floss down into the space at the gumline on both sides. Brush your gums, sides of mouth, palate, and tongue, also.

Schedule a deep dental cleaning at Weber Family Dental with the best hygienist in the Gainesville area and request a refresher (no pun intended) course on brushing and flossing.

If your tongue is the culprit, you might want to start using a tongue scraper. Tongue scraping has become quite popular in Gainesville GA, especially among the college crowd.

A tongue scraper is a cleaning tool that works like a squeegee to scrape bacteria and food particles off the surface of the tongue.

I am Dr. Joseph Weber of Weber Family Dental. At Weber Family Dental, we treat many Gainesville GA dental patients with bad breath. There is no reason to feel embarrassed. (Leaving bad breath untreated can be more embarrassing.)

Schedule an oral exam and halitosis consultation by calling 678.928.9320. At Weber Family Dental, our specialty is family dentistry. We also provide cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Thanks for visiting our blog.

The typical American diet tends to be high in calories and low in nutrition, even here in Gainesville GA.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently unveiled the MyPlate graphic to illustrate a healthy diet. Half of our meals should be composed of fruits and vegetables and the rest should be equally divided between lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy.

While this is an excellent resource, dietary needs change throughout life, so it’s a good idea to call Weber Family Dental Care at 678.928.9320 and schedule a check-up with Dr. Joseph Weber to see if your diet is affecting your teeth.

At Weber Family Dental, our menu of services includes dental crowns, veneers, dental implants, tooth colored fillings, teeth whitening, and root canals. We even treat bad breath. Schedule an appointment with us today to make sure your diet isn’t affecting your oral health.

Dr. Joseph Weber
Weber Family Dental
1146 S Enota Dr NE
Gainesville Georgia
678.928.9320
http://www.weberfamilydental.com/about.php

Have you ever considered all the amazing things your tongue can do? It helps us talk, perceive the texture and flavor of food, chew, and swallow. This strong and nimble gymnast is in near-constant motion during our waking hours. It is a wonder that we don’t accidentally bite it more often as we smile, chew, drink, breathe, swallow, cough, and laugh.

Your tongue can also reveal problems with your health, including digestive problems, infections, and diseases of the blood.

When Dr. Joe Weber performs oral exams, the tongue is always checked for signs of oral cancer and other serious diseases.

Here are some tongue abnormalities and possible causes:

• Swollen tongue: reaction to food/drink/medication, strep infection, leukemia, hypothyroidism
• White tongue: dehydration, yeast infection, irritation to tobacco, enteritis, gastritis, colitis, anemia or other nutritional deficiency
• Canker sores: may be triggered by stress or reaction to food, toothpaste, or mouthwash.

If you have persistent canker sores, you may want to try eliminating products that contain sodium lauryl (or laurel) sulfate (SLS). SLS is a cheap foaming agent that is found in many personal care products. It can be difficult to find SLS-free dental products in Gainesville. The following brands have previously offered SLS-free versions but check labels carefully every time you buy a new tube. I have noticed that SLS has re-appeared in some brands.

• Biotene
• Sensodyne Pronamel
• Tom’s of Maine
• Rembrandt Low Abrasion

If you can’t find an SLS-free toothpaste at your local Gainesville Walmart or Target, I would suggest trying health food stores, specialty drug stores, or trusted online sites.

Many of my Gainesville family dentistry patients have asked me about tongue-scraping. I recommend thorough dental hygiene including cleaning the tongue. To schedule a consultation to discuss any dental health issues including tongue scraping, please contact my office at 678.928.9320.

Dr. Joe Weber DMD

Weber Family Dental

Providing general and cosmetic dental services including cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry and dental crowns

Before I answer that question, let me tell you a little bit about xylitol:

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch tree bark but is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Unlike most other sweeteners (natural or synthetic), xylitol is actually good for your teeth. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that xylitol prevents the growth of the bacteria that initiates decay. It also reduces plaque and strengthens tooth enamel.

Xylitol has other benefits, as well. Because it is low on the glycemic index, many of my diabetic patients enjoy it as a healthy alternative to sugar. If my cosmetic dentistry patients complain about frequent dry mouth, I recommend Xylitol gum or mints to stimulate saliva production without promoting tooth decay.

Now, back to the golden question. Is xylitol gum just as effective as brushing your teeth and seeing your Lawrenceville or Gainesville family dentist regularly? Absolutely not! If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, chewing xylitol gum for five or ten minutes is probably a good idea. However, you should still brush your teeth thoroughly (with a soft brush) after meals and get twice-yearly exams and oral dentistry deep cleanings at your Gainesville dentistry clinic. This will help prevent gum disease and other oral health problems.

At Weber Family Dental, our goal is to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for life by preventing dental problems before they start. If you postpone dental visits until you feel pain, you risk losing teeth and most certainly will require more extensive treatment than if the problem was caught earlier. Is it time for a dental exam? Call us at 678.928.9320 to book an appointment. Our warm and friendly is waiting to take care of all your dental needs.

Bacteria are a common cause of tooth decay. Bacteria live in your mouth and combine with plaque and acids to break down the enamel coating on your teeth. The breakdown of your tooth enamel can often result in the development of small holes in your teeth which are known as cavities. The breaking down of your tooth enamel in is known as tooth decay, and it is a serious dental problem for children and adults in Georgia.

