It's important to maintain your dental work, whether it’s crowns, bridges, or implants, to ensure that it lasts as long as possible and keeps your smile healthy. Let’s look at some helpful tips on caring for these restorations and getting the most out of your investment in your dental health. MAINTAIN GOOD ORAL HYGIENE The foundation of preserving dental work starts with daily brushing and flossing. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to clean around your crowns, bridges, and implants. Flossing is equally important, especially around these restorations, where plaque and food particles can build up. For bridges, specialized tools like floss threaders or interdental brushes help to clean under the false tooth and around the surrounding teeth. USE A NON-ABRASIVE TOOTHPASTE While regular toothpaste works well for natural teeth, it’s important to avoid overly abrasive toothpaste that can scratch the surfaces of crowns, bridges, and implants. Opt for a non-abrasive toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth, which is gentle on your restorations but still effective in keeping your mouth clean. AVOID HARD AND STICKY FOODS Certain foods can damage dental restorations. Avoid biting down on hard foods like nuts, ice, or hard candies, which can crack or loosen crowns or bridges. Sticky foods like gummies and chewing gum can pull on restorations and dislodge them. Making mindful food choices helps extend the life of your dental work. PROTECT AGAINST TEETH GRINDING Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common issue that can wear down or damage crowns, bridges, and implants. If you grind your teeth at night, ask one of our dentists about getting a custom nightguard to protect your dental work while you sleep. ATTEND REGULAR DENTAL CHECKUPS Routine visits to our office are key to maintaining your dental work. Your dentist will check the integrity of your restorations and make any needed adjustments. Regular cleanings also ensure that plaque doesn’t build up around your crowns, bridges, or implants, which could lead to gum disease and other complications. Caring for crowns, bridges, and implants requires consistent effort, but the benefits are worth it. By practicing good oral hygiene, being mindful of what you eat, and seeing your dentist regularly, you can keep your smile healthy and your dental work intact for years. How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Dental Work Protect Your Investment
BAKED SAUSAGE WITH APPLES AND FENNEL
Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com
This comforting dish, packed with seasonal flavors, is perfect when the weather starts to get chilly.
• 2 apples • 1 fennel bulb • 8 raw, flavored sausages • 2 red onions cut into wedges • 1 tsp fennel seeds INGREDIENTS
• 2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp honey • 2–3 oz dry white wine
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. Cut apples into six wedges and slice off any core, leaving the skin on. Place in a roasting pan. 3. Slice fennel in half and remove the core. Chop and add to pan along with sausages and onion wedges. 4. Using a pestle and mortar, break up fennel seeds and sprinkle over the pan. Add oregano. 5. Next, drizzle oil, honey, and wine over the ingredients, then toss all together. 6. Roast for 40 minutes, tossing occasionally until sausages are golden and fruit and veggies are tender.
TAKE A BREAK
ABUNDANT APPLES
COOKOUT CRUNCHY FALL GOLDEN GRANDPARENTS HARVEST
LABOR MAPLE SPORTS WINDY
WWW.TEXASSEDATIONDENTAL.COM | 3
TYLER - 903-597-2201
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator