Category Archives: Dentistry

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and it is National Facial Awareness Month. April gives people the opportunity to stop, take a moment, and take stock of oral health.

How Oral Cancer Awareness Month Helps

Oral cancer has a much higher survival rate, 70 to 90 percent, if it is caught in the early stages. People diagnosed with stage one and stage two will outlive the average five years given to people who suffer from oral cancer.

Comprehensive Exams Oral Cancer Screenings

Dr. George Sanchez urges people to schedule at least two dental checkups per year with one of those checkups including an oral cancer screening.

People who have been previously diagnosed with oral cancer and people who have chronic tooth decay and gum disease should schedule more frequent dental checkups and screenings for early detection and diagnosis.

During an oral cancer screening, your Delray Beach dentist checks your neck, throat, head, and lymph nodes for anything suspicious. The team may also use additional tools to detect unusual cell and tumor growth.

If any lumps, lesions, growths, patches, or sores are present; your dentist in Delray Beach will take a sample for a biopsy. The sample is sent to the lab for further investigation.

Facial Safety Awareness Month

It’s important to remind people the importance of facial protection year round, but especially during April, which is Facial Safety Awareness Month. As the weather warms up, more and more people head outdoors to play baseball and tennis.

While most people know how important mouth protectors are for group sports such as football and soccer, some forget how vital they are for individual sports as well.

Everyone Should Wear a Mouthguard

People who surf and participate in gymnastics prevent injuries when wearing custom made mouthguards. Thousands of knocked out teeth and jaw injuries and numerous trips to the ER aren’t an issue when you have a custom-made mouthguard crafted by your Delray Beach dentist and his team.

While there are three types of mouthguards, standard, boil and bite and custom, none will protect your mouth, teeth and gums like a customized one will.

Custom Made Mouthguards

Unlike the other types of mouth protectors, custom-made mouthguards in Delray Beach are made to fit your teeth and gums. Manufactured from comfortable human grade plastic you won’t even know you are wearing one. 

Take Care of Your Mouth this April

This April honor both events and schedule oral cancer screenings and custom-made mouthguard fittings for the entire family. Call and schedule your appointments with Dr. George Dental today.

Not all oral bacteria are harmful. However, unhealthy oral hygiene habits can easily create harmful bacteria that will eventually overtake the good bacteria causing problems for teeth and gums.

According to your dentist in Delray Beach, focusing on oral habits helps fight bacteria and keeps your teeth and gums healthy.

Below are some ways you can maintain a healthy mouth while keeping your teeth and gums free from disease and tooth decay.

Brush Brush Brush for Healthy Teeth and Gums

Brushing your teeth twice a day really does keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you don’t brush your teeth, plaque, that sticky film on your teeth, tongue, and gums will create gum disease and tooth decay.

Twice daily brushing removes stains, food particles, and bacteria.

Flossing is Imperative

If you don’t floss your teeth, you are putting your health at risk. Research indicates a connection between gum disease and other health issues including heart disease and stroke.

When you floss your teeth, you are getting rid of food particles that your toothbrush can’t get to. Flossing once a day keeps you healthy.

Watch Your Diet

Eating a healthy diet is very important for teeth and gums. Your diet helps fight bacteria and plays a significant role in overall health.

Dr. George Sanchez from Delray Beach recommends that you avoid sugar, as it will help prevent bacteria from building up. Sugar becomes acid, and will damage the enamel on your teeth. If you must indulge, rinse with water after enjoying.

Scrape Your Tongue for Healthy Teeth and Gums

Most people brush their teeth without giving a second thought to their tongue. When you scrape your tongue every time you brush your teeth, you are not only avoiding halitosis, bad breath, but you are also removing tooth-damaging bacteria.

You can find toothbrushes with built in scrapers or you can purchase a tongue scraper at your local pharmacy.

Antibacterial Mouth Rinse for a Healthy Mouth

While mouthwash sweetens your breath, it will also control bacteria as long as you purchase the antibacterial kind. Locate a good antibacterial mouthwash that also contains fluoride for a double dose of protection.