Georgia tooth decay is typically a result of diet and oral hygiene choices. When sticky foods are consumed and allowed to sit on the teeth, or foods full of sugars and starches are consumed frequently throughout the day, tooth decay can result. Foods to avoid include soda and sugary chewing gum; these foods tend to stay around for a while and create an environment where bacteria thrive. To help prevent tooth decay, simply limit sugary and starchy foods between meals. Also, brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and visiting your local Gainesville dentist in Georgia for regular check ups and cleanings will help prevent tooth decay.

Hello, my name is Dr. Joe Weber, and I am a Dentist. I work at Weber Family Dental located at 1146 South Enota Drive, Gainesville, GA. Tooth decay is a preventable dental problem, and I can help. Visit me at http://www.weberfamilydental.com; I will be happy to meet you, and to give you an idea of the many ways we can help you prevent tooth decay and avoid a more costly or even painful ailment.

We specialize in cosmetic and family dentistry and would be happy to discuss with you any health concerns related to your teeth. Give us a call at 678.928.9320.

Dr. Joe Weber

CHICAGO, Illinois–Cardiovascular disease, the leading killer in the United States, is a major public health issue that contributes to 2,400 deaths each day.

Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys the bone and tissues that support the teeth, affects nearly 75 percent of Americans and is the major cause of adult tooth loss. While the prevalence rates of these disease states seem grim, research suggests that managing one disease may reduce the risk for the other.

A consensus paper on the relationship between heart disease and gum disease was recently developed by the American Academy of Periodontology and The American Journal of Cardiology. The paper is published concurrently in the online versions of the AJC, a peer-reviewed journal circulated to 30,000 cardiologists, and the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the AAP.

Developed in concert by cardiologists and periodontists, the paper includes clinical recommendations for medical and dental professionals to use in managing patients living with, or who are at risk for, either disease. As a result of the paper, cardiologists may now examine a patient’s mouth, and periodontists may begin asking questions about heart health and family history of heart disease.

Specific clinical recommendations include:

* Patients with periodontitis who have one known major atherosclerotic CVD risk factor such as smoking, immediate family history for CVD, or history of dyslipidemia should consider a medical evaluation if they have not done so within the past 12 months.

* A periodontal evaluation should be considered in patients with atherosclerotic CVD who have: signs or symptoms of gingival disease, significant tooth loss, and unexplained elevation of hs-CRP or other inflammatory biomarkers.

* A periodontal evaluation of patients with atherosclerotic CVD should include a comprehensive examination of periodontal tissues, as assessed by visual signs of inflammation and bleeding on probing, loss of connective tissue attachment detected by periodontal probing measurements, and bone loss assessed radiographically. If patients have untreated or uncontrolled periodontitis, they should be treated with a focus on reducing and controlling the bacterial accumulations and eliminating inflammation.

* When periodontitis is newly diagnosed in patients with atherosclerotic CVD, periodontists and physicians managing patients’ CVD should closely collaborate in order to optimize CVD risk reduction and periodontal care.

The clinical recommendations were developed at a meeting held in early 2009 of top opinion leaders in cardiology and periodontology. The consensus paper also summarizes the scientific evidence that links periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and explains the underlying biologic and inflammatory mechanisms that may be the basis for the connection.

According to Kenneth Kornman, DDS, PhD, editor of the Journal of Periodontology and a co-author of the consensus report, the cooperation between the cardiology and periodontal communities is an important first step in helping patients reduce their risk of these associated diseases.

“Inflammation is a major risk factor for heart disease, and periodontal disease may increase the inflammation level throughout the body,” Dr. Kornman said. “Since several studies have shown that patients with periodontal disease have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, we felt it was important to develop clinical recommendations for our respective specialties. Therefore, you will now see cardiologists and periodontists joining forces to help our patients.”

While additional research will help identify the precise relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, recent emphasis has been placed on the role of inflammation–the body’s reaction to fight off infection, guard against injury or shield against irritation.

While inflammation initially intends to have a protective effect, untreated chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunction of the affected tissues, and therefore to more severe health complications.

“Both periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are inflammatory diseases, and inflammation is the common mechanism that connects them,” said Dr. David Cochran, DDS, PhD, president of the AAP and chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

“The clinical recommendations included in the consensus paper will help periodontists and cardiologists control the inflammatory burden in the body as a result of gum disease or heart disease, thereby helping to reduce further disease progression, and ultimately to improve our patients’ overall health. That is our common goal.”

The technical term for bad breath is halitosis. Many factors can cause or contribute to halitosis. One of these factors is the food you eat. Onions and garlic are both known for having a potent affect on your breath. Simply observing the foods you eat here in Gainesville can result in a change in your breath.

In most cases, bad breath originates in your mouth. Transient bad breath can be resolved through eating or brushing, and is a temporary condition usually associated with a dry mouth. Persistent bad breath can be a serious problem effecting as much as 25 percent of our Gainesville residents. Persistent bad breath can be caused by dry mouth, and is made worse when food is not cleared away properly.

Brushing and flossing daily is a critical step in curing bad breath. Food particles can build up in your mouth and foster bacteria which can cause bad breath. This not only includes the food particles that may get stuck between your teeth, but also the food that collects around your gums or on your tongue. Brushing and flossing daily can help reduce the amount of food particles that stay in your mouth and cause bad breath. Regular visits to Weber Family Dental in Gainesville can also reduce or eliminate the progression of bad breath.

Other factors that can contribute to bad breath for Gainesville residents include dry mouth, tobacco use, and health concerns such as infections. Come visit Weber Family Dental located in Gainesville, Georgia; we’ll provide you with information about bad breath in a professional environment. Give us a call at 678.928.9320 to set up an appointment.

Dr. Joe Weber