According to your Delray Beach dentist, you can also use natural mouthwashes that contain spearmint, peppermint, tea tree oil, cloves and cinnamon.

Regular Dental Checkups for Overall Health

Of course, the best defense for teeth and gums is regular checkups with your dentist in Delray Beach. Regular dental checkups, including regular cancer screenings, will tell Dr. Sanchez everything he needs to know about your overall health.

If you haven’t seen your dentist in some time, call and schedule a comprehensive dental checkup in Delray Beach. Dr. Sanchez is ready to give you and your teeth and gums a clean bill of health.

Call for a comprehensive dental checkup today.

If you haven’t seen your Delray Beach dentist in some time, it’s time to schedule a dental checkup with Dr. George Sanchez.

Because most people have sheltered in place since March, scheduled dental checkups and restoration tune-ups had to be postponed. If you find yourself in that situation, call and schedule an appointment with Dr. George if you haven’t already heard from his team.

A Dental Checkup for a Healthy Body

If you follow Dr. George’s dental blog, you will remember that there is a connection between overall and oral health. A missed dental checkup could mean advanced gum disease also known as periodontal disease. Research also suggests that people who suffer from oral health problems are more inclined to be diagnosed with heart disease. Some scientists also see a strong connection between stroke, heart attack, and diabetes.

If you have gone for more than 6 months without a dental checkup, it is imperative that you call and schedule one with Dr. George as soon as possible.

Healthier Teeth with Regular Dental Checkups

Healthier teeth begin with regular dental checkups, especially if you have older fillings. Fillings that are more than five years old must be checked for breaks, cracks, chips, and especially leaks.

Over time, old silver amalgam fillings will contract and expand. This means they can develop tooth decay under the filling. Fillings don’t always prevent further decay. You could have numerous cavities in or around an old amalgam filling and not even know it.

Only Dr. George can determine if you have decay under or around old fillings. It is important to note that x-rays will not detect decay under fillings. Your Delray Beach dentist uses special tools to check for decay.

A Dental Checkup for Peace of Mind

A healthy mouth means a healthy body. Call and schedule a dental checkup with Dr. George today.

Ignoring a toothache or other dental problems isn’t a good idea. In fact, if you ignore bleeding gums or a cracked tooth you will be up for more than a simple filling or professional cleaning.

According to your dentist in Delray Beach, dental problems will not get better by themselves. Small cavities get larger and gum disease gets worse.

Below are four dental problems that will happen if you don’t go to the dentist for regular dental checkups.

1. Tooth Decay and Cavities are Bad Dental Problems

While brushing twice and flossing once a day helps keep dental plaque under control you will need professional cleanings a couple of times a year.

Plaque, that sticky film that forms on your teeth, will convert to tartar that can only be removed by your Delray Beach dentist. Leaving tooth decay to its own devices will allow bacteria to take over creating tooth decay that is so bad that it requires extensive treatments such as a dental crown or root canal therapy.

2. Dental Problems and Gum Disease

If your gums are swollen, tender and bleed when you brush, floss or eat schedule an appointment with Dr. George Sanchez.

According to Dr. George, gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease, can be cured if treated quickly. If gum disease is not treated, it will eventually lead to periodontitis. Periodontal disease can be controlled, but not cured. Periodontitis is also the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

3. Overall Health Problems and Oral Health

During dental checkups, Dr. George will thoroughly examine your mouth looking for any signs that could indicate overall health problems and of course dental problems.

Finding these issues early, helps prevent more serious problems, such as oral cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

4. Stained Teeth are Just the Beginning

Drinking wine, tea and coffee and enjoying foods like spaghetti and curry sauce will stain your teeth. While good oral hygiene habits will keep tooth staining to a minimum, regular professional dental cleanings will remove stains. Professional tooth whitening is also recommended for badly stained teeth.

If you would like more information regarding oral health or dental problems, call and talk to your Delray Dentist today.